Despite a multi-billion dollar industry promising the opposite, a staggering 80% of women say the images they see in media make them feel insecure, a pervasive discontent that seeds itself shockingly early as 42% of girls in first through third grade already wish they were thinner.
Key Takeaways
- 80% of women say that the images of women on television and in movies, fashion, and advertising cause them to feel insecure about their looks
- 70% of adolescent girls report that they feel their body is "not good enough" after looking at fashion magazines for just 15 minutes
- 42% of girls in 1st through 3rd grade want to be thinner
- 50% of girls between the ages of 11 and 15 say they feel pressure to be thin from social media
- 60% of women say they compare their bodies to other people's on social media
- 88% of women compare themselves to images they see on social media
- The global beauty market was valued at approximately $511 billion in 2021
- The global skincare market is projected to reach $189 billion by 2025
- Americans spend an average of $225,000 on their appearance over the course of their lifetime
- 15.6 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the U.S. in 2020
- Botox injections increased by 459% since 2000
- Liposuction remains the most popular surgical procedure with a 5% increase year-over-year
- 63% of beauty advertisements exclusively feature white models
- Only 19% of women feel represented by the ads they see in the beauty industry
- 70% of Black women feel that the beauty industry does not cater to their hair needs
Media-driven beauty standards cause widespread insecurity and unrealistic body image pressures.
Cosmetic Procedures
115.6 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the U.S. in 2020
Verified2Botox injections increased by 459% since 2000
Verified3Liposuction remains the most popular surgical procedure with a 5% increase year-over-year
Verified42.3 million breast augmentation procedures are performed globally each year
Directional5Soft tissue fillers increased by 94% among patients aged 20-29
Single source692% of all cosmetic procedures are performed on women
Verified7Rhinoplasty is the most popular surgical procedure for patients under age 30
Verified8Men accounted for 1.1 million cosmetic procedures in 2020
Verified9Facelift procedures increased by 54% due to the "Zoom Effect" during the pandemic
Directional10Non-invasive fat reduction saw a 7% growth in 2021
Single source11Buccal fat removal procedures saw a 300% increase in search interest in 2023
Verified12The global dermal filler market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5%
Verified131 in 4 cosmetic surgery patients are seeking "tweakments" rather than major surgery
Verified1431% of surgeons report that patients bringing in filtered photos of themselves has increased
Directional15Eye lid surgeries (Blepharoplasty) are the most popular surgery in East Asia
Single source16Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedures increased by 37% between 2017 and 2022
Verified1785% of hair transplant patients are male
Verified18Cosmetic dentistry has seen a 12% increase as people desire "Hollywood smiles"
Verified19Chemical peels represent 13% of all minimally invasive cosmetic treatments
Directional2018 is the most common age for individuals to begin considering permanent cosmetic alterations
Single source21Laser hair removal is the most requested non-surgical procedure for men
Verified221 in 10 cosmetic surgery patients is now under the age of 24
Verified23Chin augmentation grew by 71% in 2011 when the "profile" selfie became popular
Verified2465% of plastic surgeons report that patients request features of celebrities
Directional25Hair dye is used by 75% of American women to meet beauty standards
Single source2612% of women get regular professional nail treatments to maintain appearance
Verified27Cosmetic surgeries in Brazil are the second highest in the world per capita
Verified2822% of men use "anti-aging" creams daily
Verified29Microblading (eyebrow tattooing) became a $1 billion sub-industry in 2020
Directional3050% of people who have cosmetic surgery return for a second procedure within 3 years
Single source311 in 10 men in the UK has had a cosmetic treatment like Botox
VerifiedCosmetic Procedures Interpretation
From Botox to Brazilian butt lifts, our collective pursuit of the perfect reflection has ballooned into a multi-billion dollar global industry, where the pressure to meet airbrushed ideals is literally being carved, injected, and filtered into our faces and forms at an ever-accelerating rate.
