A Serious Case Of Instagram Face

Is the pursuit of unrealistic standards of beauty on social media turning us ito clones and self-absorbed narcissists?

- Clara Siew

As I scroll through my Instagram feed, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed by the sea of dazzling highlights, sculpted cheekbones, perfectly arched brows, hyperreal complexions, sky-high lashes and voluptuous matte pouts on supermodels, celebrities, influencers and beauty enthusiasts alike. I enjoy a good highlight, contour and over-lined lip as much as the next makeup-loving lass, but when did the beauty scene start becoming so homogenous? Is Instagram makeup now the standard that we all have to strive for and conform to? And dowe have to be a carbon copy of everyone else just to feel loved, accepted and validated by society?

With the Internet and social media, we are now more connected than ever before. That means having unlimited access to the latest beauty trends from around the world, and status updates from our family, friends, and favourite influencers and celebrities. We may be mindlessly scrolling through our social media feeds, but the truth of the matter is, we are subconsciously picking up and absorbing what we are exposed to on a daily basis. As we are constantly bombarded with filtered and curated images of flawless Instagram faces and well-toned bodies, it’s no wonder that society is now obsessed more than ever before with the idea of perfection. How many portray themselves online is starkly different from their real-world selves, and this can make it difficult for anyone to live up to the projection of that perfect image.