Not a passing face | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Not a passing face

None | By
Jun 29, 2007 11:51 PM IST

Most of us get up each morning looking like the wrath of God, unable to face the world without the aid of potions and lotions.

Most of us get up each morning looking like the wrath of God, unable to face the world without the aid of potions and lotions. Yes, even men. So the prospect of looking forever perfectly made-up is tempting. So along came permanent make-up where beauty was literally skin-deep. This meant dyes were injected beneath your skin to make it seem like you were always wearing eye-shadow or that fetching shade of lipstick or rouge. But, as always, looking good does not always mean feeling good. It now turns out that nine out of 10 women, American of course, have had problems of swelling, itching and bumps in odd places after permanent make-up. The latest New England Journal of Medicine says that doctors have long known that such treatments have allergic side-effects.

HT Image
HT Image

But who do you blame when the quest for a perfect face and body has become an obsession not just in the West but across the world. Very few people are comfortable in their own skins, which explains the runaway growth of plastic surgery services. Celebrity talk shows like Oprah Winfrey’s have featured several men and women addicted to cosmetic surgery. A whole industry has sprung up to provide psychiatric counselling to those who go in for that perfect face and then fall to pieces because they can no longer recognise who they are. Now we have all heard the adage ‘you are as old as you feel’ and that ‘beauty comes from within’, but you’ll find that very few buy into all that. The craze for permanent make-up was meant, according to experts, to “correct nature’s mistakes”. It has become increasingly difficult in today’s world to let anyone see you as you are. Dear old Paris Hilton groused that her skin was flaky while in jail because she could not get her hands on the right moisturiser. And as soon as they let her loose, off she went to a spa so that she could face the world again in all her Barbie-doll beauty.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

So, we will risk disfiguring our faces through permanent make-up and suffer scarring. The world may be turning to nature as in organic food and eco-friendly homes and offices. But none of that when it comes to putting our best face forward. In search of the Holy Grail of perfection, many go into clinics with requests that they would like to look like Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt. What finally emerges may seem like a less than appealing hybrid but that stops very few. The only trouble is that Jolie and her ilk may be the flavour of the season, which means that you need to go in for a make-over when a new breed of beautiful people emerges. But what the heck, your face is your fortune many reckon, so why not spend a fortune on it?

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On