What People Think is Beautiful Changes With Age

New studies show that what people think is beautiful is not the same for everyone. Different age groups, like young people and older people, like different looks. This is because culture and what people see changes over time.
By Newsroom | Society, Trends |

Recent studies highlight how physical beauty standards vary across different age groups, from Baby Boomers to Gen Z. While some commonalities exist, generational divides emerge in what is considered the "perfect" man and woman. This analysis examines survey data and AI-generated insights to understand these varied perceptions.

Shifting Sands of Beauty Standards

Surveys conducted among different age demographics reveal a complex landscape of beauty ideals. These perceptions are influenced by cultural shifts and the information available to each generation. Understanding these differences provides insight into evolving societal values regarding physical appearance.

Revealed: What the 'perfect' man and woman look like, according to Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers - 1

Examining Generational Ideals

  • Gen Z: For women, Gen Z's ideal features include almond-shaped brown eyes, a button nose, a heart-shaped face, and full lips. For men, almond-shaped brown eyes, button noses, full lips, and an inverted triangle face shape are favored.

  • Millennials: While specifics for this group are not detailed separately in the provided data, the study that generated Gen Z's preferences also included Millennials.

  • Gen X: Ideal Gen X women are described as having almond-shaped brown eyes, a button nose, full lips, a round face shape, and straight, light blonde hair of medium length.

  • Boomers: Rounded brown eyes, a button nose, full lips, and a rounded face shape are popular for women in this generation.

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"Experts from the CREO Clinic surveyed 1,000 Brits about the physical qualities they find most appealing. And the results revealed how our preferences change with age."

The CREO Clinic survey of 1,000 Brits suggests a direct correlation between age and preferred physical attributes.

AI's Interpretation of Physical Perfection

Artificial intelligence has also been employed to define ideal male and female appearances. These AI-generated models suggest distinct preferences:

Revealed: What the 'perfect' man and woman look like, according to Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers - 2

  • Ideal Women (AI): Characterized by blonde hair, olive skin, brown eyes, and slim figures. Thirty percent of these AI-generated individuals had brown eyes, with over half possessing olive skin.

  • Ideal Men (AI): Depicted with dark eyes, chiselled cheekbones, and defined muscles.

AI analysis points to a confluence of traits like blonde hair, olive skin, brown eyes, and a slim build for women, and darker features with muscular definition for men, as ideal.

Beyond Physical Attributes

It is noteworthy that preferences extend beyond purely physical traits, particularly for younger generations. For instance, Gen Z women increasingly value shared political views and kindness in partners, sometimes prioritizing these over traditional markers like a stable job.

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Revealed: What the 'perfect' man and woman look like, according to Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers - 3

"Liberal young women value shared political views more than a partner’s stable job."

Furthermore, Gen Z appears to be adopting a more conservative approach to relationships and sex compared to previous generations like Millennials. This suggests that societal ideals are not solely confined to physical appearance but encompass broader values and relationship dynamics.

Gen Z's priorities in relationships indicate a move towards valuing shared beliefs and emotional connection over purely economic or superficial factors.

Revealed: What the 'perfect' man and woman look like, according to Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers - 4

Conflicting Perspectives on Beauty

The data presents a nuanced picture, where different methods yield varying results. The CREO Clinic's survey, based on human respondents, outlines specific features preferred by different generations. In contrast, AI-driven interpretations provide a more generalized aesthetic, highlighting features like hair color, skin tone, and body type.

Study MethodFocusKey Features (Women)Key Features (Men)
CREO Clinic SurveyGenerational PreferencesEye shape/color, nose shape, lip shape, face shape, hair color/lengthEye shape/color, nose shape, lip shape, face shape
AI AnalysisGeneralized Ideal Physical AttributesBlonde hair, olive skin, brown eyes, slim figureDark eyes, chiselled cheekbones, defined muscles

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While human surveys capture generational nuances in facial features, AI interpretations offer broader aesthetic archetypes.

Conclusion and Implications

The exploration into "perfect" physical appearances across generations reveals a dynamic and multifaceted understanding of beauty. Generational surveys like the one by the CREO Clinic demonstrate a detailed breakdown of preferred facial structures and hair types, showing distinct trends among Gen Z, Gen X, and Boomers. Concurrently, AI-generated ideals offer a more generalized vision, emphasizing complexion, eye color, and body shape.

The data underscores that:

  • Generational Differences Exist: Specific features like eye shape and face structure preferences vary significantly by age group.

  • AI Offers Broad Archetypes: AI-generated ideals tend to focus on overarching physical characteristics such as hair color, skin tone, and build.

  • Values Beyond Appearance Matter: For younger generations, interpersonal qualities and shared values are increasingly important in defining desirable partners, suggesting a shift in what constitutes "perfection."

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These findings suggest that beauty is not a fixed concept but is continuously reshaped by individual experiences, cultural influences, and the evolving priorities of each generation. Further investigation could explore the societal factors that contribute to these diverse preferences and the potential impact of these ideals on self-perception and societal pressures.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do all age groups like the same kind of looks?
No, different age groups like different things. For example, what Gen Z likes can be different from what older people like.
Q: What do younger people think is important besides looks?
Younger people, like Gen Z, also think kindness and shared ideas are important in a partner.
Q: How do studies find out what people think is beautiful?
Some studies ask people what they like, while others use computers to guess what is beautiful.