Journal Day - My Idea of Beauty

How would you say your upbringing or background has shaped your idea of beauty? Were you taught to apply makeup or do you hair by your mother or friends? If not, where did you observe what is now your norm as far as beauty practices? And although most of us have been inundated by different cultural beauty "norms" via the media, would you say that television and magazines have had a strong impact on shaping what you think of as beautiful? This week, write about your idea of beauty- how your background has shaped it and what that means for you today.

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I was never really taught how to do my makeup or hair. My mom and dad have always been sort of "hippie-ish" and neither of them are much into cosmetics or dressing in current styles.

I feel like I've always been the last to know how to do makeup and hair tricks. Before the invention of YouTube, I pretty much just copied what I saw other girls doing if I liked it. For the longest time I couldn't figure out how women were making their eyes so pretty and defined, and my sister-in-law finally told me it was rimming their eyes with eyeliner...I felt like such an idiot.

I taught myself how to blow dry and curl my hair. I did my own eyebrows at thirteen and they never looked the same again. I wish my mom would've at least taken me somewhere to get my brows done the first time so I wouldn't have annihilated them, but she was always of this impression that I didn't need to do anything to change my looks because I was "naturally" beautiful...which is sweet but of course I'm naturally beautiful to her! Every child is beautiful to their mother, but I did need some assistance in the grooming department.

I was born in the South and I think that possibly I got my beauty ideals from there. I really don't like any "edgy" female styles like short-short hair, crazy colors, or too many tattoos for myself. I'm more into the traditional feminine look - longer hair, soft makeup, soft colors, etc. The Marilyn Monroe era type of beauty really appeals to me.

I definitely think tv and magazines have influenced by beauty ideals, especially when I was younger. Now that I'm 30, I don't feel the need to copy every trend and I stick to my basic style and preference. I will notice celebrities if they're wearing a style I like and of course I love browsing Pinterest for outfit and makeup ideas! But for the most part I know what I like and I'm not influenced too far out of that box.

What's your "style" or idea of beauty?