Spring has definitely sprung. Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming and love is in the air. So why is it so easy to admire the many different bouquets of the seasons bounty, yet it’s so darned hard to admire the many splendored differences in ourselves? I say enough! And so do the good folks at Health.com in an April 2011 article entitled “The New Look of Natural” who look at the latest trend of embracing the individual traits that make each of us the uniquely beautiful creatures that we are.

After all, isn’t it high time we stop covering that sprinkling of freckles, straightening out those glorious natural curls or plucking our brows into oblivion?

According to Eva Scrivo, an NYC salon owner and author of Eva Scrivo on Beauty, “Looking imperfect is in because it shows off what makes us individuals and unique.” She also points out another big perk when it comes to going au natural: when you work with, as opposed to against, your own gorgeous features, you get better and more beautiful results.



We understand it’s a big step. After years of bleaching, plucking, flattening and masking in order to achieve that perfect editorial airbrushed appearance, how do you convince your over-active psyche that it’s better (dare I say best) to flaunt the imperfections that make you the perfect one-of-a-kind work of art that you are?

We suggest a little emboldened embellishing so you don’t feel like you’ve completely let yourself go, and when the compliments start flying at you… you’re psyche will soon get on board. Here are a few suggestions from author Ilana Blitzer:

Instead of caking a heavy foundation on over your freckles, call to mind the ageless beauty of Julianne Moore, Sienna Miller and Giselle Bunchen – all members of the sun-kissed club.

“Freckles make you look youthful – in a good way,” say’s be-freckled NYC makeup artist Susan Katz proudly, while suggesting using a tinted moisturizer instead of a full-coverage foundation, to allow your sweet spots to shine through. Katz also suggests a light dusting of peach-colored blush across the cheekbones, and even a glistening highlighter for a fresh, spotlighted look to put your freckles center stage.

Another step towards the au natural movement could be the mega-step of putting aside your flattening iron and blow-dryer and allowing your natural sexy waves and springy curls to do their own thing. “Almost all of us have some natural wave in our hair,” Scrivo claims, and to encourage your own mane’s coils simply skip the daily washing, which can rob your hair of moisture, and instead shampoo every other day. (Using a lightweight conditioner and a cool water rinse will help control the oil on those off days.) By laying off the blow-dryer, raking your fingers through wet hair to separate curls, and letting your locks air dry you’ll encourage your natural waves to naturally fall into it’s own sexy spirals or waves. Scrivo also recommends regular hair trims and a drop of moisturizing curl cream to seal the ends and prevent breakage and frizz.



It’s unusual for a natural feature to become a trend in-and-of-itself, but the brows have done it. The fashion week runways were literally rife with beautiful brows-run-wild. The low-maintenance arches of model after model after model, and actresses Sofia Vergara and Anne Hathaway are bonafide proof that plucking is passé.

Malynda Vigliotti (a.k.a. Boom Boom) of the Boom Boom Brow Bar in New York City is currently taking the less-is-more approach when it comes to over-the-eye fringe. “Brows look their best when you stick to your natural shape.” She suggests putting away the magnifying mirror and focusing on the little strays that you can see naturally. “While you’re looking into a regular mirror, snag only the stragglers that lie clearly above and below the lines of the natural brow.” And if you’ve already over-tweezed, fill in any sparse areas with a little brow powder while staying as close to your natural hair color as possible. Voila! Gorgeous, natural, well-groomed brows.

'til Next Time!