It is undeniable that the trend of individuals investing significant amounts of money in their appearance to maintain a youthful look has become increasingly common in recent years. This essay will explore the primary reasons behind this phenomenon and discuss why it represents a predominantly negative development.
Several factors contribute to the rising prevalence of investing amounts of money to maintain a youthful look. One of the main reasons is society’s beauty standards. The beauty standard and privilege that are developing in society increase the desire to always look younger. A good example of this can be seen in the happening of social media nowadays is impacting beauty influencers for having a lot of benefits or products that they must review, furthermore they do not have to buy daily beauty products. Despite its appeal, this phenomenon also carries both advantages and disadvantages, with a stronger inclination toward being a negative development.
While spending money to maintain a youthful appearance has some positive impacts, the negative consequences particularly on mental health, far outweigh the benefits. One notable benefit is the boost in self-confidence that can result from improving one’s appearance. Increased confidence often translates into enhanced creativity and productivity, especially for women who feel empowered to express themselves. For instance, women in creative industries, such as fashion or media, may find that looking their best helps them be more comfortable in public. However, the negative impacts are more significant, particularly concerning mental health.
The strict beauty standards by society and social media create pressure, especially on mental health issues. Leading to heightened levels of anxiety and depression on women who feel they cannot meet these unrealistic expectations. For example, exposure to idealized images on social media platforms has significantly increased body dissatisfaction among young women, contributing to higher rates of mental health issues. Therefore, while investing in appearance can have some benefits, the overall negative impact, especially on mental health issues, makes this trend predominantly harmful in the long term.