“Korean schools were strict about inspectinghands, so my mom taught me to keep themsoft—soak in hot water, scrub with a cloth,lots of Vaseline, and gloves overnight. We didthat together every night with my sister—it was our girls’ bonding moment, our ritual.”
—JIN SOON CHOI, MANICURIST AND FOUNDER OF JINSOON NAIL CARE AND JINSOON SPAS“My mother always told me that I was nat-
urally beautiful, but I didn’t appreciate it
until I was older. [She’d say,] ‘Enjoy your
youthful beauty. Don’t wear makeup until
you’re older, when you need it.’ As a teen,
my peers came to school with full-face
[makeup]—while I only had ChapStick. I
was a late bloomer. However, looking
back, I’m grateful for my mother’s advice.
I know, for sure, not wearing makeup until
my 20s helped preserve my skin texture. I
can still go out with no makeup [in my
30s] and feel confident because makeup
isn’t my security blanket. It’s like a pair of
heels—it gives me a boost. But give me
sneakers any day, and I’m good to go.”
—MICHELLE PHAN, FOUNDER OF EM COSMETICS“My mother raised four
daughters and instilled
a sense of self-worth in
us that went beyond
appearance. I always felt
loved by my family and
developed a skill early on
to rely on my personality
and sense of humor above
all else. She really had
a way of making me feel
beautiful on the inside,
which has shaped me as
an adult and given me
the confidence to pursue
my personal, professional,
and philanthropic goals.
The traditional definition
of beauty fades over
time, but personality and
empathy for others is
what sticks for the long
run. To be rooted in that
from the get-go is
something I am infinitely
grateful to her for, and
something that I will
work hard to teach by
example for my son.”
—EVA LONGORIA, ACTRESS
AND SPOKESPERSON
FOR L’ORÉAL PARIS“As soon as I was ready to wear makeup, my mom let me.
She was such a glam girl. She always used to say that if
you have a good outfit, a pair of high heels, and lipstick,
you can fool anyone into thinking you’re glamorous. There
are Christmas cards where I was, like, eight years old
wearing dark purple lipstick. As long as I was being nice, as
long as I was using my manners, my mom encouraged me.
I’d cut up my shirts and turn them into ankle bracelets and
she’d say, ‘That’s so cool, Jaclyn; that’s so innovative.’ I’ve
never met a better mom than mine.” —JACLYN HILL, YOUTUBER
“Maybe it’s a French thing, but my mom was very adamant
about always being presentable, no matter what. Around 16,
I had low self-esteem; it was difficult for me to look in the
mirror and think, Hey, I’m cute today. I was annoyed that my
mom would push me to make an effort—to put on lipstick,
perfume, to change my outfit. My mom was very elegant—it
wasn’t about a lot of makeup, but instead knowing exactly
what to wear. That’s stayed with me and really helped me.
Three grams of mascara and red lipstick give me a feeling
of femininity and self-respect. My grandmother wore the
same cherry-red lipstick every day, year after year. I watched
her put it on, and it had a certain smell I can still remember.
When I put on red lipstick now, it’s a love gesture—I think
of my grandmother, and I feel good and extra feminine.”
—LAURA MERCIER, MAKEUP ARTIST AND FOUNDER OF LAURA MERCIER
BEAUTY WISDOM
Michelle PhanEva Longoria