Looksmaxxing: The Pressure to Look Perfect

Social media has fueled a growing trend known as looksmaxxing, which encourages individuals – especially boys and young men – to “optimize” their appearance. Some methods involve everyday grooming or fitness routines, whereas others promote extreme, risky or even dangerous practices. Looksmaxxing promises users a more attractive or socially accepted version of themselves, but it can also fuel harmful beauty standards and negatively impact boys’ self-worth.

What Is Looksmaxxing?

Looksmaxxing is the idea that someone can and should “maximize” their appearance through a range of strategies. It’s often promoted with step-by-step “routines” that promise to help users become more attractive or socially accepted.

Some of the most common looksmaxxing techniques include:

• Grooming and hygiene, like skincare and haircare
• Fitness and dieting, often with supplements or strict routines
• Fashion and posture training
• “Scentmaxxing,” or using fragrance to appear more appealing
• More extreme methods like jawline exercises, DIY orthodontics, or cosmetic surgery

Other forms of looksmaxxing include:

• Softmaxxing or non-surgical methods like eating high-protein diets, exercising, skincare, posture correction and viral techniques like “mewing” or chewing gum to sharpen jawlines.
• Hardmaxxing includes more extreme ways to change one’s body, like using steroids or growth hormones, injectables to remove fine lines and wrinkles, or cosmetic surgeries.
• Bone smashing is a dangerous trend where facial bones are intentionally fractured in hopes of a stronger structure.

What Are the Risks?

Although some aspects of looksmaxxing, like showering regularly or wearing sunscreen, can be a part of a healthy routine, , looksmaxxing, when taken too far, can lead to both physical and emotional harm.

The underlying message of looksmaxxing is that one’s appearance equals their value and worthiness. It also encourages constant self-scrutiny, and teens may feel pressured to “fix” parts of themselves – leading to increased anxiety, shame or low self-esteem; obsessive comparison to others and feelings of insecurity; and distorted body image or preoccupation with specific facial features.

Some teens may turn to harmful or extreme tactics in hopes of achieving “results” faster. These tactics include:

• DIY cosmetic enhancements, like at-home nose reshaping, untrained use of microneedling or derma rollers, or taping or massaging to “sharpen” facial features.
• Taking pills or powders that claim to boost testosterone, muscle growth or hair regrowth.
• Following fad diets, excessive exercise or drastically restricting calories.
• Using jawline training devices or chewing on rubber balls to create a more “masculine” face shape, which can damage teeth or cause jaw issues.
• Overusing skincare products or following skin bleaching routines that can lead to burns, skin damage or allergic reactions.

Looksmaxxing routines can become all-consuming and leave less time for school, friendships and fun. Common daily behaviors can include:

• Monitoring water intake or calories purely for appearance, not health.
• Following strict step-by-step “protocols” from influencers.
• Taking frequent selfies or progress photos to evaluate changes.
• Avoiding social activities due to insecurity or fear of judgment.

How to Help and When to Involve a Provider

Parents, caregivers and educators can help by opening up non-judgmental conversations about body image, social media pressures and self-worth. Encourage your child to follow creators who promote confidence, health and individuality rather than unrealistic appearance standards.

If your teen seems distressed about their appearance, is engaging in increasingly rigid or extreme routines, or is showing signs of anxiety, depression or disordered eating, it may be time to involve a pediatrician, therapist or mental health provider.