Skin
Natural vs. Media
Imperfections
Characteristics such as tattoos, piercings (other than single ear piercings), cellulite, blemishes, stretch marks, and discolored skin are rarely depicted, although almost all of these things are completely natural. Roughly 80% of people have stretch marks, yet almost no models are shown sporting such flaws, creating a culture of shame around imperfect skin.
Color
Media portrayal of skin colors and types is extremely limited. Although models of other races have begun being shown more in media, "European Americans are still the most common models in the advertisements in fashion magazines" (Roedl 171).
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Media advertising has continuously attempted to alter the color of one's skin, defining it as either too dark or too light (check out 3 and 4). Such inconsistencies of what 'natural' beauty looks like in media force women to second-guess their natural skin color, often subjecting themselves to expensive, painful, and possibly dangerous procedures (like tanning) so they can have that 'natural' glow or light skin look.