A Creative and Colorful Escape with Erin Fong

Meet the Muse: Kaylynn

Minori is Certified Plastic Negative!

Skincare Simplified: Meet State of Kind's Founder Sarah Dobbin-Battersby

Meet the Muse: Eve Vaccaro

Honoring Black Joy

Blossom, With Love

<span>What's Love Day without a playlist to vibe to? Our community put together tracks that'll swoon the Muse in the Mirror or that special person in your heart. From the sultry sounds of Sade to the youthful melodies of Cleo Sol, this playlist carries heart warming love songs fit for the utmost adoration you deserve.</span>

A Love Day Playlist From Us To You

Remembering bell hooks' Legacy of Love

Meet The Minori Team

Honoring Black History Month

Meet the Muse: Andrea Loayza

3 Books For a Mindful Reset

<p><em>By Leahnora Azad</em></p>
<h2>We love exploring the journeys of fellow brand founders following their inspirations, creative processes, and personal journeys towards intentional living, mindful consumption, and minimalist practices. <br><br><a href="https://noahmarion.com" target="_blank" title="Noah Marion" rel="noopener noreferrer">Noah Marion</a> is an Austin-based design studio that specializes in timeless, handcrafted products for the mindful consumer looking to buy things that last -- and while you're looking, sip on expresso in person! We asked founder Noah Marion a few questions on intentional living, his design processes, and mindful balance when it comes to creative work. Let's dive in!</h2>
<p><b>What mindful approaches have you practiced to become a support system to yourself?</b></p>
<p><b>NM:  </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Well if I said I was my only support system I’d be lying. I’ve been blessed to have the best mother in the world and she’s been my rock. I have a great family that’s been here for me as well. But to answer your question specifically: I have recognized from very early on that you cannot finish today which is meant for tomorrow and whatever you don’t finish today will always be there tomorrow. Meaning, don’t stress out so much about the schedule and just do the best you can do and sleep well at night. Basically, everyone else is always stressing about timelines and such but if you do the best you can do that’s better than most and everyone else’s insane timelines always get pushed back b/c everyone is so stressed anyway. So always under promise and over deliver that’s what’s up!</span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/NoahMarion_Minori_480x480.png?v=1641936436" alt="" style="float: none;"></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/phillipharder/" target="_blank" title="Phillip Harder Instagram" rel="noopener noreferrer">Phillip Harder</a>
</div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br><strong>Noah Marion prides itself on making timeless handcrafted goods that get better with age. How would you encourage people to consume with appreciation and longevity in mind?</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>NM: </strong></span>I wish I could say that there’s any way I could encourage that but honestly it’s just a personal journey. If no one ever tells you that you can buy things once and buy the best thing made in that category and never have to replace, then you don’t know. So I guess I’d say education, like all things, is the only encouragement I could offer. If you have the information that this item you love and cherish will stick around forever, you start thinking about that idea with all the things you buy. It’s like a door opening and you step through and nothing is the same again. You get what I mean? </p>
<p><strong>How has small batch manufacturing influenced your design practices?</strong></p>
<p><strong>NM:  </strong>W<span style="font-weight: 400;">hen you’re designing something you have to really take in to consideration what tools you have at your disposal, so with that in mind I always go in to a design thinking about the process and the methods to achieve my goal.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> For instance, I started with a sewing needle, and an exacto and some thread and rulers so I could only make things within the confines of those tools. Then I made these really big bags that really pushed my limits once I had one sewing machine that I would’ve never been able to do before. Then my latest collection I really wanted to push some boundaries but in order to do so I had to invest i</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">n new equipment because it really wouldn’t have been feasible to make them otherwise.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So I guess that’s all to say that <em>the most sustainable way to make something is to use what you have on hand and continue to grow from there.</em> I know a lot of people just buy a ton of equipment right out the gate and then they quit because it’s too much and too overwhelming. But then there are other machine heads that they really are just in it for the machines. So, it takes all kinds to make a bag and there’s no right way to do it. </span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Noah_Marion_Minori2_480x480.png?v=1641936484" alt="" style="float: none;"></div>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>What does no unnecessary excess mean to you?</strong></p>
<p><strong>NM: </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">I basically say you have to go to the nth degree and come back to zero and along that journey you’ll find your sweet spot (I can’t take credit though, that came from one of my mentors in college and I apply it daily). So everytime I design something I try to think about that, I just go crazy, what’s the most most of everything to get this thing to be in existence, then I come back to just the most basic form and somewhere I land on it. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I don’t like ornamentation too much in my designs however and I think that’s because I want them to sing quietly to you all day long and not take up too much space. There are so many other things that we have to decorate our lives with i’d prefer my designs just help you get there in the most efficient and pleasant way possible. </span></p>
<p><strong>What does intentional living look like to you?</strong></p>
<p><strong>NM: <span style="font-weight: 400;">I think that is tantamount to everything we stand for as a brand. Buy things and eat things and drink things and make things that are meaningful to you and to your life and always remember to do so with our futures in mind and then you can sleep well knowing you did the best you could to live intentionally or mindfully I like to say.</span></strong></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/NoahMArion_480x480.png?v=1641936533" alt="" style="float: none;"></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"></div>
<p><strong>In what ways has your hand-crafted approach shifted your appreciation of design and creativity?</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>NM:</strong> I’m not sure that I really think it’s shifted my appreciation but it’s the same thing I was referencing earlier: when someone tells you that you don’t have to buy $2.99 toothpaste and that there are other options that are better for you, the earthy and that last longer and all that, it’s harder to go back to the shitty toothpaste. I think that’s with all things in a well intentioned life:<em> when you recognize the benefit of investing in your consumption in a meaningful way it’s hard to go back</em>. So you then also are opened up to all the better designs and more creative paths out there for you had you never opened that door. </span></p>
<p><strong>Noah Marion has incredibly striking visuals that capture the rawness and intimacy of life. Where did the inspiration come from? </strong></p>
<p><strong>NM: </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wow that’s a nice compliment. Well I worked closely with a dear friend of mine, Philip Harder, to create these incredible images. The inspiration was inside me, my weird mind, my kooky way of looking at the world. But more importantly, I wanted to give the world a different perspective on how you can purchase and shop for things online. I think it’s the next wave of e-com and people just haven’t seen it yet and haven’t caught on, but they will. </span></p>
<p><strong><br>All Photos sourced from Noah Marion</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong><br><br></strong></span></p>
<p><b><br><br></b></p>

<span>Noah Marion is an Austin-based design studio that specializes in timeless, handcrafted products for the mindful consumer looking to buy things that last -- and while you're looking, sip on expresso in person! We asked founder Noah Marion a few questions on intentional living, his design processes, and mindful balance when it comes to creative work. Let's dive in!</span>

Intentional Living and Design with Noah Marion

Setting Intentions: A Compassionate Practice

<p>I am wrapping up 2021 with an ode for my favorite form of self-care… reading. Reading is one of my great pleasures in life amongst massages, cat cuddles, carbs, naps.</p>
<p>As a self-proclaimed <em>bon vivant</em>, I put reading near the top of the list of what makes my serotonin levels pop. After a hectic 2020 which led me to near burnout, I started 2021 with the intention to make it through with more balance and routine. With the looming stress and pressure of the Minori launch, I anchored my days in a mindful morning routine reading, mediating, and working out. I hope that this blog post inspires you to pick up a good read over the holidays!</p>
<p>P.S. if you are looking for a suggestion, you’ll find a few of my favorites in the paragraphs ahead.</p>
<h1><strong>Hot summer reads</strong></h1>
<p>I started reading for fun relatively late in life, mainly because I was still struggling to learn Russian, English and French all at the same time as a kid. I must have been 11 or 12 when I devoured Harry Potter books and figuring out that I can finish any size book I set my mind to.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/11987184_10153533305962789_2040753917758333397_n_480x480.jpg?v=1640873742" alt=""></p>
<p>Some of my best teenage memories are my summers spent visiting my older sister in New York City. At the time she lived in a tiny apartment on Thompson St., in Soho. For nearly every Christmas, Spring and Summer breaks from ages 11 to 17 I would take the Amtrak train from Montreal to New York and bum around Soho by myself while my sister worked as a young lawyer in the city. Her apartment was so small when she would go to bed, my only option to stay up reading into the wee hours of the night was to curl up near the kitchen’s windowsills, or sprawl on her bathroom floor’s carpet. During those hot and humid no-AC NYC nights, I devoured Nabokov’s Lolita, Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, and almost every Haruki Murakami book I could get by hands on (my favorite is <em>Kafka on the Shore</em>).</p>
<h1><strong>The ensuing drought</strong></h1>
<p>Beginning with my second year in college I nearly stopped reading for pleasure, as I was focused on staying on top of my Finance textbooks. Still, looking back at my undergrad program from McGill University, my most memorable class was an elective economics course called <em>Critical Thinking: Biases and Illusions</em>, where the professor asked us to read several amazing behavioral economics books such as Daniel Khaneman’s <em>Thinking Fast and Slow</em>, and Dan Ariely’s <em>Predictably Irrational</em>. <span> </span>This in turn triggered my love for reading non-fiction books, particularly around psychology and behaviors.</p>
<p>In the years that followed my undergrad, I went through a long reading drought. Weeknights, I would come home from work crashing in front of the TV, watching mindless shows such as the Vampire Diaries and Trueblood. Weekends were spent nursing hangovers from big nights out. <span> </span>I would pick up a book only when on vacation on the beach, where I would gladly bake under the sun for 5 hours straight (my poor skin!) while reading something fun like an Astronaut’s <em>Guide to Life on Earth</em>. By far the most impactful book from that period for me was Marie Kondo’s books [insert title here, italicized], where I began changing my habits for the better [link to another article where you talk about this]. </p>
<h1><strong>Falling back in love with reading</strong></h1>
<p>Strangely, I got into the habit of reading voraciously early this year, at what was likely the busiest times in my life, 6 months away from launching Minori. While I was bandwidth-constrained given all the different tasks on my to-dos to accomplish, I found reading both soothing and stimulating. Getting the entrepreneurial bug seems to have triggered wide-open my thirst for learning. I read business books, pen and paper in hand, taking notes and jotting down ideas. My favorite books from this period are Seth Godin’s <em>This is Marketing </em>and Derek Thompson’s <em>Hit Makers</em>.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Screen_Shot_2021-12-30_at_9.18.01_AM_480x480.png?v=1640874006" alt=""> </p>
<p>Finding time to read during those days felt almost like a guilty pleasure. Looking back, I realize now that almost anyone can find the time to read for 20 minutes a day if they really put their mind to it; it’s just a matter of cutting down time from other less fulfilling activities (ideally at the expense of Netflix or browsing mindlessly through the web!)</p>
<p>Reading every day, almost without exception, this year resulted in finishing about 16 books. I must admit that I had to dig through my kindle, my library and my audible app to recollect the names of all the titles. I don’t feel like I retained nearly as much of the wisdom from reading <em>Atomic Habits</em> as I would have liked! I’m also sad that I can’t charismatically re-phrase Esther Perel’s brilliant observations on relationship dynamics. With all that said, every minute spent reading this year was a moment of utter bliss. I am so grateful to have given myself permission to lose myself in those pages and to carve out small peaceful moments do something I genuinely enjoy.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Screen_Shot_2021-12-30_at_9.18.20_AM_480x480.png?v=1640874042" alt=""> </p>
<p>I hope that this inspires you to pick up a book and take some time away from your screens over the holidays (and perhaps a little bit everyday day in 2022).</p>
<p> </p>
<h1>My 2021 reads. </h1>
<p>* next to my favorites</p>
<p><strong>Fiction</strong></p>
<p>City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert *</p>
<p>Stories of our lives by Ted Chiang *</p>
<p>Ghost Bride Yangsze Choo</p>
<p>Educated by Tara Westover</p>
<p>The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet</p>
<p><span>La Femme qui fuit par Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette * </span><span> </span></p>
<p><strong>Business</strong></p>
<p>Atomic Habits by James Clear*</p>
<p>Elevated Economics by Richard Steel*</p>
<p>Obsessed by Emily Hayward</p>
<p>The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger</p>
<p><strong>Self Help / Psychology</strong></p>
<p>The Art of War by Steven Pressfield *</p>
<p>Man’s search for meaning by Victor Frankl</p>
<p>Mating in Captivity<span>  </span>by Esther Perel *</p>
<p>The 4-hour body by Tim Ferris</p>
<p>Meditation &amp; Mindfulness by Andy Puddicome</p>
<p>Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan and Calia Jetha</p>
<p> </p>

My Favorite Form of Self-Care: Reading

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">​​</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">By Anastasia </span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What do you think of when you hear the word </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minimalism</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">? Is it a clean, modern-looking apartment without knick-knacks, and perfectly coordinated furniture from West Elm? Is it an all-neutral capsule wardrobe with matching luxury leather bags? Or is it an instagrammable bathroom shelfie with a collection of trending skincare products?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My practice of minimalism doesn’t quite look like that. I don’t think any two people’s version of minimalism looks alike, and</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that’s okay</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. So, let me start by defining my personal definition of Minimalism. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At 31 years old, living in a charmingly old apartment in San Francisco, with my husband and my cat, while trying to grow a small beauty startup, minimalism means making space for what matters most to me and practicing being present in this space. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In other words, my practice of minimalism equates to the removal of noise, junk, distractions or anything that can unnecessarily complicate my day-to-day life. </span></p>
<h4><b>Here are a few basic ways I practice minimalism in my life:</b></h4>
<h1><b>Slow Mornings</b></h1>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Untitled_design-14_480x480.png?v=1636576170" alt=""></div>
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<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As an Aries whose impulsive and anxious energy could power a small city, my mornings can easily derail into attacking a long to-do list of emails and slack messages from the moment I wake up. The more I try to cram work into the first hours of the day, the less real progress I end up making. So about a year ago, I decided to declutter my mornings from my endless to-do lists and my high expectations and take a bit of time away from ‘’doing’’ anything until about 10 am!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instead, I read, drink coffee, meditate and do some lazy sit ups on my yoga mat while listening to Stromae in my office. Making space for myself this 2021 resulted in reading 20 books, meditating for a total of about 80 hours, and achieving some semi-defined abs...my morning routine resulted in the best hours of ‘’being’’ and not ‘’doing’’ anything I could have ever asked for. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<h1><b>An Easy Style</b></h1>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Untitled_design-12_480x480.png?v=1636575864" alt=""></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"></div>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I love beautiful clothes, but after several years of trying to spend money on trendy outfits, I decided that I would rather spend my energy elsewhere (like building my startup!). My wardrobe which fits into two small carryon suitcases consists of a mix of essentials that I wear non-stop. Working from home, in my chilly SF home office, I’m almost always layered up in my Patagonia zip-up sweater. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see me wear the same dresses from Amour Vert and BA &amp; SH on almost all my IG lives. If you see me at a bar, I’ll most likely be in my pair of pleather pants from Aritzia that I have worn for 4 years straight.  So when it comes to fashion, I practice minimalism by investing into pieces I can wear again and again, enjoying rocking my SF Patagonia uniform as much as a beautiful silk dress. (P.S I’m not perfect..and still bought at least 5 things this year that ended up getting donated because they were impulse buys of not great quality or fit.)</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<h1><b>Minimalist Beauty</b></h1>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Untitled_design-13_480x480.png?v=1636576008" alt=""></div>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Well, no surprise here :P I keep my beauty routine quite simple. On the makeup side, I’ve got everything figured out with my Minori products: </span><a href="https://www.minoribeauty.com/shop-product?product=cream-highlighter"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Orchid blush, Champagne highlighter</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.minoribeauty.com/shop-product?product=lip-gloss"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cozy lip gloss</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are my go-tos for most days! With skincare I’m still struggling with hormonal acne, so there is always something new in rotation in my medicine cabinet in the form of a spot treatment. To keep my skin exfoliated I use my </span><a href="https://www.paulaschoice.com/skin-perfecting-8pct-aha-gel-exfoliant/190.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">AHA</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from Paula’s choice and moisturized and glowing thanks to my </span><a href="https://commonheir.com/products/vitamin-c-serum"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Common Heir Vitamin C Serum</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, or a serum by </span><a href="https://dr-ej.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr. Elsa Jungman</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. I’m religious about my </span><a href="https://eltamd.com/collections/tinted-sunscreen"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Elta MD tinted sunscreen</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (Dreaming of the day when Minori can launch a tinted SPF so I can switch to a cleaner formula!).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over the past two years, I’ve also stopped getting my nails done at the salon. It saves me time and money to keep my nails short and painted with a clear top coat, or just buffed with my </span><a href="https://barehands.us/products/the-gift-set"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bare Hands Essentials nail file</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. While keeping the general routine simple, I still get Botox once or twice a year..and occasionally spend $200 on a facial. Does that make me full of contradictions? </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">I think it makes me human</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">: choosing to invest energy into certain things, while simplifying other areas of my life.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So to close this off, I think that</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> we are all minimalists in our own ways</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. There are small places in your life, where we choose to make space and choose to be more present. In the noisy world of social media, content, brand launches and things to buy (which we contribute to undeniably!), I hope that Minori plays a positive role in inspiring you to make space for what matters most to you.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tonight, I chose to make space to write this piece. Thank you for reading and making space for my words.  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><b>Ana</b></p>
<br>
<p> </p>
<br><br>

