The upsetting video that shows what it really feels like to have acne

It’s happened to us all. One morning, you wake up, ready to face the day. . . only to see you have a glaring red zit that cannot be covered up with even the heaviest of concealer. For those who have acne, the occasional annoying zit would be a blessing. Instead, acne sufferers have to deal with a multitude of blemishes on their face that can be incredibly embarrassing and deal a massive blow to their self-esteem. The problem can feel never-ending.

That’s why we love YouTube beauty vlogger Em Ford, known online as My Pale Skin, who decided to bravely document her struggles with acne to show the world just how difficult living with this condition can be. Yesterday, Em posted a video called “YOU LOOK DISGUSTING” chronicling her social media experiment in which for the past three months she posted images of herself without any makeup. During that short time, over 100,000 people commented on her face. Em used the video to showcase just how people talk about those with acne. The comments she highlights are entirely cruel.

“Over the past few months, I’ve received thousands of messages from people all over the world who suffer or have suffered from acne, an insecurity, or [self-confidence] issues,” Em wrote in the caption of her video.

The video also shows Em’s extensive routine to hide her blemishes and put on makeup in the morning. “I wanted to create a film that showed how social media can set unrealistic expectations on both women and men,” she continued in the caption.

She then displays her fully made-up face with positive comments, such as “you look beautiful” and “I love your makeup.” As Em begins to smile again, the comments quickly turn, this time attacking her made-up face. “You wear too much makeup,” one commenter writes. “This is why I have trust issues,” another writes.

The comments quickly turn hateful, cruel, and personal. “Trust no f**king b*tch with makeup,” one commenter writes.

“One challenge many face today, is that as a society, we’re so used to seeing false images of perfection, and comparing ourselves to unrealistic beauty standards that [it] can be hard to remember the most important thing,” Em writes in the caption. “You ARE beautiful.”

This video is absolutely gorgeous and so, so important. It not only highlights the issue of acne and self-esteem, but beauty standards that women face in the world today: go makeup-less, and you could be called “disgusting”; put on makeup, and you could be told that you wear too much.

“You are beautiful,” Em writes in the video. “Don’t let anyone tell you differently. Not even yourself.”

We so, so agree with her message. Thank you, Em, for putting yourself out there to make such an important point that so many people all over the world can relate to. And thank you for highlighting what it feels like to have acne, so many of us can relate.

You are beautiful and perfect, just the way you are. Watch the entire video below and be prepared to be blown away.

Related reading: