Biblical Beauty: Making It Practical - Style, Make-Up and Hair

          Okay, so it is kind of coincidental that I am writing about keeping up your appearance because I am currently sitting on the couch recovering from getting my wisdom teeth removed.  This means that my face is swollen and make-upless. I am am wearing sports clothes and my hair is wet and undone.  Kynzie, my 3 year old sister, has a greater desire than I do today to get in the groove of making biblical beauty practical.  She has only taken my lip balm and applied it at least four different times this morning! And some say God doesn't have a sense of humor.  Whether I am setting you an example today or not, it is my hope that you will be encouraged through this post as we get to the practical and specific ways of handling physical beauty. 


Style and Fashion
     Awhile ago I was really struggling with beauty so I went to one of the women in our church, who sets a wonderful example of biblical beauty. One of her encouragements to me was to develop my own style.  In our fashion obsessed society, I think young woman often feel overwhelmed with trying to keep everything just right.  We don't allow ourselves the freedom to enjoy being a young woman because of our distraction with perfection. Consequently I would like to encourage you to let it go and enjoy who God has made you to be as a young woman.  Enjoy the freedom He has given you in the area of dress!!! Develop your own style and have fun. (Yes, I just used the idea of  fashion and fun in the same sentence.  It is actually possible if your goal is not to impress those around you but to focus on the One who gives us the freedom to demonstrate His beauty! What a gift!)

Here are some outfits I found online that I liked and thought might get your mental gears turning!

Modern Flare

Sophisticated Cowgirl:)

Yes, you can wear jeans and be modest!

Retro but still modest and cute.

Make - Up:

     Is it a sin to wear make up??? I am not sure I can point to chapter and verse, but I am pretty sure that make-up is not forbidden in scripture.  Actually, the reverse might be true for some, it is a sin not to wear make-up:)  As my dad says, "If the barn needs painting, then paint it!"  Again, the greater issue is your heart.

      One of the God-honoring purposes of make-up is that it highlights your face.  As the center of your countenance and beauty, it allows the attention of those around you to be drawn to you as a person instead of to your body.  Our face should be the most attractive part of our body! 

      Instead of using make-up to change who we are, the motive for applying make-up should be to accent and enhance the natural beauty that God has given us.  Now before we get any further let me just say one word, moderation. Often times, young ladies can get a little carried away when it comes to application. Here are some examples:

Instead of highlighting, this is distracting.

 

Uh..overkill???

Okay, this is NOT what you call accenting.

      

 Here are some pointers for choosing make-up that will accent and not distract. 

• Choose colors/shades that complement your skin tone and eye color
• Go lighter, not darker
• Error on the side on minimalistic, not eccentric

I get all of my make up from Redeeming Beauty.

This lady runs a wonderful business while offering all natural beauty products and promoting beauty that is more than skin deep!  I would really encourage you to check out her website.

http://www.redeemingbeautyminerals.com

Hair

     I tend to be the quick, throw all my hair up in a pony tail, type.  However, my sister, Ellyn, does a wonderful job taking care of her hair by spending some time each day styling it.  As she joyfully creates unique styles with her hair, she has encouraged me to do the same.  In 1 Corinthians 11:15, we see that a woman's hair is her glory; it's a unique gift that God has given to his female creations. Shouldn't we take some time to invest in it??? Here are some helpful tools I have found when it comes to quick, easy but still cute hair-dos!

www.cutegirlshairstyles.com
I love this website!!! They have so many fun hair styles with easy to follow instructional videos.  You have to check it out!

Goody Spin Pins: Great for quick, easy buns!

I also enjoy keeping simple hair accessories and styling tools on hand. Here are some suggestions.

• Pony tails
• Head bands
• Bobby Pins
• Clip in flowers
• Flexi - Clips http://www.lillarose.biz/gullettgirls

* My friends use their lillarose business to help support their adoption. Check out their site above to see some of the wonderful hair accessories they offer!!!

Flexi Clip

Addressing vs. Obsessing
     We have been given a great opportunity to take time each day to steward and invest in the beauty that God has given us.  While I am encouraging you to address the beauty that God has given you by taking each morning to invest in it, I am not encouraging you to obsess about it.  When our entire existence starts to revolve around how we look, we have misplaced the goal of beauty.  When we spend more time in front of the mirror than in God's word, we have forgotten what is most important.
    As I explained in a previous article, beauty has to be balanced.  So what is a good balance?  I would encourage you to make it your goal to spend 2x more time in God's Word than in front of the mirror.  Investing in building inner beauty should always have a higher priority in our lives than the outer beauty. Seek after what is most important.

Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training(or beauty) is of some value, 

godliness is of  value in every way, as it holds promise for the

 present life and also for the life to come.

1 Timothy 4:7-8