What is bad facial harmony?

A guide on the facial harmony trend

Quick summary

• The "good facial features/bad facial harmony" trend encourages teens to judge their looks by zooming in on features, then seeing how they fit together
• But beauty isn’t just about symmetry – confidence, personality, and culture all play a role in how someone is perceived
• Encourage your teen to focus on self-acceptance and remind them that social media trends don’t define real beauty or self-worth

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As a parent, it's natural to be concerned about what your teens or tweens are exposed to on social media – we hear this from so many of you, and want to help!

Recently, a trend called "good facial features/bad facial harmony" has gained popularity.

This trend involves users taking close-up footage of individual facial features (eyes, mouth, nose) and then zooming out to see if those features create "good facial harmony."

The idea is that people can have "good" features but "bad" overall harmony and vice versa, leading to cruel comments and judgments.

A medical perspective on the facial harmony trend

Doctors, especially plastic surgeons who study facial aesthetics, do talk about facial harmony.

This concept refers to how balanced and complementary your features are to each other.

However, it's crucial to understand that doctors also recognise beauty isn't just about measurements.

The complexity of attraction

Attraction is much more complicated and personal than simply having "good" features.

Here are some important factors to consider:

• Cultural differences: beauty standards vary widely across different cultures
• Health: mental and physical health often contribute to attractiveness
• Personal preferences: everyone has unique tastes; what one person finds attractive may differ from another
• Self-esteem and confidence: feeling good about oneself and being confident are significant aspects of attractiveness

Debunking the facial harmony trend

Several factors influence how people look in these videos beyond their natural features, such as:

• The makeup and hairstyle they choose
• The camera angles used to film
• Their personality traits like confidence, charisma, and humor

Remember, the more dramatic they manage to make the close-up clip vs. the zoomed out clip, the more viral they’re likely to go!

For tips on understanding the influence of TikTok beauty challenges, check out our resource on navigating TikTok skincare trends.

Key takeaways for parents on the facial harmony trend

The "good facial features/bad facial harmony" trend greatly oversimplifies the concept of beauty.

Beauty is much more than symmetry and proportions – it's subjective and influenced by numerous factors, including camera angles.

Try to encourage your teen to celebrate their unique beauty and not to fixate on their features – remind them that confidence and self-love are the most attractive features of all based on genuine laws of attraction. 

If you’re concerned this trend might be affecting their confidence, our guide on spotting low self-esteem in teens can provide helpful insights.

Hopefully now, if your teen comes to you with questions about this trend or you want to discuss this trend with your teen, you'll be armed with the medical knowledge to help them understand the bigger picture.