Beauty is More than Skin Deep
There are two parts to beauty. One is on the inside, the other on the outside. Many people dismiss one or the other, either using the excuse that if they simply put enough make-up on than it will successfully act as the therapeutic tool that will transform their confidence level. On the other hand, some people think that putting any make-up on at all only acts as a servant to a society that only values outward appearance over anything. Well, I’ve got news for you. You are both wrong. Like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich isn’t any good without both the peanut butter and the jelly, caring for yourself on just the inside or the outside is equally ineffective. So which comes first, beauty on the inside or beauty on the outside? Ah, the age old question. The answer is that it doesn’t really matter, but for the purpose of this article let’s say that the inside comes first. It is the more important of the two after all.
Inner beauty is a fantastic theory, but it is hard to come by. Having a beautiful soul does not just mean being empathetic, kind and open-minded. In fact, those are usually the result of a deeper level of beauty, which is self awareness. Self awareness is knowing all of who you are. It is realizing your positive and negative attributes. It is understanding your biases, your struggles, your fears. It is also recognizing your strengths. Having a strong sense of self will create a confidence that shines from the inside out. Confidence is beautiful. Therefore, inner beauty is powerful.
Outer beauty is much easier to come by. Unlike practicing self-awareness, it only takes a few minutes to learn how to make yourself beautiful on the outside. Let’s start with a good foundation. If you have drier skin, look for a liquid foundation. If your skin is oily, a matted foundation will help to prevent your face from looking like an oil spill. The foundation acts as the canvas, so it is very important to take the time to find the right shade. Once you do that, add a bronzer to the cheeks to add a little life to your face. Eye shadow is optional, mascara is not. One or two swipes of a good mascara in black or brown will make your eyes pop. Add a neutral lip color with a bit of shine to finish off the look. Voila! Beauty made simple.
The fact is that inner and outer beauty work in partnership. One is the wrapping paper, the other the bow.