The desire to improve one's appearance has gained a new vocabulary on social media. The term "looksmaxxing," which began circulating in more restricted internet communities, has started appearing in videos and content that gather tips for making the face and body closer to certain aesthetic standards.
The idea, in principle, is simple: identify characteristics that could be enhanced and seek ways to value them. The problem arises when care for appearance ceases to be a choice and starts being treated as a requirement to achieve an increasingly specific beauty ideal.
There is no single practice associated with the movement. Among the published content are practices considered common, such as attention to skin, hair, and physical activity, as well as more controversial strategies, such as extreme diets.
