How to age gracefully using ethical beauty.
I believe that ageing is a natural journey, a testament to the wisdom and experiences we gather over time, I love all of my pigmentation spots (within reason) because each of them reminds me of days in the sun, sailing, water skiing, and mucking around on the beach in the surf with my friends.
Would I prefer not to have them – definitely! But would I put myself through invasive or painful treatments to remove them? Definitely not!
But we live in a world obsessed with youth, so it is so easy to feel pressured to fight the ageing process rather than embrace it. The amount of chemical toxic treatments and invasive painful treatments we can subjugate ourselves to in the name of beauty is mind blowing.
There are alternatives!
Choosing to use ethical beauty is one of them – nurturing the skin whilst using ingredients that are good for the planet and all its inhabitants.
Here is how you can age gracefully and well whilst staying true to ethical beauty principles.
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Choose natural and organic plant-based ingredients
Most ‘active’ ingredients in skincare come from plants or animal by products. You don’t have to be vegan to opt for vegan options. The reason I recommend you choose natural vegan organic ingredients is that you can at least trace where the ingredients come from. When using animal based products, you do not know how the products were harvested – and the cruelty free laws only cover no animal testing but not always product harvesting.
You will find many natural ingredients are more active than their chemical counterparts. Such as vitamin C – Sea buckthorn and Kakadu Plum are both extremely high in vitamin c – but besides being high in vitamin c – they also have multiple other benefits – such as Sea buckthorn is also rich in vitamins A, K, and E. It also contains considerable amounts of iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, zinc and palmitoleic acid. Kakadu plum besides being the highest form of vitamin C also contains gallic and ellagic acids and is extremely hydrating – whilst when you use pure Vitamin C – all you get is vitamin C.
When choosing natural products choose ones that do not contain water (most products are 70% water and 30% active ingredients) – if you like a lighter feeling cream – ensure that Aloe Vera is used as a base so that you are getting Aloe’s benefits – or no water base at all such as the Everything Skin Cream.
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Treat the skin from inside out.
When someone consumes a healthy skin strengthening diet – their skin naturally glows from inside out. They look younger than their years without any facial work being done.
A nutrient-rich diet will enhance skin elasticity, hydration, and overall glow.
Besides incorporating whole foods like leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and berries, (ideally organic) that are packed with vitamins and essential fatty acids – supplement with omega-3s from flaxseed oil (you need to eat a kilo or more a day of seeds to get the same value as 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil).
Add algae-based supplements such as spirulina or chlorella to support collagen production more effectively than taking collagen powders – reducing fine lines naturally whilst infusing the body with multiple minerals, vitamins, omegas, greens and easily absorbable digestible protein. A wonderful blend of spirulina and chlorella along with multiple other wonderful skin boosting ingredients is Melrose Organic Essential Greens Phytostrength
Ethical beauty isn’t just about what you put on your skin—it’s also about feeding your body with skin glowing ingredients – avoiding sugar, preservatives and processed packaged foods. Keeping coffee and alcohol to a minimum, drinking 2 or more litres of filtered water daily.
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Embrace slow beauty rituals
Rather than rushing through your skincare routine – adopt slow beauty rituals that encourage mindfulness. These practices don’t have to take more than 5 minutes – so it won’t make you late for work – it just means giving yourself a little bit of quiet time all to yourself. Gua sha massages, facial and body cupping, facial yoga, 3 minute facial cleansing, facial massage and dry skin body brushing improve circulation and tone the skin naturally.
Most ethical beauty brands incorporate holistic, time-honoured traditions that promote well-being beyond just aesthetics.
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Choose sustainable, clean cruelty free makeup
Ageing gracefully doesn’t mean giving up on makeup—it means making conscious choices. Opt for brands that use clean, non-toxic ingredients and avoid animal testing. Cream-based formulas with natural pigments provide a luminous finish, while multi-purpose products such as lip and cheek creams or tints -reduce waste and simplify your routine. Remember, beauty is about enhancing your natural features, not masking them. Such as Eye of Horus and Ere Perez.
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Use sunscreen sparingly.
Although sun protection is promoted for daily use – the truth is that we only need sunscreen between the hours of 10 am – 3 pm when we are spending time in the sun outdoors – we don’t need to wear sunscreen when we are in a office.
Sunscreens only last for 2 hours on your skin – so if you apply sunscreen to your face at 7 am – by 9 am it should be reapplied – so when you pop out for lunch you have no protection at all. But do you need sunscreen at lunch? Are you in the sun long enough to end up with any sun damage? If you think you should apply sunscreen – I recommend using a CC foundation cream throughout the day – or a foundation with a physical sunscreen in it such as zinc. Do be aware that Zinc is extremely drying on the skin – brilliant for acne, not so good for dry mature skins.
Choose reef-safe, mineral-based sunscreens with non-nano zinc oxide to shield your skin without harming marine life or yourself when you do head out into the sunshine for the day such as Avocado Zinc.
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Alternative techniques for cosmetic injectables and surgery.
For those looking for non-invasive ways to maintain a youthful appearance, there are plenty of alternatives to cosmetic injectables or surgery. Treatments such as LED and Infrared light therapy, and gentle Lactic Acid peels or enzyme peels can boost collagen and improve skin texture.
Buccal facial massage and acupuncture are natural face lift options instead of invasive surgery. Although these treatments need to be done regularly they give you a natural facelift – enhancing your natural beauty instead of changing your face.
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Redefine beauty on your own terms
Aging gracefully with ethical beauty is about celebrating yourself at every stage. Let go of societal pressures and embrace the changes that come with time. Laughter lines and silver strands tell a story—your story. True beauty isn’t about erasing years; it’s about living authentically, embracing your femininity with compassion for yourself and the world around you.
Final thoughts
Ethical beauty isn’t just a trend—it’s a movement toward conscious, sustainable living. By prioritizing clean ingredients, cruelty-free practices, and holistic well-being, you can nurture your skin, mind, and spirit while making a positive impact. Ageing gracefully is not about resisting change—it’s about welcoming it with kindness and intention. After all, true radiance comes from within.
If you need help achieve glowing skin – book a glowing skin and wellness consultation via zoom with me!
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Yvette xx
Thank you for reading my blog!
Hi!
I am Yvette van Schie, I am a holistic beauty therapist, skin nutritionist, skincare developer and makeup artist. I am passionate about sharing real beauty advice with a whack of reality.
For over 30 years I have worked with the best in the beauty and health industry as a trainer, educator and product formulator and I still do – so my knowledge is diverse – I am not blinkered when sharing my information with you because everyone I speak to shares what they know, and I turn it into easy to digest information because I want my readers to feel empowered to make their own decisions and to feel that they are fully in control of their beauty and well being.
