What's the Difference Between Vanity and Narcissism?

The difference between these constructs is that narcissism can involve self-perception, whereas vanity is primarily about appearance.

Is vanity different from narcissism?

As adjectives the difference between vain and narcissistic

is that vain is overly proud of oneself, especially concerning appearance; having a high opinion of one's own accomplishments with slight reason while narcissistic is having an inflated idea of one's own importance.

Can you be vain but not a narcissist?

“Someone who is narcissistic may be selfish in some area of their life but not disordered. An example would be if someone was very vain about their body and constantly obsessing about their looks and seeking approval for their appearance. This may not be NPD.