It is entirely true that every single person is beautiful in their own way.  Some people may argue with me and try to use a certain standard of beauty to justify their case, however, I believe that standards of beauty can be just plain ridiculous.  Everyone really does have their own beauty.

Of course for some reason many of us cannot get that through our thick skulls, myself included.  There are times when we feel like we must conform to other people’s standards of beauty, and to do so we sometimes are putting ourselves at risk of getting hurt, injuring our bodies, and worse.  

It is something that I call risky beauty.  Things that people, especially women, do to fit into a certain standard of beauty.  It is sad that we feel the need to do some of these things, yet we do.

• Over tanning.  By now it is not new news to know that tanning out in the sun or in a tanning bed without protective sunblocks can contribute to the risk of skin cancer.  Skin cancer is very serious, and it can even turn deadly!  So why do we have a need to feel tan?  Why does being tan make us feel pretty?
• Plastic surgery, fillers, altering bodies.  Now, I am not telling you that I completely disagree with plastic surgeries.  I think that there are needs for them in people’s lives.  But there are people who take it too far, opting for five or more altering surgeries in their life.  It is sad that someone would feel the need to change that much.
• Excessive exercise.  Most of the time you only hear about how people need to exercise more.  Well, there are cases where people who exercise too much to try and achieve a certain body.  Too much exercise can fatigue a person, weaken the immune system and cause other issues.  On top of that, most people who over-exercise do not consume enough calories to support it all.
• Eating disorders.  Like over-exercisers, people with eating disorders are trying to attain a certain body.  The things is that most who battle with bulimia and anorexia also have psychological underlying issues.  Eating disorders are incredibly serious and can lead to death.

All of the above things can become deadly, and it is scary to think that society’s standards of beauty lead so many into feeling like they must find a way to conform. The secret to beauty isn’t hard! Get tons of sleep on your full mattress, exercise, and eat well!

I have a challenge for you and for me, let’s try to focus on being happy in our own skin.  We can eat healthy and exercise to feel good, play with our hair and makeup, and buy cute clothes, but let’s not take it too far.  It just isn’t healthy.

Going for a natural, smooth look with your makeup can take years off your complexion if you are a woman of a certain age, or help preserve your youthful skin if you haven’t had to deal with that battle yet.  Overdone makeup can be hideous looking, and yet not wearing just enough can leave your skin looking dry and your face washed out, especially eyes and lips.  You can, however, be fully “made up” and have it look so natural that people will notice you, not the products you’re wearing on your face.  That is what you really want, so let’s find out how.

On New Mexico TV during a break from studying for final exams, I was surfing around and found this very helpful instructional video on YouTube, by a girl who has mastered the art of applying fresh, natural looking makeup.  Take a tip from her, and enjoy practicing these techniques on your own for that unbelievably natural look that will have people thinking you’re so naturally beautiful you must not need makeup at all.

I love ringing in the New Year for many reasons. It is fun to celebrate the year that is passing and to get ready and bring in the new one with a big bang. I also love getting dolled up and enjoying a party or two that night. When attending some fun New Years festivities you never have to worry if you are too dressed up or if your makeup is too much. You do not even have to debate about whether to go for a subtle hairstyle or something fun. Fun is always the New Years choice.

New Years parties are reason enough for you to find something with serious sparkle and grab some of your hottest shoes to create an eye catching and glamorous outfit.  Hair and makeup should be flirty and if you wanted to try something new like a bold lip color or smokey eye, there is no better time than that night.

The image below shows how to create an adorable vintage vixen hairstyle.  Thank you to The Beauty Department.  They recommended the look for a Halloween do, but I think it is too cute to pass up this New Years.  I will be rocking a sequined dress, so a flapper-esque hairstyle will compliment it just perfectly.

It would look cute on absolutely anyone!  Give it a try this New Years and let me know how much you love it!

I constantly have the urge to change up my hair style, whether it’s a new color or chopping off a few inches to create a whole new look.  But all of the fashionable updates don’t come cheap. It is hard to spread out your budget properly to incorporate seasonal fashion, nail care, tanning and hair maintenance so sometimes we wind up giving up something we love.  Not anymore!  If you are dying for a new hairdo but don’t want to drop the cash for a visit to the salon, try cutting your own bangs at home to give your locks an edgy new attitude.  This can be an intimidating task, but with the right tools and advice, you’ll be able to show off your new look to your friends in no time.  You may have seen hairstylists on  Dish Network specials or other shows who make cutting bangs look easy, but don’t get frustrated!  You can make it happen!

