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.

Beauty regimes and perceptions of the self are more than an effect of straightforward image consumption. We explore how retail environments have evolved to fit the consumer desire for a more holistic, scientific beauty experience.

Image matters. And as the once-exclusive tools of impression management filter out to the digital masses, Michael Solomon documents some emerging behaviour strands and their potential impact on brand messaging, both on and offline.

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?