Kristen McMenamy, 44 year-old mother of four. via Harper’s Bazaar, Sept. 2009Supernatural: Supermodels Without Makeup | Peter Lindberg | Harper’s Bazaar Sept 2009

There’s a trend emerging, especially around the authentic values of Smart Sensuality women, that says I am beautiful as I am. The point is not to forsake makeup and enhancing our image, but to also claim our authentic, natural beauty in an advertising and media world gone Photoshop crazy.

Even the world’s most beautiful women, become caricatures of themselves, in the hands of an art director or plastic surgeon.

When I had my first botox and “filler” treatment on my face, I asked my doctor to stop saying “perfect”, when she finished.

“Leslie,” I said, ” this is dangerous psychological territory for me. I understand you’re proud of your good work, but what happens the day I can’t afford botox. I’m an aging woman and I’m not pursuing perfection here.”

“Am I ‘imperfect’ the day I can’t afford you?”

Cindy Crawford, 43, protects hers, as well as her complexion with Meaningful Beauty, the skin-care line she created with Jean-Louis Sebagh, a Paris-based cosmetic doctor. via Harper’s Bazaar, Sept. 2009Suffering at the hands of the economy, right along with everyone else, I could not justify spending so much money on anti-aging treatments. About 18 months ago, I decided to face the woman in the mirror again — cold turkey.

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