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https://vogue.sg/5-singaporean-women-on-how-looks-can-cause-or-cure-depression/

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You know those "put a finger down" challenges on TikTok? Let's try that. Put a finger down if you have the Facetune app on your phone. Another one down if you have Mei Tu (or Pi Tu), one more for Snow, Snapseed and, well, the rest of your fingers for the other face filters on Instagram. You're not alone-I use them all too. Our habitual swipes (and unwitting addiction) to enhance how we look has become so commonplace that it's almost impossible to not see and show the best looking sides of every story.

But editing or filtering images doesn't mean we're on some pursuit of perfection-we're really not-and neither does it mean we can't deal with natural skin textures, facial features and beauty marks that make us unique. It's more about adding a little oomph for the 'gram, and in a way, to distract from the little things that we might feel insecure about. Some of us aren't confident or comfortable enough to reveal our maskne or upload a bare-faced boomerang-and that's ok.

The line, however, between wanting to "look cute" and actually feeling pressured to look (or not look) a certain way is an ultra fine one. Things can turn ugly when one succumbs to expectations, society's standards or representations of what is "beautiful", which can lead to real deep-seated issues and sometimes, even depression.

This is why we need to ask ourselves: Why do we feel the need to present an edited version of ourselves-and for who? Do I really expect to look like that air-brushed supermodel if I purchase and put on the lipstick she's advertising? What is it that I want to conceal or change about how I look, and why do I feel that way? Is it really a matter of accentuation versus authenticity-can't we embrace both? And how can we heal from this?

We speak to five Singaporean women, all of whom face multi-faceted pressures daily, on how to better check in with yourself and address your insecurities, how to shift perspectives and heal, and what needs to evolve in the business of beauty.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFzEVjVHvbI/

Rebecca Eu

I'm not saying men don't have insecurities but I do think women start to place impossible standards on ourselves much earlier than we realise. Beauty can and should be a source of strength and inspiration. Oftentimes it bends and shapes us into something we barely recognise. I see that even in my own work and content when I post a picture on instagram or when I "like" a post by someone everyone says is beautiful. Speaking purely on experience, I think obsessing over beauty feeds into insecurity and ultimately, depression.

I am a privileged person and I can afford most luxuries in this world. Despite this, there are many moments where I still feel unworthy and far from beautiful. This is triggered by the variables we choose to include into our own standard of beauty. The media we consume, the comments our friends make and the messages we can never quite shake off. What about the messages we choose to represent us? If beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder, shouldn't what we say matter more than all of the above?

I've struggled with weight my whole life. I work really, really hard to stay healthy and that means balancing between being a shape I like and not obsessing over that shape too much. I'd be lying if I said I didn't struggle with my weight anymore. Having control over it and not the other way around is a constant struggle I find myself confronting. Perhaps I am more concerned about how my diet affects my silhouette than it does my cholesterol. It shouldn't be that way, but it is.

In Singapore, I always felt that the girls I grew up with had a particular look. They were all tall and fair and linear. I remember getting kicked out of ballet class because of the sound I made when I landed on the wooden floor versus the delicate tap these swans would make in comparison. I was 8 when my ballet teacher called me an elephant. I don't remember much of my primary school life but I remember that.

Some years later, I appeared in a society magazine for the social enterprise work I did in the Philippines. The image was a tall, fair and linear girl with a waist that definitely wasn't mine. I love that picture, to be honest. It might not represent the true anatomy of my organs but that didn't stop me from using the photo multiple times since it was published because I look "great". I didn't decide that but society, my friends and people I have never met in real life affirm how "great" I looked in that photo.

I don't know where the cycle starts but we have to stop seeking a perfect standard and expect everyone to adhere to it. I think young women have been emboldened to express their beauty more freely now, but the subconscious expectation of perfect asian beauty still stands. I urge everyone-society, personal perceptions and the industry-to challenge the standard that we've made for ourselves and each other. We are allowed to have pores and stretch marks and sizes beyond small and medium. It's about time we accept beauty is human.

We cannot avoid catastrophic days so let's keep it at the bare minimum. The rest of the noise is something we have to choose to shut out. Choose to be happier and better to yourself and the world around you. In the meantime, the rest of us will be rooting for you.

In Singapore, there is a cornucopia of people waiting to be represented. Let's make their presence known instead of insisting on one type of beauty.

Hanli Hoefer

What is a beauty-related insecurity you've had, and why do you think you felt that way? When I was younger I was insecure about my skin because I didn't have "good skin". This lead me to wear full foundation on most days. This was because of photoshop and face-tune culture. It would be rare to see an untouched complexion, "bad skin" is hidden. I still break out and have the occasional sprout of hormonal acne but the difference is that now I know that it's not my skin that's the problem it's the industry's problem.

Sahur Saleim

Do you feel that beauty can be both a cause and a cure of depression? What would you say are the reasons and triggers behind this?
Personally for me make-up has always been an artistic escape. My face is just another canvas for me to experiment on and express my creativity. I find the art of make-up incredibly therapeutic and I always enjoy coming up with new looks that stretch me as an artist. Depression is a much more serious issue but make-up is something I turn to for comfort on days that I feel low. However, it is easy to feel insecure about your skin texture, pigmentation and what not when you are only being fed expertly retouched photos of models with flawless skin.

Narelle Kheng

Do you feel that beauty can be both a cause and a cure of depression? What would you say are the reasons and triggers behind this?
Definitely a double-edged sword. I guess it's to remember that make-up is a great outlet, but its not a solution. It's fun to change the way you look, but important to love yourself underneath it. And that we're multifaceted beings, you can look bomb one moment and like a turd the next it doesn't diminish either; you're just both, and more. As a society we should also learn to praise and value other qualities. We can Stan a great vibe, but we should Stan great character more.

What is a beauty-related insecurity you've had, and why do you think you felt that way?
When I was younger I definitely had a lot of issues with my body. At first I didn't want my hips to grow too wide. Then they weren't wide enough, I was too short, not pretty enough. I hated my eye bags. I just always thought I had to fit into this mould and look a certain way and I was obsessed with keeping it up because of the easy validation that comes with it. I think its because pretty-privilege exists, we tend to treat people better when they look better. Then it becomes a rats-race and obsession. Societal, personal and industrial standards are all intertwined and exist off each other. The only thing we can start changing first though, is ourselves.

How did you overcome this, and how do you feel about it now?
Right now the only thing that annoys me is that I have bad skin! It's frustrating, makes me look unhealthy and tired, and I get insecure when people come too close so I end up trying to stay away or I hide, and then I don't even get to talk to people. But then I realise that thats dumb, because people don't remember my skin, but they'll probably remember a good conversation we had. And personally, I also rather enjoy and good moment so.... talk lah.

I also started to realise that I wouldn't post pictures on the Instagram because I thought I looked bad, but then months down I'll look at the same picture and think, "oh you use to look good, why didn't you post it? Now you look like shit!" After that happened a few times I was like "?!??!? It was obviously fine, you're being overly negative and you've wasted so much time and emotional energy fussing over this, was it really worth it?" The answer is always no.

Then I decided to strip everything back and for a year or so I chose not to care about fashion or make-up to figure myself out a bit more, and I really helped. There were people that took me less seriously, but there were also those who took me more. Right now I think I've found a balance in that I enjoy make-up and dressing up as expression but if I don't want to, I don't. And I know that who I am is more important than what I look like. If I meet people that don't feel the same way, they're not people for me.

What is it about society's expectations, people's perceptions or the industry's messaging that you feel needs to change?
To value kindness and empathy; quirks, character, expression; creativity of all sorts. And to be honest and real about both the good and the bad.

What advice can you give someone who might be depressed or pressured about how they look?
Inner confidence and beauty will shine a lot brighter and last a lot longer than any highlighter. And you are special and unique in your own way, if you keep trying to be someone else you will never find it.

Aarika Lee

Do you feel that beauty can be both a cause and a cure of depression? What would you say are the reasons and triggers behind this?
I think if we think of beauty in only the superficial sense of "looking" a certain way then it's more likely to become a cause of depression. The beauty industry is also so intense with new products for new "problems" launching all the time that you can't help but feel like you have to buy something that you likely don't really need, or need to fix a problem that you probably don't really have. And that totally adds to mental stress. But if we consider beauty as a means for us to engage in self-care and focus on well-being in a more holistic way, I think it could be very beneficial. I think as humans we want to know that we have a greater purpose and are part of something larger than we are. So for example, being able to choose a beauty product that is also sustainable makes me feel like I'm caring for myself and the environment. It takes the focus off just me trying to look like someone I can't and allows me to focus on something bigger than myself.

What is a beauty-related insecurity you've had, and why do you think you felt that way?
I don't feel like there I have an issue becoming older-like counting up to a new number every year, but I increasingly feel the insecurity of looking older. I think that it's totally triggered by what we hear and see in the beauty industry with all the anti-aging, youth-enhancing, time-reversing products that are in the market. I think everyone wants to age gracefully but that's not the message that's going out. Mostly I just infer that I shouldn't look old.

How did you overcome this, and how do you feel about it now?
It's tough. I think I need to alter my expectations of what getting older looks like haha! I can't say I've gotten over it yet.

What is it about society's expectations, people's perceptions or the industry's messaging that you feel needs to change?
I think beauty standards need to be adjusted to be more realistic.

What advice can you give someone who might be depressed or pressured about how they look?
You were made to be you and put on this earth for a reason, and very little of it is pinned to the way you look. It is what you say, what you can do, how you can make a change in whatever capacity you have the means to, that will matter the most at the end of this life. Love yourself-especially when it's the hardest to, it counts the most. And surround yourself with people who love you and champion you.
You are not alone. For mental health support in Singapore, visit the Singapore Association for Mental Health. For mental health support in Malaysia, visit the Malaysian Mental Health Association.

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Beauty's double-edged sword: 5 Singaporeans on how looks can be both the cause and cure of your insecurities

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Vogue Singapore speaks to Rebecca Eu, Hanli Hoefer, Sahur Saleim, Narelle Kheng and Aarika Lee on unrealistic beauty expectations, society standards and how the way we communicate all needs to change for good

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8956164/

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The contrasting effects of body image and self-esteem in the makeup usage

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Women wearing makeup are perceived by others as more attractive, competent, dominant, and more socially prestigious. Individuals differ in how much and how frequently they use makeup. Some studies show that women with lower self-esteem use more makeup,…

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https://blogs.transparent.com/indonesian/love-and-courtship-in-indonesian-culture/

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Indonesian Language Blog | Language and Culture of the Indonesian-Speaking World

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In Indonesia, where family plays an important role in partner selection, a courtship and finding the right partner is a family affair. Most parents believe that the best candidates for their future daughter or son-in-law should have a good background based on the crucial aspects of "Bibit, Bebet, Bobot" which has a Javanese origin, referring respectively to family wealth, social rank, and ancestry. Parents believe that their future in-laws should at least come from the same social status and religion.

Indonesian culture places higher importance on the acceptance and approval of community or family. Therefore, at the early courtship, both sides try their best to be accepted by their parents. There is a saying in Indonesia, "Kalau kita menikah, kita juga menikah dengan keluarga" which means when you marry your girlfriend or boyfriend, you also marry the family. The engagement period is rarely recognized in Indonesia, as the couples move to the marital stages soon after a long courtship.

Young people in Indonesia usually develop a romantic interest in Junior High School (Sekolah Menengah Pertama or SMP) when they are around 12 years of age. Even though, they are involved in a romantic relationship (berpacaran or pacaran), they spend most of their time with friends, siblings or family. They rarely go out on their own. Parents usually urge their youngster to focus on education and discourage them from having an early romantic relationship. They often tell their children that they are "masih kecil", meaning, they are still a child or too young to date.

Young men who have a romantic relationship while they are still in Middle School or High School, commonly visit the girl in her house. Although a boyfriend may visit his girlfriend on Malam Minggu (Saturday Night), they spend time with the girlfriend's family. They watch TV, have interesting conversations, or play guitar and sometimes, the boyfriend also brings with him his male friends to hang out with them.

When couples go out, they usually go to the movies, eat at street food vendors "warung" while having a conversation to get to know each other better. They don't show physical intimacy openly, but holding hands is acceptable. However, Indonesians are increasingly doing more than just holding hands in public. "Kencan" or dating is also gaining acceptance in Indonesian society as a path that does not always lead to long courtships and marriage.

Related terms and words:

Images were taken from Flickr.com/creative commons

1. By Lan Rasso

2. by Dony Ismanto

2. by Tamahaji

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Love and Courtship in Indonesian Culture | Indonesian Language Blog

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In Indonesia, where family plays an important role in partner selection, a courtship and finding the right partner is a family affair.

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https://fass.nus.edu.sg/ecs/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/11/GOOD-st-10may-pA23-1.pdf

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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/style/inclusive-beauty-finds-its-way-to-singapore

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Inclusive beauty finds its way to Singapore

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More beauty brands are helping customers feel included, regardless of race, age, size, gender and sexuality. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1011300

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Li Zhenzhen is convinced that allowing her young son to breathe through his mouth while he sleeps will damage his appearance. So she has decided to force the boy to stop - by sealing his lips with medical tape.

Every night since her son was five months old, Li has covered his mouth with tape before putting him to bed. The mother has been told repeatedly that what she's doing is unnecessary and potentially dangerous, but she doesn't care.

She believes that the tape will ensure her child grows into an attractive adult. And in her view, being handsome will provide him with life-long benefits.

"I've simply been doing what I can ... to ensure he has a better future," the mother tells Sixth Tone. "Isn't that what every parent wants?"

In China, a growing number of parents are taking drastic measures to ensure their infant children conform to traditional beauty standards. In their eyes, a child's future success will depend on their physical appearance just as much as their education - and so they need to intervene early.

It's a trend driven by social media. On Chinese social platforms, influencers are promoting a range of products that they claim will correct perceived physical imperfections in young children: from braces for 3-year-olds' teeth, to helmets designed to mold a baby's skull to a desired shape, and leg binds that supposedly make children's legs grow straight.

Posts about these products often reach massive audiences, and they have fueled the growth of an entire baby beauty industry. On Xiaohongshu, an Instagram-like platform, there are now dozens of vendors selling anti-mouth breathing tape for children.

But the trend has sparked alarm among Chinese medical professionals. Doctors say that some of these products can seriously damage children's health, causing brain damage and other permanent conditions. So far, however, the warnings have done little to dent their popularity.
'Beauty is power'
Chinese society has long placed an outsized focus on physical appearance: Many employers, for example, still specify requirements for candidates to be a certain gender, height, and level of beauty.

As elsewhere, social media has only intensified the country's obsession with beauty. Cosmetic surgery is exploding in popularity. Influencers are promoting extreme weight loss challenges. Cases of eating disorders are spiking, especially among teenage girls.

This is leading many parents to pass on their body image anxiety to their children, believing that they're setting them up for success in later life, scholars from East China Normal University's School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences tell Sixth Tone.

"When it comes to beauty, it's common for people to refer to widely acknowledged aesthetic standards," says Li Ling, an associate professor at the school, who isn't related to Li Zhenzhen. "It's an era when 'looks matter.' People believe beauty is power."

For many parents, physical appearance has become another front in the Chinese rat race, Li says. It has long been common for Chinese families to sign up children for hours of extracurricular tuition from as young as 3 years old, for fear they'll fall behind their peers. Now, the competition is extending into other areas, too.

"Parents want to give their kids a better future. They want to make sure they don't lose at the starting line," says Li. "Traditionally, we believed it referred to academic studies. But now, it's more about giving a child comprehensive preparation (for adult life)."
Adenoid face
In mother Li Zhenzhen's view, being physically attractive is like having a safety net: It will give her son more security when he grows up.

"In the worst case scenario, if he doesn't have any strong abilities, he will still be able to make a living with his good looks," she says.

So when Li noticed that her 5-month-old son breathed through his mouth slightly while sleeping, she was immediately concerned. She'd read online that mouth-breathing can lead children to develop an unsightly "adenoid face."

Adenoid face - also known as adenoid facies - is a real condition: When children suffer from blocked nasal passages and are forced to breathe through their mouths for long periods, it can affect the development of their jaws. Common signs of adenoid face include an elongated face, prominent incisors, a short upper lip, and elevated nostrils.

On Xiaohongshu, a lifestyle platform with a massive user base among young parents, influencers have spread fear about adenoid face. Many have suggested that any child who breathes through their mouth could develop the condition, and promote mouth tape as a way to prevent this.

These posts have had a huge impact. On Xiaohongshu's shopping channel, there are around 200 mouth tape products specifically designed for children on sale. More than 100,000 packs of children's mouth tape are sold on Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao every month, according to the platform's sales data.

Li has become a passionate mouth tape advocate. After noticing her son's mouth-breathing, she purchased some tape online straightaway. Within days, sealing his mouth shut had become part of her daily routine.

"He suffered from a skin rash at the beginning," she recalls. "I changed brands many times, and eventually found a product that he didn't develop an allergy to."

But doctors warn that mouth tape cannot prevent adenoid face; on the contrary, using it can be highly dangerous.

Chronic mouth-breathing - the kind that causes adenoid face - is caused by enlarged adenoids, which are glands that sit above the roof of the mouth and the tonsils. When the adenoids become enlarged - which can happen due to an infection, allergy, or genetics - they block off a child's nasal passages, forcing them to breathe through their mouths to get enough oxygen.

Enlarged adenoids can be treated with medication, which reduces the inflammation, or surgery in severe cases. Mouth tape does nothing but deprive the child of vital oxygen, which can cause lifelong harm.

"Sealing their mouths is not the solution to the blocked nasal passages," says Qian Wei, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at United Family Healthcare in Shanghai. "The application of mouth tape without medical instruction might cause oxygen deprivation and brain damage."

In June, a 5-year-old boy in east China's Jiangsu province reportedly almost suffocated while wearing mouth tape. The story became a trending topic on Weibo, China's Twitter-like microblogging platform, at the time, sparking much discussion of parents' growing anxiety over their children's appearance.

Yet mouth tape remains popular. Li says she had no idea the product could be dangerous until she posted about her experience using it on Xiaohongshu, and several commenters mentioned the health risks.

She took her son to the hospital for an examination soon after. Fortunately, the results showed that her son's brain was developing normally. The doctor questioned Li's use of the mouth tape, but the mother still insists she's doing the right thing.

"I want to give him the best I can," says Li. "There's nothing wrong with parents striving for their children to have a good appearance."

Even today, Li continues to use mouth tape on her son, and posts regularly about the product on Xiaohongshu. Though she regularly receives criticism from other users, many other parents support her enthusiastically.

Under one recent post, the most upvoted comment among hundreds of responses is from a user praising Li for her persistence, and saying that her boy is sure to grow up into a handsome man.

"Thanks for the blessing! To make sure he will continue growing up good-looking, I'll keep using mouth tape," Li replied.
The baby beauty business
For doctors like Qian, the level of faith that Chinese parents now place in social media is extremely worrying - but difficult to counter.

"Exchanges on online platforms are social behaviors, not medical consultations - it's a dangerous trend that people turn to social media for serious medical advice," says Qian. "Parents have been paying more attention to the adenoid issue. It has been partly fueled by discussions on social platforms."

Li Ling, the professor, says that social media exerts a powerful influence on parents' behavior in China. As elsewhere, the Chinese platforms spread anxiety among families, which the baby beauty industry has learned to manipulate and channel into sales.

"The flood of information and the market strategies that purposefully create anxiety to drive consumption have worked together to lead parents to think and move in the same direction," says Li.

Today, the baby beauty business goes far beyond mouth tape. Dental products are increasingly being targeted at very young kids: some children as young as 3 years old are now wearing braces 24 hours a day.

Other parents are using swaddling products to tightly bind their children's lower legs. Influencers claim this can prevent children from developing so-called "X-shaped legs," where the legs are not fully straight.

Among the most popular new products are helmets that correct a baby's skull shape as it grows. Vendors say that if a baby wears the helmet 23 hours a day for four months, it will develop the desired skull shape: round instead of flat, and with a prominent forehead.

In the United States, doctors sometimes prescribe helmet therapy if a baby's skull is misshapen, but the product can only be used under medical supervision. In China, however, the helmets are sold freely online, with prices ranging from 2,000 yuan ($287) to 20,000 yuan.

And they have reached a wide audience. Last year, the helmets began trending on Weibo, generating an enthusiastic response from users. "I want to go back to my baby days and ask my parents not to give me a flat head," read one of the top comments, with nearly 5,000 likes.

Xu, a mother from east China's Zhejiang province, placed an order for a helmet for her 7-month-old baby in August, after hearing about the product online. It has been bothering her for months that her son's skull isn't fully symmetrical - an issue that she believes stems from the days he spent in an incubator after being born, when the nurses failed to correct his sleeping posture.

"It just didn't look standard," the mother tells Sixth Tone. "I had to take action to help. Otherwise, it will break my heart every time I see my son, if his head remains that asymmetrical."

Now, Xu makes sure her son wears the helmet all day, and posts updates on Xiaohongshu to let other parents know how he's doing. Her only regret, she says, is that she didn't buy the helmet sooner.

"I regret it so much that I made up my mind so late," she says. "I should have put him in a helmet when he was just 3 months old. It's much easier to make the correction then."
Alternative remedies
More worryingly, Chinese parents are increasingly treating social media as an alternative source of medical advice. In some cases, this is causing them to seriously damage their children's health.

Mouth-breathing is a case in point. If a child fails to receive treatment for a severe case of enlarged adenoids, it can cause real harm: sleep disorders, intermittent hypoxia, poor neurological development, hearing loss, and even brain damage.

"When a child's nasal airway is severely obstructed or their hearing is affected, surgery is a must," Qian, the ENT specialist, says. "But if the symptoms do not impose any restrictions on the child's everyday life, medication is enough."

But some parents are becoming reluctant to allow their children to have surgery, preferring to try alternative treatments they've seen on social media. Mouth tape, lip muscle exercises, and herbal remedies are all widely shared as cures for enlarged adenoids on Xiaohongshu.

Yang Yan, another mother from Zhejiang province, first noticed that her daughter was breathing through her mouth when the child was 3 years old. When she took the girl to the hospital, the ENT specialists told her that her daughter needed surgery as soon as possible.

"They told us her enlarged adenoids had blocked over 90% of her nasal passage," Yang recalls. "But my family were too conservative to agree with the surgery, and we were worrying too much about the health risks from the application of general anesthesia."

