Societal beauty standards are notorious for being out of reach for regular people. However, the push from luxury brands glorifying “unconventional beauty” standards — the ones model agencies prefer from prospective supermodels — reminded me of a quote from The Devil Wears Prada, when Miranda Priestly says in a deadpan tone, “Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.”
I am not alone in that sentiment, though. The collective is watching the downfall of the Kardashian clan in real-time and, it seems, loving every minute of it. This is, after all, the same family that produced both Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner. Kim dominated the 2000s and much of the 2010s with her own special brand of unrealistic beauty standards, but Kylie took it a step further by first gaslighting and gatekeeping, then building a billion-dollar beauty empire that is, according to reports, not doing as well financially as it used to. Alas, karma comes for us all at some point.
On the other end of the spectrum, we are now seeing (and loving) Christina Aguilera’s full-body transformation! Honestly, how is it possible that she looks better at 43 than she did two decades earlier? While many are speculating on social media about what type of cosmetic work Aguilera has gotten, most agree that she looks fantastic and, unlike Jenner, is deserving of praise.
Whether we’re rich or poor, famous or not so much, the truth is we’re all hoping to be perceived as more beautiful or look younger than what’s written on our birth certificates. The question we should ask ourselves, however, is whether achieving this seemingly impossible feat of drinking from the fountain of youth will finally make us feel … worthy.
The following books highlight our unending quest for beauty and youth and the consequences along the way:
Aesthetica by Allie Rowbottom
A former social media star dives deep into the fractured world of digital allure and self-worth. At 19, she was an Instagram icon, her life a parade of curated perfection. Fast forward to 35, and she’s selling anti-aging products at a modest cosmetic counter, seeking transformation for herself as much as her clients. Facing a high-risk Aesthetica™ surgery—a dramatic reversal of her past cosmetic procedures—she hopes to rediscover her true self, provided she survives the transformation. But just before the knife, her past roars back: her ex-manager and lover, now a self-styled beacon of “woke” masculinity, is set for a public fall from grace. As she grapples with her impending surgery and the raw truths of her past, Aesthetica delivers a powerful, unsettling exploration of beauty, identity, and the price of digital fame. This novel cuts through the glossy veneer of social media to reveal a compelling narrative about feminism, #MeToo, and the quest for authenticity in a world addicted to illusions.
Rouge by Mona Awad
This chilling gothic fairy tale plunges into the shadowy corners of beauty obsession and mortality. Belle, a solitary dress shop clerk, is haunted by an unrelenting fixation on skincare and youth. When her estranged mother, Noelle, dies under mysterious circumstances, Belle returns to Southern California to settle debts and unravel the secrets surrounding her death. Her quest for answers leads her to a striking woman in red and a cryptic video hinting at a transformative spa experience. Drawn into the sinister allure of La Maison de Méduse — a lavish spa where her mother was a fervent devotee — Belle uncovers a terrifying truth behind their mutual obsession with the mirror. Rouge is a dark, surreal exploration where Snow White collides with Eyes Wide Shut, dissecting the cultish fervor of the beauty industry and the peril of surrendering to its merciless standards. Through a blend of black humor and seductive horror, it reflects on our superficial desires, the haunting nature of grief, and the complex bond between mothers and daughters, all while casting a warped mirror on our deepest fears and longings.
Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang
Natural Beauty invites readers into an exclusive, beauty-obsessed realm where perfection is both seductive and devastating. The narrator, a gifted pianist whose technique stems from her parents’ musical prowess and their escape from post-revolutionary China, faces a life-altering choice when an accident leaves them incapacitated. She leaves behind her musical dreams to work at Holistik, a high-end beauty and wellness store in New York City renowned for its extreme treatments — from remoras that extract Botox to spider silk eyelash extensions. As she immerses herself in this world of opulence and longed-for acceptance, she becomes enraptured by Helen, the enigmatic niece of Holistik’s magnetic owner. Their relationship evolves ambiguously while the narrator undergoes relentless beautification — slimming, smoothing, lightening — through increasingly dubious products. Natural Beauty is a piercingly dark, darkly humorous debut that delves into consumerism, self-worth, race, and identity, revealing a chilling truth beneath the glossy surface of modern beauty standards.
The Glow by Jessie Gaynor
A desperate young publicist is on a quest to salvage her faltering career by turning a charismatic figure from a shabby wellness retreat into the next big self-care sensation. Jane Dorner juggles two personas: PR Jane, eager to push feminist vibrators and bereavement subscription boxes, and Actual Jane, a struggling 29-year-old burdened by mounting medical bills and mundane days. When her job is jeopardized, Jane’s last hope lies in landing a game-changing client. Enter Cass, an ethereal beauty with a Zen-like aura, whose Instagram-perfect life masks a retreat center with cultish undertones. Jane sees in Cass a potential superstar — if she can transform her into a high-end wellness icon. With Cass’s seemingly flawless skin and her diet of only spiritually enriching zucchini, Jane embarks on a high-stakes mission to make her the ultimate guru of inner peace and glowing skin, all while grappling with her own ambitions and ethical dilemmas. The Glow is a brilliantly crafted satire that skewers the commodification of health and the luxury of self-care, leaving readers to ponder the true cost of beauty and the sacrifices made in the pursuit of power and influence.
If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
If I Had Your Face immerses readers in the mesmerizing, cutthroat world of contemporary Seoul, where the pursuit of beauty is an obsession and extreme plastic surgery is as commonplace as a haircut. In this city of ruthless social hierarchies and secretive ‘room salons’ where women vie for the attention of wealthy businessmen, K-Pop idols reign supreme, and every move is dictated by societal expectations. Four young women navigate this treacherous landscape, each grappling with their own struggles. Kyuri, whose stunning beauty earns her a coveted spot at a high-end room salon, finds her status jeopardized by a reckless mistake. Miho, her flatmate, escapes to a prestigious New York art school, only to become entangled with the elite offspring of the Korean elite. Wonna, their neighbor, faces the daunting challenge of raising a child in an unforgiving economy. And Ara, a hair stylist living just down the hall, becomes dangerously obsessed with a fresh-faced K-Pop star. If I Had Your Face offers a gripping, incisive look at a world where beauty and status are intertwined, revealing the extreme lengths women will go to in their quest for acceptance and survival.
Youthjuice by E.K. Sathue
In this satirical nightmare where American Psycho meets The Devil Wears Prada, E.K. Sathue delivers a chilling exploration of beauty at a staggering price. Sophia Bannion, a 29-year-old copywriter, joins HEBE, a luxury skincare and wellness brand named after the Greek goddess of youth, and quickly senses something is deeply off. Living amidst designer knockoffs and existential dissatisfaction, Sophia longs for more than her flat, superficial life. She finds both a sense of purpose and a disturbing addiction to HEBE’s flagship product, youthjuice—a rich, soothing cream with a horrifying secret ingredient. As HEBE’s glossy facade begins to crack, Sophia must confront the grotesque truth behind her quest for eternal youth. Youthjuice is a glittering, grotesque horror that dissects the shallow frenzy of NYC’s It-girl culture, revealing the grotesque extremes of beauty obsession. Sathue’s debut exposes the sinister side of influencer culture, leaving you wary of your next skincare routine and questioning the true cost of eternal youth.
