| Beauty
✨ Let’s get into it ✨
⏱ 2 min read
💡 TLDR
People are literally uploading selfies to ChatGPT for "glow up" advice, but it’s getting a little dark. Between AI suggesting Botox and the massive privacy risks of handing over your face, your new beauty routine might be more dystopian than transformative.
A change of season makes you want to upgrade everything from your closet to your entire personality—and apparently, people are now uploading selfies to ChatGPT to find their “glow up.” Whether they’re hunting for a fresh hair color or a better makeup routine, the “AI glow up” trend is officially taking over social media feeds. While some users on X claim that ChatGPT actually gives great glow up advice, others think handing biometric data to an algorithm just to find a new lip gloss is “dystopian as hell.”
The Reality Of AI Makeovers
I snapped a selfie and went all in with a hyper-specific prompt to see if I could get a personalized guide with realistic “before” and “after” images. Most of its plan—brushed-up brows, defined lashes, blush, and a lip color close to my natural one—was already my usual makeup routine. It wasn’t exactly the life-changing breakthrough I was hoping for, but the hair layer suggestions actually gave me something to think about.
💫 Most of its plan—brushed-up brows, defined lashes, blush, and a lip color close to my natural one—was already my usual makeup routine.
Online, the reactions are totally split. Some love how tiny changes can shift a look, while critics argue the results are unachievable because the AI alters shadows, jaw structures, and even forehead size. There’s also a major privacy factor: uploading your face means sending it to OpenAI. Photos can be saved in your Library, and deleting a chat doesn’t automatically delete the photo unless you manually remove it.
From Skincare To Looksmaxxing
This goes way beyond a quick makeup tweak. On Reddit, users are asking ChatGPT to build six-month plans or analyze ingredient lists for 30 different products to create custom shopping guides. Even creator Marina Gudov has used the tech to assess her makeup colors. However, things get consequential fast when people ask the bot to act like a dermatologist or suggest cosmetic procedures; one creator even got a “summer glow-up” plan featuring microneedling and Botox.
The American Academy of Dermatology warns that chatbots can use inaccurate information, so don’t take medical advice from a prompt. This obsession mirrors extreme TikTok beauty culture and “looksmaxxing”—a trend where things escalate from skincare to food restriction and “bone smashing.” It gets dark, too, with influencers claiming to use methamphetamine just to stay lean. If you want to use AI, stick to sorting through your current makeup collection or planning meals—your eyebrows definitely do not need a performance review.
Would you ever trust an AI to pick out your next hair color or skincare routine?
❓ People Also Ask
What are the privacy risks of using ChatGPT for a glow up?
Uploading selfies to ChatGPT poses significant privacy risks because you are sending your biometric data directly to OpenAI. When you upload a photo, it can be saved in your personal library, and simply deleting a chat history does not automatically remove the image from the system. You must manually remove the photo to ensure it is gone. This process of handing over facial data to an algorithm is a major concern for many users regarding digital security.
Why is using AI for dermatological advice considered dangerous?
Using AI for dermatological advice is dangerous because chatbots can provide inaccurate or incorrect medical information. The American Academy of Dermatology warns that users should never rely on a prompt for medical guidance, especially when the AI suggests consequential cosmetic procedures. Some users have even received plans involving microneedling or Botox from the bot. Relying on an algorithm instead of a professional can lead to unsafe health decisions regarding skincare and medical treatments.
How does the AI glow up trend affect social media users?
The AI glow up trend influences social media users by providing personalized beauty guides through photo analysis and hyper-specific prompts. Users utilize the technology to find new hair colors, makeup routines, or even long-term skincare shopping lists. While some find the advice helpful for minor tweaks, others criticize the trend for producing unachievable results. This occurs because the AI often alters facial structures, such as jawlines and forehead size, creating unrealistic beauty standards for followers.
What is the connection between AI beauty trends and looksmaxxing?
The obsession with AI beauty advice mirrors extreme TikTok beauty culture and the looksmaxxing trend. Looksmaxxing involves an escalation from basic skincare to much more extreme and potentially harmful behaviors. This can include intense food restriction or even dangerous physical practices like bone smashing. In some dark corners of the internet, the pressure to achieve a certain look has even led influencers to claim they use illegal substances like methamphetamine to maintain a lean appearance.
💬 What do you think? Let us know in the comments! 👇
📰 Source: Mashable