Inspired by Orion Taraban’s new book The Value of Others, the concepts of beauty and attractiveness emerge as collaborative yet distinct forces. The good news is that everyone has the potential to be beautiful. True beauty comes from embracing who you are and expressing it authentically. Many people spend so much time trying to fit into someone else’s mold that they lose touch with their real selves. But when we fully accept and showcase our true nature, that inner beauty radiates outward—beyond physical appearance. And because self-awareness deepens over time, we can actually grow more beautiful as we age.
However, attractiveness is a different story. Not everyone can be conventionally attractive. Attractiveness often aligns with societal standards, which can shift, and it tends to fade over time—especially for women. It’s like a fleeting season, one that offers certain advantages while it lasts but isn’t permanent. For those lucky enough to have it, it’s important to make the most of it, because once attractiveness diminishes, it’s difficult to restore.
But there’s another silver lining: attractiveness can always be improved. There are always ways we can adapt to align more closely with society’s culturally and biologically influenced standards of beauty—though these ideals are constantly shifting and never fully attainable. Like mastering any skill, improving physical attractiveness takes time and resources, with slower progress as we go. Still, even if we can’t reach perfection, everyone has the capacity to enhance their appearance.
Through makeup, we don’t chase after unrealistic ideals—we enhance what we already have, highlighting our uniqueness and embracing our potential for both beauty and attractiveness.
How can you use your beauty routine to feel more aligned with both your true self and your desired attractiveness?