2025
I wanted to focus on the cosmetic part of rest and relaxation by portraying different forms of self care and natural ingredients that are used for it. For years women have found ways to do their own at-home treatments and services but since Covid there has been a rise in the sale of at-home manicure sets and an even bigger rise after being received so well by customers. Today the at- home nail industry makes roughly $2 billion in the US alone, and with the rise of inflation and cost of living it causes a bigger push for consumers to buy these products.
Something that I find important is taking a day off to center my time into making sure my hair is done, giving myself a manicure, or dermaplaning my face. Most of these regimens I do are self done, partly because it's much cheaper than getting it professionally done and partly because I really enjoy how customisable and personal it all is. Being an illustrator came in handy when I started to do my own nails. Doing small intricate designs that nail salons wouldn't be able to do because most technicians didn't have the skill or time. But since becoming my own technician it allowed me to have all the time for myself and feel satisfied with my own physical transformation.
Surrounding the figure I include different types of materials that could be used as natural ingredients in skin care or have medicinal properties. Roses when boiled in distilled water can give the skin moisture and can leave a glowing glass-like effect, bees make honey which have ani-inflammatory properties that reduces acne or can soothe a sore throat, and eucalyptus, that when inhaled, can clear the sinuses and relieve congestion.