Complete this sentence: “When I’m feeling beautiful…”
Technically, there’s no wrong way to finish it, but there’s one response that we tend to value the most.
“When I’m feeling beautiful, I’m more confident.”
Sometimes this confidence eludes us because we don’t think we’re beautiful enough. We live in a society where self-confidence regularly gives way to self-consciousness because we don’t roll out of bed looking like Mila Kunis. So, it’s easy to forget that confidence has a powerful beauty that can turn heads.
The good news is that this level of confidence is within your reach. You begin the journey when you stop comparing yourself to others and make the most of what you’ve got. The hard reality is that there will always be people who have fitter bodies, longer legs, and better hair, but you know what? It doesn’t matter. You have potential that, when unlocked, can inspire yourself and others. Here’s how you can do it.
Stop Seeking Validation
Consider this advice to be your first step in your new beauty regimen. We’ve put this tip first because it’s the hardest to accomplish―we’re conditioned to seek approval, especially us women. When someone smirks at what you’re wearing, you probably want to hide. (Good thing Lady Gaga and Billie Eilish didn’t think that way or the millions of fans who value their unique beauty would be very disappointed.)
Basing your self-confidence on what others think and say is a bit like trying to build a mansion on land you don’t own. Someone else has the power to yank it away at any time. Claim your own inner space and start building!
Visualize: Seeing Is Believing
Napoleon Hill put it best: “What the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.”
Visualization is the technique of imagining that a desire or a future goal has become a reality. It’s not a fluffy, baseless New Age concept: studies have shown that athletes who visualize before an upcoming performance, experience better coordination, motivation, and concentration.
When you have a poor (and usually inaccurate) perception of yourself, your self-confidence will plummet accordingly. Start by wearing clothes that flatter your figure and, if you regularly wear makeup, apply it in ways that complement the shape of your face. When you head out to face the day, imagine people turning to admire you. Just don’t be surprised if it happens!
Do Something Every Day That Scares You
Have you ever noticed how people react after they participate in an extreme sport or face a long-held fear? They sob with joy, glow, salute the heavens, and take other actions that show their soaring new confidence and exhilaration.
When you face fear and uncertainty head-on, you’ll gain confidence from each experience and have that ‘winner’s glow’ that would fly off the shelves if it was available at Sephora.
Tell Your Inner Critic Off
We can be our own worst enemy. If you’re struggling with low self-confidence, your inner critic is probably assailing you with negative self-talk that makes you feel unattractive and worthless.
Silence this unwanted (and inaccurate) commentary by giving as good as you get. If it hints that you’re awkward or ugly, remind it of the time you wore that new black outfit to work and got so many compliments, or how people complimented the way you looked at your best friend’s wedding. While you’re at it, compliment yourself on a regular basis. As Mark Twain put it, “Man (or woman) cannot be comfortable without his own approval.”
Perfect What You’ve Got
Once you’ve mastered your inner-body confidence, you’re left with the outside. Beauty is truly on the inside, but the outside surely counts for something? It does. How you look matters more to you than to others and you need to accept that.
If you’ve ever had a bad hair day or been greeted by an acne outbreak in the mirror, you know how it can zap your inner confidence. There’s no denying that, for most of us, when our skin is clear and smooth and our hair glossier than a Cosmopolitan cover, we don’t have to be Bella Hadid to turn heads wherever you go. Let’s take a closer look at ways that you can enhance your natural beauty with a few quick ‘hacks’.
Cosmetic Skin Treatments
There’s a reason why facials and scrubs are some of the world’s most popular cosmetic treatments. They’re noninvasive and deliver a lot of benefits with relatively few risks.
Wrinkles and fine lines are typical signs of aging, but that doesn’t mean we love them. Aging is beautiful in itself, but so is the ability the change something about yourself.
Facials can smooth fine lines away, resulting in a refreshed, youthful appearance. Both men and women have reported an increase in their self-confidence after receiving skin treatments. This may or may not be for you, but the option is there for anyone that wants to give it a try.
Laser Hair Removal
When beauty consultants proclaim the glories of the natural look, they probably weren’t talking about facial and body hair. Although there is absolutely nothing wrong with body hair, some women prefer a smoother look and finish. If you have excessive armpit, leg, or bikini hair, you may feel as if you’re married to your razor or pot of wax. (Thanks to the ingrown hairs and razor rash, It’s not an ideal relationship.) A possible result might be self-esteem issues.
‘Love the skin you’re in’ says Dove. And their right. That’s why we have solutions IF you want to remove that hair for good. Laser hair removal deals with hair quite effectively. The treatments destroy the hair follicle and reduce the possibility of regrowth. It requires four to six sessions to complete, but you’ll see a considerable body hair reduction.
Hair Loss Treatments
Next to graying, hair loss is one of the biggest grievances we have with our hair and it does happen to women! I know, embrace aging, but when your full head of thick and healthy hair starts thinning out strand by strand, your confidence might take a slight nosedive. After all, we’re human, and sometimes physical appearance does impact even the strongest woman.
Hair loss happens for a wide range of reasons, including:
- Stress
- Heredity
- Autoimmune disorders
- Medication side effects
- Thyroid disease
Whatever the reason, there are excellent hair loss treatments available to restore your crowning glory. They include light and laser treatments that stimulate hair regrowth; platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, which strengthens and enhances your existing hair follicles, and microneedling. Again, this should never make or break someone’s confidence but maybe you’ll hold your head a little higher if you feel better about your hair.
Conclusion
As the saying goes: people are like Oreos: the best stuff is on the inside. But when you’re looking your absolute best, you exude a confidence that would put a lot of self-esteem gurus out of business. You’ll no longer need to finish the sentence “When I’m feeling beautiful…” because that’s how you’ll be feeling most of the time.