Retouching, Body Image and The Photoshop Diet: When Playboy Models Aren’t Even Enough

Obviously, I can’t/won’t show the photos on this blog space, but for those of you who are interested in the little intricate details of photoshopping and how particular these editors are when they craft images that appeal to our understandings of beauty? I present you with this lovely little series of photos that show requests as detailed as “remove stretch marks from breast,” “remove pubic hair stubble,” “soften nipples” and – strangely enough – “slim belly.”

The photos contained within this link are not safe for work environments.

Perhaps it will show that society critiques every woman to an obviously unnatural standard – soften nipples? – and that’ll help us remember that this is why we shouldn’t aim to achieve society’s standard of beauty.