Despre frumusete

Despre frumusete

Inainte de a dezbate acest subiect impreuna, va rog sa imi raspundeti la urmatoarea intrebare:

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EN: Before we discuss this topic together, please answer the following question: Do you think you are beautiful? Yes or No?

Nu m-am considerat niciodata frumoasa. La intrebarea de mai sus am raspuns cu NU aproape instinctiv, fara sa stau deloc sa ma gandesc. Pare ca raspunsul l-am castigat acum foarte multi ani si ca subiectul nici nu mai merita deschis. Nu ma consider urata, dar nici frumoasa. Nu imi amintesc nici sa ii fi auzit pe parintii mei repetandu-mi de nenunarate ori in copilaria mea ca sunt frumoasa. Eram mai degraba genul “draguta” sau “simpatica”. Sau “frumusica”, cand eram imbracata cu “rochita” si aveam “motz” facut de mama pe o parte. Frumoase erau fetele care concurau la Miss, fetitele din primele banci cu parul blond buclat si ochi albastri, ori cele a caror frumusete era in mod indiscutabil validata de specialist ai industriei, ajungand sa dezvolte o cariera din asta ca modele, de exemplu. Modele de frumusete. Tipare. Standarde. 90 – 60 – 90.

In copilarie si adolescenta ajunge fiecare sa isi defineasca acest concept, sa ii dea un inteles, o forma oarecare. Si “forma” asta te urmareste, aproape inconstient, pana tarziu in viata adulta. Ah, si e atat de important cum te prinde trendul – caci in mod clar exista tendinte ale frumosului. Amintiti-va, de exemplu, daca in adolescenta voastra, atunci cand ati inceput sa va cumparati primele produse de “infrumusetare”, cand voiati sa fiti atractive din punct de vedere al infatisarii, se purta super skinny sau “cu forme”?

Luna trecuta am fost invitata de catre Philips la Global Beauty Summit ce s-a desfasurat in Amsterdam si am aflat rezultatele unui studiu ce analizeaza perceptia femeilor asupra frumusetii pe tot globul. Mi s-a parut extrem de interesant si m-am tot gandit de atunci la rezultate si la ce anume le influenteaza. Philips face acest studiu an de an, asa ca pot urmari exact care este trendul. De exemplu, 60% dintre femei se considera frumoase acum, ceea ce reprezinta o crestere cu 9 procente fata de anul 2015. In functie de raspunsul de la prima intrebare pe care v-am adresat-o, iata cum arata frumusetea pe harta globului:

96% dintre femeile din India se considera frumoase, 91% dintre turcoaice, 53% dintre nemtoaice si doar 29% dintre femeile din UK si 26% dintre cele din Japonia. In mod clar frumusetea este influentata de societate, de obiceiurile si cultura locala in care traiesti.

Nu am aflat procentul exact din Romania, de aceea sunt foarte curioasa sa vad rezultatul poll-ului pe care l-am initiat la inceputul articolului. Pot identifica in schimb cateva aspecte din cauza carora femeile ar alege la noi in tara raspunsul NU, desi am auzit de multe ori comentandu-se ca “romancele sunt frumoase”.

In primul rand, daca intrebarea “Te consideri frumoasa?” ti-e adresata in fata altor oameni, e mai probabil sa raspunzi negativ, caci la noi se considera o lipsa de modestie sa o recunosti. Studiul la care fac referire mai sus a fost realizat one to one, deci “falsa modestie” nu poate sa fi influentat semnificativ rezultatele. In al doilea rand, la noi in tara e o problema (si) sa fii frumoasa. Adica daca o femeie e frumoasa, indiscutabil de frumoasa, oamenii vor tinde sa comenteze negativ, fara sa aiba nicio alta informatie legata de femeia respectiva, in afara de infatisarea exterioara. E frumoasa, DAR…. “e proasta”, “e o intretinuta”, “sta toata ziua in salon”…

Daca te uiti la rezultatele globale, e clar ca, in functie de tara, conceptul include mult mai mult decat aspectul exterior. Am cerut informatii suplimentare celor care au prezentat acest studiu in cadrul summit-ului si am aflat, de exemplu, ca in India femeile primesc sfaturile legate de frumusete de la mamele lor. Ele iti spun cat esti de frumoasa sau cum poti deveni o femeie frumoasa. Nu celebritatile, nu blogurile. E in singur reper major: mama. Iar daca porti un sari frumos, acolo te poti considera deja frumoasa. 96%! 96! Va puteti imagina cum e sa traiesti inconjurata aproape exclusiv de femei care au incredere in ele si care se simt frumoase?

Dupa conferinta, ne-au fost prezentate cele mai noi propuse Philips din zona de beauty, cum ar fi Philips VisaPure Advanced Anti-Pollution. Intamplarea a facut ca unul dintre modelele pe care dermatologii invitati faceau demonstratia acestui produs inovator sa fie o indianca. Si stiti ce? Am privit-o dintr-odata diferit. M-am uitat la ea cu admiratie, ca la o femeie care STIE despre ea ca e frumoasa. Interesant.

