These Makeup-Free Selfies With Acne Will Turn “Beauty Standards” Upside Down
Waking up with a blemish smack dab in the middle of your face seems like one of the worst ways to start a day, right? I’ll admit that I do give acne more power than it deserves, and I’ll let pimples that I cannot cover for the life of me put me in a bad mood for way too long. After seeing these makeup-free selfies with acne taken by Hailey Wait, you’ll realize that, as Wait says, “acne doesn’t make you ugly.”
Wait is a 17-year-old from Colorado who has become a selfie expert. Wait also happens to have cystic acne, according to Teen Vogue. In an Instagram post on her page in December of 2017, Wait described what it is like to live with her condition when she said, “Cystic acne is painful, physically…” So, if you were thinking that Wait would take the time (and endure the pain) of covering her face with foundation and concealer to cover up her acne, you’d be wrong.
Wait has no interest in conforming to conventional “beauty standards.” In that same post, she shared how she found happiness with a beauty routine that she created just for herself, and the key to getting there was ridding foundation from her routine. She also likely got there by sending out messages like, “Reminder that acne doesn’t make you ugly…a heart full of hate does.”
Reminder that acne doesn’t make you ugly 💖 a heart full of hate does. pic.twitter.com/X7EQ12amQg
— PIGSS (@pigssart) December 10, 2017
As an artist and musician, Wait’s Instagram and Twitter pages are filled with creativity. One running theme throughout all of her content, though, is her foundation-free selfies.
While the makeup-free selfies are gorgeous depictions of Wait, she doesn’t appear to have always been confident enough to post them. On Dec. 31, 2017, Wait posted two side-by-side images on her Twitter page, and she explained that the left one was her first selfie taken in 2017, and the photo on the right was her final selfie of 2017.
First selfie of 2017 vs last selfie of 2017 pic.twitter.com/tLUw5lakF8
— PIGSS (@pigssart) December 31, 2017
Do you notice a difference? Wait was covered up with foundation and makeup in the “first selfie of 2017” and by the end of the year, her bare-faced selfie was all that she needed. Seriously, she looks amazing (with or without the sunglasses and matte lip).
She expanded upon the freedom she felt when she stopped using a base of foundation:
The teenager is truly the embodiment of self-acceptance and self-confidence. She also posts hopeful side-by-side images for others who are similarly suffering with cystic acne. Seeing as she described it as “painful,” it’s a promising sign that treatment can help ease the severity of it.
Only a month and a half difference between these photos ✨ if you suffer from cystic acne, don’t lose hope! pic.twitter.com/eBtyzpoZE3
— PIGSS (@pigssart) December 30, 2017
While it’s refreshing to see Wait’s outlook on the world of “beauty standards,” she’s not only standing up and giving power back to those who have acne, she’s also sharing positive messages with everyone when she says things like, “Whether you have acne or not, ur damn fine ok and you deserve love!!! Both can be beautiful.”
That one time (yesterday) I did a look inspired by alyssa from #TEOFTW pic.twitter.com/IxlSe6EDpx
— PIGSS (@pigssart) January 15, 2018
It’s clear that people appreciate what she has to offer because Twitter is definitely applauding Wait and her decision to smash “beauty standards.”
Wait is the “definition of real beauty.”
My definition of real beauty is @pigssart ❤ you won’t believe it either
— Jean Lagman Cabatu 🍷 (@jeanniecabatu) January 8, 2018
Oh, I definitely believe it.
She is helping others embrace their true selves.
“… helped me embrace me acnes.”
So if @conangray inspired me to embrace my curly hair, its @pigssart who helped me embrace me acnes. And i say im cute bish! ✨🤘🏻
— marky (@mangolovesnone) January 10, 2018
Wait’s confidence shines through in her posts.
She’s inspired this individual to “embrace my skin because acne doesn’t make us any less beautiful.”
I’m so sick of hearing people call those with acne ugly and dirty. I’m sick of people telling us to wash our face more. I wish it was a simple fix that washing my face would do. But unfortunately genetics doesn’t always play nice and all I can do is embrace it the best I can
— Kyla (@Kylaah27) December 18, 2017
Living in a world where flawless (aka airbrushed) skin is a must to be considered “beautiful” is so restrictive. How inspiring is it that Wait bucks the traditional social media song-and-dance of “perfection” to show everyone her true beauty? I’ll double tap to that.
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