Eye of the Beholder

We live in a very visual world. Image is everything in many aspects of society. In the US women are expected to look a certain way to be considered beautiful. One of America's current image obsessions is having white, straight teeth. Whitening kits are all over your drugstore's shelves and being reviewed by Instagrammers and YouTubers on a daily basis.

It would be very easy to become self conscious about a less than Chiclet-perfect smile...but I hope this post will shine a bit of light on something. The cliche and overused "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" isn't cliche at all. It all depends on perspective. Maybe in the US a perfect smile is what's expected, but in other parts of the world a unique and less-than-perfect smile is what girls aspire to have.

In 2006 I was in Kyoto, Japan. One of the things I stocked up on was Japanese fashion magazines. The colors and layouts are the epitome of the term "eye candy". They're stuffed with photos rather than advertisements and pages of makeup tutorials and vibrant fashion layouts.  But, I noticed something "strange" about the models in the magazines: they were smiling bright despite having less-than-perfect teeth.

In Japan, yaeba, or "snaggletooth" is considered cute.  So, girls desiring to have this "flaw" added to their smile have the option of buying a mold to cast their own yaeba. This false tooth slips perfectly onto their own, giving them the desired, unique smile. Interesting that they desire such a smile...

Image from JapanTrendShop.com (Yes, you can buy the kit!)

Yet here in the states, certain stars are ridiculed for not perfecting their teeth...

...or for straightening them too much!

No one is perfect and makeup shouldn't be used to erase what you are. There's nothing wrong with a little contouring or bronzing, but don't try to be someone you aren't because you feel you don't fit a certain standard in society. In Japan pale skin and yaeba are praised, while tanned skin and straight teeth are praised here in the states. It's all relative! Remember, beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.

Reasons to Go Pro

You have a special event coming up and need your makeup done -- what do you do?

It is very common for makeup counters to be swamped around certain times of the year like Prom/Homecoming, Valentine's Day, Halloween and New Year's Eve. You often have to make an appointment weeks in advance and wait for your turn in a packed store. That's fine if you have a favorite artist at your counter of choice, but what if you don't? That's when it's time to hire a pro.

Hiring a professional artist ensures the following:

A Personalized Application

Since the artist isn't under any pressure to sell a color story or new product, her or she will use items from their kit that are tailored to your makeup and skincare needs.

One-on-One Attention

Your artist can answer questions, give product advice and even demonstrate technique without having to rush you out in 20 minutes for another customer.

Great Products

Pro artists are usually not limited to one line (unless they are sponsored by a brand). This means that they will have a kit full of products you might not have heard about. Oh, and don't be fooled by the word on the street--there isn't ONE makeup line that has a perfect product in every category. Don't limit yourself to someone that only uses one line!

Hygienic Safety

Let's face it--makeup comes in close contact with some very delicate areas of the body. The skin is the body's largest organ, but we also apply makeup to our eyes and our lips. When you go to a department store, you use the same makeup that people have touched and put on their faces. A great beauty associate will do their best to clean it for you, but most of that is out of their control and not all of the associates will be strict with hygiene. A trained professional knows how to keep their products clean and your visage safe.

These are all things to consider when thinking about makeup for your next special event!

Makeup Fun on Instagram

I used to be a die-hard fan of Twitter, but the visual aspect of Instagram quickly won me over especially when it came to makeup and beauty. Magazines, makeup brands and even beauty stores have Instagram accounts; as do some of your favorite beauty bloggers. So, I decided to make a quick little post detailing my current favorite beauty-related Instagram accounts. Here we go!

MAC Junkies (@macjunkies)

Self-explanatory, really, but an added bonus to this account is that you get to see images from MAC in Dubai. The account also features swatches, lip color combinations and snapshots of limited editions releases both old and new.

Too Faced Cosmetics (@toofaced)

I adore this line. The quality is excellent, the packaging is beautiful and the prices are fair for a prestige line. Their account is full of gorgeous product shots (a.k.a. "makeup porn") as well as swatches and contests.

Pro Artist Viktorija Bowers-Adams (@ganeshkarma)

One thing I rarely see in social media is makeup enthusiasts following the blogs and accounts of actual professional artists! Nothing against YouTube gurus, etc., but these people aren't in the pages of Vogue for nothing. Viktorija Bowers-Adams is one of my favorite pros and this is her account.

Pro Artist Sam Fine (@iamsamfine)

Fashion Fair Cosmetic's Director and master makeup artist for women of color, Sam Fine's account features wonderful shots of his work on various celebs.

InstallureBeauty (@installurebeauty)

Sometimes seeing other people's work is the best way to get inspired to create your own looks. This account links you to the best of the best of the Instagram beauty community.

What are some of your favorite beauty-related Instagram accounts?