What is beautiful?

I haven't blogged in a while because I haven't been able to think of anything interesting to write about.  Nothing too interesting has happened since my last entry, other than my weekend in Paris and here's a quick summary:
1)Saw sites that I've already seen before
2)Tried escargot
3)MASTERED the metro system like a boss
4)Saw a Wild Child show
5)Saw a Niki de Saint Phalle Expo

Now that I've summarized what you've missed, I thought I'd approach another profound topic concerning the French culture.  This topic is the one thing that every woman worries about whether they want to admit it or not: Beauty.  I had someone ask me a couple months ago what the standards of beauty are in France.  I'm going to explain them, but first I'll describe the standards of beauty in the United States.
A woman in the United States is considered beautiful if she meets these criteria:
-Perfect white straight teeth
-Tan skin (not too tan, although not too pale)
-Face made up
-Hair on point
Additional yet still important- Trendy clothes and polished nails
Okay. It's obvious that not every woman in the states cares enough to always look perfect (myself included) but it's true that most women have some sort of self-esteem issue if they feel like they are not up to the standards of what we call "beautiful."
For example, back at home it took me around an hour to get ready in the morning.  After taking the time to cover every blemish and dark circle and straightening every piece of hair, I'd have one minute to grab a granola bar and run out the door before missing the bus (which I missed the bus everyday anyway but that's beside the point).
Beauty in the United States is based off of media.  One week we're all supposed to have thigh gaps and the next week we all must have a shelf-ass.  It's entirely impossible to be up to those standards.
Now for what I've noticed in France.
Women are themselves and it is beautiful! They wear their hair down naturally, they show their true skin, they don't persistently worry about whitening strips every 3 months and they dress SO incredibly laid back.  What's cool about it is that you know they put basically no effort into their outfits and yet they look fabulous.
I can tell you that my 3 months in France has made me see my own natural beauty and I'm forever grateful for that.  My getting ready time here is literally 25 minutes...and that's including breakfast.
Women in France believe that natural is beautiful and I could not agree more.
However, who's to say that I won't return to my one hour "getting ready time" when I return to the states?  I guess we'll see about that.