Acne sufferers show they’re comfortable in their skins
INSTAGRAM is full of celebrities showing off their glowing skin.
But as much fun as the social media site is, it’s not exactly the best representation of life.
Hailey Wait and Hannah Shields want everyone to feel comfortable with their skin and hope to show that there’s no need to Photoshop your blemishes.
They’re part of a growing acne positivity movement, which sees people posting unfiltered photos of their skin.
Hailey, an 18-year-old artist, has cystic acne, which means she gets large, painful breakouts below the surface of her skin.
Like many sufferers, she felt “ugly and unlovable”.
Office worker Hannah, 25, has had acne for as long as she can remember.
She said: “I found make-up when I was around 13 years old in an attempt to cover them.”
Hailey started posting unfiltered selfies and was soon flooded with comments about how brave she was.
She said: “Some people started saying it was inspirational – and that’s when I realised it was bigger than me.
“People were tired of hiding their faces and people were tired of being told that acne made them ugly – which it doesn’t.”
Hannah started a blog a year before her wedding to document the progress of her acne.
She said: “My skin blog was a journey to get clear skin but it turned into something more. The more I posted, it became a journey of acceptance for me as a whole – not just my acne.”
Hailey added: “I have received so many messages from people all over the world who were inspired to go make-up free, and they sent me their own acne selfies.”
However, not everyone was so positive.
She admitted: “Many people sent straight up rude and hateful things.”
Hannah has been luckier with the reaction.
She said: “I’ve only ever received positive reactions from my posts.” And both of them will continue to post their selfies.
Hailey said: “I think it’s super-important to share unfiltered photos showing your acne.
“There is not a single person on this planet with 100 per cent perfect skin, so why are we held to that standard of perfection?
“There’s a beauty in every single one of us that is so unique and yet we all mask it up behind creams and foundations and concealers.”
And Hailey hopes she can help inspire others to embrace their “little quirks that social media tells us isn’t the norm”.
People were tired of being told that acne made them ugly