Whether you define beauty as a quality, an experience, or a character trait, the standards of beauty change with time and culture. Whether you are in the United States, Europe, Asia, or Africa, there are always changing ideas of beauty. Some of these standards can be influenced by culture and fashion, while others are determined by politics.
In the past, women went to extraordinary lengths to achieve an ideal beauty. They were expected to be good wives, dedicated mothers, and filial daughters. The pressure to conform to these standards can lead to body dysmorphia, eating disorders, depression, and low self-esteem.
Ancient Greeks believed that beauty came from the perfect proportions of a face, nose, and mouth. The Greek chin was smooth and round, with a slight fullness in the upper lip. They also believed that a beautiful soul lived inside a beautiful body. However, as modern technology progressed, the idea of beauty began to change. During the Roman era, the science of makeup was well-known. The first manual on how to beautify the face was written by the Roman poet Ovid.
The Renaissance era brought a new set of beauty standards. Elegant women in England mimicked the facial features of Queen Elizabeth I. The women of the Renaissance used tooth powders containing crushed fruit peel and honey. They also hid their faces behind black velvet masks and stiff leather masks.
The Victorians inherited this early idea of feminine beauty. They were eager to enhance their beauty with cosmetics. Some of these products were dangerous. They were aware of the dangers of arsenic and lead in some cosmetics. Some of the cosmetics were sold at home, and others were sold at fairs.
The Confucian philosophy emphasized that every living person had a vital force called Qi, which was passed down through generations. They believed that a woman’s body should be in its original state of purity. They also prohibited maintaining fair skin and cutting and dying hair.
In the ancient world, women had a very clear idea of what beauty looked like. They understood that their mouths needed to be shaped, and that their ears should be small. They also knew that rotting teeth were not attractive. They were encouraged to wash their faces and to apply wax to wrinkled skin. They were not allowed to wear red hair.
The 16th century was the heyday of the beauty publishing industry. There were many brand name lotions and potions. One popular cosmetic was Solomon’s Water, which was made from sublimate of mercury. It guaranteed to remove all spots and was a popular brand name.
In the 17th century, women began concocting their own cosmetics. They would mix dung with lemon juice and goat hair with milk to make “water to make women beautiful forever.” Some of these cosmetic potions were not as innocent as water.
The 16th century was also the time when the first medical textbooks were published. These were written by Jean Liebault, a Parisian doctor. He believed that a woman’s ideal was one with pale skin, large eyes, and dimpled cheeks.