# SKINPOSITIVITY WHAT IS THE NEW INSTAGRAM SKIN NEUTRALITY TREND?

 Simran Sharma

We've seen cult beauty standards shatter under the weight of body positivity over the last decade. Skin neutrality is one of the primary e-movements, with social media serving as the voice of today and mobilising people for important causes.

Skin neutrality is a trend that aims to give skin disorders, such as acne, a more 'neutral' perspective. The movement is erasing impossible norms and allowing us to embrace a variety of skin disorders such as rosacea, cystic acne, and more.

Tired of seeing near-perfect faces and skin, and after years of being pressured to achieve the unattainable aesthetic perfection, the skin neutrality movement began as an offshoot of the body positivity movement. Skincare activists are advocating for the skin neutrality movement in order to make others feel more at ease in their own skin.

Because skin and mental health are often connected, it can be difficult to have normal interactions or conversations without thinking about your skin sometimes. Becoming skin neutral can help you focus on something else. And thinking about skin in a way that doesn't immediately compare the state of your skin to that of another.

Beauty standards are always evolving, as we have witnessed on social media over the previous decade. The beauty and skincare industry has transformed since the skin positivity movement began. When advertising their products, people want to see real individuals with real skin. People want to be represented and recognised, not just for advertisement. 

This is undoubtedly a journey and a process, but the movement's presence on social media is a significant first step.

The skin positivity movement has taken off on social media, providing a safe space for those with skin issues to accept their natural skin. Thousands upon thousands of photographs and uplifting captions of people expressing their genuine skin, including acne, acne scars, eczema, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, stretch marks, and more, can be found with the hashtag #skinpositivity.

As the movement has expanded, some celebrities and influencers have shifted their positions to skin neutrality rather than skin positivity. Kali, aka @myfacestory, is one of the people who think the movement should progress in the direction of skin neutrality.

Face and body-altering Instagram and Snapchat filters and editing apps have contributed to a misunderstanding of the ideal sense of beauty. They've twisted the definition of beauty into something that's impossible to achieve. Pores do exist. Acne exists. Normal skin is real skin.

It's important to remember that whether we have acne or not, our skin is still doing its best for us.