10 Time-Hallowed, Recession-Proof Tips For Beautification

For many women, the cost of beautification has grown staggering. Each consecutive year ushers in a series of must-do rituals; every month the beauty industry seems to find an elusive patch of face that requires yet another specific product.

For years, we've been open-minded to the most implausible crèmes, gels, and scrubs; we've subjected ourselves to countless painful and often gross procedures.

And in doing so, the American woman has spent herself silly.

But now: the economy's in the toilet, and impending: an even darker economic forecast. Bonuses are meager, hiring freezes at many corporations are du rigeur.

Suddenly the $250 oxygen facial or that nose job/boob job/knee job doesn't seem so necessary after all. The $2,000 spent each year on Botox has more urgent uses.

A recently-published survey of the luxury industry predicts that consumers will cut their luxury spending nearly in half during 2008, including "experimental luxuries" such as spa treatments and the like.

Well, here is my silver-lining present to you: a list of simple, time-hallowed, recession-proof tips about how to look your most beautiful and age gracefully, without the barrage of hideously pricey products to which we've become accustomed. Think of these tips as long-term investments that will yield dividends for years to come.

Culled from a variety of sources -- from old etiquette manuals to advice dispensed from Hollywood's Old Guard - they have little to do with cosmetics, and everything to do with self-awareness and common sense.

Many are deceptive in their simplicity. But don't forget that glamour's ultimate icon, Greta Garbo - long lauded by plastic surgeons for embodying facial perfection - reportedly had the simplest beauty arsenal of all: "a single toothbrush, a comb missing several teeth, and half a bar of Lux soap." Which means that there must have been other tricks to the trade.

The ones that follow will serve you long after the dollar makes its comeback.

* * *

1. Soften your face's default expression.

If you saw a video of yourself sitting at your computer or watching television, you'd probably be surprised by how rigidly you hold your face. Make a concerted effort to soften your expression, since over the years your face will carve itself along those lines.

As Coco Chanel once said, "Nature gives you the face you have at twenty. Life shapes the face you have at thirty. But at fifty you get the face you deserve."

Decide that you deserve a better face and give it long-term natural uplift.

2. The easiest-fix: stand tall.

Many women have horrid and slatternly posture. And it's not good enough to have a straight back while sitting down; be aware of your posture when you're standing as well. Yoga 101 can teach you how to arch up from the bottom of your spine, stomach tucked in, shoulders back. You'll improve your circulation, appear taller, and project a life-long air of regality - which is something you can't buy in any ecomony.

Former Vogue editor Diana Vreeland used to keep a bolster cushion on her office chair right behind her bottom, which forced her to sit as upright as a West Point cadet.

3. Cross your legs at the ankle instead of the knee.

It makes your legs look thinner, especially in photos. Jackie O discovered this early in life, and nine times out of ten, in seated photos, that's precisely how she's sitting. And you just can't argue with Jackie.

See - who needs expensive spinning classes?

4. And on that note, nude shoes elongate your legs.

This is advice from the owner of the most famous gams of the 20th century: Marlene Dietrich. "Your legs look longer when the color of your shoes doesn't act like a stop sign," she said.

PS - she also added: "White shoes make your feet look large and fat."

You can take that one or leave it.

5. Throw away the drinking straw.

We all know that if you want to send your looks straight to hell, you'll take up smoking. All of the chemical atrocities aside, even the sucking gesture your mouth makes help to cleave those beastly lines into your upper lip.

Well, sucking on a drinking straw also promotes those wrinkles around your mouth. Not to mention that it looks jejune, and not in a charming way.

6. Slumber on a silk pillowcase.

Which will reduce wrinkles - and therefore keep you from blowing $300 on a jar of skin caviar.

Bigelow pharmacy in New York City sells these pillowcases for a quarter of that price, and they only grow softer with age.

If you need inspiration on this point, don't forget that Marilyn Monroe preserved herself rather nicely for years, sleeping only in silk sheets and Chanel no. 5.

7. It's called Beauty Sleep for a reason.

When asked to advise the next generation of New York socialites, Grande Dame Nan Kemper told them to entertain constantly, be themselves, but most importantly: "get tons of sleep."

With our over-wired schedules, this prescription is probably the biggest challenge for most of us - and likely the one with the biggest pay-off.

8. Defy gravity.
Most American women are wearing the wrong bra size, which will only lead to aesthetic tragedy later in life. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: make an appointment with a good lingerie department and get yourself outfitted.

It's a necessity, not a luxury, for God's sake.

9. The smartest accessory: a hat.
Estee Lauder reportedly told her granddaughters that they should never leave the house without wearing a hat. "You only get one face," she told them. "Protect it."

Happily, you can honor her wisdom and memory without even visiting one of her ubiquitous cosmetics counters.

Here's a variety of hats from Forever 21, all for $13 or less.

A bonus: a hat will protect and prolong your haircolor too.

10. Chin up.

Not just to maintain a chipper attitude in a bad economic climate - but because a raised chin makes your jawline appear more taut. A well-known Joan Crawford technique, especially in photos.

And: much cheaper and less painful than a facelift.

Follow Lesley M. M. Blume on Twitter: www.twitter.com/lesleymmblume

Comments

[LoRiseAntlers]

hahahahaha.

Forget the liberal values,fol­ks,HuffPo'­s all for the objectification of women!

[tchristin]

How about practicing generosity,kindness and honesty in your daily life? No amount of beauty product, botox or article of clothing can make a woman more beautiful than strength of character and grace.

[AdultFilmLegend]

A good Brazilian wax can take 10 years off, too.

