Yeah, yeah, we've heard it before; Photoshop is evil. Photoshop sets us up to hate ourselves. Photoshop creates the illusion that models are perfect while the rest of us are fat, imperfect, trolls.
We've also seen those shocking before and after shots; Kim Kardashian modeling lingerie as she
really looks, KK as she ultimately appears in the ad, Madonna posing in Dolce & Gabbana as her 50-something year-old self, Madonna looking like it's still 1984 in the finished product.
READ:This Week's Photoshop Fail: Diane Keaton's Latest L'Oreal Commercial
Slamming retouching is nothing new. But, till now, we've only seen the results and SODH in reply. "How can they
do that? It's so dishonest!" we all wonder, incredulous. One thing we've not stopped to consider is how those who are
being retouched feels.
Sure, it's probably a kick to see yourself look wrinkle, sag, stray hair, blemish and back fat-free but does the change -- albeit temporary -- mess with your psyche?
Recently the folks at Buzz Feed ran a little experiment to find out. They asked four "real" women to allow themselves to be transformed into cover models for a day -- undergoing the requisite hair, makeup, professional styling, etc.
Then the resulting photographs were given the typical Photoshop treatment that any series of heading-for-a-magazine photos receive. What happens next is amazing but best left to the viewer to experience without prejudice.
WATCH: The Evils of Photoshop Made Evident in a 37-Second Must-Watch Clip
Let's just say that while the results are
pretty, the aftermath is anything but.