I think it’s partly objective and partly subjective. Apparently people with symmetrical faces are considered more beautiful in experiments. However there is an element of personality involved too.
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NeedImprovement
Guest
I find myself agreeing with @phil19034.
FWIW :According to the CCC, truth and beauty appear to be interrelated; and this, quite profoundly
Catechism of the Catholic Church ; Truth, Beauty and Sacred Art
FWIW :According to the CCC, truth and beauty appear to be interrelated; and this, quite profoundly
Catechism of the Catholic Church ; Truth, Beauty and Sacred Art
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Greenfields
Guest
I know men and women who are beautiful in their old age nothing to do with fertility , it’s the child like trust and love of God ,awe of life and what comes next .
Handicapped friends of the past who were beautiful in their innocence and closeness to God .
There are beautiful people of all ages and stages
Handicapped friends of the past who were beautiful in their innocence and closeness to God .
There are beautiful people of all ages and stages
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Benadam
Guest
Just adding contrast to the discussion. 
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ConstantLearner
Guest
Then we’re a perfect match! Because I’m absolutely gorgeous! And a little conceited.I think I’m ruggedly handsome and a sight to behold… However, I’m also quite conceited
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ConstantLearner
Guest
That’s true. If it were entirely objective, some people would stand no chance.
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Edward_H
Guest
Their correspondence with truth and goodness, and the will of God.
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BoomBoomMancini
Guest
He sounds like a delight.
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BoomBoomMancini
Guest
To be fair, most women are not interested in gross looking men, either. There’s a reason the vast majority of women would rather date Ryan Gosling than John Goodman.
Anyway, OP, not totally sure what you’re asking. If you’re asking about spiritual beauty, I think that’s fairly obvious from a Catholic perspective. if you mean physical beauty, there’s obviously no specifically Catholic criteria. Different cultures have different standards for physical beauty. But I think most people would probably agree that facial symmetry, good hygiene, and a nice figure (ie not overweight, reasonably fit) are the basic criteria. But again, not totally sure what you mean by “the Catholic teaching”. It’s not like the Church publishes a list of “who’s hot, who’s not”.
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Mary888
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Faith. People of faith whose pictures I have seen all have the most beautiful clear eyes and a honest stare.
And the physical is - eyes.
And the physical is - eyes.
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midori
Guest
Post-Plague-Europe, the standard of beauty was “looking pregnant”.
For Heian Japan, the standard of male beauty was having a perfectly round face, like the moon.
At several places in Asia, stained/blackened teeth were considered beautiful, because that way, you couldn’t tell the difference between people with decayed teeth and people with healthy, blackened teeth.
In China for thousands of years, you couldn’t be beautiful with natural feet— you had to bind them up, which means you have broken, rotted feet… but they get to wear cool, tiny shoes.
I don’t think the Catholic church has ever had an ideal standard for physical beauty. The beauty we see in religious art has usually been the beauty standards of the time and culture that art was produced in. Instead, we generally go along the idea of–
For Heian Japan, the standard of male beauty was having a perfectly round face, like the moon.
At several places in Asia, stained/blackened teeth were considered beautiful, because that way, you couldn’t tell the difference between people with decayed teeth and people with healthy, blackened teeth.
In China for thousands of years, you couldn’t be beautiful with natural feet— you had to bind them up, which means you have broken, rotted feet… but they get to wear cool, tiny shoes.
I don’t think the Catholic church has ever had an ideal standard for physical beauty. The beauty we see in religious art has usually been the beauty standards of the time and culture that art was produced in. Instead, we generally go along the idea of–
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Lea101
Guest
Definitely women too. We love to be PC when it comes to stuff like this, but we all would rather date a good looking person than a below average person assuming that they are both similar in character
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JanSobieskiIII
Guest
I think it’s pretty subjective. I happen to think the singer Camilla Cabello is gorgeous, but my buddy doesn’t think she’s attractive at all.
On the flip side, there was a girl that I thought was gorgeous, and then got to know her and found her completely unattractive as a person and now when I see her I don’t feel attracted at all.
I think everyone has their own idea of what physical beauty is and that’s what draws them to approach a person, and then find out if the personalities line up.
On the flip side, there was a girl that I thought was gorgeous, and then got to know her and found her completely unattractive as a person and now when I see her I don’t feel attracted at all.
I think everyone has their own idea of what physical beauty is and that’s what draws them to approach a person, and then find out if the personalities line up.
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Athanasiy
Guest
For example, I realized that beyond external beauty there is the beauty of the mind.
Sometimes smart (wise) girl incomparably more beautiful than any beauty, only thanks to her mind , and the ability to assess all that is happening.
If choosing a wife plays a major role the appearance and not the inner values, then it is possible to bear a lifetime uncomfortable burden with the obstinate and unwise woman.
Sometimes smart (wise) girl incomparably more beautiful than any beauty, only thanks to her mind , and the ability to assess all that is happening.
If choosing a wife plays a major role the appearance and not the inner values, then it is possible to bear a lifetime uncomfortable burden with the obstinate and unwise woman.
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fin
Guest
You’re a he? I thought all the while you’re a gal. My bad.
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Cruciferi
Guest
Must be my feminine side showing through 
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TheLittleLady
Guest
Beauty comes from within. It is a state of mind, a state of soul.
People can have physical flaws, physical defects, physical deformities and be attractive, happy, married.
