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Tanning -

Americans love a good tan. Historically speaking though, this was not always the case. Years ago, pale skin would indicate belonging to a higher class. After all, Caucasians with fair skin didn’t get their skin tanned by working outdoors in the sun all day.

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Tanning -

The concept changed over the years. A tan became synonymous with having free time to be outdoors and go on vacation to warm, sun-filled destinations. Tanned skin is not, however, appreciated in many other parts of the world, especially in Asia.

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Hollywood smile -

Pearl-white straight teeth might be the norm in Hollywood, and indeed something many Americans strive to achieve. Nonetheless, this is definitely an American thing. Not everyone around the world is obsessed with perfect white teeth.

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Hollywood smile -

Believe it or not, a Hollywood smile is not the ultimate goal in other parts of the world. The British, for instance, prefer "nice natural smiles—natural in color," according to Jimmy Steele, professor at the School of Dental Science at Newcastle University.

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Smiling -

Americans love a smiling face. Indeed, people who smile more are generally considered more attractive, particularly women, according to psychology professor Jessica Tracy.

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Smiling -

Though smiling is not the ultimate facial expression in other parts of the world. In Russia, for instance, smiling can even be judged as a sign of stupidity.

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Cosmetic surgery -

Cosmetic surgery is on the rise in the US and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Procedures such as gluteal augmentation, AKA butt lifts, have seen a rise of 252% since the year 2000.

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Cosmetic surgery -

While many countries in the American continent (e.g. Brazil) give the US a run for their money when it comes to cosmetic enhancements, head over to Europe and the market is considerably smaller.

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Cosmetic surgery -

In fact, the US holds a 17.9% share of the worldwide population's cosmetic surgeries (more than France, Spain, Germany, and Australia combined).

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Plump lips -

From an evolutionary biology perspective, full lips are a sign of sexual arousal, and therefore an attractive feature in women. American women have perfected this art.

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Plump lips -

Take pop culture icons such as Marilyn Monroe or Angelina Jolie, and you have great examples that many American women aspire to.

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Plump lips -

Though full, plump lips are not the standard for women in many other parts of the world. Women in Japan and China, for instance, prefer more balanced, and even thinner, lips.

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Lots of makeup -

It is true that more and more women are opting for going makeup-free, or at least for not going really heavy on it. Still, Americans have an edge over many other countries when it comes to wearing makeup.

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Lots of makeup -

Take Spain, for instance. Maybelline makeup artist Gato Zamora explained that, unlike Spanish women, Americans don’t have any issues in wearing fake lashes or orange foundation.

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Lots of makeup -

French cosmetics and skin care brand owner Laura Mercier also shares a similar opinion. "It really astonishes me the way American women wear so much makeup," she said.

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Being skinny -

The US has one of the highest rates of obesity in the West, but when we talk about being skinny, we are not referring to a healthy weight, but to an excessively skinny figure.

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Being skinny -

After years of beauty standards manipulated by the media, Americans, especially American women, strive to be thin. This is certainly not the case in all other parts of the globe, where such standards are not synonymous with attractiveness.

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Blondes -

Gentlemen prefer blondes, right? And so do ladies, apparently. Well, at least in America. But only 5% of Caucasian Americans actually have natural blonde hair, and the percentage gets even lower worldwide, with only 2% of the world population being natural blondes.

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Blondes -

American women have no problem dying their hair blonde in search of that boost of attractiveness, which, according to studies, actually works.

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Blondes -

The American blonde bombshell is as attractive as it gets in the US, but not everyone around the world feels the same. Asian women, for instance, generally prefer their dark hair.

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Casual wear -

There is nothing wrong with being comfy, but American women really have a thing about wearing casual clothes. This is something that is not as prevalent in other parts of the world.

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Casual wear -

An Indian student described a bit of culture shock when she went to college in the US. “All of them wear shorts," she said.

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Casual wear -

Of course, it’s not just about wearing shorts. It’s the whole casual way of dressing, which is unlike some other parts of the world, or indeed America not too long ago. Historian Deirdre Clemente points out exactly this: "Americans have come to dress casually in a way that is very interesting as a historian."

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Complete grooming routine -

Being groomed head-to-toe is a very American thing. Women in many other countries get a manicure and go to the hairdresser's, too, but many don’t do the whole routine as often as Americans do.

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Complete grooming routine -

British writer Suzanne Jannese talks about the differences between Europeans and Americans in an article. She wrote: "You seem to spend an unholy amount of time being groomed: blow-dry salons (something the UK hasn't gotten into... yet) and making time in your day to get your nails done and hair coiffed."

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Removing body hair -

When did we start shaving? Well, a long time ago. But despite many women not being afraid of their body hair, the vast majority do get rid of it.

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Removing body hair -

Many people from several countries around the world do remove their body hair, and that’s not just exclusive to women. This was, however, not always the case, and certainly not until recent years.

Sources: (The List) (CBS News) (Thought Catalog) 

See more: Bad beauty habits we all need to break

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