Barefaced & Free: Ditching the Beauty Lies

Hi My Loves! 💕

For centuries, women have been targeted and made to feel insecure by the so-called “beauty” and “wellness” industry.

Ranging from toxic skincare to synthetic menstrual products, these items are popularized by influencers and celebrities, making them look like necessities while they quietly ruin our health. This global beauty and wellness industry thrives on a colonial legacy that pushes women toward a chemically laden lifestyle, entirely disregarding nature.

The Colonial Roots of Beauty & Wellness

Today’s beauty industry isn’t just whitewashed and based on Western standards, it’s also hyperfixated on imperfections. All companies want to tell you that the little spot on your cheek can and NEEDS to be fixed. That you cannot do without a 10-step bedtime routine. That hair tools and products are a must because having flyaways or frizz is a crime. 🙄

Or that just soap and water isn’t enough to clean ourselves. We need abrasive scrubs, microplastic bead bodywash, and alcohol-based skin products which dry up the skin and damage the skin barrier. And finally, to counter that, we need heavy moisturizers and lotions.

Whew! 😩 What a task! I’m tired just remembering the things I used to do—burning money and putting my health at risk. Not to mention the mental distress of doing this every single day.

Traditional feminine care products, rooted in herbs, natural oils, and sustainable practices, have been replaced by endocrine disruptors and synthetic additives. We have been conditioned to believe that body hair, aging, and cyclical changes in women are not normal. That our saviors are these products.

The Result? Billions of Dollars Cashing in on Women’s Insecurities 💸

The Hidden Toxins in Everyday Products 🚨

Your skin’s worst offenders:

• Skincare & Cosmetics: Foundations, lipsticks, and perfumes contain parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances—popular endocrine disruptors that mimic estrogen and disrupt hormonal balance. I’ve written extensively on estrogenics (fake estrogen) and their effects on the body [here].

• Menstrual Products: Commercial pads and tampons are bleached with dioxins, which are linked to reproductive issues and hormonal imbalances. They contain fragrances and microplastics which not only irritate the skin but also expose the vagina to infections.

• Hormonal Contraception: Often framed as the default option, hormonal birth control can cause mood swings, depression, and long-term fertility concerns. The periods it induces are unnatural and artificially processed, throwing the female body off her internal wisdom.

• Diet Pills & Detox Teas: Marketed as feminine and glamorous, many of these contain laxatives that dehydrate the body and create dependency rather than actual nourishment. Newer detox trends include Glutathione, Zinc, and Apple Cider Vinegar—which, when overused, leave lasting effects on the body. What was meant to be prescribed by a doctor is now sold like candy in concentrated form.

Why These Products Sell So Well 📢

• Clever Marketing: Women are made to feel inadequate. Photoshopped videos and images flood social media with bold claims like reconstructing facial features and increasing beauty.

• Corporate Interests: Large pharmaceutical and consumer brands profit from dependency, making natural alternatives less visible in mainstream markets.

• Lack of Awareness: Most women aren’t educated about the long-term effects of chemicals in beauty and hygiene products. Companies (especially in India) aren’t liable to list every ingredient, and policies around product quality and ethical manufacturing remain blurry.

Decolonizing Women’s Wellness: Returning to Natural Beauty ✨

We don’t have to accept these toxic standards! In the long run, these products become a recurring investment—once stopped, you’re back to square one. Instead, we can turn to ancient traditions like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, which offer holistic approaches to beauty and well-being.

Breaking Free from Consumerism & Influence Culture 💪

True beauty and wellness aren’t found in chemical-laden bottles or corporate-run brands. They come from within—from nourishment, self-acceptance, and ancestral wisdom.

It’s time to honor our feminine nature with practices that truly support and nourish us—without the toxic baggage of modern consumerism. 💖

Love,

Zitni Zun