Instead, the family decided to give Yang's daughter massage and herbal therapies, which they'd heard could alleviate her condition. They continued with this approach for three years, even though the girl continued to breathe only through her mouth at night.

"We learned about those (the alternative treatments) from social media," Yang says. "Of course, Xiaohongshu is where lots of discussions about that can be found."

In late 2021, during a routine check-up, the doctors informed Yang that her daughter had partially lost her hearing due to the damage done by her enlarged adenoids. The girl has also developed a typical adenoid face, Yang says.

Yang decided to allow her daughter to have surgery right away. But the mother remains racked by guilt, as she believes the family's hesitation "cost our daughter her health."

"She also has a problem with concentrating - I think that's also the consequence of the untimely treatment," says Yang. "But there's nothing we can do to make up for it now."
Editor: Dominic Morgan.
(Header image: Visual elements from Sylverarts, Theerakit, and nPine/VCG, edited by Ding Yining/Sixth Tone)

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In China, Social Media Is Fueling Dangerous Beauty Trends - for Babies

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Many Chinese parents believe it's their duty to ensure their children conform to traditional beauty standards. That's driving the rise of troubling - and, in some cases, potentially life-threatening - infant beauty products.

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The authors argue that the perceptions of beauty have evolved as the fashion industry has been forced to be more accountable and diverse in its depiction of beauty due to the forces created by the Internet. (Paragraph 5)

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The authors argue that the perceptions of beauty have evolved as the fashion industry has been forced to be more accountable and diverse in its depiction of beauty due to the forces created by the Internet. (Paragraph 5)

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The authors argue that society is moving towards a culture of 'big-tent' beauty where the standards of beauty are far more inclusive and accepting of diverse forms.  (Paragraph 2) 

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https://www.mumbrella.asia/2017/08/laneige-seeks-defy-asian-beauty-standards-film-starring-dark-skinned-model

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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/style/meet-the-singaporean-models-who-are-blazing-a-trail

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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/style/meet-the-singaporean-models-who-are-blazing-a-trail

https://www.straitstimes.com/life/style/inclusive-beauty-finds-its-way-to-singapore

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The authors argue that in seeking for potential mates, beauty is a key factor as it is associated with vitality, and thereby, fertility. (Paragraph 7) 

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The authors argue that in seeking for potential mates, beauty is a key factor as it is associated with vitality, and thereby, fertility. (Paragraph 7) 

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The authors argue that beauty has financial value, where attractive staff earn higher wages etc.  (Paragraph 8) 

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The authors argue that beauty has financial value, where attractive staff earn higher wages etc.  (Paragraph 8) 

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https://dailyvanity.sg/news/inclusive-beauty-singapore/

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While Fenty Beauty certainly isn't the first or the only beauty brand to introduce a huge range of foundations (click here to see a full list of brands that have a sprawling range of foundations too), nobody can deny that the launch of Fenty kickstarted a conversation about inclusiveness in makeup.

The conversation seems to be more fiery in America, however, even though the problem with non-inclusive beauty is rampant across the world, including Singapore.

If you are part of the Chinese majority in Singapore, chances are you wouldn't have realised how limited the makeup choices are here. It's probably easier for you to find suitable makeup from almost every brand on the market, and as a result save money on makeup because affordable drugstore options are available.

If America is the forerunner of every beauty trend that we embrace here in Singapore, then inclusive beauty is a new wave (and hopefully a permanent one) that will be something you can't ignore.

Read on to find out what we learnt when interviewing three Singaporean women on the challenges of being a beauty junkie of a minority race in Singapore.

Nude is not beige

What is inclusiveness in makeup? It entails brands catering to all skin tones, and not simply that of the majority population. It means realising that " nude is not beige ", to quote the tagline for CoverFx's new Natural Finish Foundation range, which also consists of 40 shades.

In fact, Fenty Beauty hyped up the inclusiveness of their Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Foundation range so well that TIME Magazine placed the brand on its 25 Best Inventions of 2017 list. The move also showed that people were starting to sit up and pay attention to this issue that's been long swept under the makeup carpet.

A backlash as had never been seen before

After Fenty Beauty began the conversation, the beauty world has never been able to turn back. Brands were no longer able to get away with releasing new foundations if their shade range wasn't as comprehensive as Fenty Beauty's had been.

Take this case study for example. When cruelty-free brand Tarte released the foundation counterpart to its widely successful Shape Tape Concealer, you would have expected it to also be something of a success as well.

Beauty YouTubers worldwide disagreed, although it wasn't because of its formulation or its performance. It was because of its shade range, which was found to be a huge miss for those with deeper skin tones, even with 30 shades available.

The controversy had fuel added to its fire when Internet users went after top beauty YouTuber NikkieTutorials for her review of the foundations.

While she hadn't said anything hurtful about the shade range, people's beef with her lay in the fact that she hadn't said anything at all about it, as if she took the shades for granted because they largely suited her own skin tone.

People also compared her review with that of Jackie Aina, a beauty YouTuber of colour. Aina sat down with fellow beauty YouTuber Alissa Ashley to try on the darkest shades of the Tarte Shape Tape foundation, which appear reddish or orange-toned on their skin.

If the Tarte shade range didn't have shades deep enough for their skin tone, how would it work on those with even darker skin tones, such as beauty YouTuber Nyma Tang?

NikkieTutorials has since taken her own video offline and apologised for her review.

I am putting my Tarte Shape Tape video offline. Thank you for showing me the importance of showcasing my voice.. the Tarte shade range is an absolute mess and I should've spoken up about it more than I did. 💖

- NikkieTutorials (@NikkieTutorials) January 17, 2018

Our makeup scene excludes some Singaporean women

Reading the above, you may think this might only be a problem faced in America, where they have a lot more minority groups and where people generally tend to be more outspoken about issues.

