This post is asking you to be kind. I’m sure everyone and their aunty is aware of the whole Gwyneth Paltrow SPF saga by now. For those of you unaware, there was a video Gwyneth Paltrow did for Vogue which is on YouTube of her everyday skincare and wellness routine. In the video Gwyneth said she wasn’t a head-to-toe slaver when using SPF, instead she just delicately placed SPF on the tops of her cheeks and nose.
This has led to an onslaught of abuse against her for simply not applying enough SPF in her routine (and talking about only using ‘clean’ products in her routine). I personally do not feel she applied enough SPF, and I can see the reason why people are so concerned about this – being that she has a large following and others could apply their SPF in the same way she does. You should always apply enough SPF to protect your skin and that’s that.
What I’m not so happy about is the people attacking her looks as a way to prove a point about her lack of sunscreen usage. I am seeing comments, blog posts and other forms of media criticising her appearance from her ‘sun damaged skin’ and the fact she has ‘Botox in her face’ which isn’t clean. Sorry, but how bitchy do you want to be? And second of all, the minute you criticise how another person looks you lose the argument in my eyes.
You can make your point without tearing down the way someone else looks. You can also make your point in a friendly constructive manner, and it’s more likely to be heard by the person.
Criticising other people’s looks is why there is now a huge number of people who feel self-critical about themselves, and that is not ok.
If she doesn’t want to use SPF properly, let her. It’s her body. If you’re angry, take it up with Vogue who published the video without a message saying they don’t condone SPF usage in that way. It was her personal routine and she’s entitled to use (or not use) what she likes. And let’s not forget, unless you’ve been applying SPF every day since you was a baby (which, be honest, no one has), who are you to judge?
So please, do not call someone’s looks into question. It’s not nice. Lift each other up, educate each other, be kind.
