ETHICAL LUXURIES OF MINE

i remember when i stood up in front of a big picture of poster. an advertisement in front of a store. it was big. attracting. sparkling, fresh green olives covered a woman's body - only showed her head and hair. it was such an artistic picture that i wondered what it was all about. i turned my head and looked into the store. looking above, i read the sign:The Body Shop. a British-origin store. i stepped inside and wandered the whole things about the shop. it was so much amazing. even though it started almost 6 years ago, i just know that i was destined to deal with it dearly.

first thing happened: i bought the classy and classical White Musk perfume, the first fragrance to use cruelty-free musk. i love it very much - and remain loyal user up until now. among my first purchases were Poppy Seed Mask for hair, organic cotton buds, and a paddle brush which was 100% from well-managed forests. i simply loved them! i felt simply great using such sincere products.

i was never into makeup kits, but i was always crazy about products for body, bath, hair, or well-being. The Body Shop doesn't only provide those needs of mine, but also has values which are incredible. it was amazing that at that time i just started to build up my concerns for my environment, simply by knowing about The Body Shop and using its products. who would have guessed that when i read their values printed on the shopping paper bag, i was instantly inspired. it said: Against Animal Testing, Support Community Trade, Activate Self Esteem, Defend Human Rights, Protect Our Planet - and it wasn't merely simple. it was really something! i just could feel it within me.

as i loved The Body Shop much, i tried to get as much information as i could. i surfed the internet, and found out about the great figure behind it: Anita Roddick. she was truly amazing for creating such an ethical business. after a year or two using The Body Shop, i got her on one of Indonesian magazines among stories of successful businesswomen. i read it carefully, and then i cut the article out of the magazine, and put it on my scrapbook, among things that inspired me.

now that Dame Anita Roddick has passed away, and the business actually continues, it remains a business with ethics and amazing ingredients. the products don't only smell very good, but they are also very well-made. not only for the physical needs, but also for the goodness of ourselves as human being. not only to beautify our outer-looks, but also to bring the best things out of our hearts and minds - human to human, human to environment - which God has managed for us.

for me, buying something from The Body Shop means having a little luxury without losing my manner of respecting many aspects of life around me. i feel like i have already dedicated myself to do more positive things which support environmental issues. i am simply inspired a lot, and proud to be part of it.

Discover Beauty With Heart - The Body Shop

picture: private document