The Beauty of Mothers

Christy Coleman's mother and grandmother standing by the Red River.

The Beauty of Mothers

The Merit of Mothers: How Moms Shape Our Vision of Beauty

Before the beauty magazines, Goop, and Pinterest, the definition of beauty was shown to us by our mothers. Often, our concept of beauty starts as little girls, meticulously watching over how our mothers brush their hair, apply lipstick, or dab dollops of cold cream onto their skin.

I’ve built an entire career around beauty and it all stemmed from my lifelong fascination with makeup and transformation. There comes a moment in life when we reevaluate the traditional definition of beauty and learn that it transcends appearances. Beauty lies within one’s ability to handle adversity with grace and remain resilient. True beauty lies in the ability to be confident and embrace freckles, wrinkles, scars, and all the markers of ourselves that stand before us when all the fancy foundation, blush, and mascara have been removed.

My grandmother and mother were equally influential in my beauty journey. They both shared sage advice that I still use to this day. Here are a few beauty tips that are as timeless as they are helpful:

One: NEVER sleep in your makeup!

Two: No need to use a cleanser in the morning after awakening; a warm washcloth is all you need.

Three: A beauty routine can do wonders for your mood.

Four: Never over wash your hair. My grandmother was an early adopter of Psssst, the original dry shampoo.

Christy's Mother and Grandmother at the Red River.
My Grandmother and Mother

“A consistent beauty routine has the power to activate self love.”  -CC

Moms: The Original Self-Love Gurus

Mothers are often the first to encourage self-love, teaching us to appreciate our unique characteristics from a young age. They convey the importance of recognizing that beauty comes in various shapes, sizes, colors, and features. By embracing their own beauty, mothers demonstrate the importance of accepting oneself wholly.

Both my mother and grandmother kept an active beauty routine. My mom’s beauty must-have was her L’Oréal lipstick in Golden Peach. As for my grandmother, the matriarch of the family, her beauty routine would begin on Saturday evenings before church. She used a small black comb to cut the deep side part of her hair and applied Dippity-Do to set it, along with bobby pins to secure her pin curls to her silver cut while she slept.

To take care of her weathered farm skin, she would apply Ponds cold cream after a hard day’s work. My grandmother took me to the Merle Norman store to teach me about makeup and the importance of skincare, while my mother sent me to Elizabeth Arden’s The Red Door event.

Motherly Grace Through Life’s Fires

Perhaps one of the most remarkable traits we learn from our mothers is grace. Whether through maintaining a poised demeanor, treating people with respect, or standing tall in our beliefs, the elegance we inherit from our mothers undoubtedly contributes to our understanding of beauty. When life rears its challenges, it’s our mothers who we call–even as adults. They teach us to hold our heads high and keep calm and carry on even when it’s hard to crack a smile. 

Our mothers’ influence on our relationship with beauty is immense, shaping not just our self-perceptions but also the way we navigate the world. By loving themselves and encouraging us to love ourselves in return, they are instrumental in creating a healthier and more accepting view of beauty. This Mother’s Day, let’s honor and appreciate our mothers and grandmothers, the original beauty influencers.
xx
-CC

P.S. What beauty secrets have you learned from mothers in your life? I’d love to know. Send me your thoughts. 

“It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” –Maya Angelou

 

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