In defense of the aesthetics of the internet: how the internet helps express multifaceted identities

We live in the age of internet aesthetics. Even when we are told to “romanticize” the mundane aspects of everyday life, or to incorporate “the energy of the main character,” we take it for granted that we step outside of our lives and look at them as a whole. I find myself in a time where it is encouraged. A lens from a different perspective. For example, let’s say you go to the supermarket. If Instagram and TikTok have taught me anything, it’s that I don’t. just Go to the grocery store. I roam the aisles of my local store, listening to music perfect for a rom-com, searching for the perfect ingredients to make a “girls’ dinner.” Or let’s say you spend Saturday at home. I don’t just spend Saturdays at home. I’m living my best “cottagecore” life, drinking herbal tea, reading books, and enjoying a cozy lifestyle.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to express these moods and perspectives is through beauty. If you change your appearance, your life will also change, right? On the one hand, I think this is a noble pursuit. For me, it’s essentially a practice of novelty and gratitude, and cultivating a sense of excitement and contentment in otherwise inconsequential areas of life. On the other hand, there are also negative aspects. It can get tiresome to always adopt a certain type of character or play a role. Additionally, there are so many different possibilities and perspectives that you may feel decision fatigue.

But lately, I’ve started looking at internet aesthetics from a different perspective. It feels very freeing to go back and forth between them, choose different looks, and express different aspects of your personality. I realized that it wasn’t about playing a character or giving up on myself. It’s about accepting all aspects of yourself. It’s about experimenting and redefining femininity. It’s about expressing ourselves in a way that hasn’t been available to us historically. Perhaps the reason Internet aesthetics are so popular is because they allow women to break out of society’s molds of what “should be” or “should be.” I think it comes down to freedom of expression and choice.

That’s even more obvious when you consider that many of the most popular aesthetics are contradictory. The simple, sweet life of “cottagecore” parallels the success and high-stakes lifestyle of “quiet luxury.” The girlish and innocent “coquette” is juxtaposed with the sensual and dominant “siren eyes” and “revenge makeup.” It is a visual representation of our multifaceted identity. Here we take a closer look at some of the most popular beauty aesthetics and what they represent.

(Image credit: Collage by Makena Frederick)

I see the coquette aesthetic as a reclamation of youth identities that have been (and sometimes still are) considered shallow or superficial. As we grow up, we hear things like “play like a girl” and “be like a man.” We get the message that girlhood is soft and foolish, while boyhood is based on strength and momentum. When women embrace that aspect of themselves, they reject the narrative and construct a different one. That means you can embrace pink cheeks, glossy lip gloss, and silky hair ribbons and still remain strong, capable, and complex.

On the other hand, popular aesthetics like “revenge makeup” and “siren eyes” include a darker, more sensual side. Think voluminous hair, kohl-rimmed eyes, and blood-red lipstick. This look indicates maturity, dominance, and a strong sense of self. To me, it’s steamy, but not sexual, which is an important distinction.

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internet beauty collage

(Image credit: Collage by Makena Frederick)

What strikes me about the cottagecore aesthetic is its essential simplicity. The beautiful look includes cherry red lips and cheeks, effortless hair, and handmade or vintage-inspired accessories. This is associated with the rise of “homesteading” accounts on IG and TikTok, which reflect a lifestyle of gardening, home cooking, and general slow living. We don’t have to live this lifestyle. We can choose this lifestyle.