Skinfluencers: The New Age Of Women Helping You Feel More At Peace With The Skin You’re In
Ever heard of the phrase ‘comparison is the thief of joy’? It’s safe to say that in this era of endlessly scrolling through feeds full of blemish-free skin and perfectly-toned abs, it couldn’t be more appropriate. And with over 50% of the world’s population having a social media account, and the average time people spend scrolling online feeds standing at a whopping 2.5 hours per day* (yes, really!), it's no surprise that the wonderful world wide web can often feel like a pretty lonely place. Especially for those of us with ‘one-too-many’ spots, or thighs that are covered in stretch marks!
But while the beauty world has finally started to break boundaries when it comes to redefining ‘perfection’, there is still a long way to go. Big beauty brands are starting to become more inclusive when it comes to the models they use in their campaigns, championing models with acne and various other skin conditions - and they seem to finally be catering to more than 5 skin tones. But have they gone far enough to ensure that everyone feels seen and represented - and what else can be done?
Enter… the ‘skinfluencers’. A host of normal, honest, filter-free women, shamelessly sharing what real skin really looks like. These ladies are helping to get rid of the stigma attached to acne, scarring, stretch marks, Psoriasis and more - and seriously rocking it when it comes to getting us all more comfortable baring the real, perfectly imperfect skin that we’re in. And we’re totally here for it!
@Cystur
Patsy Chem, 26, originally from Bulgaria, was diagnosed with the most severe form of acne (cystic acne) in January 2020. Since then, she has taken to her social channels to share the important message of being kind to yourself and your skin, as well as her journey of trying to holistically better her skin without medication, through supplements, yoga, meditation and a eating a healthy, balanced diet.
@CharlotteJonsie
Charlotte Jones, a positive psychology coach and mum of one from London, is a huge trailblazer for changing the general stigma attached to postpartum skin. From stretch marks, to overhanging skin and hormonal acne, Charlotte has shared it all! She wants to help empower new mums who may be feeling uncomfortable with their new postpartum bodies.
@PrableenKaurBhomrah
Candidly sharing her journey with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and its accompanying symptoms with her 200k-strong following, Prableen epitomizes skin and body positivity. One of her most important mottos is “why should anyone feel insecure about something that’s out of their control?”, and we couldn’t agree more!
@FullBodiedBekah
Bekah is a unique body positive influencer that often expresses the message that stretch marks are totally normal – and shouldn’t have to be justified by pregnancy! In one of her posts, she shares the message; “Friends, you were not put on this earth to stay small. My stretch marks act as a daily reminder that there is always room to grow, change and evolve.”
@Oyintofe.O
Not only is Oyintofe a great advocate for fuss-free skincare, she also often shares up-close-and-personal photos of her skin texture, scarring and hyperpigmentation.
@TalontedLex
Influencer Lex Gillies has suffered with rosacea for over 15 years, and uses her platform to inspire others to feel more positive about the skin condition that affects as many as 1 in 10 people in the UK**. She shares helpful hints and tips on how to ease symptoms, as well as recommending the best sensitive skincare for the condition.
@Rocyie
Holistic nutritionist Rocyie Wong is a Psoriasis fighter, campaigner and creator of two programmes that aim to raise awareness around the autoimmune disease. She also amazingly coaches others specifically on how to improve symptoms of Psoriasis holistically.
@EmeraldxBeauty
Model and activist Kadeeja Sel Khan made headlines back in 2018, when she was dropped from a huge beauty brand’s campaign because of her ‘skin issues’. Since, she has made it her quest to normalize spots and uneven texture in the beauty industry, and keeps it very real when it comes to showing how filters can make it so easy to fake it on Instagram.
@SaraGuerts
31-year-old Sara Guerts is a model and self-proclaimed self-love activist. She was diagnosed with a rare skin condition, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which affects body tissue and brings collagen production to a halt. In turn, skin becomes wrinkled, less elasticated and more fragile at a much younger age than it typically would. Sara is working tirelessly to raise awareness around the condition, encouraging sufferers to see their condition as a beautiful thing that makes them unique.
@VitiligoQueen
LA-based Tanesha Brown has always had vitiligo - something she didn’t learn to embrace until her later years. She is a model, mentor and super mum of three who has almost 20,000 followers on Instagram, and vows to continue to encourage everyone to embrace their uniqueness - no matter the skin they’re in.
