Julia Roberts’ smile.  Tina Turner’s legs.  Jennifer Lopez’s backside.  Yes, these are all beautiful, striking women but they are as well known for one spectacular feature as they are for their overall looks and magnetism.  And that’s what we want to talk about: our theory that focusing on bringing out that one feature of your beauty that is truly exceptional—even if you feel that the rest of the package is quite ordinary—is a marvelous way to make yourself look gorgeous to others and feel more beautiful inside.  We call it the Single Feature Effect (if you’re not old enough to remember the days of the “double feature” at movie theaters, you’ll have to trust us).

Remember, in our book, The Beauty Prescription, we talk about the idea that you are 20% more beautiful to others than you appear to yourself in the mirror.  That’s because people don’t judge you as harshly as you judge yourself and because when you look in the mirror you don’t see your wit, confidence, style or sexuality.  The Single Feature Effect upends the traditional concept of beauty in the same way.  It says, so what if you’re not perfect in every way?  Most of us aren’t close to the physical ideal.  But everyone has at least one aspect of their physical appearance that’s show-stopping.  It might be your eyes.  It might be your hands.  It might be your hair.  We say, play that feature up!  Make it as great as it can be so that people comment on it, and the “halo effect” given off by your best feature will shine on the rest of you, enhancing your perceived beauty.

Here’s an example from our friend and sometime collaborator Tim Vandehey: “I was at the gym and noticed this woman doing aerobics.  She wasn’t especially pretty in the face, was in good shape, but something about her kept drawing my eye.  Then I realized it was her skin.  She was probably about 35 but her skin was flawless.  She was very fair—red hair, classic Irish coloring—but her skin was like a child’s, like perfect porcelain.  Something about that was very alluring and appealing.”  It made her much more attractive than she might otherwise have been.”

That is what the Single Feature effect is about.  One feature that captures the imagination of other peopel so that everything else about you is more enchanting.  We love it because it reduces some of the pressure to have the perfect derriere, the perfect nose and hands like something out of a Dove commercial.  Instead, you can take care of your fitness and health like you should, attend to your personal style as best you can, but concentrate on making your best feature better and letting that rising tide life your personal boat.  We think it’s a holistic, healthy way to look at beauty…and we’d love to know what you think about it.

Stay beautiful,

Debi & Eva