The makeup and beauty world is a multi-billion-pound industry that continues to grow and evolve every single year. From bronzer to BBLs, we all contribute to the ever-growing industry in some way. From my own experience, there are very few women that I’ve met who haven’t considered cosmetic surgery, even fleetingly, at some point or period of their lives (including myself).
More recently, the popularisation of aesthetic clinics, offering fillers and other non-invasive cosmetic procedures, has opened the door to celebrity-endorsed treatments for the everyday person to walk in off the street and customise their face or body. Some clinics even offer futuristic treatments like bio-remodelling, which promises to turn back the clock and rejuvenate the elasticity in the deeper tissues beneath the skin.
Whilst the accessibility of these treatments has greatly improved, allowing people of all backgrounds, incomes and genders to acquire the power to improve their confidence and feel happier in so many aspects of their lives, there is also a darker side to the vast availability of cosmetic procedures. From 2020-2021 the UK Government predicted that 41,000 “Botox-style” procedures were performed on under 18s. Aside from the countless risks caused by performing dodgy cosmetic procedures on children, I am particularly concerned about the state of the self-esteem and confidence among the younger generation.
The question I’m asking is why do our children feel such pressure to physically change the way they look through treatments and surgery?
Through the years we have hopped from trend to trend always trying to be a new type of ‘attractive’ and we bend ourselves backwards trying to conform. In the 90’s and 00’s, it was pencil-thin eyebrows, blue eyeshadow and chunky highlights. You were praised for having the famous Rachel Green haircut and having the Kate Moss tiny frame. Whereas from 2010-2020, the Kardashians monopolised the beauty scene and introduced the age of generously applied Instagram makeup, fake tanning, wider hips and fuller lips.
How can we, as women, be expected to alter our entire face, body and style every decade whilst continuing to look as though we never age?
A particular trend that has annoyed me for quite some time now is the “au natural” look or what is recently being called the “clean girl aesthetic”. Thanks to the growing influence of TikTok, women have taken to the internet to share how to achieve the perfect no-makeup makeup. The aim is to use makeup precisely and cleverly to appear as though your skin has no imperfections and that the shimmery glow on your cheekbones is simply from the unwavering glowing happiness within.
Men absolutely love to use the term “natural” when describing their ideal partner, however, the majority of the time that clean girl look has been achieved through clever placement of makeup, root touch-ups, highlights, fillers and liposuction. For some guys, I’m sure that natural can mean messy hair, morning breath and unshaved legs. To those men, I applaud you. However, it is disappointing that so many men have a completely warped expectation of what a woman should look like when she is in her most raw and natural state.
If a woman feels empowered and more confident wearing makeup and undergoing cosmetic procedures then that is amazing and should be celebrated, but it shouldn’t be the minimum standard of beauty which we are all expected to obey simply to follow trends or align with a man’s idea of “a natural beauty”.
If a “clean girl” describes a woman with perfect makeup and blown-out hair, what does that make the rest of us? I guess natural must mean messy. If being a “messy girl” was a trend I think I’d be heading that movement.
If “messy” means being authentically myself – curly hair, chunky trainers, chipped nails, winged eyeliner, goofy laugh and toothy smile – then I’m okay with being a messy girl. I’d like to encourage other women to embrace their messiness, banish trends and present themselves to the world in whichever way makes them feel beautifully and authentically themselves.
Our younger generation should not have to seek surgeries and cosmetic procedures to feel “naturally” beautiful. Trends have boosted the profits of aesthetic clinics and the beauty industry for decades. Ranging from the more recent “clean girl” aesthetic, the Kylie Jenner lip challenge, and Kim K style big bums, going back to the Kate Moss “Heroin Chic” in the 90s and even Meg Ryan-inspired perms in the 80s. This constant cycle of trends has had all of us in a complete chokehold as we all try to conform to society’s most current idea of perfection. We should not have to alter our faces, bodies or preferences to be beautiful.
Instead, let’s be messy girls together.