People can have physical perfection and be sad, lonely and repulsive.
Caring for the soul, living in the love of Christ, taking Him and His compassion with you every day is the beginning. Treat every person you encounter as if they are Christ.
A positive attitude, intelligence (does not require a $$$$ degree, read books, real, thick books), wits and a sense of humor are next.
Last is taking care of your physical appearance. For everyone:
Clothes that fit you, are in good repair and are clean. It does not cost a ton of money. Better to have 7 items in your closet that are of good quality and fit than overflowing with just stuff. (For instance, I have one pair of black cigarette pants that I wear to work, to Mass, 6 days per week. I take care to wash them so they don’t fade and I do not put them in the dryer. I’ve worn them daily for over two years and they still look as good as the day I bought them.) Think timeless classics when you buy clothes. Shop second hand or the sale racks at high end stores. Do tailor clothes so they fit your body correctly.
Hair styled and groomed
Care for your skin (a gentle cleanser and a cotton wash cloth every day + an inexpensive moisturizer),
Teeth clean and breath fresh
For women YouTube videos can teach you how to apply cosmetics (and there are subtle corrective things that men can do, like use a green stick to conceal redness from acne or roseacea)
Make sure your facial hair is under control (for men and women, little things like grooming your brows, trimming nose hair - and ear hair for men. For women tweezing that upper lip hair as well as chin hairs)
Men and women, make sure your nails are trimmed, filed, clean, cuticles clipped so you don’t give in to biting them. Use an old toothbrush as a nail brush to really clean your nails.
Strong handshake. Confident speaking voice. Good posture (don’t slouch).
Drink water. Eat food that is as fresh and as un"manufactured" as you can afford (and learn good table manners!)
People can have physical flaws, physical defects, physical deformities and be attractive, happy, married.
People can have physical perfection and be sad, lonely and repulsive.
Caring for the soul, living in the love of Christ, taking Him and His compassion with you every day is the beginning. Treat every person you encounter as if they are Christ.
A positive attitude, intelligence (does not require a $$$$ degree, read books, real, thick books), wits and a sense of humor are next.
Last is taking care of your physical appearance. For everyone:
Clothes that fit you, are in good repair and are clean. It does not cost a ton of money. Better to have 7 items in your closet that are of good quality and fit than overflowing with just stuff. (For instance, I have one pair of black cigarette pants that I wear to work, to Mass, 6 days per week. I take care to wash them so they don’t fade and I do not put them in the dryer. I’ve worn them daily for over two years and they still look as good as the day I bought them.) Think timeless classics when you buy clothes. Shop second hand or the sale racks at high end stores. Do tailor clothes so they fit your body correctly.
Hair styled and groomed
Care for your skin (a gentle cleanser and a cotton wash cloth every day + an inexpensive moisturizer),
Teeth clean and breath fresh
For women YouTube videos can teach you how to apply cosmetics (and there are subtle corrective things that men can do, like use a green stick to conceal redness from acne or roseacea)
Make sure your facial hair is under control (for men and women, little things like grooming your brows, trimming nose hair - and ear hair for men. For women tweezing that upper lip hair as well as chin hairs)
Men and women, make sure your nails are trimmed, filed, clean, cuticles clipped so you don’t give in to biting them. Use an old toothbrush as a nail brush to really clean your nails.
Strong handshake. Confident speaking voice. Good posture (don’t slouch).
Drink water. Eat food that is as fresh and as un"manufactured" as you can afford (and learn good table manners!)
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tafan2
Guest
Aquinas taught that beauty was objective and had three main attributes. I am writing this based on memory, but I think I have most of it right. If there are any Thomists out there, feel free to correct me.
Clarity: to be beautiful it must truly reflects its ontological reality (what it is in the eyes of God). A dog cannot be beautiful if it looks like a cat.
Integrity/completeness: it must be be made to complete serve its ontological reality. eg house cannot be beautiful if it is missing a kitchen).
Proportionality: Both in physical dimensions and in purpose. Physical dimensions: a car with greatly oversized wheels cannot be beautiful. Purpose: a grand and ornate casino cannot be beautiful because its style is out of proportion to its base purpose.
I will leave it to others to apply these concepts to a person. That is where some level of subjectivity will enter the picture.
Clarity: to be beautiful it must truly reflects its ontological reality (what it is in the eyes of God). A dog cannot be beautiful if it looks like a cat.
Integrity/completeness: it must be be made to complete serve its ontological reality. eg house cannot be beautiful if it is missing a kitchen).
Proportionality: Both in physical dimensions and in purpose. Physical dimensions: a car with greatly oversized wheels cannot be beautiful. Purpose: a grand and ornate casino cannot be beautiful because its style is out of proportion to its base purpose.
I will leave it to others to apply these concepts to a person. That is where some level of subjectivity will enter the picture.
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BoomBoomMancini
Guest
I have to ask, why not buy a second pair of pants? Of the course of two years, you’ve probably more than paid for a second or third pair of pants with all the extra laundry detergent you’re using. Even if they’re high end pants, don’t you get sick of doing laundry constantly?
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ConstantLearner
Guest
I would actually rather date John Goodman. He’s so intelligent despite the pounds. He loves to read. He loves good films. He loves fine restaurants (obviously). Sure, Gosling looks better, but his personality seems kind of bland to me. And I do think Goodman bathes!
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