What’s Looksmaxxing?

Lesson overview

Every morning, Marvin rubs a frozen cucumber on his face, crushes his cheekbones with his thumbs, and scores himself out of ten. He is a looksmaxxer, and he is not alone. This ESL lesson uses the growing trend of looksmaxxing to get students talking about self-image, social media, and what we think “attractive” really means. Two proficiency levels cover everything from basic skincare habits to the darker corners of incel culture and algorithmic rabbit holes. Your students will build real vocabulary, share honest opinions, and dig into one of the more fascinating social trends shaping young men’s lives right now.

If this topic got you thinking, you’ll want to try The Beauty Premium Effect next. It takes the conversation further with research showing that attractive people actually earn more, get lighter sentences, and win more votes.