If you have just ventured into the skincare industry, chances are that you will come across a myriad of terms relating to beauty and skincare products. Some of the common terms that you are likely to come across include the word ‘aesthetic’ and ‘esthetic’. If you check keenly, these words nearly look the same, only that the word ‘aesthetic’ has the letter ‘a’ at the beginning while its counterpart does not have it.
However, there is no much difference between these terms as they normally embody the same idea. In fact, the difference between these two words can be likened to the difference between the word ‘color’ and ‘colour’. They both have the same meaning, only that one is used in American English while the other one is used in British English. The good news is that we shall take an in-depth look at the similarities and difference between these two terms for better understanding:
What Does the Word ‘Aesthetic’ Mean?
It is imperative to note that this word is used to describe the outer appearance of a person, object or even an idea. In most cases, you will hear somebody say that painting a house helps increase its aesthetic beauty. This means that painting a house will make it to look more appealing to the eye. Generally, it will look more beautiful and attractive. In most cases, the word ‘aesthetic’ is used for those items that attract our attention due to how they look from the outside. As a result, it is usually used to express the outer beauty of an object, just like we have illustrated above.
You will note that this word is very common in the modelling and fashion industry, where attraction means everything. Those who deal with this field are commonly referred to as aestheticians. Technically, these professionals usually study cosmetology in colleges or universities and later specialize in aesthetics.
Remember that cosmetology refers to the study and the application of beauty treatment. Here, you will be able to learn how to beautify someone’s face, hair, skin and so on. As far as the origin of this term is concerned, you will note that it was derived from the French word ‘esthetique’ or German word ‘Asthetisch’. It is also said that the word ‘aesthetic’ comes from a Greek word ‘aisthetikos’ which means sensitive or sensory. Finally, this word is commonly used by most Europeans in appreciation of beauty in art and nature.
What Does the Word ‘Esthetic’ Mean?
Just like the word ‘aesthetics’, the word esthetic is one of the common words used in the cosmetic industry to appreciate the beauty in nature and art. In fact, all the beauty treatments that are meant to make women to look more appealing and attractive is usually classified under esthetics. From waxing to aromatherapy, there are many different kinds of beauty treatments that fall under this category.
However, the word ‘esthetic’ is different from ‘aesthetic’ due to the region where the former is used. For instance, you will note that the word ‘esthetic’ is used in American English to portray outer beauty. Therefore, those who reside in the United States are very fond of using this term to appreciate the external beauty of someone or something.
Similarities Between Aesthetic and Esthetic
Before we discuss the differences between these two terms, it is important that you know the similarities between the terms mentioned above. First and foremost, both terms are used in appreciation of outer beauty. In this case, beauty can either exist in humans, nature or even in art. Therefore, when you want to describe beauty with respect to any of the above-mentioned aspects, you can readily use the word ‘aesthetic’ or ‘esthetic’. Both of them have the same meaning.
Besides being used to describe beauty, these terms have been derived from the German word ‘Asthetisch’ or French word ‘esthetique’, which obtained their inspiration from the Greek word ‘aisthetikos’, which means sensory or sensitive.
Main Differences Between Aesthetic and Esthetic
Since we have looked at the main similarities between the above-mentioned terms, time is ripe for you to know what sets them apart. Here are a number of aspects that separate the two terms:
- Usage: As we mentioned above, the word ‘aesthetic’ is usually used in British English. Therefore, if you reside in the commonwealth and European countries, chances are that you have heard this word being used out there. On the other hand, the word ‘esthetic’ is used in American English. In this case, those residing in the United States tend to use this term more often.
- Duration of use: You might be surprised to note that the word ‘aesthetic’ has been in use since the late 18th century. However, its counterpart has been in use since 1960. Therefore, the latter is more modern than the former.
- Context: The word ‘aesthetic’ is commonly used in reference to objects and art, while its counterpart is used in reference to human beings. To put it into perspective, the word ‘aesthetic’ is used to appreciate beauty in art and nature, while its counterpart is used to appreciate beauty in a human being.
Final Thoughts
Although both ‘aesthetic’ and ‘esthetic’ are used interchangeably, there are some differences between them. For instance, where each of these terms is used, and the period each term has been in practice are some of the differences that separate the two. Although both of them are used to appreciate outer beauty, you should know the type of English you are using to avoid any form of confusion. For instance, ‘aesthetic’ is used in British English while its counterpart is used in American English.
