A biology major's perspective on clean beauty:
Let's think about things at the molecular level, their chemistry, and how its affecting our bodies and the environment. This is a really awesome way to be thinking about beauty, unfortunately though, the beast has gotten too big to control.
I love Amy Macedo's channel, and if you want to go toward clean beauty as much as possible, that's perfectly fine. No harm in limiting the amount of chemicals you're getting.
However, like she states in the video, it is nearly impossible to get it to zero. There are toxins in our environment everywhere, and I mean everywhere. And unwanted chemicals or unwanted chemical byproduct in everything.
But, beside chemical byproduct, there is another factor to clean beauty to think about. So, if you're concerning yourself with the molecular level of beauty products specifically. I would also want to bring understanding to how your body is processing these molecular structures, and the impact that it is having on your body, at the molecular level.
Endocrine disruption is only 1 of many types of molecular 'affects' that can occur from chemical exposures.
The other thing to consider, is that these affects are not limited just to 'harmful bad guy ingredients.'
There are unwanted ingredients and by products in vitamins, some manufactured supplements, in canned goods, glass jars, and plastic water bottles.
Things you think are 'natural' and 'organic' doesn't necessarily mean they're 'good for you' or 'safe' by any means from potential 'adverse' affects. These affects are just occurring at the molecular level, so they're much harder to notice.
Even almond milk, soy milk, wheat, gluten, these things aren't necessarily the 'best' things for us. Even 'natural' fibers, and wall paint- isn't the best. New clothing that you buy from a store, are often saturated with chemicals. Dyes and food coloring in food is everywhere. It's in your laundry detergent, your shampoo, your toothpaste.
Pasta for example is a complex carbohydrate. You'd think, this is pretty natural. Harmless right? But harmless doesn't mean it's the best thing for our bodies, again, at the molecular level.
Processing complex molecules puts stress on the body, and physiological stress creates a new chemistry in your body that was slightly different than before. Just processing food you ate, is considered a physiological stress. Your body is having to put in work, to process something. So the easier it is to process, or the less frequently you eat- the less stress you're putting your body through.
Keeping your system in constant process mode is kind of unhealthy, or not the optimal ideal way to take care of your GI health. It is at it's healthiest when you give it a rest.
Even in something 'natural' like milk, is a great example. There are hormones, and lipids from fat. And depending on your life style, and your consumption style, how you take care of your body, really affects how your body processes these things.
So you can strip your diet back as much as possible, but the person who follows a work out regiment, and puts their body under less physiological stress by eating in smaller portions less frequently, who has balanced gut health and regularity, who has balanced hormones and is not nutrient deficient. Who hydrates well before and after work outs. Who has clean arteries, and doesn't smoke. They're going to have a clearer sharper mind. They're going to burn fat while they sleep. They're going to have clearer skin. They will be at less risk of heart attack, stroke, alzheimers, parkinsons, and cancer.
But there are literally 'not so awesome' products that could be considered natural, like I said, even in supplements and vitamins. Just because it's natural doesn't mean it's good for you or is the best thing for you. Even all natural deodarants, even, organic period products, and even 'natural' toothpaste, isn't necessarily, 'perfect' and safe from all potential harm.
So yeah, I just wanted to clarify that, good health or protecting yourself even at the molecular level, is really just as much about action, as it is about avoidance of products. You can't just delete yourself to perfect health, and your body is 'safer' or functions at its best when you start adding things too, like antioxidants for example. It's about prevention, through action that leads to a balanced healthy body, operating at its optimum- at the molecular level. Not just, avoiding aluminum.
There are harmful chemicals in furniture, rugs. The baby crib you grew up in. In treated wood. Even natural wood can have adverse health affects, especially in regard to bacteria.
So if you want a 'perfect' environment, it also starts with, how well your bodies internal environment is looking, so that it won't be defenseless to the inevitably harmful environment. Even the sun, is technically not great for us. The bluelight from our phone screens, is technically damaging our skin, and eyes.
And, on that note. About technology,
There is more to bodily harm and 'health' than just chemicals. We are sensitive beings. To light, to sound, to vibration, to our environments and every detail in it. There is a reason why the beach is healing, there is negative ions which affect our chemistry in a generally positive way.
We all have unique chemistry going on. So for some, it may not be the right fit. You have things to consider like pH and blood type, metabolic type, the list goes on. So, what works for one, does not work for everyone. We all have different availability of things we need, like enzymes, and important unique proteins. Our bodies also process things at the molecular level uniquely, and our cells respond to certain things differently, like for example fat. We store it in different ways, in different places.
It always makes me laugh when I see skin care products that say, "made with polymers." Because, pretty much everything becomes a polymer at some point.
But yeah, how even our skin is affected by a product is entirely unique. We don't all have the same skin. Skin is alive, and processes chemicals just like, the lining of our organs does as well. And, the environment you lived in for long periods of time, or the environment you are currently in, also affects how skin care will interact with your skin. So a product that's great for you in Florida, a wet humid hot place, may be horrible for Sally in Las Vegas- one of the driest cities.
So what may be great for you, may be horrible for another.
There are things in our environment that are great for us, that you can't buy in a bottle. In fact, just because it is good for you, doesn't mean you should put it in a bottle, and start inhaling it. All in good measure. For example, even too much oxygen, isn't necessarily improving or good for your health long term. (For example, those oxygen bars).
Your body is an adaptable machine, so toying with it in unnatural ways, is going to have an inevitable response. That's why with medicine there's always pros and cons.
This is why it's difficult to keep people alive long term, who are maybe somewhat 'alive' but, are perhaps brain dead and, comatose. Even with all the 'added' technology to keep someone alive. It isn't enough just to keep them alive. The body fails, when it is not in action. Very quickly. It declines, in so many ways, its difficult to list it all. But its a domino effect of inevitable failure.
Even having a boosted immune system, you'd think, ah. This is great, for me. But no, even our own immune system can hurt us. We toy with it, with vaccinations- but not everyone responds the same way. Gullian Barre syndrome is a good example of an immune system 'on fire'
There are bad things that are good for us too. Letting babies get exposed to some dirt early in life, is good for building their immune system. Putting your feet in dirt, even. Is known to be 'good for your body' at the molecular level, sort of in a similar way that negative ions from the beach are. It's important that we actually make time to have some sun, and also to feel the earth, to lay on it and let it's energetic pulse affect us- it is part of what keeps us living at our optimum. Us, without our earth, is, not as good. Like a phone without its charger, is the best comparison I could make.
They say, getting 8 hours of sleep at night is crucial, with good sleep hygeine, consistently. and when you get older, you actually require more sleep, to be at optimal brain and bodily health. But, it's also known to be beneficial to spend the early dawn hours outside with the earth and soil, good rich soil, that can grow crops. Is known to be rich with nitrogen at these certain hours.
Certain cities have different water chemistry, so skin hair and nails may look healthier in places with, high sulfur content water, as oppose to those with 'hard' water full of chlorine and leaving calcium deposits over time.
Every city has a different air quality, AQI. California is one of the worst, due to air pollution
Coming from china over seas! In NYC, layers of soot build up outside your windows, and in Mexico, they wear masks in certain cities, because the air quality is so poor and full of carcinogens. People wears masks thinking, they're preventing harm, but in fact, wearing a mask even poses its own threats! Such as pleurisy, an upper respiratory infection you can get from wearing a dirty mask too long.
Adding more, doesn't mean you're helping.
Serotonin is good for us, but if you give your body serotonin repeatedly, it will forget how to make serotonin on its own.
Most medications help to regulate Serotonin, but If you just started adding it on, like pouring sugar onto a latte, you'd make yourself extremely sick, and it is possibly fatal.
Balance is more important than just, having more of the right stuff. We live in a symbiosis with bacteria, and, we learn to adapt to physiological stress or change, whether its internal, at the molecular level, or coming from, our environments. Natural or unnatural.
There are more things that can disrupt serotonin production or cause it to be imbalanced, than just, unclean chemicals. It has to do with your metabolic health, and how efficiently is it working. How balanced is it. How is your absorption. Etc.
Believing that only natural and organic products is what will save you, is like believing there is only one way to turn on a light bulb. Via, a light switch. But, if you know you know, there are other ways to get a light bulb to turn on, than just using the on switch. There are other ways to start a car, than just with the keys. Your body is affected by everything, natural and unnatural. Natural doesn't necessarily mean good. And, lastly, all in good measure. Even too much water will kill you.
There is no such thing as the perfect environment, the only option we have is to balance it, in alignment with ourselves. And that's all we have been doing naturally, for thousands of years. Welcome to biology, or the study of life.