Diversity/Inclusion
163% of beauty advertisements exclusively feature white models
Verified2Only 19% of women feel represented by the ads they see in the beauty industry
Verified370% of Black women feel that the beauty industry does not cater to their hair needs
Verified440% of sunscreens are not formulated to be "invisible" on darker skin tones
Directional5Plus-size models make up less than 2% of the total models featured in New York Fashion Week
Single source673% of Latinx consumers say they are more likely to buy from brands that show diversity in their ads
Verified7Only 1 in 10 beauty brands offers more than 30 shades of foundation
Verified8Spending on multicultural beauty products is increasing at twice the rate of the general market
Verified9The gender-neutral beauty market is estimated to grow by 5.3% annually
Directional10Only 3% of beauty ads feature women over the age of 50
Single source1165% of South Asian women feel pressured by family and media to use skin-lightening products
Verified121 in 5 women with disabilities feel that the beauty industry ignores their needs
Verified1380% of trans individuals feel that beauty advertising does not reflect their gender identity
Verified14The global skin lightening market is projected to reach $11.8 billion by 2026
Directional1550% of foundation shades offered by major brands are still not deep enough for dark skin tones
Single source16Representation of models with visible disabilities in beauty ads is less than 1%
Verified1774% of teenagers believe that society forces them to look a certain way
Verified18Men of color spend 20% more on skincare than white men
Verified1959% of consumers want to see "real people" rather than models in beauty ads
Directional20Only 2% of the world's population has natural red hair, yet they are overrepresented in high-fashion
Single source2144% of people feel "unrepresented" in advertising because of their body shape
Verified2261% of consumers say they are more likely to support brands that promote "body positivity"
Verified23The term "nude" for clothing and makeup usually only refers to light skin tones in 80% of brands
Verified2457% of consumers want to see models with wrinkles and natural skin textures
Directional25Only 12% of beauty company executives are women of color
Single source2662% of men feel that the beauty industry ignores men who don't fit the "alpha" stereotype
Verified27Adaptive beauty tools for the visually impaired make up less than 0.1% of the market
Verified28Religious diversity (e.g., hijab-wearing models) appeared in only 0.5% of major beauty campaigns
Verified29Brands that focused on inclusion saw a 23% increase in market share over three years
Directional3091% of cosmetic plastic surgery patients are Caucasian
Single source31Chemical skin lightening is used by up to 77% of women in Nigeria
VerifiedDiversity/Inclusion Interpretation
Despite its obsession with reflection, the beauty industry is staring into a very narrow mirror, and the growing clamor from the vast, varied, and lucrative world outside its frame is finally threatening to crack the glass.
Economic/Market Trends
1The global beauty market was valued at approximately $511 billion in 2021
Verified2The global skincare market is projected to reach $189 billion by 2025
Verified3Americans spend an average of $225,000 on their appearance over the course of their lifetime
Verified4The global cosmetic surgery market size was valued at $44.5 billion in 2020
Directional5Men’s grooming products market is expected to reach $166 billion by 2022
Single source675% of beauty sales are expected to happen online by 2025
Verified7The average woman spends $313 per month on beauty products and treatments
Verified8Luxury beauty brands grew by 15% in the last fiscal year due to social media marketing
Verified9The anti-aging market is expected to grow to $88.3 billion by 2026
Directional10Hair care segment dominates the beauty industry with a 24% market share
Single source11South Korean consumers spend 7x more on skincare than Americans
Verified12The premium beauty market in China grew by 20% in 2022
Verified1360% of beauty products contain ingredients that consumers cannot identify
Verified14The organic beauty market is expected to reach $22 billion by 2024
Directional1568% of beauty consumers prefer to shop from brands with a strong social mission
Single source16The average American man spends $2,500 per year on grooming products
Verified17Subscription-based beauty boxes have grown in popularity by 40% since 2019
Verified18Beauty brands spend over $7.7 billion on advertising annually
Verified1952% of consumers say they will buy a product based on its packaging alone
Directional20Skincare accounts for 42% of the total beauty industry revenue worldwide
Single source2140% of the growth in the beauty industry is attributed to the rise of independent "indie" brands
Verified22Cosmetic companies spend $500 million annually on neuro-marketing
Verified23The value of the global eyelash extension market is $1.1 billion
Verified24Vegan beauty sales increased by 38% in the UK in 2021
Directional2583% of Gen Z consumers believe brands should be responsible for their environmental impact
Single source26The average lifespan of a makeup product is 6-12 months, driving repeat purchases
Verified27"Sustainable beauty" searches have increased by 700% since 2018
Verified2840% of prestige beauty sales are driven by perfume and fragrance
Verified29The beauty industry produces 120 billion units of packaging every year
Directional3048% of consumers say they are willing to pay more for products with "clean" ingredients
Single source31The U.S. and China together account for 45% of the total beauty market
Verified3255% of women say they feel "more professional" when they wear makeup to work
VerifiedEconomic/Market Trends Interpretation
We are a species that will spend a quarter-million dollars per person to paint our faces and fight our reflections, all while feeling vaguely guilty about the packaging.
