An Instagram face is a social trend for women to adjust their features to conform to a single template, either by applying filters to their photographs on social media, or via cosmetic surgery. The template face is young, with poreless, unwrinkled skin and plump, high cheekbones. It has catlike (uplifted) eyes and long lashes; it has a small, symmetrical nose and lush lips. It has a blank expression. According to Jia Tolentino, the face is exotic[1] but distinctly white, and ambiguously "ethnic". The face has been described as "well-tanned, with South Asian brows and eye shape, African-American lips, Caucasian nose, and Native American/Middle Eastern cheeks."[2][3]
Cosmetic surgery has long been used in an attempt to improve attractiveness. More recently, repeated use of Botox and hyaluronic acid fillers has replaced some surgeries since 2002. Magazines have edited photographs of celebrities to remove "flaws" for decades. In 2018, Americans underwent 7 million neurotoxin injections and 2.5 million filler injections and spent $16.5 billion on cosmetic surgery. 92% of the latter was performed on women. The Instagram face signalled a change from correcting flaws to seeking perfection.[2] In 2015, the Kylie Jenner lip challenge produced bloodshot, bruised, and swollen lips among many people.[4]
The Instagram face is different because such efforts now have a single target. The trend began among "professionally beautiful" women but later spread across social media, especially on Snapchat and Instagram. Facetune offers more specific editing feature which can smooth the skin, enhance facial features, change eye color, or add various special effects. use of invasive cosmetics has become common among younger adults.[2]
Emblematic celebrities include Kim Kardashian West, Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski, and Kendall Jenner.[2]