Doing what I do means reading a lot of magazines and I am constantly bombarded with the plastic perfection of models advertising products to enhance your features.  Trust me, that mascara is NOT going to give you 3ft long eyelashes.  The cream from the middle of the Dead Sea is NOT going to give you the flawless skin pictured; even the models skin doesn’t really look like this.  The glossy lipstick sported by the pouting beauty is NOT going to look like this on your lips for more than 2 minutes.

I think it is important that we realise beauty is so much more than how it is portrayed by the media and perceived by the reader. Being beautiful isn’t just about how you look.  Looks are transient, real beauty is what lies beneath.

Here’s what I think beauty is:

•  Being kind and compassionate is beautiful.
•  Opening your heart to someone is beautiful.
• The old man and woman walking hand in hand down the street is beautiful.
• Beauty can be found in the vulnerability and fear that lies behind an arrogant mask.
• Saying something romantic or thoughtful to another.
• Giving your time to someone.
• Achieving or striving for your dreams.
• Saying sorry.
• Making someone feel important or cared for.
• Making someone laugh or smile.