UNFADING: The Search for Beauty and the Discovery of Identity.
- Feb 19
- 3 min read
By Deborah Rutherford
Author, Poet & Emmy Award-Winning Makeup Artist
In my years as a professional makeup artist on movie sets, I sat inches away from the most "beautiful" women in the world. Yet, behind the scenes, many were deeply insecure. They had bought into the common myth that radiance is a destination reached through products, procedures, and wellness rituals.
As a woman of faith, this spoke volumes to me. I realized that true radiance isn’t a product of self-improvement, but a reflection of internal peace. When we focus solely on the mirror, we inevitably fall into the traps of comparison and dissatisfaction—a path that plagued my youth and led to a fractured sense of self.
Worth Over Perfection
When we ground our identity in a higher truth, we transform beauty from a source of anxiety into a celebration of craftsmanship. My perspective shifted when I stopped looking for flaws and started looking at the Creator. I realized that a woman’s beauty doesn't come from her features, but from her inherent value as someone created by God.
We must retire the myth that "flaws" are problems to be fixed. The beauty industry thrives by convincing us we are broken so they can sell us the "fix." But you were never broken; you are a masterpiece. When I live in this identity, I carry a confidence that outshines anything I could manufacture on my own. It is when I focus on this inner foundation that others most often notice a peace and poise that transcends my physical appearance.
The Balance of Appearance
Beauty is a natural, universal human desire. The goal isn't to ignore our appearance, but to balance the internal and external:
The Internal Foundation: Without a spiritual center, we become obsessed with the external.
The External Care: Our bodies are a gift. Caring for them is an act of stewardship and wellness.
When your identity is secure, skincare and makeup are no longer masks to hide behind—they are tools to celebrate your unique design.
Guarding the Next Generation
Today’s girls face a digital landscape that makes earlier magazines look tame. To protect our own hearts—and theirs—we need to trade modern marketing for timeless truths:
The World says: You need this product to be worthy. The Truth: You are already chosen, valued, and worthy.
The World says: Your value is found in your youth. The Truth: Your beauty is an "imperishable" gift that never fades.
The World says: Comparison is the scale of beauty. The Truth: You are fearfully and wonderfully made—unique by design.
Cultivating Radiance
The most effective beauty ritual isn't found in a bottle; it’s found in grounding ourselves in wisdom and reflection.
Your Daily Ritual:
Commit: Choose a “truth” or verse (such as 1 Peter 3:3-4) to carry with you this week. Write it on a Post-it note and place it on your bathroom mirror so it’s the first thing you "apply” in the morning.
Contrast: When you feel a pang of insecurity or an urge to compare, immediately replace your thought with your chosen truth.
Celebrate: Transform your morning routine into a time of gratitude by thanking the Creator for the "temple"you’ve been given.
True beauty is living with an “unfading” spirit. Whether you are wearing makeup or are completely bare-faced, nothing diminishes your worth. Your hair color, the sparkle in your eyes, and your unique smile were all designed to be a treasure, not a project. When we stop trying to "fix" ourselves, we find the radiance for which we’ve been searching.
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