That doesn't mean that it isn't also a problem in Singapore.

For those in minority groups here, finding makeup that can actually match their skin tone actually poses more of a challenge than most might realise.

Buying foundation is not as easy as just walking into a store and finding the perfect shade.

"Buying foundation is not as easy as just walking into a store and finding the perfect shade - I have to do quite a bit of research online," says Abhirami. She often has to buy and mix two different foundations in order to get a shade match, or use a different shade of powder to lighten up or darken a foundation.

The same is also true for Kavya, a video creator here at . "It's usually a game of trial and error with various brands. Once I find my perfect shade, I try to stick to it for years so I don't have to keep experimenting with new products."

The limited shade range here does not go unnoticed or taken for granted by those who have to go out of their way to find their shades. Abhirami laments that more affordable makeup options here tend to only stock lighter, more 'popular' shades of foundation, even if there is actually a wider shade range available.

I've got no choice but to turn to the more expensive brands.

"Drugstores only stock up on the lighter shades of foundation from international brands like L'Oreal and Maybelline, which leaves me no choice but to turn to the more expensive brands like NARS, Bobbi Brown and M.A.C. to find the most suitable shade for me."

Faizah, a contributor, also faces the same frustration. "Korean beauty brands tend to have very few shade choices and generally do not carry medium to dark shades. I find that limiting, and a bit of a turn-off. It's really frustrating shopping for makeup when you have a medium to dark skin tone."

It's really frustrating shopping for makeup when you have a medium to dark skin tone.

If finding a suitable shade for their foundation is already a problem, you can imagine how much more difficult it is to find one with the correct undertone, which can sometimes be a problem even for those who fall in the popular shade ranges.

"The real challenge is to find a dark skin tone foundation with yellow undertone and not a red undertone. Red undertones are more catered to Westerners and yellow undertones are best for Asians," says Abhirami.

Faizah agrees, saying that there is also a lack of neutral undertones in darker foundation shades as well.

How has Fenty Beauty changed these women's lives?

Fenty Beauty launched in Singapore to great fanfare, and its 40 shades of foundations was certainly a spectacle to behold in the aisles of Sephora stores.

We reached out to Fenty Beauty to find out what the best-selling shades were for its Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation range in Singapore between Dec 2017 to Jan 2018:

210: Neutral Medium

260: Warm Medium

240: Neutral Medium

It is perhaps unsurprising that Fenty Beauty's best-selling shades still veer on the lighter, beige-toned side, but it still does not negate the positive impact its shade range has had on Singaporeans who have struggled to shop for makeup in Singapore.

We have also reached out to Fenty Beauty to ask if there have been any challenges in stocking, shelving, and selling the shades on both ends of the spectrum, whether the lightest or darkest shades, but we have not yet received a response at the time of writing.

Fenty Beauty seemed to have been life-changing for many Americans with darker skin tones, so how did it affect Singaporean women that fall into that shade range as well?

I was completely wowed because I've never seen a foundation match me so perfectly before.

"I refused to fall for the hype, but I went to Sephora to browse and got a swatch for Fenty on my face for the fun of it," laughs Faizah. "Needless to say, I bought one! I was completely wowed because I've never seen a foundation match me so perfectly before. I've finally found the perfect neutral undertone for my medium olive skin."

Kavya has always bought her foundations online, having given up finding suitable shades for herself in stores here. Fenty Beauty changed things for her. "I think Fenty was the reason I went foundation hunting again in stores in more than three years."

Although she wasn't able to find a perfect shade match in Fenty Beauty's extensive range, being able to even choose from so many was a new experience for Kavya.

It made me feel for my Indian and Malay friends with darker skin tones than I have.

"It was so surprising to be choosing my shade from the middle of the range, and it made me feel for my Indian and Malay friends with darker skin tones than I have. Even for me, I typically have to settle for the darkest shades of foundation, even if it isn't exactly right."

For Abhirami, though, it didn't solve her issue with finding affordable makeup options for her skin tone. "It was exciting at first, but it retails at SGD50, just like every other high-end brand that offers a wider range of shades."

How important is inclusive beauty to these Singaporean women?

How much inclusive beauty matters will, of course, differ according to who you ask. However, it is clear that inclusive beauty would be appreciated by some Singaporean women, considering that minority races that don't fall into the popular shade ranges make up almost one-third of our current population.

Abhirami exclaims that inclusiveness in beauty is "extremely important" to her. "More brands are widening their shade ranges, but it remains in USA and Europe. Singapore, or even Asia in general, is still stuck with a narrower range, which makes it difficult to find an affordable foundation with a shade suitable for me.

If fairer skin tones have a good chance of finding the perfect foundation for them from every beauty brand, darker skin tones deserve that too!

"I end up with no choice but to shop online for my foundations, and with shipping costs included, it can get really pricey. If fairer skin tones have a good chance of finding the perfect foundation for them from every beauty brand, darker skin tones deserve that too!"

Faizah agrees with this train of thought. "It's not enough for just one or a few brands to release one range of foundation with a lot of shades and hype themselves up as being inclusive. Catering to every skin tone needs to go beyond marketing, this should be the new normal in the beauty industry."

Catering to every skin tone needs to go beyond marketing, this should be the new normal in the beauty industry.

Kavya reflects about how it felt to grow up in Singapore as someone from a minority race. "I love Singapore and Singaporeans, and I never feel unsafe or uncomfortable in my own skin here. However, there have been times that I've felt like I'm not fully Singaporean just because I barely see us minorities being admired on beauty ads or serious celebrities."

"I find it very strange that we've had multiple people from minority races as Miss Singapore or representing Singapore in some context, but we still hesitate to put them on ads, posters, and beauty campaigns," Kavya says.

