Hey teenage-me, this is for you!

What would you say to your puberty-you? Looking back, Luisa thinks that her struggles with feeling beautiful were ridiculous. Story by Luisa Funk Dear Luisa, I know that you are struggling with your appearance and your self-image is pretty bad. You feel anything but beautiful. And I remember why you feel that way. I know that since puberty you started to compare yourself to others … Continue reading Hey teenage-me, this is for you!

(SK)INSPIRATION

Spots, pigment, tattoos, bumps, scars, stretch marks, acne, eczema, moles, freckles. The list is endless. Our skin is unique. We are taught that we need to ‘feel comfortable in our own skin’, but the types of skin our society seems to prefer are those no one seems to have. We expect our skin to be flawless, nothing out of the ordinary. We are getting used … Continue reading (SK)INSPIRATION

Chocolate Side – What is your photo face? 

We all have one side of our face that we find more beautiful than the other. In German there is a special expression for it: Schokoladenseite, which means chocolate side. Is it a myth or is there more to it? Story by Franziska Kircher One half of the face is typically perceived as more beautiful. Dr. Joachim Graf von Finckenstein explains the background to this. … Continue reading Chocolate Side – What is your photo face? 

The Science of Attraction

Attraction is highly valued in society and although body trends change every decade, the ‘ideal face’ has mostly remained. Studies show that similar facial features are considered ‘beautiful’ in many parts of the world. But how much do we know about attraction? Story by Eliza Freeman Psychologist Josef Vuister explains attraction can be explained through simple theories like the Evolutionary Theory of Attraction. “We are … Continue reading The Science of Attraction

The (Un)filtered Truth

Getting a full face of make-up within seconds through beauty filters or editing apps – modifying your own pictures got quite normal. But how does the use of these filters and applications influence our self-image? Story by Luisa Funk It takes one tap and the selfie looks ‘perfect’ – thanks to beauty filters or editing apps. The last few years, modifying your selfies has become … Continue reading The (Un)filtered Truth

Saartje Langstraat

“It’s all about confidence”

True beauty comes from within. That’s not exactly what you would associate with beauty contests, where it seems to be all about appearances. But to win, you don’t just have to look perfect. Saartje Langstraat (21), the Miss Beauty Netherlands from 2021 gives insight into the world of pageants and how participating has changed her perspective on beauty. Story by Jana Prochazka How do you … Continue reading “It’s all about confidence”

Trolley dollies: The impossible beauty standards of a flight attendant

Flight attendants are expected to radiate beauty on the outside, while many are feeling far from glamorous on the inside. Crew gives their insight into the dated and sometimes toxic beauty expectations of the industry.  Story by Eliza Freeman The airline industry is one that everyone is familiar with, and many are fascinated by, yet most people know very little about it. Stewardess, flight attendant, … Continue reading Trolley dollies: The impossible beauty standards of a flight attendant

My ethnicity is not your aesthetic

Trends on Tik Tok are mostly harmless. A little dance here, a little make-up there. But sometimes they overlap with foreign cultures and are appropriated. Let’s dive into the phenomenon of cultural appropriation and find out why it’s not acceptable. Story by Anahita Ahmadi and Katja Pelic Many celebrities have been under fire for years because of their affiliations with cultural appropriation. An example is … Continue reading My ethnicity is not your aesthetic

The psychology behind first impressions

For people who are at the start of their careers, succeeding in first impressions is an important factor. But is a good first impression mostly dependent on your looks, or is there more behind this process? An interview with expert Zabeth van Veen. Story by Willemijn Besaris Zabeth van Veen (56) is an image expert and coaches people on visibility and prejudice. She knows all … Continue reading The psychology behind first impressions