Minimalism: Making Space For What Matters

The Gift of Abundance with Deanna Vy

Low-Waste Holiday Decorating Ideas

<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">With the holiday season underway, we asked our minimalist founder friends from </span><a target="_blank" href="https://barehands.us/" class="editor-rtfLink" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Bare Hands,</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> </span><a target="_blank" href="https://commonheir.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAkNiMBhCxARIsAIDDKNUgJWdnZV9wafG8JFKe7YirG7gO5u4WAnNL7V1DI2mMXSreAKcjE0QaAgKPEALw_wcB" class="editor-rtfLink" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Common Heir</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true">, and </span><a target="_blank" href="https://dr-ej.com/?keyword=dr%20elsa%20jungman&amp;match=b&amp;network=g&amp;campaignid=11755928117&amp;device=c&amp;devicem=&amp;locp=9031953&amp;pl=&amp;creative=496793625299&amp;adgroupid=110872791741&amp;adpos=&amp;adtype=&amp;url=%7BunescapedIpurl%7D&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAkNiMBhCxARIsAIDDKNU3h62De-24lLgWKD5a86eGbOE-2ajufQzU-5igZUB12RPY1VFdLSMaAtMpEALw_wcB" class="editor-rtfLink" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Dr. Elsa Jungman</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> to share their favorite products that make useful and attentive gifts. We hope that this list sparks some ideas for the holiday season as we practice mindful gifting!</span></p>
<p><a href="https://dr-ej.com/?keyword=dr%20elsa%20jungman&amp;match=b&amp;network=g&amp;campaignid=11755928117&amp;device=c&amp;devicem=&amp;locp=9031953&amp;pl=&amp;creative=496793625299&amp;adgroupid=110872791741&amp;adpos=&amp;adtype=&amp;url=%7BunescapedIpurl%7D&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhuXhveWj9AIVSAutBh0iHg7sEAAYASAAEgLEo_D_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Elsa-Portraits-2_1_480x480.png?v=1637298827" alt="" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></span></a></p>
<p>Elsa is the founder of <a href="https://dr-ej.com/?keyword=dr%20elsa%20jungman&amp;match=b&amp;network=g&amp;campaignid=11755928117&amp;device=c&amp;devicem=&amp;locp=9031953&amp;pl=&amp;creative=496793625299&amp;adgroupid=110872791741&amp;adpos=&amp;adtype=&amp;url=%7BunescapedIpurl%7D&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9vaZstGj9AIVf8EWBR3IIwN9EAAYASAAEgKmrvD_BwE" target="_blank" title="Dr. Elsa Jungman MicroBiome Skincare " rel="noopener noreferrer">Dr. Elsa Jungman</a>, a minimalist microbiome-friendly skincare brand specializing in bringing you back to your skin. The following are Elsa’s favorite gift ideas for a cozy holiday season (or anytime really!) <strong>Use code VOILA now through 11/29 for 25% off of everything at Dr. Elsa Jungman</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://dr-ej.com/products/minimalist-discovery-kit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Dr. EJ Minimaliste Discovery Set</a>—A gift featuring minis of our best-loved ultra-moisturizing serums and a limited edition ‘Minimaliste’ canvas pouch for travel or everyday use.  Perfect for trying a little bit of everything, and finding your favorite. ($32)<br><br>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.heathceramics.com/collections/mugs-cups/products/large-mug?variant=5460773273633" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Heath Ceramics</a>—Elsa’s go-to mug for early morning zoom calls or an herbal tea in the evening. A timeless classic ceramic mug that is suitable for anyone who enjoys a warm cup of something ($41)<br><br>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://store.dandelionchocolate.com/products/85-and-100-wrapped-three-bar-gift-set" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Dandelion Chocolate</a>—If you or your special someone is a chocolate lover, this gift set is *the* gift. All dark chocolate, all prepared in San Francisco. Dandelion is a small-batch chocolatier that gives special attention to the culture, art, and ethical production of their cacao ($45)<br><br>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://pfcandleco.com/products/pinon-standard-soy-candle?_pos=2&amp;_sid=fb2fb5794&amp;_ss=r" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PF Candle Co.- Piñ</a>—Who doesn’t love that perfect candle for cozy evenings? Elsa’s favorite, Piñon, features scents like vanilla, cedar, and (of course!) piñon logs ($20)<br><br>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://songtea.com/collections/gifts/products/flower-shiboridashi" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Song Tea + Ceramics Floral Shiboridashi</a>—This hand painted floral shiboridashi is perfect for a more traditional tea time. Beautifully made with soft tones and gorgeous linework, this thoughtful gift is sure to become a conversation starter the next time you pour a friend a cup of tea ($162)</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://commonheir.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqLfl7tGj9AIVhAh9Ch0fMwNBEAAYASAAEgIlX_D_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Angela_1_480x480.png?v=1637299299" alt="" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></p>
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<p>Angela Ubias is a name in beauty you should know. After nearly a decade working in clean and indie beauty product development, building one of the original clean beauty labs and over 50 iconic brands in the process, there’s a strong chance something Angela Ubias formulated is in your bathroom or boudoir right now. But after spending nearly a decade building other brands, Ubias felt called to create something of her own, thus, she co-founded Common Heir a first in class luxury, skincare line that is all results, zero plastic<i><span>.</span></i> <strong><a href="https://commonheir.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqLfl7tGj9AIVhAh9Ch0fMwNBEAAYASAAEgIlX_D_BwE" target="_blank" title="Common Heir Vitamin C " rel="noopener noreferrer">Enjoy 25% off 11/22-11/28 (discount applied at checkout)</a> at Common Heir </strong></p>
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<a href="https://commonheir.com/products/vitamin-c-serum" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Common Heir</a>—Our award-winning Vitamin C Serum is the ultimate gift for the skincare lover. A gentle, luxe, and travel-friendly formula that uses a unique form of Vitamin C and brightening botanicals like licorice and marshmallow root to leave skin glowing. Not to mention the packaging looks stunning on a vanity ($88) <br><br>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://54thrones.com/collections/shark-tank-deals/products/favorite-things-2020-african-beauty-butter-collection-deluxe-tin" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> 54 Thrones</a> is a beautiful brand (and Oprah approved!) inspired by founder Christina Tegbe's heritage and love of African ingredients and beauty traditions. The African Beauty Butter comes in 5 delicious scents and is available in a limited edition collection ($80) <br><br>
</li>
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<a href="https://eskerbeauty.com/products/body-plane-set" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Esker's Body Plane Tool</a> is a staple in my body care routine. It's also beautifully crafted and a female-founded company which I love! ($85)<br><br>
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<a href="https://themoonstoned.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Moonstoned</a>—If you're in the market for a gorgeous piece of jewelry, your search ends with The Moonstoned. Founder, Elizabeth Potts, takes such an ethical approach to curating the most amazing vintage finds along with designing collections under The Moonstoned brand. I own a few treasured items that will be part of my forever jewelry collection.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://barehands.us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Suzanne_shade_vs_portrait_1_480x480.png?v=1637605201" alt="" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Suzanne Shade is the founder of <a href="https://barehands.us/" target="_blank" title="Bare Hands Dry Gloss Manicure" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bare Hands</a> and creator of the Dry Gloss Manicure—A natural method to shine and nourish nails without plastic-based paints or harmful solvents. Her mission is to create an alternative to traditional manicure products and a new paradigm for natural nail care. <strong>Use code </strong></span><strong>INGOODHANDS to enjoy 15% off at Bare Hands </strong></p>
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<a href="https://keepwellkept.com/products/safety-razor-black" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Keep Well Kept Safety Razor</a>—With proper care, this razor and its components will last a lifetime. I love their mantra that the most sustainable purchase is no purchase ($82)<br><br>
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<a href="https://barehands.us/collections/all/products/the-dry-gloss-manicure-kit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> The Dry Gloss Manicure kit</a>—The goal of our kit is to reduce exposure to oil-based paints and harmful solvents and to make the ritual of nail care safer for people and planet ($39) <br><br>
</li>
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<a href="https://ojookcare.com/collections/shop-all/products/nano-hydroxyapatite-and-bamboo-salt-toothpaste" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Ojook Toothpaste</a>—I love the innovation in both heritage and modern ingredients: Roasted Korean medicinal bamboo salt restores the ideal oral microbiome, and Xylitol starves harmful bacteria in your mouth, reducing plaque and preventing cavities ($18)<br><br>
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<a href="https://shopwinden.com/solid-shampoo-and-refillable-container-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Winden Solid Shampoo and Container System</a>—Their thoughtfully designed essentials offer an opportunity to redefine how you live, starting with your daily routine ($40)<br><br>
</li>
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<a href="https://binubinu.com/products/soap-duo-gift-set" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Binu Binu Soap Duos</a>—Binu Binu makes goods for public bath rituals, inspired by Korean bathhouse culture. I love that their formulas are based on the idea of the daily ritual of intergenerational bonding ($44)</li>
</ul>
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<p style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.minoribeauty.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Anastasia_Minori_Portrait8462_1_1_480x480.png?v=1637302407" alt="" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></span></a></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CV3ITxGv5-g/?utm_medium=copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anastasia </span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span>Bezrukova </span>is the founder of </span><a href="https://www.minoribeauty.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minori</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.minoribeauty.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">,</a> a makeup brand that creates timeless, inclusive and consciously formulated everyday beauty essentials. She is also a KonMari Consultant. Here's Anastasia's list of minimalist staples that spark joy! <strong>Use code Minimalist20 to enjoy 20% off at Minori </strong></span></p>
</div>
<ul>
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<a href="https://www.crownaffair.com/products/the-towel" target="_blank" title="Crown Affair Mindful Hair" rel="noopener noreferrer">​​Crown Affair The Towel</a>—Perfect for air-drying your hair in style while sipping your morning coffee and doing your minimalist makeup routine ($45) <br><br>
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<a href="https://www.minoribeauty.com/shop-product?product=cream-blush" target="_blank" title="Minori Cream Blush " rel="noopener noreferrer">Minori Cream Blush</a>—Our cream blush works for all skin tones and is possibly the most exciting stocking stuffer you could ask for ($32)<strong> <br><br></strong>
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<a href="https://www.catbirdnyc.com/greco-lariat-necklace.html" target="_blank" title="catbird minimalist " rel="noopener noreferrer">Catbird Greco Lariat Necklace</a>—It's the necklace that has stayed on my neck for the last 500+ days. Its made with 100% recycled solid 14k yellow gold. It's so light and thin that you forget that it's there. You don't need to take it off when you shower. I bought it for my sister last year, and she has also not taken it off since ($218)<br><br>
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<a href="https://www.cuyana.com/small-leather-goods/wallets/zip-cardholder/10051295.html?dwvar_10051295_color=champagne" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Cuyana Wallet</a>—The perfect wallet for a credit card minimalist. I've been using this wallet for over two years, and it is still in pristine condition. I hope to keep and love it for many years to come ($75)<br><br>
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<a href="https://dipalready.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dip Color Safe Shampoo Bar for Every Day in Tobacco &amp; Driftwood</a>—A gift that is sustainable, useful, and fun. This has done such wonders for my thin, damaged hair that it will be on my holiday shopping list for both men and women in my family ($24) <strong>Use code DIPMINORI to enjoy 10% off </strong>
</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="https://ky8lyxotxh4.typeform.com/to/AYRkHrOF" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Enter The Ultimate Minimalist Giveaway</strong></a></p>
<p>- <a class="notranslate" href="https://www.instagram.com/minoribeauty/" tabindex="0">@minoribeauty</a> $100 gift card<br>- <a class="notranslate" href="https://www.instagram.com/commonheir/" tabindex="0">@commonheir</a> Vitamin C Serum<br>- <a class="notranslate" href="https://www.instagram.com/bareyourhands/" tabindex="0">@bareyourhands</a> The Dry Gloss Manicure<br>- <a class="notranslate" href="https://www.instagram.com/dr.elsajungman/" tabindex="0">@dr.elsajungman</a> Minimaliste Discovery Kit<br><br>*The giveaway ends 12.10.21 at 11:59 PM PST. One winner will be selected and contacted via email. </p>

