What is beauty?
I tend to look at myself in the mirror very often, asking myself, ‘Why do I look average? Why do the handful of people look so good, almost perfect?’
Well, when I get to that, I will often remind myself, nothing is perfect. So I started flipping through magazines, and examine the faces of the models and their features. I know most of you do too, don’t deny it!
Natural Instincts
But why? Why do people like you and I define good-looking people as good-looking? Is it in built in us? Why so? Did your parents ever teach you how to identify good-looking features? I believe not. If you realise, symmectrical faces are more gazed upon than asymmectrical faces. If you take note, even infants find it so. They tend to imitate people that look visually appealing, or even show favoritism to good looking people. Its their natural instinct.
It goes the same for animals in the animal kingdom. For example, when two male peacocks stand side by side, one having bright and colorful feathers, the other, average looking, the female peahen will be more attracted to the one that is prettier. The lioness will also be more attracted to the strongest lion, and mate to produce their offspring.
I’m not saying we should compare ourselves to animals and infants, but it just work this way. Its hardcoded in our instincts by Mother Nature herself.
Symmetry
So, what are the features that makes a person look visually appealing? Is there a measurement system to determine who’s hot and who’s not? Is it symmetry? But wait, it can’t be that simple! You’ve got an almost symmetrical face, and your friend does too. But why do you look less attractive than your friend? Does that mean his/her face is more symmetrical than yours?
Facial Features
Photo: Halle Berry
What about facial features? Are these what it takes to look good? Is it an ideal oval shaped face with shimmering eyes with long lashes, cheekbone placed ideally, and a sharp narrow nose? Or is it having a slim face with a bright friendly smile? Or is it having smooth and silky skin with no pimples or scars?
Analyse your Facial Features
Look at yourself in front of the mirror. Try to see what is different from the left side of your face to the right. Is your nose perfectly straight? Do you have an eye bigger than the other? To see how you will look like if you have a symmetrical face, try using image editing tools like Photoshop to find out. You can also try SymFace, an online application to get an idea of how your face would look like if it is symmetrical.
8 Responses to “What is beauty?”
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Haha I think you look good enough! I think features play a more significant role compared to being symmetrical. I honestly don’t think that those people who had Plastic Surgery have absolute symmetrical faces. But they do look pretty afterwards but maybe cause they have stronger features now.
How about a symmetrical single eyelid compared to a PS-ed double eyelid. IMO!
Yep! Stronger features will definitely make a person look outstanding in a crowd, while symmetry is more of a passive kinda thing? Haha not really sure how to describe that though! You should try out SymFace to check out how you’ll look like if you have a symmetrical face! For myself, apart from the hair, I looked great!
Interesting view. I’ve always known that humans are attracted to beautiful things, but nvr really known why. Its innate i guess.
Thank you for sharing too.
Enlightening content on worldly beauty.
Kindly articulate on human character next.
I’m eagerly awaiting your viewpoint.
the way people define beauty also differ with their culture. like Caucasian like tanned full lip and blonde while asian worship fairness.
Anyway great skin I think definitely make someone with average facial features stand out. I just love seeing girls with good skin than those have fake eyelashes and inch thick make up on their face.
It’s a cliche but still beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Sometimes we really have that weird feeling that we don’t look as beautiful as we wanted but surprisingly other people find us to be prettier than we think.
I do think you look pretty good yourself, much better than the average guys your age