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The Beauty Blueprint: How to Really Feel Beautiful Inside and Out

how to feel beautifulWhen I first heard about The Beauty Blueprint: 8 Steps to Building the Life and Look of Your Dreams, I honestly thought it would be a stretch to write about for FBG. Sure, we’re all about building your life so that you feel your best, but beauty? Well, we’re not much into that in the traditional mascara, eyeliner, blush sense. In fact, the closest we really come to “beauty” is a post-gym beauty routine where you do your best to not look like a hot, sweaty mess.

But yet, I went ahead and got a review copy because something about the cover image resonated with me. Just look at that chick. Sure, she’s pretty and has impeccable eye make-up, but she just looks glowy. And oh-so peaceful. I want twinkly stars like that around me, too! So off I went, readyto get my beauty blueprint—and soft glow.

Written by Michelle Phillips, a celebrity make-up artist and life coach, this is a beauty book, but it’s like no other beauty book that you’ve ever read. In fact, there’s not one diagram or drawing on how to pencil your eyebrows. Instead, it’s filled with inspiration, examples and exercises to help you get in touch with the beauty you have within. With chapters that build on each other, it’s a full self-help personal discovery plan that involves everything from positive affirmations to dream boards to setting intentions and to discovering what you really value and want out of life. And then, once you’ve figured all that out (and that takes the majority of the book), you can get your shop and make-up on because you know what style you’re going for because you’ve figured out, in a sense, who you are and who you want to continue being. The “beauty” part of what to wear and how to wear it is almost like the cherry on top of a dessert that was already freakin’ delicious to begin with.

I know you’ve heard the cliches that beauty is really on the inside and that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but, dude, Michelle lays out a comprehensive plan that shows that how we feel about ourselves really is the key to developing and appreciating our outer beauty. She then shows you how to honor that, hone it and make it even more beautiful and awesome. It’s very much like how we at FBG value exercise and eating right as a way to take care of yourself and love yourself, which leads to a happier, more fulfilled and authentic life. The Beauty Blueprint? Well, I’d call it a Life Blueprint.

Do you want to read The Beauty Blueprint? (You should!) Leave a comment below telling us what beauty you see in yourself when you look in the mirror, and we’ll select one random U.S. reader to win a copy. Mirror, mirror, on the wall… —Jenn

FTC disclosure: We often receive products from companies to review. All thoughts and opinions are always entirely our own. Unless otherwise stated, we have received no compensation for our review and the content is purely editorial. Affiliate links may be included. If you purchase something through one of those links we may receive a small commission. Thanks for your support!

Comments

30 Comments
  1. Erin says:

    I see beauty in my strength. I have been through a lot in my life and I am still standing.

  2. D says:

    I think I look the best with no makeup on and just a little bit of moisturizer and some lip balm. At 38 3/4 (yes only a little ways away from 39) if I can still look in the mirror and think I look pretty darn good at my age, I’m a happy girl. I do like makeup but I find I wear less of it as I age, my grandmother didn’t have a lot of wrinkles and I feel it has a lot to do with not constantly pancaking on the makeup. So during a daily routine I keep the makeup to a minimum (blush, zit cover up, lip balm and mascara) and only really go all out with eye shadow etc. for special occasions and when running around in town and doing errands, I wear no makeup and I drink at minimum 80 oz of water a day, which I think is the key to great skin.

  3. Kristen says:

    My beauty comes from my love. I feel like I’m here to love people – my family, my friends, my community. I try to live accordingly, since that’s what makes me feel happy.

  4. Jeannette Provencio says:

    I feel the prettiest fresh out of the shower..shiny face and wet hair! And maybe a little when my cute little boys tell me they like it when I wear red lipstick 🙂

  5. Danielle says:

    My beauty comes from my eyes. They are, after all, the windows to the soul.

  6. Natalie says:

    Sounds like exactly what I need these days…would love to win it, since my budget is very limited … 🙂

  7. Courtney says:

    When I look in the mirror I see a girl/woman who is stronger than I ever imagined. I see that I’ve lost 50 lbs in the last year, who proved that I could work and sweat like I never have before to become a healthier me. I can see that my 30’s are going to be my most beautiful years because I’m learning who I am and can accept that although I’m not perfect, I’m still damn beautiful.