The Ultimate Minimalist Gift Guide

<p><em>By Fiana Herscovici</em></p>
<h1><span style="font-weight: 400;">What is Fast Fashion, <em>Really</em>?</span></h1>
<p>Whether you are the type of person who finds themselves staring into the depths of a seemingly empty closet, exclaiming “gosh, I have nothing to wear!”, or you wear every last piece in your wardrobe until someone begs you to do laundry, we all have to shop. So, we flock to wherever we can to find the best deals, the hottest trends, or wherever sells those white ankle socks in bulk. Demand for the materials we need to produce our favorite brand of jeans or to replace that pilling sweater will rise as the population grows. Where did you get your Halloween costume from? Probably a fast fashion retailer. Why? Because it is fun, cheap, and convenient to shop fast fashion. </p>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/hannah-morgan-ycVFts5Ma4s-unsplash_480x480.jpg?v=1637019907" alt="" style="float: none;"></div>
<h6 style="text-align: center;"><em>Photo By <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannahphoto.co/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hanna Morgan</a></em></h6>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If we are all involved in the industry, then we should become aware of how it works. </span><a href="https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-fast-fashion"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The fashion industry used to run on four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall.</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Designers would work months into the future to predict what consumers would like in order to produce a line of apparel just in time for the season’s change. </span><a href="https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-fast-fashion"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nowadays, fast fashion brands produce about 52 micro seasons a year which translates to around one new collection per week, a process started by Zara when the business model shifted to bi-weekly deliveries of new inventory.</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Why so many seasons? So that stores can keep up with trends in real time which increases the amount of customer visits to the store and diminishes inventory more rapidly to encourage exclusivity. The more likely brands are to change inventory, the more customers will want to shop in order to accumulate these new styles. Fast fashion has us hooked on trends, and we want to try them all. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<h1><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Devastating Costs of Fast Fashion: Outsourcing and Cheap Materials</span></h1>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stemming from this tremendous amount of inventory is a supply chain that usually begins overseas. This process of outsourcing production is called contract manufacturing and companies use this process to raise profits by diminishing their spend on labor. By producing their fashions elsewhere, companies only need to pay the cost of outsourcing, and the factory where the clothing is produced pays all the laborers. </span><a href="https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-fast-fashion"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition, with 52 micro seasons, inventory is churned out at a rapid pace, and there is not enough time for quality control or to use high quality materials.</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> What begins is a positive feedback loop: clothing made at fast pace using cheap materials that customers buy for a low price and then throw away after the first few wears, causing consumers to come back again and again to a mountain of poor quality inventory that keeps growing. In other words </span><a href="https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-fast-fashion"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“the same urgency that throws quality out the window also keeps the costs of these garments incredibly low”</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Thus, fast fashion businesses turn a profit not because of markups, but because of the sheer amount of demand they receive from customers. </span><b>Inventory, and having a lot of it, is what keeps fast fashion alive.</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/karina-tess-H14pfhlfr24-unsplash_480x480.jpg?v=1637019914" alt="" style="float: none;"></div>
<h6 style="text-align: center;"><em>Photo By <a href="https://www.instagram.com/karinatesss/?hl=en" target="_blank" title="Karina Tess" rel="noopener noreferrer">Karina Tess</a></em></h6>
<p> <a href="https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-fast-fashion"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the U.S. alone, 11 million tons of clothing is thrown away.</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> These pieces are </span><a href="https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-fast-fashion"><span style="font-weight: 400;">typically left in landfills and rarely break down, releasing toxins into the air, and chemicals, dangerous dyes, and synthetics into the water supply</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. What’s more is </span><a href="https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvaud/1952/1952.pdf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“clothing production is the third biggest manufacturing industry after the automotive and technology industries. Textile production contributes more to climate change than international aviation and shipping combined.”</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Fast fashion can even have a physical effect on the wearer as “</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6133113/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">harmful chemicals such as benzothiazole—linked to several types of cancer and respiratory illnesses—have been found in apparel on the market today</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.” Fast fashion comes at a cost to the environment, workers, and to you and I. </span></p>
<p>I sat down with Shreya Karri, a student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst studying Environmental Sustainability within fashion to examine the discrepancy between consumer values and shopping habits. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why Is It So Hard to Shop Sustainably?</span></h1>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over the past summer, Shreya conducted research that was “focused on entrepreneurship within the context of ethical and environmentally-friendly fashion, and understanding customer needs and pain points within the market.” She conducted this research as part of the Collegiate Summer Venture Program (CSVP), a 10-week summer program hosted through the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship and Valley Venture Mentors.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Shreya explains that her population size was 100+ individuals and she focused mainly on interviewing “women between the ages of 18 and 45 who had any interest in sustainable and ethical fashion, regardless of whether they had purchased clothing from sustainable brands in the past”. Shreya’s questions “focused on understanding their current fashion shopping habits as a consumer, their interest in sustainable and ethical fashion, and how likely they are to shop sustainably in the future”. Below are a few of the questions Shreya asked her interviewees: </span></p>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How do you currently go about shopping (online, in-person, combination)? - feel free to answer this as pre-pandemic and currently.</span></li>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What does your personal style look like? (I.e high-fashion/designer (luxury), professional, mid-tier, fast-fashion retail) - Describe your favorite outfit (i.e designers, accessories, bags, etc).</span></li>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What are your top five favorite brands/stores  to shop at?</span></li>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What do you dislike about the current places you shop at? </span></li>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you had to estimate, how much would you say you spend on clothes &amp; accessories each year?</span></li>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Do you actively look for and source clothing based on the ethical practices of the company and the environmental impact of the clothes they sell? Why or why not? </span></li>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">On a scale from 1 to 5, how likely are you to deviate from your go-to clothing stores to shop for environmentally-friendly apparel - if they do not already provide environmentally-friendly options? Why?  (1 not likely, 5 very likely)</span></li>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Do you think knowledge about environmentally-friendly fashion options would change the way you shop for clothes?</span></li>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Would you be willing to pay between $80 and $150 for say a top that is environmentally friendly, sustainable, and ethically made?</span></li>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How much would you be willing to pay?</span></li>
</i>
<p> </p>
<p>As a result of this study, Shreya found that “many people are unsure about the different options that are available for sustainable and ethical fashion and some don’t know that there are such options out there. [...] People are interested in learning more and finding out about what they can do to partake in shopping sustainably and making more environmentally friendly choices through their shopping habits.” Shreya also discovered that because “sustainable fashion is generally more expensive than fast fashion retail, mostly college grads or those who are currently working and are within their mid-thirties and older have the financial resources to be able to afford a larger collection of clothing coming directly from sustainable brands” So for those younger and/or unemployed consumers, Shreya found that these individuals shopped sustainably by visiting “thrift stores or second-hand retailers when looking for sustainable alternatives”. </p>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/mukuko-studio-mU88MlEFcoU-unsplash_480x480.jpg?v=1637019899" alt="" style="float: none;"></div>
<h6 style="text-align: center;"><em>Photo By <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mukukostudio/?hl=en" target="_blank" title="Mukuko Studio" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mukuko Studio</a></em></h6>
<p>If a consumer is looking to shop sustainably in store however, they may not have much luck. “Most sustainable brands are primarily e-commerce platforms,” Shreya explains, “meaning many sustainable fashion companies do not have a brick-and-mortar location, as a result, we find that many individuals feel more comfortable shopping in person rather than online in order to make sure that the garments they are purchasing fit them properly.” So, many shoppers may want to shop sustainably but when faced with the inconvenience of 1. Paying more money and 2. Not being able to try this more expensive clothing on, Shreya’s interviewees gave “mixed reviews” about their willingness to shop sustainably. </p>
<p>However, Shreya explains that “a lot of people are willing to shop sustainably” but they “are not really sure about their options and where to go”. When asking Shreya if she witnessed a discrepancy between one’s shopping values versus one’s shopping habits in real life, she admitted that there was a discrepancy between consumer values and habits. Shreya explains that this was more so because “consumers are not sure about what brands and platforms are out there to shop that are more ethically sourced and sustainable.” Shreya hypothesizes, “if sustainable brands were as well known as fast-fashion retailers perhaps we would find consumers to be far more likely to have their shopping values regarding sustainability align with their shopping habits in real life.”</p>
<p> </p>
<h1><span style="font-weight: 400;">Slow Fashion as a Path to a Sustainable Future</span></h1>
<p>So what does sustainable fashion look like? Shreya explains, “<strong>sustainable fashion is slow fashion</strong>,” which is sourced using “eco-friendly materials” and created by individuals who are being paid fair wages. Because of the higher quality textiles used and the raised standard of living assigned to workers, Shreya expresses that “sustainable garments are priced at a far higher price point than most garments within fast-fashion retail.” Thus, many individuals who Shreya interviewed said that they would “shop sustainably through thrifting or second-hand retail because that is more financially feasible for them than to purchase brand new pieces from a sustainable brand.” Personal finances are a driving force for shopping habits, and Shreya adds that for those consumers whose “values and habits don’t necessarily align due to a lack of information regarding their options within sustainable fashion” their decision to buy sustainably will come down to price. </p>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/ethan-bodnar-kgC99X3WH1w-unsplash_480x480.jpg?v=1637020603" alt="" style="float: none;"></div>
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<h6 style="text-align: center;">
<em>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@ethanbodnar?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Ethan Bodnar</a></em><span> </span>
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<p>If one of the reasons that consumers are not shopping sustainably is because they are unaware of sustainable brands, how can sustainable fashion companies make their brands more known? And if these companies are known, why are they not more competitive with fast fashion? Shreya reminds us that sustainable companies produce slow fashion which means these brands put “more thought into how much is produced, what's produced, and how it's produced”. In addition, “fast fashion retail allows companies to create a greater variety of products at lower price points [which can] lead to greater consumption of fast fashion by consumers.” So, if sustainable brands want to keep up with fast fashion, there needs to be a move towards “making sustainable and ethical fashion more mainstream as an option.” One way that we are already seeing sustainable fashion becoming more popular is that “the fashion industry continues to make strides towards sustainability and environmentally friendly alternatives.”  Shreya explains that “consumer preferences and values regarding clothing are quite different and vary from consumer to consumer, and as discussions of climate change increase, we find that sustainability is valued as a “perk”, but not always a necessity. As high-fashion brands continue to move towards setting more sustainable values for themselves we are likely to see that effect continue down into general fashion retail which will hopefully lead to sustainable fashion companies and options becoming more well known.”</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Musings_480x480.jpg?v=1637021076" alt="A Guide To Slow Fashion by Minori" style="float: none;"></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"></div>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When asked whether she would choose to purchase the same piece from a sustainable fashion line with a higher price point or a fast fashion company with a lower price point, Shreya answers honestly, explaining that “idealistically [she] would go for the piece that's part of a sustainable fashion line even if it did come with a higher price tag [because] these pieces will last longer and can often become part of one’s collection for years to come.” On the other hand, Shreya recognizes that “as a current college student that's not always financially feasible [to shop sustainably].” Holding her sustainable values and shopping habits to the same degree, Shreya says that if she does “gravitate towards fast fashion products at a lower price point” her purchasing decision will be influenced by how often she anticipates using the garment and how she can use and reuse her current pieces. Thus, Shreya is “making sure to take care of the clothing [she owns] to make sure it can be preserved and worn over a longer period of time [...] rather than making frequent, large purchases at fast-fashion retailers over time, as this can accumulate the amount of clothing one owns and contribute negatively to the environment.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The route towards sustainability is a long and strenuous one. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">As consumers, we put our financial dispositions first,</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> but as human beings, we are looking at a ticking clock that speeds up with the start and end of every micro season. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Will you change your habits?</span></p>
<p><br><br><br><br><br></p>

The Values & Habits Discrepancy: Exploring Sustainable Shopping

<p><em>By Josie Lo</em></p>
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<h1 dir="ltr">Mindful Mornings: Tuning Into Stillness and The Present Moment</h1>
<p>A good morning routine helps set me up for success for the day. The alternative of getting ready in a panic-mode leaves me feeling behind and unprepared. My morning rituals are mindful and joyful. They involve elements of stillness where I focus on savoring the moment: stretches on the balcony, conversations in bed with my partner, scrambled eggs with fresh fruit and toast, and cuddles with my pets. A key part of my morning practice is my daily beauty routine, which I’ve optimized and paired down to the essentials over time.</p>
<p><span>First, I brush my teeth with my </span><a href="https://www.getquip.com/store/products/electric-toothbrush-set"><span>Quip</span></a><span>, an uncomplicated, slim, battery-powered, electric toothbrush with a replaceable head. Pro tip: if your lips get chapped, instead of exfoliating, try brushing your teeth before you wash your face. Doing this rinses off mint flavor in toothpaste that can irritate your lips. Alternatively, try a kid’s strawberry toothpaste. </span></p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><span>Step-By-Step Morning Skincare Routine</span></h1>
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<p dir="ltr"><span>Next, I gently wash my face using the </span><a href="https://www.ulta.com/p/renewing-sa-cleanser-xlsImpprod13531041"><span>CeraVe Renewing Salicylic Acid</span></a><span> cleanser. This exfoliating cleanser keeps oil production and breakouts at bay. I use it on my body too. Once a week, I exfoliate my face using the most basic two-blade razor and my facial cleanser. Much like a professional </span><a href="https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a13036262/dermaplaning-women-shave-face/"><span>dermaplaning</span></a><span> treatment, that uses a surgical scalpel, shaving sloughs off dead skin and peach fuzz, allowing skincare products to penetrate deeply and makeup to apply evenly. Gone are the days of painful waxing, tweezing, and threading. And no, shaving does not cause hair to grow back thicker or faster (learn about this </span><a href="https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a37022/women-shaving-their-faces/"><span>myth</span></a><span> from a dermatologist, Neal Schultz, MD)​​​​. I keep a stack of clean washcloths reserved for drying my face. Pat dry and apply moisturizer immediately to reduce transepidermal water loss! </span></p>
<p><span>I apply a layer of </span><a href="https://www.laroche-posay.us/our-products/dry-skin-eczema/body-lotion/lipikar-body-lotion-for-normal-to-dry-skin-3337875549615.html#tab=Tabs_vy7e7l69ur_control_1"><span>La Roche-Posay Daily Repair Moisturizing Lotion</span></a><span>, an affordable, fragrance-free moisturizer with niacinamide, glycerin, and shea butter. While that absorbs, I apply deodorant, smooth my hair into a claw clip updo, and apply a bit of </span><a href="https://www.cerave.com/skincare/moisturizers/healing-ointment"><span>CeraVe Healing Ointment</span></a><span> to condition my lips. </span></p>
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<p><span>Some mornings, I incorporate an active ingredient, like the </span><a href="https://commonheir.com/products/vitamin-c-serum"><span>10% Vitamin C Serum by Common Heir</span></a><span> that comes in plastic-free biodegradable capsules. I </span><span>take</span><span> mindful breaths and massage the velvety oil into my skin. Since this serum has a slip to it, I use it with my</span><a href="https://sacheu.com/products/gua-sha"><span> SACHEU Beauty Stainless Steel Gua-Sha</span></a><span> to de-puff and drain lymphatic fluid from the face. </span></p>
<p><span>Sunscreen is non-negotiable. Finding an everyday sunscreen you love to apply (and reapply!) is most important. My partner and I love the </span><a href="https://www.blackgirlsunscreen.com/product/black-girl-sunscreen-spf-30/"><span>Black Girl Sunscreen</span></a><span> (broad spectrum SPF 30) because it is lightweight, moisturizing, and leaves no white cast. Don’t forget to apply to the ears, neck, and any other exposed skin! This sunscreen absorbs well, doesn’t leave me super shiny, and layers well with makeup. </span></p>
<h1>A Clean Makeup Look</h1>
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<p dir="ltr"><span>I don’t wear makeup every day, but I feel bright and fresh when I do. First, I spot conceal with the</span><a href="https://kosas.com/products/revealer-concealer"><span> Kosas Revealer Concealer </span></a><span>and lightly set using the </span><a href="https://kosas.com/collections/face-makeup/products/cloud-set"><span>Kosas Cloud Set Setting powder.</span></a><span> If I have a breakout, I avoid putting makeup on it. Instead, I cover the breakout with a COSRX </span><a href="https://www.ulta.com/p/clear-fit-master-patch-day-care-xlsImpprod17791047"><span>Clear Fit pimple patch</span></a><span>. Not only does this conceal a pimple better than makeup, but it also protects from bacteria and provides an ideal healing environment.</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><span> For a bit of moody color, I adore the </span><a href="https://www.minoribeauty.com/shop-product?product=cream-blush"><span>Minori Orchid Creme Blush</span></a><span> on the high points of the cheek, the bridge of the nose, and the eyelids. To add a sunkissed look, I use the </span><a href="https://www.drunkelephant.com/products/d-bronzi-anti-pollution-sunshine-serum-drops"><span>Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Drops</span></a><span> on the cheekbones, the forehead, eyes. Some days I mix a couple of drops into my moisturizer for a subtle glowing tint. Next, I fill and groom and fill my sparse brows with the</span><a href="https://kosas.com/products/brow-pop"><span> Kosas Brow Pop Defining Eyebrow Pencil.</span></a><span> For my lashes, I get eyelash extensions. They are convenient if you struggle to keep mascara from transferring onto your lower eyelids. Lashes significantly impact my look, and all they need is a quick comb in the morning. </span></p>
<p>Before I jump into work or head out the door, I toss on my daily wear jewelry, fill my Hydroflask with iced water, mint, ginger, lemon, and stevia. I’ve got my day planned out in my notebook. I queue up a song to dance ecstatically to, NPR Up First, an audiobook or podcast, and I’m on my way! </p>
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Josie Lo's  Minimalist Morning Routine

