“Nobody’s Into Beauty Anymore”? Seems no one told Vanity Fair, whose September issue muscled its 398-pages into my mailbox! This aside, I think your prediction is dead-on. If we’re lucky, we’ll also see a surge in the readership of publications which feature “radiance, peace of mind and authenticity”. Good for all of us. In the linked article, my favorite was this: “The new Willow Stream Spa… uses cacao, papaya, honey, lime and cornmeal for body wraps…” Yum yum! How can their lunch menu top that?>

With war and terror now top-of-mind globally,collectively we are much more cognizant of our own mortality. I think an emphasis on the quality of life has overshadowed (to an extent) the drive for acquisition and the mere appearance of outward beauty and allure. I think culture-by-culture we are becoming more aware of our true-selves, sans 6-pack abs, beautiful hair and perfectly applied make-up. Hurray, beauty-by-nature is making a come back!>

I believe that there is just too much hunger, oppression, hatred, prejudice and greed in this world that makes “beauty skin deep” seem SO disdainful and shallow to say the least. While I like looking my best and as pretty as the next girl, there seems too little time to be concerned about that! If we all just stopped for a few minutes a day, we could concentrate on how we could help make our earth most beautiful with cleaner air, stopping global warming right in our own homes and rallying for peace and the end of hunger around the world instead of war and power. Just think of the radiant beauty then. Think of the smiles on people’s faces that come in natural colors and shapes. Imagine the smiles on children’s faces who are no longer hungry. Now that’s REAL BEAUTY!>

Nancy, Your statement says it all. And just think what a warm, caring smile could do for someone who needs a friend. For a child who only needs love or an elder person with no one to care. Just a simple smile could brighten up their day and show us all a glimpse of heaven. And would make us all beautiful the way makeup could not.>

What great comments. Makes me feel at home here. Does this mean that I can stop coloring my hair and give up worrying about a breast cancer re- occurrence because of toxins in the coloring agent?>

Hi Myrna and others ~ The older I get, the more I yearn to go back to just the basics of living – breathing in fresh air and being as natural as I can. To me, it’s a relief to live life this way. To keep up with minute-by-minute innovations that come on the market is taxing, confusing, and when you think about it, comical. Life is not about appearances; it’s about the action of living life to the fullest and being just who God created, minus the hair coloring, finger/toenail polish, botox injections, etc. I’d much prefer that we look beyond outer appearances and get to see the beauty that resides inside everyone. All this artificial beauty is just that – artificial and vain(Vanity Fair).>

Beauty is not only skin deep. It encompasses one’s entire being. In order to love others, you must first love yourself. It’s difficult to give if you are filled with self-loathing, fear and anger. I think artificial beauty has it’s place. It can be fun and boost one’s own confidence. Our appearance conveys our respect for ourselves and others. When appearance replaces character, love of others and good judgement, it crosses the line. Unfortunately appearance and beauty worshippers often find that they really have shallow and empty lives even though they are “beautiful”, because they have forgotten that part of beauty which is the soul. So if you ever get too cocky about your looks, remember that when we die, so do our looks, but our souls are forever! Maureen103>