No Makeup Makeup, Part 1
By Moani Lee
As a makeup artist, having been in or around the industry for over 10 years, I’ve come to know first hand how challenging it can be to find your own sense of inner beauty that radiates outwardly. Growing up, the women in my family wore little, to no makeup, and this has inspired me to discover ways to enhance natural beauty as well as to delve deeper into beauty beyond the surface. As we explore the notion of “what makes you happy” on Happiness Series, I’d like to explore the question, what makes you feel beautiful? And going further, what makes you comfortable in your skin and what would help you know that when you walk into a room you radiate a sense of quiet strength that makes heads turn?
I invite you to explore this notion with us together and know that your journey will be as unique to you as your fingerprint!
Here are a few suggestions to start off with both for your internal beauty and your external.
About 70% of our body is made up of water. We not only need it to regulate temperature and provide the means for nutrients to travel to our organs but we need it to flush out the waste that often translates into acne and severe breakouts and skin issues on our face. Try aiming for 8-12 big glasses a day.
Incorporate physical activity into your life about 3-5 times a week that allows you to get to a place of peace. (Or even a 5 minute yoga practice at home– Happiness Series has designed an active vinyasa practice for you to do daily that is under 10 minutes.) For some it might be jogging and for others yoga or pilates and for some, a quiet stroll before or after a long day. Stress often translates into worry lines or acne breakouts on the skin. Commit yourself to releasing that stress on a regular basis.
Incorporate more color into your diet. Add fruits and vegetables if you have a normal inclination for meat and carbs. Eat with friends or loved ones and enjoy their presence. Taste your food and relish your ability to taste. Enjoy a glass of wine with your meal and dessert, on occasion, if you feel so inclined. Take a moment to see eating as a truly pleasurable experience and indulge in the moment, within reason, of course.
Life is too short to take everything so seriously. Surround yourself with friends and family that truly bring you joy, that make you laugh until your sides hurt. Watch your favorite comedy on television or see your favorite standup comedian live. (I love Russell Peters! Check him out if you haven’t seen him. www.russellpeters.com)
I used to think sleep was overrated until I realized that driving sleep deprived was just as bad as driving drunk! I’m the first to know how hard this is to be committed to but the point is to try and then try again until it becomes so habitual that you don’t even think about it. Aim for 6-8 hours of sleep. I personally feel refreshed only after 8-10 hours but that’s just me. Find what feels good for you and the day you find that you can go through a full day of work, work out, go home, eat dinner, and not fall asleep during a movie after is the day you’ve found a good sleep rhythm for you.
Try these 5 simple suggestions and then go out and explore more – enroll in a dance class, take a vacation alone, go on a road trip, write, read, lay in bed and blissfully do nothing but watch reruns on TV… the list goes on. The point is to be present, be in your skin and allow your mind to feel everything that is happening to you in the “now” and then ask yourself if you are witnessing elements of what makes you happy.
I guarantee you that when you find those moments and then larger collections of those moments, your face and skin will radiate a kind of beauty that makeup can only enhance but never create. And that’s beauty inside and out! 🙂
