From traditions passed down through generations to beloved tips traded between best friends and advice from industry experts, we believe that sharing is (skin) caring. It's why we’re encouraging you to swap sacred skinfo — as we do the same — as part of our newly launched Beyond Skin Deep campaign.
As well as helping you discover your next routine ritual through the exchanging of skin care tidbits, we also want you to practice skin compassion — something that many of us, admittedly, struggle with...
BEYOND SKIN DEEP
Flicking through a glossy fashion magazine or scrolling through your Instagram feed, it’s easy to get caught up in thinking that everyone out there has effortlessly perfect skin. But is flawless skin worth striving for? And — more importantly — does it even exist?
The answer to both those questions is quite simply, no. What is worth working towards, however, is treating yourself with kindness — which starts with the understanding that you might not *love* your reflection every day. And that's okay!
From acne to pigmentation, uneven texture and tone, there’s seemingly no end to the ‘flaws’ we can fixate on when it comes to our own skin, so how can we get past all that? In the spirit of opening up and connecting with each other (and our skin) through our experiences, we asked Team Cult Beauty to reveal how they...
PRACTICE SKIN COMPASSION
"As someone fast approaching 40, I'm struggling to shake my very 'anti' ageing mindset. I appreciate the beauty and the privilege of growing older... but I'm having a hard time accepting the signs of time passing. That said, since I welcomed my baby girl into the world, I've been conscious of wanting to set a more positive precedent. I don't want her to measure her worth by her looks and to fight growing older as I've been conditioned to. Plus, there's only so much retinol one face can handle, so I've loosened my grip on the quest to resist signs of 'age' at all costs and I’m trying a kinder, more sustainable 'skin cycling' routine where I allow my skin some necessary R+R between the active onslaughts." — Verity, Content Editor
“I feel like I really put my skin through its paces! From exposing it to the horribleness that is the Central Line two times a day to the air-con in the office (seriously my desk is right underneath the vent), it’s important that I show my skin some kindness. That’s why I make sure to enjoy a face mask and/or eye masks once a week – there’s nothing my skin loves more than absorbing all the goodness.” — Alice, Senior Copywriter
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“I treat my skin the way I like to be treated – with kindness, consideration and compassion, as I truly believe if you respect your skin, it will respect you back. So, every day I invest time in it and don’t rush when it comes to carrying out my complexion routine. I like to romanticise my skin care regime by getting into something comfortable, putting on some music and getting rid of any distractions. Then I apply each product, really focusing on the motions I use to get the maximum effect. To finish off, I make an effort to accept my skin for what it is – trying to understand why I might have woken up with a blemish (whether that be due to purging or hormones) and rather than covering it up, I give it the breathing space it needs to heal.”— Triffy, Senior SEO Copywriter
“For me, skin care compassion looks like appreciating my skin for what it is in that moment. It’s very easy to find yourself fixated on a selfie you took six months ago when the sun was high and your skin looked (and felt) its healthiest, but that very quickly snowballs into critiquing your current reflection. To avoid this, I try to extend compassion and grace to my skin — and body alike — for all the changes it goes through by accepting the present era I’m in… whatever that looks like in the mirror.” — Precious, Midweight Copywriter
“On days when I am not feeling my best I like to put on some music (usually a 2000s rom-com playlist) and do my skin care routine while singing along to the songs. I start with an everything shower, then I moisturise and pop on my Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro, finishing with a little massage. Not only do I feel my best after this, but my mood is lifted after singing along to all my favourite tunes!” — Marta, Brand Education and Events Manager
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“I practice compassion for my skin by consciously not always covering up its ‘flaws’ – growing up I would wear a lot of concealer and heavy foundation to hide acne, then in my 20s I developed melasma and never went out with make up on to hide this. But now, I’ve learnt to accept my skin: blemishes, pigmentation and all, and I don’t feel like I have to cover it all up. Over the years I’ve learnt that most people don’t even notice what you see on your own skin – one of the best pieces of advice I’ve read was that most people are too concerned about themselves to even notice you. And while it wasn’t meant in reference to skin, I think it really applies!” — Josie, Content Manager
“Being a busy mum, and coming into my mid-30s, my skin has started to change. It’s been a process accepting that it doesn’t quite look as it did five years ago. But what I’ve come to understand is that my skin tells my story. Those dark circles under my eyes? They show me that I’ve been having late night cuddles with my daughter. Those random spots that appear out of nowhere? These remind me that maybe I’ve been neglecting some self care. I’ve learnt it’s important to take time, be kind to myself and accept that my skin, is MY skin.” — Rina, Junior SEO Copywriter
“No matter how I'm feeling in myself or about myself, I make sure I do my skin care routine both morning and night. Taking care of myself starts with my skin so if I've had a reaction and my skin is feeling more sensitive I'll take extra care, like loading up on ceramides (think: the Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum). Most of my skin quandries are out of my control though, and I’m slowly accepting that, but if I do feel low, the best thing is just to care for my skin. And if that means playing around with make up and 'covering up' then so be it, or going make up free and showing off my natural skin.” — Amy, Product Copywriter
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“My oily skin is certainly prone to a hormonal blemish or two. When applying my skin care I always take a moment to breathe and think of a few things I’m grateful for, which always helps me to see the bigger picture. Even though it feels massive to me, I realise that there are much bigger things going on in the world than trying to cover a bad skin day.” — Emma, Junior Copywriter
“I really hate my smile lines and sometimes when I look at my skin, it’s all I notice about myself and how it means I’m getting older. However, what I try and remind myself is how lucky I am to have such deep smile lines because it means I have a life filled with the most amazing people that bring me so much joy. I’m so blessed to have so much to smile about and now I don’t mind if my lines get deeper and deeper because it means I am living a life filled with love.” — Johanna, Assistant Merchandiser
“I really look forward each day to doing my skin care, to the point I would consider it a crucial ritual in my day. Whether it’s morning or night, I will take my time to apply my products and care for my complexion without rushing any step and spending that time just enjoying showing my skin some love. What’s more, with each product I use I like to think I’ve listened to my skin as to what complements it best by not overcomplicating my routine – keeping it simple but effective. Plus, if my skin is having a ‘bad’ day or I just fancy a bare face, I’ve slowly over the years become comfortable with having no make up days, which when I was younger I would have been too self-conscious to do.” — Anya, Junior Copywriter
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