Have you ever sat and thought about how radiantly beautiful Kim Kardashian looks, even after her strenuous workouts? Does Kate Middleton look in the mirror and see any flaws? How does that model strut ever so confidently down that runway? I constantly find myself fantasizing over women who seem to always look attractive and confident and wonder why I don’t look or feel the same way.
I’ve often found myself saddened by thought that my body is not proportioned correctly, that my face will always be blemished and I will never wake up flawless like Beyoncé claims. As a young woman, society has conditioned my mind to believe that all women should strive for the highest peak of sexual appeal and physical attractiveness. If a woman does not live to societal standards, she will be overlooked and neglected. This stereotype causes many young women to experience self-esteem issues and low confidence. I know someone personally who has endured the repercussions of societal pressures, which have caused her to sink further into the depths of her own imagination. Me.
I am a victim of these labels and allow them to deteriorate my psyche – well, let’s put that statement in the past. Until recently, I strongly believed I had an ugly face and an unbalanced body: that if my face wasn’t doused in makeup and I didn’t dress in certain clothes, I wouldn’t live up to the ideals of society. Then I woke up. I realized that every woman is born different and that, in our own ways, we are all beautiful. It’s not a matter of changing oneself or hiding one’s feature; it’s a matter of enhancing your best features, so you can wake up and strut your stuff!
One day I recognized that, rather than masking my face with excessive makeup and losing myself in large clothing, I could enhance the parts of my body that I feel most comfortable and content with. So I went on an adventure to the mall and purchased an array of items that would help me feel more confident in my own skin.
Bare Minerals is a great spot to pick up some fairly inexpensive but totally gorgeous makeup that can make you feel confident and beautiful, but still creates the allusion of an all-natural look. Among many products I enjoy from Bare Minerals, my favorite products are the matte powder foundation, blemish concealer, highlighting blush, and finishing powder for a natural, airbrushed complexion. While the foundation, concealer and finishing powder create a clear complexion, the blush highlights your cheekbones with a golden shimmer. The gold shimmer and clear complexion creates a radiant glow that really makes a world of difference in my mood and confidence.
As for clothing, I buy clothing that flatters parts of my body that I feel the most confident with, whether I’m looking for clothing with shape, color, or both. You don’t have to spend an obscene amount of money on pieces to look good. For statement pieces, I go to places like Forever 21, Charming Charlie’s, and Francesca’s. I don’t buy super expensive pieces, yet I get complimented on my cheapest items!
To look and feel confident, you don’t have to empty your bank account or overdo your hair and makeup. With the right amount of makeup and statement pieces, every woman can feel happy and content with strutting down the runway on college campuses nationwide. You will enrich the parts of your persona that you feel most confident with and that will radiate your appearance. The more confident you feel, the more confident you will look and vice-versa. So don’t fret. You’re beautiful and deserve to feel beautiful. With the right help, you will wake up like that, too!