Beauty Unlocked the podcast
Buckle up and get ready as I delve into a variety of topics regarding physical beauty. We'll take a look at our society's obsession with physical beauty and the consequences these impossible beauty standards have had on us. Let's face it; this fascination regarding physical beauty and body image isn't a recent phenomenon; it has been around for centuries, crossing borders, and has affected men and women alike. The realization of this podcast has come about by my own experiences having to deal with society's perverse notion of physical "perfection" and researching an array of topics that have intrigued me...
Beauty Unlocked Update!
Sometimes the hardest decision as a creator is deciding not to release something you're not proud of.
Just a quick update to let you know what's happening with Episode 126 and Beauty Unlocked's upcoming summer break.
Thank you for your patience, support, and understanding. I'll be back at the end of August when the show returns with new episodes and plenty more uncomfortable questions for us to explore together.
Stay safe out there, my love buckets. Take care of yourselves and each other, and remember to stay curious, always.
🩷🖤🩷🖤🩷
EP - 125 - We Became the Tabloids!
Why were Laetitia Casta and Aishwarya Rai criticized for their appearance at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival?
What starts as celebrity gossip quickly becomes a much bigger conversation about beauty standards, aging, body image, and social media. Because the more I looked at the comments coming out of Cannes, the more one question kept nagging at me:
Did the tabloids disappear—or did we become them?
Are. You. Ready?
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Sources & References:
Andrejevic, Mark. iSpy: Surveillance and Power in the Interactive Era. University Press of Kansas, 2007.
Andrejevic, Ma...
EP - 124 - "Your Body Hair is Gross!"
In this episode, I’m unpacking the history of female body hair removal, the rise of shaving and Brazilian wax culture, and why women are taught to see natural body hair as “gross.”
From Ancient Egypt and razor advertising to pornography, patriarchy, and Eurocentric beauty standards, we’re digging into how female hairlessness became tied to femininity, desirability, cleanliness, and control. Why is body hair considered masculine on men but unacceptable on women? And why does modern beauty culture reward women for removing visible signs of adulthood from their bodies?
Are. You. Ready?
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Sou...
EP - 123 - Why Are Celebrities Thin Again? The Beauty Politics of Recession
What's a recession indicator you've noticed?
Lately, one answer keeps resurfacing online: "You can see celebrities' ribs again." And as unserious as that sounds at first, history suggests it may not be entirely wrong.
In this episode, I dive into Ozempic, recession aesthetics, quiet luxury, heroin chic, and the return of thinness as a cultural ideal. From celebrity weight loss trends to the politics of appetite, I explore how beauty standards shift during periods of economic anxiety, social instability, and cultural fear- and why women's bodies so often become the place where those anxieties are...
EP - 122 - Glow-Ups Explained: Why Looks Change How You’re Treated
What if your "glow-up" didn't change who you are, but changed how the world treats you?
In this episode, I'm unpacking pretty privilege, the psychology behind it, and why being seen differently can feel more unsettling than empowering. We're talking about perception, bias, and the uncomfortable truth behind why opportunities, attention, and respect suddenly shift. This isn't about glow-ups...it's about what they reveal.
Are. You. Ready?
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Sources & References:
Thorndike, E. L. (1920). A Constant Error in Psychological Ratings. Journal of Applied Psychology.
Dion, K., Berscheid, E., & Walster...
EP - 121 - Why Are We “Fixing” This Now? Labia Fillers Exposed
Labia fillers are one of those beauty trends that's quietly gaining traction- and chances are, you didn't even know it was something you were supposed to think about.
In this episode, I break down what labia fillers actually are, why more people are getting them, and the beauty standards driving the demand. We're getting into the language, the marketing, and the bigger cultural shift behind this idea of "rejuvenation." If you've ever wondered how far beauty standards can go, this episode might change the way you see them.
Are. You. Ready?
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Bonus Episode: Viral Skincare Trends That Are Secretly Damaging Your Skin
Some of the most dangerous beauty trends right now don't look dangerous at all. In this bonus episode, I unpack viral skincare trends like over-exfoliation and DIY lip plumping-and what dermatologists are actually saying about them.
What do these quick-fix trends really do to your skin-and why are experts warning against them? If you've ever been tempted to copy a routine from TikTok, this episode might make you think twice.
Are. You. Ready?
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Sources:
Dermatology & Skin Barrier Health
American Academy of Dermatology — “Exfoliation: How to Safely Exfoliate Your...
EP -120- Thinness Is Not Beauty — It’s Obedience
The obsession with thinness didn't just appear out of nowhere-and it's not just about beauty, body image, or "health."