A biology major's perspective on clean beauty:
Let's think about things at the molecular level, their chemistry, and how its affecting our bodies and the environment. This is a really awesome way to be thinking about beauty, unfortunately though, the beast has gotten too big to control.
I love Amy Macedo's channel, and if you want to go toward clean beauty as much as possible, that's perfectly fine. No harm in limiting the amount of chemicals you're getting.
However, like she states in the video, it is nearly impossible to get it to zero. There are toxins in our environment everywhere, and I mean everywhere. And unwanted chemicals or unwanted chemical byproduct in everything.
But, beside chemical byproduct, there is another factor to clean beauty to think about. So, if you're concerning yourself with the molecular level of beauty products specifically. I would also want to bring understanding to how your body is processing these molecular structures, and the impact that it is having on your body, at the molecular level.
Endocrine disruption is only 1 of many types of molecular 'affects' that can occur from chemical exposures.
The other thing to consider, is that these affects are not limited just to 'harmful bad guy ingredients.'
There are unwanted ingredients and by products in vitamins, some manufactured supplements, in canned goods, glass jars, and plastic water bottles.
Things you think are 'natural' and 'organic' doesn't necessarily mean they're 'good for you' or 'safe' by any means from potential 'adverse' affects. These affects are just occurring at the molecular level, so they're much harder to notice.
Even almond milk, soy milk, wheat, gluten, these things aren't necessarily the 'best' things for us. Even 'natural' fibers, and wall paint- isn't the best. New clothing that you buy from a store, are often saturated with chemicals. Dyes and food coloring in food is everywhere. It's in your laundry detergent, your shampoo, your toothpaste.
Pasta for example is a complex carbohydrate. You'd think, this is pretty natural. Harmless right? But harmless doesn't mean it's the best thing for our bodies, again, at the molecular level.
Processing complex molecules puts stress on the body, and physiological stress creates a new chemistry in your body that was slightly different than before. Just processing food you ate, is considered a physiological stress. Your body is having to put in work, to process something. So the easier it is to process, or the less frequently you eat- the less stress you're putting your body through.
Keeping your system in constant process mode is kind of unhealthy, or not the optimal ideal way to take care of your GI health. It is at it's healthiest when you give it a rest.
Even in something 'natural' like milk, is a great example. There are hormones, and lipids from fat. And depending on your life style, and your consumption style, how you take care of your body, really affects how your body processes these things.
So you can strip your diet back as much as possible, but the person who follows a work out regiment, and puts their body under less physiological stress by eating in smaller portions less frequently, who has balanced gut health and regularity, who has balanced hormones and is not nutrient deficient. Who hydrates well before and after work outs. Who has clean arteries, and doesn't smoke. They're going to have a clearer sharper mind. They're going to burn fat while they sleep. They're going to have clearer skin. They will be at less risk of heart attack, stroke, alzheimers, parkinsons, and cancer.
But there are literally 'not so awesome' products that could be considered natural, like I said, even in supplements and vitamins. Just because it's natural doesn't mean it's good for you or is the best thing for you. Even all natural deodarants, even, organic period products, and even 'natural' toothpaste, isn't necessarily, 'perfect' and safe from all potential harm.
So yeah, I just wanted to clarify that, good health or protecting yourself even at the molecular level, is really just as much about action, as it is about avoidance of products. You can't just delete yourself to perfect health, and your body is 'safer' or functions at its best when you start adding things too, like antioxidants for example. It's about prevention, through action that leads to a balanced healthy body, operating at its optimum- at the molecular level. Not just, avoiding aluminum.
There are harmful chemicals in furniture, rugs. The baby crib you grew up in. In treated wood. Even natural wood can have adverse health affects, especially in regard to bacteria.
So if you want a 'perfect' environment, it also starts with, how well your bodies internal environment is looking, so that it won't be defenseless to the inevitably harmful environment. Even the sun, is technically not great for us. The bluelight from our phone screens, is technically damaging our skin, and eyes.
And, on that note. About technology,
There is more to bodily harm and 'health' than just chemicals. We are sensitive beings. To light, to sound, to vibration, to our environments and every detail in it. There is a reason why the beach is healing, there is negative ions which affect our chemistry in a generally positive way.
We all have unique chemistry going on. So for some, it may not be the right fit. You have things to consider like pH and blood type, metabolic type, the list goes on. So, what works for one, does not work for everyone. We all have different availability of things we need, like enzymes, and important unique proteins. Our bodies also process things at the molecular level uniquely, and our cells respond to certain things differently, like for example fat. We store it in different ways, in different places.
