The Ten Beauty Commandments

One of my reliable sources for beauty advice is Paula Begoun. She is often referred to as the "cosmetics cop." Although I don't always agree with everything she says, I find her viewpoint refreshing, and above all else--honest!

I recently stumbled across her 10 Beauty Commandments and found that I agree with most of them. Here they are, let me know what you think!

THOU SHALT NOT believe expensive cosmetics are better than inexpensive cosmetics.

THOU SHALT NOT believe there is any such thing as a natural cosmetic (or that natural means better).

THOU SHALT NOT believe in miracle ingredients that can cure skin-care woes.

THOU SHALT NOT covet thy neighbor’s perfect skin (or believe her perfect skin came from a particular product or cosmetics line; skin is more complicated than that).

THOU SHALT NOT believe everything a cosmetics salesperson tells you.

THOU SHALT NOT believe in the existence of wrinkle-eliminating, firming, toning, lifting, or filling-in creams, lotions, or masks that can permanently erase wrinkles. Aging skin can become firmer and more resistant to future signs of aging with the right products, but even those aren’t going to get rid of wrinkles or replace what cosmetic surgery or cosmetic corrective procedures can do.

THOU SHALT NOT be seduced by every new promotion, new product, or new product line that the cosmetics industry creates.

THOU SHALT NOT get a tan; sun is your enemy, not your friend; it is the primary reason that skin wrinkles and develops skin cancer (and it isn’t just about getting a sunburn—turning the skin brown is equally as damaging when done on a regular basis).

THOU SHALT NOT buy a cellulite cream, nor shalt thou assume it’s possible to dissolve fat from the outside in, because you absolutely cannot. If these products worked, who would have cellulite?

THOU SHALT NOT see pictures of pubescent, anorexic models (who spend two hours getting their hair and makeup done and another two hours posing while the photographer and a corps of assistants determine the most flattering lighting, after which the resulting picture goes through a battery of digitally enhanced touch-ups and adjustments) and believe you will get the same (or even similar) results from using the products being advertised. That is, unless you happen to be pubescent, anorexic, and a model and can somehow stay in the right lighting all the time.

Amen, Sister!

And just to add a few of my own personal mantras:

1. The best anti-aging cream on the market is a daily sunscreen.

2. Cosmetics should be fun. It is a new lipstick color, not a freaking tattoo! Try something different, play around, if it doesn't work out, take it off!

3. I'm sorry, but there is no such thing as being a "winter" so I can only wear cool tones, or being a "Fall" so I can only wear warm tones, and blah blah blah! Most people, no matter what their skin looks like--can wear a variety of tones that will look good on them.