Are women in America so insecure about their personal appearance that plastic surgery has become as common as treatment for more serious health issues like infections, diseases, and broken bones?  If the infographic below is any indicator, then the answer would seem to be a growing and resounding “yes.”  It is probably due to the impossible to live up to image that many women feel is imposed on them by popular media, the need to be “perfect,” and to try every means at one’s disposal to mask as many signs of natural aging as humanly possible.  

There are more important things to spend money on, like adt security for example, and yet, priorities are out of whack. For many women who are uncomfortable with their appearance and easily swayed by standards imposed by a small group of entertainment industry elites, plastic surgery has become one factor about themselves they feel they have some control over — and more and more women around the United States are making cosmetic surgery a priority.  What do you think about it all?  Would you sacrifice everything to look unnaturally young?  Check out the cities where most of it is going on, and what procedures are the most popular.

Being healthy is something that I take very seriously.  After years of being at unhealthy weights from eating disorders, I finally found the help that I needed to understand that my weight did not matter overall.  My health was most important, and when I was too thin or too big I was not healthy.   Now I know what I put inside of my body makes a difference and how I treat my body will help to keep me looking good and feeling great for the rest of my life.  One thing that I started doing earlier this year was adding in supplements and vitamins for both my health and beauty routines.  I have noticed that my immune system has been stronger and so has my hair and nails.  I am even using skincare with added vitamins and I have to say that my face has never looked better.  If you want to start your own routine with vitamins, then make sure to talk to a health care professional first.  Otherwise look into some of these vitamins and products so you can take care of yourself inside and outside.

Vitamin K – I have fluctuated weight so much in my life that I had some pretty nasty stretch marks to prove it.  Vitamin K is my wonder vitamin because it has helped to fade my marks.  It even has lightened some of my acne scarring on my back.  Look for creams with vitamin K in them to get the benefits of this vitamin.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids – Okay the words fatty acids sound really gross, I know.  I have been taking krill supplements and I have seen a difference in my hair and my nails.  On top of those things that I can see, studies have shown that omega 3s can be beneficial for your heart and raising good cholesterol levels too.

Vitamin D – One of my favorite ways to get in some vitamin D is to go for a walk outside.  If that is not possible, I take a supplement.  Vitamin D has helped my immune system to get back on track and it even helps your body to absorb calcium which is perfect to help protect against osteoporosis.

Overall I am so excited about all of the benefits I have experienced thanks to vitamins and supplements.  Being beautiful isn’t just about looking good, it is about being healthy too.

Sunday night as I was preparing for the week at home, I decided I would do some research and watch the Emmy Awards red carpet.  Typically I’m not a fan because it leaves a bad taste in my mouth seeing little stick women in gorgeous gowns that I could never in my life wear.  When I turned the channel I was instantly greeted with an image of an incredible women with a real figure.  Christina Hendricks from Mad Men was there looking at the photographers flaunting her gorgeous curves in a dress that was far from simple and modest.  Avast, she was not the only womanly woman strutting her stuff on the red carpet, oh no!  Amber Riley, Melissa McCarthy, Sofia Vergara, and more showed off their beautiful bodies and I could not have been happier.

Christina Hendricks wore a Johanna Johnson dress and Louboutin shoes.  I love how she simply sparkles all over.  This dress is true glamour.

Amber Riley looks fabulous in this lavender Simon Taghdiri dress.  Actually, hold that, she looks more than fabulous.  She looks remarkable, stunning, and just plain hot.  I love her look.

Sofia Vergara donned a Vera Wang gown in an incredible coral color.  She always looks so put together, and the Emmys was no different.  I cannot believe the woman is 39!

Melissa McCarthy, who I will admit made me cry a bit when she won, wore a self-designed dress in purple.  That is a dress that I can see many typical girls wearing, and I love that about it.

