Addiction

Addiction refers to a strong psychological and physiological dependence on certain substances or behaviors, to the point where individuals find it difficult to control their impulses to use or engage, even when such actions negatively impact their health, social relationships, career, or financial well-being. Addiction can generally be categorized into two main types: substance addiction and behavioral addiction.

1. Substance Addiction:

   • Drug Addiction: Dependence on opioids (such as heroin and morphine), cocaine, alcohol, nicotine, sedatives, stimulants, and similar substances.
   • Non-Drug Addiction: Dependence on substances like caffeine or sugar.

2. Behavioral Addiction:

   • Gambling Addiction: An inability to control gambling behavior, even when it adversely affects one’s life.
   • Internet Addiction: Excessive use of the internet, disrupting daily life and social interactions.
   • Shopping Addiction: Uncontrollable shopping impulses, leading to financial problems and increased stress.
   • Food Addiction: Overreliance on food, potentially causing obesity and other health issues.
   • Sex Addiction: Compulsive pursuit of sexual activity, negatively impacting relationships and social functioning.

Characteristics of addiction include:

• Tolerance: The need for increasing amounts of a substance or behavior to achieve the same effect.
• Withdrawal Symptoms: Physical or psychological discomfort when reducing or stopping use.
• Loss of Control: An inability to resist the urge to use, despite being aware of its harm.
• Continued Use: Persistence in use despite negative consequences.

Rise of Beauty Apps

In recent years, beauty apps have rapidly gained popularity in Chinese society, becoming an indispensable tool for many, especially women. In contrast to traditional makeup, beauty apps offer a “shortcut” to enhanced appearance with just a few taps. From subtle filters to detailed facial feature adjustments, these tools allow individuals to present a “perfect” version of themselves in photos.

However, beauty apps promote a singular, standardized ideal of beauty. Long-term reliance on these tools can narrow people’s perceptions of aesthetics, devaluing individuality and diversity. The authentic self is often overshadowed by homogeneous and overly “polished” faces. This societal trend influences visual media, creating a feedback loop where TV dramas and public aesthetics reinforce each other, leading to excessive use of smoothing filters that strip characters of their authenticity.

The use of beauty apps shares certain similarities with addictive behaviors. Just as drug users may require increasingly higher doses to achieve satisfaction, heavy beauty app users often seek ever more extreme levels of enhancement, resulting in what is commonly referred to as “Level 10 Beauty.” This extreme beautification is characterized by features such as skin that appears textureless, unnaturally pale complexions, distorted facial proportions (e.g., larger eyes, slimmer faces), and an overall hazy, artificial look. Yet many users find pleasure in this process, even subconsciously accepting the “enhanced” version of themselves as their true appearance.

A more alarming example is parents who habitually use beauty apps to edit photos of their children, rarely pausing to consider whether such “beautification” might distort the next generation’s perception of their natural appearance. This phenomenon is reminiscent of the plot in the film Inception, where the protagonist’s wife becomes so consumed by the dream world that she loses the ability to distinguish between reality and illusion. Similarly, some heavy users of beauty apps may already perceive their “beautified” selves as their real identity.

Burden of Beauty

“The Burden of Beauty” is a popular term in China, referring to individuals who pay a significant price—be it time, effort, or money—to pursue beauty or conform to societal beauty standards. While it is natural to appreciate beauty, the over-reliance on beauty apps and the resulting phenomenon of “Level 10 Beauty” go beyond a simple desire to look good; it has become a psychological burden akin to servitude.

Should beauty become a duty? In the pursuit of beauty, are we losing something more important—authenticity and self-confidence? Perhaps true beauty lies in embracing imperfection and learning to accept oneself as they are.