IMPROVE thy looks. Yes, that seems to be the new commandment a large number of us are consciously following or aspiring to. Market forces have contributed to this cosmetic obsession and the urgency to look good at all costs. The entire media machinery is busy promoting youthfulness. It is tough watching TV or reading a magazine without being bombarded with images of picture-perfect faces asking you to take a second look at your less-than perfect looks and decide in favour of some treatment or product. When a large number of middle class, middle-aged or nearing middle age people view mothers and mothers-in-law in their favourite soaps getting younger and more beautiful by the day, some of them start questioning their own looks. --Komal Vijay Singh