Beauty brands support LGTBQ+ communities for Pride Month
Pride is different this year, with celebrations cancelled or postponed. Even so, there are plenty of ways to show support by donating to charities or shopping with brands who give back. Time is up for performance activism. As young consumers, we are far more aware of the philosophical values of the...
Current in Fashion + Beauty
The future looks fluid: genderless fashion explained
Throughout history, brands have operated in an industry dictated by two genders. With 27% of Gen Z consumers now identifying as non-conforming, is this about to change? When Harry Styles graced the cover of Vogue last year wearing a gown, passionate conversations around masculinity and gendered dressing were instantly sparked. Representing...
Post-lockdown cosmetic procedures are on the rise
As lockdown lifts, cosmetic doctors are seeing a rise in demand for face-based treatments. With more time to look at ourselves in mirrors and computer screens, is this a trend that’s here to stay? Over the last year of lockdowns we’ve spent a large portion of our time indoors,...
Are celebrity skincare brands a detriment to the industry?
The beauty industry has ramped up its commitment to reducing its environmental footprint in recent years. However, celebrities have begun capitalising on Gen-Z’s increased interest in skincare, posing threat to the progress made by longstanding brands. If you’ve been paying any attention to the beauty industry lately, you’ve probably...
L’Oréal unveils sustainability programme ahead of Earth Day
The world’s largest cosmetics company has ambitiously pledged to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% before 2030, setting a prime example for other beauty brands to follow. With Earth Day around the corner (and an estimated one billion people mobilised to take part in this year’s events), it seems fitting...
Is beauty at fault of whitewashing traditional Chinese medicine?
Members of the AAPI community are concerned that the increasing trendiness of TCM in Western wellness routines is detracting from its cultural significance. In our wellness-obsessed world, people are constantly clamouring for the next trendy product to feature in their skincare routines. The latest craze is a traditional Chinese...
Is Lena Dunham’s plus-size clothing line really that inclusive?
The creator is launching her own plus-size fashion collection with an aim to fight the idea that bigger women are ‘stupid,’ but has been criticised for offering limited sizing options. Excuse the cliché, but times have changed. Conversations within the fashion industry about size, representation, and the importance of inclusion are more prominent now than ever. These days, it’s all about loving the skin we’re in, no matter what we...
We need to get serious about beauty waste
We must address beauty’s seemingly never-ending avalanche of plastic packaging that puts the industry front and centre in our fight to be more sustainable. Global Recycling Day – honoured every March 18 – aims to raise awareness about the importance of recycling for preserving and securing a healthy future for our planet. The mission is to inform world leaders of the importance of recycling and consider our finite resources when...
Unilever leads charge in improved beauty inclusivity
‘Beauty for all’ is one of this year’s top five industry trends. In a bid to become more inclusive, Unilever is dropping the term ‘normal’ from its products and advertising. Beauty that caters to all, irrespective of body, hair, and skin type, has quickly become of urgent importance to brands in 2021. Championing this new era of inclusivity, these brands have changed their advertising, upgraded product formulations, and shifted their...
How bioplastic could be the future of fashion
Believe it or not, the sequins on this dress are made from 100% bioplastic and could provide some insight into the future of high-end fashion materials. Now you might be thinking, what is bioplastic? In this case, bioplastic might be the answer to one of fashion's most prevalent plastic waste sins… sequins. In a wider context, instead of relying on petroleum based fossil fuels as its key component (like traditional plastic),...