As we quickly approach the end of 2019, we take time to reflect on another year of Dazed Beauty. 2019 saw us turn one, as well as launch exciting campaigns that explored wellness, masculinity, and witches. For the visually inclined out there, photography editor Saorla Houston reflected on five of her fave photo stories from the year. Here, we take a look back over five think pieces that explore topics from penis enlargements to incel forums. 

WHY (AND HOW) ARE MEN MAKING THEIR DICKS BIGGER?

Men want bigger penises. This is hardly a surprise. But why is it still such a big deal? To investigate, intrepid reporter and Dazed Beauty contributor Douglas Greenwood spoke to doctors who perform the surgery and men who want it or have already had it. Whether you’ve got a penis or not, this is a sizeable read into a growing issue. 

ARE INCEL FORUMS THE NEW PRO-ANOREXIA GROUPS?

Seemingly out of nowhere, the world seems to have become obsessed with incel culture and exploring who they are and what they want. Here, Clementine Prendergast explores how incel forums online mirror pro-anorexia groups in the way that those who frequent them strive for physical perfection. If you’ve not come across incels before, read up and bring it up at Christmas dinner table with your family. 

WHY HAS INSTAGRAM NOW DECIDED THAT BOTCHED SURGERY IS COOL?

Just weeks before Instagram announced it would be banning all content promoting weight loss and plastic surgery, Dazed Digital’s digital assistant Gunseli Yalcinkaya explored the growing trend of botched surgery filters that were popping up on the platform. Talking to a number of creatives who have made their own plastic surgery filters, the feature looks at the reasons why we’re so obsessed with them. Later on, to follow up we explored the ‘black market’ for plastic surgery filters that has popped up in response to the ban. 

WHY ARE MORE MEN GETTING HAIR TRANSPLANTS?

The second part of Douglas Greenwood’s reporting into the species that is straight males, this feature looked at the reasons why and inreasing number of men are getting hair transplants with experts weighing in on how the procedure is conducted. 

WHY POST MALONE IS THE EPITOME OF MALE BEAUTY

Last up, a feature that has left Dazed Beauty readers divided since it was first published at the end of last year. OK, so it’s not from 2019, but we had to include because of popular demand. If you’ve missed it (where have you been?), Posty obsessive Bertie Brandes explores why the unlikely male beauty icon is actually today’s equivalent of a rockstar with his face tattoos and thotty Instagram pics.