Audrey Hepburn herself openly admitted that she had no definite secrets other than “health, lots of sleep, lots of fresh air, and a lot of help from Estee Lauder.” Coming from an era when plastic surgery was a far cry from the being prominent and when weight loss pills were not as proliferated as they are now, she could be heralded as an example of a truly “classic beauty.” While it may be more difficult to attain that level of beauty in today's world, like Hepburn herself, some beauty secrets are timeless.
The first bit of advice, and perhaps among the oldest, is to get adequate sleep. Sleep is necessary because the skin repairs and replenishes itself fastest while one is asleep. An adequate amount of sleep can also help prevent the formation of several possible blemishes on the skin. The amount of time that the eyes are rested during sleep are also critical to keeping them both in good shape and looking good for the camera. Also, with the right state of mind, sleep can also serve as effective stress relief.
In an age when make-up is the norm and the cosmetics industry is raking in millions a day, it seems like an anathema to tell someone to “go bare.” However, it is actually a good idea to go out without any make-up on. Certain formulas of make-up can interact with the skin and cause problems due to build-up of the particles in the pores. Other chemicals can also have side effects that are able to wreak havoc on the overall health and appearance of the skin. It is a good idea to leave the skin bare of any chemical methods of enhancement, and maybe even “natural” cosmetics. This gives the time to “breathe,” so to speak. Besides, in many places, relying only on your natural beauty turn more heads than make-up can.
A third piece of advice would be to avoid putting too much stress on yourself about your looks. This does not mean you can go eat yourself silly every day just because you're using weight loss pills. It doesn't mean you have an excuse not to eat anything but “rabbit food” in small quantities for life, either. The trick here lies in balancing both aspects out, with consideration being paid to your metabolism and health. For example, people with faster metabolisms can get away with eating more, while people who burn food slower may want to either lessen the intake or engage in more physical activity.
Tension and stress can often be the bane of anyone attempting to look beautiful because such things tend to show clearly on the person. It is important not only for your physical appearance but also your mental health would have need of it. Getting rid of all the stress and anxiety that builds over time can do wonders for keeping your skin clear and your face glowing.
Overall, it can be argued that Audrey Hepburn innately understood that the greatest secret to beauty is to not let your flaws limit you. This even includes the flaws that nobody but you can see and the ones that you're imagining you have. She always felt she was could be any number of things, from being to tall to being too short. Yet, she did not let that get in the way of her confidence and she probably unknowingly propelled her name and image into the status of an icon. Women may never be able to reach that level again without the aid of science, but with the right lifestyle and little touches here and there, they can at least come damn close.
