The Best Part of Beauty...

Beauty can be given different definitions by different people, based on our levels of understanding. 

The Oxford Mini-reference Dictionary defines beauty as the combination of qualities giving pleasure to the sight or other senses or to the mind.

It is not a gain-saying that everybody, regardless of the race, tribe or language is beautifully and wonderfully created. The shape of the head, nose, eyeballs, ears, hands, legs, waist, hip circumference, height, skin colour and other qualities found in human being are unique. 

Upon close examination, no one is ugly. However, everybody still desires to look more physically good and attractive. 

The search for beauty is as old as humanity. While it is not bad to want to look more presentable outwardly, it saddens the heart that people now go an extra mile in search for artificial beauty, such as the bleaching of skin, abnormal massaging of the face with cosmetics, shabby hairstyles and many others. 

These are vices that were at one time or the other detestable in the society but are now embraced, even by our public figures.

Bleaching of skin is becoming rampant in our generation. Commercial skin-whitening creams and soaps are selling at faster rate in pharmaceutical shops. 

Many celebrities and some other individuals have resorted to the practice of bleaching their skins in the name of looking more beautiful or handsome. Their own definition of beauty is limited to skin colour, but that is where they got it wrong.

In late April, 2015, Ivory Coast banned lightening creams because of the negative health risks associated with them. Most bleaching creams contain harmful chemicals that are dangerous to health, and the consumers are either not aware of the toxic nature or just being defiant. 

Skin bleaching is capable of exposing the skin to various diseases, especially skin cancer (melanoma) and sunburn.

The way our ladies massage their faces with cosmetics of different colours call for concern. Cosmetics are intended to improve the outward appearance of a person and not to be applied in excess. 

‘Make ups’ as it is fondly called, has devastated the natural beauty of some ladies when excessively applied. As if that is not enough, they indulge in the fixing of eye lashes thereby turning themselves to frightening creatures. 

It is an illusion that beauty can be found in the application of multiple cosmetics and fixing of eye lashes.

There are teens and youths who make 'crazy' hairdo that is unfit for a sane individual.

Indecent dressings are worn in most cases to win the so called beauty contest. 

The criteria for choosing Miss. Beauty or Mr. 'This and That' in today’s beauty contest cannot be compared with that of the 19th century. The 21st century society and her leaders have become so corrupt that even the sense of sight in rating beauty has been affected. 

If today’s criteria were followed during the reign of king Xerxes in the citadel of Susa, when a search was made for a beautiful young virgin who would become the king’s wife, the biblical Esther wouldn’t have been considered.

As we all want to look more physically attractive, we must not forget that real beauty is in character, moral uprightness, and a life that is worth emulating. 

Beauty begins inside a person, not from outside. It is best when your nice looks or good outward appearance is accompanied by a nice personality that comes from within. 

A well decorated exterior is artificial and will soon fade away, but a lasting beauty is found on the inside. 

Someone who lacks virtue on the inside but looks beautiful or handsome outwardly can be compared to a white-painted grave that has its outside well decorated with flowers but full of dead men’s bones inside. 

Priscilla Presley was right when she said, “Inner beauty should be the most important part of improving one’s self”. The unfading beauty is found inside and it is of great worth. 

I, therefore, agree with this assertion that, “The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express” as stated by Francis Bacon.

CONCLUSION

Here's the conclusion of the matter: as good as it is to look beautiful/handsome outwardly, always be reminded that your character is your beauty, which no picture can express.

Thank you for reading.

© Sunday Akinrelere