Even the most concrete descriptions of physical beauty usually stopped at skin complexion, such as "Hands like soft reeds / Skin like congealed lard" or "With a clear, sleek complexion / Bone and flesh well matched."
古典文學中自然也有較為落實的描摹，但其中最寬的尺度，也多止於膚色的讚美：洛神賦有「肩如削成、腰如約素」的說法；詩經碩人篇的美人是「手如柔荑、膚如凝脂」；杜甫的儷人行中形容長安佳麗「肌理細膩骨肉勻」。