Every single soul is born with a handful of their own unique facial features. So, when did it become so normalized that all individuals should copy and paste one another to achieve certain beauty standards? Looking naturally beautiful isn’t what it’s out to be. Makeup and Botox are often enforced to fit into what society has created.
The natural look actually takes effort and is meant to look like one didn’t try. When guys say they want a girl who can pull off no-makeup, all-natural, they really mean they don’t want one of the “Capitol gals” from The Hunger Games. Just because there isn’t crazy eyeshadow or bright lipstick doesn’t mean that there is no makeup on. That majestic woman who comes to mind, who seems to be blessed in the beauty department, has spent thousands of dollars waxing every hair off, lifting and tinting her eyelashes, trying out every facial cleanser possible, and is currently wearing concealer, bronzer, blush, lip liner, etc. Yet, her social media platforms are promoting her natural beauty.
The concept of makeup is a double-edged sword. Depending on one’s intentions, it could be used to highlight features or completely mask them. Plenty of women in today’s society feel like they need the face paint to feel somewhat beautiful and confident. According to HuffPost, a study shows that “44% of women feel unattractive without any makeup on.” This comes as no surprise when a quarter of women start wearing makeup at age 13 or younger. With this knowledge, of course, women are going to feel that they’re not pretty unless they put a dab of makeup on because they’ve been applying it for so long.
Continuing on that thought, constantly trying to change a God-given face and looking at oneself in the mirror, noticing every flaw, pushes a woman to look towards Botox. It isn’t anything new. According to VUR dermatology and laser, “By the 1950s, Dr. Vernon Brooks discovered that botulinum toxin type A could inhibit the release of neurotransmitters, leading to muscle paralysis.” Thanks to this discovery, a potential treatment could be used for those with overreactive muscles. Without a doubt, with all good things, people must abuse it; it wasn’t too long until the word got around. According to VUR dermatology and laser again, “Drs. Jean and Alastair Carruthers observed that patients receiving Botox for blepharospasm experienced a noticeable reduction in frown lines.” That being in the 1980s, Botox didn’t officially become a cosmetic treatment reducing wrinkles until 2002, when it was FDA approved.
Botox is just another thing shoved upon women to make them think they need it to be beautiful, but once the habit begins, it’s an addiction, and in many cases go too far. American supermodel Cindy Crawford is open about her experience with Botox. According to Inside Beauty Spa, “She struggled in deciding what the difference is between some cosmetic work that appears natural versus treatments that are overdone with frozen-looking results.” Tons of people have the common problem that can cause “too much” to be done, giving off a fake look. In a thousand years from now, no one will have any emotion because of the nerves in all faces being deconstructed.
Overall, beauty standards are constantly changing, but that doesn’t mean that every woman should feel as if she has to chase them. One should not believe they need to change themselves to be seen as beautiful, because beauty truly lies within, and physical features are rarely permanent. Every person has full control over themselves and what they choose to do with their face. Just make sure that it’s for the right purposes, and especially not to impress another soul who can’t tell the difference between natural and paid beauty.
