Photoshopped or Not Photoshopped? Face and Body Perfect.

From magazine covers to Twitter pictures, we’ve all seen (and debated) whether somebody was Photoshopped or not. In fact, in this day and age, you don’t even need a computer to alter a picture Instagram filters or smartphone apps like moreBeaute can remove imperfections like acne breakouts or the signs of aging on skin in photos. The topic of whether the images that are being put out in the media (and by people on their own computers and phones) are true to life or good for your self-esteem is complicated. It’s also directly related to how you feel about your skin care regimen and its results. We thought we’d take a few moments to discuss photo-correction, your skin and your self-esteem!

The Truth: Almost Everybody Does Something to Correct Skin Flaws
It’s possible that you never put on makeup and that the skin care products that you buy are purely to cleanse and hydrate and in no way to correct imperfections like acne blemishes, post-acne marks, age spots and dark spots, wrinkles or loose skin. However, for most people, there’s at least one product – if not an entire bathroom full – designed to correct or conceal imperfections in their skin. So where is the line? Is it wrong to Photoshop a blemish out of a picture or use an Instagram filter to increase blur and remove visible marks but acceptable to apply a daily concealer to blemishes and dark spots? We’d be curious to hear what you think. Tell us on our Facebook page, tweet us @muradcares or send us an email! How natural do you need to be to be natural enough? And where is the line when it comes to digital enhancement versus product and makeup enhancements?

Digital Correction and Anti-Aging
It wasn’t that long ago that the internet was buzzing because Hilary Clinton was photographed wearing glasses and without makeup. Critics talked about how old she looked and even went as far as to say that it was inappropriate for a head of state to appear in public without makeup. Fans applauded Hilary for having the self-confidence to let that picture be taken. What message did this picture send? Part of any anti-aging skin care regimen is working to combat wrinkles, loose skin and age and dark spots. But part of aging is also embracing the beauty of a more mature you. Does it offend you that Hilary Clinton’s un-corrected picture was out there? Did you find it hard to look at? Or did you find it refreshing that she was comfortable on her own skin? Let us know.

Digital Correction and Acne Blemishes
You’ve no doubt seen tabloid pictures of celebrities with and without their acne blemishes removed. Most people who work in the entertainment industry do get breakouts occasionally due to the stress, heavy use of makeup and often abnormal work schedules and sleep patterns. And most celebrities have these blemishes Photoshopped out when they are publically photographed. In fact, many of us have had blemishes removed from photos at one point or another. Did you have high school senior portraits taken? Chances are that if you had a blemish that blemish was cleared out of your photo or blurred in a soft filter. Where is the line? Was that acceptable but a celebrity’s cover shot should be untouched? We want to hear from you!

The Trend Away from Digital Correction
Many magazines and retailers who do advertising campaigns that use real models are beginning to take pledges that they’ll no longer retouch models’ bodies or faces. We think that this is a great trend towards promoting self-acceptance and self-esteem. But what about magazines and retailers who don’t adopt this trend? Should we judge them? Boycott them? Simply be aware that the images that they present may not represent real life? What are your thoughts?

Decide What’s Best for You
So where should the line be for you? The truth is that only you can decide how you feel about digitally altered pictures of others or of yourself. What is important is that you’re not correcting pictures because you feel badly about yourself or how you look. We all need to learn to embrace who we are and what we look like. That doesn’t mean that covering up or digitally removing that blemish so that you don’t have to see it in photos for the rest of your life is wrong. It doesn’t mean that using a camera filter is wrong. It does mean that we are all more than the flat representation of ourselves or others on a printed or posted picture.

So what do you think of digital correction of skin flaws? We’d love to hear your feedback.