At Amaliah we are loving new makeup artist @emeraldbeauty for boldly defying beauty standards and conventions, with a simple but transformative action. Kadeeja Khan, a UK based makeup blogger, started posting her makeup videos on Instagram since July 2017, but has caused a mini electric ripple across the world of MUA’s after posting raw images and videos revealing a natural face, with a little acne. Even though, this isn’t groundbreaking news, nor is it something we should even be giving much attention to, in 2018 when virtually new standards for beauty are being reshaped and carefully re-carved daily. However, at Amaliah,  we value women who can boldly stand in the face of trolls and bare their authentic ‘beautiful’,  unapologetically, in pursuit of a more accepting world. Providing an alternative, a refreshing diversity of the types of skin young women are exposed to daily, online. It gets a little boring, slash unnerving scrolling through our feeds, seeing faces that look uncannily the same, who may have overused the app ‘Face Tune’, in order to ensure we are all ‘oggling’ in awe of their architecturally perfect faces.

It’s refreshing to see someone in the public eye, actually embody the catchphrase “love the skin you’re in,” authentically for once. Loving your skin doesn’t necessarily mean always being super happy with it, but allowing layers of acceptance to seep into your mind, and slowly but surely pour into your mirror reflection.

If we are exposed to more images of women revealing their skin, in all their wonderful textures, perhaps it would normalise variations in tones, and colours and allow us to internalise this new variety, leading to acceptance.

We are taught that bad skin, is not a desired trait in women, across the board. Where does that come from? What is the root cause compelling us all to want, no, NEED to look flawless, sans birthmarks too? However, being inundated with products used to cover us up, is a frustrating notion when the chemicals used to give the product scent and colouring to make us look ‘perfect’ or as close to it as we can get, are the very same substances that contribute to one of the single most effective causes of long-term damage and acne. It is the age-old Chicken and Egg debate.

Either way, we think Kadeeja Khan, is beautiful and bold,  for holding true to herself in the face of online harassment and going bare, watch her video on why she stopped using photoshop on Instagram.

Go girl!