We talk about beauty all the time—but have you ever stopped to ask what it really means? At XOMD, we believe beauty is more than just looking a certain way. In fact, XOMD Founder  Dr. Steven Dayan, who has devoted a career to studying and researching the science of beauty, recently challenged us with this question in his Journal of Drugs in Dermatology article, The Psychology of Beauty: Balancing Nature, Confidence, and Authenticity. His work shows there’s an important distinction between beauty and attractiveness—and understanding it can change the way other’s perceive you as well as the way you feel about yourself.

Beauty: The Measurable Side

Beauty is often defined by features you can see and measure—things like:

• Facial symmetry
• Balanced proportions
• Clear, healthy skin

From an evolutionary perspective, these traits are primal! They signal vitality and health and are projected subconsciously. Our brains are wired to notice them in a fraction of a second but we don’t even realize it. That’s why so many beauty standards focus on the physical—because it’s the easiest part to rapidly capture at a glance in a photo or a mirror.

Attractiveness: The Felt Experience

Attractiveness, on the other hand, is personal, emotional, and deeply human. It’s not just what people see—it’s what they feel when they’re around you. It is consciously processed, interpreted and it is evolutionarily advanced. 
According to Dr. Dayan, factors that influence attractiveness include:

• Confidence: how you carry yourself
• Authenticity: staying true to who you are
• Expression: warmth in your smile, openness in your body language
• Connection: the way you engage with others

Someone can have perfectly proportioned features (beauty) but still be unapproachable if they seem distant or inauthentic. Conversely, a warm, confident person with imperfect features often draws people in.

Why This Matters in Skincare and Aesthetics

At XOMD, we have made it a mission to focus on both the primitive and advanced components of beauty. Skin health is at the foundation of your natural beauty—but our goal goes beyond the surface to harness the essence and purpose of beaty and attraction. Few if any other skin care lines have designed and proven a topical formulation with this bold purpose from the outset. Clear, radiant skin will boost your image as well as your confidence, and that confidence amplifies your consciously perceived and projected attractiveness.

The best results happen when outer beauty and inner confidence meet. This means treatments and routines should enhance—not erase—your individuality.

Our Philosophy

We believe in:

• Enhancing your natural features
• Supporting your skin so it reflects your health and vitality
• Encouraging you to embrace your own style of attractiveness, not someone else’s standard

Because in the end, beauty catches the eye, but attractiveness captures the heart and minds of others as well as yourself. As Dr. Dayan’s research reminds us, the most compelling version of you is the one that’s confident, authentic, and uniquely yours.