Episode 107

full
Published on:

26th Jun 2025

EP - 107 - Why Are We so Afraid of Aging?

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.

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Sources & References:

Susan Sontag, The Double Standard of Aging (1972)

Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom, Thick: And Other Essays

Susan Stewart, Painted Faces: A Colourful History of Cosmetics

Lisa Eldridge, Face Paint: The Story of Makeup

Sally Pointer, The Artifice of Beauty: A History and Practical Guide to Perfumes and Cosmetics

Ann Rosalie David, Handbook to Life in Ancient Egypt

American Psychological Association – Research on gerascophobia

Teen 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-failure

The New York Times, The Ageless Generation (2022)

The Cut, The Cult of Youth Is Getting Old (2023)

Statista (2023): Anti-aging skincare market data

Allure Magazine, The Age of Anti-Aging is Over (2017)

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Apple Podcast:

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Intro/Outro Music:

Music by Savvier from Fugue FAME INC

Show artwork for Beauty Unlocked the podcast

About the Podcast

Beauty Unlocked the podcast
Buckle up and get ready as I delve into a variety of topics regarding physical beauty.

We'll take a look at our society's obsession with physical beauty and the consequences these impossible beauty standards have had on us.
Let's face it; this fascination regarding physical beauty and body image isn't a recent phenomenon; it has been around for centuries, crossing borders, and has affected men and women alike.
The realization of this podcast has come about by my own experiences having to deal with society's perverse notion of physical "perfection" and researching an array of topics that have intrigued me over the years.
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About your host

Profile picture for Carissa Vikis

Carissa Vikis

Hey there!
I'm Carissa, host, content creator, and producer of the indie podcast Beauty Unlocked.
Growing up, I was frequently compared and criticized for my looks and weight. This started the vicious cycle of being self-critical and loathing my body. I knew I wasn't the only one suffering from society's ridiculous notion of what "we should look like." I started digging deeper and researching various topics, and the rest is h(er)story!
Beauty Unlocked The Podcast aims to educate and bring awareness of our society's obsession with physical beauty and the emotional consequences these impossible beauty standards have. Beauty Unlocked's social media platform showcases not only my work but that of other artists, illustrators, and fellow podcasters that I admire and that share a similar message of inspiration, empowerment, positivity, and raising awareness on a variety of social issues.