If you haven’t seen enough on the ‘photoshopping beauty’ controversy, add this to your playlist.
It’s a beautiful and compelling music video by Hungarian artist Boggie. And it’s thought-provoking even before you have a clue what she’s singing. (For the curious like me, here are the lyrics.)
Definitely gives pause for thought.
Where I stand on the subject….
As someone who works in beauty, I personally love makeup — and honestly who can be mad at flattering lighting. But at what point in the alteration process (live or in post) do subjects become masks or avatars of themselves? And as a result do we all then not feel attractive as we naturally are (flawed and imperfect).
I think that’s really individual and depends on self-esteem plus simple awareness that this is all but a fantasy.
When it comes to celeb glam squads, for example, they don’t say “it takes a village” for nothing. There’s hair, makeup, dermatology… nutritionists, chefs, trainers… fake tanning (and faux body sculpting), brand new teeth, proper (and often body-altering) undergarments, and so much more. Compare images of stars pre-fame and now. Even unretouched images. It doesn’t take a detective to uncover that the “most beautiful people” didn’t exactly start off that way.
Which begs the question – does it even matter who or what does the ‘beautifying’ and at which point in the process? Is makeup that sculpts and enhances and even “corrects” fair game but retouching highly dangerous and damaging to society? What about fake hair in real life versus digitally-enhanced? Same for body shapers and smoothers.
As for retouching specifically, I often see amazing beauty images on Instagram and Pinterest that are served up as the work of talented makeup artists but are truly awe-inspiring due to master retouchers. The total flawlessness via blending and blurring and moving and manipulating makes the subjects (or their one super-zoomed-in facial feature) look doll-like and non-human. But it still makes me stop and stare.
Maybe that blatant fakeness allows me to appreciate the imagery for what it is – illusion and if done well, art.
I know for others it may go deeper.
I do see the pressure for perceived perfection and the standards women particularly feel they must meet — sometimes by any means — and obviously not all healthy. As a female and an adult, I think it becomes personal choice what you choose to accept and reject. My confidence is not completely tied to my appearance and my worth isn’t dictated by it. For younger girls, whose beauty ideals and perceptions are in part formed by the bombardment of these images on a daily basis, I think the curtain being pulled back and all this exposure and attention on the subject is a positive thing.
Similar to makeup, you can view it as hiding and masking or you can consider it a creative expression and fun. Or you can decide it’s not for you and dismiss it entirely.
To end with two cliches, knowledge is power and the truth will set you free. So whether you want to post bare-faced selfies in defiance or photoshop brighter eyes and pinker lips, flip the switch and do whatever makes you happy. Or like Boggie, show both. She looked beautiful at the start and at the finish of her digital transformation. There are countless versions of beauty.
XO LC
Lauren Cosenza is the creator and editor-in-chief of DIVAlicious, a trusted beauty/fashion expert, an on-camera personality and spokesperson, a leading NYC-based professional makeup artist, a published contributor and writer, a brand consultant, a product junkie and an insatiable style seeker.
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beautifully said!
beautifully said!
Well said my friend!!
I agree. I thought she looked beautiful both ways….just different.
I agree. I thought she looked beautiful both ways….just different.
Also interesting is that on her website all her publicity pics are in full makeup – http://www.boggieofficial.com/photos/
Everyone loves a smoky eye!!
XOLC
WOW! The lyrics and this video are chilling! I’m not totally opposed to photoshopping ( a little bit, like dull a few fine lines here and there) but this is taking it to another (unnecessary) level. Great post & well said!
WOW! The lyrics and this video are chilling! I’m not totally opposed to photoshopping ( a little bit, like dull a few fine lines here and there) but this is taking it to another (unnecessary) level. Great post & well said!
Thanks! As a makeup artist too, Denise, you know how asymmetrical eyes and eyebrows can be (on pretty much everyone)… I think many of these methods people have seen before but the cutting and flipping of a single eye for a more perfectly symmetrical face I think makes people feel better about their own natural asymmetry. Again, pulling back the curtains on this is a healthy thing for women.
XOLC
Mashable covered the video yesterday and I also shared some thoughts on their forum: http://mashable.com/2014/01/26/music-video-shows-singer-getting-photoshopped-in-real-time
This is so thought provoking. I’ve always had trouble reconciling this with my personal values as a Christian. I believe we’re all beautiful the way we were made, the way we were meant to be. But I was never opposed to makeup and photoshop, and the changes they could bring.
After reading your post, I realized that this was my view as well…I was just never able to word it properly. It’s fun. It’s a form of art. As with anything it all depends on perspective.
I don’t think anyone NEEDS makeup. But it’s just so fun to experiment with the different products out there, and even more fun to see how they can ENHANCE the facial features that we’ve already been blessed with.
This is so thought provoking. I’ve always had trouble reconciling this with my personal values as a Christian. I believe we’re all beautiful the way we were made, the way we were meant to be. But I was never opposed to makeup and photoshop, and the changes they could bring.
After reading your post, I realized that this was my view as well…I was just never able to word it properly. It’s fun. It’s a form of art. As with anything it all depends on perspective.
I don’t think anyone NEEDS makeup. But it’s just so fun to experiment with the different products out there, and even more fun to see how they can ENHANCE the facial features that we’ve already been blessed with.
Thanks so much for your comment GaYoung. I never even considered a religious overlay to this. Are Christians opposed to altering one’s natural appearance through cosmetics or other means? My Roman Catholic friends all wear makeup, use self-tanner, color their hair, whiten their teeth, etc… some have had cosmetic surgeries and/or treatments, some have extensions and so on. I truly never considered enhancing one’s looks to be contrary to Christian beliefs…
I think it’s also because I attend a largely Korean American church. Cosmetics are acceptable, but only if they are used to a certain extent. As in, if you’re making yourself presentable on Sunday yes, but a full out smoky eye…not so much.
Cosmetic surgeries are a definite no no, if purely for aesthetic reasons. You’re permanently altering your features, the ones that you’ve been blessed with. I agree, despite the fact that South Korea is ironically the number one nation for cosmetic surgeries.
I think it’s also because I attend a largely Korean American church. Cosmetics are acceptable, but only if they are used to a certain extent. As in, if you’re making yourself presentable on Sunday yes, but a full out smoky eye…not so much.
Cosmetic surgeries are a definite no no, if purely for aesthetic reasons. You’re permanently altering your features, the ones that you’ve been blessed with. I agree, despite the fact that South Korea is ironically the number one nation for cosmetic surgeries.
That’s really interesting. While I respect everyone’s faith (or lackthereof), I personally rejected organized religion years ago due to the constant judgement and hypocrisy. So long as it’s not hurting anyone, I don’t really see how these non-issues matter. Again, that’s just my own perspective. But as Oprah would say, that’s a whole ‘nother show….