As we (okay, really it’s just me) count down the days until the 40th anniversary of National Jen Day, I’m looking for all the reasons why 40 is fabulous. Yesterday, I posted photos of some incredibly gorgeous women who are 40+. Today, to balance all that beauty and to remind us all how fake Hollywood is, I hereby present before and after photos of various actresses of varying ages:
Drew Barrymore AFTER:
Drew Barrymore BEFORE:
Eva Longoria AFTER:
Eva Longoria BEFORE:
Goldie Hawn AFTER:
Goldie Hawn BEFORE:
Faith Hill AFTER:
Faith Hill BEFORE:
Halle Berry:
Jennifer Lopez:
Penelope Cruz:
I want to be clear that I’m not criticizing any of these women in any way. It’s just that, without all the Cover Girl, Lancome, and Revlon troweled on, these ladies look pretty much just like the rest of us. Normal. You’d see them at the park or in the grocery store and you might or might not notice them if they weren’t famous.
Now imagine this in reverse: With the right makeup, hair styling, and other special effects, any one of us could look like a Hollywood star. Of course, it might take more effort for some of us than it might for Halle Berry or Faith Hill, but we’d all get there … eventually. Just look at those photos above if you have any doubts.
I will freely admit that I have had terrible body image issues pretty much my entire adult life. It hasn’t mattered if I was thin or heavy — I can always find flaws with myself. So my goal for this next year is to just give myself a break. I’m going to work toward being the healthiest Jen I can be and not be so damn critical of myself. It’s not going to be easy to undo two decades of mind games, but I’m going to try.
Tell me what you think: Are we all Hollywood actresses in disguise?
I think we all have potential to be beautiful on the outside. It’s more important, however, that we let the beauty on the inside shine through. I think you’ve got that bit covered.
Body image has always been my greatest struggle as well, and if I could magically gift anything to my daughters, it would be a positive body image. I’d like a refund on all the time I’ve spent being self-critical over the years. Especially now when I look back at a picture of a time where I clearly remember feeling “ugly” or “fat” and realize that I was skinny as a rail and damn cute to boot. Damn it.
And, yes, I absolutely think we’re all Hollywood beautiful. We just need stylists, makeup artists, and trainers on staff.
I know it is comletely shallow but I am glad to see some of these women without make up.
Not that this is meaningful to the discussion in any way, but I’ve seen Drew Barrymore walking around the streets of NYC on a Saturday afternoon and she looked better than the before picture, at least to me!
Goldie looks awful in the before AND after. Eva looks like she has a hint of a mustache in the before.
We’d all look glamorous if we had hair and makeup artists, personal trainers, professional chefs, personal shoppers, etc.
You’re right. I think a lot of us women are too hard on ourselves. We should realize that these famous women, they pay big bucks to make sure they look all glammed up. If we had a team of people helping us out, we all could look like that too.
But we should all learn to love ourselves, with or without a team of people.
Hold me. I am scared. That shot of Goldie Hawn FREAKED me right out.
I’m googling images of Isabella Rosselini to clear my head. The French always look better with or without the make up.
Hold me. I am scared. That shot of Goldie Hawn FREAKED me right out.
I’m googling images of Isabella Rosselini to clear my head. The Italian always look better with or without the make up. Sorry.
Being in your 40′s is an amazing journey. Mine pretty muched sucked, but I learned SO MUCH about self-acceptance.
As a former crunchy-granola hippie, I also learned to accept that I really do look better with a little bit of hair dye and makeup. I think it’s easier to accept aging when your job and lifestyle don’t require you to look glamourous every time you step out the front door.
I’m trying to accept the softening jaw, laugh lines and creased forehead that seem to have crept up in my 46th year. Sigh.
See my blogger profile photo?
I liked the picture. It was taken a year ago at a party at katydidnot’s house.
Then my friend Trish took the perfectly good photo and photoshopped a green thing out of my teeth. A green thing I hadn’t noticed. That counts as a Hollywood-style makeover, right?
Of course we are. Well, maybe not the ACTRESS part, because I can’t act my way out of a paper bag, but I guarantee – with a good stylist and the talent behind making those faces look like those “AFTER” pictures…
Now, the question is – can we handle the beauty of who we are WITHOUT the extra help? Um…me? Not so much.
Awesome post Jen, and I think that’s a fabulous goal for ALL of us.
well, it’s their job. i guess we kind of made them that way since we all fall for it. not sure that is completely a bad thing. i love t.v./movies, etc. i love looking at the celebs, but i try to remember that looking that way is a huge part of their job and they have a zillion people helping them do it…..
Perhaps I am the only one, but I thought some of those gals looked darned cute before the glamming.
I agree with the Prof— Faith Hill is a doll, before and after.
I think some of those photos have been doctored to make those ladies look bad – in any case, I agree that the professional treatment and good lighting would do us all good.
I do look like a famous actress when I’m all dolled up. With the right make-up, clothes, and lighting, I’m the spitting image of Dame Edna. Really.
I say yes. Normally, I have my normal face on but when I glam it up. Look out and watch me stop traffic.
The Goldie Hawn before was a little much for me upon waking.
This would be why I wear makeup most of time–though strangely enough I am more okay with going to the store, etc. without it than I was in my 20′s. And my before was certainly more attractive then!
Wow – those photos were a real eye opener! Makes me feel better when I think about how I look each morning and head out the door.
I love your new attitude!
To tell you truth, I was kinda shocked by those pictures. Yeah, they’re all just regulary ugly people without the makeup, hair, and lights. It actually makes me happy.
Thanks.
-FringeGirl
In my own twisted way, this explains why I have never worn make-up. I can imagine that with the briefest application of some lippy and bit of mascare, I would look like Angelina Jolie. I have just never had the inclination to try it and see.
I like the down to earth, normalcy. Thank you for this post and the photos. Good reminder that we’re all just human. Cut yourself some slack, you deserve it