Online communities that present a dangerous view of male beauty are growing in popularity. When does a quest for self-improvement become something darker?

“I believe in taking care of myself, in a balanced diet and a rigorous exercise routine,” says Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. The character – an investment banker who’s also a serial killer – is played by Christian Bale in the 2000 film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’s 1991 novel.

American Psycho is a satire of New York yuppie lifestyle in the 1980s, portraying a society dominated by hedonism, materialism and narcissism, according to the novel’s author. “It’s strange how that character has been co-opted into the culture in a way that he absolutely wasn’t in 1991,” Ellis told Publishers Weekly on the novel’s 20th anniversary. “Patrick Bateman seems to embody something about masculinity that was blooming at a certain point in the late ’80s to early ’90s.”

The film presents the main character’s elaborate morning routine which, stripped of its wider satirical context, has become a tutorial for young men. The scene – featuring the unreliable narrator tying a plastic ice pack around his face and doing 1,000 crunches – has been watched 17 million times on YouTube and emulated in several #GetReadyWithMe (GRWM) shortform videos.

American Psycho has been the subject of numerous online debates, with the audience split between young men who are in on the parody and those who are decidedly not. In the latter group exists the internet looksmaxxing community.

With roots in online incel (involuntarily celibate) forums, looksmaxxing claims to be about the “maximisation” of one’s appearance. The aim of looksmaxxing is becoming the most attractive one can possibly look according to a set of prescribed criteria, with particular importance given to jawlines, eyes and physique (including “hunter” eyes, angled slightly upward toward the temples – a positive canthal tilt).

The trend has existed for at least a decade, but has recently been popularised and redefined on TikTok, where it’s reaching a widening demographic of teenage boys algorithmically predisposed to the “manosphere” subculture. (Created in opposition to feminism, the manosphere refers to a network of websites and online communities propagandising masculinity and misogyny.)

For read the full text click here:

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240326-inside-looksmaxxing-the-extreme-cosmetic-social-media-trend

  • Other similar themes:

‘Sephora kids’ and the booming business of beauty products for children – https://e-dermatologie.md/sephora-kids-and-the-booming-business-of-beauty-products-for-children/

Fashion 2024: Knitwear, ribbons and other trends for the year ahead – https://e-dermatologie.md/fashion-2024-knitwear-ribbons-and-other-trends-for-the-year-ahead/

Ariana Grande says she used lip filler and Botox to ‘hide’ – https://e-dermatologie.md/ariana-grande-says-she-used-lip-filler-and-botox-to-hide/

How the Barbour became the ultimate British symbol – https://e-dermatologie.md/how-the-barbour-became-the-ultimate-british-symbol/

The revival of ancient beauty rituals – https://e-dermatologie.md/the-revival-of-ancient-beauty-rituals/

The 10 most iconic jewels through history – https://e-dermatologie.md/the-10-most-iconic-jewels-through-history/

The secret Victorian language that’s back in fashion – https://e-dermatologie.md/the-secret-victorian-language-thats-back-in-fashion/

12 unforgettable style moments of 2022 – https://e-dermatologie.md/12-unforgettable-style-moments-of-2022/

The YouTuber making millions from true crime and make-up – https://e-dermatologie.md/the-youtuber-making-millions-from-true-crime-and-make-up/

Linda Evangelista back on Vogue cover after being ‘deformed’ by procedure – https://e-dermatologie.md/linda-evangelista-back-on-vogue-cover-after-being-deformed-by-procedure/

Non-surgical beauty treatments: Undercover on a facelift training course – https://e-dermatologie.md/non-surgical-beauty-treatments-undercover-on-a-facelift-training-course/

Women wear less make-up since the pandemic – https://e-dermatologie.md/women-wear-less-make-up-since-the-pandemic/

The myth of universal beauty – https://e-dermatologie.md/the-myth-of-universal-beauty/

K-beauty: The rise of Korean make-up in the West – https://e-dermatologie.md/k-beauty-the-rise-of-korean-make-up-in-the-west/