<p><em>By <a href="https://www.instagram.com/she.ponders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Leahnora Azad</a></em></p>
<p> <strong>"Should I be resting?"</strong></p>
<p><strong>"Am I doing enough? I should be doing more."</strong></p>
<p><strong>"Why am I not <i>there</i></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong> yet?</strong>"</span></p>
<p>Many of us may have experienced this inner dialogue whenever we feel guilty for not being productive enough. These questions accompany the cycle of feeling unaccomplished and unworthy no matter what we've achieved in life. As the pandemic enforces constraints throughout the globe, we are forced into various forms of isolation that bring our insecurities to the forefront. While each of our goals differs, we share similar pressures in daily life. Whether it's maintaining our health, making the most of time, achieving financial freedom, or overcoming the past, we each have something we're working towards. The pressure to meet societal expectations has heightened through the fantasy of social media and the surge of anxiety-driven pandemic productivity. Ultimately, we want to show up in our truth and live from a space of authenticity regardless of the many things we cannot solve in an instant.</p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Between the ongoing pandemic and the allure of digital world, the normalcy of hyper-productivity, competitive goal-achievement, and consumption habits ushers many of us into a cycle of anxiety, unworthiness, and the constant pursuit of improvement. Google search queries for "How to stay productive at home" have skyrocketed now more than ever. The results of this search are filled with thousands of strategies to keep busy in a time of uncertainty. With the notion that this pandemic affords ample time for self-improvement, there seems to be no reason to be unaccomplished in anything.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As physical interaction lessens, the stage of social media has widened where many have amplified their online presence through a surplus of content creation in an attempt to maintain social ties, keep audiences entertained, and sustain personal relevance.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For those of us privileged with internet access and technology, it becomes easier to scroll endlessly on digital platforms absorbing carefully curated segments of lifestyles that are often far from reality. With the saturation of picturesque lifestyles, luxury porn, and sensationalism, users fall victim to the distorted presentation of best moments as a consistent aspect of life. The constant representation of success and gratification leads many to question whether or not they are living a fulfilling and authentic life. We often need to be reminded, it's unfair of ourselves to compare the entirety of our lives to summarized presentations of others on the web. The adage, "comparison is the thief of joy" has never reigned more true as the on and offline reminders of constant improvement or "leveling up" strips away the contentment of simply </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">being.</span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This isolation remains pervasive, taking a toll on the mental well-being of many. The culture of hyper-productivity has conditioned us in many ways to keep so busy that we have no clue how to relax, and most importantly, understand and embrace </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">who we are</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> beyond </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">what we do</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<h1><b>Reframing Life and Purpose</b></h1>
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<h6 style="text-align: center;"><em>Photo by Ryoji Iwata</em></h6>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From work culture and social media to our earliest memories of award systems through school and our caregivers, our minds are wired to look toward external validation as confirmations of our worth. The effects of social media exemplify this as </span><a href="https://now.northropgrumman.com/this-is-your-brain-on-instagram-effects-of-social-media-on-the-brain/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">growing research</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> show our brains become dependent on receiving the stimuli we get from notifications and engagement. The positive feedback we receive from posting content, the number of likes, comments, and the attention it receives becomes addicting. This can be problematic if our self-outlook becomes dependent on these sources. Our happiness then is dependent explicitly on our output. How can we confirm our self-worth regardless of our ability to perform in the world?</span></p>
<p>The uncertainty we feel from this pandemic resembles the stage of retirement, “<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11089-010-0282-y" target="_blank" title="Spirituality in Older Adulthood: Existential Meaning, Productivity, and Life Events" rel="noopener noreferrer">A time of decreased physical and mental abilities, severed social connections, loss of freedoms, and decreased resources</a>”. The connotation behind retirement implies that in old age, one is no longer considered a contributing force in society. It becomes easier to question the value of our existence when validation is attached to our functionality. </p>
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<div>If we reframe void periods like retirement, it is possible to see this experience can occur at any age or period of our lives. This reframing allows us to view the pauses in life as opportunities to understand ourselves better and align our values closer to our personal truths. We become empowered to create a foundation of self-existence regardless of the passage of time and productivity.</div>
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<h1><b>Moving From Performative Action to Authentic Being</b></h1>
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<h6 style="text-align: center;"><em>Photo by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/she.ponders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@she.ponders</a></em></h6>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When confronted with major shifts in life, we are reminded of how short life truly is. This finitude forces us to examine whether we are acting from authenticity or conforming to expectations and demands that are imposed. Are we seeking temporary joys to belong? Do we distract ourselves with activities to avoid feeling empty? There are many questions we will never know the answer to except the truth in realizing there is nothing except the present moment to focus on. The more we prioritize embracing our innermost self, we begin to witness where true contentment lies.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Optimal productivity depends on maintaining our inner wellbeing. We cannot authentically find fulfillment in any area of our life under anxiety-driven performance. Allowing ourselves the space to draw a fine line between who we are and the work we do is paramount to staying grounded throughout the ebbs and flow of life. This paradigm shift allows us to embrace the quiet lessons found in periods of uncertainty and moments where we feel we just haven't accomplished enough.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Next time you feel stuck or overwhelmed with anxiety from the daily pressures of life, know that it's okay to pause. Allow the quiet periods of life to remind you that your life has significance and meaning regardless of how productive, useful, or successful you are. The cycle of unworthiness ends when we cease the habit of looking toward external circumstances and constant activity as the answer to finding joy and confirmation of our existence.  We are allowed the feelings of contentment and joy for simply existing <em>as we are</em>.</span></p>
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Why Detaching Self Worth from Productivity is Essential to Authentic Living

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">By Lindsey Cichonski</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meet </span><a href="https://sachellecollective.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sachelle Collective</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a female-founded brand that creates timeless jewelry inspired by the everyday woman. Their pieces are handmade in small batches using sustainably sourced, 100% recycled, and conflict-free materials! We caught up with Sachelle Collective's co-founder, Michelle, to chat about the journey to creating Sachelle, the inspiration behind the brand and pieces, and of course, her everyday makeup routine! </span></p>
<p><strong>Tell us a little about you and where you are based</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My name is Michelle, and I am currently based in Hong Kong with my co-founder Sarah. I'm what they call a third culture kid -- I was raised in Canada, moved to the UK for university, and am now based in Hong Kong.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p><b>What led you to create Sachelle Collective? </b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We started Sachelle Collective as a passion project back in 2020. I took a break from my finance real estate job and studied at GIA (Gemological Institute of America) while Sarah worked at an e-commerce company. I noticed some rashes between Sarah's fingers one day, which were from the jewelry she purchased online. This sparked the idea of designing our own jewelry with honest materials and safe to wear ourselves. The project quickly stirred interest amongst friends, and we decided to take the project seriously as a possible business venture. </span></p>
<p><b>Where do you draw inspiration from? </b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We draw inspiration from the life stories and personalities of the everyday women around us- whether she's a mom, a friend, or even a frenemy! Each person has a different character, from their fashion style to their likes. It helps to not limit our designs to one specific style or personality. We want to create meaningful and inclusive pieces for all women which they can express their individuality freely. </span></p>
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<p><b>What has been your favorite part of your entrepreneurial journey?</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My favorite part of our entrepreneurial journey is the daily challenges that have helped us grow exponentially. As cliché as it may sound, there are really no days that are the same, and it has pushed us to bring more value to our customers. It's also very rewarding to receive messages from our customers, especially when they share meaningful stories behind their purchases. We've definitely teared up on some stories, and are grateful to know that our jewelry has marked special moments in their lives. </span></p>
<p><b>How is your collection consciously created? </b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Having lived and worked in a fast-paced lifestyle and industry, we knew we wanted a slower approach and focus on quality and intentionality over quantity. Reflecting on Sachelle Collective, we actively seek to reduce our environmental footprint throughout our production process and packaging. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All our pieces are made in very small batches to limit our carbon emissions and environmental impact, and we only use recycled materials that are sustainably sourced from different parts of the world. All of our jewelry is manufactured by members of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), upholding industry guidelines for the facilities. We also make an effort to use eco-friendly packaging, including custom-made cards printed with soy ink, jewelry boxes made with recycled paper, and vegan pouches that can be easily repurposed for other uses. </span></p>
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<p><b>If you could only wear one piece of jewelry, what would it be? </b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is such a tricky question haha… if I could only wear one piece of jewelry, it would be our Colette pendant necklace. That was the first piece that we designed for Sachelle Collective and is a very meaningful piece that we hold close to our hearts. It's also a very versatile piece that can take your look from day to night. </span></p>
<p><b>What's the best beauty advice you've received? </b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A secret that both our Asian moms live by is SPF! Sarah and I don't skimp on sunscreen and wear SPF 50+++ every day, even indoors. Wearing sunscreen is one of the best ways to reduce the risks of skin cancer and prevent the early onset of wrinkles and fine lines. Also, staying hydrated and getting enough sleep will always fix half of your skin issues. We promise. </span></p>
<p><b>What does your makeup routine look like?</b></p>
<p>I'm always in a rush in the morning, so my makeup routine is super quick and minimal. After prepping my skin, I always conceal my dark circles and any blemishes I have with a concealer. I can't live without a good mascara that doesn't smudge and I swear by this Japanese mascara called Heroine Make. For the lips and cheeks, I like to apply Minori Beauty's cream blush in Orchid, topped with the cream highlighter in Champagne. Minori Beauty's cream-to-powder formulas are lightweight and perfect for people who are on the go like me. Lastly, I finish the whole look with their sheer lipgloss in Juneberry, which smells so heavenly and is not sticky at all! </p>
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Everyday Essentials with Sachelle Collective

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">By Leahnora Azad</span></em></p>
<h1><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Black Feminism has always been a lifesaver. It's been a guiding force of how I want to interact with others, how I care for myself, and not always think of how I can be of use to other people".</span></h1>
<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/sheabutterbih/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mary Senyonga’s</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> words transported me to all the times I put myself last. Naturally, our conversation starts with self-care. She doesn't sugar coat answering to 'how are you?' replying, "I just feel sore...I actually need to take a bath, like sit in water and </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">feel</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that presence letting everything release". Her honest response tells me she is without a doubt making self-love a practice by honoring her true feelings. A doctoral candidate, Mary specializes in Race and Ethnic Studies through the lens of Black Feminism. Together, we unravel the experience of fatphobia, healing, non-conformity, and finding self-love at the fronts of what Mary defines through her expertise and lived experiences as "traditionally oppressive institutions". </span></p>
<p><b>Leahnora Azad (LA):</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> There are many layers to consider when discussing self-love and non-conformity. The emotional labor behind this can be soul-crushing. What does nonconformity look like through the lens of a Black Woman in academic settings?</span></p>
<p><b>Mary Senyonga (MS):</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> With my studies, in particular, I’ve interviewed black women founders to ask them, "How do you feel through spaces that we know were not intended for us?” In the past, they were made to further white supremacy. Sometimes educated researchers attempt to recuperate education sending an idea that if you get a Ph.D., everything will be great. In reality, that is not the case. Many folks who enter these programs do not leave as the same person. They do not leave as a whole as they came in. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is really rough, being one of five black people in a room and then being asked to speak on issues of race for all black people. That weight is so much to hold. It is interesting to think about how we can actually get through these spaces. How do we <em>care for ourselves</em> as opposed to just being a <em>utility</em> for these universities? I think about how we make space for ourselves and continue to name the conditions that we navigate through while remaining authentic.</span></p>
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<h5 style="text-align: center;"><em>Mary Senyonga's Doctoral Proposal, "Black Women and Femmes' Resistive and Healing Projects: Making A Way on Traditionally Oppressive Institutions </em></h5>
<p> <b>LA:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> This work of naming non-physical acts of violence is necessary. Many do not have the privilege to call it out, just as it is a privilege for stigmatized persons to assert their presence in society. What are your thoughts on this?</span></p>
<p><b>MS:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> That brings up several things because we see how much labor goes into disrupting things. Inherently being black, I personally think means to be in refusal to the standards of being that are set up by whiteness, patriarchy, ableism, fatphobia, classism. As I think about navigating this world, my very presence is objectified, something to comment on and accepted as a public body. Especially for Black Women and Femmes, whether it’s our hair or body, people feel they can direct unwarranted comments to us.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She details being objectified in public by strangers encouraging her to exercise, to a trip in Mexico where she received stares and questions for her picture to be taken. Mary describes the totality of this experience as a triad of anti-blackness, fat-phobia, and colorism occurring all in one space. She adds, "That experience is not uncommon. I've had that happen before in different ways where people want to regulate my body. When you don't conform, the status quo tries to force you into conformity. For all of us who fall out of the realm of what is seen as the standard, whether it's the beauty standard or otherwise, there are constant upfronts to our presence that we navigate."</span></p>
<p><b>Goddesses, Colonialists, and Sanctuary</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mary’s experience in Mexico City exemplifies how deeply embedded public alienation is. Within spiritual marketplaces, Mary recognizes the rebranding of African Deities in her culture such as </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Oshun</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> whitewashed in spaces that actively sustain her isolation.</span></p>
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<h6 style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Photo: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Venus_of_Willendorf_frontview_retouched_2.jpg" target="_blank" title="Venus of Willendorf" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wikimedia Commons</a> Venus of Willendorf, c. 26,000 BC</span></em></h6>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She reflects on fatphobia dating back to colonial thought, where people in early cultures were disparaged for worshipping fat bodies.</span></p>
<p><b>LA:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> How has your process been in creating a sanctuary away from all of the issues within these spaces?</span></p>
<p><b>MS: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">I think especially in these past 18 months of varying levels of sheltering in place due to the pandemic, it’s become important to cultivate that healing space at home. Before that, the routine of going to school and coming back felt exhausting. I just wanted to sit on the couch and be still. As I reflect about it now, I wasn’t able to cultivate having all my plants around and caring for them.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;">Being in stillness has been important for me. Being able to do my own hair, play with makeup, and all these different things that can on the surface seem somewhat trivial to people. For me, it felt really important to take that space for myself, especially when there's so much that takes away from me. </p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I think what healing has been for me is <em>slowing down</em>. Being okay with acknowledging, 'I can't do that for today’ and that's okay. Even if I feel guilty at times wishing that I could be super productive like everyone else. That's just not where I'm at. Honoring where my capacity is has been really helpful. Moving through campus spaces was a lot for me because of the weird hierarchies of academia. Being physically away from the mistreatment attached to that and the spatial dynamics of racism out in the world has been very restorative.</span></p>
<p><b>Spaces of Affirmation: Digital Communities</b></p>
<p><b>LA:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Has any form of community been made available to you? If so, how were you able to find that sense of connection with people who could relate to your experiences?</span></p>
<p><b>MS:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Years ago finding Tumblr really helped me. Without this platform, I wouldn’t know what life would’ve been like because it gave me the ability to name things that pertained to race, gender, fatphobia, and homophobia. All those antagonisms didn’t coalesce until finding Tumblr. Finding people who looked like me helped too. Seeing people posting outfit photos, enjoying themselves, and using that digital space to reclaim how you’re viewed, and what that worldly gaze looks like was important. </span></p>
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<br>From there I began to make friends that looked like me. Having friends who are actually fat and claimed being fat unapologetically. I think it was about 2013 or 2014, where I started getting into Los Angeles-based Black liberatory organizing spaces where we witnessed the continuous murders of black folks. Having a space where we could talk about that and not feel minimized is what was important. I think in both those spaces, whether it was the affirming spaces where I found those who looked like me who also were queer, of color or in organizing, that is where I found friends who were on the same page. <br>
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<p>Having my B.I.P.O.C (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Queer and Trans folks in my life keeps me going. <em>That’s my community.</em></p>
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<p><b>Fatphobia: A Racial and Gendered Issue </b></p>
<p><b>MS</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: It’s very conditional how people accept fat women. I say in particular black women femmes because it’s so gendered and racialized. For example, actually being fat was made impossible in the media. From music, television, and film, fat men navigate bullshit too but they can still be uplifted and paired with conventionally attractive women or be seen as a player. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I think people don’t see fatphobia as racialized and gendered, which needs to be interrogated. It’s helpful to have a language to call out these disparities. Too often, people think it’s a personal failure if you’re fat or feel “how dare you to exist as a fat person?” whether you are not actively trying to lose weight or trying to change your body to fit the standard. With that being said, I feel there is never a space for fat women to exist as they are because society wants us not to exist.</span></p>
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<p><b>LA: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Just as the status quo reinforces itself through the outlets you’ve mentioned, how have you reinforced self-empowerment at the fronts of these limitations?</span><br><b></b></p>
<p><b>MS:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Trying to create a space where I don’t compare my body to others. I remember from a young age with the adults and caregivers I was supposed to trust, being told by them I needed to change was a lot. Being able to look at me as me and not feel as if I need to change everything to be accepted is important. Even down to choosing how I present myself, which means not hiding.</span><br><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From first grade to high school I wore uniforms which were meant as an equalizing factor, but uniforms weren’t made in my size. If I wanted skorts, I had to get them custom made which my parents couldn’t always afford so I had to wear pants all the time. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">As a black girl who is already masculinized because of being black and fat felt shitty at that time.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Being able to choose what I wore, wearing dresses allowed me to reclaim my autonomy and agency; moving away from hiding. I might as well wear what I want to wear and adore myself how I choose to because there’s no way to stop being me, so I don’t need to try to lessen who I am.  </span></p>
<p><b>LA:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> What kind of impact do you see being made from conversations like this? </span><br><b></b></p>
<p><b>MS:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> I hope it doesn’t stagnate. Sometimes I worry about certain spaces who are attempting to be more progressive, I hope they don’t stop at the most acceptable of us. Especially how fashion has changed. From highschool to now, I never envisioned Forever 21 carrying plus sizes. That brings me to who gets to shop in physical spaces, those inclusive spaces are still limited. I want people to move away from complacency. The widened access we see now came from the backs of those who were completely outside the realm of visibility whether it be in academia or other space pushing these institutions to make changes. I want these conversations to keep us pushing further, not be satisfied with the little that has been done.</span></p>
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<p>In academic settings, I want for service to not be put upon students. We know that Black Women Femmes especially are on the frontlines of organizing spaces for institutional change. It’s always a Black Woman or Femme who is brought in to change spaces and make them look better, I want that to end. I hope for Black women and Femmes to no longer be used to absolve these institutions of their harm. All spaces honestly reap the benefits of Black Women and Femmes’ labor. We push the culture in all spaces forward, but we also need to be held and safe.</p>
<p><b>LA: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">We began this talk on Black Feminism as a guiding force on how you carry out your life, any final thoughts on this pertaining to nonconforming and the world as it continues to change?</span></p>
<p><b>MS: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">From climate change anxieties, countries destabilized due to imperialism, and the racial violence we navigate, I think it’s important to think of how we can engage interdependence in a way that ushers us all forward.  I've been appreciative of how people describe Black Feminism as a loving practice. It is a loving practice as individuals, for this Earth, our non-human kin. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Black Feminism anchors me into how I want to show up in this world, how my actions and investment in liberation need to be tethered to the liberation of others. As someone who is currently able-bodied, in Academia, a US-Citizen, these different privileges force me to consider how my freedoms need to be in tandem with the freedom of others. I want to continue being invested in working towards freedom by making sure the world as we know it now isn’t the world we end up with. </span></p>
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Healing In the Process of Nonconformity with Mary Senyonga

