If looking at your peers’ selfies on Instagram makes you feel downright old and ugly (regardless of whether you’re actually 21 and beautiful), I’ve got news for you: what you see isn’t what you get. While it’s totally possible that a woman can be gorgeous without trickery (Don’t come at me, beautiful trolls!), what we’re seeing these days goes beyond beauty and into “perfection.”
If you have a single perceived flaw, it must be erased! And with this idea comes hit after hit to our self-esteem, and a deep dive into true mental illness. While we all know about makeup, Botox, teeth whitening, and even Photoshop, there’s an entire universe of apps out there that help perpetuate the illusion that women are Barbie dolls. I want to know what happens when everyone sees them IRL, but I digress…
OK, so let’s take a look at these apps, shall we? And please note I’m not sharing these so you’ll rush out and download them. On the contrary, I want to expose them and I want you to use every shred of willpower you have to just say no! If we showcase what makes us unique, it gives others permission to do the same.
- FaceTune- This app not only removes wrinkles and pimples, but can actuallyreshapeyour face and body.
- Beauty Editor- Face Changer- The name says it all, right? This one doesn’t contort the face and body as much as FaceTune, but it does claim to “enhance your eyes.” How tho? It mostly gives an airbrushed effect to the skin.
- BeautyPlus- More of the same, but with colorful filters and character stickers.
- moreBeaute2- Brightens, lightens, and smooths skin.
- Golden Beauty Meter- Talk about disgusting, this app actually measures your face and features before issuing you a beauty score! Some women go as far as using one app to edit their pictures before submitting them to Golden Beauty Meter for a rating.
- PhotoWonder- This one claims to have lots of functions from filters, to effects, to stickers, but the real emphasis is on the beautify section that drastically distorts selfies.
- FaceLab- Scary name right? It’s truly plastic surgery in the palm of your hand, considering it can reshape each feature of your face. It can add makeup and adjust lighting, too, but the emphasis is on its ability to completely change your face.
- Perfect365- Does more of the same, but also changes your hair
The list of apps with these capabilities goes on and on, with new apps coming out daily due to increased demand. As with everything else in western society, it’s all about supply and demand, so we have to stop demanding it. I get it; we all want to look our best, and literally put our best face forward. I am no exclusion, but this goes beyond doing what we can with what we’ve been given. This is lying.
You might be thinking, “But Kelly, how are hair extensions and plastic surgery any different?” Regardless of what you do to your face or body (which we’ll discuss in another post), what you project to the world should be consistent with who you really are, in person. You wouldn’t say you’re a rocket scientist when you are actually employed, for example.
Also do not forget the power of professional hair, makeup, lighting and photography! Those things are the holy grail of “perfect” pictures and while they look amazingly nice, they aren’t reality…for anyone including the model who took the shot.
As we go forward trying to better ourselves mentally, spiritually, and physically, try to remember what really matters and what message you want to send. Wouldn’t one of reality be so refreshing?
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