Looksmaxxing (also spelled "looksmaxing") is an internet term for deliberately improving your appearance, from basic habits like sleep, skincare, grooming, and strength training to extreme measures like cosmetic surgery, unprescribed drugs, and hitting your own face. The low-risk end, often called "softmaxxing," is mostly ordinary self-care. The high-risk end, called "hardmaxxing," is where most of the harm and most of the unproven claims sit. This guide separates the two, explains what is and isn't supported by evidence, and gives you a realistic starting plan.
At a Glance
- Start here: sleep, regular exercise including strength training, a simple skincare routine with sunscreen, a haircut and grooming you can maintain, and clothes that fit.
- Be skeptical of: mewing and other "face reshaping" claims. Controlled evidence that they change adult bone structure is lacking.
- Avoid: bone smashing, unprescribed anabolic steroids and similar drugs, extreme dieting, and any advice that treats pain or injury as progress.
- Watch yourself: if appearance worries take up hours a day or keep you from school, work, or friends, talk to a professional. That is a health issue, not a looks issue.
Softmaxxing vs. Hardmaxxing
| Softmaxxing | Hardmaxxing | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical examples | Sleep, exercise, nutrition, skincare, haircut, clothing, dental care | Cosmetic surgery, unprescribed hormones or drugs, extreme diets, DIY "bone" techniques |
| Risk | Low | Moderate to severe, sometimes permanent |
| Reversible? | Yes | Often not |
| Medical oversight | Not required for basics | Essential, and some practices have no safe version |
| Evidence | Strong for health benefits, modest for appearance | Often weak or absent for the claimed results |
A quick test: if a practice is reversible, cheap, and good for your health even if it did nothing for your looks, it belongs in the first column.
Why Looksmaxxing Is Popular, and Where It Goes Wrong
Appearance matters socially, and people, especially teens and young men, often look for a system to improve something that feels uncertain. Online forums and short videos offer one, with clear steps and a community. The problem is that these spaces reward comparison and escalation. Research on social media and body image has repeatedly linked appearance comparison with body dissatisfaction, but those studies show associations, not that scrolling alone causes distress.
Practical rule: if a source sells you a product, a course, or a procedure, treat its claims the way you would treat an advertisement.
Build the Foundation First
Sleep
Most adults need at least seven hours a night, and teenagers need more, generally eight to ten. Sleep loss tends to show up quickly in skin, eyes, and mood, and it affects appetite and training recovery.
Strength training and activity
U.S. guidelines recommend muscle-strengthening activity for all major muscle groups on two or more days a week (reference 1). A simple version is two or three full-body sessions a week built around a squat or leg press, a push, a pull, and a hip hinge, with a gradual increase in weight. Training changes posture, shape, and energy over months, so judge it by strength and consistency, not by a mirror check every day. Standing taller changes how you look right away, but you do not need corrective gadgets to do it.
Food
Aim for regular meals with protein, vegetables, fruit, and whole grains. Avoid rigid rules, extreme cuts, or cycles of restricting and bingeing. Cutting food hard to get a leaner face is a common path into disordered eating.
Skin, Hair, and Teeth
| Area | A simple routine | When to see a professional |
|---|---|---|
| Skin | Gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher in the morning | Acne that is painful, scarring, or not improving after a couple of months; any changing or unusual mole |
| Hair | A cut that suits your hair type and takes a few minutes to style | Sudden or patchy hair loss, which can have medical causes |
| Facial hair | Keep a clean shave or tidy the length and neckline regularly | Persistent irritation or ingrown hairs |
| Teeth | Brush twice a day, clean between teeth daily, and have regular dental checkups | Crowding, bite issues, or gum problems; ask a dentist or orthodontist |
Start with one or two products and add another only after a few weeks, so you can tell what is helping or irritating. Expensive does not mean better.
Clothing and Style
Fit is the biggest factor. Clothes that match your shoulders and waist and are the right length look better than a more expensive item that does not fit. Choose a few colors that work together, keep clothing clean and pressed, and replace worn shoes and frayed items first. You do not need to match an influencer's wardrobe.
Claims Checked: What Has Evidence and What Does Not
| Claim or practice | What the evidence shows | Practical takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep, exercise, nutrition, skincare | Well supported for health and for visible skin, energy, and body composition | Do these first |
| Mewing (holding the tongue against the roof of the mouth) | Resting tongue posture is a real concept, but controlled studies showing it reshapes an adult jaw are lacking. Forceful versions may cause jaw soreness or tooth movement. | Harmless in gentle form, but do not expect a new jawline |
| Bone smashing | No credible evidence it improves appearance. Striking the face can fracture bone and injure teeth, nerves, and eyes. | Do not do it |
| Unprescribed steroids, "SARMs," or hormones for looks | Carry hormonal, fertility, heart, liver, and mood risks. Products from unregulated sources can be mislabeled. | Avoid. See our guide to steroid side effects (add link). |
| Cosmetic surgery or injectables | Real procedures with real risks, and results depend on the surgeon and the person | A personal choice made with a licensed, qualified clinician, not an online checklist |
Face shape is largely set by genetics and growth. Orthodontists and maxillofacial surgeons treat real bite and jaw problems with established methods, so if a concern about your jaw or teeth is genuine, a consultation with one is the evidence-based route.
A Realistic 4-Week Start
| Week | Add this |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fix your sleep schedule: same wake-up time daily, screens away before bed. Book a haircut. |
| 2 | Start a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen routine. Begin two short full-body strength sessions. |
| 3 | Check how your clothes fit and replace or tailor the worst offender. Add a third walk or workout if energy allows. |
| 4 | Book a dental checkup if you are overdue. Review: what changed in energy, skin, and mood? |
Example: A 19-year-old wants a sharper look before college. He begins with a consistent bedtime, three weekly gym sessions, a simple skincare routine, and a haircut that suits him. After a month he sleeps better and trains more consistently. The facial-structure videos he had been watching have not given him anything he can use, so he mutes those accounts.
When Appearance Worries Become a Health Problem
Pay attention if you notice:
- Spending hours a day checking, comparing, or trying to hide a feature others barely notice
- Skipping school, work, or social events because of how you look
- Restrictive eating, compulsive exercise, or spending money you cannot afford on products or procedures
- Seeking repeated cosmetic procedures without feeling better afterward
These patterns can be signs of body dysmorphic disorder or an eating disorder. Both are treatable, and psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy, is a standard part of care. Start with a doctor or a mental health professional. If you are thinking of harming yourself, call or text 988 or text HOME to 741741 in the U.S., call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK, or contact local emergency services.
For parents: ask what your teen is watching and how it makes them feel, without ridiculing the interest. Encourage sleep, sport, and friendships, and involve a pediatrician if you see restrictive eating, intense distress, or interest in drugs or procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does looksmaxxing mean?
It is an online term for working to improve your appearance. It covers everything from sleep and skincare to risky practices such as bone smashing and drug use.
Does mewing change your face?
There is no good evidence that it reshapes an adult jaw. Gentle tongue posture is harmless, but forceful versions may strain the jaw or move teeth.
What are safe ways to look better?
Sleep, exercise, a simple skincare routine with sunscreen, grooming, dental care, and well-fitting clothes. These are reversible and support your health.
Is looksmaxxing bad for mental health?
Not by default. Self-care is fine. The risk comes from constant comparison, extreme goals, and communities that tie your worth to your looks. If it is making you anxious or controlling your day, step back and get support.
This article is general educational information and not a substitute for medical or mental health advice.
References
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition (executive summary). health.gov
