18 Things You Should Never Criticize About Someone’s Physical Features

Written By Dave Spencer

When we talk about other people, it’s really important to be kind and thoughtful. There are some things about how people look that you should never criticize because it can hurt their feelings. Here are a few of these things that are the worst to talk about.

Height

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Everyone is different, and that’s perfectly fine. Pointing out someone’s height can make them feel awkward or upset because it’s something they can’t change about themselves, so it’s better to keep such thoughts to yourself and just treat everyone with kindness.

Weight

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Talking about someone’s weight is a no-go. Whether someone seems too thin or too heavy to you doesn’t matter—it’s personal. Very Well Fit states that mentioning someone’s weight gain or loss can be triggering and actually cause harm. Let’s focus on what really matters, like someone’s kindness and humor.

Hair

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Hair can be curly, straight, thin, thick, or even absent altogether, and all of this is natural and totally normal. People choose their hairstyles based on what makes them feel good about themselves. So, it’s best to appreciate their personal choice rather than say negative things.

Body Odor

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Another thing you should avoid mentioning is someone’s offensive body odor. It can sometimes be due to a lack of education about personal hygiene or even a medical issue. Either way, it’s likely embarrassing for them and probably best left unsaid.

Age

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Making remarks about someone’s age, regardless of whether they are older or younger, can be very insensitive. Age is a natural part of life, and commenting on it can make someone feel less valued. Everyone ages, so let’s treat each other with respect no matter the number of birthdays we’ve celebrated.

Facial Features

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Don’t judge someone based on their facial features, such as the size of their nose, lips, or eyes. These features make us unique and individual, so commenting negatively on someone’s face can be really upsetting. It is something none of us can change. What’s on the inside counts way more.

Skin

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Never comment on someone’s skin. Some people have acne, scars, or different skin tones, and it’s all very normal. Cosmopolitan has a tip – If the person can’t change whatever it is in 5 seconds (like food stuck in their teeth or a bug in their hair), then don’t mention it.

Clothing Style

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People’s clothing style reflects their personality and comfort levels. Judging someone’s clothing style is like judging who they are. What someone wears does not affect you, so it’s always a good idea to keep your opinions on their style to yourself and just appreciate their individuality.

Disabilities

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Never make negative comments about disabilities. This is a part of someone’s life that might involve challenges they are bravely facing every day. Being insensitive about disabilities, either mental or physical, can be deeply hurtful. It’s better to offer support and understanding.

Personal Grooming

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Criticizing how someone chooses to groom themselves, like their makeup look or decision to grow a beard, is completely unnecessary. Women’s Web asks a great question: would you like it if someone criticized the same things about you? These are personal choices about how they want to present themselves to the world.

Scars or Marks

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Never point out scars or marks on someone’s body. These could be reminders of negative experiences they’ve had or bring up bad memories, and mentioning them can be very insensitive. Everyone has a story, and some stories are written on our bodies. Let’s respect each other and focus on more positive interactions.

Teeth and Smile

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Avoid commenting on someone’s teeth or smile. Whether their teeth are crooked, have gaps, or aren’t pearly white, it’s not something for others to talk about. A smile is a sign of how happy someone is and shouldn’t be met with ridicule. Let’s just make the smart choice to return smiles with smiles.

Eyewear

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Criticizing someone’s choice of eyewear, whether glasses or contacts, is never okay. Glasses are often necessary for people to see better, not a fashion choice open to your critique. Remember, eyewear helps people in their daily lives, so it’s best to look beyond it and see the person.

Piercings and Tattoos

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People choose piercings and tattoos as forms of self-expression. Making negative remarks about them can be offensive. These choices are deeply personal, and whether we understand them or not, it’s important to respect them. Let’s focus on what’s really important—how people treat us and others.

Speech

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Commenting negatively on how someone talks, whether it’s a lisp, stutter, or accent, can be really insensitive. How someone speaks is part of who they are. Instead of pointing it out and making them feel self-conscious, listen to what they’re saying. There is no place for judgment in good communication.

Body Shape

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Everyone has a different body shape, and that’s what makes us special. Criticizing someone for their body and the way it looks isn’t right or fair. Healthline says that many things determine body shape, and plenty of them are out of a person’s control. Let’s focus on complimenting people’s personalities instead.

Posture

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Making fun of or criticizing someone’s posture—whether they slouch or stand rigid—can be uncomfortable for them. Posture can be influenced by many things like health or confidence levels. Let’s be supportive rather than critical and build people up for their positive aspects rather than judge.

Hands and Nails

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It’s not nice to comment negatively on someone’s hands or nails, whether they’re manicured or not. People might use their hands for work that wears them down, or they might prefer a natural look. Their hands tell a story of their life’s work and personal choices, and it’s not open for discussion.

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