It always makes me laugh when I see skin care products that say, "made with polymers." Because, pretty much everything becomes a polymer at some point.
But yeah, how even our skin is affected by a product is entirely unique. We don't all have the same skin. Skin is alive, and processes chemicals just like, the lining of our organs does as well. And, the environment you lived in for long periods of time, or the environment you are currently in, also affects how skin care will interact with your skin. So a product that's great for you in Florida, a wet humid hot place, may be horrible for Sally in Las Vegas- one of the driest cities.
So what may be great for you, may be horrible for another.
There are things in our environment that are great for us, that you can't buy in a bottle. In fact, just because it is good for you, doesn't mean you should put it in a bottle, and start inhaling it. All in good measure. For example, even too much oxygen, isn't necessarily improving or good for your health long term. (For example, those oxygen bars).
Your body is an adaptable machine, so toying with it in unnatural ways, is going to have an inevitable response. That's why with medicine there's always pros and cons.
This is why it's difficult to keep people alive long term, who are maybe somewhat 'alive' but, are perhaps brain dead and, comatose. Even with all the 'added' technology to keep someone alive. It isn't enough just to keep them alive. The body fails, when it is not in action. Very quickly. It declines, in so many ways, its difficult to list it all. But its a domino effect of inevitable failure.
Even having a boosted immune system, you'd think, ah. This is great, for me. But no, even our own immune system can hurt us. We toy with it, with vaccinations- but not everyone responds the same way. Gullian Barre syndrome is a good example of an immune system 'on fire'
There are bad things that are good for us too. Letting babies get exposed to some dirt early in life, is good for building their immune system. Putting your feet in dirt, even. Is known to be 'good for your body' at the molecular level, sort of in a similar way that negative ions from the beach are. It's important that we actually make time to have some sun, and also to feel the earth, to lay on it and let it's energetic pulse affect us- it is part of what keeps us living at our optimum. Us, without our earth, is, not as good. Like a phone without its charger, is the best comparison I could make.
I agree, you make some good points here. Gut health problems and endocrine disruption is real. But you are talking to people that injected themselves with experimental gene therapy vaccines unknown chemicals. I doubt they care about this stuff.
I really don’t like grey. I can appreciate it. I understand how to use it. I understand why some people love it and how it can really work in a space or on accents.
But I don’t know why, I just have this strange aversion to grey. In homes.
I want to like it, I really do. But I don’t know, maybe one day I’ll be able to get over this grey-phobia
I don't like blazers. In women's fashion.
I understand sometimes you have to wear them if it goes with the occupation but. I don't know why but there's just something about it I can't stand.
They can be really expensive, and with the luxury brands they're a big deal and people get really into buying them just to "have" it before someone else gets it.
But I don't know, I just think they're kind of masculine no matter how you slice it. It's really difficult to get a feminine look out of a blazer. They're often a boxy fit or too big seeming in the shoulder and arms area.
I don't like blazers. In women's fashion.
But I don't know, I just think they're kind of masculine no matter how you slice it. It's really difficult to get a feminine look out of a blazer. They're often a boxy fit or too big seeming in the shoulder and arms area.
They work sometimes, but oftentimes they aren't made with the female form in mind yeah.
A lot of it is about body type too.
I really don’t like grey. I can appreciate it. I understand how to use it. I understand why some people love it and how it can really work in a space or on accents.
But I don’t know why, I just have this strange aversion to grey. In homes.
I want to like it, I really do. But I don’t know, maybe one day I’ll be able to get over this grey-phobia
Grey works as a framing color. I normally don't enjoy it either but it worked well as a hoody.
Now Beige is another story.
I don’t *hate* Colour Pop but I don’t like them anymore. The formula’s aren’t that good to warrant buying it. But if you need something affordable that is better than drug store it’s half decent for the price point. They’re smart to market to a more adolescent niche.
I feel like the vaccine should be added to this thread. No one knows what’s in it, it doesn’t work for what it was supposed to work for. Trusting humans is dumb, it was a fad that led people to hate others just for not getting it. They tried to pay people to get it, which is a huge red flag. People are dropping dead from it. I just don’t think death matches anything in my closet. It just isn’t a good trend.
