How Zadie Smith Taught Her Seven-Year-Old Daughter That Beauty Is A Waste Of Time | HuffPost Life

Something to think about when you’re getting ready in the morning.

Jamie Feldman— HuffPost

Author Zadie Smith has a way with words, even when she’s using them to implement rules in her home.

The “Swing Time” author spoke at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Saturday 19 August, and revealed why she imposed a 15-minute mirror time limit on her daughter, reports Grazia Daily.

“I saw that she had just started spending a lot of time looking in mirrors,” she said. “It was infuriating me. I decided to spontaneously decide on a principle: that if it takes longer than 15 minutes, don’t do it.”

The rule came into effect when Smith noticed the disparities between the amount of time it took her son and daughter to get out of the house in the morning.

FRED DUVAL VIA GETTY IMAGES

“I explained it to her in these terms: ‘You are wasting time, your brother is not going to waste any time doing this. Every day of his life he will put a shirt on, he’s out the door and he doesn’t give a shit if you waste an hour and a half doing your makeup.’”

Smith went on to say that her daughter saw the limit as a practical time-saving method, so Smith didn’t have to give her “a big lecture on female beauty.” But she cited trends such as contouring as being a waste of time, adding: “She sees me and how I get dressed and how long it takes.”

Smith, who herself typically appears in minimal makeup, has explored the relationship women have with themselves in her work, as well. In her book “On Beauty,” she writes about the struggle of shielding daughters from the inevitable self-esteem struggles associated with being a woman.

“Kiki had dreaded having girls: she knew she wouldn’t be able to protect them from self-disgust,” she wrote. “To that end she had tried banning television in the early years, and never had a lipstick or a woman’s magazine crossed the threshold of the Belsey home to Kiki’s knowledge, but these and other precautionary measures had made no difference. It was in the air, or so it seemed to Kiki, this hatred of women and their bodies.”

Considering that Smith’s daughter is only seven years old, their interaction speaks volumes about how early in life women begin to feel pressure to look a certain way. Having said that, the 15-minute mirror time limit is something we all could stand to implement in our own lives, whether we’re seven or 70.

H/T Grazia Daily.

This article originally appeared on the US version of HuffPost.

Before You Go

How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Method 1: Lukewarm Water And Shampoo(01 of16)

A simple mixture of shampoo and water is great for cleaning your brushes. To see exactly how to do it, continue clicking through. (credit:Wikihow (Creative Commons))

Step 1: Run Your Brushes Under Warm Water(02 of16)

Use your tap to rinse away most of the excess dirt, makeup, and oil stuck in the bristles. Keep the bristles angled down and try not to get water under the metal clasp, as it could loosen the glue. (credit:Getty Editorial)

Step 2: Mix Gentle Shampoo And Warm Water In A Bowl(03 of16)

Mix about a teaspoon of shampoo with 1/4 cup of lukewarm water and swirl your brush tip around in it. We like using Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo -- if it's good enough for baby skin it's good for us! (credit:Johnson & Johnson )

Step 3: Rinse The Brushes Again(04 of16)

Once you've swished the brushes around, remove them from the water and massage the bristles between your fingers to loosen up the makeup and dirt. Then, run the bristles under warm water until it runs clear. (credit:Gettystock)

Step 4: Use A Cloth Or Paper Towel To Wipe Clean(05 of16)

Once you've rinsed the brushes and the water runs clear, you can use a clean dry towel or cloth to remove some of the moisture. (credit:Wikihow (Creative Commons))

Step 5: Lay Brushes Flat To Dry(06 of16)

Reshape the bristles with your hands and then lay brushes flat to dry. Make sure none of the outside bristles are bent. (credit:Shutterstock)

Method 2: A Sponge(07 of16)

A sponge and a little bit of soap make makeup brush cleaning a breeze. Juct click through to see how to use this method. (credit:Gettystock)

Step 1: Apply Shampoo/Gentle Soap To Sponge(08 of16)

Apply a dime-size amount of gentle soap/cleanser/shampoo to a clean, damp sponge. Make sure the sponge is brand new, as you don't want gross kitchen bacteria to transfer onto the bristles of your brushes. (credit:Gettystock)

Step 2: Swirl Brush Tip Over The Sponge(09 of16)

Lightly rub the brushes over the sponge in a circular motion to saturate the bristles in soap. Don't press too hard, as you don't want to damage the brushes. (credit:Wikihow (Creative Commons))

Step 3: Rinse The Brushes(10 of16)

Rinse the brushes under warm water to rinse off the soap and dirt. If you see residue after rinsing, repeat step two and three again. Once your brushes appear to be clean, lay them flat on a cloth or towel to dry. (credit:Gettstock)

Method 3: Olive Oil And Soap(11 of16)

These household ingredients are also great for cleaning and disinfecting your makeup brushes. (credit:Gettystock)

Step 1: Mix 2 Parts Dish Soap With 1 Part Extra Virgin Olive Oil(12 of16)

Popsugar suggests mixing your ingredients on a clean plate, to give yourself ample room to swish around the brushes. Don't use a paper plate, as the oil will seep through. (credit:Gettystock)

Step 2: Run Your Brushes Under Water(13 of16)

Loosen the dirt and makeup by running your brush (or brushes) under warm water. Make sure to hold the bristles down to protect the brush. (credit:Gettystock)

Step 3: Dip The Brushes In The Mixture And Coat(14 of16)

Once you coat the bristles in the oil and soap mixture, massage it in using your hands. Continue until the residue comes out clear. Then, rinse with lukewarm water until all the soap is gone. (credit:Gettystick)

Step 4: Leave The Brushes To Dry(15 of16)

Once all the dirt, grime, and makeup are washed from your brushes, lay them on a towel to dry. Pro tip: prop up the towel with a second rolled up towel, and place the handles along the higher end. This will allow the water to drain down. (credit:Shutterstock)

Method 4: Use A Brush Cleaner (The Easiest Method)(16 of16)

There are plenty of makeup brush cleaners on the market that allow for easy brush cleanup. Just spray the solution -- we like Sephora's Master Cleanse: Daily Brush Cleaner -- on a dry towel or cloth and rub the brush with it until dirt and oil are removed. (credit:Sephora)

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