PreciouOne eMagazine

We’ve all had one of those days where we just feel blah about our
appearance—maybe your hair isn’t falling the right way and those
dark circles under your eyes just seem a little, well, darker. Luckily,
we’ve found news that will help break the funk next time you’re
having an “ugly day.” Studies show that beauty isn’t about the perfect body,
long blonde curls or the latest designer fashions; in fact, your outward appeal
is largely influenced by surprising factors such as how you treat others, spatial
clutter and even the company you keep. We’ve researched 10 unexpected ways
to enhance your looks—naturally. Read on for the beauty secrets!
Tips for
Your
Natural
Beauty
Remember the Golden Rule
Being dishonest or disrespectful
changes your appearance, for the
worse. According to character
coach Susanne Alexander, acting
ungraciously “makes you more likely
to frown or raise your eyebrows
in arrogance, causing forehead
lines,” while lying “causes tightness
around the mouth and lines
around the eyes.” Even prolonged
resentment or unforgivingness can
cause unhappy facial lines, such as
a downturned mouth. To enhance
your natural beauty, act graciously
whenever possible. Practice acceptance,
gentleness and patience—all
of which reduce facial tension and
can increase your natural beauty.
Stay Engaged
“People are flattered when you find
them appealing—and they naturally
reciprocate,” says Ann Demarais,
PhD, psychologist and coauthor of
First Impressions: What You Don’t
Know About How Others See You.
One of the easiest ways to increase
your natural beauty is to accept
and be interested in other people.
“Showing interest in others is a component
of confidence,” says Dr. Demarais.
“And when you’re confident,
you appear more attractive.” To feel
more confident and appear that way
to others, make an effort to smile
often, make frequent eye contact
and maintain a positive aura.
Do The Work You Love
Debra Condren, PhD, business psychologist
and author of Ambition Is
Not a Dirty Word, says, “Loving your
work and unapologetically following
your dreams is the secret beauty
elixir women never hear about.
Doing meaningful, challenging work
will make you glow with an inner
and outer beauty that no cosmetic
or surgery or makeup can imitate.”
Dr. Condren advises checking in
with yourself daily to stay in touch
with your ambitions and desires. The
more tuned in you are to what you
really want out of work and life, the
more beautiful you’ll be—inside and
out.
Focus on your personality
Feel bloated, blotchy and blah?
Don’t fret. As it turns out, Mom was
right: Your personality counts more
than your looks. Research shows
that if you’re cooperative, dependable,
hardworking or intelligent, people
will think positively of you—and
perceive you as beautiful.
On the flip side, in a study conducted
by evolutionary biologist David
Sloan Wilson, rude or unfair people
were rated less attractive than those
who were kind and cooperative—no
matter their appearance. Next time
you feel like you’re having a bad hair
day, just remember: Minding your p’s
and q’s will keep you looking lovely.
Surround yourself with supportive
people
One recent study revealed that
if you’re worried about rejection
because of how you look, you’ll feel
anxious, neurotic and insecure—
making you appear less attractive to
others. “[In our study], a reminder of
one’s strengths or close relationships
was enough to reduce the damaging
effects of thinking about negative
aspects of one’s appearance,” says
Lora Park, PhD, assistant professor
at the University of Buffalo. “These
findings emphasize the power of…
close relationships to help people
cope with insecurities regarding their
appearance.” Surround yourself with
the people who know and love you
best to instantly feel more beautiful.
Free your inner "Iman”
Have you ever daydreamed about
striking a pose, Heidi Klum–style? As
it turns out, a modeling session with
a professional photographer can be
liberating, enlightening and just plain
fun! “I see women transform and step
into their natural beauty on a daily basis,”
says photographer Lone Mørch,
whose sessions help women express
their sensuality. One of her plus-size
clients shared this about the effects
of her recent photo shoot: “I recently
attended two big parties, and I was
on the dance floor the whole time. It
was fantastic, and there’s no doubt
the photo experience put an extra
sway in my gait and a glint in my
eye.”
Establish your personal definition of
beauty
What do you think makes a woman
beautiful? If you don't establish your
own definition of beauty, you're more
likely to waste precious time, money
and energy chasing other people's
ideas of beauty. Instead, focus on the
activities, though.
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