Katie Makkai - Pretty

My friend Aimee is a counselor in Washington. The other day she posted this video, as well as a post about some women she counsels who have very low self esteem. It got me to thinking...I've been conflicted lately about our rolls as women, and vanity. Superficial things. I see this attack upon women in the media, telling us how we should look and who we should be. It hit me a little today when I was listening to the radio on my way to drop my daughter off at school and heard a story about a mother who injects her 8 year old daughter with botox, because she believes that one day her daughter will be famous and wants to keep her "baby faced". It got me to thinking about what I do for a living. I paint people's faces to make them look prettier, I cut people's hair to make them look like their favorite celebrity. My job is to make people look a certain way. I feel like this is a double edged sword. Is there a happy medium? I don't know. I think I need to get out of this black and white way of thinking. I love what I do, and I can't describe how happy it makes me to take a woman, sit her down in my chair, do her hair and makeup and watch her walk with confidence out into the world, head held high, because she feels good about herself. She likes the way she looks, and it makes her happy. But is she happy at the end of the day after she washed that makeup off of her face and looks in the mirror? Do we, as women, have enough substance to be happy, even if our outer canvas isn't perfectly painted? I go to the gym in the morning, trying to burn calories, so I can look better, be skinnier. I watch the other women at the gym running on the treadmills and looking at themselves in the mirror, critiquing their bodies. Then we go home, shower, and do our hair and makeup to make us feel and look "pretty". Is this wrong? Yes and no. For so long we have blamed the media, and yes, we see pictures of beautiful people with perfect skin and perfect bodies and we want to look like that. But as we know, the media will never change. We can fight for change, but it will never happen. The change I believe, must come from within each and every one of us.

So this leaves me at a strange point in my life. Is my career, my artistry, my passion, making this world a more superficial place, or a better place? Is sitting a woman in my chair and painting a pretty face on her helping in any way? I do know that I don't want to wear big baggy clothes and stick my hair in a ponytail and not wear makeup every day of my life. Is this what is expected if we aren't superficial? I like to do my hair, and I like to put on makeup, and dress in something that is flattering on my body. I won't lie, my stomach is all stretched out from having children, I don't like it. I want to fix that. Does that make me superficial? Maybe. Many women wear their childbearing stretch marks as badges of honor. I don't. And don't get me wrong, I love my children more than anything and would take stretch marks again and again for them, but that doesn't mean I enjoy looking in the mirror at my deformed belly. Where do we draw the line? Is it okay to be a bit vain, if we know who we are on the inside? Can I wash the makeup off my face at the end of the day, look at my child bearing body in the mirror and be happy? I think I can, and I think I am. I feel fortunate that I found substance in myself and my life. I know who I am, and I know what I want out of life. I like to buy a cute shirt and a new eyeshadow and get dressed up to go out with my husband or friends, but I also find happiness sitting at home in a big baggy sweatshirt and pajama pants watching a movie and snuggling with my family. I don't feel as though my self worth is based on my appearance and whether or not others find me attractive. I do recall as a teenager, feeling really good about myself when a guy would hit on me. It made me feel like I was pretty and noticeable. Then a few weeks ago I got hit on by a dude who was 7 years younger than me. I thought it was funny, but didn't find any satisfaction from it. I wondered why, and I am now realizing that anyone who hits on me because they think I have a pretty face, isn't someone I care about nor do I care what their perception of me is. They do not know me as a person, they don't know that I volunteer at my daughters school, run my kids to lessons, school, dance, and other activities. They don't know that I try really hard to make healthy meals for my family most nights. They don't know that I volunteer each week with inner city kids, to try to help them find a positive and productive path in life. They don't know that I love animals and know random useless facts about different species of the sloth. They don't know that I love a good dirty joke can drop the F bomb with the best of them! And they have no idea that when I go home at night, I come home to the most incredible husband that that guy will never in a million years live up to. I realized that I didn't care about being hit on by a hot young musician because I have substance, and my life is very fulfilling. I like myself, and I didn't need validation from anyone to let me know that I am important or "pretty".

So I've figured out my answer, I guess. I love doing hair and makeup, and I love making women feel pretty and feel good about themselves. I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting to wear some makeup and curl your hair and go out dancing! I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting to wear something flattering to your body and I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting to get in better shape. But I do think that we need to find substance in ourselves. We are all like a present, a gift box that we choose to wrap in different wrapping paper and decorate with different bows. But after we give that gift to someone, they will rip off that paper, because they want to see what is inside. What are we going to find when we look in? What will other people find? After the pretty decorations are stripped off, and we take the lid off the box, what is it filled with? What kind of substance is in there? I try to fill mine with pictures of my kids, books I like to read, knowledge that I have, smiles, laughter, service, and happiness. I like myself. But I still might tape up the sides of the box, if they are bulging and get stretch marks.

