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Beauty Ideal
Allure Magazine takes a Poll of what's so in Women's/Men's Ideal Beauty
Date: 5/24/2005 10:56:07 AM ( 19 y ) ... viewed 2379 times 9 Out of 10 Women are Actually Happy With What They See in the Mirror ... According to National Study - The Allure State of Beauty
Monday May 23, 5:20 am ET
New Research Unmasks the Beauty 'Ideal'
81% of Women Derive Their Confidence From Work Success; 66% of Men Prefer That Their Partners Avoid the Knife
NEW YORK, May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Allure Magazine, the monthly bible of beauty, today released the surprising and revealing findings of a nationwide survey of men and women, "The Allure State of Beauty Study" that looks at modern attitudes about beauty, confidence and success. The "Study," conducted by StrategyOne, a leading market research company, surveyed more than 1,700 Americans and investigated such issues as: has the notion of beauty changed dramatically; is it inextricably linked to accomplishment; do men view and define this perennially loaded term differently from their female counterparts?
What Allure unearthed is a culture that has vastly evolved from the days of Naomi Wolf's The Beauty Myth, in which she argued in her seminal tome that the beauty ideal drove women to self-destructive behavior. Today, the ideal of beauty is a dramatically different concept: it is no longer perceived as untouchable perfection. In fact, among the most surprising statistics from the Study is that enhancing their appearance fuels women's confidence, not their insecurity. And, 81% of women say that being good at their jobs and maintaining close ties with family boosts their self-esteem much more than having a rich romantic life.
"Recently, beauty was thought to fill women with a sense of inadequacy that kept them from realizing their full potential," said Allure Editor-in-Chief Linda Wells. "Our study found that women are no longer chasing an idealized or impossible beauty. The majority of the women we polled describe themselves as 'natural' -- a word that implies true self-acceptance. The good news in these numbers belies many of our perceived notions about appearance."
Other key findings include:
* Women over 50 are considered just as beautiful as women under 30 ("Is
50 the new 30?").
* The more confident a woman is the more she will spend on beauty.
* The tummy tuck is the most sought after plastic surgery procedure.
* 84% of women felt that men have no idea how hard they work to look
good.
The word "beauty" is no longer synonymous with an unattainable ideal. Beauty embodies a lifestyle, a dedicated regimen that has increased its focus on long term care of the hair, face and body; preventive therapies; and aesthetic enhancement. It has also become a very serious business. Beauty has grown to be $32.2 billion industry, according to Kline & Company's 2004 statistics.
What follows are some of "The Study's" most salient and revelatory findings on interpersonal relationships, attitudes on plastic surgery and aging:
Self-Assurance Begets Beauty
With a more confident mien and smarter products to choose from, women find that a good beauty regimen is no longer a necessary evil; rather, it's a preferred measure to obtain an all-around self-assured feel.
* 91% of women are satisfied with what they see in the mirror.
* 81% say that when they feel more confident, they take more time to look
good.
* 94% agree that the more beautiful they feel, the more confident they
are.
* 52% of women and 43% of men agree that they have a personal sense of
style that comes across in everything that they do.
Men: Plastic Not So Fantastic
Contrary to popular belief, men are not as enamored with surgical enhancements as pop culture and reality TV might suggest. In fact, men seem to abide by a "don't ask, don't tell" philosophy ...
* 66% of men prefer that their romantic partners do not consider plastic
surgery.
* 42% of the men surveyed have no desire to know whether their romantic
partner has received a beauty-related procedure such as Botox, waxing
(hair removal), fingernail and hair extensions.
Beauty Comes of Age
At what age do we look our best? Respondents chose women between the ages of 50 and 70 as "the most beautiful person alive today."
* Oprah Winfrey, Sophia Loren and Meryl Streep were chosen by respondents
as three of "the most beautiful celebrities alive today."
* 50% of respondents disagree that women begin to look less beautiful as
they age.
Star Struck
Other top picks for the "most beautiful celebrity alive today" include Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry and Jennifer Aniston. When Allure asked respondents how they would want their fans to describe them if they were a celebrity, answers reflected what they found most captivating in their "beauty" role models:
* 21% of women chose "self-assured."
* Only 5% of respondents would prefer to be a "flawless beauty."
To Tuck or Not To Tuck?
In a world where full lips, smooth foreheads and ample chests appear to be what women desire most, the truth is, most women tout a tummy tuck or liposuction -- not breast implants or breast reductions. Some revealing observations from this portion of "The Study" include:
* 22% of the women surveyed have given consideration to a tummy tuck,
although not one of the women interviewed have ever actually had a
tummy tuck or liposuction.
* Less than 10% have ever had any type of cosmetic surgery-including
permanent hair removal or facial peels.
The Eyes Have It
What does she think he notices first? Her breasts. What does he really notice first? Her eyes. With results surprising to both men and women, "The Study" not only debunks beauty myths, it also sets the record straight on several popular myths about men and women, including:
* 31% of the men surveyed feel that eyes are the best feature. Only 13%
put breasts at the top of their list.
* Less than half of the men surveyed would prefer to have a "beautiful"
woman on his arm than a "nice" woman.
* 84% of women feel that men have no idea how hard they work to look
good.
Smarter Products, Smarter Consumers
Beauty companies recognize that today's consumer is confident, smarter and savvier. With $5.9 billion spent annually on research and development in order to create tailor-made products, the beauty industry pays more attention than ever to specialty and natural products that satisfy the attitude of the consumer.
* 70% of women don't mind paying more for a product they like.
* Women spend an average of $1,596 annually on beauty products and
services.
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