Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought, “I look amazing”? Your hair is quaffed just right, your skin is magically not breaking out and you’ve got a little sparkle in your eye. That moment in front of the mirror complimenting yourself is just the best, right?

But these magical days can seem few and far between because we women tend to be very self-critical. But here’s the thing: No one usually notices those little things you think are imperfections, like that your right eyebrow doesn’t even look related to your left one. Instead, people notice your beautiful smile or your amazingly intricate fingernail designs. Today, while looking in the mirror, try seeing yourself as your loved ones see you—with compassion—and identify three things that make you beautiful just the way you are.

WOMEN IN NUMBERS: 54 Percent

Think about the products that make you feel extra beautiful, maybe eucalyptus bath salts or luxurious body butter. Many women, including myself, are getting more interested in products with ingredients we can actually pronounce. In a recent Green Beauty Barometer survey of more than 1,000 women, 54 percent said they seek out skin-care products that are completely natural.

It makes sense. If you have sensitive skin, chances are you’ve encountered allergic reactions to a certain fragrance or lab-made ingredient. Even if your complexion is perfect, there’s something so appealing about natural products that make you feel beautiful and comfortable in your own skin.

WOMAN TO WATCH: Mariska Nicholson, Founder and CEO of Olive + M

As a teenager, when it came to skin-care products, I thought the more it burns, the more it works, right? Wrong! I’ve learned my lesson as an adult. And if you have ever felt the need for the burn, you should definitely try the remarkably delicate skin-care products from Olive + M.

A cleansing and restorative skin-care line, Olive + M was developed by Mariska Nicholson in her kitchen. For more than a decade, Mariska, a longtime devotee of natural skin products, had used oils in her own skin-care regimen, to magnificent results. Curious about the various properties and benefits of certain oils, she began experimenting, mad scientist-style, with her own blends to be applied to the skin, using products like pumpkin seed oil, pink grapefruit and olive oil, which she calls “Mother Nature’s biggest beauty secret.”

While applying oil to the skin might make some women gasp and say, “But my skin is already oily!” here’s why you should try it: By using the right oils—castor oil, in particular—you can cleanse your face naturally, gently and effectively. As a key ingredient in Olive + M formulas, castor oil works as a drawing agent, seeping deep into the pores to pull dirt and bacteria to the surface, replacing dirty oil with beneficial oil. Crazy, right? But, ladies, does it ever work!

At the foundation of Olive + M are natural, never-made-in-a-lab ingredients. And if you’re one of those women who seek all-natural skin-care products, you’ll love this: Because Mariska’s products don’t contain water (aka bacteria’s best friend), no chemical preservatives are necessary. Only natural components like cranberry seed oil and rice extract are used.

Moving forward, Mariska hopes to expand Olive + M’s line to include scrubs and masks, and maybe something special for men and babies.

After only a couple years in business, Mariska has introduced the world to a whole new way of naturally caring for our bodies’ largest organ. Thanks, Mariska, for giving us the confidence to proudly show off a little skin.

QUITE THE QUOTE

Treating your skin with respect by nourishing it is considered an act of self-love. Take Coco Chanel’s word for it. She said:

“Nature gives you the face you have at 20. It is up to you to merit the face you have at 50.”

This is Melinda Garvey signing off until next time. Remember, ladies, empowered women empower other women. Share On the Dot so more women can have a voice. Thanks for getting ready with us.

To learn more about our conversation, check us out at OnTheDotWoman.com and talk to us @OnTheDotWoman on Twitter and Instagram. We’d love to hear your voice.

Headshot photographed by Ashlyn Allison