Modern Beauty Trends: In: Kate Middleton’s Ethical Fashion

Friday, February 2, 2018

In: Kate Middleton’s Ethical Fashion | Out: Skincare?

Kate Middleton and Princess Victoria embrace faux fur. The Internet is at war over the very idea of skincare.
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"The people I idolize tend to be flawed and kind of hate themselves a little bit… That’s the kind of person that I like.” — Awkwafina

Skincare?

Skincare Drama!

Skincare is usually a drama-free zone. Just rub your goos and serums into your face in the peaceful sanctum of your bathroom and go, right? Well, yesterday, the Internet exploded over a skincare-related drama that got messier than that time you accidentally stepped on your tube of apricot scrub. It started, actually, with a peace treaty. One cult skincare brand (The Ordinary) apologized for taking a swipe at another cult skincare brand (Drunk Elephant) in advertising, and all seemed well. But then outside forces decided to attack. The Outline dropped an essay entitled “The Skincare Con” that likened the new wave of skincare products to “chemical violence” for the “boring rich” and proposed “there's little science to be found” that they actually work. The writer argued, “Skin has withstood millions of years of evolution without the aid of tinctures and balms” (which sort of sounds like a child trying to get out of going to the dentist by pointing out that humans had survived for centuries without the benefit of modern dental care, but all right). Twitter was quick to erupt in backlash, with many pointing out that, actually, humans have been dabbling in skincare for centuries, there is good science behind many products, and, frankly, a skincare backlash sort of seems like another sexist example of women being shamed for their interests. While it’s true there may be some snake oil for sale in the wider skincare world, a lot of products really do work. We would be remiss, also, not to end this item with something that both skincare aficionados, skeptics, and scientists can all agree on: Wear sunscreen every day. If it happens to be mixed with some moisturizers and enzymes, so be it. In fact, here are some suggestions.

Time’s Up

“Step Up”

Did you notice something missing at the Grammys last Sunday? We did: female winners. Only one woman won a trophy during the event’s televised portion, which didn’t sit right with many. When pushed on the issue, Recording Academy President Neil Portnow responded by seeming to place the responsibility back on female musicians and telling them to “step up.” This didn’t sit well with many notable female musicians who took to Twitter. “Women in music don’t need to ‘step up,’ — women have been stepping since the beginning of time,” said Pink in a handwritten note posted to Twitter. Charli XCX warned that she was “bout 2 step up on 2 ur face.” “Neil’s comment was absurd. Female artists came HARD in 2017,” wrote Halsey. “But the nominees are selected by peers and their opinion of the music. Which means it’s a conversation about the standards of which the ENTIRE INDUSTRY expects women to uphold.” Portnow walked back his comments and said he was sorry if they came off as being insensitive. Let’s hope this spurs the Recording Academy to actually do something about the issues, both regarding its own nominations and the wider reality of the recording industry.

Faux Fur

Royal Fur

St. Edward’s Crown may be trimmed with ermine, but could the British royal family otherwise be done with fur? In recent years, everyone from Kate Middleton to Queen Elizabeth II has been criticized for donning fur. And it seems they’ve all reacted by keeping it in their closets. The issue was brought into relief during Kate and Prince William’s recent trip to Sweden. The royal pair met with their Swedish counterparts, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, and many noticed that the future queen consort of England and the queen of Sweden both stepped out in almost matching faux fur jackets. Though, later, Middleton was spotted in a beanie-like hat with a fur-like pompom on the end. It caused a mini-controversy among those who thought it might be real fur, but a spokesperson for the royal family was quick to clarify that it was indeed faux fur.