This past weekend, I attended Future Beauty Show.
Overall, it did highlight the best of this industry (aspects of which suffers from lack of regulation in Ireland): properly qualified dentists and doctors advising healthy and realistic approaches. They used their time on stage to educate the audience about the myths and dangers of quick fixes, short cuts, choosing unqualified practitioners, or dangerous online options/short cuts.
Debatable? Including a session on weight loss. The choice to include weight loss in a beauty event at all STILL is an ethical problem for me. However, it was fact-based. I was absolutely delighted to hear doctors on the panel emphasise that injections are a treatment for obesity and are used in conjunction with healthy lifestyle management. They clearly differentiated treatments such as emsculpting are recommended for contouring a stubborn pocket of fat (an aesthetic goal) rather than weight loss (health goal). Regardless, I still cannot support at all that obesity (which is a complex chronic disease) was included in a beauty show at all.
The supplement industry still crept into the show. It was minimal (no IV drip stands in sight!). I absolutely loved trying Seabody’s moisturizer but less of a fan of marketing seaweed supplement capsules. There are way tastier and healthier ways to enjoy our amazing native seaweed than swallowing processed capsules.) I also have a sample of Skinade – but even in the interest of science, I haven’t yet been able to try a drink made with ground-up fish collagen. Supplements are just not a replacement for a healthy diet.
When talking about Beauty, good health is the foundation. Good skin, teeth, hair, and nails start with a healthy diet, rich in plants and vegetables, good hydration. Avoidance of smoking and alcohol misuse is great for skin. Do I need to mention that SPF to protect against skin cancer? A beautiful smile starts with good oral health. An aesthetically-pleasing body should be a healthy weight with good muscle tone from a healthy diet and healthy physical activity. And it was great that aspects of this was at least touched on in more than a few sessions. Would have loved to see more.
What wasn’t there that I would have like to see? Some positive psychology. Beauty treatments are a way to indulge yourself, express yourself, refresh yourself.
It is possible to want to look your best without seeing aging as a negative or signs of a life well-lived framed as damage in need of fixing.
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