WE wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes

– Paul Lawrence Dunbar

Last week my best friend and I hosted our first mini-makeup party. We invited women who had been asking me about helping them with makeup, along with a few other women who dropped by. But before I even got into MAC and Urban Decay, shadows and brushes, I made one declarative statement. “If you don’t feel comfortable in your own skin, WITHOUT makeup, then you should leave right now because this party isn’t for you.” Of course I was being dramatic, but my central thought was sincere. True beauty comes from WITHIN. The most beautiful makeup will do nothing for an ugly personality. Now, can makeup help you feel better about your appearance? Absolutely!! I attended a formal function a few months ago and rocked my first real black smoky eye. And yes, I looked in the mirror, grinned from ear to ear and said, “Girl you betta WORK!”

I feel sorry for women who feel they must cover their natural beauty with a mask of makeup. What encouraged the women last week was not some transformation from plain-Jane to glamour, but how each model’s face was enhanced with a few simple strokes of color and artistic shading.

Ladies, don’t fall for the makeup okie doke. Don’t get me wrong…I love a good “beat” face like the next woman But what I love more is seeing healthy, naturally sun-kissed skin radiating a glow of self-confidence and self-love, whether bare-faced or with a ‘pop’ of color! Be beautiful…be healthy…be YOU!