The Insidious Side of Always Striving for Improvement

In her book 'Flawless', journalist and author Elise Hu explores the insidious side of the constant need for self-improvement. She discusses how global beauty culture, influenced by technology, has created unrealistic beauty standards. Elise shares her personal experience of using the 'touch up my appearance' feature on Zoom and feeling shocked by her unfiltered appearance on other platforms. She also addresses topics like skin care, plastic surgery, and the pressure to meet certain beauty standards. From a young age, Elise internalized the idea that she needed to have a double eyelid, influenced by Northeast Asian beauty ideals. Through her book, she sheds light on the impact of societal expectations on our self-perception.