Fresh Starts, A Challenge to Myself and You

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">By Lindsey Cichonski</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Oksana Sannikova’s dream of traveling the world connected her to a friendship that would blossom into what would soon become </span><a href="https://onanewyork.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Onå </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">New York</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. The synchronicities between her and cofounder Olga Kovaleva’s heritage and dreams led them to a journey that would rekindle their roots in Russia. Through </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Onå</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, they share traditional beauty rituals passed down throughout generations harmonized with science-driven formulas. We caught up with Oksana to discuss the inspiration behind </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Onå, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">her entrepreneurial journey, and her favorite past-present beauty rituals. </span></p>
<p><b>Tell us about you and how Ona came about.</b></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I was born and raised in Siberia (Olga-the second co-founder is from the Ural Mountains in Russia). I grew up dreaming about traveling the world and seeing a million different places and with that in mind I worked hard on getting out of a small town I grew up in. I came to the US when I was 15 and eventually immigrated here permanently. The story of our brand started 13 years ago when Olga and I met on an airplane flying from Moscow to New York. We started talking and immediately became friends. By that time, we had already immigrated to the US and were busy establishing our lives here.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> During that period we worked a lot because we had initially arrived in the States with a few hundred dollars in our purses and had to build new lives from scratch. We were both working in a corporate environment but were always talking about our dream of opening our own business. And what did we come up with? We decided to create a project that we could connect with, that we could do with passion and that could solve our problem. During our work in the office environment we, like millions of other women, discovered that living this crazy-busy lifestyle took away from our ability to take care of ourselves and have our daily self-care rituals. So, we eventually decided to create a line of products that would be easy to use, could be used on the go, would be clean and chic. </span></p>
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<p><strong>How did your heritage inspire you to create Ona? </strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While talking about starting a business together, we went back to our roots and our history. Both of us were raised in remote areas of Russia. We spent our childhood carelessly roaming through the woods, swimming in pristine lakes, and going to the mountains. The nature in Siberia was beautiful but the climate was very harsh- negative 40 in the winter combined with short but hot summers takes its toll on the skin. </span>At that time we didn’t have access to modern beauty products, and our mothers and grandmothers taught us to take care of our skin using traditional remedies with local herbs and fruit.</p>
<p>So, Ona New York was born from the knowledge that was passed down from mother to daughter blended with the latest scientific innovations. Centuries-known Russian ingredients like birch tree juice, aloe vera, hawthorn, chamomile were combined with clean effective ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamins, and peptides. We created a line of products that is easy and quick to use and produces immediate results. Our creams and serum can be used both in the morning and evening routine and our hydrogel eye gels that don’t slide down are perfect on the go whether you are in the process of cooking, stretching, or going to the grocery store. </p>
<p><strong>What has been your favorite part of your entrepreneurial journey? </strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My favorite part is watching the process of growing the brand- it started with an idea and now we are on the shelves in the homes of thousands of women all around the country. Reading amazing reviews that these women leave us is also great. </span></p>
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<p><strong>What does Russian Beauty symbolize for you?</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When I hear the words "Russian beauty”, of course, I think about physical beauty.  But it’s also about keeping a healthy body and mind and about having a multifaceted deep personality, about being compassionate, curious, and caring- that’s what Russian women symbolize for me. </span></p>
<p><strong>What are your favorite Russian beauty rituals that you still practice today?</strong><b> </b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When in cold weather, we rinse the face alternately with warm and cold water. Contrast temperatures “train” skin blood vessels to constrict and dilate faster, thus preventing the cold from injuring your skin. We never shower or rinse our face with hot water, but use lukewarm water instead to avoid drying our complexion.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>Banya</em> or sauna- </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">We spend some time in the hot sauna and then jump into a lake or snow. While inside the Banya, we whisk each other with birch tree branches. It’s great for exfoliation and toning, you come out looking like a baby!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chamomile baths- I throw a bunch of dried chamomile flowers into a bathtub and it helps soothe the skin if it's irritated or dry. </span></p>
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<p> <strong>What's the best beauty advice you've received? </strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> My mom taught me to take care of my skin early on- she said it’s never too early to start. </span></p>
<p><strong>What does your daily skincare routine look like?</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">AM: Tula Purifying Probiotic cleanser, Ona New York eye gels (straight out of the fridge). They get rid of puffiness and dark circles in just 10 minutes followed by Ona Brightening Eye Cream, then Firming Serum and Hydrating Cream- together they create an amazing dewy effect for my skin. In the end, I use Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen all over my face and neck. </span></p>
<p><strong>What does your makeup routine look like?</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I am usually a cat eye and a red lip person, so I use Pat McGrath Perma Precision Eyeliner- it stays on really well, Vivienne Sabo Paris Cabaret Mascara, Dior Dreamskin Cushion, Minori Champagne Cream Highlighter, Minori Scarlet Cream Blush- it compliments my skin tone so beautifully! For a bright red lip, I use Sephora Electric Ruby and for a more subtle look I use Minori Dream Lip Gloss -- its texture is divine. </span></p>
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Creating Modern Essentials with Ona New York

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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Photo Credits: </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/laurieanneroux/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">@laurieanneroux </span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">for </span><a href="https://www.masmontreal.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">MAS Montreal</span></a></p>
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<p><i>By Leahnora Azad</i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though Fashion is widely accepted as a manifestation of human expression, the creative freedom that it enables are not equally attainable. While there have been gestures to promote inclusivity </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">in response to the protestation of gatekeeping in many industries, the foundational issue of a fixed standard of beauty remains evident on clothing racks, hyperreal beauty campaigns, and culture as a whole. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With years of experience in the career of high fashion, in this interview with Montreal-based model <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ptitebum/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Marianne Michaud-Côté</a> we examine  how she establishes her truth amidst these boundaries, from the world of high fashion to the necessity of finding sanctuary within community. Calling out settings that perpetuate shame, Marianne opens up about body image, fat-phobia, and responsible social media use within the journey of true self-embrace. Before reflecting on attaining the freedoms attached to this confidence, our call opened with addressing confines within the world that influence conformity and body shaming. With limited sizing standards, store shelves actively marginalize sizes over 12, forcing consumers to acclimate to what is available or shop through "exclusive" online offers and specialty shops. This habitual exclusion continues despite </span><a href="https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200211-selling-plus-size-clothing-isnt-only-about-pleasing-shoppers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the average identifying woman wearing a size 14 (UK 18)</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">To this, Marianne remarks, "It is not that I don't fit in these clothes, it's those clothes that don't fit me. It's not that I'm too big to shop here, it's that you don't make my size and that is your problem".</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> She speaks to the fact that it is not fatness that should be problematized, but rather the dehumanizing societal standards that are problematic instead. Ahead, we navigate finding self-love amidst normalized social stigmas, discrimination, and societal expectations that seek to police the body.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Finding Self Validation Through Community</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Leah Azad (LA): </strong>Considering the societal boundaries that inhibit our innermost truths, how have you come to find self-value in spaces that normalize being ostracized?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Marianne Michaud-Côté (MMC):</strong> It's been a long journey. I’ve never had other curvy girlfriends around me, I started discovering curvy models through instagram when I was around eighteen years old. Seeing those women really helped me empower myself. I wanted to meet those people. I wanted to be surrounded by people who feel the same way. Instagram really helped me find this community of curvy women where we talk about our lives in every aspect: from dating, to how we dress and the daily things we go through. In Montreal, we have this beautiful community of curvier girls, and I think being a part of it helped me to validate my identity and find myself.</span></p>
<h2>Being Responsible With Social Media Influences</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> What you’re expressing is beautiful. As human beings we stem back to needing a community, a true support system. It's beautiful to find a sense of belonging and recognizing the need to be surrounded with people who make us feel seen and heard. Instagram has a cool way of introducing new ideas and expanding our self perception by seeing others living their truth.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MMC:</strong> I know a lot of people who feel like Instagram is fake, and I agree with that to an extent. But </span>you have to consciously surround yourself with what you want to see<span style="font-weight: 400;">. It helped me to connect with curvy women who I saw wearing crop tops and tight skirts, and seeing that they're living their best lives. From that I see this confidence is possible. I think to myself, ‘I want to do that too, it's possible. If these girls can do it, why can't I?’</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> Instagram has also played a role in facilitating body dysmorphia, what are your thoughts on this?</span></p>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MMC:</strong> I totally agree. I experience this from comparing myself to other curvy girls online. I have thoughts such as, ‘I'm curvy too, but I'm not curvy </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">like her</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">’, or ‘she has fat in the right places’ when really there's no "right place" to have fat, right? It's hard for everyone. I get a lot of people who reach out to me asking ‘How are you so confident, how do you deal with all the hate?’ and internally I'm thinking ‘Oh okay, those people look to me for inspiration the same way I look at curvy models I'm inspired by!’ So I feel that it's my job to show that I am not always comfortable, and that it's normal to have rolls. </span>
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<h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">When it comes to social media, there is a responsibility as a person to normalize your life and not summarize it.</span></h4>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I feel like dealing with body image is hard for everyone. Whether you're skinny or fat there is always someone we will compare ourselves to. Rather than seeing these people as competition, we should be inspired instead, which is hard to do.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> How do you envision the future of the fashion industry?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MMC:</strong> I hope for the best. Working years in second-hand high fashion, I touched things I didn't think I'd ever be able to see or touch in my life, like Chanel jackets worth thousands of dollars. I never fit into those clothes so I hope that these luxury fashion brands that make millions each year understand bigger girls have money too. We also want to express ourselves through high fashion. Deep down, I would love to see brands like Chanel and Bottega Venetta making clothes that I and other bigger girls can fit in. Unfortunately I don't think it's something we will ever see so I put all my hopes in newer designers. These days, if you are a new designer and you're not making clothes that extend beyond XL, you will be called out. Everyone is acclimating to this new standard of inclusivity, and I love that!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> I recognize this growing dialogue where people are speaking back to brands who normalize unrealistic body types. People are rightfully critiquing these rigid structures and pointing out their influence in feeding the desire for body-augmentations and upholding unrealistic imagery of the body that distorts how we view ourselves.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MMC:</strong> In my career, I've witnessed the priority of double-zeros as opposed to people who wear a size 20 or 24 Meeting the demand of larger sizes should be equally prioritized. Designers have leaned on the excuse of producing smaller sizes due to limitations of material, but I think that is absolute bullshit</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Designers can make the same effort  to make clothes that are for everyone even if that means creating less clothing for one season, and concentrating on making sizes suited for everyone.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> Let's talk about your modeling career. How has your experience been being signed to an agency?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MMC:</strong> I've been working as a freelance model for a couple of years now. </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/details.the.agency/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Details The Agency</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> was the first agency I was able to join because I am 5'5. For bigger agencies, curvy models are required to be 5'9.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Details, is not like any other agency. For example, we have an excel spreadsheet where as models we note our body measurements and we can change it whenever we want. And there is no need to justify ourselves to management about any weight changes. Our management doesn't police us to watch our weight or stay any certain size.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> Wow, congratulations! This is so exciting. I am happy you're in an agency that respects your humanhood rather than a fixed image to market. Our bodies and minds are always changing which is important to recognize and represent. When modeling, how do you invoke authenticity and confidence whether it be on set or life as a whole?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MMC:</strong> This has been a big journey for me. I truly believe that people see your confidence. If you feel confident, people will notice it. Even right now, as I am sitting in front of a camera, I remind myself that I've been chosen to be here at this moment, how can this not boost my confidence? It feels so empowering whenever I'm in front of a camera.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I tell myself I am here for a reason. For me, this is enough to boost my confidence. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When I go to work, I love what I'm wearing. I am comfortable in my clothes and in my skin. This confidence externalizes—it's a kind of energy. People will walk by you and feel the confidence you exude. I love seeing a curvy girl totally rocking an outfit, where she has say a tighter dress and you can see the silhouette of her belly or rolls, yet she is walking in confidence. I feel this confidence too, and feel inspired by the fact that if she can do it, I can do it too! Gaining confidence is a long and hard process, but you have to know your worth. You have to know you're just as valuable as anyone else.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> There's so much truth in what you're saying, it all boils down to cultivating an inner-self worth no matter what the world shouts at you. What are your hopes for the future when it comes to non-conformity and embracing the unique value of our livelihood?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MMC:</strong> Curvy women have been put in a box for too long. I am ready to see representation on all fronts when it comes to embracing the body in every form. I have big expectations for the future, especially for my city Montreal when it comes to Fashion and inclusivity. And I want to be a part of making a difference with these matters. You haven’t seen the last of us, this is just the beginning!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> On a personal level, what visions do you see for your future self?</span></p>
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MMC:</strong> I love who I am right now. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">I know how to be alone, I love being in my own company. When I think of myself in the future, I see myself as a strong woman working on whatever I’m called to. There’s pieces and puzzles I still need to figure out but this puzzle I have in front of me is exciting. </span>

Strength in Nonconformity: Embracing the Body Beyond Boundaries with Marianne Michaud-Côté