In this episode, I'm unpacking the deeper history of diet culture, female body standards, and the social conditioning that taught women to shrink themselves-physically, emotionally, and culturally. From historical ideals of discipline and restraint to the racial roots of the modern thin ideal, we're digging into how thinness became tied to morality, self-control, and worth.
This is a conversation about appetite, power, control, and the quiet rules women have been taught to follow without ever questioning...
EP - 119 - The Beauty Industry Finally Found Its Next Target: Men
The beauty industry wasn't built on beauty-it was built on control.
In this episode, I'm breaking down how beauty became gendered, why women were expected to invest in appearance, and how men were deliberately kept outside of it. From the rise of modern masculinity to the rebranding of men's grooming, skincare, and cosmetic procedures, I unpack how these standards were constructed and why they're now expanding.
So what does it really mean when men are finally brought into a system women have been expected to navigate for decades?
Are. You. Ready?
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EP - 118 - The Lie of Effortless Beauty
Why does looking "effortless" cost so much?
In this episode, I'm breaking down the myth of low-maintenance beauty and why "natural" is often anything but. From aristocrats who had other people do the work for them to today's hyper-curated "clean girl" aesthetic, what looks effortless is usually carefully constructed behind the scenes. I'll get into how this illusion became a class signal, who it actually benefits, and who gets left out.
Because in beauty culture, effort doesn't disappear...it just gets edited out.
Are. You. Ready?
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Sources & Further Reading:<...
Bonus Episode: Let's Go Get Botox!
What if I told you that one of the most popular beauty treatments today is made from one of the most powerful toxins known to science?
In this bonus episode, I'm breaking down what Botox actually is, how it went from food poisoning to a cosmetic staple, and why it's become so normalized that people are getting it done on their lunch breaks. We'll talk about how it works in the body, the side effects people don't always mention, and what repeated use might actually be doing long-term.
This isn't about fear or judgment...
EP - 117 - The Male Gaze Started Long Before Hollywood: How Paintings Taught Us to See Women
Welcome back, loves!
The male gaze didn't begin with film, it was already centuries old by the time cameras appeared. In this episode, I trace how powerful patrons, religious institutions and elite collectors shaped beauty standards through the paintings they commissioned. From reclining Venuses to carefully staged portraits, these images didn't just depict women, they trained viewers how to look at them. But when women finally entered the art world and began painting themselves and each other, the visual language started to shift.
By the end of the episode, you may never look at a...
EP - 116 - Villains So Hot We Need Therapy: The Joan Ferguson Deep Dive Into Hot Villain Psychology
If you've ever wondered why you're attracted to villains... congratulations, you're about to get answers!
Let's talk about why so many of us are absolutely unwell over Joan "The Freak" Ferguson from Wentworth, and why a villain this elegant, severe, and unnervingly captivating makes our empathy do backflips it has no business doing...while simultaneously awakening thoughts that require either a licensed therapist, a priest, or both working overtime.
In this episode, I'm breaking down how beauty standards trick our brains into defending dangerous characters, how elegance softens evil, and why someone like Joan inspires...
EP - 115 - Skincare Before Science: Inside Medieval Beauty Culture
Welcome, my love buckets!
Step into the real world of medieval beauty- a place where "glowing skin" meant experimenting with ingredients that ranged from clever to catastrophic.
In this episode, I peel back the rituals, recipes, and dangerously creative practices that shaped the medieval ideal face, and the women who kept that knowledge alive. Some of what you'll hear will shock you, some will weirdly make sense, and some might feel unsettlingly familiar.
If you think modern beauty culture is intense... wait until you hear where we came from. By the end, you...
Bonus Episode: The Beauty Rulebook From Hell: How Appearance Was Used to Control Women
Welcome, to a brand new bonus episode, my loves!
From extreme historical beauty demands to clothing laws that targeted women, to the era when pants were treating like a public threat, this bonus episode uncovers the absurd systems that shaped, and still shape, women's lives.
These restrictions weren't about fashion; they were about power, discipline, and keeping women in their place. These beauty "rules" weren't random; they were deliberate tools of control.
What begins as curiosity quickly turns to outrage as the same patterns repeat across cultures and centuries. And once you hear...
EP- 114- Beauty Culture in Plagues, Wars, and Full-On Chaos
I'm back! Did you miss me?
In this episode, I'm taking you on a journey through the ways beauty standards twisted and transformed during some of history's darkest moments- from the death-obsessed world of the Black Death to the patriotic glamour demanded during World War I & World War II.
