How the beauty aesthetic is being transformed into a form of play, and a comforting, safe space.
Before leaving my house, I looked at my desk, where pink blushes, glossy lip tints, heart-shaped eyeshadows, and shimmering pastels were scattered across the surface.
Under the gentle glow of the room, the palette looked like a mixture of various shades of pink. The scene felt strangely comforting, so I took a picture and used the following caption: “POV: Ur a girlll💅🏻🎀”
In recent years, algorithms have seen a surge in similar imagery across social media. They include the “me core” TikTok slideshow of cute cosmetics products on bed sheets, plush toys in rows with pillows, and the phrase “I’m just a girl”.
These posts might look childish or silly, but they actually point to an interesting phenomenon about how young females find peace nowadays.
For me, beauty gradually became a form of play, not as a performance or as a means to achieve flawless perfection, but a comforting ritual.
When applying lipstick at the start of the day, arranging my cosmetic products in different colours became a way to create a peaceful sanctuary after a long, stressful week.
On the internet, these small rituals are often presented as comforting and aesthetically pleasing parts of everyday life. In recent years, trends centred around “girlhood” have become increasingly popular on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, where beauty, softness and cuteness are closely associated with femininity.
Phrases such as “girl dinner” and “I’m just a girl” frequently appear in short videos and posts online, reflecting how many young women express themselves through playful and carefully curated aesthetics.
Unlike traditional forms of entertainment, this version of ‘play’ manifests in the mundane, such as organising makeup products, lighting candles or decorating personal spaces with soft colours. Such practices are presented in a manner that makes them seem comforting and beautiful aspects of daily life.
Meanwhile, with the rise of social media, the way people share these moments online has also begun to change.
Platforms such as TikTok and Instagram encourage users to post aesthetically pleasing versions of their daily lives. This means that even relaxing or private moments can become carefully curated for attention online.
Cosmetics casually placed on a table or a “nighttime skincare routine” filmed under soft lighting may seem natural, but are often deliberately arranged for photos and short videos shared on social media.
As a result, online “girlhood” seems to be linked to both comfort and performance at the same time.
Many young women do genuinely enjoy beauty products and soft aesthetics, yet in an era driven by online attention and visibility, social media can also become a double-edged sword.
There is an increasing pressure to make everyday life appear visually pleasing, meaning even the most relaxing moments can become aestheticised and shared online.
Similarly, these trends often blur the boundary between adulthood and childhood. Cute plush toys, soft pink colour palettes and other girlish decorations that were previously aimed mainly at young girls are now also commonly embraced by adult women.
Even high-end beauty products are often packaged with bows and glitter, showing how “girlhood” aesthetics are becoming increasingly popular.
In many ways, this development is connected to how femininity on social media has become associated with softness and nostalgia.
Rather than viewing feminine interests and preferences as immature, many women now express these preferences openly through online content related to fashion, beauty and lifestyle.
Although these aesthetics may appear playful and light-hearted at first glance, there is also a deeper meaning behind this sense of innocence.
Looking back at the photo I took that day, I realised that it was not simply about the beauty products scattered across my desk. It captured a small moment that allowed me to reconnect with a softer and more playful version of myself.
Even ordinary moments felt more meaningful through beauty, colour and small everyday rituals.
In a world where people are constantly expected to be mature and emotionally composed, perhaps there is nothing childish about finding comfort in softness, beauty and the little details of daily life.
All images by Chloe Wu.