Inclusiveness in beauty products also says a lot about a society and how much it prioritises its minority races.

"Inclusiveness in beauty products also says a lot about a society and how much it prioritises its minority races. It's important so that people can feel that they belong in society and also to broaden everyone's perception of beauty."

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Is beauty inclusive enough in Singapore? We interviewed 3 women from minority races to find out.

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While Fenty Beauty certainly isn't the first or the only beauty brand to introduce a huge range of foundations (click here to see a full list of brands that

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https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/attracting-partner-singaporeans-money-management-attractive-102153820.html

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SINGAPORE - Investing and dating have more in common than we think.

About 93 per cent of Singaporeans find good money management to be an attractive quality in a potential partner, according to a survey by dating application Coffee Meets Bagel and investment platform Syfe.

The survey, "Love Meets Money", polled 1,363 respondents through the dating app in June and looked at attitudes towards money, such as bill etiquette and expectations around career and earnings when it comes to a potential long-term partner. About 47 per cent of participants are between the ages of 25 and 34.

Results from the survey show that conversations on money, together with a person's values and attitudes toward their finances, are key factors which highly influence dating outcomes among Singaporeans.

When to talk about money

More than two in three respondents believe it is a turnoff to bring up the topic of money on a first date. This perspective varies with age. About 58 per cent of those age 35 and above believe that one should not talk about money on first dates, compared with only 40 per cent of those below 35.

Interestingly, 44 per cent of respondents feel that it is appropriate to ask for someone's salary before becoming a couple, while three in five Singaporeans would share salary information within the first five dates.

The results also show that about 32 per cent believe that the most appropriate time to have a conversation about money is either the period before defining the relationship or when couples get into a serious relationship. Almost all agree that it is too late to have the important money conversations only at the point of marriage or moving in together.

Who pays?

The survey shows that two in five women believe that men should pay, and similarly, two in five men believe that they should pay. About 30 per cent believe that the bill should be split on the first date. Less than 1 per cent think that women should pay for the first date.

When it comes to those aged 35 and above, more than half, both male and female, believe that it is the men that should pay.

Interestingly, about 51 per cent of women and 24 per cent of the men surveyed said that they would be offended if they offered to pay and the other person did not offer to split the bill. The appropriate amount of money to spend on a date is S$90 on average.

Career and appearances

The survey also found that three in five women prefer that their partner make more money than them. Seventy per cent of men think it does not matter how much their partner makes, and 23 per cent prefer to make a similar amount.

"The findings have shown the crucial role that money plays when meeting potential life partners, and the importance for individuals to be better equipped with knowledge on personal finances and investing," said Sebastian Sieber, the chief marketing officer of Syfe.

While values are the most important overall, women and men differ when defining the second most important criteria.

The top criteria of Singapore women when it comes to picking a partner are values (87 per cent), career (56 per cent), appearance (53 per cent) and hobbies/interests (53 per cent).

For Singapore men, the top criteria are values (88 per cent), appearance (79 per cent), hobbies/interests (73 per cent), age (51 per cent).

Other options provided include societal status, age, religion, property and car ownership.

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Want a partner? 93% of Singaporeans say good money management is attractive: Survey

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Attractive when it comes to looking for a partner, that is. What quality is it? A survey by Coffee Meet Bagel and Syfe found that out, and more.

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https://blog.seedly.sg/how-far-do-looks-affect-your-salary/

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Justin Oh

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Recently, I was reading about the new New Zealand Prime Minister and there was one comment which said that he looked too "childish" for the job.

This got me thinking about how looks affect your "worth" in the market.

But how far does attractiveness translate into a higher salary?

And for those of us who aren't that attractive (like me), does improving our image help us achieve more in our careers and salaries?

Let's find out!
Disclaimer: The studies used in this article are based on westerners and may not be an accurate reflection of local society. Currency conversions are based on the time of writing.
TL;DR: How Far Do Looks Affect Your Salary?

Jump to:

General Attractiveness

Remember the " fake socialite " that lived for free in Beijing for a period of 21 days?

Now that's the peak social experiment of pretty privilege and how having a well-put-together image can get you free meals at expensive hotels.

But does general attractiveness affect our salaries too?

According to a 2001 Yale study by Daniel Hamermesh titled "Beauty and The Labor Market", if people think you're good-looking, you'll be paid more!

Hamermesh found that you could earn a "beauty" premium of 5 per cent more if you were more attractive than the average joe. Meanwhile, the less attractive among us "suffered a salary penalty of up to 9 per cent".

A more recent study by the University of Chicago suggests that attractive individuals earn roughly 20 per cent more than people of average attractiveness.

Pretty harsh huh?

Perceived Maturity

Ah yes, something I'm severely disadvantaged in. If you look young as a female, that's great! But as a male, I had an inkling that people underestimate me because I have a babyface.

I mean, I'm 27 this year but just the other day, a random stranger overheard me telling my friend about my age and said that I looked 14! That's even younger than what the ang mos (Hokkien: red hair) used to guess. But I digress.

After my research, it seems that my fears weren't unfounded.

Over at Duke University, John Graham, Campbell Harvey, and Manju Puri conducted a study and had 2,000 people rate CEOs' facial features. They found that mature-looking Caucasian men were perceived as more powerful.

Another expert, Robern Livingston, who authored a study on facial structures of CEOs, has also said that "Prior research has shown babyface-type traits are a liability for those striving for a leadership role because they undermine perceptions of competence ".

In other words, if you have a babyface, you are at a disadvantage when gunning for a leadership role. I hate that I'm actually right this time!
Maybe I should grow a beard or something to look more mature lol.
Height

The taller you are, the more you get.

At least that's what the Ivy League Harvard University suggests.