We'll uncover why people clung to fragile, disciplined, or "pure" aesthetics when everything around them was falling apart. We'll talk plagues, pin-ups, propaganda, and the way modern beauty culture still mirrors those old fears.
Are. You. Ready?
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Featured AD:
<...The Possessed Nun of Puebla
Welcome, my unholy loves, to the final episode of our Unholy December series.
In seventeenth-century Puebla, a cloistered nun's suffering was documented as spiritual warfare rather than illness. Drawing on colonial convent records and clerical testimony, we examine how pain, devotion, and fear collided inside the rigid world of New Spain's Carmelite convents. Stripped of folklore, this case reveals how a woman's body became a site of religious authority and control. The Possessed Nun of Puebla endures not because of what was believed to inhabit her, but because of how her suffering was interpreted.
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<...A Note for My Unholy Fiends!
A quick message for my Unholy fiends to say Happy Holidays, thank you for the love!
Just wanted to share a small update, the final Unholy December episode will be released on Saturday.
I really appreciate your patience and apologize for the delay.
Stay safe, my loves.
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Leave Us a 5* Rating, it really helps the show!
Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282
Spotify Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA
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The Kuntilanak Isn't a Possession Story- Until it is
Welcome, my devilish fiends!
A ghost born from childbirth and silence, the Kuntilanak haunts Indonesia's folklore as something far more unsettling than a simple possession story.
In this episode, we trace her origins through birth, blood, and grief, and examine how a woman who never needed a body sometimes ends up speaking through one.
From eerie encounters in banana groves to modern cases of mass trance and fear, the line between haunting and possession begins to blur.
This is tropical horror where folklore, gender, and modern anxiety collide.
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<...When the Convents Screamed: 17th-Century Demonic Possessions
Welcome, my dark souls!
In this haunting chapter of Unholy December, we uncover the chilling possession outbreaks that swept through convents in France, Spain, and Italy during the 17th century. From violent public exorcisms to quiet nocturnal terrors, these cases reveal how fear, faith, and control shaped the lives of cloistered women across Europe.
Drawing from diaries, trial records, and centuries of historical analysis, this episode exposes the obscure boundary between mysticism, trauma, and the supernatural. A deep, unsettling journey into the archives where some of history's darkest whispers have been waiting.
*Listener...
Possessed in Ossett? The Deliverance That Ended in Blood
A brutal killing in 1974 shattered the quiet town of Ossett and left investigators confronting one of Britain's most unsettling possession claims.
In the hours before the violence, ministers believed they were fighting unseen forces inside a small church, pushing Michael Taylor through a "deliverance" that spiraled far beyond their control. What followed fractured the thin line between faith and reality, sending a frightened community scrambling for answers.
In this episode, we unravel the ignored signs, the clergy's fraught involvement, and the aftermath that cast a long shadow over Ossett. Was something unearthly taking hold... or...
Possessed and Scandalous: The Catherine Cadière Affair
Welcome, my devilish fiends!
In 1730, the trial of Catherine Cadiere exploded into one of the most notorious scandals of 18th-century France.
What began as a confession between a young woman and her Jesuit director spiraled into accusations of seduction, manipulation, and demonic influence. Courts, clergy, and entire communities were suddenly forced to choose sides as the case blurred the line between spiritual guidance and exploitation.
In this episode, we trace how a private relationship became a public fury.
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Sources & Further Reading:
The Case of Mrs. Mary Catharine...
The House of 1000 Screams: The Smurl Family Haunting
Welcome, my ghoulish fiends.
The Smurl family claimed their West Pittston duplex was overtaken by a violent, calculating force that wanted more than their fear, it wanted their bodies and their faith.
Over fourteen years, they reported whispers, apparitions, assaults, and a darkness that grew stronger the longer it was ignored. Even seasoned investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren called it one of their most disturbing cases.
In this episode, I dig into the documented chaos, the Church's hesitation, and the terrifying question that still lingers on Chase Street. Was something truly hunting the...
The Girl Who Shook France: The Possession of Martha Brossier
Welcome, my December souls!
A young French woman ignites chaos in the 1590s when claims of demonic possession turn her into a national obsession. Was Martha Brossier truely tormented... or performing for influence?
Follow me as I delve into the case that rattled priests, physicians, and even the king's court.
*Listener Discretion is Strongly Advised*
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Sources & Further Reading:
A True Discourse vpon the Matter of Martha Brossier of Romorantin (1599), translated by Abraham Hartwell
Anita M. Walker & Edmund H. Dickerman, “A Woman Under the Influence: A Ca...