Studiul a aratat si ca exista o legatura extrem de puternica intre sanatate (fizica si psihica) si frumusete: 82% dintre femei considera ca atunci cand sunt sanatoase, se simt mai frumoase. Iar 71% dintre femei se simt mai frumoase atunci cand isi dedica timp pentru ele, pentru un ritual al frumusetii: masaj, mers la sala, la spa, machiaj sau tratamente cosmetice. Aici se adauga si incercarea fiecareia de a avea un stil de viata sanatos, 71% dintre femei afirmand ca pentru asta au inceput sa bea mai multa apa, de exemplu.

Adevarul e ca si eu simt cat de important este ritualul, nu neaparat pentru “a fi” mai frumoasa, ci pentru “a ma simti” mai frumoasa. Cum te simti dupa ce reincepi sala? Cum te uiti la tine in oglinda dupa ce ai terminat un tub de crema anticelulitica? Iar daca ritualul include produse de calitate, ale caror efecte sunt vizibile, increderea de sine creste in mod natural.

Ca tot am pomenit mai sus de Philips VisaCare Advanced Anti-Pollution, se cade sa va dau cateva informatii, din experienta proprie. Am inceput sa il folosesc constant si imi place cum imi arata tenul dupa. Are 3 capete, dintre care unul este format dintr-o perie cu un carbune special, care ajuta la combaterea efectelor poluarii asupra tenului. Asta inseamna sa tii cont de nevoile actuale in conceperea unor produse de ingrijire si infrumusetare. Carbunele e tare cand e uscat, dar la contact cu apa se inmoaie si se simte foarte placut pe piele. Alt capat este dedicat masajului facial. Il folosesc seara, inainte de a-mi aplica o crema hranitoare de noapte. Va zic, de cand am aflat cat de important e sa ai un ritual al frumusetii, cat de mult te motiveaza si iti influenteaza starea psihica generala, am inceput sa imi dedic ceva mai mult timp in fata oglinzii si uite ca nu mi-e rusine sa o recunosc. Uneori zicem ca nu avem timp, dar sa folosesti peria de curatare dureaza doar 2 minute. Chiar nu am avea timp 2 minute in plus pentru noi? Cel disponibil la noi in momentul de fata este fara capatul cu carbune .

Sa nu uit de gadgeturile pentru hairstyling, pentru ca e un subiect care stiu din trecutul acestui blog ca va intereseaza. Dintre toate produsele testate in Amsterdam, va recomand Philips StyleCare Philips ProCare, un ondulator care face bucle perfecte, indiferent cat de neindemanatica ai fi. Trebuie doar sa alegi o suvita de par, iar apoi o trage singur, o rasuceste si o onduleaza. Proba a fost facuta live in fata multor bloggeri si jurnalisti invitati. Aparatul nu incurca, nu agata aiurea firul de par, fiind extrem de usor de folosit.

Summit-ul s-a incheiat cum nu se putea mai potrivit, mai “frumos” – in acceptiunea larga a conceptului: cu o expozitie a Mihaelei Noroc, fotograf recunoscut la nivel mondial, care esentializeaza prin fotografiile sale faptul ca frumusetea inseamna diversitate prin minunatul proiect “The Atlas of Beauty”. NU exista o frumusete universala. Trebuie sa avem mai mult curaj sa o definim singure, sa nu ii lasam pe ceilalti din afara sa ne-o impuna in vreun fel.

In incheiere, va invit sa va ganditi la raspunsul pe care l-ati dat la inceputul articolului si sa imi povestiti intr-un comentariu ce anume ati luat in considerare cand ati raspuns afirmativ sau negativ. Iar mai jos, v-am pregatit cateva imagini din Amsterdam, cu produsele Philips despre care v-am vorbit, dar si de la prea-frumoasa cina oferita de organizatori, pentru care masa a fost asezata chiar pe scena Royal Concertgebouw. Minunat.

EN: I never thought of myself as being beautiful. I answered with NO at the question above, almost instinctively, without giving it too much thought. It seems I have earned this answer many years ago and that the subject isn’t worth being brought up. I don’t think I’m ugly, but I’m not beautiful either. I don’t remember my parents repeating to me countless times in my childhood that I am beautiful. I was more the “cute” or “adorable” type. Or “pretty”, when I used to wear a dress and my mum would put up my hair in a ponytail on one side. The girls competing in beauty pageants were beautiful, those who sat in the front row at school with their curly blonde hair and blue eyes, or those whose beauty was undoubtedly validated by specialists in the industry, who went on to have a career as models, for example. Beauty models. Standards. 90 – 60 – 90.

As we grow up to be teens, each of us defines his/her own concept, gives it a meaning, a certain shape. And this “shape” will haunt you until your late adult life. Oh, and it’s so important what trend is on at the moment- because there are definitely trends of beauty. Remember, for instance, if in your teen years, when you first started buying beauty products, when you wanted to be attractive based on your looks, which trend was in: super skinny or “with curves”?

