# Growing concerns over cosmetic addiction

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/growing-concerns-over-cosmetic-addiction
> Updated: 2026-07-31T08:34:22.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 3.

In early July 2026, Italian regulators warned that a new digital trend called “cosmeticreksija” pushes girls aged 9‑12 to use multiple skin‑care and makeup products, prompting dermatologists to flag severe skin reactions and the Competition Authority to open an inquiry into LVMH’s marketing to under‑age influencers.

A week later, researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reported that roughly one‑fifth of Israeli women aged 25‑71 show a moderate‑to‑severe risk of becoming dependent on aesthetic procedures. The cross‑sectional survey of 1,614 Hebrew‑speaking Jewish women found that 44 % had undergone at least one cosmetic treatment; among all participants, 6.8 % displayed moderate‑to‑severe risk in the past year, while 20 % of those with treatment history showed a lifetime risk and 15.4 % reported recent signs of addiction. The authors noted that these prevalence rates exceed those for gambling or gaming addiction among Israeli women in earlier studies. Risk was strongest in respondents with negative body‑image perceptions who spent considerable time on social‑media platforms.

Both the Italian regulatory alert and the Israeli findings highlight a growing global pattern in which social‑media exposure and body‑image concerns appear to fuel problematic engagement with cosmetic products and procedures, calling for heightened clinical attention and public‑policy responses.

## Claims

- The study surveyed 1,614 Hebrew‑speaking Jewish women in Israel aged 25‑71 in February 2025. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- 710 participants reported having undergone at least one cosmetic procedure. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Among women who had a cosmetic procedure, 20 % showed moderate‑to‑severe risk of addiction over their lifetime. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- 15.4 % of those women reported similar addiction signs in the past year. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Overall, 6.8 % of all respondents showed moderate‑to‑severe risk of cosmetic‑procedure addiction in the past year. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The addiction risk is higher than reported rates of gambling or gaming addiction among Israeli women in other studies. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- One in five women who had a cosmetic procedure exhibited signs of addictive behaviour at some point. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Risk was greatest among women with a negative body image who spent a lot of time on social‑media platforms. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-07-31: Israeli study finds women more prone to cosmetic‑procedure addiction than gambling

Israeli research of 1,614 women shows 20% risk of cosmetic‑procedure addiction among those treated, higher than gambling addiction rates, especially for those with negative body image and heavy social‑media use

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israeli-study-finds-women-more-prone-to-cosmeticprocedure-addiction-than-gambling

### 2026-07-14: Hebrew University study finds one in five women at risk of cosmetic‑procedure addiction

A Hebrew University study of 1,614 women finds 20 % at moderate‑to‑severe risk of cosmetic‑procedure addiction, linked to low body esteem and heavy social‑media use.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/israeli-study-finds-one-in-five-women-at-risk-of-cosmetic-procedure-addiction

### 2026-07-04: Teenage Girls Face Surge in Cosmetic Addiction as Authorities Probe LVMH

Teen girls are developing a compulsive skin‑care habit called “cosmeticreksija,” driven by TikTok/Instagram videos, leading to health risks and an Italian probe into LVMH’s influencer marketing.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/teenage-girls-face-surge-in-cosmetic-addiction-as-authorities-probe-lvmh

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Cite as: Growing concerns over cosmetic addiction. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/growing-concerns-over-cosmetic-addiction