Perfectly Imperfect: The End of Outdated Beauty Trends and Standards

Understandings of beauty have evolved and changed in every period, in every culture. Unfortunately, there are also unrealistic ones that can affect mental health and distort body perception. We have compiled this list of beauty standards and ideals from the past.Although makeup is everyone's individual choice, it can feel abnormal when it is not done because people are more accustomed to the makeup look today. A few years ago, artist Alicia Keys was criticized for not wearing makeup at all. Alicia Keys then made a statement that 'just because I don't wear makeup doesn't mean I'm anti-makeup!'.As time passes, women's discomfort with body hair is decreasing. Some do not even remove armpit hair. When this hair is not removed, it grows naturally, and this should now be considered normal.Stretch marks can occur for many reasons. Birth, weight gain, weight loss, height increase... But it goes without saying that these stretch marks are natural and almost more than half of women have them. Actress Jameela Jamil said in a post, 'Stretch marks are normal and beautiful. I have stretch marks all over my body and I call them baby marks.'What is true for armpit hair is also true for facial hair. Fortunately, there are people who don't think body hair is ugly. Actress Yara Shahidi said, 'Growing my eyebrow was a turning point for me,' as she started to grow her unibrow.Actress Gwendoline Christie heard that she couldn't be an actress because she was too tall. But Christie didn't let anyone down and landed her first big role as Brienne of Thart in Game of Thrones.Many people are afraid of wrinkles, the biggest sign of aging.Hollywood star Emilia Clarke is known for her effective facial features and facial expressions. Speaking about wrinkles and surgical interventions, she said, 'I'm never someone who would do something to my skin.'One of the absurd beauty standards is wanting a small nose. Some people wear makeup to make their noses look small, while others even have surgery.When Lady Gaga was at the beginning of her career, she was told that she needed a nose job. Gaga said, 'I am happy with my nose. At the end of the day, surgery should be in line with one's wishes. We should be able to embrace each other with our differences.'Stretch marks caused by the stretching of the body for the baby are common in postpartum women. The situation, which can be prevented to some extent by increasing the elasticity of the body with various oils and treatments, should no longer be a problem.A few years ago, actress Katie Holmes shared a photo clearly showing her stretch marks and was greeted with respect and congratulations by her fans.The armpit is a structure that contains fat underneath. We should stop worrying about overflowing armpit fat that does not fit into tight blouses and dresses... Although it is generally perceived as a cosmetic defect, we can encounter this situation in people of all ages and sizes. Wouldn't it be better to accept and embrace it rather than seeing it as a problem?When actress Elizabeth Banks was at the beginning of her career, she was told that getting implants would be good for her career. Banks says that she couldn't get them then because she didn't have the money, but now she feels very lucky that she didn't. The idea of women's measurements being the talk of the town and being told how they should be is a beauty concept that should be a thing of the past.Recently, people have started talking about what can be done to have thin cheeks and ways to look like celebrities. This can lead people to perform risky medical interventions to look like celebrities. Treating our bodies like fashion trends and playing with them can be harmful. For this reason, it is better to think in detail and analyze the risks before any intervention.