Women and Power: The Whole Package
Written by Lyn Ross Wednesday, October 07 2009
"Wisdom is the sum of the past, but beauty is the promise of the future."
Shakespeare, As You Like It, Act III, Scene III
Where does a woman get her power? The age-old question still eludes many of us. Is it her smarts or the force of her personality? Is it her brains, brawn, or beauty? Or is it that certain je ne sais quoi, that “it” factor, that gives a woman power? Perhaps it’s a combination of all of the above that creates the total package.
Shakespeare hints that beauty is the “promise of the future.” Well that future is now. In a day and age where everyone is in a rush, often your first impression is the only impression. For men and women, putting our best face forward is often the key to go to the next level.
As an esthetician, my passion and purpose comes from helping women have beautiful skin, as they learn to package themselves in such a way that leads them to the power they seek.
Beauty is more than physical attractiveness – it can be physical, intellectual, or intrinsic. By radiating our intrinsic beauty and topping it off with looking the part, we create that total package: a woman whose appearance says she knows her business and herself.
The following focuses on the skin-care toolbox: Take care of your skin. Your face is the first thing people see – it should be glowing. If you can afford professional skin care in a salon or a spa, by all means, utilize it. If not, you can still achieve excellent results by using a few key products at home.
Essentials:
- A great cleanser: Skin cleansers work as emulsifiers to remove dirt, excess natural skin oils, bacteria, cosmetics. Cleansers also help exfoliate the surface of the skin to help your skin breathe and receive the correct nourishment. When followed by toning and moisturizing, a good cleanser will preserve the pH balance of your skin and keep it feeling nourished and fresh.
- Moisturizer: The age of your skin has no bearing on whether you should moisturize. Even women in their 20s should use a good moisturizer to keep their skin young and supple for many years. For those of us a little older than our 20s, maintaining well-moisturized facial skin is the cornerstone of any anti-aging skin rejuvenation regimen. The best moisturizers are non-comedogenic, non-greasy, and non-irritating formulations that contain a superior system of emollients and natural ingredients to nourish the skin.
- Exfoliate: One of skin care's best-kept secrets is exfoliation. Exfoliation can help bring a fresh, youthful look to your skin and will help prevent blemishes. You should exfoliate once a week (unless you have very sensitive skin, in which case you should spread it out a little further) in order to maintain healthy beautiful looking skin. There are various methods and products that work wonders. The process of exfoliation removes dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin. You may notice your skin has a dull look to it or that you are more prone to blemishes if the dead skin cells clog your pores. This is not conducive to your power look. Getting rid of these skin cells will promote healthy skin.
- Sun Protector: An SPF of 15 or higher is recommended for everyday protection. Unfortunately, many people skip this step in their daily skin- care regimen rationalizing that they won’t be outdoors much or that it’s winter, and so on. However, sun’s damaging rays are harmful, regardless of the season. Furthermore, they can penetrate through glass, including car and office windows. You must wear your sunscreen daily.
- Makeup: We all know the wonders makeup can do, but make sure you find what is best for you and use it to even out your skin tone, hide dark circles, blemishes or scars, and simultaneously accentuate your eyes and cheekbones. Change your look with the seasons to keep an update appearance: Lighter colors in the spring and summer, deeper tones in fall and winter.
Remember, if you already have the brains, the education, the experience, the guts, and the charisma, creating the package is easy and fun. A dab of makeup, a visit to the hairstylist for the right coif, a stop by the local boutique for a couple of good suits or other ensembles that make you look and feel great will surely help you reach even higher and go even further in your professional (and personal) life.
Trust me. I’ve been there and I know. What helped me start my business more than a quarter century ago was never giving up and always looking like a million bucks even when I just had pennies to my name. Give them the whole package. You’ll be amazed at the results.
Lyn Ross, founder and president of Atlanta’s Institut’ DERMed, is a master esthetician with more than 27 years experience in professional skin care. She is the founder of Institut' DERMed Medi-Clinical spa and the cosmeceutical skin care line.
