Latest news with #Airbrush
Refinery29
4 days ago
- Health
- Refinery29
The Complexity Of Ageing During The Airbrush Era
Photo: courtesy of Soaliha Iqbal. Snapchat and Instagram were my main social media platforms growing up in the 2010s. Most photos from my teen years are filtered or edited in some way, and as I scroll through them, it's been really disconcerting to see how clear my skin was, how small my nose was, how big my eyes were — but were they? Right now, I'm 26, nearly 27 (which my 18-year-old sister tells me is basically 30). My skin isn't as resilient as it used to be, and I'm feeling the pressure to use retinol to banish any fine lines (so far, I'm successfully resisting — but only just). I've gone up two, sometimes three dress sizes in recent years, my eyelashes are not what they used to be and while I have no evidence of it, I'm convinced my lips have gotten smaller. 'Is it a lack of collagen production as I age?', the skincare-pilled part of me asks. The piece of me that knows this is a damaging line of thought for someone in their mid-twenties throws her phone into the bin. I know that certain brands want me to feel insecure, that this dread and anxiety in my chest powers a multi-billion dollar beauty industry that needs me to run into its arms and ask it to fix me. I know this in my head, yet I can't stop my hands from picking up my phone and scrolling through my Instagram photos from my high school and uni days. Despite my efforts, I end up comparing myself to when my skin was smooth and my lips were fuller and I didn't have the same lines around my eyes. I think back to the days when I was pretty, goddamn it. Why have I changed so much? Here's the thing, though: that photo with me throwing up peace signs? I wasn't wearing any makeup that day. I added eyeshadow, lipstick and long lashes via the Airbrush app. And don't forget the features where I could smooth my skin and enlarge my eyes. In the Krispy Kreme photo, I made my eyes bigger, my nose smaller, my face slimmer and edited out my eyebags and any of what I considered "skin imperfections". In fact, almost every photo I posted of myself between the years of 2016 and 2020 are heavily edited in some way. As I go through ' second puberty ' and feel my body and face mature to that of a woman in her late twenties, the temptation to compare myself to the 'old me' is becoming harder to resist. This self-flagellation is a feeling I'm sure many women are familiar with, but the dysphoria is particularly crippling because every photograph of myself from this era is a lie. They are genuinely not a reflection of what I look like. These representations of me are not real, and the result is having unrealistic standards of my own face caused by… my own face? And so, in some ways, I have become my own tormenter. ' The result is having unrealistic standards of my own face caused by… my own face? ' When I was in school, 'unrealistic beauty standards' were mostly associated with magazines and digital publications airbrushing their models — crucially, it was a standard others perpetuated, so it really didn't occur to me that my own use of filters would cause me psychic damage in the future. Now, post- TikTok and in a world where filters are ubiquitous and increasingly hard to spot, we need to be talking about the long term effects of using them — namely, that after a while, you might actually forget what you used to look like. And if you can't remember what's 'normal' for your face, accepting it in its current, older form is an uphill battle, made all the harder by this new age of skincare where 10-year-olds are making Drunk Elephant skincare smoothies and cosmetic procedures are no longer a luxury associated with celebrities, but an accessible (and encouraged) way for women of all backgrounds to 'maintain their youth'. ' They've been brainwashed not just by the beauty industry, but by the normalisation of editing your photos, which we were the first generation to do. ' In fact, warped perceptions of aging are already rife online — just look up any video of a woman aged 27 to 30 years old who isn't wearing makeup. Or, if you want to be particularly upset, look at the comments on this specific video from last year. The comments are tragic, and to me, they're evidence that we've failed our little sisters who have no idea what 'normal' aging looks like because they've been brainwashed not just by the beauty industry, but by the normalisation of editing your photos, which we were the first generation to do.
