Slave To Image

[koan]

How much does the retail and fashion industry affect the way you spend money? Do you spend a large amount of money on face creams, designer shampoo, the latest fashions? If you do, does it make your life better?

[Red]

I dont buy things purely because they promise to make me look younger/slimmer etc, i buy body shop shampoos and conditioners which are fair trade and arent advertised on tv anyway but i buy them because i like them, as for fashion i do love buying clothes but im no fashion victim, i wear what suits me and what i feel good in.

Example: skinny jeans.....very good on stick thin model types not so good on the average person, but still you see poor deluded girls wearing them and assuming they actually look good just because there in fashion.

[weeder]

The industrys do not affect me at all. I am not a slave to fashion. I actually am quite unfashionabe, and happily so. I have never wanted to look like everyone else. I guess I am an old fuddy duddy, because comfort is and always has been my main priority. Beauty items? I spent my share in younger days, until I learned that most of the stuff did not deliver what it promised. Again, I am not a big makeup wearer. My beauty routine is exactly what it was in the 60s and 70s. Takes me about 5 minutes. I have always felt pleased to know that noone will ever have to be horrified upon seeing me in the morning, as I look exactly the same at night.

[SuzyB]

I used to be, when I was younger living and working in London as a model, but that was my living so I had to look good.

Having children cured me of that.

I now just wear whatever fits and is clean, I still do love my creams and make up though

[koan]

Most of the creams, cleansers and other beauty products contain chemicals that strip your skin's natural ability to protect itself, sometimes damage internal organs and some even alter our DNA. I see the quest for beauty as a sacrifice of the long term in search of short term results.

I like the campaign for Real Beauty that was started by Dove (I think) that photographed real women with flaws (like freckles, wrinkles, different body types)

I get depressed when I go to buy shampoo and look at the mile long shelving stacked from top to bottom with different brand names that all claim to bottle a miracle. Even "natural" products are chock full of chemicals. And how many shades of red lipstick does humanity need?

[BH672]

Originally Posted by koan

And how many shades of red lipstick does humanity need?

I like the one on your avatar!

[SuzyB]

I think it's good that people are more aware of taking after their skin now, sun cream and moisturiser are the two best products in my opinion.

[koan]

I think limiting the amount of time in the sun is the best solution, when possible.
I probably spend about $5/month on skin care and try to only buy herbal products from health food stores.

I've got thousands of dollars of makeup from my career but personally only use one lipliner and two eyeshadow colours.

Almost all my clothes are bought at second hand stores.

[SuzyB]

I always have my favourite brands of make-up that I always seem to stick to. I used to be very wacky with my make-up but since getting a bit older have stopped that!

I hardly go in the sun as my freckles come out

I have worked on people that have had too much sun and their skin was awful, we are lucky that we have really good tanning products.

[Carl44]

i dont buy nice clothes ,shoes ,creams ,lotions ,or hair pruducts

I look exactly what I am a rough and ready man, with no dress sense that looks crap ........... but I would not want it any other way