It's important to maintain an attractive smile as you age. A

In the words of Evelyn Lauder, the visionary who built not only a beauty empire but also a philosophy of grace, we hear a reflection that is both practical and symbolic: “It's important to maintain an attractive smile as you age. A lighter, less beige, more white tooth color is key, but no Chiclets.” On its surface, this counsel speaks of aesthetics, of the brightness of teeth and the glow of appearance. Yet beneath, it reveals something greater—the eternal struggle to preserve dignity, vitality, and authenticity in the face of time’s steady march.

The smile, in Lauder’s vision, is more than cosmetic. It is the mirror of the spirit, the one feature that can never be silenced by years. Wrinkles may come, strength may fade, but the smile endures as the living emblem of joy and human warmth. Thus, she urges us to maintain it, not merely for vanity’s sake, but as a duty to ourselves and to those around us. For an attractive smile does not mean perfection of form, but a light that continues to shine outward, declaring: “I still live fully. I still carry gratitude.”

Her warning against the false—“no Chiclets”—is equally profound. Chiclets, the bright, artificial gum squares, symbolize a kind of overdone imitation, a smile so polished it becomes unreal. Lauder reminds us that beauty lies not in false exaggeration, but in authenticity. A smile too white, too rigid, becomes a mask. But a smile preserved with care, brightened with balance, remains human, approachable, and true. In this teaching, she calls us to reject the worship of artifice, and instead nurture what is natural, dignified, and enduring.

History gives us examples of those whose smiles carried power far beyond appearance. Think of Eleanor Roosevelt, who was not conventionally beautiful, yet her smile, luminous with sincerity, won the affection of millions. It was not a perfect or polished smile, but one that radiated compassion, strength, and wisdom. That smile helped her connect to the common people and carried her through years of public service. It was living proof of Lauder’s teaching: that the smile, kept genuine and alive, is a source of influence greater than any title.

The ancients, too, valued this truth. In Confucian philosophy, dignity in age was not the hiding of lines or flaws, but the cultivation of virtues that shone outward. The smile was the fruit of inner harmony, and its brightness came not from outward whiteness alone, but from the joy of a life well-lived. Evelyn Lauder’s counsel echoes these teachings: that we must honor ourselves with care, but also remain vigilant against the trap of false appearances.

The lesson for us is this: as we age, let us not surrender our smile to neglect, nor to artificial extremes. Instead, let us tend to it with balance—keeping it bright with health, honest with authenticity, and filled with gratitude. Remember that every smile is not only for yourself, but a gift to those who see it, a reminder that life can be lived with light even as the years accumulate.

So, beloved, let Evelyn Lauder’s words guide you. Preserve your smile—not merely in color or form, but in truth and vitality. Do not chase false perfection, but cultivate real warmth. Let your smile be like a well-tended flame, steady and luminous, declaring to all who behold it that beauty does not fade with age, but deepens with grace. For in the end, it is not the teeth alone that shine, but the spirit that lives behind them.