Concepts Of Beauty – Past And Present
Beauty is something women have longed to possess since time immemorial. The Ancient Egyptians commented on the good looks of Nefertiti as did the Greeks on the Goddess Athena. Beauty is considered an asset; it gets you places.
Over the centuries and depending on cultures and societies, concepts of looks have changed. In northern Europe through the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a beautiful woman should have pale white skin with rosy cheeks. This is how a young lady might naturally look during brisk cold weather. As a result of this perceived ideal, young ladies avoided the sun and carried parasols everywhere in an effort to stay pretty.
In the modern age, tanned skin is now thought to look healthy and gorgeous. Rather than avoid the sun, women court it enthusiastically in order to achieve the sun-kissed glow. Where there is no sun, women can still achieve the same effects with bottled tan lotions or they can bathe under a sunray lamp in a tanning studio for that all important requirement of the modern beauty regime.
European ideals of beauty became Western ideals and very quickly got tied up with race and natural complexion. Black women were in the unenviable position of never being able to match up to the beauty standards. They would bleach their skins in order to look a little more white and a little more beautiful. The \’black beauty\’ movement of the 1970\’s challenged the traditional beauty norm and went a long way in changing the African-American concept of themselves and their beauty.
Today concepts of beauty are far less associated with skin color or ethnicity. Some of the world\’s most celebrated stars are women of colour including Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks, Halle Berry and the first African-American First Lady, Michelle Obama. The beauty conscious are not concerned with trying to look lighter but with trying to look more youthful and possess clear complexions devoid of blemishes, acne and age spots. Teeth must be perfect white and cosmetics must be understated and natural looking.
One thing that has not changed about Western concepts of looks is the desired smaller physique of a female. It has never really been acceptable for a woman to be seen as over weight. In the old days women were forced to strap themselves into tight corsets which were often the culprit for distorted physical development. Slimness is still the ideal target and any beauty conscious women must take care of her weight.
A multi-million dollar weight loss industry has been spurned by women\’s desires to be smaller and more gorgeous. Also fashions have also evolved to reflect the skinny beauty ideal. In the 1960\’s it was the mini skirt to show of toned legs and thighs. Today it is the belly top with a woman\’s midriff exposed to show her flat and toned stomach.
Youth, is the other element that is associated with modern beauty. Today it is virtually impossible to be considered pretty if you are old. The only middle-aged women who are described as pretty are those who look youthful for their years. This beauty trend has also spurned its own industry. Ads are full of anti-aging products promising young looking skin and if they don\’t work, consumers can always resort to makeup and elective surgery in the pursuit of looks.
categories: makeup tips,beauty tips,makeup,cosmetics,beauty,health,shopping,women,fashion,fitness,sports,health care
Related posts:
- The Past And Present Of Urban Clothing Urban clothing started from the New York City, but very...
- Barbie Dolls: Past, Present And Future Barbie dolls have become a tradition. Tradition brings many collector's...
- Keep Your Body Beauty-Maintain Your Health It is a well-known truth that many women around the...
- Mineral Makeup Products-The Beauty Within You As luck would have it, mineral makeup products are natural...
- Woman-The Beauty Secret With Them There's no secret that women all over use a variety...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Leave a Reply