There are conventional traits that women are evaluated as beautiful for. This knowledge was once passed down from one generation to the next. Due to overcorrecting for
past sins, many have decided to pretend that these traits don’t exist, leaving many feeling hopeless. I’ve compiled my ideas on basic, conventional beauty standards and how to replicate t…

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Softmaxxing

Softmaxxing techniques like mewing and gum chewing have gained popularity among those seeking non-invasive ways to enhance facial aesthetics. Mewing, named after orthodontist John Mew, involves maintaining proper tongue posture by pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth1. Proponents claim this can lead to a more defined jawline and improved facial structure over time2. However, scientific evidence supporting these claims is limited, and results may vary significantly among individuals.

Gum chewing, another softmaxxing method, is believed by some to strengthen jaw muscles and enhance facial definition. While excessive gum chewing can potentially lead to masseter muscle hypertrophy and a squarer jawline3, there's little scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness for facial enhancement4. In fact, some experts warn that excessive chewing may accelerate aging of the lower face3. It's important to note that these techniques should be approached cautiously, as their long-term effects on facial structure and oral health are not fully understood.

Hardmaxxing

Hardmaxxing procedures like Botox injections and jawline surgery have gained popularity among those seeking more dramatic facial transformations. Botox injections in the masseter muscles can slim and contour the jawline, with results typically visible after 8 weeks1. The procedure requires 48 to 72 units of Botox for effective masseter reduction, though dosage varies based on individual needs2. While non-invasive, Botox treatments are temporary and require maintenance.

For more permanent results, some turn to jawline surgery. This procedure can correct alignment issues and dramatically alter facial structure3. However, it comes with higher risks, including potential complications such as hematoma, infection, and nerve damage4. Both Botox and surgery should be approached cautiously, with thorough consultation from qualified medical professionals to ensure safety and desired outcomes.

Mental Health Impacts

Looksmaxxing can have significant negative impacts on mental health, particularly for young men and boys. The obsessive focus on physical appearance can lead to decreased self-esteem, social withdrawal, loneliness, and the development of an inferiority complex1. Prolonged exposure to looksmaxxing content on social media has been linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and body image dissatisfaction among adolescents23.

The trend's potential dangers extend beyond mental health issues. Some individuals resort to extreme and unsafe practices like "bone-smashing" or excessive dieting ("starvemaxxing") in pursuit of idealized appearances4. Mental health professionals warn that reducing one's value to physical attributes can be psychologically damaging, emphasizing the need for more sustainable ways to build self-esteem and identity5. Parents and caregivers should be aware of this trend and its potential to negatively affect young people's well-being, as it often preys on existing insecurities and low self-esteem

Beauty Trends Evolution

TikTok has emerged as a powerful force shaping beauty trends and consumer behavior, with the platform driving an estimated $31.7 billion in beauty sales1. Gen Z, in particular, is redefining beauty standards through TikTok, embracing trends that prioritize self-care, wellness, and natural looks2. Popular trends include "glass skin," which aims for a clear, poreless complexion, and "micro beauty," focusing on simplicity and efficiency3.

Unlike the potentially harmful looksmaxxing trend, many TikTok beauty trends promote inclusivity and self-expression. Gen Z consumers are increasingly drawn to brands that offer gender-inclusive products, diverse shade ranges, and sustainable packaging4. However, the rapid pace of trend cycles on TikTok can also lead to the spread of misinformation and potentially unsafe beauty practices3. As these trends continue to evolve, it's crucial for consumers to approach them critically and prioritize overall well-being over fleeting aesthetic ideals.

This post was originally an article I published on Perplexity

Here it is on my Github!

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15 months ago I decided to teach myself Python. This had been something I put on hold for nearly a decade as I pursued a music career in Tokyo. Not much time for coding.

But last year I had the perfect opportunity — I left my b2b SAAS job and had the resolve to as learn as much as possible before I began my graduate school program.

After a month of learning I started to get momentum.

I had the most fun scraping data and making prediction models — I really enjoyed doing one for MyAnimeList and Sephora.

This came to a pause early Summer 2023. I hit a major set back in my personal life. I went through my first serious break up & beginning an exciting new start up job in a matter of weeks.

Not much time for doing projects. My day to day work at Mintstars allows me to do technical tasks however it’s primarily in the form of data analysis.

So I’m trying something new - to finish each project that I start. Monday this week I decided I would go back to the Kaggle dataset I played around with last year and would create a working model from start to finish, deploy it to a web app and commit it to Github!

My goal is to ship at least one project a week.

As for this project — There’s a lot of work to be done on the UI side of things and making the model more accurate.

I’ve considered having it be a basic dupe machine that allows people to find cheaper alternatives to popular skin care items based on their needs.

I’m working on a larger project at the moment and am quite busy with work so this will have to be something that I come back to someday if I feel especially inspired. If you have any suggestions, ideas or open source projects you think I’d enjoy please send them my way :)

Face filters have become an integral part of selfie culture. Whether it's the desire for flawless skin, exaggerated features, or a touch of whimsy, augmented reality (AR) beautifying filters aren’t going anywhere. While there has been extensive research on the impact of AR filters on body image, I aim to delve deeper into how these filters put beauty standards on full display by comparing AR filters influenced by both the Western and Eastern cultures.

Augmented reality filters often rely on computer vision to detect facial landmarks, tracking, and motion detection to ensure the filter stays aligned in videos. They occasionally utilize machine learning to train the filter on a diverse set of facial features. Once considered a gimmick or a joke, they are now as commonly used as makeup. The use of an augmented reality filter is the defining element of the digital persona of a young woman.

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I have previously written about the strenuous beauty standards expected of women in places like Japan and Korea. The early adoption and widespread use of AR filters are a symptom of this phenomenon. They emerged roughly five to ten years earlier than their Western counterparts. If we include widely used photobooth technologies like purikura, which employed a rudimentary form of AR filters, one could argue for a span of nearly two decades.

Back in the mid-2010s, during my time in Japan, I witnessed the burgeoning AR filter hype firsthand. One popular app that stood out was called Snow.

(Me with an Asian AR filter on Instagram)

The filters most popular on Snow would not gain popularity in the West. They look odd and appear to be of alien origin. What most of these features have in common is the enlargement of eyes, slight trad-ish makeup and most important: skin lightening. These filters emphasize the exaggeration of the user’s existing features, creating a hyper-realistic effect.

(Me with an American AR filter on Instagram)

In contrast, Western face filters adopt a different aesthetic, often influenced by Hollywood glamour and bold makeup trends. American AR Filters commonly feature pigmented makeup, including sultry lipstick and bronzer. I found this difference to be intriguing upon consideration—these looks are almost the opposite of one another. Asian filters distort reality while American / Western filters are create another reality all together.

This distinction can be observed in other art forms or interior design as well—Japanese and Korean art/design rely on playing with the natural world, whereas their American counterpart drastically changes it.

There is plenty of discussion to be had on whether filters are causing body dysmorphia among young women. Instead of rejecting technology in the realm of body enhancement—whether digital or physical—I believe we should examine our society as a whole.

In an attempt to make sense of "selfie" culture, many critics have taken an anti-technology stance. They decry that filters create feelings of insecurity in young women. I challenge this perspective. How about we consider how this technology reflects our existing world?

Let’s challenge our perceptions of beauty and analyze how much of it is influenced by our biology and culture. Tech merely hold a mirror to it.

(Youtuber KennieJD)

The demand for inclusive beauty products, specifically cushion foundations, has been a topic of discussion within the cosmetics industry. For far too long. As K-Beauty continues to expand globally, individuals with darker skin tones eagerly await glass-skin products that cater to their specific needs. I’m going to review some cushion foundations for my skin tone that I’ve used in the past two years.

Dr.Gio

Dr.Gio, a brand I discovered through an Asian Boss Youtube documentary about start-ups, caught my attention. Founded by a woman of West African origin, the brand's commitment to inclusivity resonated with me. Having made three purchases from Dr.Gio over the years, I can share my thoughts on their products.

Shipping Times and Supply Issues

While I acknowledge that early pandemic days may have caused delays in shipping from Asia, I experienced extended waiting periods for two out of three orders from Dr.Gio. The anticipation reminded me of the early days of online shopping from Asia in the mid-2000s. Consequently, improving their shipping efficiency would greatly enhance the overall customer experience.

White Cast

One notable issue I encountered with Dr.Gio's cushion foundation was the presence of a white cast upon application. This drawback diminished the seamless integration of the foundation with my skin tone.

Extensive Shade Range

Dr.Gio deserves commendation for offering a remarkably diverse range of foundation tones for cushions. Their commitment to inclusivity is evident in the variety of shades they provide, catering to a wide spectrum of skin tones.

UPDATE

Although their Instagram is still up it seems that Dr.Gio is now defunct. This is sad but with the supply issues it isn’t surprising…Ultimately, I was hesitant to buy more from them until they improved some of these issues but it is still sad to see them go.

Em Cosmetics

Another brand that caught my attention for its darker cushion foundation options is Em Cosmetics, founded by YouTube Mogul Michelle Phan. Although not exclusively catering to individuals with darker skin tones, Michelle Phan ensured that her Korean-inspired dewy line was inclusive.

Em Cosmetics has become my new favorite smaller makeup brand, surpassing even Glossier, despite not being a cosmetics enthusiast. The brand excels in multiple aspects, including their charming packaging and provision of an extra cushion refill! They’ve also recently released darker skin tones since I last order so I’m eager to buy more from them.

CC Cream: It Cosmetics

Surprisingly, It Cosmetics' CC Cream has emerged as a hit among individuals seeking full coverage and inclusive tones, reminiscent of the dewy, oily look many of us adore. However, it falls short in one key aspect—it lacks the convenience of a cushion format. Although one can create a DIY cushion compact, the absence of an official cushion option dampens the overall experience. Despite this setback, It Cosmetics' CC Cream remains easily accessible, affordable, and ideally suited to my preferences.

The Industry's Opportunity for Inclusion

Korean beauty brands, unfortunately, seem to be missing out on significant opportunities by failing to cater to a broader range of skin tones. Given the success of Rihanna's Fenty Beauty, one would expect more brands to recognize the underserved market of women seeking cosmetics tailored to darker tones.

In some respects, the lack of inclusive tones in Korean beauty brands can be attributed to their primary target market—East Asia—where skin whitening treatments are widely prevalent. As a result, investing in developing darker shades may not be financially viable for companies primarily catering to this demographic. Moreover, introducing darker shades could potentially impact their consumer base. Shades darker than porcelain aren’t exactly sought after in East Asia. Therefore by offering a larger catalog of foundation tones, they could be sabotaging their brand in their main market.

Ultimately I am hopeful that we will see more inclusive cushion foundation tones soon. If you have any suggestions for cushion foundations or brands that do K-beauty inspired products for darker tones please let me know in the comments below.

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Just thirty minutes ago, I headed to the hotel lobby in Kyoto to get some coffee to take back to the room. I donned a slinky black dress, a waist-cinching belt, new leather pumps and a thin red cardigan to cover my shoulders for modesty. Thank god for Japan’s ongoing hygiene theatre. I didn’t have enough time to do my makeup and I was happy enough to wear a mask to hide that. All the women are in heels and long, modest dresses. Even the grandmas. To be a woman is to be on display.

I’ve written a few times on this blog to defend people who play into traditional beauty standards. Today I’m taking the time out to talk frankly about the bad of strict beauty standards. As a Black woman, I’m no stranger to these rules—middle class Black women don’t dare leave the house without a nice outfit, neat hair and a clean manicure. This same expectation is taken to an extreme in Japan, somewhere I lived for many years.

Sue me, but I don’t think that beauty standards are based solely on nurture. Features such as unblemished skin, clear eyes and teeth all signal good health. Yet — plenty of beauty standards posed on society are unrealistic compared to the average person. Beauty standards often promote a narrow and unrealistic ideal of what is considered attractive. This can create pressure on individuals to conform to this ideal, which can be difficult or even impossible for many people.

Body ideals vary vastly based on the culture yet they are unified on the front of being largely unobtainable. Most Black women do not want to be as thin as plenty of other women idealize. And in Japan many women would consider America’s beauty standard to be too athletic or muscular. The unifying feature of idealized bodies is that they are nearly unobtainable to the average woman without lots of dieting, exercise, surgery or genetics.

There’s an idea that Black Americans have some great feminist culture body positivity but this certainly is not the case. At fifteen, I stalked pro-anorexia blogs. The aim was to fit a giant Toblerone inside of your thigh gap. So imagine the shock I had at the $50 weave shop in Detroit when a group of the stylists, asserted that only dogs liked bones. Anything under 180 pounds was bones.

