Recently, Ulta asked me, “What does beauty mean to you?“

Oh such a casual question, right?! ha. I mean where does one even start to answer that? What do moles on your face mean? You can answer literally, figuratively, spiritually, the works. So I decided to break down the question a bit.

What makes me think another girl is beautiful?

Warmth. Joy. Confidence. Kindness.

• When another person is so warm that they make you feel welcome and like you’ve been their friend for ages…that is beautiful.
• When another person radiates so much joy that you can’t help but be drawn to their smile and energy…that is beautiful.
• When another person ROCKS their look no matter the kind of day they are having…that is beautiful.
• Kindness is always beautiful.

Yesterday, my sister had bid day at TCU and it poured rain while she was running out with her bid. My mom and I wanted to run up and see her, so we got drenched! I mean we look like we had jumped in the pool with our clothes on. After she got her bid, a few of the moms we had just met asked if we wanted to go to a lunch party at one of the parents’ houses with all the girls. The other parents didn’t get wet because they were under a tent, so honestly, I felt for my mom! Here she is, not knowing many people {a lot of these parents went to TCU together and my mom didn’t}, ABSOLUTELY DRENCHED, and about to go to a party. I think that would make anyone a little anxious. She smiled, jumped at the chance to go {still soaking wet}, walked into the party where everyone else is dry as can be, and made a ton of friends. She laughed and explained why she was wet, then chatted away. At that moment, I knew my mom had to be laughing at how she looked, but she was SO beautiful to me! She was confident, she was warm in a situation she could have come across cold due to nerves, she was filled with joy because it was a happy day for her daughter, and she was kind to all the new parents she met.

And while I know it can seem cliché to talk about inner beauty on a beauty post, I think it goes hand-in-hand. I hate the misconception that you aren’t confident in what makes you beautiful if you love makeup.

You know what I mean! Think about when people say, “You don’t need all that makeup! You’re beautiful!”

Well, yes! No person needs makeup. Beauty doesn’t stem from our eyeshadow palette collection, it stems from our souls. But I also think many people get joy from playing with makeup- I know I do. When I first had Maxi, I wanted to do my makeup in the morning to still give in to that hobby I enjoyed. Makeup isn’t synonymous with lack of confidence, and by thinking that aren’t we diminishing another person’s inner beauty by questioning their own confidence? Makeup can simply be something that gives you joy- and joy radiates beauty within! As a mother, I will be thrilled if my daughter feels as confident in her bare face as she does in makeup because BOTH are okay and BOTH can bring about joy.

So what makeup look is bringing me all the joy as we head into fall?

A glittery-lower lash line paired with a buttery-metallic copper eye! 

Glitter and metallics are a huge makeup trend with Ulta this fall, and this is how I take it and make it approachable for an afternoon look.

A girlfriend taught me the hack to use a bronzer or highlight that isn’t meant for your skin tone as an eyeshadow! You’re going to get a powder with a different dimension and the texture will be perfect.

For this look, I used Becca Sunlit Bronzer in “Maui Nights“ all over my lid. I blended my crease with Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in “Topaz“ and lined my lower lash line with MAC “I Like 2 Watch.“ The MAC shade is a Dazzleshadow with glitter and minimal fallout. At first glance, this comes across green. But once applied, it almost looks like an iridescent gold which is perfect for the lower lash line. To turn it into a liner, I spray NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray. This is my new favorite setting spray and your makeup will absolutely NOT budget with it! However, the dewy finish just gives it a softer look. You can see in the photos above I don’t look oily! I finished my look with NARS Dolce Vita blush, which I think is the perfect fall shade for your cheeks.

My lipstick is MAC Spice liner, Tarte Lip Paint in “Exposed,“ and NYX Butter Gloss in “Crème Brulee.”

So whether you love your lash extensions or find comfort in not wearing makeup, I hope you know that you are beautiful! You are beautiful because of how you feel about yourself, and in turn how you make others feel about themselves. And if a new lipstick brightens your day when you’re having a rough week, more power to you! Sometimes a little happy is just what we need, so we can bring happiness to others. If you wouldn’t dare throw glitter on your lash line, that’s perfect, too! I hope you take that confidence and use it to be so warm and loving to other women that they feel confident in their bare skin. Personally, I think we need both kinds of gals in this world to help us feel confident both ways! COF is a space where I’m here to tell you that you are always beautiful, even on a day you feel cranky, crabby, and less than! And I’m also here to share a new setting spray or two that will make you feel your best at a wedding where you may know no one.

So what makes you think another person is beautiful? What does beauty mean to you?

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