Man-made or Natural Beauty

Passage 3

📖 READING PASSAGE: Man-made or Natural Beauty

The incessant images in the media of women of great beauty and men of rugged and striking looks have many of us wondering what we should do about our bodies and appearance. Research suggests that females are 10 times more likely than males to be dissatisfied with their bodies but male dissatisfaction is on the increase. Wealthy individuals and people who live in developed countries, especially Europe, are more susceptible to these feelings of discontent. So the outlook is bleak if you are a rich female in the UK. What is a girl to do—go for some quick and easy man-made solutions or keep it natural and do it the hard way?

The answer to this question, of course, is up to the individual; but first of all, let's look at one of the most in demand, widespread and affordable forms of cosmetic surgery—Botox. Botox is, in fact, a poison derived from the bacterium 'Clostridium Botulinum' which causes 'Botulism', a severe form of food poisoning. Botox is used, however, in small doses to paralyse the muscles in the face. At first, this treatment was developed for patients suffering from muscle disorders. Nowadays, it has the effect of smoothing out lines and wrinkles on the face. As the search for the elixir of life is by no means a new phenomenon, Botox has undoubtedly become popular. It ought to be remembered though that this 'baby face' is only temporary; Botox lovers need to be topped up about every 3 months. Side effects also need to be taken into account. Botox treatment could lead to headaches, droopy eyelids or eyebrows and weakness in neighbouring muscles.

Other common forms of cosmetic surgery, especially among celebrities whose job is to look stunning all the time, are collagen, silicone, or fat injections. As opposed to Botox which smoothes out wrinkles, collagen injections can fill them out as well as correct acne scars or plump up lips. Collagen is made from the connective tissues of pigs and cows and has the potential to last up to 18 months. 3% of the population is allergic to this material; symptoms of an allergic reaction can include rashes, blisters, soreness, headaches and joint and muscle pain. Silicone is made of synthetic chemicals and is used for the same purpose as collagen. Side effects of silicone injections can include discolouration of the surrounding tissues, movement of the silicone to other parts of the body, and bruising. Transplanting fat from other parts of the body is the best option if you want to avoid allergic reactions or other unwanted repercussions. However, this is a much more complicated and time-consuming procedure. Other cosmetic treatments include face peeling and laser surgery.

Now that we've discussed man-made ways to look better, let's take a look at some more natural alternatives. There are some simple, cheap and natural approaches to looking better and feeling more comfortable about oneself. First of all, let's be realistic. We will never look as good as the ravishing women in magazines and hunky men in movies and for some very good reasons; they use body doubles in movies, airbrushing after photo shoots and have their own personal trainers, make-up artists and hairdressers. So don't believe everything you see in the media, but more importantly, stop comparing yourself to megastars.

Secondly, take care of your body, which means watching what you eat and getting in shape but remember: exercising and starving yourself till you faint is not only irrational and unhealthy; it's not attractive. It's also wise to understand your body type. Humans basically come in a combination of three body shapes: Ectomorphs, endomorphs and mesomorphs. The first type, people who are tall and thin with long limbs, lose weight easily so should do gentle exercise and regular weight training. The second type, people who have wide hips and large bones, gain weight easily so should do gentle weight training and regular exercise. The final type, people who are short with broad shoulders and well developed muscles should do light weights and exercise such as yoga or Pilates.

Don't stop there; grooming can also make you feel better about yourself and increase your confidence. Shaving, applying depilatory creams, waxing, sugaring, plucking and bleaching are all ways to get rid of any unwanted hair. For clear skin, follow a three-step skincare routine of cleansing, toning and moisturising morning and night. Using an exfoliator, medicated wash and eating a balanced diet are also beneficial for the skin. Finally, make sure you smell good. Body odour can be minimised by washing often, wearing clean clothes and using an anti-perspirant deodorant. Bad breath can be combated by visiting the dentist twice a year for a check-up, brushing twice a day, rinsing with mouthwash and using dental floss. Smelly feet can be avoided by washing regularly, keeping your feet dry, letting them breathe and not wearing the same shoes on consecutive days. Finally, perfecting your posture also goes a long way to make you look slimmer and make your clothes look better. To improve your posture, hold your head up, elongate your neck, stick out your chin, pull your shoulders back and down and slightly bend your knees.

Don't let the media crush your confidence. Prior to going under the knife or injecting a needle to improve your appearance, it's best to carefully consider alternative, more natural ways to look and feel your best.