All Things Bright And Beautiful

For some, it’s a walk on the beach. For others, a poignant interaction with a loved one. But however we describe “beauty,” one thing’s for certain: It’s always more than skin deep.

Julian McMahon

Actor • FBI: Most Wanted

I define beauty as:

The ageless old adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder runs deep and very true. For me, beauty can be anything from a look, a glance, a smile, a moment in time, to something deep and resonating, something timeless and everlasting. Beauty can also be earned, developed over time. When I was a child, my mother grew hibiscus in our backyard, and to this day each time I see one of these beautiful flowers, it brings back memories of a time that has moved on. The flower brings back the memories of beauty itself, of moments, of time, of people I love. That, to me, encaptures the breadth of beauty. In turn, the more I spend time in a relationship with someone, the more that develops, the more I start to recognize, to see the beauty that lives inside that person, and from that moment on, the beauty of them only gets deeper. For example, I fell in love with my wife very quickly, and we have been together for some time. However, each and every day I find beauty in her I had not recognized or been aware of previously. Beauty is beauty; it is ever flowing.

I pamper myself with:

Self-care. That can be anything from a workout to a haircut, getting a manicure or a pedicure. Yes, I get a manicure and a pedicure—and I absolutely love it. Particularly when we go as a family and we’re all seated next to each other—one of the simple joys of life! I grew up surrounded by women, and most of the significant influences in my life have been women, so it’s very easy for me to identify with the idea of taking care of oneself.

My beauty icons are: