Every woman longs to be beautiful. After sleepless nights and busy days, our appearance can take a low spot on our list of priorities.
Still, sometimes, we pass a mirror and are horrified. Our hair is sticking out in weird places, there are dark circles under our eyes, and our clothes don’t even match. Plus, we can’t even remember the last time we shaved our legs.
Does the outside matter? Not as much as nursing babies, quieting fussy children, arbitrating squabbles, and exploring the world with a curious little boy. However, people see the outside so we need to give our appearance some attention.
Let me share some beauty secrets with you.
Beauty Secret #1
God defines true beauty as a condition of the heart. It is a gentle and quiet spirit that God defines as beautiful. (See I Peter 3:1-7)
Beauty starts with surrender to Jesus. We give our lives, our loves, our days, our agenda–all to Him. We no longer live, but Christ lives in us (see Galatians 2:20). As Christ lives in us, He produces good fruit like love, joy, peace, kindness. That produces a beauty that sparkles in our eyes and radiates from our smile, far outshining any kind of loveliness the world defines.
So, love Jesus and surrender to Him. Let His beauty flow from the inside to the outside.
Beauty Secret #2
Another beauty secret is to surrender our worries to Him. Instead of being anxious, we cast all our cares on Him in prayer with thanksgiving. This takes away those terrible frown lines on our forehead.
This year, we had to renew my daughter’s passport. You are not allowed to smile anymore in the passport photo. We took 2 pictures side-by-side. One photo revealed the beautiful young women she is and the other looked a little scary.
A smile, free of worry, makes a huge difference in our appearance.
Beauty Secret #3
A grateful heart makes the face cheerful.
Try this experiment. Stand in front of a mirror and talk about all the terrible things happening right now in your own and your friends’ lives. Notice how you look when you are talking. Next, talk about all the blessings in your life. When do you look prettier: talking about problems or sharing blessings?
Thankfulness makes us cheerful and prettier.
More Beauty Secrets
The most beautiful people are those who love Jesus and people. However, people do see the outside.
Let’s talk about the outside.
When we went to Europe, we visited so many magnificent cathedrals, filled with art treasures, decorated with the finest materials available, created to honor the Lord.
If my body is a temple, I want it to be lovely, reminding myself and others who resides inside me.
Of course, healthy eating, fresh air, and exercise add brightness to our faces and a spring to our step. Yes, chasing toddlers around the backyard counts as fresh air and exercise.
Beauty on the Outside
Here are some simple tips for adding the finishing touches as your inward beauty shines through.
Wear clothes your husband likes. I wore sweatshirts and sweatpants for years while I had one baby after another until one day, Mike admitted he didn’t like sweats. Yikes! They were so comfortable, but I tossed them anyway and started wearing capris, leggings, and jeans. They were just as comfortable and Mike liked them on me.
Wear clothes that you look good in. I love bright colors so when I put on a bright turquoise T-shirt on with a pair of jeans, I feel pretty. How about you? Wear comfortable clothes that make you look in the mirror and like what you see.
Instead of just throwing on clothes, wear an outfit. By that, I just mean, clothes that match and look good together. You could take 30 minutes and put together several outfits so you don’t have to spend 20 minutes every morning trying to put an outfit together. This gives you a polished look and communicates self-confidence to folks who see you.
Wear clothes that flatter your figure. Okay so after five babies, your jeans are too tight. Get a bigger size. What????? Yes, the bigger size will be more flattering and any mother over the age of 30 will admit to having clothing in several sizes. A size 10 figures stuffed into size 5 spandex is not attractive. Just get a bigger size.
Run a brush through your hair and try some simple hairstyles once in a while. You can wear a ponytail or braids or gather the top of your hair back in a barrette. It will protect it from sticky fingers and let your pretty eyes show. A simple headband in a color that matches your outfit is easy and gives you a finished look.
I’m not a big make-up wearer, though I try to remember to wear it to church. If make-up makes you feel pretty, try to put on a little every morning. Maybe just some lipstick or mascara will be perfect.
B.C. (before children), I had so many different pairs of cute shoes from flats to high heels. Now, I live in Crocs because they are comfortable. I have them in several colors to match my outfit.
I remember the days of long, polished nails, but now with all the dishes I wash, they chip right away if I polish them. However, I always have pretty polish on my toenails. That makes me feel pretty. My friend Aisha even decorates my toes with flowers in contrasting colors. I love it. It also lasts at least 2 months. That’s a lot of pretty for a little bit of investment.
Accessorize with fun and flair, but keep it simple. Don’t wear things that baby will pull off.
I wrote a book for teens on inward and outward beauty, but adults keep sneaking and reading it, too. If you want to learn more about being a more beautiful you, be sure to get this Bible study with Scripture, as well as fashion, make-up, hair, figure, and other beauty tips for women of all ages. Read more about God’s Girls Beauty Secrets here.
Remember that you are beautiful, filled with His Spirit.
Meredith Curtis
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