With all this talk about Lena Dunham and the prevalence of Photoshop, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’d Photoshop myself into if I had the ability. This led to some critical thinking about what beauty really is, the pros and cons of cosmetics and how tough it can be to feel OK in your skin in such an image-based society. I write about makeup for a living, so it’s always on my mind. Today, however, I’ll let these fine folks get you thinking.
The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy. Yves Saint Laurent, fashion designer
There are no ugly women, just lazy ones. Helena Rubenstein, cosmetics creator
The only way I’d be caught without makeup is if my radio fell in the bathtub while I was taking a bath and electrocuted me and I was in between makeup at home. I hope my husband would slap a little lipstick on me before he took me to the morgue. Dolly Parton, perfect person
Crying is for plain women. Pretty women go shopping. Oscar Wilde, writer/playwright/poet
Our society does reward beauty on the outside over health on the inside. Women must not be blamed for choosing short-term beauty “fixes” that harm our long-term health, since our life spans are inverted under the beauty myth, and there is no great social or economic incentive for women to live a long time. Naomi Wolf, The Beauty Myth
Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, or on the red carpet, or in Afghanistan, the better you feel, the better you do your job. Bobbi Brown, makeup artist
You’d be surprised how much it costs to look this cheap. Dolly Parton, queen
Concealers are like undergarments. They make you feel taller and thinner. Bobbi Brown, makeup artist
If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams. And you will always look lovely. Roald Dahl, children’s book author
Whether I’m wearing lots of makeup or no makeup, I’m the same person inside. Lady Gaga, pop star
Happiness is the best makeup. Drew Barrymore, adorable celebrity and creator of Flower cosmetics
Glitter is my makeup of choice. Ke$ha, glitter lover
That’s why I began doing makeup in the first place: I was hoping that through helping people see the beauty in themselves, I could try and find it in me. Kevyn Aucoin, celebrity makeup artist
Treat your makeup like jewelry for the face. Francois Nars, creator of NARS cosmetics
Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical. Sophia Loren, icon
Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick and get yourself together. Elizabeth Taylor, legendary beauty