<p><i>By Leahnora Azad</i></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The following is an interview with Marie-Andrée Pelletier-Cyr who was instrumental in bringing to life Minori’s brand aesthetics and visual identity. In our conversation, we discuss how she first fell in love with art and graphic design as a teenager, her philosophy around Design and her creative process.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Marie-Andrée reminds us that beauty is never far from our reach. With eyes that see pockets of joy in each corner of the world, she harmonizes work and play within design, expanding a reservoir of creation that anchors fulfillment in the present moment. As the co-founder of </span><a href="http://heyleonardo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hey Leonardo</span></i></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a Montreal-based art and graphic designer agency, Marie-Andrée pursues amplifying quiet joys to the forefront of our daily experiences in a manner that is functional, inspiring, and encourages deep connections. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Embracing the ebbs and flow of life, Marie-Andrée exemplifies the notion of life's challenges initiating personal expansion. Through many of her creative works, it is evident she transforms lead into gold.  In this article we dive into her processes of wonder and hues of fulfillment within her world of design.</span></p>
<p><strong>Leahnora Azad (LA)</strong>: How did your journey in design begin?</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Marie-Andrée Pelletier-Cyr (MPC</strong>): I always knew I had this artistic feel inside. I was led to and influenced by art at an early age. In my family, everyone is good at numbers besides me, so art has always been at the center of my life for expression. My father always gave my family and me opportunities to be involved in extracurricular activities aside from school. I always immersed myself in drawing, oil painting, illustrations and took courses that introduced new artistic techniques. It was really in high school where I struggled with finding what I'd do in life. My father played a substantial role in giving me the confidence to pursue art as a career. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Marie-Andrée recalls early memories with her father, "He pointed out that everything we see in life came from someone's imagination. He used realistic examples like how a chair could be created by an Industrial Designer. He introduced me to a new perspective that I never had in mind before. I remember him taking a piece of bread and telling me, "you can see someone created this. From that point on I thought: 'Oh yes! How can I create something like that?"</span></p>
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<p><b>Success is never linear but a continual process dependent on our perseverance</b></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> It is incredibly beautiful how your father guided you to continue your passion. How was this new perspective propelled into adulthood and career choices considering the emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields as promising paths?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MPC:</strong> I recognized that emphasis, especially in high school when I struggled with maintaining the relevance of art into my adulthood. It made me worry about how the arts would follow in my life. Following my father's earlier guidance I applied for Graphic Design at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). </span>My academic career and successes was not a linear process by any means.</p>
<p><b>Full Circle: Challenges Foster Expansion, Soar Higher</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> Speak on that. What were some challenges you faced?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MPC:</strong> I was denied upon my first application at UQAM. That was really tough for me, but I took it as an opportunity to dive into the labor market and traveled for a year which brought me valuable insights. I reapplied a year later, got in, and made the transition to live in Montreal. During college, there was more emphasis within the curriculum on the communicative aspect of images. I wanted to explore deeper the creation aspect.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I studied Graphic Design in California for a semester. I enjoyed seeing how people from another country with different life experiences interpret Graphic Design. It was a refreshing point of view to experience; the Southernmost culture of California expanded perception within my practice.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I enjoyed this portion of my life immensely. I really found my passion for Graphic Design during college.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After my semester in California, I was awarded the Sid Lee Scholarship towards the completion of my Bachelor's Degree at UQAM. So my journey started with  being declined from the program, and ended with an award.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> Wow, that is incredibly inspiring. This was really a full circle moment!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MPC:</strong> Yes exactly! If you put forth the effort, you will find you can do anything. From then on, I always put goals in my mind to achieve. My struggles taught me to remain goal-oriented, to keep striving towards my passions.</span></p>
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<p><b><i>Something Like Destiny</i></b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">MPC reflects on how the Sid Lee internship rewarded her the opportunity to gain hands-on experience within an agency, and the fulfillment of bringing ideas to life. With appreciation, she credits this experience in propelling her expansion in Graphic Design to a space likened to Destiny. The ebbs and flow of life presented her with the chance to become a freelancer. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She details the enjoyment and freedom that comes with being a freelancer: "It's that bond I cherish. I've always had the chance to work within an agency but I love the teamwork that facilitates the realization of a project. I don't know if it was destiny to do this but I enjoyed cultivating a direct connection with a client".</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> Touching back on your father's perspective on design essentially being everywhere, I think there is a growing appreciation of creators as a whole these days. I believe maybe up until a decade ago the idea of pursuing art has been discouraged. It's refreshing to witness this full-circle moment as we usually see success portrayed as a linear process. I appreciate your transparency in that respect. On </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hey Leonardo</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">'s website, you have a mantra </span>"<em>Y’a d’la joie partout y’a d’la joie!</em>"<span style="font-weight: 400;"> translating to </span><b>"</b><em>There is joy everywhere that there is joy!</em><b>"</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> What does this Quebecois saying mean to you?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MPC:</strong> As designers, we have a saying "we don't save lives as doctors, but we contribute to the happiness of the world". We don't realize the joys of every tiny detail in life. We can't quantify it but all the elements we come across  through our daily experience have the potential to bring joy. I believe in that. If everything was gray, we'd be really sad. For example, if you choose a Minori product, you open it every morning and for some reason, it brings you joy. Even through a trip to your local coffee shop... we may not realize it, but everything we engage with accompanies us energetically.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Through Marie-Andrée's perspective, the heart becomes an eye through which beauty is found in all things. She recounts her travels in Nashville, Tennessee describing a collective identity found through its landscapes and city life: "This city has a look and feel of a strong personality, as if it was branded by the same designer."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> This is all so profound to me. I sometimes contemplate the reason behind our love or even indulgence with materiality. It is as though objects and things are our essence externalized. With each thing we come across, it seems that we can actually feel the creator's intent beyond the thing itself. In many ways, Design impresses our memory. Do you do this consciously in your work?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MPC:</strong> I think it is more subconscious for me. I try to put all of my effort into what I create. Every small detail receives my focus, but the overall impact is never consciously intended.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> The more I get to know you through this conversation, the more I see how your life perspective aligns with the philosophies of Minori, especially mindfulness and the appreciation of minimalism. What was your experience like branding for Minori?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MPC:</strong> It was the longest project I've done, about three years in the making. Usually, projects take a few months or so, but over the years you gain a lot of perspectives. Some parts of it were hard because there are moments when you're hands-on in the process, and then there is a long pause. This experience required a different approach, yet it gave me a confirmation that I was on the right path. Each time we re-opened the project, I was proud of the work I've done a few months later. It granted me a sense of self-approval. I was proud of what I did."</span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Minori-behindthescene-01_480x480.jpg?v=1632506202" alt="" style="float: none;"></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the beginning, Anastasia discussed the goals of the brand. She gave me the necessary ingredients for this project and I think we've done well with linking her ideas with how we [Hey Leonardo] create visuals that reflect these ideas. It is important for me to always be on-brand, linking visual work that accurately reflects the values and the essence of their ideas. The first conversation we had was centered on giving confidence to women -- to feel our beauty and face the day ahead. I connected with Minori's ethos of minimal application and feeling confident in one's skin. For Anastasia, the brand needed to invoke the essence of "perfectly imperfect" acknowledging our "imperfections" are beautiful. That is where the illustration as seen on the packaging came. To make this illustration imperfect was important to me. Because I am right-handed, I did the illustration with my left hand instead to be sure it isn't perfect due to the trained reflex in my right hand. It was nice exploring the possibilities from this experiment. Inclusivity was integral for us as well. We wanted to ensure all persons are represented, seen and felt. Our goal was to invoke that through the art direction of the photoshoots and Minori colorways.</span></p>
<p><strong>LA:</strong> I am so impressed and appreciative of learning all the intent behind Minori down to the packaging. We are presented with and conditioned to receive a sense of perfection, especially in the beauty industry. That is what intrigues and maybe negatively persuades consumers, this packaged idea of perfection on the surface.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MPC:</strong> Yes. I don't think these ideas changed over the years for Minori either. This idea of embracing imperfection remains consistent and I'm inspired by that.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> What would you say is your favorite aspect of designing?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MPC:</strong> I would say the packaging. There is a great pleasure in seeing my projects come to life. For example, when Anastasia brought me the finalized boxes we printed and I held it in my hands— to see my project live, it brought so much satisfaction to me. To have these ideas in a tangible form, considering the effort and the process of iteration is my favorite moment. I don’t think I could have this feeling if I did something else in life. It is really having all of these efforts in a tangible form that brings me such satisfaction.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Minori-behindthescene-02_480x480.jpg?v=1632506347" alt="" style="float: none;"></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> While speaking with you I receive so much optimism and joy from your personality and outlook. How do you prioritize or invoke these elements of mindfulness in your life?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">MPC: I think it is a challenge to do that at any stage in someone's life regardless of age or circumstance.  </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">I have a great entourage. People around me are very strong and I think that is what helps me.</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Being close to my family and friends helps me to readjust my perspective when things are challenging. Sometimes when you over-prioritize work first — when you do anything too much in life, it doesn't have to only be work but you can lose the balance of exercise, having great conversations with friends, time with family, etc. For me, since I own my own company, it is a reflex to be productive. For a creative person, it is especially important to preserve this balance, or be as close to it as you can. Spending time with nature, being with my family and friends, traveling...all these things are important to remain inspired in life. This is the challenge of life, just as it is with cultivating self-confidence.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> This is a wise frame. When we think of overindulgence we typically think of the things we consume, but it can also be what we exert too much of. I think your words serve as a good reminder to slow down and process life lightly especially as we tend to have this false correlation of productivity equating to value and happiness.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MPC:</strong> Self-confidence is similar to the rollercoaster of our work life. Sometimes we feel we aren't productive enough, sometimes we don't make time for ourselves. It is important to remain inspired, to rest, and find quiet joys in life.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>LA:</strong> I truly enjoyed this conversation. Your viewpoint speaks largely to the sixth sense that connects us all. The transfer of mental ideas into visual and tangible artworks comes from the constant exchange between humanity. There is a world within your creative process to the extent that what you do doesn't seem like work but pure art. What are some thoughts on design you'd like to conclude with?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MPC:</strong> Design is everywhere. Drawing from Minori's ethos on minimalism, I think it's nice to link that in design. In the field of Design we have a saying, "less is more" which aligns with our consumption habits. If you are more minimalist, you choose things more intentionally that bring joy to yourself.</span></p>
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<p><b>The idea of "less but better" allows us to feel the joys of life deeply. All of the small details can bring joy.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Marie-Andrée’s</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> reverence towards human relationships, mindfulness, mental discipline, and perseverance is evidenced through the precision and vividness of her creative work. It is as though Pelletier-Cyr breathes the fullness of life and illustrates the human senses into pieces that typically receive the connotation of mundane or lifeless. By tuning into the present, Marie-Andrée teaches us one may find elements of beauty, love, and joy in simplistic foundations.</span><br></i></p>
<p> </p>

Discover the World of Design with Minori's Brand Designer Marie-Andrée Pelletier-Cyr

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">By Meghan Buschini</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I thought I was supposed to be excited to move in for my Sophomore year of college. Instead I found myself feeling increasingly anxious as the hot August days slipped into cooler Fall ones.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I thought I just needed to get there, and then I’d feel better. But a week after moving in, my mental health was at an all time low. My anxiety only got more intense, and my head felt in the clouds as depression creeped in. </span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">When Leaving School is a Mental Health Necessity</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I thought I was supposed to tough it out and keep trekking on. I soon realized the power in shifting my focus from what I thought I was </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">supposed</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to do to what I actually </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">wanted</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to do.  And I wanted to leave school. So I did.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Just as quickly as I had moved in, I packed up my modest dorm room and headed home. Although I was feeling incredibly low, I harnessed whatever strength I had left within me and made the life altering decision to go on a medical leave and take a semester off of college. I was scared, at first. No one else I knew had taken a whole semester off before, and I didn’t know where it would take me. But it ended up being the best thing I could have done for my mind and soul. </span></p>
<h2>Coming To Terms with Accepting Help</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I took the time off to come back home to myself and heal. I worked at a daycare (because how can babies not bring you joy), applied to schools to transfer to, visited friends, and generally just focused on my needs. For over a year I had contemplated going on medication to treat my depression and anxiety, but found myself held back by the stigma that surrounded it. I was eventually able to combat not only the stigma, but the voice inside my head that told me I wasn’t struggling enough to need it. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A month or so after sending in some transfer applications, I finally heard back. I got accepted into The University of Massachusetts Amherst. From that moment on, I started to feel enthusiastic and curious about the future again instead of an agonizing dread. I realized that I have the power to do what is right for </span><b>me</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, regardless of what anyone else thinks or does. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After committing to UMass Amherst, I took another leap of faith and applied to be a Group Fitness Instructor there--a dream I had for years but never found the confidence to live out at my previous school. I had barely stepped foot on campus before, let alone did I even know where the Recreation Center was, but I was lucky enough to be offered an audition, and then a job. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My semester off gave me the time I needed to grow mentally and physically. Having the opportunity to just focus on myself led me to the clarity that my previous school wasn’t a place to foster my happiness, and gave me the space to heal my mind and figure out what I wanted to do instead. And that healing allowed me to come out with the confidence to transfer to a new school five times the size. </span></p>
<p>In addition to switching schools, I switched my major from Elementary Education to Communications. I didn’t feel that 18 year old me knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. And to be honest, the current 21 year old me doesn’t know either. But that's the thing, I don’t think I need to know. I believe it is enough to be curious and enthusiastic about the future, to try different things and test various paths. Because why should we know exactly what we want to do with the rest of our lives by the time we are 21?</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With a brand new school and a brand new job, I was the happiest I had been in a long time. I finally felt like I was in the right place--all because I did what was right for me, and took time off of school.</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ultimately, I learned that there is no rule book to what you are “supposed” to be doing with your life.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> There is no timeline that you are “supposed” to be following. If anything, the path you’re “supposed” to be following is the one that brings you inner peace, clarity, excitement, and happiness. I hope you can find the courage to follow that path, too.</span></p>

My Mental Health Semester Off

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">By Fiana Herscovici </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></em></p>
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<h2>
<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Inhale </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">peace. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exhale </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">release.</span>
</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">About a year ago, my family bought a Peloton bike. My mom, my two older sisters, and myself, fell in love with cycling in the span of a week, and since then, we have all formed what feels like deep, personal bonds with Cody Rigsby, Ally Love, Emma Lovewell, and so many other Peloton instructors. We donned Peloton gear, relishing in the time we spent working on ourselves with a virtual community spanning across the country and around the world. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When I got to school, I found the closest thing I could to spinning at the university gym: an elliptical. One day in March 2021, I hopped on one of these machines, loaded up a Gilmore Girls episode, and brought the elevation up to the highest it would go. I had a great workout, showered, and then walked to the dining hall with a few of my friends. As I went to leave my dorm, I felt something slide out of place in my left hip. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Doctor’s appointments, stretching videos, and most importantly, no cycling, followed in the weeks afterward. As someone that uses physical exercise as a source of mental health stability, I could feel myself circling the drain, becoming more sluggish and unfocused. That was when I rediscovered yoga—the form of movement that would soon become the foundation of my mindfulness journey.  </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I’ll give you a visual of my first yoga class. I was in seventh grade, wearing my favorite outfit at the time: black tights, a blue skater skirt, and a Forever 21 crop top I had bought with my very own babysitting cash. At the time, my sister had been on a gap year and the two of us were obsessed with Jillian Michaels' Six Week Six Pack class on YouTube (just Level 1 - we were slightly terrified of the Level 2 circuits). I had come to assume that all exercise should be rigorous, accompanied with a damp shirt and sweat dripping into my contacts. With its stretching and breath work, I labeled yoga as a “beta” method of working out, a form of exercise that was ineffective because there were no immediate physical results. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I kept the same opinion of yoga until my senior year of high school. I needed to take a physical education class, and the only course that fit in with my schedule was Yoga 1. It was at 7:25AM, and the one thing I could remember from my middle school experience was that yoga always had a brief nap time section. With college applications creeping into every corner of my mind, I decided a little extra sleep couldn’t hurt, and I enrolled. My teacher was kind, caring, and passionate about teaching Yoga 1 to a classroom of sleepy seniors. With her instruction, I unraveled my apprehension towards the practice of yoga and even began to enjoy more than just the nap time, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">savasana</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, at the end of class. The most important teaching she shared on those drowsy mornings was her personal mantra: </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">inhale </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">peace, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">exhale </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">release. To this day, those words bring stillness to my rippling thoughts. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Flash forward to my freshman year college dorm room. It had been a year and a half since my last yoga class, and yet, there I was, in downward dog, forced into my last resort for physical exercise, wishing for the heart pumping, cycling class of my dreams. Remembering that I liked yoga in high school because of the instructor, I turned to the Peloton app in the hopes of finding the yoga equivalent of Cody Rigsby. Enter Chelsea Jackson Roberts, who “</span><a href="https://www.onepeloton.com/instructors/CJRLovesYoga"><span style="font-weight: 400;">believes that practicing yoga connects you more deeply to yourself and the world around you, making you happier and healthier in your daily life</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">”.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> She taught with the same kindness, care, and passion that my high school instructor had, working twice as hard to connect with subscribers through a screen and through the sludge of a pandemic. I began to look forward to my thirty minute classes with her, relishing in the movement that yoga returned to my body that my injury had stolen. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Throughout April, I flowed through </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">vinyasa </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">yoga classes, perfecting my form the way I had with cycling. I learned that there is power in stillness, in breath, in being present within one’s body. Instead of pushing myself to spin as fast as I could, I was exploring the strength I had within me, weaving together my mind and my physical being. I felt like I had been turned inside out - so much of my relationship with exercise was focused on improving my outsides that working on my mental health felt backwards. My grandfather has a simple saying: “It is easier to fix a boo-boo here”, pointing at his knee, “...than it is to fix a boo-boo here”, moving to point at his temple. We have years of science and research telling us how to patch up the parts of us we can see, but how do we begin to heal our invisible hurt? </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As much as my hip injury set me back, it propelled me forward in my mental health journey. My routine thinking that exercise needed to be associated with intensive cardio and hundreds of burned calories to be effective was disrupted in the span of a 45 minute elliptical ride. Cycling was like a shot of espresso, a quick burst of energy that made me feel good but that I was reliant on for energy. Yoga was like water, nourishing me with lessons that I could take into every facet of my life. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Savasana</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> was no longer nap time, it was an act of mindfulness, a space where I could feel the earth under my palms and understand what it meant to be grounded. </span></p>
<blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yoga became my refuge, but unlike a temporary settlement, the practice gave me a permanent home within myself, a place where my body and mind could balance to support my entire being. </span></p>
</blockquote>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The moments we perceive as earth shattering have the capacity to rebuild our sense of self. </span></p>
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<h2>
<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Inhale </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">peace. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exhale </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">release.</span>
</h2>
<img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Fiana_Blog_Post_2_480x480.jpg?v=1631559605" alt=""><br>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fiana Herscovici is a Sophomore Operations and Information Management major within the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She writes for HerCampus UMass Amherst and contributes to her university’s business school blog. Fiana is also the co-founder of StudioU, a free headshot photography studio that enables students to jumpstart their online presence with a profile picture that captures their genuine self. </span></i><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">When she's not writing or working (or reading YA novels, practicing yoga, or daydreaming about being on the beach), Fiana is a competitor for the Isenberg Business Ethics Team and a Junior Analyst for the Isenberg Undergraduate Consulting Group. </span></i><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can read her works </span></i><a href="https://www.hercampus.com/author/fiana-herscovici/"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">here</span></i></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, where she shares insights about sustainable business practices, the importance of small businesses, and investment trends. </span></i></p>

