The Face of Beauty
By Monita Rajpal
What makes a person look beautiful? Genetics? Clothing? Make-up? The beauty industry is a 200billion USD industry. The reason for the beauty industry’s success – all 200 billion USD of it – is simple. We're all looking for the next big thing, the one product that will make us look better, younger, brighter, and maybe even richer.
Aerin Lauder told me her grandmother Estee Lauder taught her that "every woman can be beautiful if [she] just [took] the time." Rebecca Korner of Korner Skincare shares the same thinking. Her grandmother also taught her that "there are no unattractive women; just women who donate the time to take care of themselves." There is something to be said about that.
I don't like wearing a lot of make up. I don't like to spend a lot of time primping. I even get antsy when I'm at a spa! But perhaps that's the idea of these beauty and skincare companies. It's not necessarily just the product they're promising will deliver the glow but it's also about the time we should take just for ourselves. It's tough when women have jobs, kids and families to focus on. We usually put ourselves last on the list. I know my mother was always that way. Her beauty regime was and still is very simple. She never takes more than five minutes to "put her face on."
We are all judged by the way we look. But who is doing the judging? We all know the photos of models in magazines aren't real. Computers can do wonders these days. Unfortunately computers can't tell a young girl reading those magazines that she is perfect just the way she is. As a woman who is on television my looks are always the first thing people notice, not my work – that comes after. But that's the nature of this very visual business. It also means that it is very subjective. Bottom line, as long as I am happy with who I am and know that there is a fairly functional brain in my perceived-pretty head, then no one else's opinion matters (except for my boss' of course).
I guess somewhere along the way, we are taught that spending time on ourselves is actually selfish, that looks aren't everything. But here is one instance where being selfish is a good thing. See, if you are doing something that you feel makes you look good (whether it's putting on your make up, lathering on lotion or styling your hair), chances are you will also feel good about yourself. Your self-esteem isn't found in a bottle but what's in the bottle may give it that extra boost.
There are times when I do think that if I just had that perfect perfume, make up, hair, clothing that all will be right in my world. And that is often the marketing mantra of the big beauty companies. And while the occasional shopping spree does lift my spirit, I know it won't always solve my problems. But it's not necessarily about that is it?
There is nothing wrong with a little retail therapy. I've always found that when I'm feeling low, I do a little primping. I take that extra time to make myself look and feel good. Maybe in my rushed day when I don't think about what I really need, that feeling is a reminder that I need to take care of me, if only for a few minutes. Trust me…a little gloss on a dull day always works wonders!
Monita Rajpal is an anchor and correspondent for CNN International.
