Welsh-Pakistani influencer Shakeel Murtaza is leading a movement in male aesthetics known as "Brotox." By documenting his high-cost grooming rituals, the 27-year-old is challenging traditional views of masculinity.
A £1,310 daily routine involving salmon DNA and Botox
Shakeel Murtaza maintains a grooming regimen that is as expensive as it is unconventional. The 27-year-old Welsh-Pakistani influencer utilizes a variety of high-end medical treatments to maintain his appearance, moving far beyond the basics of traditional hygiene. according to the report, his daily routine costs approximately £1,310 and includes polynucleotide injections—which utilize salmon or trout DNA—to treat dark circles under his eyes.
Beyond these injections, Murtaza undergoes nasal flattening at a dentist, receives monthly parathyroid shots, and employs laser treatments to manage his beard line. Even his hygiene is specialized, as he reportedly has his feet professionally cleaned after each session to ensure a complete "torso-to-toe" experience.. This level of maintenance is a central part of his content on social media platforms like TikTok.
The 10-20% of men entering the cosmetic market
The rise of "Brotox" reflects a significant departure from the era of the 3-in-1 shampoo and face wash. For years, male grooming was defined by simple, multi-purpose products designed for speed and utility, often ignoring specific skin concerns. However,the current landscape shows a move toward specialized medical aesthetics and bespoke products.
As the source reports, men now represent an estimated 10% to 20% of all non-surgical cosmetic treatments. This shift is driving an explosion of brands dedicated to men's specific needs, including skin-brightening serums, hair-restoring treatments, and facial patches tailored for male skin. The industry is evolving from a focus on basic cleanliness to a focus on engineered appearance.
Shakeel Murtaza’s fight against 'feminine' labels
Personal struggles with teenage acne served as the primary catalyst for Murtaza’s interest in the science of skin. Rather than viewing cosmetic tweaks as a vanity project, he frames them as essential tools for mental health and self-confidence. This perspective often puts him at odds with traditionalists who view intensive grooming through a gendered lens.
Murtaza frequently faces online backlash from men who label his intensive self-care as "feminine." He argues that these criticisms stem from a lack of male role models in the aesthetic space, and he uses his platform to normalize these procedures for a younger generation of men who may feel underserved. For Murtaza, the goal is to reduce the stigma surrounding male aesthetic enhancements.
Unverified medical risks in the 'Brotox' era
The long-term medical implications of the "Brotox" trend remain largely unverified by independent clinical data. While Murtaza and other influencers showcase the immediate aesthetic results of injections and laser treatments on TikTok, the source notes that the specific medical benefits and risks of these procedures are still being studied.. It remains unclear how frequent, high-intensity regimens—which include parathyroid shots and DNA-based injections—affect long-term physiological health.
Additionally, the reporting focuses heavily on Murtaza's personal success and does not include perspectives from medical professionals regarding the safety of these trends. this leaves the actual risk profile of "Brotox" an open question, as the social media trend moves faster than the clinical research required to validate it.
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