Hope May Come In A Bottle
One year. One FULL year we’ve been sitting in the pandemic trying to live our lives to the best of our abilities while still following social restrictions. We’ve been living on Zoom and FaceTime in an effort to maintain some form of social connection with our imperfections staring right back at us, and having more time than usual to obsess over them. Even though the glimmer of hope is beginning to shine more brightly on the horizon, there still seems to be a lack of things to look forward to. Most people seem to be relying on little things as their personal respite of joy. In our world at work, one of those little things that are making people happy is their quarterly visit for neurotoxin (i.e. Botox, Dysport, Xeomin). It’s not only the actual getting of Botox that’s bringing joy but also having the routine of coming in. Routines in general help to reduce the stress of the unknown. It provides a sense of being in control of something during this uncertain time and is also a sign that people haven’t given up hope. 2020 took a toll on all of us, aging us all physically and mentally. This isn’t the first time people have turned to cosmetics as a beacon of hope.
A similar phenomenon to the current “Botox Boom” happened during The Great Depression and World War II but it was all about lipstick. Lipstick was one of the only affordable luxuries women could buy at that time. As the war pressed on and more women entered the workforce, a red “Victory Lip”, a traditional symbol of femininity, became a sign of patriotism, optimism, and lifted morale. It gave women a boost in self-confidence and a sense of normalcy, much like Botox is doing now. Women were even advised by publications like Ladies’ Home Journal and Good Housekeeping among others to make themselves up into something worth fighting for for the men at war. (McEuen, 2)
This is actually called the Lipstick Effect- when consumers will still buy small luxury items in recessions, economic downturns (like a global pandemic), or when a person just doesn’t have a lot of extra cash. “Although consumer spending typically declines in economic recessions, some observers have noted that recessions appear to increase women's spending on beauty products.” (Hill, et al.,1) During the 2008 recession data shows that filler and Botox usage actually increased by 31%. 2020 survey data hasn’t been released yet but from an anecdotal standpoint, our office is busier than ever. This shouldn’t come as a big surprise since for many of us our identity is very woven into our outward appearance. The last year may have been a shit show but being in control of how smooth our forehead is or having fewer crows feet is a small sense of personal victory.
Yes, this could be taken as being very superficial but it’s also optimistic. When people practice self-care it’s an indication that they haven’t completely thrown in the towel and surrendered yet. Doing something for yourself makes you feel good; when you feel good you have a better outlook, and when you have a better outlook hope and buoyancy abounds. It doesn’t mean that you’ll only feel good if you get injectables. Do a workout, get outside, cook something new, anything that raises your spirits while waiting for things to get back to normal. Whatever you decide to do to make yourself feel better, be safe about it. Our office is cleaned and sanitized regularly with HEPA filters in every room and employees wearing masks to keep patients safe. If you feel like you’ve tried everything to lift your spirits over the last twelve months Botox, or some other neurotoxin, might be the little jumpstart you need to start seeing the world, and your Zoom selfies, with rose colored glasses.
Sources
Berkowitz, Dana. Botox Nation: Changing the Face of America. New York University Press, 2017.
Bower, Lee H. “The Effects of the Great Recession on Medical Aesthetics.” Practical Dermatology, Aug. 2014.
Hill, Sarah E., et al. “Boosting Beauty in an Economic Decline: Mating, Spending, and the Lipstick Effect.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 103, no. 2, 2012, pp. 275–291., doi:10.1037/a0028657.
McEuen, Melissa A. Making war, making women: Femininity and duty on the American home front, 1941-1945. University of Georgia Press, 2011.