Beauty mark: An elevated term for a skin mole, these darker spots can appear anywhere on the body.
Melanocytes in clusters or clumps on the skin can form moles. While most moles are harmless, abnormally shaped marks with uneven color and undefined borders could indicate skin cancer.
Origin
The beauty mark is an idea created to describe a dark spot on the face that people find attractive or beautiful. It’s basically just another word for moles, and has been around since the Renaissance period as an increasingly popular makeup trick and trend.
In the 16th century, upper class Europeans sought ghostly pale skin and concealed any blemishes with small black dots to give off an illusion. This technique was popular for concealing smallpox scabs as well as covering up scars from breakups or fights that had left them with emotional scars.
Women began wearing artificial moles made out of leather, cloth and mouse fur in intricate designs. They got creative with designs like moons, stars, hearts and even flowers – creating a lucrative industry that was all the rage in courtrooms for a while. Eventually though, British Parliament decided this was an unattractive look and outlawed it.
Meaning
Beauty marks are dark patches of skin that often resemble stars or hearts, although they can also take the shape of rectangles or ovals.
They can be a sign of good fortune or success, or they could represent inner strength and power. In some cultures, these marks are believed to protect their wearers from evil forces.
They are often associated with famous women such as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Cindy Crawford. As these women achieved greater success, they accentuated their beauty marks – inspiring young girls to follow suit.
Symbolism
People around the world hold various views regarding beauty marks. Some think they reflect a flaw in themselves, while others see them as lucky signs that shield them from harm.
Some believe a beauty mark has spiritual significance and imprints memories of your past lives on your soul. It may also serve as a warning to remain alert in this present life.
For instance, if your beauty mark resembles a shooting star or crescent moon, it can be taken as evidence of an intimate connection with the universe – particularly if it coincides with one of your sun signs such as Leo or Aquarius.
Beauty marks carry with them a lot of significance, and their location on the body plays an important role in determining their spiritual significance. For instance, a mole on your right hand or left elbow indicates tenacity and intelligence.
Significance
Beauty marks are small, dark spots on the skin that may develop due to genetics or sun exposure. Some believe these marks have spiritual or symbolic significance and their location can reveal clues about a person’s personality or destiny.
The significance of beauty marks has changed over time and between cultures. In antiquity, scribes spent much effort decoding the meaning behind facial moles; for instance, one near the neck could be taken as a warning of impending beheading while one close to the mouth was believed to indicate gluttony.
Contemporary society has made beauty marks an increasingly desirable feature on the face. Celebrities such as Cindy Crawford and Madonna even showcase their natural marks as part of their signature looks.
