Are #NOMAKEUP Selfies the Problem?

I’m in my sixth hour of waiting for a Hermes delivery, and therefore I have lots of time to do something I’m rather good at- thinking. Because I’ve decided I find #NoMakeup selfies really annoying.

Or should I say, I find the execution of #NoMakeup selfies really annoying; the idea behind them is actually pretty valuable. In a world where women are expected to paint their faces in Deep Throat (thanks NARS) and Label Whore (apparently Too Faced are at it as well), it’s a refreshing change to see some fresh faced babes gracing the internet, I just don’t think they’re fresh faced enough. Especially the celeb versions.

If makeup less selfies are supposed to remind us that everyone looks a bit dodgy underneath, then surely filtering, airbrushing and adding some natural powder to make sure your photo is flawless, defeats the object. In fact, this only makes people feel more insecure. At least when I watch the Milk $ video I know that everyone looks spicy because they each have 3 makeup artists, 4 hair stylists and a personal trainer behind the scenes, I know that if I had those things, I too could look like (a considerably uncooler and less booby) Chrissy Teigen. Most importantly, I know that at the end of the day, unless they’ve got some pore clogging fetish, these women will wipe their makeup off and look as tan-lined, acne-ridden and puffy as me.

But when you look just as nice and claim it’s natural, suddenly I’m terrified. And this means I’m terrified a lot considering there seems to be very few ugly #NoMakeup selfies out there. When people angle their faces to hide acne or sepia a photo to hide the uneven skin tone, it implies that these irritating yet completely normal things should be hidden, that these attributes aren’t worth sharing with your followers, and that encourages more people to act the same, embarrassed way. Plus, it makes makeup free seem exclusive, like you can only do it if you’re naturally stunning, which isn’t the point either.

How will we ever know what normal people look like, if we spend our lives airbrushing all the normal out? This isn’t to slate (ew slates make me cringe, I hate it when you go to a fancy restaurant n they serve your dinner on a slate like if I wanted to eat my food from the pavement I wouldn’t be paying your service charge, would I?) everyone who’s uploaded one of these, in fact no specific photo triggered these thoughts, I simply wish my reaction upon seeing a #NoMakeup selfie could go from wow I’m so glad you look great ‘without’ makeup thanks for making the rest of us feel like shite to the happiness I feel at the bare faced blogger at the start of every YouTube makeup tutorial. Confession: often I watch makeup tutorials just to remind myself what natural faces look like. It’s so easy to forget.

So Teamales, what are your thoughts? Are makeupless photos an important part of diversity? Or do you understand people’s fears at not wanting to look gross online, even if it’s more realistic? Comment below for some feminist fun.

P.S. I have tried out a shorter (oops still almost 6oo words) post this week- my ideas can urban sprawl into 900+ words and that’s probably too much to read, so feel free to tell me what you think of the conciser approach.