Unholy December: The Possession Files Trailer
This December, we're unlocking the darkest files in spiritual folklore and recorded history. Unholy December: The Possession Files plunges into the chilling stories of bodies overtaken, minds manipulated, and homes twisted by forces no one could explain.
From infamous cases of alleged demonic possession to the chaos of one family's relentless haunting, each episode pulls back the veil on what happens when something unseen decides to take hold.
These aren't just tales of terror, they're documented encounters that left witnesses terrified, investigators baffled, and entire communities shaken.
Step inside.... if you dare
<...Vampires in Pop Culture: Why We Can't Let the Undead Go
Welcome, my ghoulish loves!
In this final episode of Dark Thirst, I'm diving into pop culture's undying obsession with vampires. From the sensual chaos of True Blood to the glittering restraint of Twilight, and from Coppola's lavish Dracula to Eggers' haunting Nosferatu, I explore how every vampire revival mirrors what's happening in society. From our fears, desires, and shifting ideals of beauty. What do these immortal beings say about us and the times we live in?
After centuries of fascination, it's clear, we don't just crave the vampire. We crave what they promise.
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Blood, Beauty & the Vampire Myth: Our Eternal Obsession with Youth
Welcome, my ghoulish fiends!
Join me as I sink my teeth into the dark allure of vampires and the eternal obsession with youth.
From Countess Elizabeth Bathory's infamous legend to Roman and early modern rituals of blood and renewal, I explore how the vampire became the ultimate beauty icon and how our own thirst for ageless perfection mirrors their seductive, deadly world.
*Listener Discretion is Strongly Advised*
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Sources & References:
Groom, Nick. The Vampire: A New History (Oxford University Press, 2018)
Auerbach, Nina. Our Vampires, Ourselves (University...
Vampire Beauty: The Gothic Body
Welcome, my ghouls!
In this episode, I explore the Gothic body, where beauty, death and desire intertwine. From vampire myths to historical obsessions with youth and purity, I uncover how the pursuit of eternal beauty has always revealed something darker about power, fear, and control.
***Listener Discretion is Strongly Advised***
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Sources & References:
Kubiesa, Jane M. (2021). Cultural Representations of the Transformative Body in Young Adult Multi-Volume Vampire Fiction, 2000–2010. University of Sheffield.
Kavka, Misha. (2002). The Gothic on Screen. In The Cambridge Companion to Gothic Fiction, edited by Jerrold E. Ho...
'Monstrous' Women: Lilith, Lamia, and the Making of the Vampire Myth
Welcome, my devilish fiends!
Join me as we trace the roots of the vampire back to the women who came before her: Lamia, Lilith, and the succubi.
These "monstrous" figures haunted ancient myth and medieval imagination, embodying male fears of female power, pleasure, and autonomy. Long before Dracula, they turned desire into danger and defiance into sin. Their stories reveal how myth and theology worked together to make women's power appear monstrous and how those same fears still shape the vampire we know today.
So, close your doors and windows, turn off the...
The Erotic Bite: Dracula, Carmilla, and Forbidden Desire
Welcome, my ghoulish fiends!
Why do vampires seduce us even as they terrify us? In the second episode of Dark Thirst, I explore the erotic power of the vampire's bite, where intimacy meets violence, and desire crosses forbidden boundaries.
We dive into repressed sexualities, dangerous loves and the Victorian obsession with "beautiful death," uncovering how fear and lust became inseparable in Gothic literature.
From the shocking passion of Carmilla to Mina Harker's disturbing "baptism of blood" in Dracula, we reveal why the vampire still haunts our most forbidden fantasies.
Join me...
From Monster to "Gentleman": The Vampire's Seductive Birth
Welcome, my October Fiends!
From bloated graveyard corpses to velvet-clad aristocrats, vampires have always mirrored our darkest fears and deepest desires.
In this first episode of Dark Thirst, join me as I trace their evolution through The Vampyre, Carmilla, and Dracula; stories that turned horror into seduction and gave birth to the vampire we can't resist today.
Join me... if you dare...
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Sources:
Polidori, John. The Vampyre. 1819.
Le Fanu, Sheridan. Carmilla. 1872.
Stoker, Bram. Dracula. 1897.
Gelder, Ken. Reading the Vampire. Routledge, 1994.
<...Dark Thirst: Vampires from Gothic Horror to Irresistible Desire
This October, I invite you to surrender to the darkness.
Dark Thirst is a six-part series tracing the vampire's transformation from grotesque terror to irresistible seducer. Desire, obsession, danger- every Wednesday, starting October 1st, we'll sink deeper into the literature, the bodies, and the beauty of the monster we can't resist.
