Image and beauty.  Are they a matter of opinion or can they actually work together.  It’s interesting how so many of you allow others to determine what image, style and beauty represent to you.  Now some of you are thinking, “I don’t know what she’s talking about, I wear what  I like”.  Others are thinking, I don’t want to be singled out.

Who says you can’t wear purple and teal or pink and bronze?  Yet, if you like it and it’s not in a fashion magazine, you’re made to feel there’s something wrong with you.  Do you have enough courage and confidence to wear what appeals to you?

It’s a big and bold step.  Yet it could be your passport to freedom in more ways than you know.

Setting Beauty, Style and Image Trends

Have you ever tried to wear what magazine editors deemed as the “New Look” and it felt all wrong for you? Fashion trends have often come from the street up.  Designers send teams out to research what’s being worn in urban communities.  They take the data and often recreate the same look and put their name on it.

You’ll see it and say, “I got that in my closet.”  It’s highly possible that  you were the inspiration for their new line, you just didn’t know you were being studied. 

When I worked as a manager in the world of retail, I once wore a pair of black wool gabardine pleated trousers with cuffs, paired with a denim shirt and a black and silver metal belt to work.  I wore a one inch square toe suede shoe and black tights.

At the time, it was a Very unusual and bold combination.  It was a time when your “image” spoke volumes about you.  Women were new to corporate life and everything was cookie cutter, hard core, boring. 

I was always looking for a way to step outside of the box, yet remain within the confines of the dress code.  

Two days later, one of the managers of a different designer department came in with a very similar look.  She wore the same pants and shirt, but opted for a two inch lace up suede shoe and a black leather belt with a silver buckle.

I said to her, ” that’s a very familiar look”  Her response, ” I had to steal your look. I would never have thought to put this together”.

Moral of the story, you’re always being watched and your style is always being knocked off, so own it.  What seems simple to you, is a master piece or innovative concept to someone else.

To Follow or Not Follow the Celebrity in Style and Beauty

Who says the celebrity knows best, when it comes to style and beauty?  You’ve probably got more creativity and ideas in your pinky finger than most of the people you read about in magazines.

Have you ever seen them on a regular day?  It can be scary.  Without their team of makeup artist and stylist who dress them, you wouldn’t recognize them on a regular basis.

You can get some good tips for makeup application, contouring and shade matching from their stylist when they’re interviewed.  It’s always a good idea to have a black skin care regimen in place.  If your  skin isn’t in good shape, the makeup job is not going to look good.

Remember though, the less makeup you wear, and the cleaner you keep your skin, the more beautiful and natural your skin will appear.  There are times for drama … weddings, New Year’s celebrations and Your birthday.

As for style, if you’re not the size and body type of the “celebrity”, you may not be able to pull the look off. 

It’s a very good idea to learn to dress the body you’re in.  That’s when you’ll see your true beauty shining through.

When to Wear Fans and When Not

This is going to rub some people the wrong way, however it’s worth the words. Why would you hide the beauty of your eyes behind false eyelashes that look like fans?

There’s a time for drama and costumes.  Granted, this can be your personal choice of style, so who am I to talk.  However, speaking as an Esthetician, you’re pulling your eye lids and you have to wear an enormous amount of glue to keep them in place.

If you don’t give your eye lids a break from the weight and the glue, it’s possible you’ll find challenges developing from the synthetic lashes and glue.

Love and celebrate your beauty, just know that certain trends can be harmful to your health.

Image, Style and Beauty …

It’s all a matter of personal choice.  I think we get in trouble when we allow others to dictate, not suggest, what’s right for the skin we’re in.  Not all tips and techniques are bad.  The key is in knowing what to keep and what to let go of.

Do You!  Your image, style and beauty concepts will often help those struggling to define who they are.  Your boldness, could be the courage and confidence someone else needs to let their light shine.

That’s it for this week.  As always …

Dedicated To Your Beauty

Juliette Samuel

Esthetician/Author/Publisher

Nyraju Skin Care