[QueenCeleste]

Henna is an inexpensive (and chemical free) alternative to hair dye. And you can easily apply it yourself. It comes in several colors and gives tresses a lovely shine.

And I agree completely with sleep. A study recently came out saying that sleep is even more important than exercise for health and long life. As a sufferer of insomnia, I know how precious it is.

(Lesley, I have one small bone to pick with you. You write beautifully, so I was thus a little surprised to see the word "butt" in the posture segment. How about "derriere" or even "bottom?" Sorry if this sounds silly!)

[lmmb]

Queen Celeste!! You are absolutely RIGHT. DV would not approve at ALL. I'll make the change immediately.

[NicoleAnonymous]

I hope you realize that the woman in the picture you have about buying cheap shoes is wearing a pair of $1000 Christian Louboutin pumps - you can tell by the red sole. I just thought you might want to know...

[lmmb]

Duh. Thanks for the recap from Fashion 101.
Note: I never urged anyone to buy cheap shoes. One should never do that, even when your pocketbook is slim. As Dietrich herself said, "don't say that you can't afford something of good quality. Save up for it."
Thanks for your astute reading.

[Redheadedwoman]

It's all about the shoes (and the watch, if you still wear one). Don't cheap out on either one.

[isis126]

My last comment was deleted, so I will try this again. Would Jackie Kennedy have responded to a post with "Duh?" The best beauty tip is to start by being beautiful in acts, deeds, and words. Nothing is more beautiful than kindess and class on the lips (or in this case, on the fingertips).

[NicoleAnonymous]

You said this:

"here is my silver-lining present to you: a list of simple, time-hallowed, recession-proof tips without the barrage of hideously pricey products to which we've become accustomed."

Maybe I'm just not that smart but when someone says they're not including "hideously pricy products" than I assume that won't include $1,000 shoes on the list.

I agree with you about having pumps in a neutral color but Aldo sells a pair of pumps that look exactly like those Christian Louboutin and they're less than $50.

[brooklyncitizen]

THe number one thig which was not mentioned at all is nutrition. This seriously cannot be overstated; consuming lots of leafy greens, lemon juice, sweet potatoes, and seaweed (for beautiful hair) contribute to a glowing complexion. Simply eat lots of raw food.

We've been sold on having to add things to our lives to maintain beauty and age gracefully but we really just need to edit lots of stuff: drinking is just bad for your skin, and smoking even worse. THen there are allergies; I recently discovered a food allergy to dairy and cheese in particular. After a lifetime of clear complexion I've begun to "break-out" and the culprit? cheese. IT is definitelvely out of my diet.

I won't mention exercise it's already been noted by previous posters as a must.

[kendra]

aaahh!!!

"Y-O-U-T-H-F-U-L"

sorry

[kendra]

Exercise! Exercise! Exercise!

Can't believe this wasn't mentioned.

#1 way to keep your body youthfulI, & it's free.

[shrugged]

#9 is very smart. Add, stay away from a tanning booth. They destroy your skin and shorten your life.

[falco]

I have a good idea, and it is way cheaper. Why not tout the benefits of just growing old gracefully? Why not change the image of beauty to one of what a person acts like instead of what a person looks like? Why demonize getting old? Ask yourself, why do you want to make your legs look longer? What, so some man will think you are just wonderful and hot? Do you really want that kind of man, one who is going to go for the girl with the longest legs? Don't fall for the illusion that youth and beauty are what you should strive for. You set up that kind of standard for yourself and attract men of the same ilk, you are setting yourself up for heartache since once you get older, this same man will drop you on your head for a younger prettier model. Or maybe trade you in right now for one who has longer legs. See through it ladies. Don't fall for the crap the media wants you to swallow - that you need work, that you are not ok just the way you are. They like us all to be insecure and have a distorted perception of ourselves. It's a trick.

[SusanRen]

I got to agree with you here. The girl that cuts my hair that is rapidly going silver grey wants to color my hair. My mother says it will make me look younger. I love the color of my hair. I hate to see women that dye there hair either too dark or blonde as they get older. I exercise at a gym almost daily and always have men flirting with me and I'm in my mid 50s. One old man told me with a smile that I have the body of a young girl. What a great compliment that was. Anyway youth is a state of mind and not the state of how you cross your legs. Besides Jackie Kennedy had skinny bandy legs. So much for that.

[shag11]

Please, please, please have nice feet when ya wear open toed shoes. Nothing looks worse than ugly feet. A face I can deal with, da feet; Oh hell naw.

[AmandaRuth]

Most people, like 95% either grind their teeth in their sleep, or clench thier jaw when stressed. Try to be aware of this, and relax your jaw. This is one reason older women have jowls. Seriously.

a sleep gaurd or jaw gaurd or whatever it is called is covered by most insurance plans, and makes all the difference in the world.

[NoCalDrummer]

And for gosh sakes, get a little exercise. Walking a couple of blocks a day does wonders for the legs, the buttocks, the belly, and your sexlife. (which can be good exercise too). Just ask the men in San Francisco - hiking up & down those hills gives you a much better body than sitting at home watching the soaps.

Oh, and toss out that last french fry or two to the pigeons - THEY'LL get the clogged arteries instead of you. Plus the entertainment of watching them will lift your spirits.

[GoodNews]

Here's another one Lesley: Exfoliate!

For less than $1 a box, baking soda mixed with just enough water to create a paste, is an inexpensive soft scrub that takes years off your face. I also use it for rough knees and elbows and any other body part that needs a good buffing!

[dadw5boys]

Read up on Botox ladies.

They said people who took drugs that block acetylcholine -- a chemical messenger in the nervous system critical for memory -- functioned less well than their peers.

Please check it out before your memory starts to fade.