Emirates Woman
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Emirates Woman
22 of the best activewear buys from Alo Yoga's Aloversary Sale
Fashion by Camille Macawili 20 mins ago The celebration of all things Alo Yoga have begun and you don't want to miss out on this epic sale: Aloversary Sale. From loungewear to activewear, matching sets to onesies, enjoy 30% off on everything in-stores and online – for both women and men. Adored by the likes of Kendall Jenner, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Candice Swanepoel, and more, Alo Yoga is one of the activewear brands leading the game in retail. Whether you're stocking up on essentials such as the Airlift, Airbrush, Alosoft, Accolade pieces or buying a full outfit to get you started on your newfound hobby, the sale event is the perfect opportunity to test out bestsellers and newly-dropped colourways. What is the Alo Yoga 'Aloversary' Sale? The Los Angeles-based activewear and street brand founded in 2007 by Danny Harris & Marco DeGeorge that elevates your wellness practice through a line of comfortable and contemporary pieces that are not just for the mat. The Aloversary Sale is an annual five-day shopping sale event – and one of the best so far. Fans of the brand can expect to shop and save 30% off across all categories. Here, we've scoured the Alo Yoga inventory to check on the finds you should be adding to your cart and checkout now before your size runs out. Hurry as the sale ends tonight! Scroll through the gallery below for 22 of the best Alo Yoga 'Aloversary' Sale finds: – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Instagram @kendalljenner
Telegraph
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Leggings have become ridiculously expensive – here's where to find a pair under £40
Until the early Noughties, leggings were generally reserved for one of two activities: working out or slobbing out. Gym bunnies would slip their honed pins into a pair from a sportswear megabrand like Nike or Adidas, while those of us who preferred lifting crisps to weights would laze around in some decades-old pair, so worn that the label was practically indiscernible – though I seem to remember mine were from BHS. Then, unsurprisingly, there wasn't much choice; leggings were a sort of necessary evil, something to be purchased once or twice and then worn privately, hundreds of times over. Today, thanks to the athleisurewear revolution (and one Embarking on the search for a replacement for my bobbled, see-through leggings, I soon realised I would have to increase my £30 budget. For example, the bestselling Airbrush leggings from Alo Yoga will set you back just shy of £100 – a price that many customers are willing to pay. 'Leggings are considered a wardrobe staple, holding the same weight as If the athleisure uniform – 'They're brilliantly made, with great structure,' says Sinead McKeefry, the presenter's stylist – and owner of several pairs of Spanx leggings. Kiana Miree, Spanx's chief merchandising officer, adds, 'They have no centre front seams, eliminating camel toe.' This is an important consideration when wearing leggings in place of trousers, trust me. Saint+Sofia's Chelsea leggings, adorned with four gold buttons, can also be worn in lieu of trousers. The brand's founder, Dessi Bell, says she has seen a twentyfold increase in demand for the leggings, year on year. If your style skews more balletic than horsey, consider stirrup leggings – a style recently sported by Katie Holmes, who teamed hers with heels and a cropped jacket. 'Customer searches for 'black leggings' have increased by 132 percent in the last month, while searches for 'stirrup leggings' increased by 122 percent in the same period,' says Kay Barron, fashion director at Net-a-Porter. There, you can find leggings for both sport and leisure, including a pair by The Row, for £640. LTK says this pair was a bestseller last month, proving that there is a market for very expensive leggings. Comparatively, £80 for a pair seems like a bargain, but in reality, it's still a significant expense for most of us mere mortals. The question is, is it worth it? 'When you invest in Lululemon, you benefit from 25 years of proprietary fabric innovation and technical construction,' says Sarah Clark, senior vice president at Lululemon EMEA. Indeed, the brand works closely with athletes when creating products. The secret sauce works. If you've left the house today, you've probably seen at least 10 pairs of Lululemon's 'Align pants', which were first created in 2015 for yoga wear, but have since been reappropriated by many for leisure activities. 'In 2023, globally, we sold one pair every four seconds,' says Clark. The bestselling leggings are made from the brand's Nulu fabric, which, in addition to wicking away sweat and boasting four-way stretch, is insanely soft; if you don't believe me, go into one of their shops and touch a pair. Alexandra Vanthournout-Crickmore, founder of activewear boutique, Fashercise, extolls the virtues of Varley's Move leggings. 'We ask a lot from our leggings,' she says, when I ask her about the £78 price tag. 'We want them not to be see-through when doing downward dog, we want them not to smell during HIIT workouts, we want them to stay in place when running a 10k, we want the compression to help with recovery…. If that's what you're after, rather than just a fashion accessory, then the higher price tag really is worth the investment.' Five pairs of quality leggings under £40 Go Move Leggings £27.50, Marks & Spencer has sold more than one million pairs of these cult leggings, which have 360-degree stretch, moisture-wicking, quick-drying fabric, and pockets for your valuables and phone. 'We've been blown away by the response,' says Lisa Illis, the brand's head of womenswear design. DryMove Leggings £18.99, I own several pairs of H&M's DryMove leggings, so it's only fair I share the secret. They're affordable and do what they promise: keeping shape and wicking away moisture on even the sweatiest of runs. I also love the handy pockets. AIRism Leggings £24.90, A little birdie (who happens to be both stylish and sporty) tells me that this pair is an excellent dupe for Sweaty Betty leggings (which I also really rate). Wear the natural shade as part of a tonal outfit – and avoid coffee/red wine. Ultimate Leggings £39.99, According to influencer marketing platform LTK, searches for 'brown leggings' peaked by 200 percent last week. These, from Adanola, not only fit the bill, but they also have a flattering, high waist and are designed without a front seam – no camel toes here. Stormwear Walking Leggings £35, If, like me, you enjoy a brisk winter walk, you'll know that regular gym leggings don't really cut it. A new discovery of mine, these Marks & Spencer leggings are designed specifically for cold, rainy weather, locking in heat while repelling rain.
