Common Cosmetic Addictions

In simple terms, cosmetic addiction means purchasing, hoarding, and using cosmetic products compulsively. The level of addiction depends upon the frequency of buying, and the amount spent on these products. In some cases, those who have this addiction buy cosmetics only so that their cabinets look full.

Addiction to beauty products like lip gloss, balm, lipstick, nail polish, concealer, primer, shadow, blush, bronzes, etc., means buying and using these products very often. In a day, doing a touch-up once, twice, or even up to five times is considered normal, but dolling up your face every half-an-hour or one hour is not normal.

Cosmetic addiction is not limited only to makeup. Going to the salon or spa every other day for treatment, whether it is big or small, is a type of cosmetic addiction too. Repeated facials, clean-ups, treatments for the hair, body wraps, massages, manicures, pedicures etc., fall under this type of addiction as well.

You might be wondering how beauty treatments can be an addiction. Well, it starts with a normal clean-up or a facial, then moves to massages, body scrubs, manicures, pedicures, body wraps, etc.

If you are doing it once in fifteen to twenty days, it is normal; but going to the salon everyday or every alternate day even for simply styling your hair, is a cause for concern.

Blogging only about makeup everyday, having knowledge about every brand in the market, being up-to-date with every facet in the cosmetic world, spending large amounts of time researching and watching videos related to applying makeup, launch of new products, benefits and basic working of the products, etc., is a type of cosmetic addiction, especially if makeup is not your profession.

Getting one or two jobs done on your face is alright, but going to a plastic surgeon to change or re-shape every single feature of your face is a type of cosmetic addiction. Being addicted to cosmetic surgery is actually the worst addiction of the lot. It always starts with a simple rhinoplasty (surgery of the nose),

or Botox injections, which results in getting praise from others. The high and boost in self-esteem that is experienced following the surgery is addictive.

To get more praise and attention, people start going in for more surgeries like blepharoplasty (surgery of the eyelids), facial scar revision, forehead lifts, mentoplasty (surgery of the chin), otoplasty (surgery of the ears),rhytidectomy (surgery of the face),skin resurfacing, facial reconstructive procedures, skin tightening, plasma skin regeneration, etc.

Everyone is familiar with these kinds of surgeries going bad, where, in some cases, dis-figuration of the face occurs. Apart from the dangers this addiction entails, the money that needs to go into it is also abundant.

When do you know that you are addicted to cosmetics? The simplest answer is when you go to the convenience store to buy one item, and you pass the makeup section; you end up buying a cart full of products like face packs, scrubs, lipsticks, and the likes, along with that one item you originally went for.

Sometimes, you end up checking out of the store without the item that you actually needed, all because you were distracted with the cosmetics. This addiction can start in the most innocent way, like just hosting a makeup party to help out a friend, or even just getting a makeover.

The repercussions of this addiction range from making one overspend on cosmetics, low self-esteem without the use of such products, or being overly dependent on cosmetic procedures to look good. This addiction takes a toll not only on the individual who is addicted to cosmetics, but also on the people around them. If anyone you know is getting addicted to cosmetics, the best thing you can do for them is correct them and try to get them off the habit.