Model launches #FreeThePimple campaign to encourage people to share photos of their spots

Ciara Sheppard
·Contributor Yahoo Style UK
The Britain’s Next Top Model finalist wants to break taboos around acne. [Photo: Instagram]
The Britain’s Next Top Model finalist wants to break taboos around acne. [Photo: Instagram]

Struggling with body image issues is one thing, but when the ‘problem’ is right there on your face, it can be truly confidence-destroying.

That’s why acne-sufferer Louisa Northcote started the #FreeThePimple movement.

The fashion buying student and ‘Britain’s Next Top Model’ finalist has suffered with acne for years and started the movement as an online community for enduring the emotional and physical affects of acne.

By sharing un-retouched photos of acne online, under the hashtag #FreeThePimple, Northcote wants to break taboos around acne.

Here is a Monday motivation for me and anyone else who suffers with acne. Here are pictures I took last night and the next images are my before images – this was before I started going to @sknclinics I have had 6 chemical peel sessions and 2 laser sessions. I am having my next laser session next week! It is a journey and I may not be at my destination of clear skin but I’m getting there. If u have acne please remember u r still beautiful 🙏🏻❤️ #freethepimple

A post shared by Louisa Northcote (@lounorthcote) on Apr 23, 2018 at 4:50am PDT

“Body positivity is a powerful movement which has led to industry-wide embrace of models of all different body types,” Northcote told i-D.

“It has seen an embrace of people with stretch marks, an embrace of female nipples, an embrace of seeing women with their periods, and now it’s time to embrace your skin, which is why I have created #freethepimple — a movement that I hope will empower others to embrace the skin they’re in.”

Since launching, acne-sufferers far and wide have been sharing their un-filtered photos.

Another one I just HAD to repost. @belle_lucia is a famous model with 1 million Instagram followers and is so beautiful. I admire her so much for posting this picture showing she used to suffer with acne and is not perfect as no one is perfect. Bad skin or good skin she is still beautiful 🙏🏻😘❤ #freethepimple #repost No one is perfect – Left is me as a teenager. I struggled with acne for many years as a young girl, not only was it isolated to just my face but it affected my chest and back. This severely affected my self esteem and I had to stop modelling as a result. I’m posting this to hopefully help those out there suffering with acne or anyone worrying about the way they look because when I was young I wish someone would have told me that your looks don’t define you and even the “models” you see on advertisements aren’t perfect. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ For anyone wondering – I cured my acne with Roaccutane, many years ago, it was really harsh on my body but it was the only thing that worked, also anyone wondering about scarring – I’m really lucky I never scared ❤️ (got to thank mum for stopping me from picking)

A post shared by Louisa Northcote (@lounorthcote) on Jan 12, 2018 at 5:50am PST

This makes me so disheartened to see. I don’t want my partner to see me like this when he wakes up to me while he’s here 😵 I have a method for getting rid of scars with @banishacnescars but how do you keep the actives away?! Your skin is a major organ, and taking care of it requires a lot of time and care; having acne on it feels like having cysts on your viscera that requires trial and error to remedy unless it’s serious and a doctor is required 😵 #personal #acnescars #acnejourney #activeacne #hormonalacne #cysticacne #dietacne #mentalhealth #acnehealing #asianacne #hyperpigmentation #healing #skinhealing #nomakeup #natural #freethepimple #skincare #skinhealth #skinhealing #health

A post shared by Kirs M (@ohitsacne) on Jun 24, 2018 at 7:37am PDT

🌷 I was feeling good despite the acne 😊 . . . . . . . . #acne #acnegirl #acnescars #blemishes #acnejourney #acnediary #acneawarenessmonth #freethepimple #louisereeby #mypaleskin

A post shared by Acne Blog (@louisereeby) on Jun 19, 2018 at 11:36am PDT

Skin update ✨ • I posted this on my story but I wanted to post it here as well. My skin has been on a seemingly uphill journey for the past couple months. Not the most smooth journey, but still going uphill! 🧗🏻‍♀️ • I have a lot of acne marks right now, but very few pimples. The ones I’ve been getting have been smaller and less inflamed. I’ve noticed my scars are fading as well with the weekly/bi-weekly chemical exfoliation I’ve been doing. • I’ve been trying hard not to pick/pop anything that comes up on my face unless it’s a whitehead (which are safer to pop as long as it’s not red/painful/inflamed) that won’t go away. I’ve also been trying to be more gentle in general with the ways I apply my products. • I feel really good about where my skin is right now. I feel optimistic that I’m heading in the right direction with all of the things I’ve been doing 😊 • Thank you for all of your support and for following my journey 💕 • Routine ✨ Cleanser: @oneloveorganics Easy Does It (with Vanicream’s Gentle Cleanser as a makeup remover first at night). Toner: @pixibeauty Rose Tonic morning and night. A few times a week (at night) I use the Glow Tonic first, and use the Rose Tonic on top as an essence. Serum: @madhippieskinproducts Vitamin C Serum on alternating days that I use the Glow Tonic or in the morning. I basically just never use it at the same time I use exfoliating products. Moisturizer: @auracacia Rosehip oil. One-two pumps is all I need. Rubbed between hands and pressed gently into the skin. This has helped a ton with my skins hydration and hyper-pigmentation. Does not clog my pores. Sunscreen: @drunkelephant Umbra Sheer (Zinc Oxide 20%). Been testing it out for a while and so far I like it! Stay tuned for a more in depth review! ••• #skincareblogger #acne #acnejourney #skincare #adultacne #freethepimple #acneawarenessmonth #beautyblogger #crueltyfree #update #routine #nofilter #iwokeuplikethis #real #bareitall #lovetheskinyourein #drunkelephant #pixibypetra #madhippie

A post shared by Rachel Spring (@spriiingtime) on Jun 17, 2018 at 6:41pm PDT

Northcote is currently undergoing chemical peel sessions and laser sessions to reduce the appearance of her acne.

There’s tons of advice out there about how to treat acne, but above all remember to love

Speaking about her growing movement, she wrote: “When I first decided to put a makeup free selfie exposing my acne and talking about it on social media and using the #freethepimple never did I think this would happen.

“Thank u to everyone for ur love and support and to all the people who message me on the daily and for all the other acne sufferers out there.

“If I can be a voice for us all that makes me so happy.”

Suffer with acne? There’s tons of advice out there about what causes it and how to prevent it.

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