  8. Kate says:

    I see beauty in my perserverance…a job search is tough but I’m sticking with it and applying to three jobs a week, minimum!

  9. Lauren says:

    I have very kind and telling eyes- they hide nothing. I think sometimes a look is all it takes to express love, and I find that beautiful in other people as well.

  10. Michelle T. says:

    My eyes are my most beautiful feature, followed closely by my toned bicepts and fit bottom 🙂

  11. Debbie says:

    I faced a big birthday last month (better than I expected) and now I see wisdom along with maturity when I look in the mirror.

  12. Mia says:

    Where do I see beauty? In my eyes and smile. A smile helps everyone show beauty!

  13. ike says:

    The most beautiful things I see in my mirror are acceptance and love of the reflection that lives there. <3

  14. I agree that true beauty comes from the inside…but I do love my makeup too 🙂 I think if you are confident in yourself and your body it will come through in your style and the way you carry yourself. Beauty isn’t about all sporting the same blowout style and smokey eyes, its about embracing yourself.

  15. Katie says:

    When I look in the mirror the beauty I see is the exhaustion lines and bags under my eyes from being a first time mother and getting little to no sleep… I see yesterdays makeup and I see the strength I surprisingly have every day <3 I can see how hard I work at being a mom, a wife and my own personal trainer!

  16. Judy says:

    When I look into the mirror, I see my new reality staring me in the face. I recently became unemployed for the first time ever, at age 56, and so afraid of starting the job hunt, which news stories will convince you is filled with rejection. I’m now facing a 3rd rotator cuff repair surgery–all on the right shoulder–a week from today, so that will postpone my employment opportunities for a while. But, when I turn sideways and look into the mirror, I’m now seeing the on-my-way-to-being-healthier self, having gone from a size 24 jeans to size 16 after losing 40 lbs. The Body Mass Index chart shows I’m now only 11 lbs. away from being “Overweight” for my height, rather than “Obese”, for the first time in 21 years! This new me takes some getting used to, and I can use all the help I can get!

  17. Cat says:

    Beauty is taking what life gives you and smiling at it despite its difficulties. It is not letting others define you, but defining yourself. It’s about not only accepting who you are but embracing it no matter what society may say. These are all things I’ve learned to do with my life.

  18. Sarah says:

    When I look into the mirror, I see passion, strength, and curiosity. I have lived in a comfortable, but yet not always happy shell. In the last few weeks, I have reached goals that I thought were never possible. For example, I ran for 22 minutes straight and I didn’t give up. I have started peeling back some of those protective layers and finding new things about myself. I have started believing that I am beautiful and I don’t need other people to tell me that as long as I believe it myself!

  19. Sharon says:

    I see beauty in my smile. When I smile, it reflects how I feel inside and out and helps me to remember that my cup is half full, not half empty.

  20. Lauren says:

    I look in the mirror and automatically smile. It’s not what I see that makes me happy, but thinking about all of the good things (i.e. people) that I have to appreciate in my life.

  21. Cheryl says:

    Honestly, I see nothing beautiful at all.

  22. Lauren says:

    I see beauty in my smile.

  23. Tammy says:

    I see beauty in my desire to continuously grow….I’m an ever evolving beautiful mess! 🙂

  24. Sharon says:

    My smile, it’s almost always there & people I haven’t seen in a long time often tell me they remember my smile.

  25. Molly says:

    I definitely need this book. I don’t like looking in the mirror 🙁

  26. The beauty I see in myself when I look in the mirror is my strength – it shows in my eyes, my chin, my shoulders, and biceps. Sometimes it really shows when I have sweat on my brow from a tough workout or weight training. With this flush of my skin, I am most beautiful of all.

  27. Jenn says:

    Comment #12 Mia wins it! Emailing you now to get your mailing address. 🙂 Thanks to all who entered!

    –FBG Jenn

  28. Cindy Reams says:

    I sooo need this!

  29. Andrea M. says:

    Wow! another interesting book that I’d love to read. True beauty really comes from the inside and how you feel about yourself.

  30. Carlea F says:

    When I look in the mirror I see a woman who has tanned a little too much, overindulged a little too much, and has worked a little too much. When I close my eyes, I see strength, serenity, and goodness, and then I know that life is beautiful.

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