Photos of an Australian influencer at Sydney airport with pimples all over her face prove that the once “embarrassing” acne treatment is now a bona fide Gen Z trend.
TikTok star Anna Paul sat down with a series of heart-shaped stickers on her face after flying from her hometown on the Gold Coast on Monday.
The 25-year-old, who launched her own beauty brand Paullie Skin after finding internet fame, didn’t shy away from the cameras as she left the airport, posing for photos and waving to fans before jumping into a waiting car .
Paul’s proud display of its acne patches, which contain active ingredients to help treat the blemish underneath, shows that the younger generation is determined to turn an angry red blemish into a “cool” style statement. .
Co-founder of Aussie brand TBH Skincare, Rachael Wilde, said it was refreshing to see high-profile people wearing a product that highlights the struggle of living with acne.
“Pimples have always been something that people feel they have to hide, so to see the biggest influencers in Australia now sporting decorative acne patches is pretty epic,” Ms Wilde told news.com.au.
“It’s definitely turning the whole narrative on its head… we don’t need to hide our flaws anymore. Can we even push it so far as to say it’s getting cute?
“Although it may seem like a small detail, having people like Anna carrying acne scars is making a huge difference in the way we think about acne and how we talk about it and deal with it in our everyday lives.”
Ms Wilde, who started TBH Skincare in 2020 after her own struggles with acne, pointed out that research shows people with acne can also develop mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.
“This is something I’ve experienced first-hand and I think it’s amazing for young people to see their favorite celebrities wearing these decorative patches because it definitely makes people feel less alone when they have to do with skin that behaves badly”, she added.
“For too long, the acne category has been super clinical, with lots of white bottles, jargon and negative self-talk. It’s great to see so many brands now challenging it and making it ‘cool’.”
Paul is a long-time fan of the trendy spot treatment, often sharing videos with her 7.2 million followers of herself with the stickers on her face, though interestingly her Paullie Skin line doesn’t (yet) sell the popular product.
Many fans have praised her for using the acne treatment in public, telling the star – who made her fortune selling explicit content on a popular adult subscription site – “it would mean the world” to see her on such a similar condition.
“You’ve given me the confidence to go out with my spots,” said one.
“So amazing to see you’re so open about your acne,” agreed another.
Other celebrities who have been spotted wearing the shirt include Hailey and Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian and Austrian musician Kid Laroi.
Most acne scars are treated with hydrocolloid or salicylic acid to help clear the cavity, while also protecting the breakout site from bacteria as well as working as a barrier to reduce the urge to squeeze.
As the product has grown in popularity, so has the number of variations, Ms Wilde explained.
“We recently launched Matildas x TBH Skincare branded acne patches as a way to promote the positive message of ’embracing our imperfections,'” she said.
“When young girls and boys see their sports icons wearing these decorative acne patches, it’s sending them the message that first, it’s 100 percent normal to have acne, and second, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
“We saw the likes of Kyra Cooney Cross and Charli Grant wearing them on TikTok, which was super exciting and showed that people are no longer afraid to hide their imperfections, but embrace them.
“Clothing our pimples is cool and this new ‘trend’ is really changing the notion that acne is nothing to be ashamed of and that it’s definitely here to stay.”
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Image Source : nypost.com