Naturali Me
The Delusional World Of Fake Eyelashes And Surgical Implants
When the standard is a fallacy
I shall reiterate a point I have relayed countless times:
The beauty standard is unattainable; it has been designed so you are always chasing it.
You will never be satisfied but you keep trying to meet it to no avail. Just like everything else built for society, it was never made to benefit you. But yet you still do its bidding. You withstand pain just to fit the image of what the standard wants. You still apply another coat of that chemically infused makeup product. And as you wipe it away at night, you too wipe away your confidence. And for what?
To resemble a model.
To capture a facet of contentedness.
To be regarded favourably by others.
No matter if that model’s image is completely fabricated, for they are a puppet in the system.
No matter how small that happiness may be or how long it lasts.
No matter if one can’t accept themselves because they are too focused on others’ opinions of them.
And it is truly heartrending to see how people have been reduced to so little. How they chase and chase and chase something that will always be far from their grasp. Impossible to meet.
But possible to break. Especially when it was made to break you.
I know the idea at a glance seems difficult for many: I have heard the tales of young people not being able to leave the house without makeup; of the pressures people feel to look ‘pretty’; of the near-death experiences people have faced when getting implants and facial procedures. I have heard and I have ached.
Ached because God’s beautiful creations cannot see- under those monstrosities called fake eyelashes- their natural beauty and the fact that they resort to layers upon layers of makeup, medical procedures and filters and even after that, they feel miserable and not enough. Nor can they feel loved behind the many filters and layers of façade.
But if only these people could see that they are in no need of any of this and know that their inner beauty also shines without. If only they could love themselves for who they are. If only they worked on themselves and their confidence, so they could feel beautiful whenever they looked in the mirror.
It takes time. I know. More so when everywhere you look, the standard glares back with raised manicured brows, without forehead wrinkles. But you must be patient and gentle with yourself. Set your own standard.
When you look after your skin with natural products, your skin will glow, shine and look flawless. When you eat well, your skin, hair, nails and overall body well-being will be healthy and your mental health too. When you stop comparing yourself to others and the media and start being yourself, you will see the change.
Feed your skin with goodness and you will have no use for makeup:
And sleep well because when we sleep, our body repairs itself- it’s called ‘beauty sleep’ for a reason.
For if you keep following the crowd, you will only damage yourself more the further you go astray. And if you look closely, you will see the cracks and flaws. How people do the unthinkable to garner attention. How they are willing to inject chemicals to preserve their ‘youth’ when all they are freezing in time temporarily is a sign of their insecurities and vanity. Ageing is a beautiful part of life and when the time comes, be grateful you have been gifted with these years and the wisdom that accompanies it.
Yes, we like to look great and we ought to put effort into ourselves and look presentable but there are means and ways to go about it. Looking at social media or models glossing the covers of magazines is not the way. Looking at yourself in the mirror and knowing you are better off without all the impurities is. Small but sure steps.
Because when you love yourself, you will find love. So please, look after yourself. Portray appreciation for the body you have been gifted and allow the burdens of beauty to be lifted.
إِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ ٱنفَطَرَتْ ١ — — — — — — — — — - — — — — — - — — — — — - — — — — — -— — - ‘When the sky splits open,
وَإِذَا ٱلْكَوَاكِبُ ٱنتَثَرَتْ ٢ — — — — — — — — - — — — — — - — — — — — - — — — — — - — — — — and when the stars fall away,
وَإِذَا ٱلْبِحَارُ فُجِّرَتْ ٣ — — — — — — — — — — — - — — — — — - — — — — — - — — — — — - — -and when the seas burst forth,
وَإِذَا ٱلْقُبُورُ بُعْثِرَتْ ٤ — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — --and when the graves spill out,
عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌۭ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ وَأَخَّرَتْ ٥ — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — ˹then˺ each soul will know what it has sent forth or left behind.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مَا غَرَّكَ بِرَبِّكَ ٱلْكَرِيمِ ٦ — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -O humanity! What has emboldened you against your Lord, the Most Generous,
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكَ فَسَوَّىٰكَ فَعَدَلَكَ ٧ — — — — — - — — — — — - — — — — — - — — — — — - — — — — — -Who created you, fashioned you, and perfected your design,
فِىٓ أَىِّ صُورَةٍۢ مَّا شَآءَ رَكَّبَكَ ٨ — — — — — - — — — — — - — — — — — - — — — — — - — — — — — -moulding you in whatever form He willed?’
~The Qur’an 82:1–8
Thank you for all the support and inspiration I have been blessed with from so many individuals, including but not limited to:
Natural beauty advocates
Dovey ♡
Beau
And all my loved ones