It found that men who are at least 6′ (183 cm) tall make an average annual salary of US$5,525 (S$7,324) more than their shorter, 5'5 (165 cm) counterparts.

That translates to about S$610 more per month!

Another study that polled half of the Fortune 500 companies found that male CEOs were three inches taller on average than the average man at just under 6′.

But why is this so?

According to a study by Anne Case and Christina Paxson, height is positively associated with cognitive ability, which translates to higher pay in the labor market.

Weight

Don't go too overboard with snacks at the office pantry as that could actually lower your pay!

Obese workers with a Body Mass Index of over 30 are paid less than normal-weight coworkers ( US$8,666 a year or S$955 a month less for obese women and US$4,772 a year or S$526 a month for obese men) according to a George Washington University study.

Another study reported in the International Journal of Obesity conducted an experiment where people were shown pictures of job candidates, along with their resumes, and asked to score them on suitability, starting salary, and employability.

What the test subjects didn't know however was that the pictures were actually before and after bariatric weight loss surgery of the same person!

The results were overwhelmingly in favour of thinner candidates; they were chosen for the job and had higher starting salaries than the heavier ones.

Physique

So, if being overweight is bad for our salaries, the opposite should be true right?

Yep, you guessed it!

A study in the Journal of Labor Research found that workers who exercise regularly earn 9 per cent more than those who don't. Those who exercise thrice or more a week earn an average of US$80 a week more.

Work out at least once to thrice per week? You'll still see a slight increment of more than 5 per cent in additional salary!

Makeup

Not only do people judge beauty based on how much makeup a woman is wearing, but make-up-adorned women also rank higher in competence and trustworthiness, according to a study funded by Procter & Gamble, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston University, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Another study in the American Economic Review said women who wear make-up can earn 30 per cent more in salary than those who don't!

But of course, I'm assuming that the makeup is flattering rather than over-the-top ones that could work against your favour.

And with more men now open to putting on natural makeup, maybe we guys should wear some to work too!

Dressing

This one might sound like common sense. After all, you would have to be either a coveted talent or a complete idiot to turn up to an interview in slippers and shorts.

But of course, other than first impressions, how far does dressing up for the workplace affect our salaries?

According to the same study by the University of Chicago,

We find that attractive individuals earn roughly 20 percent more than people of average attractiveness, but this gap is reduced when controlling for grooming, suggesting that the beauty premium can be actively cultivated.

Harvard Business Review also seconds the notion by writing that dressing professionally and conservatively can advance your career.

Afterthoughts

Wow, that was much more than I expected to find and we have yet to dive into things like posture, confidence, facial expressions, etc.

Just based on looks alone, it is quite clear that people judge, hard.

That said, this article isn't meant to tell you that if you look "ugly" by societal standards, you should just lie flat (not do anything). Your abilities still matter more than your looks!

And while there are some things that we can't change such as height and perceived maturity, we can most definitely put in an effort to dress up, wear makeup, and have a healthy body.

After all, how you groom and present yourself will affect your salary to some extent!

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Pretty privilege in the workplace? Here's what studies have shown and how your looks and image can affect your salary!

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The authors argue that on a personal level, beauty immensely boosts one's emotional state, leading to increased assuarnce in one’s own skills. (Paragraph 7) 

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The authors argue that on a personal level, beauty immensely boosts one's emotional state, leading to increased assuarnce in one’s own skills. (Paragraph 7) 

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The authors highlight that with increased cultural enlightenment and political correctness, brands now have be careful and avoid cultural minefields while finding best ways to market to their consumers. (Paragraph 6)

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The authors highlight that with increased cultural enlightenment and political correctness, brands now have be careful and avoid cultural minefields while finding best ways to market to their consumers. (Paragraph 6)

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The authors argue that being percieved as beautiful is existential, serving as a validation of our very existence and an essential point of self-worth. (Paragraph 9) 

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The authors argue that being percieved as beautiful is existential, serving as a validation of our very existence and an essential point of self-worth. (Paragraph 9) 

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The authors argue that looking beautiful is no longer an exclusive trait as everyone has the tools and means to enhance their looks. (Paragraph 4)/ do note that this does not fully align with overall positive stance taken on beauty in the passage: "Their role is constant ‘uplift’: to tell us that we are perfect just as we are, all while growingan audience and securing their market share.") 

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The authors argue that looking beautiful is no longer an exclusive trait as everyone has the tools and means to enhance their looks. (Paragraph 4)/ do note that this does not fully align with overall positive stance taken on beauty in the passage: "Their role is constant ‘uplift’: to tell us that we are perfect just as we are, all while growingan audience and securing their market share.") 

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https://cnaluxury.channelnewsasia.com/experiences/physical-appearance-workplace-does-it-matter-189796

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These are depressing findings, for women in particular. But they should also unsettle anyone who feels as though the substance of what they do is more important than the surface impression they leave.

Physical fitness, body shape and, in some disciplines, artistic merit, play a part in putting Olympians on the podium. But athletes would be rightly upset if their physical attractiveness, or lack of it, affected their medal chances.

Column-writing is less sport than showbiz. In fact, though, only two readers who are not relatives have ever commented on my picture. One was the reader I first mentioned. The other wrote to me in 2018: "Read your article. Noticed your photograph as well. Your problem is that your hairline has receded." I politely declined his suggestion that I should apply aloe vera pulp, almond oil and coconut oil to my scalp.

So I'm happy if a few of you decided to press on to the end of this column because of my winning smile, rather than my winning arguments. But it's when complaints mount about my considerably frail research, prose, or opinions that I'll really have to worry.

By Andrew Hill © 2021 The Financial Times

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Good looks vs capability: Does how you look matter in the workplace?

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As one writer discovers, superficial appearance does have an impact on how people respond to others in business.