Weight-loss jab investigated for suicide risk
Despite being a diabetes medication, people without the health condition have been buying Ozempic due to its appetite curbing side-effects, which led to global shortages earlier this year. Now, it’s being reviewed by European regulators over a possible connection to thoughts of self-harm among users. Earlier this year, discourse...
Current in Fashion + Beauty
The rise of the ‘no-wash’ revolution
A growing cohort of people have joined the ‘no-wash’ movement, opting to cut back on doing laundry to reduce their environmental impact and help their clothes last longer. Resale, rental, regeneration – you name it. In 2023, there’s no shortage of ways for the style-obsessed to ensure we’re being...
What are the positive effects of technology on beauty?
Contrary to popular belief, social media has the potential to transform our attitudes towards body image, industry sustainability, and representation for the better. If I were to ask for your opinion about the integration of beauty and technology, your response would most likely be negative. For starters, having witnessed the...
New report suggests the beauty industry is ignoring net zero
Titled ‘greenhouse gloss,’ Carbon Trust’s inquiry into the sector’s commitment to tackling climate change has uncovered that some major brands’ sustainability efforts are falling short. Although the beauty industry’s impact on the environment pales in comparison to fashion’s (which itself accounts for ten per cent of humanity’s total emissions), the...
Why are people calling out Coperni’s latest stunt?
To demonstrate the ‘symbiotic relationship between humans and technology,’ models sauntered down the runway alongside robot dogs at the brand’s FW/23 show. This has sparked a polarising discourse online with some praising the move and others fearful of the future it points to. If the name ‘Coperni’ rings a bell,...
Is Meta poised to free the nipple?
After a decade of campaigns against the discriminatory ban, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company has called for an overhaul to a policy it says impedes freedom of expression for women and trans and nonbinary people. For years now, social media’s blatant censorship bias has come under increasing fire, especially its...
The fight to end hair discrimination
What’s being done to address the racist policies and unfair judgements targeting Black people for wearing their natural hair? With issues such as criminal justice reform currently dominating political discourse, confronting hair discrimination may seem inconsequential to some. What it represents, however, is another hurdle to overcome in our quest for racial and economic justice. Routinely, POC individuals are forced to internalise the messaging that Black hair and its protective styles...
The rise in niche cosmetic surgeries sparks debate online
The ever-growing list of available cosmetic surgeries continues to generate new ways for us to dislike ourselves, but online narratives prove that some are just too ridiculous to buy into. ‘What do you want for your birthday?’ my mom asked when visiting me last year in London. Turning away from a mirror to look at her, I half-jokingly replied: buccal fat removal. To clarify, buccal fat removal entails removing fat...
Keke Palmer gives her audience a beauty standards reality check
After a makeup-free photo was posted of her online, Keke Palmer was hit with a wave of hateful comments about her appearance. Her response to the criticism should be a wake-up call for how we measure beauty today and how we value women in general. The internet is a ruthless place. Nobody knows this better than female celebrities. Any indications of ageing, weight gain, or trivial flaws seen in photos online...
Will this year see our beauty habits simplified?
Amid a growing number of people choosing to ditch complex makeup and skincare routines in favour of a more pared-back approach, 2023 is all about embracing our au naturale selves. In 2015, Em Ford sparked debate with You Look Disgusting, a YouTube video highlighting how damaging the shame associated with being ‘less-than-perfect’ can be, especially on social media. Almost a decade later, it goes without saying that the modern-day standards...
