Aging is a privilege.
But does it age gracefully? It can become an expensive feat that is often reserved for privilege.
That’s exactly why Gwyneth Paltrow, the standard indifferent goop’s Goddess herself, made a double take when she shared a fundamentally raw snapshot of herself today with her 9.2 million Instagram followers.
The collection of images offers a glimpse into Paltrow’s whirlwind schedule during New York Fashion Week. Meanwhile, she soft-launched new quiet luxury fashion brand, Gwyn.
But what stopped us halfway through was the natural Photoshop-free skin texture of a-lister.
Crow’s feet, wrinkled forehead, and 11 visible people? 52 years old? yeah yeah!
This response should not be innovative, but given the many cosmetic procedures available to celebrities and mere humans, let alone the prevalence of digital augmentation tools like FaceTune, it was rather surprising to see unfiltered snapshots of gorgeous women looking at her age.
Academy Award-winning fans shared their delight in the comments, with one user saying, “The first photo is very refreshing and authentic.”
“Now, I’m very interested in these frowned, ordinary women’s face lines,” writes the second time. “I don’t knock on the injection, but it’s a mood to see the face of a grown woman (as Zel of an aging generation) with the gravity that has acquired.”
“She has won a face. Her face is beautiful,” shouted another.
And the fourth said, “I agree! I hope more celebrities will find us tired of (sic) curated images. The real sale sells for me.”
Does this unexpected authenticity indicate the shift between the mothers of two entrepreneurs? That’s not necessarily the case.
In a 2023 discussion with Glamour about Botox and Filler, Palto revealed what it means to be approaching middle-aged in Hollywood.
“I want to age as beautifully as possible,” she said. “I’m not afraid of wrinkles, I’m not afraid of what happens to aging. It’s not really.”
And while we appreciate this unexpected, closed-minded menopause woman, the right menopause woman behind the Goop’s fortified Empire, it is unclear whether it will be converted into sales.
That said, if someone could turn thin lines and wrinkles into trends, it would be Gwyneth.
In the meantime, we are waiting to see what else unfolds.