Jenn’s Beauty Bill of Rights

AMENDMENT I: THE RIGHT TO LOOKING YOUR BEST
Don’t be lazy! I’ll probably say this a lot on the blog, because it applies to most aspects of life. Don’t be lazy about taking care of your skin. Don’t be lazy about wearing make-up (and taking it off at the end of the night). Don’t be lazy about how you dress. You only get one life, so why aren’t you making the most of it every day?

AMENDMENT II: THE RIGHT TO AGING WELL
Wear sunscreen … on your hands. No matter the season, there are two body parts that will have sun exposure nearly every day – your face and your hands. Most women already know to wear sunscreen on their face. However, I always think the hands are the first thing to give away your age. And as far as I know, there’s no such thing as a plastic surgery “hand lift”. Living in Texas where there’s lots of sun, I like to keep sunblock in the car, and I apply it to my hands before I pull out of my parking space.

AMENDEMENT III: THE RIGHT TO LOOK NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL
For an everyday look, don’t wear too much makeup, but wear enough. I do believe in such a thing as natural beauty, but I also know that everyone looks a little better with makeup. I rarely leave the house to go out into public without makeup, but that can mean a simple five-minute routine of concealer, blush, bronzer, eyebrow powder, and lip gloss. The extra five minutes is so worth it.

AMENDMENT IV: THE RIGHT TO USE THE BEST PRODUCTS
Know your beauty issues and use and wear the appropriate products. I have dry skin with bumpy, red spots in areas from rosacea. For some reason one day at the store, I thought it would be a good idea to buy this new grapefruit-based cleanser I’d read about. While it smelled yummy and had a nice lather, all it did was dry my skin out more, because that product was better suited for oily skin. Don’t buy into the hype.

AMENDMENT V: THE RIGHT TO PROFESSIONAL-LOOKING MAKEUP APPLICATION
Invest in good makeup brushes. I don’t know how anyone effectively applies eyeshadow with those sponge-tip applicators that come with drugstore make-up. Yes, you can buy eyeshadow at the drugstore, but you’re going to need a quality brush to apply it and achieve a quality look. I have a set of Urban Decay make-up brushes that I bought maybe 10 years ago that still work great for me.

AMENDMENT VI: THE RIGHT TO BE STYLISH
Accessories are your friends. This one took me a while to learn. While I’ve always loved shoes (It’s my birthright as a Filipina), it wasn’t until I hit my 30s that I really understood how accessories are what give you that complete, put-together look. It doesn’t take a tremendous amount of effort, but it makes all the difference.

AMENDMENT VII: THE RIGHT TO A BEAUTIFUL SMILE
Floss every day. Much to my dismay, I am very dentally high-maintenance. And you’d take as good a care of your teeth as I do, if you took a spin in all the dental appliances I’ve worn. Also, there’s nothing sexy about bad breath, which I think can often be attributed to poor dental care.

AMENDMENT VIII: THE RIGHT TO HEALTHY HAIR
Don’t wash your hair every day. Now, I’m not suggesting that we all walk around with dirty, dreadlocked hair; however, shampooing everyday can strip your hair of all those healthy oils in your scalp. I generally wash my hair every other day, and maybe in the winter, every three days. And if I want to re-blowdry my hair to bring back some of the natural curl that got flattened overnight, I’ll just rinse my hair with water without re-shampooing.

AMENDMENT IX: THE RIGHT TO HYDRATION
Of all the liquids you ingest, make sure the one you drink the most is water. I don’t know that this needs a lot of explaining. Water is good for you. Duh.

AMENDMENT X: THE RIGHT TO LOOKING CONFIDENT
B.T.S – Shoulders Back, Tits Out, Smile. A girlfriend told me this in middle school and it stuck. It drives me crazy to see beautiful girls with bad posture. The way you carry yourself speaks volumes about your confidence. You just look taller and more confident with good posture. And smiles are so much nicer to look at than frowns or grimaces.

Images: Portrait by Tom Hall, accessories collage – author’s own photos