LS / My Statement of Purpose

When I was working at a non-profit environmental law firm in DC before senior year of college, I wrote a personal piece on the burden I took on by studying the environment. The essay was both humorous and heartbreaking— the conflict someone so hopeful and young, dedicated to making the world a better place, goes through by learning about the constant demise of the planet. When you start learning about the details of environmental degradation, you can’t live your life in a way where you don’t consider every little action. It can be incredibly anxiety-provoking to label yourself as a “student of the environment” but still partake in activities an outsider (or maybe more “pure” eco-warrior) would view as harmful. I was younger then, maybe a bit naive. As I’ve gotten older and have lived my adult life, with all of the associated complexities, I’ve learned that defining or labeling yourself isn’t that simple.

I knew by making my blog public, especially through social media, I was re-entering the world of labeling myself with what I stand for, how I live my life, and what I choose to promote. I also knew that the purpose of my blog would be to have anyone in my shoes (wondering how to be a more conscious consumer but unsure of where to start) partake in my journey from the beginning. It wouldn’t be a final presentation or portrayal of a perfectly curated “clean” lifestyle. It would include identifying parts of my life I want to improve upon, eradicating old habits that don’t serve me, and being honest about imperfection in the process.

Environmental consciousness, accessibility and tackling representation in the personal care industry can be really daunting— “following” and comparing yourself to individuals and brands who are the industry leaders can seem unachievable. Where can the rest of us fall, the ones that are just trying to do their best and cause the least amount of harm in the process?

I recently came across a bit of brand drama associated with some bloggers and an instagram-publicized company. The brand was accused of a lie and not listening to consumers. While I didn’t get too deep into the debate, it immediately sparked some self-reflection in my own intentions behind my personal brand. One blogger in particular commented on the scenario and emphasized that social media now gives everyone a voice in reviews, content, and publishing, and with that comes a huge deal of responsibility. It means taking on the extra hours of research before making a claim about a product, or being honest about your feelings even if you might be making money off of it. These are aspects of blogging I always want to keep top of mind. For me, it’s determining how to live in harmony with these two concepts: 1) taking the leap to publicize myself, while 2) simultaneously giving myself the space to make mistakes and find my voice. I throw around words like mindfulness and intention a lot, but I really think those are the most accurate in this situation. You can have awareness and be mindful of your actions as the first step. Intentions can still be honest and pure, even if the only action is simply speaking your truth and displaying compassion.

Putting everything out there is a risk in a few ways. A note on vulnerability— if you haven’t watched Brené Brown’s Netflix special, close this article and watch it right now. When you display vulnerability, there’s always the chance of others using that vulnerability against you. However, as my girl Brené lays out so nicely, vulnerability is what can lead us to immense happiness and joy (and that’s something that writing and skincare give me). I’m also someone that fears imposter syndrome. Real life example: I just wrote an article about my skincare essentials for traveling as I travel a ton for pleasure and work, but spoiler alert: flying is one of the worst things for the environment. How can this girl travel AND be into environmentally conscious beauty decisions? Fake news! She claims to be educating all genders on personal care techniques and products, but her Instagram aesthetic definitely caters to a specific type of individual. Unfollow! I digress. But see what I mean? Putting it all out there and going public opens the doors for a lot of fear and criticism, but also for a lot of potential in where this type of outlet can take me.

Another thing I started to think about via these statements on social media—within the context of the beauty industry—was maintaining my true intention as an active participant and aspiring executive. While mediums like Instagram and online shopping completely pull you in with aesthetically pleasing photography and the aim for a beautified life, my personal goal isn’t just to play and partake on that surface level. My goal, at the end of the day, is to make the industry a better place for everyone to function within. This means more challenging of brands and products, more transparency, more activism as opposed to only exploring the turf as an influencer. Influencing isn’t just for the likes and comments or the potential for free products— influencing could be a grassroots effort for something bigger, if handled in the right way.

So here I sit, a few weeks into going public and actively participating in something that I’ve remained on the outskirts of for the past year. I’m not in marketing, I’ve never really studied branding or digital content, and I’m not currently an industry expert apart from what I’ve taught myself about skincare and makeup and living. I’m excited that I get to lay the groundwork of what I believe could be an educational and transformative tool for people like me. I’d hope to give my readers and followers the confidence to make mistakes in their discovery towards more intentional living and to reassess their choices in a world where we’re all trying to figure it out together. There’s work to be done and I’m here for it. Will you stick with me?