Somewhere between a makeup counter and an Instagram feed, self-worth became a product. The mirror still speaks, but its voice now echoes from beauty brands and social media standards. These industries have influenced how people perceive themselves and have seized the opportunity to make a profit from their insecurities.

As one of the leaders on the global economic stage, the beauty industry generates over $650 billion revenue worldwide. Most brands create campaigns that feature professional models and idealized aesthetics, where the images are then retouched to reach the level of perfection desired. This sets an unrealistic standard for what's considered ‘beautiful’ or ‘aesthetic’ to which everyday consumers then compare themselves against. Research from 2023 shows that lower-self esteem and increased self-objectification are heavily linked to appearance comparisons to images that have been digitally manipulated to display flawless bodies and faces. In this growing market thousands of new products are released each year, providing companies with even more opportunities to set and make money from such unrealistic standards. This overwhelming range of beauty products shows not only the large consumer demand, but also the industry's ability to transform insecurities into profit.

Similarly, social media is another powerful instrument that influences beauty and body standards. Influencers, filters, and algorithms all feed this toxic culture of comparison and validation by promoting unattainable ideals and shaping how individuals define themselves. Exposure to platforms, like Instagram and TikTok, that show overly edited visuals leads to young people feeling dissatisfied with their appearance and even developing unhealthy habits through increased body image concerns, poor mental health, and disordered eating behavior. A British survey published by the Mental Health Foundation revealed that social media has caused 40% of teenegares to worry about their body due to comparisons with others. While these effects are concerning and harmful to users, they create an environment that enables others to profit. Such platforms benefit influencers who promote unrealistic lifestyles, as well as corporations that earn revenue from advertising and sponsored content through the promotion of services and products which claim to achieve the same results as those depicted online.

Nowadays, insecurity has become one of the most profitable commodities of the modern age, and social media and the beauty industry are the main actors behind this outcome. By selling idealized visions of attractiveness and self-worth, they trap people into a cycle of insecurity and consumption that fuels both industries.

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“Millions of Teenagers Worry about Body Image.” Mental Health Foundation, MHF, 2022, www.mentalhealth.org.uk/about-us/news/millions-teenagers-worry-about-body-image. Last Accessed 31 Oct, 2025.
Statista. “Beauty & Personal Care - Worldwide.” Statista, 2025, www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/beauty-personal-care/worldwide. Last Accessed 31 Oct, 2025.
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