The Self-Love Crisis

Time and time again, we hear the words “self-love”. It is thrown around so often. We hear it all the time. We know about it too. But how many of us actually practise it? How many of us truly understand the weight the term self-love carries?

 From a study it was found that, one in two women feel more self-doubt than self-love, with 60% per cent wishing they had more respect for themselves. Seven in ten girls with low body-related self-esteem said they won’t assert their opinion if they aren’t happy with how they look. Nine out of ten women said they’d stop themselves from eating to feel better about their appearance. It was also found that in men, some of them can suffer from body image issues such as low self-esteem, suffer eating disorders, and feel extremely pressured to hit the gym more often than ever.

At Doctor A Cosmetics, as an activist brand, we are on mission is to create a fairer, diverse, and more beautiful, inclusive world. For this to happen, it is important that we create a positive change within ourselves first. With the rise of social media, Doctor A Cosmetics strives to make the message heard that beauty and confidence does not have to be filtered or edited. Beauty is not about the number of likes on a social media post or the numbers shown on a scale. Beauty is so much more. It is about self-love, self- esteem, self- acceptance, and self-confidence. Through the Doctor A Cosmetics brand we aim to promote healthy, self-love beauty to drive this change individually, in the beauty industry and beyond.

What is self-love?

Self-love is essential for one’s own mental health and overall wellbeing. Self- love is essentially kindness to one’s self.  However, to give you a more correct terminology, the official definition of self-love in the Oxford dictionary is “regard for one's own well-being and happiness”. It sounds so simple, yet we have a tendency to make it over complicated.

How can we practise self-love?

It is extremely vital that the love we give around so freely, we give to ourselves too. It could be taking some time out in your day and doing things that can help relax you and make you happy. It can be simple, everyday things such as:

• Yoga
• Gym
• Mediation
• Listening to your favourite music
• Running a hot bath
• Reading your favourite book
• Skincare

If you have a very hectic work life, then it is important you make time out for yourself in advance even if you have to schedule that time out. A common mistake of not taking time out for ourselves is the feeling of guilt. A lot of individuals feel extremely guilty when having to take time out for themselves. Remember if you are burning out and not giving your body and mind the very much deserved rest it needs, you will be making things worse for you but also for those around you as you won’t be able to help them in the capacity you need to.

How can we practise self- esteem?

Another major factor tied into self-love is self-esteem. With a high self- esteem, we can learn self-acceptance and self-confidence.

From a study that interviewed over 5,000 girls aged 10-17 years across 14 countries, its results found that higher levels of body esteem have a lasting impact on girl’s confidence, resilience and life satisfaction. These same results can be applied to men too. A high self- esteem is a necessity to self-love, and you cannot have one without the other.

According to the charity, Mind, there are a number of ways we can improve our self-esteem which includes:

• Avoiding negative talk
• Connecting with people who love you
• Learn to be assertive
• Set yourself a challenge
• Focus on your positives
• Take care of yourself
• Get support if things get too much

Skincare and self-love

By looking after your skin, be it through your skincare regime or beauty routine is a small way that you can show self-love to yourself. Acts of self-love can be found in small things. Having a good skincare routine can help to promote a higher sense of self confidence and self-esteem.

Doctor A recommends- Books on self-love

For further and additional reading below are some books that you may be interested in reading.

• What a Time to Be Alone, by Chidera Eggerue
• You Were Born for This, by Chani Nicholas
• You Are a Badass, by Jen Sincero
• Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
• Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
• The Self-Care Solution by Jennifer Ashton, M.D., M.S.
• The Self-Love Experiment by Shannon Kaiser
• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Doctor A recommends- Podcasts on self love

• Happy Place by Fearne Cotton
• Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations by Oprah Winfrey
• Happy In Your Skin by Lea Alexandra
• Offline
• Offline by Alison Rice
• The Melissa Ambrosini Show by Melissa Ambrosini
• Your Own Magic by Allie Michelle and Raquelle Mantra

With Doctor A Cosmetics we hope to make beauty more accessible and universal. All our products are made with so much love, from Doctor A Cosmetics to you.