End Photoshop

Jun 27, 2012

Rachel K.

So, given that nearly every image I see on here is photoshopped, I can imagine this title might seem harsh. However, I really cringe when I see 9000000 likes (I hyperbolize) on a heavily photoshopped image with practically no makeup application, as compared to 0 on one where a woman is stunning, has great talent, and the makeup is flawless all the while demonstrating talent. I find it so confusing that most people struggle with self esteem and confidence largely BECAUSE we are confronted 24/7 with absolutely fake images, and yet we actually 'LIKE' them more than realistic ones. Something that inevitably tears us up, leads us to negative perceptions of others' imperfections, and the whole slew of superficial/unattainable beauty worshipping repercussions is something that women (which largely, the makeup community is) are actually, and perhaps not knowingly, perpetuating? Even more so, this is a beauty website, based on the real talents that people have for bringing out what is supposed to be the best in people, and yet photoshop absolutely destroys the demonstration of that work and also truly, very truly, makes the images nonhuman. What we see are not people.
So, my major overall point is this: Beauty and makeup should be about the best that we are and the best that we can do with it. Unattainable images of alien figures and faces hurt us (some more than others) terribly. AND in so many ways (which is not going to be the focus of this post). They can greatly weaken our ability to even connect with and relate to others. I used to be hugely against makeup when I was younger because I didn't yet have the wisdom that presenting our best selves is incredibly different from manipulating false representations of ourselves into unrecognizable objects. When I learned this distinction, that was when I could allow myself to fall in love with the use of products for all types of expression, whether it be to appear more vibrant and awake, more flawless, or to bring out the facets of ourselves that feel edgy, soft, sultry, etc. While makeup can be used to even out skin tone or for more artistic purposes, there is also the factor of attractiveness.
This was the part that I was really conflicted with because it is so embedded with the strive for unattainable perfection and it has been personally torturous for many women (hence damaged self esteem and confidence, relations with others, etc etc etc). I want to make the distinction between seeing flawless people and viewing flawless "people". There are women who walk around looking photoshopped with no makeup. But, even they don't appear to have rubbery, pore less skin and impossibly pigmented makeup. There is research supporting that the constant bombardment of fake photos of flawless "people" is what leads to problems, NOT seeing actually flawless people on the uber-rare basis. Those are a rarity that we can admire and maybe even be jealous of or insecure about for a fleeting moment. I hope there is a clear distinction between this and the fact that we are ALWAYS surrounded with this worshipped ideal that just doesn't exist.
This ties into my overall purpose of writing, which is to change the images we see, and thus the expectations of beauty we have, by starting with the ones we post and the ones we support. There might be a lot against makeup and how it might be "fake" or disingenuous, but the reality is, if we want it to be, that makeup and any product usage is for the sake of presenting our best selves and not manipulated alien versions. Secondly, as an online beauty community, we can best show our talents and the qualities of the products we use by not editing photos.
All of this being said, I conclude with some proposals for commencing this change. One is to stop editing photos of the looks we post. Two: If we absolutely MUST enhance the color of a lipstick, whiten our teeth a tad or hide a blemish, maybe that would be okay if we list Photoshop as a product, and list 'Shades' as the specific tools used (i.e. Dodge, Blur, Liquify). Three: Make a commitment to looking at makeup and don't just breeze over photos that don't appear so perfect. I believe these few steps will change how we perceive makeup, ourselves, and others, thereby enhancing the demonstrations of our efforts and the ability we have to understand, quite simply, what humans do actually look like.