Last month I was invited by Philips to the Global Beauty Summit in Amsterdam and I found out about the results of study which analyzes women’s’ perception on beauty all around the world. I thought it was extremely interesting and I kept thinking about the results and what influences them ever since. Philips conducts this study every year, so they can observe the exact trend. For instance, 60% consider themselves to be beautiful now, which is 9% more than in 2015. Based on your answer to the first question I asked you before, here’s how the beauty map looks on the globe: 96% of the women in India consider themselves to be beautiful, 91% of those from Turkey, 53% of those from Germany and only 29% of the women from the UK and 26% of those from Japan. Beauty is obviously influenced by society, by the habits and the local culture you live in.

I didn’t find out what the exact percentage in Romania is, which is why I’m very curious to see the results of the poll I began this post with. But I can identify some aspects which made make women in our country respond with NO, even though I have heard many times that “Romanian women are beautiful”.

First of all, if you get asked the question ”Do you consider yourself to be beautiful?” while other people are present, it’s more likely you’ll answer no, because in our country it is considered lack of modesty to admit you are. The study I am referring to was made one to one, so “fake modesty” couldn’t have influenced the results too much. Second of all, in Romania it is a problem to (also) be beautiful. So, if a woman is beautiful, undoubtedly beautiful, people will tend to make negative comments about her, without having any other information about her, except for her looks. She’s beautiful, BUT… “she’s dumb”, “she’s high maintance”, “she’s at the beauty parlor all day”…

If you take a look at the global results, it’s clear that, depending on the country, the concept includes much more then looks. I have asked for extra details from those who presented this study during the summit and I learned, for example, that in India women receive beauty related advice from their mothers. They tell you how beautiful you are and how you can become a beautiful woman. Not celebrities, not blogs. There one single major benchmark: mother. And if you’re wearing a beautiful sari, over there you can already consider yourself to be beautiful. 96%! 96! Can you imagine what it’s like to live surrounded almost exclusively by women who trust themselves and feel beautiful?

After the conference, we were introduced to the newest Philips beauty products, such as Philips VisaPure Advanced Anti-Pollution. It just so happened that one of the models on which the invited dermatologists tried this innovating product on was Indian. And you know what? All of the sudden I looked differently at her. I observed her with admiration, for the fact that she KNOWS she is beautiful. Interesting.

The study also showed there is a strong connection between health (physical and mental) and beauty: 82% think of themselves as being beautiful when they are healthy. And 71% feel more beautiful when they make time for themselves, for a beauty ritual: massage, spa, gym, makeup or cosmetic procedures. Plus the desire to have a healthy lifestyle, 71% of the women claiming that they started drinking lots of water, for example.

The truth is I also feel how important the ritual is, not necessarily in order “to be” more beautiful, but “to feel” more beautiful. How do you feel after going back to the gym? How do you look at yourself in the mirror after you’ve finished an anti-cellulite cream tube? And if the ritual includes quality products, after which the results are obvious, self-esteem naturally rises.

Since I mentioned Philips VisaCare Advanced Anti-Pollution, it is appropriate to give you some information, from my own experience. I started using it on a daily basis and I like how my skin looks afterwards. It has 3 heads, and one of them is made from a special charcoal brush, which helps fight the pollution’s effects on the skin. That’s what it means to consider actual needs when conceiving beauty products. The charcoal is hard when it’s dry, but when it gets wet it’s soft and feels very good on the skin. Another head is for facial massage. I use it in the evening, before putting on the night time moisturizer. I have to say that ever since I found out how important it is to have a beauty ritual, how much it motivates you and influences your state of mind, I began spending more time in front of the mirror and I am not afraid to admit it. Sometimes we say we don’t have the time, but it only takes 2 minutes to use the cleansing brush. We really don’t have 2 extra minutes for ourselves? The one available in Romania at the moment is without the charcoal head.

I mustn’t forget about the hairstyling gadgets, because it’s a topic I know from the blog that you are interested in. Of all the products tested in Amsterdam, I recommend Philips StyleCare Philips ProCare, a hair curler which makes perfect curls, no matter how clumsy you are. You just have to take a lock of hair and it then pulls, twists and curls it by itself. The test was made live in front of many bloggers and journalists invited. It doesn’t hurt your hair, it doesn’t pull it, being extremely easy to use.

The summit ended as good as it gets, as “beautiful” as it gets- in the common understanding of the concept: with an exhibition by Mihaela Noroc, worldwide famous photographer, who captures the fact that beauty means diversity in her wonderful project “The Atlas of Beauty”. There is NO universal beauty. We have to have more courage to define it ourselves, not to let others impose it on us in any way.

In conclusion, please think about the answer you gave at the beginning of the article and tell me in a comment what you took into account when you answered yes or no. So, do you think you are beautiful or not?