Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority

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Chapter One

what is beauty?

We live in a world full of beauty. Sometimes it stares you directly in the face; other times, it's a little harder to find. But one thing is clear: Beauty means something different to everyone. Sephora's insiders each have their own unique, inspiring, and creative ways of defining beauty. Some of their ideas may even change your definition.

Jerrod Blandino, founder of too faced:
"Beauty is confidence and a kick-ass style that's unique to you. It's about reinventing yourself throughout life. Don't stop at pretty—go for gorgeous all the time. Life isn't a dress rehearsal."

Carol Shaw, founder of lorac:
"You're as beautiful as you feel. Feeling beautiful in your own skin is true beauty, and that shines through. When you think you're beautiful, that's all that matters. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, says, does, or looks like. That's why makeup exists, to help women enhance their own beauty. Even just taking five minutes in the morning to put on a little blush and a little mascara will help you have a better day."

Dr. Fredric Brandt, founder of dr. brandt skin care:
"Beauty is the best version of you that YOU can be. If you start comparing yourself to actresses or models, there's always going to be somebody who looks better than you. Besides, you don't even know what they really look like in real life! Just concentrate on having the healthiest skin that you can have."

Karen Behnke, founder of juice beauty:
"Beauty is about being passionate in whatever you do—family,life, work. Passion makes people beautiful."

Anthony Sosnick, founder of anthony logistics:
"Beauty means looking good and feeling good about yourself. One of the joys of being in this business is hearing 'thank you for making this product, it made me feel better about myself.' I think skin care is even better than clothing, because it's at your core."

Lisa Price, founder of carol's daughter:
"Beauty is by nature. By that I mean that beauty is inherent in every single person. It's not something you can put on or take off."

Sean "Diddy" Combs, founder of sean john:
"I believe beauty takes many shapes and forms. Beauty, to me, is confidence in who you are and what you believe in. When you're true to your own personal style, you can't help but exude a certain coolness and self-assurance. That's where true beauty lies: in the ability to be confident, to express your own individuality, and to strive to be the best you can be. Oh—and women, all women are beautiful!"

Dr. Howard Murad, founder of murad:
"Someone who is immediately welcoming, someone who makes you feel comfortable—that's a beautiful person. You have to take a whole-body approach to beauty. Many of my patients think that their skin is a separate organ, but it's not—it's connected by blood vessels to the heart, the liver, and the brain, so if any of those parts are damaged, then your skin will be damaged. That's why eating well, exercising, and wearing sunscreen are all so important."

Frédéric Fekkai, owner of frédéric fekkai salons and founder of fekkai hair care:
"Chassez le naturel, il revient au galop! The English translation is: if you chase the natural, it will come back full gallop, meaning don't fight who you are or what you look like—just work with it."

Hana Zalzal, founder of cargo cosmetics:
"Beauty is loving who you are, embracing the way you look, and continuing to make the most of both with a great haircut, neat brows, and some makeup basics. Makeup should be your servant, not your master. It should allow you to play, create, and evolve—it's a great tool for self-expression. Makeup is not permanent, so have fun with it!"

Maureen Kelly, creator of tarte:
"Beauty comes in all sizes and ages—it's an attitude! It's more than just about looking like a model or a movie star. It's about feeling your best, believing in yourself, and having the emotion to translate through your facial expressions and body movements."

Cristina Carlino, founder of philosophy:
"Beauty is as beauty does. We're remembered not by what we looked like, but how we behaved and changed the lives of others."

Dany Sanz, creator of make up for ever:
"Beauty can be bold or natural, but it always has to be in harmony with the individual."

Wende Zomnir, creator of urban decay:
"Beauty is a true expression of who you are. The coolest girls I know are never the ones with the prettiest faces or the best bodies; they're the ones with their own unique style and look. They are the ones who are true to who they are."

Jean Ford, cofounder of benefit:
"Beauty is a state of mind. What's beautiful to one person isn't necessarily to another. Beauty stops you in your tracks. Engages your eyes. Away from the ordinary, to the extraordinary."

Laura Geller, founder of laura geller makeup:
"Beauty means to me that a woman should grow into herself every year. To stop fighting the law of gravity—it's our birthright to look and feel good about ourselves in a way that we can control. A sixty-year-old woman who has never gone under the knife, but is enhanced because she wears her makeup correctly, looks so much more beautiful than a woman who's been pulled, lifted, and injected."

Ole Henriksen, founder of ole henriksen:
"Beauty means taking pride in caring for your appearance. Focus on eating deliciously healthy foods, take time to practice a fitness routine that energizes and strengthens your body, and don't forget to recharge your batteries and spend quality time with family and loved ones."

Sue Devitt of sue devitt studio cosmetics:
"Beauty starts internally. You have to eat healthfully, do yoga to stretch your body, Pilates to strengthen your core, and cardio to burn fat. Another important factor is to make time for yourself—choose some healthy things that make you feel great and do them for yourself."