sorry, you have to read this
"Since it is not just the unconscious manipulation of women with the advertising of products that are even absolutely unnecessary, because they create a problem where there is no problem (for example, stretch marks), no matter how much you rub them, they are part of us and give the impression that our body has survived the changes) With all those advertisements, precisely because everything is nicely packaged and pink (and I don't think you did it by accident at all), the "pink tax" comes on everything because the ideal is inserted that women need a lot more (expensive) products to look beautiful , and we completely ignore the fact that basic hygiene products are already inaccessible to some women.
As for the self-care culture, something that started as self-care in its own way, turned into a capitalist scheme to make us feel bad about ourselves again. Again we don't have enough products, again we don't have the latest face mask, new smoothies, bath bombs, etc. And self care becomes a status symbol.
The fact that celebrities are promoting the same self-care lifestyle, which is generally unavailable to everyone, adds fuel to the fire.
In my subjective opinion, we should go back to the roots of self care and the beauty industry, where in the end we have to do what pleases us physically and mentally, and listen to our own body, because it knows what we need most. "
- Julija
"Almost all brands of cosmetic products, even those with good reputation and high prices, do not put good ingredients in their products at all, and often put some that we are not aware that they are harmful. Much more money is invested in product advertising than in its quality. It's hard not to think about appearance at all when it seems like that's the only thing society thinks about and cares about. What I like most lately is the concept of body neutrality. I think it's important for women because we forget that many things that are presented as problems arise so that our body can function in different circumstances and stages of life, it is constantly changing. If we dedicated ourselves to feeling good and confident in it from the inside, maybe thoughts about its external appearance would hold us back less in everyday life."
- Jelena
"I actually see myself as an inseparable body from soul and mind. And I think it's much more important to take care of that inner beauty, no matter how cliché it sounds, but simply, when it's neglected, it's really visible, but no one cares about it thinking that they can make up for it with any cosmetics, trend, fashion, make-up, and I think that these products are used solely for the sake of egoistic comparison with others, because somehow it is imposed that if you are handsome and well-groomed, others will think that you are happy and fulfilled, and it comes from materialistic view of the world. And that's just masking and lying first of all to yourself and then to others. But real eyes realize real lies. In any case, the holes in the soul and mind are not filled with Potemkin's villages and are visible to the naked eye and the more someone hides it with those means, it's more noticeable. It's just that if you don't love yourself for your essence, no amount of competition for a flat stomach can compensate for that self-esteem."
- Nadja
"As a skin care person and generally interested in skincare since elementary school, many products that claim to be gentle on the skin are not at all and there is a general obsession of society for everything to be anti-aging, God forbid that women have wrinkles or scars, to show their age. I noticed this most on tik tok, where one in three saw "skincare routine how to stay young for life", men are allowed to age, "they age like fine wine" while women are not."
- Petra
When I was 15 I noticed I had stretch marks on my thighs and I showed them to my mum, as I felt insecure about them as it was the first sign on my body that meant I was growing up and no longer had the perfect, unblemished skin I used to have as a child. After a couple of days she brought me some creams she ordered online that were supposed to magically remove them. I listened to her because I believed that she, as an older woman with more experience than me, would not fall for products that don't work.
Later, I realized that it was impossible for an ordinary cream to fix something like that. My mom had the best intentions when she bought me those creams, but maybe she should have told me instead that I shouldn't be insecure about my stretch marks, that it's normal for everyone. These delusions are deeply rooted in the older generations, but I think that today's youth are starting to realize how useless these products are and that something will change soon.
- Nataša
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