To think that society does not require Botox

Absolutely. And I’m in my fifties, I remember being young and ‘heroin chic’ aka ‘looking like a drug addict’ was an aspirational standard.

Indeed. Look at the fad for rotten teeth in the Elizabethan era, when sugar was a new treat for the very wealthy. Those nt blessed with actual decay would artificially blacken their teeth.

I think it must be really hard to be young these days. It would be a strange experience to age naturally when most of your age group look completely different to you due to various procedures. You’d lose all your points of reference.

The thing is, I think, all make up is designed and sold to us to say ‘you’re not enough as you are.’ As are cosmetic surgery, treatments etc. I say that as someone who wears make up every day.

I can pretend I’m wearing it just for me. But even if I was, where do I get the idea that I’m better if my lashes are longer, my skin is even, my cheeks are blushed? From society, of course. And from a capitalist society that wants to sell me things (which I happily buy, I’m not immune to this in any way.)

But imagine a world where eye bags were the new in thing! If looking tired and stressed was the epitome of beauty. There would be products to enhance the shadows under your eyes and injections you could have to produce extra wrinkles.

Of course it’s society. There has always been a ‘standard of beauty’ that changes through the years. It’s disingenuous to pretend otherwise.

I'm 55, and the closest I've come to any cosmetic work is having two patches of chloasma removed off my face (and that was so painful I've not gone back to sort the other bit out!). I find it really sad to see young women injected lord knows what into their faces - they're ironically making themselves age more not less. Watching most of the women taking part of MAFS UK with the identikit immobile and expressionless faces gave me the creeps.

Or course society doesn't require it, but obviously saying that to justify it to herself. I don't think those who have had it, and I do know a fair number, look any better for it.

I'm 40's and not succumbed to it, or any type of fillers/injectables and don't think I could be bothered.

So you’ve just started the job and a woman who barely knows you volunteered she has Botox and made it a society thing? Hmmm.

This sounds like engagement farming. I’m going to file it under ‘this didn’t happen’ and go on about my day.

@Ladamesansmerci, I come from a different school of female beauty that is not bound by patriarchy.

I love being a women! I celebrate being a woman! I do this, not for the adoration of the male gaze. I do it for my being!

I feel that for to long, women have been fed this lie, of our being, being dictated to by the patriarchy.

Who cares about what men think of us. I don’t!
But I do take pride in myself!

She's so skinny, and so much skinnier that she used to be when younger, she would look a lot more tired without whatever she's doing.

It's impossible to know what her "natural" face would look like, we'll never know, but I think she looks fantastic.

I just googled Kate Middleton. She looks odd smiling now as she had the lines in her cheeks but no eye movement.
Also a very shiny forehead and somehow slightly more generic and less like herself.

In fact she now rather bizarrely resembles Lindsey Lohan.

I’m telling you what a surgeon told my daughter - that having Botox in your twenties will not help you look younger; it will mess with your facial muscles’ ability to do their thing. I said nothing about 40 something Kate having Botox.

She’s beautiful but I don’t think she looks 10 years younger.

Kate Middleton looks absolutely fantastic, if there's one person to advertise how to do it "right" (if you want natural and subtle, but looking 10 years younger) that's her.

What's wrong with looking 10 years younger? you won't look like a 20 year old, but looking younger is not a bad thing.

People, women AND men, have been trying to improve or at least change their appearance for ever.

Botox is just a modern drug - or modern use of that drug.

It's not a new concept.

See my comment below. It’s a myth. This doesn’t work as a strategy

I'm not saying men never get Botox. But it has been bourne out of the pressure on women to look young and pretty, and I don't think there's any denying that. There's nothing society hates more than an ageing woman 🤷

I know it has many fantastic medical uses so Botox can be a good thing but I dont understand why a young woman would want to get it.
Surely you are just putting pressure on yourself for unrealistic expectations?(Wrinkles happen, that's just part of life).
And what about when social media tells you the Botox isn't enough? Fillers, tweakments, etc. I mean it's a look for sure, just not a good one.

To be honest I’m toying around with the idea of Botox and I’m late 20s. I don’t look older than I am but it’s almost like I want Botox as a preventative measure ie to delay aging in a sense. I see some areas of my skin starting to look a bit crepey and I don’t like that, eg I don’t have forehead lines but I can see faint creases/texture in that area.

Th same reason people chuck alcohol - the proven to be carcinogenic byproduct of rotting fruit and veg down their throats.

Because they want to 🤷‍♀️

what does the patriarchy has anything to do with anything? It's boring to pretend we can only be brain-washed and not have an original thought.

We had one saying that women only waxed their bikini line because "patriarchy" the other day. 🙄

These treatments are largely aimed at women.
really are not.

You forgot balloon lips and tangerine skin...

They are. Not lip fillers but my Dd has a growing male clientele.

I do not judge women, but I do strongly consider everyone to truly think about why women get Botox, because the only reasons are really driven by beauty standards, and thus patriarchy. I do not judge women for participating in the system we live in, but like, c'mon, at least ask yourselves why men aren't also getting lip filler etc. These treatments are largely aimed at women.

It is sad that young women in their early 20's feel the need to inject chemicals into their faces to conform to current standards.

It is just like a mini skirt or make up. Personal style and visuality. Just fashion. We still eat, poo and sleep without it, so who cares. Let them have it