Pimples and social media: both are basic — and largely unavoidable — parts of everyday life, at least in this day and age. And both have the ability to make us feel incredibly ostracized.
Acne, despite being universal — it’s the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting between 40 and 50 million Americans at any given time — still elicits judgment, as if it only happens to the dirty or genetically un-blessed. And despite the fact that it’s often aggravated by beauty products, we’re still told (by companies with a stake in the matter) to cover it up.
Meanwhile, we spend so much time on our iPhones that they may as well be considered appendages, despite the fact that many a study has suggested that social media, for all the ways it makes our lives easier and more connected, can also have a negative effect on our mental state. Taking in others’ meticulously curated lives, dilly-dallying through photo sharing apps instead of living in the moment — these things are depression-inducing (not to mention time- and attention-span-killing).
But we realize this. And so we, as a society, are beginning to change how we treat pimples (and physical “flaws” in general) and social media. We’re caring for ourselves better, embracing our human qualities (regardless of the messaging we receive from beauty and fashion communications) and using social media in the best way we know how — to uplift one another, build empowered communities.
Click through the slideshow above to see how those with social media clout (read: celebrities, YouTube vloggers, Insta-stars) are pushing the skin-positivity (or acne-acceptance, take your pick) movement forward.
[ Next: Adult Acne: Why You’re Still Breaking Out in Your 20s and 30s ]
Acne-Positive Instagram Pics
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Lili Reinhart
Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart has had cystic acne since she was 12, but she's trying not to let it define her. In her high school years, it caused her to have “slight body dysmorphia" and avoid mirrors for months at a time. Now, she's using her platform to help other acne-havers feel alright about their skin.
Back in April, Reinhart shared a jokey photo of her acne-cream-dotted face with the caption, "Tinder profile: Hi I'm Lili, I'm 21, a Virgo, Cali-girl and I have cystic acne. HMU." In another Instagram Story posted just last week, the actress took a more serious tone. “Adult acne story time,” she began, going on to describe how she'd spent the day at a photo shoot with a broken-out forehead. “All I could think about when I was in front of the camera were the pimples on my forehead,” she wrote. “These breakouts shatter my confidence every time they appear,” she continued. “I’m not sure if or when I’ll ever be able to accept my skin as it is. It’s problematic. It scars easily. It’s painful.” She then called upon her followers to talk about their acne struggles using the hashtag #breakoutbuddy. (It hasn't quite gone viral — so far, there are 654 posts.)
Image: @lilireinhart
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Justin Bieber
Back in March, former anti-acne spokesperson Justin Bieber showed off his forehead acne on Instagram Stories, captioning the video: "Pimples are in." (Something tells us Biebs hasn't chucked his Christie Kidd cleanser or Clarisonic brush, though.)
Image: @justinbieber
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Rachel Bloom
In September, not-so Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Rachel Bloom posted a selfie featuring two hormonal zits that would make Dr. Pimple Popper rub her hands together in delight. "The middle of shooting the season (around episode 8) is peak time for my hormones to run amok due to a hectic schedule," she wrote. "Try to spot the bloating, fatigue and zits and win a prize!"
Image: @racheldoesstuff
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Ingrid Nilsen
On May 6(ish), beauty influencer Ingrid Nilsen woke up to a big, fat, juicy pimple. On May 7, she decided to 'gram it. "It hit me last night that this pimple is a physical manifestation of all the work I did last week," she reflected. "I pushed through nerves, anxiety and some of my biggest fears to strive for something I've always wanted to do. I'm proud of that and if this is my body's way of saying 'We did it, but MAN I'm tiiiiired!' then I'm proud of that, too. Our bodies are so complex. They work hard for us every day, whether we notice it or not, so try to be generous with yourself. Meet yourself where you are right now and sink into the gratitude of the breath you just took. That's your body telling you you're good enough... because you're alive." (Again, somewhere, Dr. Pimple Popper's fingers are itching.)
Image: @ingridnilsen
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Ruby Rose
Also fighting to end clear-skin tyranny is actress Ruby Rose. Last December, Rose took to Instagram to share her recent acne struggle, which, per her dermatologist, was a direct result of using her cell phone for promotional interviews for Pitch Perfect 3 and sleeping on hotel pillows. (Rough life.)
In an Instagram Story showing her broken-out right cheek, Rose addressed fans and acne-bullies alike: "This acne belongs to me, not them, and you are welcome to it. I never thought I'd see the day I'd leave my beautiful country balling my eyes out," she wrote. In a second post, she added, "Yeah it sucks...for me. I don't see how it's bothering so many others? But I'm a human. It happens...one side of my face is clear and the other is a mess."
