Buttons, oily skin, black spots : acne is often a big source of complexes for women (adolescents or adults) who suffer from it. Many of them also encounter difficulties when it comes to exposing their skin to the natural, without makeup. It is precisely to combat this phenomenon that the movement “Free the pimple” (in French : "Free the button") was born. His goal ? Make women go beyond their dermatological complexes and blemishes on the skin. On Instagram, this hashtag is very successful. Thousands of women put aside their vulnerability and share natural selfies in it, by the way very "body positive" messages (a much more popular movement, which encourages women to enhance their appearance). We say bravo!
"Free the pimple": a movement dedicated to acne created by an ex-model
This movement to help women victims of acne to accept themselves, was created by Lou Northcote, a young woman who has been around the modeling industry from the age of 10. At 16, the young woman began to have acne, and was, for this reason, mercilessly dropped by his agency. On Instagram, she admits having gone through a period during which makeup was used as "armor". “For years, I thought I should look like the left“ me ”. I thought I was always supposed to wear makeup, because it was the only way to be pretty, the only way to be admired or to have a boyfriend. I thought I had to be perfect to get a job, make friends, achieve anything … I used to use makeup as a mask, and I wouldn't leave my house without him. (…) I was going go to bed every night with makeup (Editor's note: whileit is very important to remove your makeup) because I thought I should look perfect even when I’m sleeping ” she says. “I wish I could go back and tell the younger Lou that everything is fine. Your skin doesn't define you, don't let your skin keep you from doing thingsbecause there is so much more in life. I have a university degree, I have a boyfriend and I have a career while having acne! ” she continues. A post which was very appreciated and which encouraged many other young women to assume themselves without artifices on the canvas!
View this post on InstagramFor years I thought I was supposed to look like the me on the left. I thought I was supposed to wear makeup because that was the only way to be pretty, the only way to be admired or get a boy. I thought I had to be perfect, I thought the only way to get a job, make friends, achieve anything was by wearing makeup. I used to use makeup as a mask and wouldn't leave the house without it, I once dated a guy for 6 months and went to bed every night wearing makeup because I thought I had to look 'perfect' in bed even when I was sleeping .. I would even have to put foundation on just to come down for breakfast on a weekend at home with my parents. When I was a teenager I didn’t have social media, I just had magazines, billboards and tv adverts where everyone always look airbrushed and was always wearing makeup. Reality The reality was on the right, I suddenly suffered acne when I was 16 and I thought I had done something wrong, like it was my fault. I felt ugly, ashamed, dirty. I did everything I could to hide my skin and never let anyone see it, even myself. I would cry when I looked in the mirror and genuinely thought I couldn’t get in to uni, have a boyfriend, a job etc because of my acne! This was society telling me this! We are brought up to think acne is wrong, ugly, dirty and should be hidden because somewhere years back that was what was told and it has stuck! Our society promotes 'flawless' skin, the 'perfect' body etc but the truth is there is NO such thing as flawless skin or the perfect body and we should NOT be made to feel ashamed about something that is not our fault! I wish I could go back and tell the young me that it's ok. Your skin doesn’t define you, don’t let your skin stop you from doing things because there is way more to life. I have a uni degree, I have a boyfriend and I have a career, all while having acne! Anyone reading this who is suffering with acne please know it is ok! You are beautiful and you are way more than your acne! Don’t let society tell you otherwise! I know it is not easy but you are not alone! Don’t get me wrong I like wearing makeup like on the left but now I don’t wear makeup as I mask and I am ok with the me on the
Read also :
⋙ Acne: 5 natural and effective solutions to get rid of it
⋙ #Acnepositivity: assuming your acne is becoming a trend on Instagram
⋙ Acne: 10 effective tips to get rid of it
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