What were your favorite fashions from the 2011 Emmys?  Were you as excited as I was about the fact that there seemed to be more love for the curvy girls?  Hopefully this is something that will stay around.  I know that some women are naturally thin, but let’s be honest the above women are more of a fair comparison to typical women in the world, and as long as someone is healthy there is no need to force him or her to be thin.

Here at Perlfect, you know that we love you just the way you are.  If you are a healthy and happy woman, then you have every right to embrace that no matter if you are a size 2 or 12.  There is no reason that women should have to feel bad about their weight when they are living a healthy lifestyle and not endangering themselves.

Sadly, there are many people, media outlets, and especially clothing designers that do not show this same belief.  In today’s world even though most women are not shaped like sticks, it seems that the smaller sized women are embraced and celebrated.  Why?  Should we not stand together as women who are certainly not flawless but still amazing in our own rights?  Perlfect thinks that we definitely should.  So, women let’s stop climbing on the scales and fretting over the pounds.  If you are a healthy woman, if you are any size, if you know that you are loved, then stand up!  Celebrate your life and your health, and please, quit worrying about reaching a certain weight.

I found this video from a couple of years ago that features the plus size model Crystal Renn talking about her journey in the crazy modeling industry and even her challenge to lose 10 inches off of her hips.  She learned to love her body and herself.  We should all try to do the same.

If you are like me, then mornings and getting ready to head out the door can be such a whirlwind.  Some mornings I may not even have enough time to get through my whole routine before I am forced to run out the door like a mad woman to make it to work on time.  This past weekend though was date night for me and my special guy, so of course I made sure that I had plenty of time to do my entire beauty routine and make sure that all my lashes were perfectly lengthened and my eyebrows were neatly plucked and so on.

With all that time to play in my makeup bag and apply all my makeup, I got to thinking about makeup in general and how long have ladies like myself been using little makeup tips and tricks to play up their natural features and beauty.  I mean I usually do not ponder over such deep thoughts, but it really did get me thinking.  With that being the case, it could only mean one thing, to Google I went in search of makeup secrets of the past.  Much to my excitement and wonderment, I did find something fun worth sharing, so take a gander here at the History of Makeup.

I simply cannot express to you all how excited I am that summer is here!  I mean time by the pool, cute pedicures, and fun and flirty clothes are a few of my favorite things, and summertime is the best time for all of those things.  The only thing that I tend to dislike about the glorious warm weather and sweet sunshine is I am a big time sweater.  I sweat more than necessary in my opinion, so I have to keep my hair up and off my neck for all things.  My long locks get sad and disappointed if they have to be stuck in a boring ponytail everyday, so I found some cute styles that everyone should try wearing this summer for all sorts of occasions.  Check it out!

Fishtail Braid – Perfect for:  beach or pool, a picnic, a day of lounging around.

This braid looks like you spent forever intricately weaving your hair, but it is so easy.  A brief lesson on how to do the fishtail braid:  1) separate your hair into two equal amounts, 2) take a small gathering from one of the sections and cross it over the middle to add to the opposite section, 3) do the same with the other section.  After you have “criss-crossed” the strands to the end, tie it off with an elastic band.  I prefer a messier and playful look, so I usually soften it up and make it looser.  I also like to wear mine on the side so I don’t seem too uptight.

Sleek Ponytail – Perfect for:  working, shopping, family events

I know I mentioned the ponytail earlier in a negative light, but that’s only when it is an everyday go to look, plus a sleek ponytail is just so chic!  To get a shiny and frizz free ponytail, use some glossing serum on your locks after blow drying.  I like a little height with mine, so I insert the end of a parting comb at the crown of my head and give it a pull up to get some height.  Another good idea is to take some hair from the bottom of the ponytail and wrap it around the elastic band and keep it in place with a bobby pin.  Instant sassy!

Messy Updo – Perfect for:  a date, late nights

I love, love, love the messy updo.  It’s a look that is so easy to do and looks great on absolutely everyone.  Before applying make up when I am getting ready, I put in hot rollers to get some curl and volume.  Once make up is done and some lounging, I take out the rollers and spray with a medium hold hairspray.  After the spray has dried and the curls have cooled, I turn my head upside down and shake through the curls with my hands.  All I do after that is put in a low pony tail and bobby pin the hair into a look that says simple yet fun.