I am sure some of you are the type of person when approached by someone who tells you that you are beautiful, you shrugged it off because you do not feel that way. You may feel nice when told that, but every time you look into the mirror you criticize yourself. Well let me tell you girl, YOU ARE beautiful!

I have met many girls, who in most eyes would be considered gorgeous, think they are not attractive! Why? Society. Media. Magazines. Peers. Family.

These are just some things that can affective a women's view of themselves. What is the ideal women body and face according to most magazines or models? Skinny(toned), nice boobs, full lips, and long victoria's secret hair. Why is it that they put us girls into a VERY small category and think we all can achieve this EXACT look to be considered attractive? We all have different body shapes, different genes, different complexions, and different styles. You know what message I wish was actually out there instead of looking sexy to get sex? Be happy and healthy.  MakeupGeek(Marlena), a makeup artist from youtube, says this after each of her videos.
I think we should take care of ourselves and stay healthy. The better you feel, the happier and more confident you are. Change something about your lifestyle if need be to achieve a healthy body or mind. We do not need to be super skinny, but looking healthy is nice. We do no need to wear tons of makeup, however looking clean is a plus. We do not need to wear awesome sexy clothes, however dressing in the right shape and size is a must. We do not need to look all the same with the perfect abs and sexy beach hair. It saddens me that girls want to get their face done because they do not look perfect. Even young teens are doing it! I know these girls just want to be happy with themselves, but who told them they are not beautiful enough because of their tiny flaw? Society. We are surrounded by it. Disclaimer: Plastic surgery is also used to fix things like cleft lips and things such as that, and that is understandable. But changing your nose because of a slight bump is just crazy. You put your life at stake when you go under the knife.
Am I against plastic surgery? No. I just feel we are conditioned to look perfect so I understand why women/teens do it.

We need to be ourselves and take care of ourselves. If you do not take any time for yourself, you will never be happy. I know many of you love to take care of others and really are happy doing that, but after a long day of doing nothing but work or taking care of this and that, you want some you time. Take care of yourself and be who you want to be. You feel it makes people happy when you take care of them, but them seeing you take some time to take care of yourself to will make them even more happy because you are happy. I know in some cases, some do not appreciate you, and I am sorry you are in a situation like that(many are). I know you are the only one that gets anything done and have no time for yourself. You need to voice your problem. You need you time! I wish you luck!

Be confident in yourself. Buy a simple outfit that flatters your body or wear your favorite perfume. What ever makes you feel happy.

If you are the type of person who needs to verbally hear compliments all the time to feel good about yourself, remember that a lot of people do not know that is your need. Some need to hear things more than others. Do not get upset about not hearing something when you get a new haircut or new dress or this or that. You feel happy with what you do or what you wear, so it is okay if someone does not say something about it, because after all, you like it. :) You are beautiful.

Remember girls, be happy and healthy.

-Kristina

As a child, you do not really discover your own style. You see other people at school and television people, and want to be just like them. Going even father back at a really young age, you may have like princesses or boy clothes. You are influenced by things around you. If I could try to remember the first person I wanted to look like, I would have to say (and this is really hard to remember for me)....Christina Aguilera. Not only did she have my name, with CH instead, she was very pretty. I remember watching a music video of hers, this was way back in the middle school days, and I saw her "What a Girl Wants" music video. She had the long, perfect straight hair; far from my super curly frizz hair. She had the perfect face and complexion( I had no idea that you can use makeup to make someone look perfect). I never tried looking like her, but I wondered how to look like that. I was not really into "pretty" things, but it still looked nice.

As a kid, when you would go shopping for clothes, who actually picks out your clothes? Your mother. You may have some options, but you can get those really awesome pair of jeans because you cannot afford it. You just deal with the things you can have, not the things you really, really want to have.

As I mentioned in my first post, makeup was not my strong point growing up. I was not even aloud to wear it until I was in high school. Sometimes I would try to sneak out of the house with makeup on, but my mom always caught me. I looked bad. However, if taught how to do it, I would have gone out of the house looking decent. Personally, I think middle age is just fine when it comes to makeup. As long as they do it right and not over do it. I remember in waiting outside a class in middle and seeing this girl named Katie who wore a mask on her face because she never blended her bad shaded foundation. I even told her, but she seemed to like it because it showed that she was wearing makeup. That was when I learned that if you wore makeup, you wanted people to see it. Now I know you want to enhance your face, not mask it.

As I got older I began to explore some aspects of makeup and fashion, but I mainly just wore a t-shirt and jeans. I got slightly better with makeup in high school, but not nearly as well as I do now. I wore basic, neutral makeup and never tried more complex looks.

My style now, is complicated. I basically grab what appeals to me, but lean towards the simple/easy style, t-shirt and skinny jeans, because I am use to it. I am slowly adding to "my style", trying to get more of what I actually want to wear, rather than the easy way out. I love the loose tops, and skinny jeans. I love accessories, but never buy them. I love skirts, but never buy them. I tell myself I would not look good in something just because I have not tried it.

I am discovering myself everyday, and need to let my style out. No more boring jeans and t-shirt(though it's comfy), I want to wear more sophisticated, elegant styles that will make people take me seriously(dealing with jobs or adults). I am going to be 22 soon and I need to dress like it. With makeup, I am trying to be neutral and realize I do not need makeup to cover up my face, but rather enhance it.