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With their cinched waists, symmetrical features, and perfect hair, it can be hard to believe that celebrities ever suffer from the same cosmetic ailments as us.
But experts have told DailyMail.com that there’s one problem that affects many more famous faces than we think: bad pimples.
Acne, which affects about 50 million Americans, is widespread in Hollywood, dermatologists say, due to a lifestyle that is bad for skin health—namely, little sleep and eating restrictive diets.
However, many of our favorite stars have a team of makeup artists and cosmetics experts on hand to ensure those angry red pimples stay hidden.
One secret acne sufferer is actor Chris Pine, who recently revealed that his bad skin cost him the lead role in the popular teen drama The OC.
Now, Dr. Christopher Chu, an Austin, Texas, dermatologist who runs Pure Dermatology, and other skin care experts have revealed the celebrities who have been battling pimples their entire lives, even though you never knew it.
Chris Pine, 43, pictured here in his early 20s, was rejected from a major role in The OC because of his terrible acne, the book reveals.
Dr. Chu said acne is “quite common” among public people.
She added: “Stars are probably getting expensive treatments to calm their skin as soon as breakouts appear, or they’re just doing a great job of covering up with filters or makeup.”
While some of the stars on the list have recently become more open about their skin issues, many rarely appear with bare skin and no products to cover up angry spots.
Dr. Chu adds that some celebrities have visible scars from old pimples, which are easier to cover than new ones.
Dr. Margarita Lolis, a dermatologist at Skin Laser and Surgery Specialists in New Jersey, added: “Lack of sleep, eating habits, stress, changes in weather and humidity, and wearing too much makeup can clog pores. and cause acne.
‘For celebrities, there are several camera and video techniques that can be used to conceal acne or other skin blemishes. Soft lighting reduces shadows, while angle and framing can also hide imperfections.’
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz, now 51, was photographed with pimples on her face when she was 20 and still has some of the scars today. She only opened up about it when she was 40 and said her skin was “terrible.”
Cameron Diaz is famous for her perfect complexion in movies like The Holiday and Charlie’s Angles.
But the star, now 51, secretly battled the spots that broke out all over her skin for years, but hid them with makeup.
“It was embarrassing,” she wrote in her book The Body Book. “He had terrible skin.”
The problem subsided later in life, but she admitted that it had not “gone away completely.”
‘Looking back, I realize that I hadn’t needed those prescription medications, those bottles of potions and creams… I hadn’t needed to be angry with my skin or feel bad about myself. I just needed to listen to my body.’
Dr. Chu highlighted the scars on Diaz’s skin from previous pimples, which can be seen in more recent photographs.
Rihanna
Rihanna has scars on her face and pimples that are hidden under makeup, Dr. Chu said. The marks are visible here on the sides of her cheeks.
Those who look at Rihanna’s album covers may have assumed that the singer has enviably perfect skin.
However, if we look a little closer at the photos of the now 36-year-old man, a different picture begins to emerge.
Dr. Chu said Rihanna had marks on her face due to acne, which are revealed in the photos above as small bumps under her foundation.
Rihanna opened up about her skin struggles in 2020 amid the launch of her Fenty skincare brand to help people with acne.
She said at the time: “It was a difficult journey to recover.” [to clear skin].’
Lorde
Images of Lorde have been previously edited to cover her skin (above), although the singer has urged people not to do so (bottom image). She shared these two snapshots in 2018.
Those who saw Lorde on screen may have been left with the perception that she has soft, textureless skin.
But the singer, 27, has since revealed that is not the case, and even asked photo editors to stop altering her images.
Speaking about her battle with her skin in 2018, she posted a photo of herself at a concert compared to one posted on screens.
“Actually, acne sucks,” he said.
‘You know what also sucks? When you’ve had acne for years and years and years… and people still say, “You know what worked for me? It’s hydrating!”
Kendall Jenner
Kendall Jenner reportedly struggled with severe acne early in her career, leading photo editors to often blur her skin to hide blemishes. She is shown above with marks on her skin due to acne.
Kendall Jenner, 28, is a former Victoria’s Secret model known for her flawless appearance.
But sources say that early in her career she was battling “terrible” acne that often made photo shoots a challenge.
Cassandra Brankson, a former model who works with dermatologists, said in a previous interview that photo editors used to blur images of her skin to hide blemishes.
More recently, Kendall opened up about the acne she struggled with in her youth, after partnering with a brand that sells acne-fighting medications.
She previously said: “I have hormonal acne and I’ll have little breakouts when I’m around my period and stuff like that.”
Dr. Lolis said Kendall Jenner was among those who suffered from acne and had recently expressed her struggle.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has clear scars on his cheeks due to acne, Dr. Chu said. He appears in the photo above early in his career in 2005 (left) and 2004.
Ronaldo is not only one of the most famous soccer players, but he is also a budding wellness influencer who recently launched a fitness and nutrition app.
But images of the star taken between her teens and 20s show she once suffered from acne.
Painful-looking blemishes can be seen beneath his cheekbones.
Dr. Chu also said that Ronaldo clearly had scars on his face, even today, from a battle with acne in his youth.
Ronaldo previously said he adopted a healthy lifestyle to look younger, but did not mention any role acne may have played.
He has not commented publicly on his struggle with the disease.