On top of that, there are lots of indications that it changes your DNA, including just what it claims to be and do. mRNA, sounds a lot like DNA 🤔 which would really mess up your standing with God and make you patentable. That freaking double helix 🧬 is so life savingly beautiful. I would have hated to follow that transhumanism trend. I mean… I’m so glad I missed that. 😅
disclaimer: to each their own, i love everyone doing what they love to do and i think everyone looks great either way, i'm just talking about my personal taste and what i would wear or buy and looks good on me or suits my life style and how i want to represent myself based on my personality you know, but if it's your personality to wear "the strawberry dress" and you feel like you are on top of the world in it, I think you look beautiful because, happiness and embracing who you are is beautiful. so no hate to any of these trends on anyone, i'm not sitting there thinking "ew, i can't believe they're wearing that" i'm just more or less de-influencing myself into not buying into 'hype trends' flash in the pan things that maybe i was excited by even, my own self i got lured into at one time or another, but i'm glad i didn't invest too much money into because i fell out of love with them just as quickly as i fell in love, and they faded even faster than i thought they would in terms of interest. i think that social media with everyone overdoing everything contributes to this, as well as fashion companies to drive sales are quickly "switching it up" to stay current and interesting, and it has a lot of influence on how fast the trends are moving to the point it's almost difficult to keep up, monetarily. you'd start bankrupt if you tried to do every trend you thought was cute, so that's what the point of this is is merely to sort of counter that 'hyperspeed market' with a gentle reminder, hey, this was cute but, don't get fooled into wasting money on here one day gone the next social media driven, fake hype, trends.
side note: take a shot everytime I say gen-z in this post
The Barbie movie and the "pink" thing.
Looks like we have found another fairly recent trend, I feel like this summer pink took all of us for a ride of whimsy on the barbie ferris wheel of life. That was fun for the barbie movie, and even I loved the trend, and seeing everyone in pink- for a couple months.
But now that it's fall, it's lost its luster and somehow fell off the map for me, I think Chanel did a wonderful job working with this trend while still making something artistically creative so it was interesting, but yeah, all the pink and purple and 80's neon stuff and glitter... I think we were all having a lot of fun being "fun" in fashion again, and then it started going overboard and now it's, significantly being countered by what people are annoyingly running around calling "old money" and "quiet luxury" which basically just means, calm down a bit, don't be so overkill, you look insane, you know.
Neo-core.
I don't know what to call it other than that, I'm sure there's a lot of names for it. But it's sort of originates from Japan and Korea, and it's influence made it's way into nail art, homes- with oddly shaped wavy home decor pieces, checkered prints, or sometimes all "vanilla girl" white, and smiley face slippers. The groovy "skate shop" meets gen-z trend, was cute for a moment, and was almost like the e-girl or emo with less goth. Some have kept the goth and emo vibes alive and well but. Regardless, I thought it was really cute since 2020. But now that it's 2023, I feel like it's time to close the book on this one and keep moving forward, which I have noticed now that gen-z is getting older, they're starting to 'grow up' and influencing social media with their unique tastes, and moving away from whatever this coconut girl, neo-fashion stuff was that, in all honesty is basically what i equate to, what urban outfitters and 2013-2014 fashion was for high schoolers.
Anything 2013-2104
Anything 2013-2014 looking is out too, btw. for me personally. it's not that it's bad, i'm just over it and don't want to see it anymore. it's not fresh, but instead i feel like is going backwards in terms of, innovation and excitement, inspiration you know, in fashion. it also makes you seem 34 years old and like you have been asleep to anything that has happened in fashion since 2014 and living under some strange rock somewhere, being lame and boring. Am i wrong? That's just my personal take on it, not to be so harsh. XD
Kardashian style & instagram glam
The only thing they have influenced me to do is wear matching sets more, and to spend more money on shoes that you do the entire outfit. Don't get me wrong, I think everything is very well suited for them, but I'm glad I didn't copy and paste their style and try to "be" that like I have seen some people do, as I think so many did it (especially on instagram) that now it's almost embarressing to me to go out like that in public. It was very glam, bold, overdone. And dare I say, thanks to influencers of 2016-2018 (RIP), it is chueggy. Fast fashion brands contributed also to making it all come off as cheap, no matter how expensive those sunglasses really wore, or what brand made them.
The graveyard
More trends that I think are approaching the graveyard due to being overdone like chevron print. Get out fast before you end up wasting thousands of dollars on a very expensive mistake.
And anything that reminds me of "my dad is a lawyer" vibe is out as well, including boat shoes aka "i went to prep private high school"
Toms
