Healthy Chicks

This morning after breakfast, I went into the bathroom for my usual makeup routine. Moisturizer. check. Few dabs of liquid concealer. Check. Touch of powder. Check. Mascara. Check. Eyeliner. Check. Then I saw some bright pinkish/purply lipstick at the bottom of the bag, something I haven’t used for a verrryy long time. After all, I’m a pretty simple girl and normally just stick with clear lip gloss or vaseline if anything on my lips. But today was different. This lipstick had a story behind it. “bibo,” it read in cursive across the outside. “bibo? what the hell is bibo?” Then I remembered what it stood for when my mom gave it to me a few years ago: bringing inner beauty out. 

So what did I do? I grabbed ahold of that lipstick, twisted it up and applied some on my lips. Sure, it’s bright and a little bit much but I was going to rock this lipstick for all that it’s worth today. That’s exactly when I decided that I would also make today dedicated for bringing my own inner beauty out. No feeling fat. No feeling sorry for myself. No comparing myself to other women. No, today I will rock my purple lipstick, throw on a cute outfit, smile and feel absolutely beautiful from the inside out. 

So what exactly does that mean? What the heck is bringing your inner beauty out? How does one take the beautiful woman who lies inside of them and bring that out? Well after some serious thinking, I decided what that means to me, and think you too can learn to appreciate your inner beauty…and let that shine loudly from the inside out.

Bringing your inner beauty out is…

*Eating that fresh, homemade chocolate chip oatmeal cookie or slice of pizza and not feeling guilty about it for the rest of the day. It won’t make you fatter. You still are beautiful. 

*Putting on that adorable dress that hugs your curves and thinking, “I feel good. I look great in this. My body is wonderful the way it is. I’m going to rock this dress.” 

*Dabbing on some hot red lipstick (or purple in my case), and smiling at every person you walk by on the street

*Telling someone you admire that they are beautiful rather than envying them. Jealousy is ugly. Appreciation is beautiful. 

*Writing a love note to your friend/husband/mom/new crush

*Giving a stranger the 25 cents he needs to cover his coffee, or giving up your seat on the train without thinking twice about it. 

*Covering up that big, ugly zit with a little cover up, and moving on with it. It’ll be gone tomorrow, and here’s a little secret: no one else is looking at it. Go out and enjoy the day! 

*Seeing yourself for who you are when you look in the mirror, rather than what your pant size is or how big your bags under your eyes are today

*Telling that stupid number on the scale to “f*ck you!” That number doesn’t define who you are. Don’t let it ruin the rest of your day. 

*Not feeling sorry for yourself because you are a single girl surrounded by COUPLES, but instead concentrating on Y.O.U and everything you have to offer. Just try to smile and be happy. Men are drawn to happy, confident girls.  (I sometimes struggle with this one, but am working on it). 

*Walking up with confidence to the guy you think is “too good for you” or “too hot for you.” He’s not. Do it. 

*Not beating yourself up over a little arm/thigh jiggle and instead priding yourself for having a body that allows you to move/dance/run/twirl/play. 

*Laughing uncontrollably with your friends, and knowing it’s OK to be silly and act like kids some days, or every day. 

*Telling yourself ten things you absolutely love about yourself and would never want to change. 

*When you’re feeling down about yourself, throw on a comfy outfit and go lay in the grass…in the sun…with a coffee or tea to go. 

What does beautiful mean to you? What’s your advice on bringing your inner beauty out?