I’ve often struggled personally with that tiny little line that divides art and vanity. I’ve been a makeup artist for 8 years, and a makeup lover for much longer than that and while I get that makeup has been around since the time of the Egyptians, it doesn’t change the fact that it has now gotten to a level where everyone knows someone that uses it on a daily basis. I have friends that won’t wear a stitch of it unless they’re going out and friends that won’t leave home without something on their face.That’s where the fine line comes in. How do you teach your daughter about the self esteem, confidence and female empowerment that comes from within and at the same time about how outer beauty ultimately makes you feel good on the inside?There’s no denying it, you have one of those days when you’re a bit down or stressed, you throw on a little mascara, some gloss, a killer outfit and instantly you feel lifted. Your daughter sees this and starts to make the connection with how important your outer appearance is to how you feel on the inside. And there’s nothing wrong with that, if, she can also see you feeling good in your natural state. While I love makeup & fashion probably more than most, I do think it’s important to take a break from time to time. I recently had a conversation with a co-worker where we discussed how important it is to give your skin a break from makeup at least once a week. I think this is a great practice for everyone to work into their lives. Your daughter has to be able to see you feeling confident and your best with or without makeup. There is nothing wrong with wanting to look your best, but it shouldn’t be what defines you.I was so intrigued watching a recent episode of “Live with Kelly & Michael” where Kelly lost a bet with Michael and she had to go a day live on air without a stitch of makeup. I think, as most of us watching did, that she looked fantastic. I’m glad she was brave enough to follow through on the bet.

It’s important to talk to your daughters about why you wear makeup, how it affects you and it’s good for her to see you taking pride in your appearance, but at the same time it’s important for her to see that there is more to life than how you look on the outside. In this day and age with the endless barrage of duck-face selfies, she is going to need to see you taking care of your inner beauty just as much as your outer beauty. It’s never too early to teach them about yoga, meditation and nutrition (and work these things into your own daily life!). Let’s face it, makeup & fashion aren’t going away anytime soon, so it’s important to open up an ongoing dialogue with your daughters about inner & outer beauty and finding a balance between both.