Crowned 'word of the year' by Oxford Dictionaries in 2013, the selfie has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a niche social media tag. But are selfies just a bit of harmless narcissistic fun, or is there a darker side?

Painstakingly pumped and carefully chiselled – this is the body ideal of the ‘spornosexual’. UK sales of protein products increased from £73m in 2007 to £170m in 2012, and steroid users rose 645% from 2010-2013. But what’s fuelling the quest for more muscle amongst ordinary men?

More than 60% of women believe social media is influencing today’s definition of beauty, more than magazines, film or music. But with Instagram filters and self-editing becoming the norm, what does this mean for those who are less than picture-perfect? And is actual authenticity a thing of the past?

Online beauty start-up Julep is an internet phenomenon, targeting women of all ages who are genuinely passionate about beauty products and want their opinions and expertise to count. But what’s attracting so many women to sign up?

As beauty brands connect more with their consumers, Beauty For All is L’Oréal’s attempt to make itself more accessible by turning away from a super glam aesthetic. But do we really want brands to abandon unobtainable glamour for more humble, emotive and ‘real’ visual tropes?

Half of teenage girls in the UK have avoided certain activities because they feel bad about their looks. Skincare brand Dove is out to tackle low female self-esteem with its new advert that tells women “you are more beautiful than you think”.

Asia's selfie obsession – especially amongst women – is more prominent than ever. In response, there's been an explosion of beautifying apps that automatically detect facial features, and enhance them according to Eastern beauty ideals.

“When I grow up, I will be the prettiest girl,” says the little girl. “If I put on weight, I will not eat. If my boobs aren’t big enough, I will get an implant.” It’s a bleak aspiration, and one that The Body Shop wants to change by rebuilding conventional ideas of beauty.