Beauty is Pain... and Looksmaxxing

In this episode of the Space Between Venus and Mars, we explore the rise of “looksmaxxing” — a growing trend, largely among men, focused on maximizing physical appearance to increase attractiveness. From strict routines to highly specific ideals around facial proportions and symmetry, we examine the lengths some are willing to go to attract a partner.But is this really new?We compare looksmaxxing to the beauty standards and expectations women have been navigating for years — from appearance-focused pressures to the pursuit of an “ideal.” In doing so, we ask whether this trend highlights a shared experience rather than a divide.Sources: Farrell, Riley. "Inside looksmaxxing, the extreme cosmetic social media trend." BBC, 26 March 2024, https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240326-inside-looksmaxxing-the-extreme-cosmetic-social-media-trendBernstein, Joseph. "Handsome at Any Cost." The New York Times, 13 February 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/style/clavicular-looksmaxxing-braden-peters.html?searchResultPosition=2Parham, Jackson. "Confessions of a Black Looksmaxxer." Wired, 23 September 2025. https://www.wired.com/story/confessions-of-a-black-looksmaxxer/Buss, David M. "The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating. " Basic Books, 2016.Berger, John. "Ways of Seeing." British Broadcasting Corporation and Penguin Books, 2008. Theroux, Louis, director. "Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere." Netflix, 2026. Luse, Brittany, Rose, Corey Antonio, Pathak, Neena. "Young Women are struggling too. Why can't we see it?" 13 March 2026. https://www.npr.org/2026/03/13/nx-s1-5746167/young-women-are-struggling-too-why-cant-we-see-it