It’s what every woman wants, at least on some level: beauty. Unfortunately, beauty itself is elusive, subjective, and what’s more, sometimes unhealthy. What do i mean? Let’s start with elusive. The very definition of the word dodge is, well, dodge. Dictionary.com defines the word dodge as follows:

e · lu · sive / ɪˈlu sɪv / Pronunciation Key Adjective 1. elude clear perception or complete mental understanding; difficult to express or define: an elusive concept. 2. cleverly or cleverly evasive: a fish that is too difficult to catch.

I especially like the second part of the definition that the example uses: a fish that is too difficult to catch. After all, that is a lot like beauty. Just when you think you are one step away from being beautiful, you find another area of ​​yourself that needs “beautification.” The classic example, of course, is the woman who becomes addicted to plastic surgery; First it is the eyes that need to be lifted, but once this is done, find another part of it that needs to be “fixed”. Perhaps the lips now seem too thin, the chin is flabby or there are those breasts that are doing the same.

While I have no problem with cosmetic surgery itself, I believe that one should go through a mental evaluation of oneself to determine if this particular procedure is going to have the desired effect, both mentally and physically. The bottom line is that some women actually feel better about themselves after a cosmetic procedure, while some are part of the “never satisfied” group, a group that certainly has problems beyond cosmetics.

Now, let’s move on to the “subjective.” What is the old adage? One man’s trash is another man’s, or in our case, “woman’s” treasure. In other words, every woman’s idea of ​​what is beautiful, or how more can be seen, is extremely subjective and personal. After all, we’ve all seen a person who completely defies our definition of beauty and, well, good taste, right? I mean, the TLC show “What Not to Wear” is a perfect example. Every woman who participates in the show has been voted on by “friends” who simply believe that she does not fit social standards of what is okay and what is not. And I have to say that there are some women that appear on the show that I, despite all my subjectivities, can’t believe they fit ANYONE’s idea of ​​taste. However, reminding me of another adage “beauty is in the eyes …” I am honored by the awareness of my own highly subjective perspectives on beauty.

So what is left? Oh that’s right – “unhealthy”. Again, I’ll cite a definition to help clarify from Dictionary.com, as the Oxford English Dictionary is not available online:

a health [uhn-hel-thee] adjective

1. you are not in good or normal health; in an unhealthy, weak, or morbid condition. 2. is not conducive to good health; Unhealthy – The night air was previously considered unhealthy. 3. dangerous; risky.

Many aspects of the concept of beauty are, according to the aforementioned definitions, unhealthy. Few would argue that cosmetic surgeries can be risky, that many cosmetics on the market “do not lead to good health” and that many of the worst offenders, weight loss products, are “dangerous.” Additionally, America’s fascination with being thin, and sometimes critically, often leads to anorexia and bulimia, which is certainly not a condition that many would consider “good or normal health.”

In conclusion, while beauty is, as I think I have noted above, elusive, subjective, and sometimes unhealthy, people around the world are taking steps to make positive changes that affect worldviews, health, and health. concern for beauty. Some examples include Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty, companies that make dolls with normal features (and measurements), and those that offer more natural and healthier ways to enhance one’s idea of ​​beauty. Natural beauty options, in fact, have gained huge popularity in recent years. For example, Burt’s Bees has been offering all-natural cosmetic and personal care options for some time, organic clothing is now sold in abundant retail stores, and cosmetics companies such as Erth Minerals have begun making mineral makeup that is made from fresh products. crushed. minerals and therefore without chemicals and preservatives harmful to health. In short, the future of healthier beauty and more options to satisfy our eternal, elusive, and subjective quest for beauty will continue to grow for years to come.