Looking your best adds self-confidence
They say true beauty lies within. No creams, makeup or devices can make you beautiful on the inside, but they sure can do wonders for the outside.
It’s something young girls become preoccupied with, and some never grow out of it. Women of all ages obsess about their looks. And it’s easy to do. Everywhere you turn, another company is marketing a product that will shrink your waist, erase your wrinkles and make your hair glossy.
I’ve been sucked into the obsession myself. I was never a beauty queen, but I was OK with it. I’ve said before that I was always the “cute” one. As the years have gone by, I like to think I’ve stayed cute but I’m still not the beauty queen. But sometimes, I like to pretend.
BFF always looks lovely. She uses good makeup and always puts extra effort into her appearance. Luckily, her inside is just as beautiful. We’re quite a combo as I normally buy whatever’s on sale as long as it’s my color and simply make myself look presentable before I leave home.
But when we go places like Dragon*Con, our big trip from a couple of weeks ago, I get the star treatment. And it shows. I go through the full process of getting ready with her. I’m talking primers, powders, concealers, eye liner, etc. Although it’s more effort than I would dream of doing regularly, the results are actually kind of lovely.
This year was no exception. As I began sharing photos from Dragon*Con, folks started commenting on how pretty I looked, etc. HB called me a knockout, which is definitely something I’m not used to hearing.
It’s funny. I’m not really concerned with being “pretty” by society’s standards. If I wasn’t when I was younger, I don’t expect to grow into it as age takes its toll. But at the same time, it’s been a bit surreal.
But it also begs the question: Do I actually look prettier or do I simply feel prettier because I have more confidence in my appearance? Maybe bright lips, defined eyes and a seriously even skin tone do more for my mindset than they do for my looks. And maybe that’s really what it’s all about.
After all, do pregnant women really glow? Maybe it’s just the fact they’re taking better care of themselves, via healthy diets and prenatal vitamins? Add in that many are happy and jubilant about bringing new life into the world, and you might explain the glow.
Attitude can do just as much for appearance as all the products in the world. Those who walk with confidence walk with shoulders back and heads high. That goes for men and women alike.
I’ll admit that I’ve been looking at purchasing some of the makeup products I’d used with my makeover. And I might have possibly bought the curling iron that gave me fabulous hair. Does this make me a different person? No. Does it boost my self-confidence and give me an added edge?
Yes, I think it does. And there’s nothing wrong with that at all.
Amanda Greever is assistant managing editor at The Daily Times. She can be reached at 981-1161 or (amanda.greever@thedailytimes.com) Follow her on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com _editor.
