10 Unnecessary Beauty Standards We Should Ditch As Soon As Tomorrow

Back when television didn’t exist and there was no such thing like celebrities, beauty standards were created by ads and the noble. Whatever an ad promoted and the noble people did, everyone else was kind of pressured to do as well. Nowadays, we have Hollywood and the media to blame about all these unrealistic beauty standards they inflict upon us. But it’s great to see that many women refuse to follow them and live their lives with their own rules.

1. Perfectly shaved bodies

For decades now, women have been reminded by one another that they need to keep their underarms and legs and pretty much every other area shaved. This is now starting to change little by little, since many women just want to feel pressured to shave.

Singer Janelle Monáe defied beauty standards when she arrived at the 2022 Met Gala in a futuristic gown with fuzzy underarms.

2. Having no stretch marks

Stretch marks are a natural part of growing and changing, but they’ve often been portrayed as something to hide and be ashamed of.

It’s time to celebrate them as a symbol of growth and strength. Our bodies have undergone incredible changes, whether from pregnancy, weight gain or loss, or simply growing up — these marks are a testament to that transformation. Rather than hiding them, let’s embrace them as a badge of honor and a reminder of our journey.

3. Needing to have thick brows

Trends for naturally thick brows have taken a firm position in the 2020s. But not all women were lucky enough to get those bright and expressive arcs. The beauty industry rushed to help all those “browless” ladies, promoting their makeup services such as laminating and tattooing brows.

While some people actively draw each eyebrow hair, others don’t see anything attractive in these arcs.

4. Round hips

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of workout videos that claim to eliminate hip dips and give the perfect round hips. In truth, no amount of exercise can fill in that “gap.” In fact, they are mostly determined by our genetics and build, which are 2 things we cannot change.

Instead of fixating on one specific feature, let’s not forget that hips are a symbol of femininity and sensuality, and they should be celebrated in all shapes and sizes.

5. Manicured nails

Many women feel pressured to get their nails done. This process is often time and money-consuming. What’s astonishing is that women opt for a fresh coat of nail polish because it makes the fingers themselves look longer.

It’s okay to prioritize self-care in a way that feels authentic and true to oneself, whether that involves getting one’s nails done or opting for a more low-key approach. Ultimately, the most important thing is to feel confident and comfortable in one’s own skin.

6. Wrinkle-free faces

They say that nasolabial folds give a woman an unattractive gloomy look and add a couple of years to her look. To get rid of aging markers, girls spend money on Botox injections and fillers. However, all these things take everything nature has bestowed upon women — their natural beauty and uniqueness.

Cameron Diaz confessed that she once almost lost herself in pursuit of youth. “I’d rather see my face aging than a face that doesn’t belong to me,” the actress shared with her fans in her book when she mentioned the “beauty injections.”

7. Smooth skin

With the rise of photo editing technology, our perception of perfect skin has become distorted. Photoshop, filters, and face-beautifying apps have led us to expect flawless, blemish-free skin in our images. However, in reality, human skin is full of texture, imperfections, and individual characteristics.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend writer and star Rachel Bloom isn’t afraid to show her flaws and break the taboo on normal female hormone cycles. She shared a photo of her acne during the shooting season saying that the hectic schedule and her peak hormonal cycle are causing her acne to run amok.

8. Straight teeth

Having gapped or crooked teeth is a completely normal and natural variation in human dental anatomy. It’s important to remember that teeth are unique to each individual, and there is no one-size-fits-all standard of perfection.

Embracing one’s individuality and quirks is a key aspect of self-acceptance and confidence. Being ashamed or hiding your smile due to gapped or crooked teeth only perpetuates societal beauty standards that are unrealistic and harmful.

9. Photoshop

There’s a lot of pressure on people today because of how perfect our (Photoshopped) idols look. Today, we have a wide range of makeup and products that promise to cover up and remove “blemishes” such as stretch marks, cellulite, and skin “imperfections” like vitiligo and birthmarks.

Due to the invention of Photoshop, the perfect body is more and more impossible to achieve. Over the past 25 years, Photoshop technology has become so advanced that it’s sometimes hard to tell when it has actually been used, creating unrealistic standards for women.

10. Bounce-back culture

Bounce-back culture in regard to post-pregnancy refers to the societal expectation for new mothers to quickly return to their pre-pregnancy bodies and appearance. This unrealistic and harmful standard puts undue pressure on women to prioritize their physical appearance over their physical and emotional well-being, especially during a time when their bodies are undergoing significant changes.

Every woman’s body is unique and will heal differently. Ditching this toxic mentality means recognizing and celebrating the beauty and strength of a woman’s post-pregnancy body, regardless of its shape or size.