Friday, June 4

Friday's Feminine Tip: She Walks in Beauty...

She Walks in Beauty
Lord Byron doubtless had a poetic vision of some rare and exquisite creature when he wrote that beautiful phrase. But to a modern world, walking in beauty is something which every woman can achieve. She goes forth... rested, clean, carefully groomed... she wears comfortable and becoming clothes... she carries her head up, shoulders back... she exudes an aura of quiet assurance. She does indeed walk in beauty. "

.:Better Than Beauty: A Guide to Charm:.
By Helen Valentine and Alice Thompson

It is so tempting to allow your appearance to take a backseat when you are busy with a multitude of other things. However, it is quite important to try to take the time to care for your body and presentation. I am not advocating spending an hour and a half in front of the mirror each morning, piles of makeup and beauty products, weekly manicures, pedicures, and facials, and salon appointments galore. What I suggest is a little time and energy spent on your appearance so that you can put your best foot forward in your home and in your life.

It is very hard to feel good about yourself and your life when you look like you just rolled out of bed and haven't showered in days. One thing that has really helped me recently is a to take an hour out of one night a week to take care of myself. When I do this, all I really need to do is maintenance the rest of the week. It can be so relaxing to light a few candles, add some bubbles to a bath, and soak for a little while with a good book or just your thoughts.

A few years ago, I read in a magazine that if you keep everything you need to get ready in the morning in one place, it makes things easier to get ready. I have found that to be true. I have my toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face lotion, and a few makeup products in one area of a bathroom drawer so that when I reach for my toothbrush each morning, I see the other things and am encouraged to make the effort to put them on. There is also something to be said for simplifying your beauty routine. When you use a lot of makeup or style your hair in a time consuming way, it can be a huge chore to get ready every day.

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So, what does your beauty routine look like? What would you like to improve upon? What are your tips for women that have a hard time fitting a beauty routine into their day?

14 comments:

Kh. Patty said...

I really look forward to your Friday posts. :)

I completely agree. I have recently gotten into the habit of showering every morning (REALLY hoping to maintain that even with Baby's arrival). I used to be the type that could/would go days. Ugh.

The other thing I find essential is to get dressed to shoes and to do my hair and make-up. It's really mostly for myself, because if I look in the mirror and see it undone, I look so sleepy and frumpy that it depresses me. But I like to think my husband prefers coming home to a dressed wife than one who has been in pjs all day. I do a simplified make-up routine, not as many steps as if I were going to church or somewhere nice, but there are a few things I cannot skip. :)

Anonymous said...

As you said, I think simplicity is the key to maintaining anything consistently. Like you, I keep all of my products in one small basket and one drawer of my bathroom counter.

I get my eyebrows waxed and shaped every few months and maintain them myself between those times. (Splurging on a good pair of tweezers is key.) I think that well-shaped eyebrows can give your appearance a boost, even on those days when there is no time for a little make-up. (Oh, and as far as make-up. I love Bare Minerals. It gives the effect of a natural face, simply evening out the skin tone and adding warmth. The last thing you want to look like is a woman who wears make-up. :)

Anonymous said...

It is very important for me to get up and get ready for the day. I don't understand how some moms can spend half the day in their jammies with a greasy face and undone hair. I just can't abide it. So, I make sure I'm at least dressed (in real clothes, not sweats or jammies), face washed, teeth brushed, deoderant on and hair done. If I'm going out or need a little help, I'll put on some simple make-up.

When I accomplish these things, I feel so much better and can get more things done during the day. Plus, I don't have to shun anyone who happens to drop by because I'm not presentable.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Patty, I just wanted to offer some advice about showering after the baby is born. I rarely missed a shower with both my newborn kiddos by simply placing them in a carseat or bouncy seat and putting that in the bathroom while I showered. The sound of the exhaust fan and/or the water running was soothing to them and they often fell asleep or at least stayed quiet and restful.

Christine said...

I agree !! It's so easy for MOMS to let go of the personal care that we used to tend to so easily. I also try to keep all of my stuff in one spot (TRY) and do it as early in the day as possible. Sometimes, in order for me to take a shower I need to drag both kids with me into the bathroom...so be it ! At least I get clean and feel better about myself ! I've grown my hair back out so that I don't actually have to "do" it to make it look decent. I like being able to tie it back in a clip or pony. I second Mary's suggestion of Bare Minerals..love that it doesn't look like makeup but covers up just enough of my flaws to make me feel confident enough to leave the house!

