By: Maria Mbura
In today’s society, it is the face that is the standard by which beauty is judged. Before making any other assumptions, it is the face that makes the first impression. Whether out on the town, at work or school, watching TV or reading a magazine, the faces of those we see, have the most influence on our next series of actions. Will we be drawn to person, speak to them, offer needed assistance, buy their product or watch their performance? The answer to these questions undoubtedly lies in the face of the individual.
The primary feature that sets an individual’s face apart from the crowd is the complexion of the skin. When shot close up, the smoothness and clarity of a model’s skin is the primary selling point. Regardless of the product being pitched, if the intended audience is turned off by the model’s face and skin condition, the sales attempt is fruitless. This can also be the case in everyday life, for in everything we do, we are always selling ourselves.
While we all strive to look our best when in public, we often fail miserably in attempting to create or imitate the image of clear, unblemished beautiful skin. Yet, we often fail to remember that the models and celebrities that influence how we look often have some type of acne flaw.
Though skin problems or permanent scarring are sometimes a distinguishing feature, such as with actors James Woods or Edward James Olmos, these cases are rarely positive. While many celebrities suffer from the affects of acne, these flaws are often reduced or camouflaged by the work of professional makeup artists.
Yes, it is true, acne is non-discriminatory in its attack. There is a misconception that acne afflicts only teens, but the truth is that many celebrities seek professional help in clearing up acne. These attempts to clear up acne may include microdermabrasion, cold slush treatments or injections of dilute cortisone. While these procedures may produce favorable results quickly, they do not produce long term solutions.
Thanks to the ever present paparazzi and other aggressive photographers, many celebrities have been publicly exposed without the magical affects of the makeup artist. This exposure allows the public to see that many celebrities are affected with acne and skin damage just like many of us.
Many of today’s biggest stars have been attacked by “THE ZIT”, and often at the most inopportune time. Whether it be younger stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio or Britney Spears, or actors in their 30’s and 40’s, such as Brad Pitt, Jon Cusack, Angelina Jolie or “Mission Impossible” star Tom Cruise, many of the “perfect” people in entertainment are seeking acne help. Even perfect skin actress Catherine Zeta-Jones was known to have acne flare ups during her pregnancy, due to hormonal changes.
Proactive, the most popular acne treatment on the market, uses stars such as Jessica Simpson to sell their product. Also, former Miss
Regardless of age, occupation or social status, acne affects millions of people, all of which are seeking acne help, the best acne medication or some other way to clear up acne. So it is reassuring to know that just like the rest of us, even celebrities need help with acne.
