© Lauren DiMarco

Beauty is about perception, not about make-up. I think the beginning of all beauty is knowing and liking oneself. You can’t put on make-up, or dress yourself, or do your hair with any sort of fun or joy if you’re doing it from a position of correction. – Kevyn Aucoin

I spotted a construction sign that read, Beautification in progress. Thank you for your patience! Although I know we are in a constant state of beautification both inside and out, I thought it would be a good idea to make a similar sign to carry with me when I go about my activities of daily living. It could explain, for example, why I do not look my best when I roll out of bed and dash into Starbucks at 6:30 for my morning latte in track pants and a T-shirt, tousled hair, and no make-up.

I remember an Oprah makeover segment in which Gayle King discussed the woes of being single.  She confessed that on Sunday mornings she, too, ran in for coffee and a newspaper in her tracksuit without benefit of makeup or coiffed hair. Oprah and her makeover expert exchanged knowing glances and said, “That’s why you’re still single.” Gayle retorted that if she ran into a potential date, she would simply say, “this isn’t what I really look like!” With a sign, she wouldn’t have had to say a word…