Anne said...

Oooh, I needed to read this. Usually I'm up-and-at-'em but today I'm still in my PJ's at noon! As soon as I post this I'm off to the shower!

My usualy beauty routine includes:
*a shower,(I use goat's milk soap for my face, which I get at Michael's. It comes in a huge block which I cut into cubes. Lasts a couple years and only costs $7 or so.)

*brushing hair with a little hairspray to keep it from frizzing as it dries,

*lotion with spf on my face, light foundation, dusting of bronzer in summer, blush in winter, & chapstick.

I need to add some hand and nail care, as well as eyebrow maintenance to my routine. Pretty eyebrows really do make a difference!

Michelle M. said...

I do now shower every day, but that is on purpose. I don't feel the need to most days. But I make sure I fix my makeup, do my hair and put on some clothes. Most days, when we are just hanging around the house, I wear jeans and a t-shirt or something along those lines, but I always make sure my hair and make-up are done so that if someone knocks on the door, I look presentable.

My husband and I have separate sinks, so I can keep everything I use right in front me of.

And I've also started wearing my hair wavy (with the help of some mousse and spray), but that saves on my routine a lot. It takes me at least 20-25 minutes to blowdry my hair because it is so long and thick. Letting it dry on its own really helps.

Kh. Patty said...

Thank you for the showering-with-newborn advice. I have done that with my other ones. For me, I think it will be more of continuing to make it a priority as I figure out how to maintain my routines in some way. I'm really not a very routine, scheduled person at heart. Unfortunately, I relish any excuse to throw of routine and schedule instead of letting them free me to do the things I want and need to do! :)

Kh. Patty said...

throw of = throw off

Xenia Kathryn said...

Yes, hopping in the shower or at least getting dressed as soon as I wake up is my one "must" for myself. I spent too many summers growing up lounging in PJ's until 3 or 4 pm. That ALWAYS made me feel so gross, yet I never "got it" until I became a mom.

I can't say I have much of a beauty regime beyond the basic hygiene upkeep. BUT... I did get my first pedicure a few weeks ago, and I must admit, I kinda like having pretty toes :)

These days I'm not feeling too "beeyooteefull" (having a baby just two weeks ago will do that to ya... or at least, to me). But when the clothes aren't fitting and the belly's sagging, I have to remember the BEST thing I can do for myself is sleep as much as I can, stand up straight, smile genuinely and keep my focus on Christ-- the source of true beauty! Maybe that sounds cliche, but it really is true.
(Wearing flattering clothes that fit is also key, even if it means wearing the same thing every day! hahaha).

Great post, Matushka! I love how your focus on beauty is all-encompassing, physical, emotional, spiritual, etc.! Thank you!

Michelle said...

I shower every day. With babies, I have learned, it is ok for them to fuss for five minutes while mommy gets clean. Although, I tried my best to make everyone happy (Music, bouncy seats, carseats, etc.) Toddlers showered with me. I have been known to allow an extra half hour of TV time so that I could shower alone though. I just HAVE to be clean, or I cannot start my day. I wear a little makeup, just enough to make me feel good, and I do that whenever I go out, and most days when I stay in. I try not to be the wife in PJs but it has occasionally happened. (but at least I showered, lol!)

Melanie Bettinelli said...

I've always showered at night. I just prefer it that way. It relaxes me and gets me ready for bed. A bonus with babies because I usually shower after the kids are in bed and if the baby is up then my husband can watch him.

My morning routine is simple-- mainly because I'm a minimalist: Get dressed first thing. Brush my teeth, brush my hair, wash my face. I don't wear makeup because I can't stand the feeling of anything on my face. (Fortunately for me, my husband finds that one of my more appealing traits.)

Of course, I can only get away with this because I keep my hair long. If it were short, I'd have to wash it in the morning to get it to behave. Now I just wash it every few days and let it dry before going to sleep. I wear it pulled back most days, which means it doesn't take much time to do.

Backyard Missionary said...

I once saw a video which mentions the same maintenance steps you did, makes me wonder if you saw it?

I've posted it here:
http://homeboundmissionary.blogspot.com/2010/01/resolution.html

Elizabeth said...

Need lots of improvement here, but am trying to wear more variety in clothing (not the same old thing all of the time), to daily apply make-up and wear jewelry.

It's getting better.

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