Almost everyone dislikes something about their appearance. Some try harder to change this insecurity more than others. It is no secret that living in the social media age has amplified these insecurities. Plus, access to cosmetic procedures and plastic surgery advice has become more accessible than ever. It’s never been easier for us to look like our «best» selves, and it’s also never been so corny to pursue it. The reason being? The online content that this behavior has become associated with.

«Looksmaxxing» is the extreme pursuit of attempting to reach the societal standard of physical attractiveness. The term has been around for more than a decade, after spawning in an inc*l forum website. Its move into the mainstream is a more recent phenomenon that has been aided by TikTok memes and influencers committed to spreading the gospel of the golden ratio of facial aesthetics, the mathematical proportions that are considered the «best» for beauty.