Image: @rubyrose
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Mindy Kaling
The next time you're thinking about canceling a date because of bad skin, remember Mindy Kaling appeared on The Tonight Show hours after this photo was taken. You'll feel better.
Image: @mindykaling
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Starlie Smith
Further proof that pimples are, in fact, chic: In February 2017, model Starlie Smith — sister to Lucky Blue, Daisy Clementine and Pyper America and lead singer of family band The Atomics — walked the D&G runway with visible acne (masked by layers of foundation and concealer, but still). The following month, she posted a photo of her (seemingly) makeup-free face on Instagram with the caption: "Also, WHO CARES IF YOU HAVE ACNE YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL (A love note to myself & others struggling) #honest." The post prompted a ton (around 300) of positive responses and got close to 11,000 likes.
Image: @saintstarlie
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Belle Lucia
Many a professional beautiful person struggles/has struggled with acne. Australian-Portuguese model Belle Lucia falls into the latter category. Four months ago (rather uncharacteristically), Lucia posted a side-by-side photo comparing her face as a teen (when she had cystic acne) and her look now. "No one is perfect," she wrote in the caption. "I'm posting this to hopefully help those out there suffering with acne or anyone worrying about the way they look, because when I was young I wish someone would have told me that your looks don't define you and even the 'models' you see on advertisements aren't perfect."
Image: @belle_lucia
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Kendall Jenner
Megastar Kendall Jenner has spoken at length about her struggles with acne. In a 2015 app post she wrote, “It completely ruined my self-esteem. I wouldn’t even look at people when I talked to them. I felt like such an outcast; when I spoke, it was with my hand covering my face. Sure, I had crushes in high school, but I wouldn’t even think about looking at guys.” Of course, Jenner's openness about her insecurities didn't stop trolls from rudely commenting on her non-smooth complexion at this year's Golden Globe awards.
Image: @7Kellx
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Acne-Positive Instagram Pics #10
Happily, it seems Jenner's since gotten over her acne insecurities. Ignoring the negative Twitter babble, she responded to one fan who praised her for "showing up and strutting her acne." "Never let that shit stop you!” she wrote. (Hear, hear.)
Image: @KendallJenner
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Em Ford
If you follow the acne positivity movement, chances are you follow Em Ford of My Pale Skin. In 2015, the beauty influencer recorded the now-famous video "You Look Disgusting," in which she revealed how much hate she received for showing her real skin. (Unsurprisingly, it quickly went viral.) The #content master's page is full of acne-safe makeup tips, bare-faced selfies and sharp captions. (Her thoughts on the aforementioned KJ Twitter drama? "From one woman with acne to another, thanks [Kendall] for having the courage to stick your middle finger up at the petty-minded idiots of the world.")
Image: @mypaleskinblog
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Peter DeVito
Photographer and illustrator Peter DeVito's work celebrates those with all different kinds of skin. He's best known for his close-up, unretouched shots of people with acne along with powerful statements about self-acceptance ("Acne is normal," "
retouch," etc.) temporarily tattooed across their faces."The whole point of me posting is to help empower other people," he told ELLE. "I'm hoping that people will just start to learn to accept themselves more and not compare themselves to what other people look like."
Image: @peterdevito
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Leia Immanuel
Among DeVito's subjects is Cool Teen™ Leia Immanuel, who's amassed a whopping 94,000-plus Instagram followers thanks to her very good looks, very impressive streetwear collection and very artful, acne-embracing selfies.
Image: @artdr3am
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Tavi Gevinson
Leave it to Tavi Gevinson, actress and OG Cool Teen™ (at 15, she founded socially conscious teen magazine Rookie) to reference contemporary Japanese art in a post about pimple cream.
Image: @tavitulle
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Hailey Wait
18-year-old Hailey Wait first developed acne seven years ago. Seven months ago, she decided to stop hiding behind products and filters and reveal her real skin to her 15,000 Instagram followers. She now has 154,000 followers. The lesson here is pretty obvious.
Image: @pigss
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Kali Kushner
From acne-positive beauty guru Kali Kushner (of My Face Story), a final reminder that acne is by no means a life-ruiner: "It does not define who you are unless you let it." Learn what triggers your breakouts, follow a self-care routine tailored to your specific needs and remember that so-called "flaws" are just human qualities — and the words of the almighty Bieber.
Image: @myfacestory
