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Beauty Through the Decades: 8 Keys to Timeless Beauty

At Crystal Valley Day Spa, we believe beauty is more than skin deep — it’s a reflection of how we live, love, and care for ourselves and others. This September, we celebrate our beloved esthetician, Alex, who is turning 80 years old and has been in the beauty industry for over 35 years.

To honor her milestone, Alex has shared her wisdom on “Beauty Through the Decades” — 8 key lessons she has learned about life, longevity, beauty, and wellness. These insights remind us that beauty is timeless, universal, and deeply human.

from Alex:

1. See Beauty Beyond Words

As a very small child, what I observed about beauty could not be put into words. There was a sensory component that was experienced when I innately observed the essence of the environment and other human beings that surrounded me. I absorbed the natural energy and beauty that seemed to reach out to me that provided emotional and sensory responses when viewing visual qualities such as shape, color, form and movement. I observed the natural environment -- a butterfly, birds, trees, flowers that enticed me. I gazed at the the faces of those around me and stared into their eyes that seemingly expressed intuitive messages that resonated when they spoke. There were times when human behavior contradicted my initial perception of beauty.

2. Find Beauty in Everyday Living

I observed my widowed mother when she expressed her own beauty through playing the piano, singing, working in her garden, taking us on adventurous walks, or spending time reading to me and my brother. She took the time to ensure that we were cared for. Each year at the beginning of a new school year, the event was welcomed by buying school clothes.

3. Learn and Grow Through Experience

As I progressed in growth and spending time gaining a greater awareness of my own appearance, I joined 4-H at the age of 8 and entered a world that involved developing life skills through hands-on projects. We got to understand the meaning of the 4-H symbol – a four-leaf clover – focusing on developing young people’s Head, heart, Hands,and Health. The focus was to “engage youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development.” My local group learned how to sew and developed skills in cooking. In sewing, we gained an understanding of the beauty of color, fabric, pattern and design. We made skirts and other garments and had the opportunity of showing them at our local county fair where many of us won ribbons for our work.

4. Serve Others with Love

In my later teens – early 20s, I spent six years as a member of a religious community. I was assigned to work in a mid-western hospital serving and caring for patients in health and wellness. This act of love and service brought healing beauty to those who were challenged with health issues.

5. Honor Your Unique Colors

My career path extended during the 1980s where I studied make-up, skincare and received certified in color analysis and image consulting. I had a color and image boutique in a small Midwest business location where I did color analysis, makeup and joined a national organization of image consultants. It was the era of “dressing for success.” These events also contributed to a larger understanding that there is a greater internal essence of beauty that is unique to each person. The body responds to color and light. As we draped our customer in various colors it became apparent that certain colors and shades would stand out more than others that emphasized and harmonized with their facial features and skin tone.

6. Commit to Lifelong Learning

I dove deeply into this world of beauty. In the late 1980’s I attended cosmetology school and specialized in esthetics. I studied skin biology, cosmetic chemistry, attended education delivered by industry icons and continued with hands on practice. My business of 37 years is one that has recognized beauty of wellness and balance.

7. Recognize Inner Beauty and Power

Life presents many teachers to support our own growth and understanding. Universal beauty has a spiritual component that is greater than perception and emotion. Each of us has a natural innate beautiful, loving essence, and imagination that many times becomes concealed through self judgement, perception,and environment. Our thoughts are powerful. Sometimes it takes a lifetime to recognize our own innate talents, beauty, and abilities through self-discovery and awareness.

8. Celebrate Beauty as Nourishment

The concepts of beauty may be interpreted differently within the domains of various global cultures and regions. It is more than ornamental. To quote: “It is a common thread that touches our common humanity. We hunger for it; in and of itself it is nourishment and a necessity. Beauty enriches our lives, whether it improves us as people.”

Alex’s wisdom reminds us that beauty is not bound by age, trends, or appearances — it’s an ageless energy that flows through how we live and love. As we celebrate her 80th birthday this September, we invite you to embrace these timeless truths and discover the beauty that is uniquely yours.

✨ Join us this month to celebrate Alex and explore our Timeless Beauty Specials. ✨

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at (864)610-2006 or admin@crystalvalleydayspa.com