Cozy up under your blanket, lock the doors and windows, and step into the dark with me... I'll be waiting.
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Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show!
Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be...
EP - 113- Harmonizing Your Face: The Dark History of Symmetry
Facial 'harmonizing' is the latest beauty buzz flooding TikTok and Instagram, but is it really just harmless fun?
In this episode, I dig into the strange science, cultural history, and hidden baggage behind our obsession with symmetry. From Renaissance art to social media filters, discover why the idea of a 'perfectly balanced face' isn't as innocent as it seems.
Buckle up, this one's going to make you look at beauty trends a little differently.
Are. You. Ready?
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Sources & References:
Naomi Wolf — The Beauty Myth (1990)
Petrus Ca...
EP - 112 - Toxic Tudor Secrets: Elizabeth I’s Deadly Mask of Youth
Elizabeth I may have been one of the most powerful rulers in history, but behind her glittering portraits was a deadly secret. To maintain her iconic "Mask of Youth," she relied on toxic cosmetics that slowly poisoned her body.
In this episode, I peel back the layers of her beauty routine, explore how her image became a weapon of power, and reveal the impossible double standards women have always faced.
From court gossip to ambassadorial shade, discover how beauty, politics, and poison shaped the Virgin Queen.
Are. You. Ready?
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EP - 111 - Fat Dissolving Injections: The Hidden Risks No One Talks About
Doom scrolling on TikTok, I stumbled on a creator in South Korea heading to a clinic for fat dissolving injections- and surprise, the comment section went wild. Everyone wanted to know about the pain, the price, and the results... but buried deep was one chilling warning.
In this episode, I reveal the risks no one's really talking about on TikTok- and why this beauty trend might leave a mark you can't erase.
Are. You. Ready?
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Sources & References:
FDA — Official approval of Kybella for submental (under-chin) fat only.– Kybella Information
EP - 110 - Snail Slime in Skincare: From Hippocrates to K-Beauty
What do ancient Greek medicine and Korean skincare have in common? One slippery, surprisingly powerful ingredient: snail slime. From historical remedies to modern-day serums, in this episode we trace the unexpected journey of mucin through time.
Is it miracle goo or just clever marketing?
Are. You. Ready?
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Sources & References:
Pliny the Elder. Natural History, Book 30. Translated by H. Rackham. Loeb
Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1938.
Rothfels, Nigel. A Cultural History of Animals in Antiquity. Berg Publishers,
2007.
Walker, Susan. “Would You Smear Sn...
EP - 109 - The Newest Trend: Hating Your Skeleton!
They've shamed your skin, your thighs, your pores- and now, they're coming for your bones! A new wave of body criticism is targeting what you literally can't change: your skeleton.
Join me as I dive into the absurd trend of rib cage and hip dip shaming, and why it's gaining traction online. From historical beauty extremes to modern social media madness, we're peeling back the layers.
Are. You. Ready?
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Sources & References:
Brigitte Hamann, The Reluctant Empress: A Biography of Empress Elisabeth of Austria
Dr. Mary Jane Minkin...
EP - 108 - The Beauty Trend That’s Slowly Killing Us
You see them every summer- skin sizzling under the sun like it's a badge of beauty. But what if that golden glow is just slow damage in disguise?
In this episode, I unpack the glamorization of tanning, the deadly consequences we keep ignoring, and the racial double standards woven into it all. From history to hypocrisy, we're calling out the cult of sun damage.
Wear sunscreen, friends!
Let's Get Into It.
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Sources & References:
World Health Organization. Artificial Tanning Devices: Public Health Interventions to Manage Risks. 2009.
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Beauty Unlocked Update!
Hey, friends!
It's that time of the year where I need to step back and take a break. I want to thank you so much for listening, supporting, and being part of Beauty Unlocked. Your support means the world to me.
I'll be taking this time to rest and recharge- so there won't be any new episodes for a while. Until, then, take care of yourselves and remember: beauty is so much more than what we're told it is!
You'll hear from me soon x
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Leave Us a 5* Rating, it...
EP - 107 - Why Are We so Afraid of Aging?
Why are we so afraid of aging—and who profits from that fear?
In this episode, I'm diving head first into the cultural, historical, and psychological roots of the anti-aging obsession, from ancient Egyptian wrinkle creams to TikTok’s SPF-shaming comment culture. We’ll unpack how aging became a moral issue, especially for women, and how skin tone, class, and race have long been entangled in beauty standards.
Get ready to confront the billion-dollar industry built on our fear of looking human.
Are we really aging wrong—or is the system rigged?
Let's...
