In a previous post, we discussed the recognized proportions and distances between facial features, with a 1:1 ratio being one of them. In addition to the 1:1 ratio, there is another magical number.
In the 6th century BC, Pythagoras, a Greek philosopher and mathematician, studied regular pentagons and decagons and referred to the so-called “golden ratio.” Pythagoras explored the principles of beauty from a mathematical perspective and believed that beauty is “harmony and proportion,” and that an appropriate ratio can create beautiful patterns. What is an appropriate ratio? In Pythagoras’s view, it is 1.618:1. Anything that is composed according to this ratio can express a sense of harmony and balance. If this ratio is applied to facial structures, it can create a sense of beauty if multiple areas have a ratio of 1.618.
Some examples include:
- Width of the face from hairline to chin
- Distance from hairline to pupil, and from pupil to corner of the mouth
- Distance from the nose tip to the chin, and from the corner of the mouth to the chin
- Distance from the nose tip to the chin, and from the pupil to the nose tip
- The length of the lips and the width of the nose
The closer the ratio is to 1.618, the closer it is to balance and harmony. Most recognized beauties have facial proportions that are not far from the golden ratio. Even a famous foreign plastic surgeon, Stephen Arquardt, created a mask called the Phi Golden Mask to measure the facial contours and proportions of women. He claimed that by placing a photo under this plastic mask, one could immediately tell whether a woman’s facial proportions fit the golden ratio, making it very convenient.
But is beauty really measured by just one mask? Life experience tells us that aesthetic standards recognized by society change over time. It is gradually becoming clear that beauty is not such a simple matter. Using the Golden Mask as an example, the facial contours of people of different races vary, and if this mask is applied to everyone’s face, it could erase the unique beauty of different races. In addition, the ratio of the mask is more masculine, and some recognized stars or models may not fit this mask’s ratio. Moreover, if all women in the world adjust their facial shapes according to the Golden Mask, they may all become “replicas,” leaving no room for personal characteristics. In my opinion, the mask is at best a guide.
Some people blindly follow the golden ratio. However, according to personal observations, even if a person’s eyes, ears, mouth, and nose all fit the golden ratio, the effect may not be ideal. After all, balance, symmetry, and skin quality are also important factors. Perhaps beauty still depends on personal intuition, and there are many ways to help people radiate beauty, of which the golden ratio is only one method.