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The Ugly Side of Beauty

Wednesday 17 September 2014


Beauty is a word that can conjure up an image of bliss for some, and pain for others. It can be a set of ideals, or a path of inspiration or even aspiration. As a small town girl, growing up in the middle of nowhere I idolized the type of beauty that I saw in magazines and movies.

As an 11 year old girl just starting high school I didn't fit into that image of beauty, which seemed to be in everyone's minds. I had a physical facial scar which turned into a mental scar after a few classroom bullies thought it would be fun to call me 'scar face'. After a family member bought me my first concealer to 'cover it up' - my obsession with make up was born. I learnt at a young age, how different make up can make you feel. Granted looking back I can tell you that the concealer didn't cover up my scar, was likely 3 shades too dark for my pale skin and applied incorrectly - but it made me feel better.

Which is where my ugly obsession with beauty began. It seemed like growing up, nothing was ever right for me and there was always something which could be improved, concealed and analyzed. I wanted to look like the girls in the magazines, the women on tv and the glamorous women who slinked down the red carpet at The Oscars. Being seen without make up was frowned upon, there were magazines dedicated to pointing out people's flaws. Being pale was, and in many ways still is seen as a negative and unattractive, and magazines were always quick to point out if someone was looking 'pasty' or without make up.

However, growing up in 2014, is almost an entirely different world to growing up in the nineties or noughties as Blogs and vloggers are everywhere and It seems to me that the ugly side of beauty is starting to be broken down - with online campaigns such as the '#nomakeupselfie' making the rounds, girls are almost feeling more confident in their skin than ever.

Youtubers are becoming more popular than celebrities and the beauty world is struggling to keep up sometimes. I'm hoping that these exciting beauty avenues will be a positive influence on the new generation of beauty lovers out there as I for one, would much rather live in a world where girls are idolizing Zoella than Katie Price, and where demure fashion is more popular than glamour model chic - and as a former playboy bunny loving girl, that is an easy choice to make.

For this blogger, the ugly side of beauty is the thought or motion that in order to be beautiful you have to look a certain way... and as shameful as it sounds, it took me over twenty years to realize that isn't true. I'm proud to finally feel confident in my own skin and for the first time in my life, I feel like I'm finally finding true beauty.

Em xxx

36 comments:

  1. This is such a great post. I think it's cool that the younger generations are growing up under the influence of beauty bloggers (instead of celebs), who are regular, normal people who don't have a team of stylists and makeup artists on hand 24/7, and often embrace their "flaws". It gives them a more grounded and realistic sense of beauty, and hopefully helps them see that we can't look perfect all the time, and that it's okay to have blemishes and other skin issues, because even their idols - beauty bloggers and vloggers - have them, and it's completely normal!

    I also don't understand how anyone could think pale skin isn't beautiful! I'm so envious of your complexion.

    Madame Raptor x

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  2. What an utterly beautiful piece, thank you for writing this 😊

    www.emlota.com xx

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  3. This is such an inspiring post. Thank you for sharing! I think the only way to happiness is when your happy within!

    http://www.beyondthevelvet.blogspot.co.uk/

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  4. I think that so many people can relate to this post, I love beauty but like you have had my ups and downs using it to conceal my insecurities rather than enhance what I already have.

    http://www.emmainks.com

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  5. Very inspiring and I completely agree! Have followed on here and twitter :)
    Your blog looks amazing from what I've seen of it,

    www.beekle.blogspot.co.uk

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  6. Such an inspiring post. As someone who cant leave the house without make up on, i applaud you for posting that picture and writing this post

    www.hcozens.blogspot.co.uk

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  7. Love this !! So inspiring ! Your gorgeous xxx

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  8. What a lovely post - I totally agree with you in the fact that idolising youtubers such as Zoella is so much healthy than idolising celebrities like Katie price!