Becoming an Accidental Yogi

<blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">By Samia Abbasi<br></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><meta charset="utf-8"></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span>Editor + Content Lead, Kulfi Beauty</span><br></span></div>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I never imagined myself to be someone who wears blue eyeliner. I come from a lower income, traditional, Indian-Muslim household, and this influenced how my siblings and I explored our personal styles while growing up. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As a teenager, I had a minimalist makeup collection. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It consisted of a trusty drugstore mascara, a neutral-toned eyeshadow palette, tinted lip balm, and concealer. I would admire my older sister’s smoky eyeshadow looks or a beauty YouTuber’s sharp winged eyeliner tutorial, but I’d often think: </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">I can’t do that! That wouldn’t even look good on me!</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> In college, I stayed in my comfort zone of the no makeup - makeup look, with the exception of special events. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My distant admiration for beauty blossomed into love at the age of 22. I became the editor of Kulfi, a South Asian-owned beauty brand, and as an early post-college grad, I had a newfound access to disposable income. I learned so much about the beauty space, both as an insider in the industry and as a consumer. I realized something simple, yet profound: there are beauty brands out there that cater to </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">my</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> skin concerns and style aspirations. These brands tend to be new, independent, BIPOC-owned, and/or rooted in communal experiences with beauty.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Samia_-_Blush_Collection_480x480.png?v=1631250334" alt="" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My beauty purchases were now empowered decisions. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I’ve embraced the Gen Z in me: dewy pink blush, sunny yellow eyeshadow, shimmery light blue eyeliner. In addition to Minori and Kulfi, some of my favorite brands are Tower28 Beauty, Musée Beauty, Em Cosmetics, and Eczema Honey Co. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I was also nervous and guilty about whether this was the best use of my money. I’d wonder: </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Be honest, Samia, will you actually wear this a lot? Are you getting your money’s worth? </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">This spoke to a deeper economic anxiety of how I was socialized to think about spending: only essentials, nothing too frivolous, and always with a coupon in-hand. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A year later, my collection continues to grow with my sense of personal style. Three key tips have helped me be more mindful about my beauty spending and routine:</span></p>
<h3>1. Buy products that add a new dimension to your collection. </h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A crisp color that excites me, a product that suits my skin type, a brand I’ve been pining after for months. This has allowed me to craft my ideal makeup style in a more focused, financially feasible way. I also try to buy things that make me </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">feel</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> something when I use them: confident, ethereal, joyful. There are so many brands, products, and styles within the beauty space. You don’t know what makes you feel like your best self until you explore and experiment at your own pace. </span></p>
<h3>2. Look at a color wheel when you’re getting ready. </h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, I had all this gorgeous makeup but a new challenge arose: I was still reaching for the same three colors every day. I didn’t know what eyeshadow would go with which blush or if I should stay monochromatic with my makeup and outfit. Stemming from my love for interior design, I realized makeup can tell a story with color, too. Some days, I’ll wake up and choose an outfit or eyeshadow color first, and will look at a color wheel for inspiration. A fun recent discovery was pairing a lavender outfit with yellow eyeshadow or terracotta eyeliner. </span></p>
<div style="text-align: start;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Samia_-_Pic_5_480x480.png?v=1631250196" alt="" style="float: none; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></div>
<h3></h3>
<h3>3. Know your beauty collection and visualize it. </h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This might be simple, but being able to visualize my makeup has been so helpful. My aunt once encouraged me to put clothes I haven’t worn in a while to the front of my closet, and I do that with makeup. My collection is robust yet small enough that I can visualize everything in my head in little families by product type, brand, or complementary colors. I’ll sometimes think: </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Oh, I haven’t used that one product in a while!</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> And I’ll try my best to use it the next day.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My makeup routine has become a playful mood-lifter every morning. Ultimately, it’s allowed me to express myself in new ways and has taught me so much about how to approach money with intentionality. </span></p>

How Intentional Spending Led Me to Find my Makeup Style

<p><em>By Abigail Grimm</em></p>
<p>I can’t be the only person who feels like my wardrobe dwarfs in comparison to those on the internet. The life of spending hundreds of dollars on new clothes, coloring my hair and buying expensive makeup products never seemed necessary. But I’m young and spend a lot of time on the internet. It feels like every time I open Instagram an over-smiley woman is adding a “swipe up” to yet another item of clothing, another face cream, another tube of mascara that will change my life. Some of this is part of sponsored content, paid advertising influencers produce in collaboration with brands. They also offer advice on finances,  relationships and even college decisions. They show off their significant others, their children, their parents. Seemingly nothing is off limits.</p>
<h2>Where does the influencing stop?</h2>
<p>The lifestyle difference of influencers compared that of the people who consume their content is stark. For example, seeing the sheer number of things some influencers have in their closet and their home falls short of reasonable to me. Highlighting this grandeur creates a false sense of expectations of what success should look like. Personally, seeing some of the beautiful homes and huge closets many well-known influencers boast, I feel like I’ve somehow fallen short. But why is some person on the internet, whom I’ve never met, telling me what I need in life to be happy and successful? And when did “more” become “best”? My life is so drastically different from these people, so why should I believe them when I am my own unique person on my own journey? With often hundreds of thousands of followers, many of whom are young adults and teenagers in their formative years, these people’s words matter. They are, after all, called “influencers.”  It would do us all well to remember that.</p>
<p>This force of influence also becomes problematic when you consider the dangerous trend of overconsumption that has been growing in the last several decades.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>According to the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200310-sustainable-fashion-how-to-buy-clothes-good-for-the-climate">BBC</a>, the fashion industry accounts for 10% of all global carbon emissions and 20% of wastewater production.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The supply chain and shipping, which involves sourcing materials and manufacturing the goods, is a key culprit, as is the end-of-life disposal of goods in landfills. As the BBC article details, "a single pair of jeans requires a kilogram of cotton. And because cotton tends to be grown in dry environments, producing this kilo requires about 7,500–10,000 litres of water, [about] 10 years’ worth of drinking water for one person.” Each new item of clothing we buy and subsequently throw away is a drain on the environment. Current consumer norms, highlighted by the content we consume, ignore this larger issue and encourage excessive consumption of goods. When we normalize this, we normalize the overconsumption of resources this planet so desperately needs.</p>
<h2>A shift towards positive influence </h2>
<p>And yet, I can’t deny that I love consuming content online. YouTube and similar platforms can offer an escape, inspiration, education. But these platforms are global. They attract millions of people, and their impact is far-reaching. Imagine the power if we as a global online community reevaluated our priorities, both as content creators and consumers. In the past year, I’ve seen several influencers produce sponsored content for an online thrift store and encourage second-hand shopping.</p>
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<p> </p>
</blockquote>
<p>I’ve also seen several influencers offer disclaimers, emphasizing that everyone is different and what works for them may not work for someone else. </p>
<p>There is a lot to be said for intentional living... something the greater online community has yet to grasp. When we take a step back from the overwhelming state we often fall into, there is a moment to breathe, to think, to consider what is important to us today and in the days to come. Consider the life you want to live and the values you want to lead with. To consumers: Is the content you're consuming and the items you’re buying supportive of that life? Who is advertising these products to you? What are you putting your energy towards? How do those actions impact the larger global community? To content creators: Do the products and brands you’re advertising  have missions you support? Does the life you show on the internet reflect the life you actually live? How do your actions affect your followers and the larger global community?</p>
<p>As the power of influencers continues to grow, let’s reevaluate our priorities and our intention to create a supportive and inspiring online community we all want to be a part of.</p>
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The Power of Influence: Reevaluating Influencer Marketing and Content Consumption

<p><em>By Morgan Grimes</em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My name is Morgan! I’m an LA-based makeup artist originally from North Carolina! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I love living in LA but it can be very hard on anyone’s self-esteem. I’m going to take you all on my journey of self-love and what that has looked like for me over the years. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Growing up, I was always pretty slender and had my mother’s genes of great skin, so in my teens, I honestly didn’t worry too much about my looks or beat myself up about them until I reached my twenties. With a holistic upbringing, I have never taken birth control but sometimes accidents happen. I grew up in a religious home so I wasn’t about to tell my mom [about my decision]. I was on Plan B for a short time, and then came breakouts. Growing up with great skin, these breakouts were such a shock to me. I didn’t know this would disrupt my hormones so drastically. I became so self-conscious about how I looked. I would cake foundation on which in turn made my skin condition worse. Even with my mom being an esthetician, neither of us could get it under control. This was an extremely low period of my life. I started to become depressed, canceling plans with friends, staying home, missing out on jobs and life opportunities as a whole.</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> No matter what people said, I thought I was hideous. I dreamed of the day when I could leave the house confident with no makeup and feel good about myself.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> This was about 7 years of feeling like that until I finally got it under control and my hormones adjusted. The battle of dealing with my self-image transitioned from beating myself up over my skin to criticizing my body.</span></p>
<img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Facetune_23-08-2021-15-56-31_480x480.jpg?v=1629857304" alt="Morgan Grimes Body Image"><br>
<p><b><i>Body Image: Navigating Mental and Unrealistic Societal Pressures</i></b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Working around gorgeous, fit models all day undoubtedly wore on my self-esteem. Dealing with severe ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), it becomes hard for me to gather enough energy to structure and stick with a workout routine.  I feel I’m always stuck. Sometimes I wish I could just wear a crop top and feel confident or look at my body the way others do. If I want to cut weight I’ll just stop eating which is not healthy.  For me, this was the only way I could control how I look. Self-love takes time. It takes years, and it's something that even at 32 I’m still working on. </span></p>
<p><b><i>From Comparison to Appreciation</i></b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Self-love to me is realizing social media isn’t real. Everyone has their struggles, and to not miss out on life because of a pimple or because you don’t feel skinny enough whatever that may look like to you. I have a quote that speaks to me when I’m down and need a little boost, especially when overcoming situations:</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You are probably constantly worrying about the next part of your life without realizing that you are right in the middle of what you used to look forward to”. </span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I love that one quote when I get upset or when I get a blemish but 90% of the time I’m able to go without makeup and have pretty skin and 7 years ago when I was at my lowest it was the one thing I wished for. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When I ask myself “What is happiness?” I find that happiness is not fulfilling every pleasure or getting every outcome you desire. Happiness is being able to enjoy life with a peaceful mind that is not constantly craving for more. It is the inner peace that comes with embracing change.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">I love this perspective so much because as women we always want more. A better body, tighter face, prettier hair, nicer clothes. We should be happy with how we were created and the uniqueness that is naturally ours. With age, all of those desires fade away. You’re left with yourself, and the kind beautiful human you are.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The last saying I learned from another makeup artist I admire is “everyone is born perfect”. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because you are. We are all perfect and unique in our own way.</span></p>

My Long Journey to Self-Love

<p><em>By Josie Lo, Contributor</em></p>
<h2>Money as a social barrier </h2>
<p><span>Growing up, I was usually aware of family’s financial struggles. Though I appreciated living simply, I often felt that money was a barrier that isolated me from friends and classmates.</span></p>
<p><span>In middle school, I worried about if I had enough outfits to rotate through. Some classmates would consider it a crime to wear the same top too often. I had nice things, but I was painfully aware of how different shopping trips were for my friends. I envied the kids who had Hollister clothes, a cell phone with a data plan, or a Vera Bradley backpack. I couldn’t participate in Nintendo D.S. group chats, couldn’t catch cable TV references, couldn’t join the class trip to Europe or take horse riding lessons with my friends. I remember spending my afternoons making wishlists on the internet, strategizing what I would pick when Christmas or a birthday came around. I felt that if I looked the part, I wouldn’t feel like an outsider. This was how I lived for years, trying to buy the confidence I didn’t have. </span></p>
<blockquote>During high school, I worked long hours at a lousy hotel restaurant, just to spend a week’s earnings on an American Eagle hoodie or a MAC foundation to hide behind.</blockquote>
<p><span>I always knew what I wanted to buy with my next paycheck. I had a never-ending wishlist. As a 15-year-old, earning $7.25 per hour, I started to realize how much work I was doing and how little I could afford in the adult world.</span></p>
<p><span>Around age 15, life events just became a new goal on the calendar to diet towards. Rather than buying my confidence at retail stores, I became convinced that happiness would come once I achieved the perfect body. Now, every paycheck was going towards cosmetic procedures and diet pills. I secretly saved to get my eyebrows micro-bladed and filler in my cheeks. The wishlist of products became a wishlist of procedures. Undoubtedly fueled by unrealistic social media standards, I spent all my time, energy, and money becoming skinny and pretty. I was miserable and isolated, lost in my pursuits of being a perfectionist. </span></p>
<h2><span>Shifting my value of worth through healing and mindfulness</span></h2>
<p><span>By the time I finished my freshman year of college, I had done a lot of healing, and pulling myself out of an eating disorder gave me new confidence. I lived more in the present rather than always being consumed by how I needed to improve my outward appearance. I started to become self-aware that I was compulsively shopping when a<b data-stringify-type="bold"> </b>trip to Target felt like a “pick-me-up”. I would always leave the store with more than what was on my shopping list. Maybe cheap trendy jewelry, a fast-fashion piece, or a new beauty product to add to an overflowing bathroom cabinet. </span></p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/IMG_3092_480x480.jpg?v=1629474821" alt=""></p>
<p><span>Throughout college, I worked to gain confidence from within and make friends. My obsession with beauty and style did give me the confidence I needed to put myself out there. Once I started making meaningful connections, I realized that my genuine friends weren’t concerned about looking like an influencer and that my friendship was what they valued. Around the same time, my artistic sister inspired me to start buying secondhand. By thrifting my clothes, I elevated my style beyond just trying to fit in. I was saving money, feeling like a more responsible consumer, and making friends doing it. Sure, I went through phases of overbuying at Goodwill. Still, I distanced myself from the fast-fashion industry and the associated remorse when your FashionNova jeans don’t look like they did online. It is a great feeling to find a hidden gem among old housewares or get a compliment on a thrifted item! I highly recommend spending a few months buying secondhand (or shop your own home!) for as many of your needs as possible. One of my favorite recent purchases was an “almost new” Ninja blender that I bought for half the retail price! So satisfying! </span></p>
<blockquote>Post-college, I’ve continued to evolve as a more careful consumer. I now see a store more like a museum that tells a story about the current consumer market. I still enjoy a stroll around Target or a vintage shop, but now I can shop without the ensuing buyer’s remorse.</blockquote>
<p><span> I appreciate getting ready with a few makeup products that I love, rather than a whole collection of each product type. I feel more relaxed living in a space where I use everything I have without feeling burdened by too many impulse purchases. I’m grateful that I have friends who understand and respect my financial boundaries. Friends who are down for a chill night at home with a cheap bottle of wine, on days when I shouldn’t spend on an evening of Ubers, cocktails, and drunk food. </span></p>
<p><span>It can be hard to set financial and emotional boundaries, especially when you’re exposed to Youtubers with a new haul video every week, influencers who aren’t pictured in the same bikini twice, and an inbox full of sales that expire in 24 hours. However, I’m learning to set aside present bias, the culture of immediacy, and impulse buying, so I don’t have to feel as anxious when monthly bills come around. By shifting my attention away from consuming, I can focus on my health and relationships. I’m looking forward to saving money for retirement, trips (post-COVID), and memories that will last much longer than my next purchase. </span></p>

<span>In middle school, I worried about if I had enough outfits to rotate through. Some classmates would consider it a crime to wear the same top too often. I had nice things, but I was painfully aware of how different shopping trips were for my friends. I envied the kids who had Hollister clothes, a cell phone with a data plan, or a Vera Bradley backpack.</span>

How I shifted my value of worth

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From the start, Minori has been committed to promoting sustainability through mindful consumption. Part of this includes being thoughtful about where our packaging comes from. Intentionality is at the root of our values. We are continuously improving our sustainability practices as the brand grows. </span></p>
<h2><strong>What does the FSC label mean? </strong></h2>
<p><strong><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/FSC_Logo_480x480.jpg?v=1626498798" alt=""></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On our unit cartons, you will find a </span><b>Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> label. This mark certifies that the materials used to produce the cartons are responsibly sourced, according to FSC’s comprehensive social and environmental standards.  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minori cartons are made from FSC Mix materials using FSC-certified wood, recycled materials, and/or FSC controlled wood. Though controlled timber is not from FSC-certified forests, it mitigates the risk of materials coming from unacceptable sources. In addition, FSC’s controlled wood standards help address significant problems like illegal logging, human and traditional rights violations, and deforestation. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ideally, cartons would be made from 100% FSC-certified materials; however, there isn’t enough FSC-certified forest area to meet the demand. Nevertheless, the growing demand encourages forest managers to work toward FSC-certification.  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our shipping boxes are also made from FSC-certified paper. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can learn more about how FSC labels are supporting responsible forestry </span><a href="https://fsc.org/en/fsc-labels"><span style="font-weight: 400;">here</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span> </p>
<h2><b>Look for the logo</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can find the FSC label on all types of consumer products, your coffee cup, a book, or food products. By choosing FSC-certified products, not only are you supporting brands that are committed to sustainability, but you are driving the demand for more companies to become FSC-certified. </span></p>
<h2><b>Where does Minori get their packaging?</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our unit cartons are printed by a company in Butler, NJ. Our shipping boxes are produced in Pennsauken, NJ. </span></p>
<h2><b>Recycling </b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our shipping box and unit cartons are 100% recyclable. Simply place them in your curbside recycling. To find out how to recycle in your area, visit </span><a href="https://recyclenation.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recycle Nation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Minori has partnered with TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box platform to recycle cosmetic containers, like our lip-gloss tubes. You can participate in our recycling program </span><a href="https://www.minoribeauty.com/values#sustainability"><span style="font-weight: 400;">here</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">!</span></p>
<h2><b>Our Journey</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">By 2025, we aim to use 50% post-consumer materials in our packaging and implement systematic carbon emissions tracking to offset our environmental impact.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We appreciate you joining us on our mission to live simply and sustainably!</span></p>
<br><br>

What Does the FSC label on Minori's Packaging Mean?