Why ‘quirky’ people are attractive – https://e-dermatologie.md/why-quirky-people-are-attractive/

Beauty industry bullying: ‘I saw strong women cry at their desks’ – https://e-dermatologie.md/beauty-industry-bullying-i-saw-strong-women-cry-at-their-desks/

My beautician saved my life from deadly skin cancer – https://e-dermatologie.md/my-beautician-saved-my-life-from-deadly-skin-cancer/

Why do women appear to bear the brunt of ageism at work? – https://e-dermatologie.md/why-do-women-appear-to-bear-the-brunt-of-ageism-at-work/

Why some people like wearing masks – https://e-dermatologie.md/why-some-people-like-wearing-masks/

Beauty professionals hope for prettier picture in 2021 – https://e-dermatologie.md/beauty-professionals-hope-for-prettier-picture-in-2021/

Five tech trends shaping the beauty industry – https://e-dermatologie.md/five-tech-trends-shaping-the-beauty-industry-2/

Taiwan’s 2,000 year-old knife massage – https://e-dermatologie.md/taiwans-2000-year-old-knife-massage/

How a teenager had 30 cosmetic procedures without showing ID? – https://e-dermatologie.md/how-a-teenager-had-30-cosmetic-procedures-without-showing-id/

Social media pressure is linked to cosmetic procedure boom – https://e-dermatologie.md/social-media-pressure-is-linked-to-cosmetic-procedure-boom/

Fashion lookahead: Seven major looks for 2020 – https://e-dermatologie.md/fashion-lookahead-seven-major-looks-for-2020/

The peculiar bathroom habits of Westerners – https://e-dermatologie.md/the-peculiar-bathroom-habits-of-westerners/

The benefits of going bald – https://e-dermatologie.md/the-benefits-of-going-bald/

Five tech trends shaping the beauty industry – https://e-dermatologie.md/five-tech-trends-shaping-the-beauty-industry/

How much water should you drink a day? – https://e-dermatologie.md/how-much-water-should-you-drink-a-day/

Why do women live longer than men? – https://e-dermatologie.md/why-do-women-live-longer-than-men/

Skinny genes the ‘secret to staying slim’ – https://e-dermatologie.md/skinny-genes-the-secret-to-staying-slim/

Why you don’t really have a ‘type’ – https://e-dermatologie.md/why-you-dont-really-have-a-type/

Can social networks help you lose weight? – https://e-dermatologie.md/can-social-networks-help-you-lose-weight/

Low-calorie shakes and soup diets ‘recommended for obese’ – https://e-dermatologie.md/low-calorie-shakes-and-soup-diets-recommended-for-obese/

Probiotics labelled ‘quite useless’ – https://e-dermatologie.md/probiotics-labelled-quite-useless/

The reasons why women’s voices are deeper today – https://e-dermatologie.md/the-reasons-why-womens-voices-are-deeper-today/

The people who cannot smile – https://e-dermatologie.md/the-people-who-cannot-smile/

Potential new cure found for baldness – https://e-dermatologie.md/potential-new-cure-found-for-baldness/

Five things you might be surprised affect weight – https://e-dermatologie.md/five-things-you-might-be-surprised-affect-weight/

What is the ‘ideal’ female body shape? – https://e-dermatologie.md/what-is-the-ideal-female-body-shape/

Is the taboo around male make-up disappearing? – https://e-dermatologie.md/is-the-taboo-around-male-make-up-disappearing/

These are the six biggest fashion looks for 2018 – https://e-dermatologie.md/these-are-the-six-biggest-fashion-looks-for-2018/

Is this what real beauty looks like? – https://e-dermatologie.md/is-this-what-real-beauty-looks-like/

The secret to a long and healthy life? Eat less – https://e-dermatologie.md/the-secret-to-a-long-and-healthy-life-eat-less/

Why vitamin pills don’t work, and may be bad for you – https://e-dermatologie.md/why-vitamin-pills-dont-work-and-may-be-bad-for-you/

distribuie