I only partially chose this for the Colors of The Wind reference. via freedigitalphotos.net

When I was a kid I had a knack for yearning. I yearned for blue eyes, I yearned for blonde hair, I yearned to become a My Little Pony already. I would sit with eyes and fists held tightly shut, willing straight blonde tufts to spurt out of my head. I’ll spare you the angst I spent a childhood with and just cut to the chase: it didn’t work.

I’ll also sidestep the fact that I refused to play with dolls that looked like me and only wanted the Aryan ones. I’m sure my parents were thrilled by my seemingly innate prejudice. Your kid can sing the alphabet? Mine racially profiles.

Turns out, if you’re born a somewhat swarthy brown eyed brunette, you’re probably going to stay that way. Particularly if you, like me, lack the means/wherewithal/self-loathing to undergo elective cosmetic surgery. The sooner you make peace with the idea that, genetics wise, you get what you get and you don’t get upset, the sooner you will look in the mirror and see yourself for what you are: beautiful.

via marin courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

via wikimedia

It took me a long time to arrive at that truth for myself (how long and why are topics best left to a different genre). If you’re not quite there, I want to try and help you see it in you too. I may even resurrect some yearning for the occasion.

With this column I hope to offer tips and tricks for beauty-dom that are relevant and useful with the understanding that without a stitch of make-up or even a swipe of soap, you’re beautiful. The rest is just for fun. I wear make-up because it makes me feel more confident, more put together, and because it is a socially acceptable way to bring more glitter into my life.

I take care of my skin so I feel better in it every day. And so that in thirty years people don’t confuse me with a drooping sack of flesh toned taffy.

I write because I can’t not write. And I implement double negatives because sometimes that’s all that works.

So! I’m excited to keep building this relationship with you. A relationship I’m pretty sure will be solidified next week when I reveal my Top 7 No Make-Up All Day Every Season Beauty Tips. Yeah. There are seven. Bookmark it!

Nancy Novak, MD