The beauty industry is a significant hub influence lives from its representation to the drastic changes portrayed. Everyone aims to be attractive in some form to conform to society’s beauty standards—that doesn’t come without a few alternations though. The projection of beauty is something that most aspire to, a sense of pride is placed into one’s appearance because we tend to value appearances highly when making our decisions. Unfortunately, the beauty industry has a history of not accurately representing all skin types and tones—there has been recently upheaval of the industry intentionally barring itself from inclusion and causing many people to protest the kind of representation depicted in media. Of course, we might not always realize our emphasize on appearances, but it is deeply entrenched in our societal worth from networking to promotions. The frustrations brought from media portrayals can cause some to feel hopeless and lost. But, through all this emphasis placed on beauty how might one achieve the perfect look? The answer is more possible than one might think.
Why The Beauty Industry Is Changing
Inclusion in the beauty industry is still within its very early stages. The amount of representation and integration portrayed in media is roughly based around its traditional western standards for most, but noticeable gradual changes are being made in representation to individuals with all skin types. Beauty companies have recently launched all-inclusive lines, a staple within an industry that historically catered to specific types and tones. These products are often aimed towards those with poor skin who don’t have a regiment or have relentlessly tried different skincare products to help their skin. However, societal beauty standards have led many to self-harm, because of the lack of representation and traditionally negative agenda that has been propelled through society as one form of beauty.
According to a recent study, nearly 8.3 Americans have reported suffering from severe psychological distress or dealing with critical levels of stress, depression, and anxiety which is brought about from a variety of societal expectations that tend to overwhelm others. The inclusion of all skin types is a significant staple in society as it provides a platform for real individuals to speak out about their issues without fearing judgment or backlash—all age groups and genders now have a platform to speak about their problems distinctively concerning beauty standards and how it affects them, something never done before. The openness about discussion of mental health has been a massive reason for nonjudgmental conversations sparking about typically taboo subjects—studies have shown nearly 80% of adults under the age of 36 felt as if they weren’t as healthy as they could be, and over 70% of the U.S population was considered overweight or obese in 2016. The discourse between these two topics has allowed a sense of realness from collagen and elastin products to understand the needs of people better.
What Do These Changes Mean For The Beauty Industry?
The changes in the industry are bringing much more positivity towards facing real discussion and topics of people who aren’t comfortable in their skin or merely looking for a change in appearance. Societal expectations consume a considerable portion of our lives aiming to achieve a sense of success and purpose that have been idealized for us. Typically, our hectic schedules don’t allow for proper sleep, nearly 35.5% of adults receive less than 7 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. The continuous lack of sleep begins to affect appearances and cause premature aging through wrinkles and dark circles from poor blood circulation and skincare regimen, which leads people towards medical procedure, like skin tightening and anti-aging skin resurfacing treatment to get glowing skin. Some even travel to areas to get their procedures done, such as microdermabrasion in Dallas for their world-renowned work. Others opt for a medical spa who specialize in all skin types, to replenish hydration within the skin to reserve sun damage and treat facial capillaries that cause dark circles. The face of the beauty industry is rapidly changing for the better—the amount of transparency allows individuals to feel more confident about their choices than ever before.
