Last week, I wrote a blog post about Environmental Defence’s video, Try to Look Pretty Without Poisoning Yourself. It focuses on the harmful ingredients that are used in everyday cosmetic products. Since its release on January 9th, it has received a lot of attention and was featured in the Financial Post on January 13th. I stumbled upon another video that I liked last week by Jesse Rosten called Fotoshop by Adobe. It highlighted the fact that all of the photos we see in magazines and on billboards have been edited through Photoshop or a program like it. In other words, what you see is NOT what you get. I like both videos and they got me thinking. Why do we have to do anything to ourselves in order to look or feel pretty?
The Culture of Beauty
In North America (and many other places), it is simply the norm to beauty products. From moisturizer to lipstick, it’s readily available in any form you want. Not only are there beauty products available for purchase, there are a multitude of surgeries and injections that you can have done to alter your appearance. Why? After being bombarded with images of what an ideal body image is, in general, we seem to have bought into it. Most models meet the BMI for anorexia. Read this article to see how skewed the modelling industry has become.
But everyone is different
The facts are, each person has different proportions, grows to a different height and will age differently. The choices we make early in life will influence how our bodies change. We get wrinkles and age spots and or bodies change over time. Is it really necessary to aggressively try and avoid all of that, just for the sake of it? Should we really use expensive wrinkle creams to ensure that our skin stays perfectly smooth into our 60s?
Take it as a badge of honour
Of course, this is just my opinion. What do you think?
January 31, 2012 at 11:22 pm
Stunning post hun!!
Its incredibly sad, but unfortunately true… One never seems to be happy with what they have been given, especially as an outsider looking in to the States or the UK the people almost want to be plastic and its becoming the norm here where I stay.
I saw an amazing picture one of my friends posted on facebook a few days ago, it was a vaguely stretch marked stomach, and it said “Your body is not ruined, you are a goddamn tiger who earned her striples”. Strong words, but so true.
Loving your blog! I will be back and commenting with my random mind ramblings soon!
Fi
xxx
http://www.poutperfection.com
South African Blogger 🙂
February 1, 2012 at 6:17 am
Thank you!
I’m so glad that you enjoyed my post. I love your friend’s FB comment — all of the physical marks and experiences we have or accumulate in life are truly what define each of us!
I’ve been enjoying reading your blog and look forward to more!
Take care,
Alia
February 18, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Great post and so true. If only women realized how beautiful they really are…
February 18, 2012 at 2:36 pm
I’m glad you liked the post! Thanks for the comment!
March 12, 2012 at 10:08 pm
It would hurt me so much if my grandma thought she was ugly because she has wrinkles.
March 13, 2012 at 6:04 am
So true! I’ve heard that there are some cultures that take wrinkles as a badge of honor. If that’s true, that sounds like the way to go!