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Circle lenses are cosmetic contact lenses that enlarge the eyes of the wearer. Sometimes they change color. The reason many fans of the style wear the lens is to emulate the unworldly cuteness typically found in dolls or Disney Princesses. They range from slightly larger than natural to fish-eye bug lenses. Why would anyone pay money to look high? Neoteny. Or Western cultural imperialism. Most likely a bit of both. 

We’re in a Brave New World and no matter what fashion magazines declare, nature is out for good. Due to rapidly advancing technology, pretty privilege has been democratized. 

Some opt for payment plan lip fillers and others smuggle non-FDA-compliant circle lenses from Asia. 

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The History

Circle Lens aka カラコン was popularized in the early 2000s by Japanese pop stars like Ayumi Hamasaki and Namie Amuro. A few Japanese sources attribute German company ZEISS with creating the big eye lens. 

I first heard about Circle Lens fifteen years ago on MySpace. Besides the high likelihood of blindness from novel internet contact lens shopping, my Mother didn’t allow me to wear circle lenses for moral purposes. “Why would someone elses’ symptom of oppression?” At eleven, all I cared about was becoming as beautiful as photoshopped strangers on MySpace and entering Ulzzang contests. I brushed off my Mom’s concerns as moral righteousness without much consideration.

When I moved to Tokyo, I realized my Mom was kinda right. Much of the marketing for reference “haafu/half” is of mixed race. In this case, it’s safe to assume, White.  This isn’t exactly out of the ordinary for Japan, East Asia, or much of the non-Western world. As a Black American woman, I’m no stranger to the thin tightrope of beauty standards that women of color have to exist in. Plenty of proponents of anti-racism claim that Black America’s billion-dollar hair extension industry is proof of “internalized racism”. Arguments on the ethics of wearing imported hair weaves are frequent in Black gender war discourse. So, are circle lens and buss down weaves symptoms of White supremacy? Perhaps.

I’m not an East Asian woman and I understand things like double eyelid surgeries are big business. Therefore, I might be missing something culturally when it comes to this. I don’t want to downplay the impact that Western media could have. As a Black woman, I also understand cultural beauty pressures that push women towards a Westernized ideal.

Yet - I also hate when people moralize weave-wearing or facial contouring. Even if certain beauty trends “originate from oppression”, ridiculing women who partake in them is counterintuitive.

Leave women alone

Neoteny.

I’m afraid I can’t explain this without sounding like a neckbeard so I’ve instructed ChatGPT to explain it instead:

TLDR; Big eyes = cute. Besides your lips, eyes are the only feature on your face that you can dramatically change without the need of surgery. With just $50 and erm, a Dr.’s prescription, you can become instantly cute.

Male Gaze

I’m sure there’s also an argument to be made about women altering their bodies for the male gaze. This could totally be true–considering men hold the majority of power, appealing to their visual sensibilities seems like a pragmatic decision. It should be a decision that we talk about, yet I see no purpose in ridiculing women for this decision either.

Conspiracy

After a decade of usage, my circle lens feels more like a security blanket than a cosmetic enhancer. That’s probably not good. On the flip, they’re a lot more durable than other prescription lenses that I’ve worn. I have a conspiracy that Acuvue and Bioten are paying the FDA to keep them deregulated.

the pursuit of cuteness

I believe in every person’s bodily autonomy to modify themselves without ridicule. Plenty of people who claim to be anti-nature-fallacy make an exception when it comes to beauty and physical appearance. Whether it’s in the form of fillers, botox, makeup, or lash extensions I think it’s pretty amazing that we have that freedom.

Whether it’s due to cultural imperialism or self hate—is worth talking about. But, why can’t we just enjoy making our eyes big?

The future is now

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This is a video that I anticipated making for quite a while. There is this ongoing sentiment that beauty is ultimately a bad investment for women because it depreciates in value, according to society. I get it. I spend hours each week focusing on my hair, makeup and general aesthetic. Plenty of other women do, too. We should not have to be beautiful to be respected. Nor should we have to be beautiful to get better jobs. Yet, this is a reality of the current world that we live in.

I support people who decide to opt out of this system, one where we are penalized on outside appearance. It’s great to see people just give up trying to appeal to mainstream conventional standards. However I’d like society to be honest, beauty is a great investment for women. On its own possessing it can dramatically alter your life.