The impact of beauty culture

By Sagarika Srinivasan, 2023

Published 2/5/20

Nowadays, the internet has allowed for social media influencers on Instagram and YouTube to make beauty products much more marketable. Influencers speak about the product with personal experience, gaining the trust of the buyer. Liking videos and commenting have also created a discussion about makeup that has revolutionized the industry, especially now as consumers decide what encompasses beauty. But if there have been these recent gains, why do people still feel isolated?

Social media comes with a societal cost. As a society, we are constantly comparing ourselves to the people around us. Filters warp our understanding of natural beauty, or what people really look like. This comparison has always been there but studies show that liking or commenting specifically under a peer’s Instagram post can lead to lower self-esteem.

In our society, girls are also expected to be pretty. Studies have shown that physical attractiveness is the character trait that society values the most for women, whereas for men it’s honesty/morality and financial success. How many times have you heard the phrase “my beautiful daughter” vs. my “handsome son?" Many girls are thus self conscious about the way they look and have a personal list of physical insecurities. To further complicate matters, when makeup, Botox, and plastic surgery promise to make women flawless, many feel guilty for pursuing those options to look “better” because of the negative connotation it has in our society.

That said, there have been some breakthroughs. With efforts from makeup and fashion brands, such as Rihanna’s new Fenty makeup line, we are opening discussion about race and inclusivity within the beauty industry, and are beginning to see a diversified array of skin tones and facial features that are seen as gorgeous. There was even an emotionally moving social experiment done to people where they were told compliments about their bodies while standing in front of a mirror. They were then asked to tell themselves they were beautiful.

So while beauty is finally being democratized, let’s not place a person’s worth on that. People have so much more to offer to the world than their looks; let’s celebrate that.