Summary of the Key Points
This news article focuses on the issue of "the abuse of beauty enhancement technologies in short videos leading to a homogenization of aesthetics." Through the perspectives of beauty editor Shi Ye and medical aesthetic consultant Peter, three key problems are highlighted: First, beauty tools are causing internet celebrities' faces to become increasingly similar, resulting in a convergence of aesthetic standards. Second, a mature industry chain has emerged, ranging from basic face adjustments to more complex medical procedures and AI-based facial transformations. Third, over-reliance on beauty enhancements is leading to anxiety about one's appearance, while true sophistication in beauty lies in harmony, distinctiveness, and authenticity.
1. Why Do All Internet Celebrities Look the Same? It's a Combination of Beauty Enhancements and Imitation
When you watch short videos nowadays, most of the internet celebrities seem to be clones—small faces, large eyes, high forehead ridges—it's hard to tell one from another. This isn't just due to your lack of facial recognition skills; it's the result of beauty technologies and a culture of imitating others.
Beauty editor Shi Ye mentions that streamers often ask whether their appearance can be replicated using these tools. For example, if they see a competitor with fair, translucent skin on a competition, they will send a screenshot to the editor for precise adjustments. Some girls even request a "carbon copy" of their best friend's live streaming appearance, down to the face shape, lighting, and background.
More importantly, the targets of this aesthetic imitation have changed over time. In 2017, streamers tried to imitate celebrities like Fan Bingbing for their unique style and distinctiveness. However, with the rise of influencers like "Li Ge" on TikTok in 2018, everyone started pursuing a "younger" look. As a result, many people force their faces to fit into these predefined templates, leading to unnatural appearances that they think are more appealing to viewers. Shi Ye bluntly states, "These faces all look similar, and the more you look at them, the less appealing they become."
2. The "Face-Making Factories" in Small Towns: How Does a Team of 30 People Generate 800,000 in Monthly Revenue?
Beauty enhancements are not only changing people's aesthetics but also creating a profitable business. Shi Ye rented an office in a small town in Anhui for 2,000 yuan per month and hired 30 young employees, generating a monthly revenue of 800,000 yuan.
The cost of this business is relatively low, with the main expense being advertising for the store. Training new editors is also simple—anyone with basic photography skills and a good sense of aesthetics can start working after a month of training. The services are priced differently: basic adjustments (a few hundred to a thousand yuan per hour), introductory packages (90 yuan for beginners), and premium services (1,780 yuan, mainly for customers from REDnote).
The majority of orders come from professional organizations (accounting for 80% of revenue) and individual customers. Users on platforms like Xianyu and Pinduoduo have limited budgets but are willing to spend a little to achieve a significant change, although the communication process can be more complicated. On the other hand, REDnote users are more knowledgeable and have higher budgets, making the communication smoother. This shows that different groups are willing to pay varying amounts for a "perfect" appearance in front of the camera, but this perfection is still far from what's considered truly memorable in real life.
3. What Happens When You Overuse Beauty Enhancements? Anxiety Leads to Medical Procedures or Even Facial Transplants
Over-reliance on beauty enhancements can make people increasingly uncomfortable with their natural appearance. Shi Ye works with streamers who, despite being good-looking, often have high expectations for their facial features. Some even request professional software (such as Da Vinci) to tweak sensitive areas of their faces to achieve a more "rosy" look, taking up to half an hour for each adjustment.
The long-term consequence of this is a growing demand for medical procedures. One streamer comes to Shi Ye every two months for adjustments because she has undergone multiple procedures each year, with at least ten modifications to different parts of her face. When medical treatments are not enough, people turn to AI-based facial transformations. By signing a waiver, they merge their facial features with those of celebrities or influencers, creating a look that is both recognizable and legally acceptable. As a result, many people treat their faces as something that can be customized at will, losing touch with their true selves.
4. True Sophistication in Beauty Lies in Harmony, Distinctiveness, and Presence
Medical aesthetic consultant Peter, with over a decade of experience in the industry, believes that there are three key elements to true beauty:
1. Harmony: The age and appearance should match. For example, if a 42-year-old client wants to look like a 20-year-old celebrity, Peter asks, "Why do you want to look that young? At 40, you have your own unique charm." Forcing yourself to appear younger will only make you look odd.
2. Distinctiveness: The imperfections you want to fix might be what makes you stand out. Widely spaced eyes or a low nose bridge can add uniqueness to your appearance.
3. Presence: True beauty comes from confidence, a relaxed demeanor, and vitality. Actors like Zhang Manyu and Jin Jing are not traditionally considered beautiful, but they captivate the audience because of their presence.
More and more people are now accepting their natural looks. On social media, women proudly share unretouched photos, showing freckles and fine lines as part of their individuality—qualities that beauty enhancement technologies cannot replicate. The goal of beauty is not to become someone else but to get closer to who you truly are.
In Conclusion
Beauty enhancement tools are useful, but they are not the ultimate standard. Instead of chasing after the looks of internet celebrities, it's better to embrace your own uniqueness. After all, the kind of beauty that stands out is always genuine and warm.