Beauty bloggers are often known for their flawless complexion and radiant skin.
But Melbourne’s beauty therapist Madeleine Edwards has proudly shared a makeup-free photograph of her acne for the first time.
The YouTube star, who has more than 20,000 subscribers, has decided to come clean by revealing her painful blemishes in a series of bare-faced selfies.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the 23-year-old beauty influencer admitted she edits her pictures by blurring out her pimples before uploading them onto social media.
Melbourne’s beauty therapist Madeleine Edwards (pictured) has proudly shared a makeup free photograph of her acne for the first time on Instagram
The YouTube star decided to come clean by revealing her blemishes in bare-faced selfies
The 23-year-old beauty influencer admitted she edits her pictures by blurring out her pimples before uploading them onto social media
‘I wanted to share this because I feel guilty in a way. I wanted to show you what my skin is like under the makeup and before I Facetune my pimples away,’ she said.
‘My skin doesn’t really look like it does in my selfies lately, and it’s something that affects me more than I want it to.
‘I try to be a role model. I post videos about skincare and makeup, but I still can’t post a makeup picture without editing it, because I’m just so insecure about it.
‘I love makeup, but I don’t wear it to hide or mask my insecurities, I actually don’t wear it every day. But whenever I have pimples and I’m posting a photo to Instagram, I will always blur them out of the photo.
‘I don’t really have a positive message here, other than the fact that I’m trying to learn not to be so vain, and let my appearance define me as a person and control my life.’
The young woman said she decided to flaunt her natural beauty on Instagram after feeling guilty about hiding her flaws from her followers.
‘As my following on Instagram and YouTube grows, I’m meeting followers and subscribers in real life, and I always feel guilty if I don’t look the same way in real life as I do on my Instagram,’ she said.
‘I want to be real with people. I do have acne, as much as I pretend I don’t. Instagram is for sharing your life with your viewers, and I don’t want to pretend everything is perfect all the time, because it definitely isn’t.’
The young woman said she decided to flaunt her natural beauty after feeling guilty about hiding her flaws from her followers
She was lucky to enjoy most of her teenage years without having to endure bad breakouts
She was lucky enough to enjoy most of her teenage years without having to endure bad breakouts – but just two weeks ago, her skin started to flare up.
‘I’ve had acne on and off for about five years. I never suffered through my teens, it only started after I’d finished school,’ she said.
Madeleine – who dishes out beauty advice on social media – also admitted she previously let her insecurities control the way she went about her life day to day.
It’s so disheartening for me, slapping product after product on to my face, knowing that my skin isn’t going to look like the other 98 per cent of the beauty influencers that I follow, all with beautiful, blemish-free skin
‘It’s such a shame that we let these small, surface issues and insecurities stop us from feeling comfortable in who we are, or even get in the way of passion and what we want to do,’ she said.
‘I love makeup, but it’s so disheartening for me, slapping product after product on to my face, knowing that my skin isn’t going to look like the other 98 per cent of the beauty influencers that I follow, all with beautiful, blemish-free skin.’
But she was determined to break the stigma surrounding beauty bloggers by sharing a raw image of her face covered in acne in an effort to seek comfort.
‘I was super nervous before I posted it,’ she said.
‘It’s funny, because I was seeking comfort through my followers. I was reaching out to them, hoping that people felt the same way as I did.
‘It turns out people found comfort and could relate to me, who was also looking for people to relate to.
The 23-year-old YouTube star usually dishes out her beauty advice to all her subscribers
For those struggling with insecurities, Madeleine said: ‘Don’t let your skin define you’
‘There’s nothing like scrolling through your Instagram feed and seeing photo after photo of beautiful girls with perfect skin, it makes you feel so lonely.’
Since sharing her photograph, Madeleine said she was met with positive messages.
‘I can’t believe the response the post got, it was a moment of weakness for me, like a cry for help, but people were telling me that it was inspirational and they were thanking me for posting it,’ she said.
There’s nothing like scrolling through your Instagram feed and seeing photo after photo of beautiful girls with perfect skin, it makes you feel so lonely
‘I really felt like I turned a negative thing into a positive, which is incredible. I’m so glad I made the post. I feel a lot more comfortable.
‘It’s crazy how much the words of strangers through the internet can impact you. I don’t feel like my acne is something I need to hide.
‘I know it’s there, and I know it’s ugly, but I don’t feel embarrassed about it anymore. I feel like all of the ladies who commented on the post, sharing their skin journeys and I are in this together.’
Since sharing her photograph, the young woman said she was met with positive messages
Despite coming clean about having adult acne, Madeleine admitted she will still continue to edit her blemishes out for social media
But despite coming clean about having adult acne, Madeleine admitted she will still continue to edit her blemishes out for social media.
‘In saying that, when I’m posting makeup photos on my Instagram, I will still edit the blemishes out, but not because I’m ashamed, solely because I’m a budding social media influencer and beauty guru,’ she said.
‘Unfortunately, brands aren’t going to re-post my photos if I have pimples. It’s a shame, but it’s the way the beauty industry is.
‘At least now I don’t feel deceitful, and everyone knows what I look like underneath the makeup and before the editing.’
For those struggling with insecurities, Madeleine said: ‘Don’t let your skin define you.
‘There’s nothing harder than looking in the mirror and feeling like the exterior doesn’t match the interior. It sucks. But you just have to let all of your other beautiful qualities shine through.
‘People aren’t going to choose to hang out with you because of your looks anyway, they choose to be with you because they think you’re awesome. It’s something I’m still trying to work on myself.
‘I’m not normally a ranter, but I 100 per cent realised that some of you might have skin far worse than I have, and I don’t mean to make anyone feel bad or ugly.
‘Hopefully some of you can relate, I always find comfort in knowing I’m not alone.’
To follow Madeleine Edwards’ journey, please visit her YouTube or Instagram.