By 2027 the global skincare market will have reached $185.5 billion, and with it, the demand for increasingly effective products. There is an undeniable market for beauty, but there is also an inherent need for a change in attitude towards how we view ourselves. We are all too familiar with headlines in mainstream magazines that claim to have solved the issue of skin texture, pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Texture refers to the look and feel of your skin’s surface, which can be affected by just about anything in your day to day life. There are countless ways to improve your skin texture, but one thing is paramount, skin health. The most vital thing is your skin’s functionality and whether you are doing everything you can to maintain that organ’s good health. Sunscreen is not just something you should be wearing at the beach; in fact, you should be wearing it any time that you leave the house. It is proven that wearing sunscreen can reduce the risk of melanoma by up to 50%.
Your diet, water intake, the climate around you, and countless other factors all play into your skin’s appearance on the surface and a deeper level. Most importantly, your skin appearance is literally in your DNA. A study found that out of 25,000 genes, around 1,500 of those directly affect your skin texture and health. There are no products that can instantly change your genetic makeup, though there is no doubt that beauty brands will find some way to bottle that idea up and sell it at a premium price.
The skincare industry has made billions on convincing each and every one of us that our imperfections can be fixed by the products they sell. In some respects, they can, but there will always be another issue for you transfix upon. Instead of dwelling on these ‘imperfections’ we should instead be trying to make our skin the healthiest it can be. So how do you do that?
Understanding your skin is the first step to becoming happier and more content with the texture you see. There is no beating a professional dermatologist, as they have studied for years to understand the science behind skincare. But, in lockdown, it’s not like we all have a dermatologist tucked away for a rainy day. Instead, you can do your research, looking specifically into the “problem” areas you want to tackle. There are ways to combat oily skin, dry skin, and even acne, but your perspective is the biggest thing to address.
Even the most expensive and well-researched beauty products cannot change how you see yourself. Part of this is due to how beauty Guru’s and celebs appear online, especially on Instagram. But remember, they have huge teams dedicated to making sure they look flawless, and part of that team is a Photoshop expert.
Beauty influencer Alessandro has talked at length on his TikTok about the beauty industry, and specifically how they tend to paint a false reality when it comes to skin. His videos are highly motivational and completely realistic as he continually reminds his viewers that he has advanced lighting systems that help to perfect his overall makeup aesthetic.
If you take away one thing from this piece, understand that you are beautiful the way you look. Next time you post on Instagram, choose not to put a filter on it and don’t Facetune away your fine lines. Instead, post your picture with confidence. Think of our younger generations that could potentially be looking at your photo; perhaps they are also struggling with their skin too. Now, think back to your time as a child. Would it have been more powerful to see someone owning their unfiltered glory or another face tuned lifeless selfie? Beauty gurus aren’t the only ones with a responsibility, and if we are to hold them accountable for authenticity, then we must also hold ourselves to that same standard.