    The Velvet Black // UK Style, Beauty and Lifestyle Blog

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  9. This post almost made me tear up because it is so relatable. Beautifully written, inspiring, thought provoking and powerful. And I agree with every word. xx

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  10. Beautiful Post :)

    Once you are comfortable in your own skin you have found true beauty.

    Yasmin
    Be You

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  11. Loved this post! I can relate to some of what you said and definitely agree about it being broken down, I'm so happy to see my young cousins looking up to the likes of Zoella, Tanya Burr etc!

    TR's Thoughts

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  12. I saw your post on Twitter and I had to read it! Thanks for posting this because it really puts "beauty"into perspective for us and hopefully will make a change in beauty industries as well. Don't be ashamed, the fact that you realized this now is a huge achievement!

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  13. Such a true honest meaningful post. I hope the beauty world starts to see the true beauty more and more
    Reinventing Neesha ♥

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  14. You're beautiful Em. I totally agree with everything you've said too. Although I don't wear a lot of makeup on a day-to-day basis, I will not leave the house without foundation and mascara on.

    Katie <3

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  15. A really nice post, very touching! I recognize myself in a lot of what you write, and it's only now that I also dare to be and go out and get the mail without makeup me. Thank you for sharing!

    Z ♥
    http://beautybyz.blogspot.se/

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  16. This is such a gorgeous and powerful post. In so glad you are comfortable in your own skin- everyone's beautiful with or without makeup and I'm so glad more people are starting to realise/ accept it xx Sophie/ www.prettyandpolished.co.uk

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  17. This is so thoughtful Em! Thanks for sharing a piece of your heart as I'm sure a lot of girls/women can relate to how you feel and what you've gone through. You are truly a beautiful person inside and out! xx

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  18. Em, this was a gorgeous, inspiring read.
    Thank you for taking to time to write such an inspiring piece that I hope many people read and show their friends, Mum's and little sisters. Growing up is never easy for anyone in todays society the way it now is. But with the younger generation starting to idolise the real people of Bloggers and the well known icons of the general public thank to the wonders of social media this is where the confidence of the younger generation is held, and with gorgeous posts like this more and more people are going to realise that.
    So thanks lovely, for making me this evening look back on my childhood and feel grateful for the more confident version of myself i've become.

    P.S On a less formal note, I can't stop admiring your makeup I need to get some serious makeup tips please!

    Thanks again Em.

    Charlie
    xoxo

    www.styledbycharlie.blogspot.com

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  19. What a wonderful post! I definitely agree that the times have changed so much and that people are becoming more comfortable in their own skin. It's a nice change to see and I'm interested to see what other changes are on the horizon. Thank you for sharing!

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  20. Wow what an amazing post. I couldn't agree more about the zoella comment,without a doubt she is a fab role model

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  21. Gorgeous post, more people definitely need to feel confident in their own skin (myself included). Well done for putting this out there!

    Ashley xx
    ashleyelizabethx.blogspot.com

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  22. Such an inspiring post! I agree that is the ugly side of beauty. I took me a long time to finally feel comfortable in my own skin and accept my flaws and all. I love how beauty bloggers and yt girls are more relatable than celebs, they're more realistic .
    Liz
    50Shadesoflizxo.blogspot.com

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  23. Such a great post. I had a skin disease growing up and still remember crying the first time I put on foundation! There's such a fine line between using makeup to build your confidence and using makeup to hide behind + I think it's a super important thing for bloggers to emphasise.

    Much love! N x
    savingxfaces.blogspot.co.uk

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  24. Wow wow wow wow! I love your blog and am so glad that I have come across it.

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  25. I really liked this post. So inspiring! It really made me think!

    www.helenaliddell.tumblr.com

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  26. Wow. This is such an inspiring post! Your words are very true. :)

    http://www.geekyjessy.blogspot.com

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  27. You're gorgeous girl! Don't stop blogging!
    Tegan xx - Permanent Procrastination
    Btw check out my sweet Lightbox Giveaway if you haven’t already!

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