Through the lens of a cosmetologist
The aspiration to be beautiful is a yearning to each and every person. However, the idea of what is beautiful is subjective, varying from individual to individual.
While some seek emotional beauty, some others may aspire for beauty in the physical or mental realm.
As the saying goes, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. When it comes to ones own image, we forget that we become the beholder and look at it from a narrow sense of what we think is beautiful.
So thus, what is beauty then?
Much has been said about the emotional, be inner beauty and the external aesthetic . The dictionary definition of the word ‘beauty’ is divided into , on one hand it says that it is ‘a combination of qualities, such as shape, colour, or form that pleases the aesthetic senses’ and another as ‘a combination of qualities that pleases the intellect’. Evidently, beauty is multi-dimensional and is often an amalgamation of what appeals to our senses, intellect, and emotion.
As an artist in the business of beauty, I have come to realize that real beauty is about accepting yourself for who you are and enhancing your strengths rather than covering up what you perceive to be your flaws. It is about being healthy inside and out, which results in a healthy mind, skin and body. The key aspect of looking healthy is, keeping a well-balanced diet and lifestyle.
We are what we eat! Hence, a good diet should include naturally-sourced food that has both macro and micro nutrients. Macronutrients being carbohydrates, proteins and fats; Micronutrients include vitamins and minerals that we get from vegetables, fruits, nuts etc. All these nutrients collectively in the right proportion aid in a good health which in turn translates to a glowing skin. You can never go wrong with natural food. But, in case of some imbalance in the diet that misses out on some Micronutrients, then the gaps can be filled with supplementation under the advice of health care providers. It is important to remember that supplements are just that – they supplement and do not replace the original sources – and may be considered on a short-term basis to boost occasional gaps.
The other side to staying and looking healthy is to have a healthy lifestyle. This includes staying active through the day including 40-60 minutes of light physical activity and a good and regular sleep cycle. Exercising everyday boosts your feel-good hormones which will increase resilience and aid in reducing the stress hormones. This leads to not just a healthy body but also a balanced mind. A regular sleep cycle with rested sleep naturally increases hormones in our body which helps our body recover, regulate the immune system and function effectively.
As a makeup artist, healthy skin that is a product of good diet and balanced lifestyle, provides an excellent canvas to work on and enhance an already inherent beauty. With very little makeup one can get amazing, light and natural looks that not just gets everyone’s attention but also makes us feel beautiful in our own eyes. So, there is a beauty which appeals to all and that starts from self-care. Taking care and paying attention to the needs of our mind, body and skin lies at the heart of being beautiful within and outside.
