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 Get Into It.****************Sources & References:Susan Sontag, The Double Standard of Aging (1972)Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom, Thick: And Other EssaysSusan Stewart, Painted Faces: A Colourful History of CosmeticsLisa Eldridge, Face Paint: The Story of MakeupSally Pointer, The Artifice of Beauty: A History and Practical Guide to Perfumes and CosmeticsAnn Rosalie David, Handbook to Life in Ancient EgyptAmerican Psychological Association – Research on gerascophobiaTeen Vogue, “How Our Obsession With Skin Care Made Aging Feel Like a Moral Failure” by Arabelle Sicardi (2024)https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-our-obsession-with-skin-care-made-aging-feel-like-a-moral-failureThe New York Times, The Ageless Generation (2022)The Cut, The Cult of Youth Is Getting Old (2023)Statista (2023): Anti-aging skincare market dataAllure Magazine, The Age of Anti-Aging is Over (2017)****************Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show!Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282Spotify Podcast:https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA****************Follow Us on Social Media & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!TikTok:tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepodYouTube:@beautyunlockedspodcasthour****************Intro/Outro Music:Music by Savvier from Fugue FAME INC