Moving Past Unidimensional Beauty: A Conversation With Ryan Jule Cruz

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What does clean beauty actually mean? The short answer is that there is no clear cut definition of clean beauty and that is exactly why this is such a controversial question. The longer answer is a lot more nuanced. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The term ‘clean beauty’ has entered the mainstream beauty vocabulary over the past few years. Prior to that, brands used terms such as green beauty or natural beauty. These terms were equally as vague and undefined. There was a lot of room for brand greenwashing leading to customer mistrust of these marketing terms.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">More recently, beauty brands have started adopting a more balanced and transparent approach by formulating products with a mix of safe synthetics as well as naturally derived ingredients. Clean beauty came out of the idea that not all synthetics are harmful and not all-natural ingredients are safe. Instead, cosmetic formulation requires a careful and proactive approach in avoiding certain ingredients that could potentially be harmful.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This list of excluded ingredients goes by several names: "Black List", "The No List", "Free From list" to sometimes more creative marketing twists like "The Undesirables", "the Toxic 20" or "The Dirty List".</span></p>
<h3><b>Who determines which cosmetic ingredients are bad and which are good?</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the ideal world, the FDA would determine which ingredients should not be included in cosmetics. Unfortunately, the FDA has not issued new cosmetic regulations since 1938, where they banned 11</span><a href="https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/resources-consumers-cosmetics/cosmetics-safety-qa-prohibited-ingredients#:~:text=Regulations%20restrict%20or%20prohibit%20the,chloride%2C%20chlorofluorocarbon%20propellants%20and%20hexachlorophene."> <span style="font-weight: 400;">ingredients</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. It's fair to say that the beauty and skincare industry has evolved since then! To give you a comparison, the European Union banned 1300 ingredients from being used in cosmetics.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The discrepancy between U.S regulations and European regulations is definitely startling and can leave many Americans afraid that their cosmetic products are full of potentially harmful ingredients.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Without official oversight, we depend on the scientific community to clarify which ingredients should be avoided. Scientific research carries its own limitations such as studies with small sample sizes or statistically insignificant results. Even when scientists agree that there is enough evidence to presume that a chemical to be harmful to humans the FDA will deem that there is not enough hard evidence to support such claims.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One common example of this disagreement is the question of the safety of Phthalates, which are </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">esters of phthalic acid mainly used as plasticizers helping plastics increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">A quick google research, will tell you that phthalates can damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive system.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I wanted to dig in deeper to truly understand what information is available and why there is tension between the FDA and the scientific community regarding the risk of Phthalates and other suspected ingredients. This exercise also helped me understand why clean beauty brands often take the precautionary approach of avoiding an ingredient even when the evidence is not black and white.</span></p>
<h3><b>Studies on Phthalates</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2003-2004, scientists at the</span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/Phthalates_FactSheet.html"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">CDC (Centers for disease control and prevention)</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> measured 13 phthalate metabolites in the urine of 2,636 or more participants who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The amount of phthalates that entered people's bodies is estimated by analyzing metabolites levels in urine. The study found that phthalate exposure is widespread in the U.S population, but found that adult women have much higher levels of urinary metabolites than men, seemingly from their higher use of cosmetic and personal care products containing them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Phthalates have been shown to have</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK453249/#"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">adverse effects on the reproductive organs of male rats</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Similar studies on humans show that we are much less sensitive to phthalates than rats. Nevertheless, scientists presume that it is possible that phthalates can cause reproductive issues in humans.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A 2015 study published in the</span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935115001899"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Environmental Research journal</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> concluded their research on Phthalates on the neurodevelopment of children by saying: "There is enough scientific data around the adverse effect of phthalates on animals. A systematic review of the literature supports the contention that prenatal exposure phthalates is associated with adverse cognitive and behavioral outcomes in children, including lower IQ, and problems with attention, hyperactivity, and poorer social communication."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are a few other studies for you to read if you want to dig in even deeper: looking at possible links between phthalates and</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27822670/"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">obesity</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29886235/"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">breast cancer</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and</span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653519305922"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">infertility</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<h3><b>Does this mean Phthalates are bad?</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Scientists suggest that there is enough evidence pointing to the possible risks of phthalates to humans. Small daily doses do not seem to be dangerous, but aggregate exposure over decades is a cause for concern. The FDA nevertheless maintains the stance that there is</span><a href="https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/phthalates#:~:text=At%20the%20present%20time%2C%20FDA,cosmetics%20pose%20a%20safety%20risk."> <span style="font-weight: 400;">not enough scientific proof against phthalates</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, leaning on the opinion of the CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel) that suggests that exposures to phthalates from cosmetics on humans are low compared to levels that would cause adverse effects in animals.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/amplitude-magazin-srXbJ1TAdhI-unsplash_480x480.jpg?v=1624827728" alt="cosmetic chemist in her lab"></span></p>
<h3><b>What to make of clean beauty claims then?</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My personal take as both a consumer and a beauty brand founder, is that science isn’t static and that there isn’t always a definite black and white answer. We shouldn't accept the status quo and continue to formulate with ingredients that are strongly suspected of being harmful. It is also important to point out that there will always be new scientific developments, new studies and new opinions. An ingredient that is deemed safe today and widely used by clean beauty brands might be suspected of being harmful in the future and vice versa. So no, clean beauty is not a hard promise of ingredient safety, but rather a promise to do it's best based on current information, and to continue to push the conversation and refute the status quo.</span></p>
<h3>What else does clean beauty focus on?</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other than focusing on safer formulations to protect consumer's health, clean beauty brands also make an active effort to practice sustainability and protect the earth.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are some ways that Clean Beauty brands can make a difference:</span></p>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Refuse to test of animal and formulate using only vegan ingredients</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Manufacture locally</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aim to use more sustainable packaging and propose recycling solutions (such as partnering with Terracycle)</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Promote ingredient transparency</span></p>
</li>
</ol>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why is the term ''clean beauty'' criticized?</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Clean Beauty is not a regulated term, so any brand who wants to market themselves as such technically can. Customers however are more informed and know which questions to ask to learn whether a brand's practices conform with their claims of trying to do better.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The final criticism of the term "clean beauty" is that it can come off as accusatory of the rest of the industry. It's very easy for clean beauty brands to intentionally or unintentionally use scare tactics when actively speaking about all the toxic ingredients they do NOT use, reminding you that unless you switch to all clean beauty, you continue to put yourself and your family at risk.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hopefully this article has helped you understand a bit more about clean beauty and the space it is carving out for itself in the beauty industry and in your makeup bag.</span></p>

What Does Clean Beauty Actually Mean?

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Three years ago, before I even started </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">working on product development, I started the Minori blog to write about my personal experience with minimalism. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">As I began crafting a minimalist lifestyle for myself, I saw how minimalism in practice varies from person to person; we each have unique ways of creating intentional lives. This inspired me to create a space that fosters an open dialogue, a place where we can  exchange insights from our experiences, learnings, and values -- making the journey available to anyone and everyone. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today, our blog is reborn under a new name: Musings, a word that means “a period of reflection and thought.” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Musings is meant to be a space for the Minori team, our community, and guest writers to share real human stories, and to showcase the different paths and experiences that we can take in our attempts to live more mindfully and intentionally. </span></p>
<p>Becoming more mindful is hard, as is teaching ourselves to be more patient, less impulsive, and less wasteful. There is no perfect path to mindfulness. There is no one model of minimalism. Musings is about exploring all avenues, stories, and realities of humans trying to do better for themselves and the planet. </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the Musings blog you will find specially curated content about beauty, lifestyle, sustainability, community, and news from Minori's team. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With anything that we write, our aim will be to help you discover people, narratives and even other brands that align with our values. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Musings will be a space to celebrate conscious<strong> </strong></span><strong>beauty</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">. We hope to share content in a way that is fun, approachable, educational, and inspiring. Our goal is to  help you make good and informed beauty purchases, without pushing trends or promoting impulse buying. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our </span><b>lifestyle </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">posts will explore how to incorporate intentionality across all areas of life and help you discover other purpose-driven brands that we think you might like to know about or support. Whether we write about fashion, food, home living, self-care routines, we will aim to do it with a mindful perspective. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We will also write about </span><b>sustainability</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, particularly through the lens of how mindful consumption can lead to the biggest impact in reducing our personal footprints. Whether you are just dipping your toes in trying to reduce your impact on the environment, or whether you are a zero waste pro, you are welcome in this space. Together we will learn and support each other in trying to do better by our planet. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Through our </span><b>community </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">posts we aim to create a space for dialogue. We will share interviews and profiles of people who inspire us and show us the very different ways and circumstances in which we can live more mindfully. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, Musings will also be a space for our </span><b>Minori</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> team to share news with you. Being open and transparent with our community has been crucial for me since day one of building Minori. I look forward to continuing to bring you along our entrepreneurial journey, celebrating milestones and being open  about challenges or dilemmas we face as a young startup. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you would like to write for the Musings blog we would love to hear from you. Email us at partnerships@minoribeauty.com or sent us a DM on instagram. To all our readers, We would love to hear from you and speak with you directly. Let us know if you liked something we wrote, if you know someone who we should interview, if you yourself want to share your personal story with us, or if you simply want to say hello! Our (virtual) door is always open! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Welcome to Musings! Wishing you happy reading!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With love, </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anastasia &amp; the Minori team</span></p>

<span>Musings, a word that means a period of reflection and thought, is meant to be a space for the Minori team, our community, and guest writers to share real human stories, and to showcase the different paths and experiences that we can take in our attempts to live more mindfully and intentionally. </span>

Welcome to Our Musings Blog!

<p>Clean beauty can seem intimidating when you first get started. After all, it’s difficult to break bad habits and especially tricky when you don’t know how to find healthier alternatives to your beauty, skincare, and body care products.</p>
<p>When I need inspiration, I always look for clean beauty bloggers who can provide detailed reviews and tips for healthier, more sustainable living.I hope you find joy in following these creators as well!</p>
<h2><a href="https://www.instagram.com/heykackie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">HeyKackie </a></h2>
<p>Kackie is a clean beauty influencer based in Austin, TX. She posted her first video on Youtube 5 years ago and recently decided to turn her hobby into a serious career! Kackie’s energy is certainly contagious! Her Youtube videos are a blast to watch, and that fun, energetic personality shines through on her IG feed as well.Kackie just did a collaboration with Thrive Causemetics on a lip liner shade that they developed for her specifically. She has been talking about the lack of a perfect taupe brown lip liner on the market for quite some time now. Thrive decided to partner with her to bring this product to life. Clean Brands Kackie uses a lot: Kjaer Weis, Thrive Causemetics, Cover FX, RMS Beauty, Honest Beauty </p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Kackie_for_Minori_2d45933b-0c30-4963-a9e1-1b50828de211_480x480.jpg?v=1626528833" alt="Clean Beauty Blogger Kackie "></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Kackie</p>
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</div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRPGxP-LtA4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Kackie Reviews Beauty (@heykackie)</a></p>
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<h2><a href="https://www.instagram.com/misszophie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MissZophie</a></h2>
<p>Zophie is a Berlin-based Makeup Artist that has made the switch to clean beauty about two years ago. She says it’s like discovering her passion for makeup all over again. Instead of product flatlays, she posts mainly pictures of her beauty looks with a quick description which products she used. Zophie does both glowy no makeup looks as well as fun pops of color like this baby blue eyeliner look.She is very open with her community about her struggles with acne and her path to overcoming insecurities and showing her real unedited skin in her photos. As someone with acne scars, I really appreciate seeing other women show their true-self on camera and remind us that we don’t all look perfect and retouched in real life!</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.instagram.com/keneisha_mclean/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Keneisha_mclean</a></h3>
<p> A Marketing professional by trade, Keneisha McLean writes a blog to about clean beauty and lifestyle. When it comes to clean beauty, Keneisha always share practical advice you can use immediately, and I think she’s the perfect “gateway” blogger to help you get started in the world of clean beauty.Her skin looks amazing in all of her Instagram photos and she always goes for a natural, no-foundation look – I love seeing her skincare and beauty advice to achieve this look!Clean beauty brands Keneisha uses a lot: Luxe Botanics, Graydon, Biossance, Henné Organics</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0477/1646/6840/files/Keneisha_McClean_for_Minori_480x480.jpg?v=1626528992" alt=""></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Keneisha McClean</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.instagram.com/stilblut/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Stilblut</a></h3>
<p>Veronika is a clean beauty blogger based in Munich, Germany. Scrolling through her instagram will make you feel like you just walked through a high fashion photography exhibition. Her aesthetic style very unique. I would describe it as sultry, moody and modern. I cannot even imagine the amount of work it takes her to set each one of her photos, as they truly are pieces of art. (ok… yes I have a crush on her style and would love to have her take photos of Minori products one day!)Clean beauty brands Veronika uses a lot: Heinrich Barth., Stop The Water, Marie-Stella-Maris</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cosmeticsbycaroline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cosmeticsbycaroline</a></h3>
<p>I love watching Caroline’s videos when I need a pick-me-up, simply because she radiates positive energy. The California-based Youtuber started her channel after a traumatic car crash that left her health in ruins, so she’s especially conscious about what she puts in her body and on her skin.She’s incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to clean beauty and makeup, and her positive attitude towards overcoming trauma using clean products and healthy habits is awe-inspiring!Clean beauty brands Caroline uses a lot: Nécessaire, Kjaer Weis, Vapour Beauty, Rahua®, Suntegrity</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thegreenbelle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thegreenbelle</a></h3>
<p>Gabrielle is a clean beauty blogger based in Toronto. I love the modern, minimalist aesthetics of her Instagram account, and she also has a YouTube Channel, a blog, and a podcast dedicated to clean beauty. Not only does she share her own tips and reviews, but she also interviews entrepreneurs and experts to talk about healthy habits, clean beauty brands, and female entrepreneurship. It’s an incredible amount of work (trust me, I know!), and it shows that she’s dedicated to spreading the clean beauty message!Clean beauty brands Gabrielle she uses a lot: Goop, Agent Nateur, Osea, ILIA</p>

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