Mental Health/Body Image
180% of women say that the images of women on television and in movies, fashion, and advertising cause them to feel insecure about their looks
Verified270% of adolescent girls report that they feel their body is "not good enough" after looking at fashion magazines for just 15 minutes
Verified342% of girls in 1st through 3rd grade want to be thinner
Verified481% of 10-year-old children are afraid of being fat
Directional5Over 90% of people with eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25
Single source6The average American woman is 5'4" and weighs 170 pounds while the average model is 5'10" and weighs 115 pounds
Verified791% of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape
Verified858% of college-aged women feel pressure to be a certain weight
Verified995% of people with eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25
Directional10Only 4% of women around the world consider themselves beautiful
Single source1172% of girls feel tremendous pressure to be beautiful
Verified1245% of women feel that the "ideal" body type is unattainable without surgery
Verified13Bullying about weight is the most common form of bullying in schools
Verified1478% of 17-year-old girls are unhappy with their bodies
Directional1530% of women would trade at least one year of their life to achieve their ideal body weight
Single source1625% of men report being concerned about their muscle tone and definition
Verified1767% of women hide their bodies from their partners due to lack of confidence
Verified18Body dysmorphic disorder affects 1 in 50 people in the U.S.
Verified19Individuals with body dysmorphic disorder are 45 times more likely to attempt suicide
Directional209% of high school boys have used steroids to gain muscle mass
Single source2164% of women feel "dirty" or "ashamed" when they do not meet beauty standards
Verified2213% of girls aged 13-17 skip meals to control their weight
Verified2344% of women say they "can't leave the house" without makeup on
Verified2470% of people with body image issues avoid social gatherings
Directional2537% of men feel that their stomach is their least favorite body part
Single source2660% of girls wish they could change at least one thing about their body
Verified278% of people with body image issues avoid medical appointments to avoid being weighed
Verified28Exposure to 'thin-ideal' media images leads to an immediate drop in mood for 70% of women
Verified2928% of men avoid the gym because they feel "too small" or "not muscular enough"
DirectionalMental Health/Body Image Interpretation
This relentless cultural diet of impossible ideals has left a staggering majority of us, from children to adults, feeling like defective products in our own skin.
Social Media Impact
150% of girls between the ages of 11 and 15 say they feel pressure to be thin from social media
Verified260% of women say they compare their bodies to other people's on social media
Verified388% of women compare themselves to images they see on social media
Verified465% of people reported that seeing selfies on social media makes them feel more self-conscious about their appearance
Directional555% of facial plastic surgeons saw patients who wanted to look better in selfies in 2017
Single source6Users spend an average of 145 minutes per day on social media platforms that emphasize aesthetics
Verified71 in 3 teenage girls felt worse about their bodies after using Instagram
Verified840% of Instagram users reported feeling "unattractive" after scrolling through their feed
Verified971% of people edit their photos using apps like Facetune before posting them on social media
Directional10There are over 500 million posts on Instagram with the hashtag #beauty
Single source1164% of people feel that social media influencers have a negative impact on their body image
Verified1274% of beauty influencers on YouTube are between the ages of 18 and 34
Verified1386% of women use social media to get beauty tips and product recommendations
Verified14The "clean beauty" hashtag has over 5.2 billion views on TikTok
Directional1561% of Gen Z consumers follow at least one "skinfluencer"
Single source1653% of beauty consumers say that user-generated content is more influential than professional ads
Verified1747% of people have felt "skin-shamed" on social media platforms
Verified1820% of cosmetic surgery patients cite "looking better in selfies" as their primary motivation
Verified19Average engagement on beauty-related posts is 2.5 times higher than other categories on Instagram
Directional2082% of women feel that social media sets an unrealistic standard of beauty
Single source21Video content for beauty brands receives 12 times more shares than text and images combined
Verified22Use of the "bold glamour" filter on TikTok leads to a 25% drop in self-esteem after use
Verified2390% of young women use a filter or edit their photos before posting
Verified24Instagram contributes to suicidal ideation in 6% of teen girls in the UK
Directional2554% of beauty consumers say they get "FOMO" (fear of missing out) when seeing new trends
Single source2642% of teens say they have been bullied on social media about their physical appearance
Verified27Beauty influencers earn on average $0.01 per view on sponsored content
Verified28Pinterest banned all weight loss advertisements in 2021 to protect user body image
Verified2972% of users are more likely to buy a beauty product if it is "trending" on TikTok
Directional30The average person sees 3,000 to 5,000 advertisements per day, many depicting beauty standards
Single source311 in 4 Gen Z-ers use TikTok as their primary search engine for beauty products
Verified32The beauty industry is the 4th largest contributor to the global influencer economy
Verified3340% of consumers will stop buying a brand if they feel it is "inauthentic" on social media
VerifiedSocial Media Impact Interpretation
We have willingly built an ornate prison for the human spirit, where half of our children feel the walls closing in simply for logging on, and the warden is our own reflection.
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