Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to my dear friend, and our guest contributor for the My Beauty Uniform series, Deb. She is the wife of the pastor of our church, is a talented pianist who gives lessons in her home, and has two children. I love her heart. I love her sassy style. I love her passion for faux fur. She has some great thoughts on beauty and style and I know you’ll enjoy reading what she has to say.
Describe your morning/evening skincare routine:
Well, lets just get real right out of the gate… I do nothing at night for my skin. (Insert gasp from all your readers). I go to bed with my make up on, maybe with the hopes that I will look like every movie star who wakes up to beautiful tossed hair, flawless skin and fresh breathe. Actually, the reality is I am lazy and just want to jump in bed by the time 10:30 rolls around. On a rare occasion I may use a Norwex beauty clothe to simply wash off the day’s gunk.
When it comes to my morning routine, I use Burt’s Bees Soap Bark & Chamomile deep cleaning cleanser, along with Burt’s Bees moisturizer. I’ve become a believer in the more natural the product the better. Our skin is like a sponge, absorbing anything we put on it. So when we are lathering on all sorts of products with dyes, fragrances and chemicals, it can have a big effect on ones body. There was a time a few years ago I would get tingling sensations in my hands and arms that really had my worried. I decided to see if anything would happen if I eliminated certain things from my diet and lifestyle, once I stopped using products like Bath and Body Works the sensations went away. I have not gone back to those products since!
If you could only use one makeup product for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
This is an unfair question to ask a women who has just turned 40! One needs all the help they can get at this stage of the game because things are puffing up, sagging and wrinkling faster than you can blink! If I had to choose just one thing though, I would have to probably say mascara because I don’t feel complete without it. However, I really love the bronzer from Arbonne. I bought a bronzer at a party for the first time over two years ago and I am still using the same bronzer. Seriously, Its like the widowed women in the bible who’s oil jar never empties!
If you could only use one beauty product for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Again, another unfair question but I will answer this question based on necessity rather than desire! Deodorant! My father is 100% German which makes my ties to Europe pretty darn close, people. This women can not go a day without her Secret Clinical strength deodorant. Trust me, you wouldn’t want me to! I have a friend who went to Colorado on a 36 hour van ride for a youth event and still smelled like sweet Georgia Peaches. I am not kidding! What in the world? How does that even happen?
Do you have a signature scent?
On the rare occasion that I remember to use any sort of perfume or spray, it would have to be Victoria Secret Pure Seduction (Did that just come out of a preacher’s wife?!!)
Lipstick? Yes or No
No. I am a 100% chapstick girl. If I feel a little edgy I may wear a tinted lipgloss
Shower or Bath?
Shower. Everyday. A must. I can’t remember the last time I had a bath.
How do I put together a head to toe look?
Hmmm. I think pintrest helped jump start this for me a few years ago by seeing how accessories and added touches can help make a simple outfit stand out. I work from home teaching piano lessons and it could be very easy for me to just stay in sweats and a t-shirt. Thank goodness I have never been a sweats and t-shirt kind of girl though or my poor piano students would have quite the site each week.
I usually start with very basic items for top and bottom – a pair of classic skinny jeans (my new favourites are the dark wash from American Eagle, it gives the look of being dressy, yet they are super stretchy, soft and comfortable!), and a flowing shirt or blouse. Then the fun begins! Without the risk of sounding like a 90 year old grandmother, I love cardigans. Mostly because I am always cold, but I also love the layered look it brings to the entire outfit. I also love vests… floor length, crochet, fur, jean jacket – you name it I probably have one. Then the final touches would have to be a belt, and either a scarf or necklaces… (yes that was plural. I will layer sometimes up to three necklaces at a time- long, mid -length and then short) There is nothing better than cheap costume jewelry to add that final pop to a very classic look. Last but not least, earrings. I think because my hair is so short, the earrings help balance everything out. I do not go out the door without a pair of dangly earrings. Probably the area I struggle with the most is shoes. Since I am taller than my husband I don’t want to be wearing 10-inch heals. I see all these cute wedges but know that’s just not for me. Finding cute, COMFORTABLE flats can be a bit daunting!
Dresses, Skirts, or Pants?
I am comfortable in them all but wear pants the most. I love long maxi dresses and find them to be elegant and lovely, all while being very comfortable. It is hard for me to find appropriate skirts that are not to short due to my height, so I tend to stick to the pencil skirt at knee length.
What trend do you love?
I love the feminine lacey boho look trending right now. The long, flowing shirts paired with leggings or skinnys are not only super cute but super comfortable.
What trend do you hate?
Ok, so can I be frank? I really hope I don’t offend anyone by saying this but wearing yoga pants and/or leggings without anything covering your back end is just wrong!!! Not to mention, having your cleavage hang out for all the world to see. Cover it up ladies!!! When you step out the door and are greeted by a middle aged women (or any women for that matter) wearing yoga pants, a sports bra and a cut out t-shirt over top I think something has seriously gone wrong with our culture. It makes me want to take them to a mirror and say what part of this do you think is ok?? Leave some things a mystery and you will find it is much more sexier and desirable. Soap box over. Thank you.
What is your definition of beauty?
Beauty is what comes from within. A quiet spirit, a tender heart, a kind word, a serving attitude. It’s clothing yourself with the things that are important to the One who created you. You could have the most elegant of clothes, the face of an angel, and the body of a goddess but without a heart that is kind to other and to yourself, it is but a fake, a phony. God created women in in His image… that alone makes us beautiful. This was a game changer for me. God is not just masculine, He is also feminine, all the things we are as a women. We are the part of Him that is mysterious, priceless, adoring, and all-together- lovely. Just think about that for a moment and it’s enough make you feel like you are the most cherished of all creatures every made.
What is one thing you want your daughter to know about beauty?
One thing I would desire most for Allison to know she is enough. As a women, the world is going to tell her to be this, and this, and this, and this, and this, and this, (Do you get the picture???) It is utterly exhausting trying to measure up to the worlds standards of what beauty is. I want for her to come to the realization early in her life that she doesn’t have to be something she is not just because everyone else says she should. I want her to know she is enough, just the way she is, because that is who God created her to be.. kind, strong, dependable, capable, hard working, loyal, and cute as a button! (Proud momma moment!
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