Goodbye trusty friend...

Today I said goodbye to a trusty friend. My Babyliss hair dryer.
I bought this blow dryer when I was first doing hair in my first salon, 9 years ago. This dryer cost me $70 at the time, which was pretty average for a nice dryer 9 years ago. I used this dryer on thousands of clients, in two salons, and then on myself and my daughter after I stopped working in the salon. Yesterday it started spitting sparks of fire at me so I decided to retire her.

Investing in a good, professional grade hair dryer is very worth it. I know the thought of spending $70-$200 on a hair dryer is not a fun and exciting way to spend your money. However, most cheap hair dryers will only last you a year. They don't have much power, take longer to dry your hair, and don't give very good results. I spent $70 on my Babyliss hair dryer 9 years ago, and it lasted me through countless clients and personal uses. Not only that, but as a mom, I don't have 30 minutes to dry my hair. A professional hair dryer has better heat (that is regulated so you don't burn your hair off) and has more power so your hair dries in half the time. It is very worth it to spend the money on a good dryer. My Babyliss lasted me so long, that I just bought a new ceramic and porcelain Babyliss dryer for $85.
Babyilss is an Italian brand and the motors in their dryers are made by Ferrari. I used it for the first time on my mother in law last night, and then on myself this morning. My hair feels great and dried in minutes! Not only that, but it has a 3 year warranty! That is something you don't get from a cheap dryer. If this dryer goes out within the next 3 years, I can get it replaced. ALWAYS fill out the warranty card and send it in!

11 Ways to prevent your makeup from melting off this summer

I came across this article on MSN.com by Allure magazine. I loved it, and plan on using many of the ideas, especially since Utah went from cold and rainy to bloody hot overnight.

It's a miracle cream!

A quote I love

"Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty - they merely move it from their faces into their hearts."


-Martin Buxbaum

A little tip for a tinted moisturizer

I know a lot of people have a hard time finding the right tinted moisturizer for themselves. Most of the time I hear people say that they break out with them. If this is a problem for you, just try mixing a drop of your daily moisturizer, with a drop of foundation. Mix it in your hands and apply to your face, blending it onto your neck. It's a simple and easy way to find a tinted moisturizer that works for you! And it is less expensive than buying something new.

Summer trends, 2010

This summer, the trend is SKIN! Beautiful, flawless skin that can breathe. Heavy and full coverage foundations are out, sheer, clean, even skin tones are in. The focus is on the skin, not the color on your eyes or lips. “I wanted a radiance that seems to come from within,” says Gordon Espinet, executive director for makeup artistry at M.A.C.

How do you get this look, you ask? Using a moisturizer like Strobe Cream by MAC is perfect, this moisturizer has iridescent pearl pigment in it to give your skin a natural glow (not shine). If you don't wear foundation, now is the time to invest in a light tinted moisturizer or a sheer powder. Layered foundation is out. No more concealer, foundation, powder, bronzer, blush, combo's. Keep it simple and clean. When people look at your skin, you want them to be able to actually see your skin, and not the foundation that is laying on top of it. However foundation is important to even out skin tones, so use something, just not EVERYTHING! Recently I have been using a little concealer under my eyes and then touching up my face with a light mineral powder and a large powder brush (no sponges, ladies. A sponge will give you too heavy of coverage). I top that off with a bit of blush. I have been leaving out the bronzer lately. If I do use it, it is very minimal, just enough for a kiss of bronzing. My favorite blush right now is Melba powder blush by MAC. It is a beautiful coral color. If you like oranges and corals, this is the summer for you, because that's what's in! If you look at the post just below this one, the Prete-a-papier launch by MAC, the girl in the photo is wearing Melba. Check out her makeup, it is all about skin. The first thing you notice is her gorgeous skin and blush. Her eyes are smokey but beautiful but not the focal point.

For eyeshadow, the colors you will be seeing launched are warm corals and cool grays. Simplicity is the look. Soft, pretty, enhancing. Keep eyeliner minimal and soft. NO hard lines, blended and smudged if you wear it, grays and browns and navy blues are perfect.

Eyebrows are soft, well shaped, yet natural.

For lips, again, corals, soft pinks, and sheer glosses.

This is such a simple and beautiful look. Have fun with it!