The Future of Beauty

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The virtual world and how we exist on screens takes privilege over how we exist in real life. Beauty standards aren't just socially formed anymore, they're also now being formed by the technology. And one of the most striking insights to me was that really our bodies are going to draw the line. Where I want us to all get to is a point where we can really embrace our body's evolution.

Humans have always been captivated by beauty, and for almost as long, we’ve been marketed products and new technologies to help us achieve certain beauty standards. Elise Hu is a journalist and the author of “Flawless: Lessons in looks and culture from the K-beauty industry.” In this episode, she shares the fascinating insights she’s learned from years of studying the $10 billion K-beauty industry and the cutting-edge skincare, niche makeup products, and technology that promise to optimize our appearance. Elise and Chris talk about the real stakes of placing a premium on our looks, why a more inclusive version of “beauty” is worth pursuing, and how we can both enjoy and push back against the very human desire to feel beautiful. For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts