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Four Transformations That Show the Beauty of Embracing a More Natural Look

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Four Transformations That Show the Beauty of Embracing a More Natural Look featured image
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This article first appeared in the Fall 2021 issue of New Beauty. Click here to subscribe

Natural beauty is always in, but now more than ever. Think dewy, glowy skin instead of baked-on foundation; clear brow gel swapped for thick, carved out eyebrows; and subtle tweaks in place of a heavy hand. Paring down means going back to basics, using a light touch, and for one of our subjects, even an interactive video poll where viewers vote on every single step of your makeunder. Here, four real stories on how scaling back can make the biggest impact.

Modern Millennial

The Makeunder: Hair and Makeup

“Does this eyeliner and side part age me? Please be honest, but not mean,” asked 42-year-old Alessandra Montoni (@alezandra79) on TikTok, a platform known for its bluntness. The mom of two felt her routine hair and makeup were starting to age her. “I’ve worn bold, black eyeliner for more than 15 years, but then I began admiring Gen Z’s fresh faces using minimal makeup, light fluffy brows and glowing skin. On a whim, I asked the world what they thought about my ‘look.’”

In addition to updating her hair part, eye makeup and how she applied blush, followers urged her to trust the process. “Forget the wrinkle creams, taking off my heavy, bottom liner took 10 years off. Using a light, matte eyeshadow instead of sparkles actually brightens my eyes. I now use a lighter brow pen to create hair-like strokes instead of coloring them in. To be honest, it’s still a challenge, but I’m practicing. It also makes getting ready a lot quicker, and as a busy mom, I am thankful for any extra time I can get back.”

The End Result:
“Makeup should be fun and add to your confidence,” says Montoni. “It should accent your features, not take away from them. Try being open minded. Although it’s not easy, it’s worth it to come out of your comfort zone every once in a while and try something new.”

Baywatch to Bombshell

The Makeunder: Implant Exchange

For Eva T., who recently turned 50, the breast implants she had placed when she was younger no longer reflected her personal style. “They didn’t feel sexy to me anymore, and I’m not the only one. Many of us in our 40s and 50s who got implants 20 years ago are embarrassed to go to the beach with our grown children because we have Baywatch boobs. They made me feel like I was trying to look 20, when I wasn’t. I wanted something more ‘age appropriate.’ Not to say that 50-year-old women can’t have large, round implants, but they just didn’t feel the same.”

As she aged and her breast tissue got thinner, the rippling around her implants had become more obvious. “I felt really insecure, but I didn’t want to have my implants removed.” Instead, San Diego plastic surgeon Joseph L. Grzeskiewicz, MD performed an implant swap and a nonsurgical breast lift. He replaced Eva’s round implants with teardrop-shaped ones and performed BodyTite radio-frequency skin tightening to tighten lax skin.

The End Result:
“A few months after surgery, I had the opportunity to wear my swimsuit for the first time and I’ve never felt better,” she says. “I want to give hope to women who have implants they don’t like anymore so they know they can look natural again, too. I finally got my confidence back, just in time for my 50th birthday.”

Face Forward

The Makeunder: Dissolving Filler

When Jamee V. visited New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD, it had been more than two years since she’d had filler injected into her tear troughs, cheeks and nasolabial folds with another doctor. “Although she wasn’t my original injector, she advised me to not get any more filler, as it appeared that my treatment had not fully absorbed the way it was supposed to in the 12-to-18-month time frame,” Jamee explains.

Although she was satisfied with her original results, over time she noticed her face looked fuller and her eyes looked smaller. “You could really see it in photos. I already have high cheekbones, and the filler had migrated above them. I looked swollen and unnatural.”

After a few years, Jamee decided to have Dr. Day correct her cheeks using hyaluronidase, an injectable enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid. “I had two sessions to dissolve the filler,” she says. “I had an immediate improvement after the first session, but to make sure we got it all, I had another session within six weeks. My eyes even looked wider right away.” Dr. Day also placed a small amount of Sculptra Aesthetic in her temples to offset the overall fullness of her cheeks and restore balance to her face.

The End Result:
“It’s subtle, but it makes the biggest difference in the world. I feel like myself again and look much younger. If you’re unhappy with your results, I would recommend doing something about it. I’m so glad there was a way to reverse it so I didn’t have to look puffy forever.”

Mouth-to-Mouth

The Makeunder: A Revision Lip Lift

After a poorly done lip lift surgery, this 41-year-old patient was left with an over-pronounced Cupid’s bow and scarring along her nose and philtrum. Feeling that the results made her appear unnatural, she sought Delray Beach, FL facial plastic surgeon Miguel Mascaró, MD for a revision procedure. “Lip lifts are not easy and require a skilled, experienced surgeon,” Dr. Mascaró says. “This is not a forgiving area. It’s not like a tummy tuck where you can cover a bad scar with a tattoo or a T-shirt.”

The End Result:
To correct the over-lifted top lip and poor lateral roll, I performed a revision lip lift with lateral muscle suspension, along with a corner lift,” says Dr. Mascaró. Reconstruction of the Cupid’s bow and philtrum gave her a result that looked more like her natural lips.

Effortless Effects

These standouts will help you achieve that “I woke up like this,” minimalist glow.

1 / 4

GloWish by Huda Beauty Multidew Skin Tint ($37) has moisturizing ingredients and light, second-skin coverage for natural-looking radiance.

2 / 4

SkinCeuticals Advanced Scar Control ($110) uses 0.5-percent allantoin, which smooths skin and reduces the look of scars and redness.

3 / 4

Use Doll10 The OverARCHiever Multi-Dimensional Volume Powder for Brows & Hair ($36) to fluff, shape and fill in sparse brows and hair strands.

4 / 4

Utilizing peptides and vitamin B5, M-61 Skincare Hydraboost Lip Treatment ($20) helps to nourish and soften lips while minimizing pesky vertical lines.

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