There are many examples of impossible beauty standards for women. We’re supposed to be shaped a certain way and be a certain height. We are supposed to have a certain texture of hair, a certain face shape, and have a certain type of skin. And one of the skin standards has been bugging me lately.
There are hundreds – if not thousands- of skin care and make up products designed to shrink/ minimize/ hide your pores. You should look like you don’t have any.
Full disclosure- I fell victim to this for a short time. At first I thought I had blackheads on my nose. I don’t know why since I didn’t have them anywhere else. Once I realized that I was trying to remove pores, which is of course impossible, I tried several products that were supposed to shrink these offending holes in my face. They didn’t work. Then I looked at products that were supposed to cover them up. The amount of product required make me look like a clown. So I had to wave the white flag.
Only then did I really think about how stupid this idea really is. I am to aspire to look like I’m made of plastic?
Fun fact- All mammals have pores. Birds have pores. Reptiles have pores. Fish have pores. Outside of sponges and very small life forms like some bacteria, all living, breathing things have pores. But as a human woman, I’m not supposed to have them?
This is stupid. Really, really stupid. I’m glad that I figured that out eventually and I feel sad for all the people out there who haven’t. It’s OK to look like a human being, because- fun fact- that’s what you are!