Models Without Makeup Still Look Gorgeous

By Kendra Gilbert on August 21st, 2009

supermodels-no-makeup-lrg
What do you get when you take the makeup off a supermodel? A supermodel without makeup.

When I see the supermarket tabloids featuring stars without makeup, I glean a tiny amount of satisfaction seeing the splotchy skin and dark circles on the faces of celebrities. It reassures me they are not perfect, no one is. This is not the case with the photo spread in this month’s Harper’s Bazaar featuring makeup-less supermodels. Apparently, perfection does exist.

I guess I can put my own insecurities aside and recognize that this is a positive step towards a more realistic ideal of beauty. Whereas tabloids criticize celebrities for their supposed imperfections, this spread promotes natural beauty. But instead of supermodels, who we’ve already established are more beautiful than the rest of us with or without makeup, why not show normal women with no makeup? That would be truly revolutionary.

Another caveat is this: the black and white photography. Everyone looks good in black and white! It smooths out the skin and obviously doesn’t show redness or discoloration (not that Claudia Schiffer or Cindy Crawford have any of those problems). It makes me wonder if it was more than an artisitc choice and perhaps an attempt to cover any imperfections the models may have and keep up their “super” images. In which case, any positive message is lost.

Regardless, I think this is a refreshing change of pace (or, face).

(Pic via www.harpersbazaar.com)