How to Look Like “The Girl Next Door”: 5 Simple Steps to Achieving Ultimate, All “Natural” Sex Appeal

We can’t help but love (and hate) the girl next door.  She’s perfect.  She has that whole naturally gorgeous thing going for her – bright eyes, glowing skin - an effortless beauty that is oh, SO sexy…. Okay. Reality check. Nine out of ten of those “naturally” gorgeous women are faking it.  The fact is it usually takes a lot of effort to look as if you are making no effort at all.  Lucky for you, we’ve developed an easy 5-step plan for achieving this sexy look in record time.

{Pictured Above: Kate Upton, Photo Courtesy of Google Images}

STEP 1 – Exfoliate

The KEY to a flawless face is flawless skin and the key to flawless skin is exfoliation.  While there are many great exfoliating cleansers on the market, nothing can beat the smoothing effects of an electronic facial brush.  Yes, the newer, less expensive versions work just as well as the original.  First, splash skin with warm water, then spread a nickel-sized amount of facial cleanser from hairline to collarbone with your fingertips. After setting the speed of the facial brush to a gentle scrub move it slowly across your face and neck (focusing on problem areas like the corners of the nose and mouth) for about 2 minutes (note: if the bristles feel abrasive, lower the speed). Finally, rinse with cool water and wipe face with a wet washcloth to ensure a smooth clean finish.  

STEP 2 – Protect & Moisturize

Once your skin is clean and dry it is imperative to apply an ample amount of sunscreen and moisturizer (even if your skin is oily!).  There are many lotions on the market that include an SPF, but most do not provide enough protection form UVA and UVB rays (SPF 30 or more is recommended for basic, everyday sun exposure).  As such, separate products are often your best bet.  Apply a non-greasy sunscreen first - waiting at least 5 minutes to let everything sink in - then apply your moisturizer. 

STEP 3 – Conceal

If you know how to use your concealer, you will never need to wear a full face of foundation ever again.  The secret is to begin covering imperfections BEFORE your lotion has completely set in – while skin is still moist.  Make sure that the product you are using is full-coverage and as close to your natural skin color as possible.  For best results, use your ring finger to dab small amounts of concealer onto problem areas, pressing into the skin with a quick tapping motion.  Continue to layer and blend until the desired coverage has been achieved.

STEP 4 – Accentuate The Positive

Using a bronzing powder that is no more than shade and a half darker than your natural skin tone, lightly dust bronzer across your hairline, jaw line and just below your cheek bones - as well as over any areas that you covered with concealer.  If your cheeks are naturally rosy, skip the blush.  If not, look for a hue that mimics your own when flesh when flushed and apply only to the apples of your cheeks.  Finally, using your fingers again, dab a highlighting cream onto the inner corners of your eyelids, beneath the arch of your eyebrows, along your cheekbones and just above the bow of your upper lip – making sure to blend well.

STEP 5 – The Finishing Touch

By now you have successfully managed to create the perfect “no make-up” palate, but even the most minimalistic of women are known to swipe on a some mascara and pucker up to bit of lip balm before leaving the house. To complete your girl next door look, cover your eyelids in a neutral shimmering shadow.  Coat your lashes (top only) with a dual purpose mascara and perfect your pout with a tinted balm

Get The Look With These Products:

Olay Professional ProX Facial Brush, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen, Make-Up Forever Full Cover Concealer, Nars Blush in Orgasm, Nars Illuminator in Copacabana, MAC All That Glitter’s Eye Shadow, L’Oreal Original Voluminous Mascara and Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

The Face of Beauty

(Photo Courtesy of Google Images}

People Magazine recently named Gwyneth Paltrow “The Worlds Most Beautiful Woman” in an issue dated April 4, 2013.   Given the massive amount of backlash the magazine received for having made this assessment, it is safe to assume the old adage still stands: Beauty is (indeed) in the eye of the beholder.  That being said, there are other factors which, standing apart from personal preference, play a significant role in how we as a society define beauty.  These factors are known as trends.

In much the same way as the fashion industry, the beauty industry is a revolving door of trends - constantly changing and imposing upon our perception of what is beautiful.  Every decade brings about new a new challenge that we either revolt against (think 1960’s hippie chic and free love) or find opportunity in (the working women and power suits of the 1980’s), resulting in an inevitable shift in how we, as women, wish to be perceived. The women we idolize as having successfully lived-up to the challenge by portraying themselves in a manner that is congruent to the current shift in trends become the new faces of beauty...at least for a given decade.

Over the past five decades, beauty trends have come and gone and, on occasion, have come back again.  With every transition, the image we hold in our heads of the ideal woman has been tweaked and the woman we long to look more like changes.  The following women represent this evolution of beauty.

Farrah Fawcett – 1970’s

{Photo Courtesy of Google Images}

There was an effortlessness that accompanied the beauty of the 70s – at least during daylight hours.  Still reeling from the hippie phase of the late 60’s, a slender frame accentuated with slight curves and a sun-kissed glow was the sought after look.  Farrah perfected it all.

Michelle Pfieffer – 1980’s

{Photo Courtesy of Google Images} 

The women of the 80’s wanted it all.  It was no longer enough to be slim, women needed to be toned as well. Strong, natural brows accompanied by shocking make up shades and overdone hair were common place, but the women that could remove it all and still demand our attention stood out above the crowd.  Insert, Michelle Pfiefer.

Cindy Crawford and Kate Moss – 1990’s

{Photos Courtesy of Google Images} 

The 90’s were the decade of the super model.  Cindy Crawford, a gorgeous brunette with a strong, athletic and curvy build represented what most women (and men) perceived at the time as absolute perfection.  However, there was also another beauty trend on the rise.  The desire to be fit was slowly being replaced with a desire to be extremely thin.  Kate Moss, a waifish blonde beauty was a pioneer of this dangerous beauty ideal.

Angelina Jolie – 2000’s

{Photo Courtesy of Google Images} 

The beginning of a new era pushed everything to the limits.  Long legs, thin arms, impossibly slight frames and voluptuous breasts were all equally coveted.  However, the reality was that apart from a select few such as Angelina Jolie, the majority of women could never attain such a radical perception of beauty without pricey enhancements.  Hence, this decade also saw a large rise in the number of women opting for cosmetic surgery.

Beyoncé – Today

{Photo Courtesy of Google Images} 

While most women today still would prefer a smaller waistline, there seems to be a much greater emphasis on the importance of overall health in terms of beauty.  Such may be why People chose Gwyneth Paltrow as this year’s Most Beautiful.  Here new book “It’s All Good” boasts about the benefits of a lifestyle that excludes itself from anything which may be considered harmful to ones body – meat, sugar, sun – you name it, its out! However, a more agreeable selection would likely be last year’s chart topper, Beyoncé. Her incredibly toned physic, noticeable curves, glowing skin and seemingly well-rounded lifestyle are without question the new face of beauty.*

*This article was featured in the July 2013 issue of Bello Mag and may also be viewed here: http://issuu.com/outnext/docs/bello48/125?e=1159494/3878518