The search for beauty has been a quest for millennia. However, the pursuit has changed as society evolved and a multitude of influences have changed the standard of beauty.
While beauty does not have a clear definition, it is commonly regarded as a combination of qualities, including facial symmetry and a slender figure. In most parts of the world, the overall look plays a role in attracting mates. This has been an evolutionary mechanism, and has been exploited by various groups to achieve power and success.
For many centuries, the ideal beauty criteria included a perfect ratio of head to shoulders and symmetrical proportions of face to body. During the Victorian period, tiny rosebud lips were considered the quintessential beauty element. Many women in elite European societies plucked their hair from the natural hairline to the crown of their heads. To create an appealing style, boiling wax was used to coat their hair in elaborate styles.
Other aspects of beauty include symmetry, weight, and colour. Physical features such as skin homogeneity and facial averageness are also factors in the quest for a perfect figure. A single mole on the upper part of the body might be called a beauty mark, but an irregular one is not.
As time goes on, people begin to associate happiness with beauty. Often, this means that they treat attractive people with a gentler perspective and offer advantages to less attractive individuals. But it’s not all good news for those not deemed attractive. Beauty standards are complex, and decisions regarding who is and isn’t beautiful are often determined by race, class, and politics.
One example of the multi-faceted concept of beauty is its use in a countercultural advertising campaign. It was a successful initiative that re-branded beauty products as a feminist statement and reached new consumers. Interestingly, it sold more products than the usual advertising campaigns, and was a major driver for the growth of a new consumer base.
Although the newest trend in beauty is to apply personalized packaging, there are still several non-evolutionary factors that have impacted the concept of beauty. Consumers want to interact with the product in real life. They want to see live interactions, and want credibility and authenticity from KOLs and influencers.
The idea of a beauty product was first conceived as a way to improve one’s self image. But in recent years, companies have begun to capitalize on the consumer’s insecurities. Most beauty companies depend on the insecurity of their consumer base to sell their products.
Another multi-faceted concept of beauty includes its use in a hedonist conception of the art. Hedonist conceptions conceive of beautiful objects in terms of function and value. Moreover, they define the best example of this as something which gives perceptual and aesthetic experience to the intellect and aesthetic senses.
Depending on the period in which you are looking, the best example of this may be something which is the most obvious. Some examples of this would include a sunset, flowers, or a pair of ice cream cones.