Beauty is a multi-faceted concept that reflects the changing perceptions and attitudes towards ideal appearance. This idea has permeated throughout history. The modern era’s notion of beauty has become a powerful means of power, but its definition has changed over time.
During the Renaissance, the concept of beauty was based on a number of factors, including music and the movements of the planets. Those with wealth and power used it as a way to gain social status. People would also wear thick layers of cosmetics to enhance their appearance. As more people came to have access to these products, the business of cosmetics expanded to include skin care.
Ancient thinkers understood beauty in terms of form, spirit, and symmetry. They saw it in nature, as in the example of the Greek chin, which was round and smooth without dimples. In the Middle Ages, women would wear facial makeup and tint their gray hair. Ovid wrote a manual on how to achieve beauty, which was followed by upper class women.
Jean Liebault, a 16th century Parisian doctor, believed that the perfect woman should have pale complexion, small ears, and dimpled cheeks. He even devised a mathematical formula to duplicate the Greek chin. It determined the size of the nose, the distance from the tip of the nose to the lips, and the space between the eyes.
The French doctor also developed a formula to define a person’s face, which determined the size of the eyes, the space between the eyes, and the beginning of the hairline. In fact, the perfect Greek chin had no dimples, was round, and was slightly fuller than the upper lip.
In the 1960s, the counterculture emphasised feminine decorations and androgynous looks. These styles were often seen in cabarets and at fairs, and were associated with a certain kind of “punk” look. A sexless look was considered fashionable in the 90s, especially among youth. Today, the aesthetic of beauty has become less subjective. Most people agree that some women are beautiful.
The era of capitalism and industrialization has also impacted the ideal appearance. For example, the body mass index has varied across cultures, and the waist to hip ratio has remained fairly constant. Also, a lot of capital is needed to purchase the cosmetics and other skin care products that make up the modern beauty industry.
Today, the beauty business includes cosmeceuticals, perfume, and skin cleaners, as well as ways that these products are packaged and sold. Companies rebrand their products to appeal to a new consumer base. In addition, more Black brands are introduced and supported in the beauty industry, which can create substantial economic upside.
But while the concept of beauty is changing, the actual way that it is viewed has been the same since the Middle Ages. It is important to remember that this change is not always permanent. There are many factors that have influenced how we perceive beauty, and the standards of beauty will continue to evolve.