Beauty trends have taken the world by storm. With every day that goes by, there seems to be a new beauty trend on social media. Everything from unicorn-inspired hair, to bold makeup and daring tattoos.

However, with the rise of these beauty trends comes a dark side that is often overlooked.

Unrealistic Beauty Standards

One of the most damaging aspects of beauty trends is the unrealistic beauty standards they create. Social media is filled with pictures of perfect skin, perfect bodies, and perfect lives.

These images create an unattainable standard, which can lead to feelings of low self-esteem and depression among women.

According to a survey conducted by Dove, 63% of women believe that social media has a negative impact on their self-esteem.

This is because they are constantly exposed to images of perfect models and celebrities who have been heavily edited with Photoshop. This can lead to a distorted self-image, where women feel like they are not good enough because they do not look like the models on social media.

Health Risks

Another dark side of beauty trends is the health risks they pose. Some trends, like waist training, can cause serious damage to the body. Waist trainers are essentially corsets that are worn around the waist to create a slimming effect.

However, wearing a waist trainer for long periods can cause damage to the internal organs, like the lungs and liver. It can also cause digestive problems and lead to dehydration.

Another harmful trend is the use of chemical peels. Chemical peels have become popular for their ability to exfoliate the skin, but they can cause serious damage to the skin if not done correctly. They can cause scarring, burns, and hyperpigmentation.

Obsession and Addiction

Beauty trends can also lead to obsession and addiction. Many women become obsessed with staying updated on the latest trends and will do anything to maintain their appearance.

This can lead to addiction to cosmetic procedures and beauty products, which can be very expensive. This can also lead to an unhealthy focus on appearance, which can lead to neglect of other aspects of life, such as family and career.

In some cases, this obsession can lead to body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). BDD is a mental health disorder in which a person obsesses over a perceived flaw in their appearance.

They may spend hours a day checking their appearance in the mirror, and may even avoid social situations because they are self-conscious about their appearance.

Environmental Impact

Beauty trends can also have a damaging impact on the environment. The beauty industry is notorious for its use of plastic packaging, which is not biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to decompose.

This has a huge impact on the environment and is contributing to the global plastic pollution crisis.

Some beauty products, like face cleansers and exfoliants, can also contain microbeads. These are tiny beads made of plastic that are used to exfoliate the skin.

However, they are not biodegradable and can end up in waterways, where they can be ingested by marine life. This can lead to serious health problems for the marine life, and can even make its way back to human consumption.

Conclusion

The dark side of beauty trends is not something that should be ignored. While beauty trends can be fun and creative, they can also be damaging to our health, our environment, and our self-esteem.

It is important that we are aware of these dangers and make informed decisions about our beauty routines.