Practical Ways to Opt Out of Unattainable Beauty Standards

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The three practical ways to opt out of unattainable beauty standards are: awareness, interrogation, and renegotiation. Awareness involves recognizing the ongoing resources and appearance labor that society expects. Interrogation entails examining the aspects of beauty work that bring joy and personal expression while identifying what can be rejected. Renegotiation involves redefining the terms of beauty labor to align with personal values and preferences. An example of renegotiation is delaying certain beauty practices or choosing more permanent alternatives. These approaches empower individuals to challenge societal norms and reclaim control over their own bodies and self-image.

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