Janna and I recently contributed an article to  Sweet Tart Beauty.com. We wanted to share it with you.

The 18 billion dollar cosmetic industry is vying for our attention and our dollars. We are constantly bombarded and seduced by beautiful images in the media. But in my personal experience working with women for the last 35 years, I have found the worst thing women do to themselves isn’t comparing themselves to celebrities and supermodels. The worst hazard for most women is comparing themselves to who they ‘used to be.’

I tell my clients the primary question they should be asking themselves is: “Who am I … TODAY? This is the overriding theme that runs through our book, Quintessential Style: Cultivate and Communicate Your Signature Look. Each of us is different. Our beauty lies in our diversity. When it comes to our lifestyles, we all have varying amounts of time we can choose to devote to our appearance. If we only have time for four steps of grooming each morning, we want those steps to deliver the greatest results.

“The worst hazard for most women is comparing themselves to who they ‘used to be’.”

Women also want accurate beauty advice. In my business, I hear many misconceptions about makeup and skincare. Here are five of the most common myths.

 1.  As we age, we should wear less color. False. As we mature, our color begins to fade—in our cheeks, our lips, our eyebrows, our hair. In order to regain that fresh, youthful glow, we must replenish color. Simply adding a bit of blush, lipstick, and eyebrow pencil can give our faces the definition and brightness we once had.

Tip: Try a lipstick color that is one shade brighter than the one you are currently wearing.

2.  We can get rid of large pores by using a particular makeup. False. Large pores are a skin issue, not a makeup issue. The only way to reduce the look of your pores is by sloughing off dead skin cells, and pulling debris from the surface. I recommend daily masking, in lieu of morning cleansing. It can be done in less than five minutes. Simply place a gentle daily mask (designed for your skin type) on your face, and go about your morning. After 5 – 10 minutes, rinse the mask off and apply skin products as usual.

3.  The older we get, the more foundation we should use. False. Many of the clients I work with have a misleading notion that foundation should be applied heavily all over the face. If you want to look younger, just the opposite is true. Heavy makeup can collect in the creases and wrinkles of the skin—actually accentuating them. I recommend finding a shade of foundation that perfectly matches your skin tone and applying it only where you need to even out the color.

4.  When trying out a lip color, pay attention only to your lips. False.  This is a concept I teach almost every one of my clients. When you are trying on lip color (or cheek color), take a step back from the mirror and look at your whole face, not just your lips. Does the lip color brighten your entire face? Does it accentuate your skin and eyes? Lip color can do all that, if you choose the correct shade and clarity. You just have to pay attention–to your whole face, not simply your lips.

Zooming in on lips only–they look rather bright. But see how the color lights up Beth Djalali’s entire face when when you take a step back. Wow!

5. Look to the younger generation for ideas on makeup and skincare. False (sort of). I have seen countless clients who have been led astray by taking makeup and skincare advice from young celebrities or even their own daughters. Your skin is different than it was twenty-plus years ago. Make sure the products you are using are designed for your skin’s needs right now.

“You wouldn’t walk around in shoes that fit you a size ago. It’s the same with skincare and makeup.”                            … Janna Beatty

The better you know yourself, the more confident you will feel making choices that empower you to communicate who you are and allow you to share your own personal beauty with this world.

“Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful.” …Sweet Tart Beauty