I recently came to a conclusion that had previously tormented me for years. I have always felt unsure about how to approach consumerism, communicate my disdain for it, and make a change in how society sees functionality. It is a huge topic that covers everything from our inefficient recycling system, to the culture we have around eating, to the American notion that “cheaper is better.” Consumerism rules this nation, and dictates a large part of how it functions, or does not. Ranging from pharmaceuticals to iPhones, to shoes, to McDonalds, we are offered few products that are not made to break or made to make us sick. The unfortunate reality being that in both of those circumstances, at least in this society, we have to spend money.

The other day, I was standing in the make-up aisle of a grocery store, and I started to read. It was a bit frightening, realizing that the brands that I’ve been buying for a decade contained parabens and said nothing about being cruelty-free. In that moment, I realized that despite feeling as though I was the odd one out, the compassionate one that cared more than so many others did - I was still a part of the problem. I am powerful, you are powerful, as individuals and consumers we have the loudest voice of all. This whole time, I have been fixated on quantity over quality, on buying cheap products because I am a student and investing more than a few extra dollars on a product causes me a lot of stress. Instead, I should be looking at those few extra dollars as being a personal gain for whatever local company needs my support, a divestment in a huge corporation that does not, and an action towards making the world the kind of place I want to be.

I recently saw an image of a sign online that said “when you buy from a small "mom and pop" business, you are not helping a CEO buy a third vacation home. You are helping a little girl get dance lessons, a little boy get his team jersey, a mom or dad put food on the table, a family pay a mortgage, or a student pay for college.” The phrase and image have gone viral recently, and hold a lot of truth. Of course, corporations are comprised of employees who similarly need to support their families, but a large percentage of your purchases do not come anywhere near those people. Buying from farmer’s markets, from local artists and farmers, and from small businesses is powerful in the sense that you help those companies to continue their practices. Often, those practices are more grassroots based, environmentally friendly, and thoughtful. It takes far more work to be an organic farmer or an organic make-up brand, because they can’t turn to pesticides and chemicals for a quick solution. Quick solutions tend to come with repercussions, just like the idea that there is no such thing as a free lunch.

That being said, I ask all of you, spend the extra dollar. You’d be surprised how satisfied you’ll feel, and how much more resourceful you’ll become. Buy the organic alternative - invest your money somewhere that you are proud. Every purchasing decision you make has an effect on the way our system functions, and as cliche as it is to say “it starts small,” it really does. So if you start buying cruelty free make-up, and you tell your friend, and they do, and then their friends, and their extended friends…well, then we have ourselves a bit of a revolution in how all of this works.