Friendly Reminder: It’s Just Skin
(Photo via Sofie Grahn @isofiagragn on instagram, skin positive influencer)
Years of social media have created new beauty standards and unrealistic expectations of how we should live our lives and appear to others. A social media boom of face editing apps, photo filters, and images of celebrities and influencers looking flawless online, has led us to believe that flawless, smooth, and ageless skin is reality. But for many men and women, picture-perfect skin isn’t the reality, and we need a reminder that this is totally OK, that it is normal.
Even though we are told that what we see online isn’t real, unfortunately, we ignore this and still criticise and compare ourselves to images we see on social media. In an effort to achieve perfect skin, we rush out to purchase the most popular lotions and potions with the hope that they will rid our skin of pores, scars, fine lines, and texture.
Here is your reminder that ALL skin is beautiful and perfectly flawless skin isn’t real life. The reality for all humans online and in real life is that skin comes with acne, spots, scars, beauty marks, and wrinkles. We need to remember that our skin, regardless of what it looks like, is not shameful or hideous.
You don’t always have to love your skin, but you don’t have to hate yourself for it either.
Our skin is unique to each of us. What is normal for your skin won't be normal for someone else. Skin can be sensitive, and oily, skin can be dry, and some people are prone to breakouts or redness and this will change as we age - because, yes, skin ages. It is not something we should constantly worry about or feel forced to fix, because we are all human and skin is just skin.
As we age, skin changes, it can be clear and healthy before becoming sensitive or breaking out. As you move into your teenage years you might start to notice acne. Even into adulthood, many people have to deal with acne, skin texture, and redness, then as we continue to age we begin to notice fine lines and wrinkles. As this happens, we criticise and hate ourselves for having these "flaws" instead of accepting that it’s just skin. You are not defined by the appearance of your skin and you most definitely are not any less beautiful.
(Photo via Keke Palmer @keke on instagram, looking gorgeous and barefaced on social media)
Social Media isn’t Real
In the age of social media where we are flooded with filtered images of women of all ages, we are convinced that ageing skin is a flaw or textured skin with and without makeup isn’t beautiful, and this damages our self-confidence.
Even makeup can’t make skin texture disappear and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean your makeup looks bad, or that you’re not good at applying makeup, it just means that you're human and you are living your life and enjoying makeup without stressing about what anyone else thinks (as you should!)
Remember that the images you see online are usually set up using makeup, good lighting, and angles that flatter the face or are taken far enough that the skin looks smooth and “flawless”.
It can be hard to find confidence in our skin, to feel comfortable without makeup, or to show up on social media without a filter. If all you’re exposed to are images of people with flawless, poreless skin without any texture, then you’re not going to feel confident, instead, you’ll question why your skin doesn’t look the same. But, the skin you see online isn’t real. Most people don’t have flawless, poreless, or texture-less skin, it just isn’t how being a human works.
No one is born with anything perfect and we need to take a step back and remind ourselves that perfect isn’t real. That social media isn't real. Images online reflect one good moment in a whole life. It isn’t the reality of everyday life, so don’t let images online affect how you view yourself or live your own life. You shouldn’t have to worry about your skin or feel pressured to live up to an unrealistic beauty standard.
Of course, we all want to show our best selves online, but remember that we aren’t less than our best selves because of our skin. It's okay to want good skin and to want to look your best, but the point is to not compare and hate yourself for not being there yet or looking exactly like the images you see online. We can all achieve healthy skin, but it's important to remember that healthy skin can also have texture, breakouts, wrinkles, and be oily or dry. Note: Healthy skin is hydrated, moisturised and SFP protected.
Normalise skin texture. Normalise acne. Normalise pores. Normalise it all because all of it is normal. This is what real skin looks like. Let’s get used to it.
Don’t hate yourself for it.