Sadly, those who were brave enough to come forward with their mental health struggles were frequently stigmatized by society at large. As a result of this intense, unwarranted judgment, many individuals felt there was no choice but to keep their disorders a secret.
With the passage of time, we’ve seen a turn of the tides in the US surrounding topics relating to mental illness. Now that research sheds light on how common these issues are, many people are encouraged to speak out about them. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 individuals in the US struggle with issues relating to mental health.
Celebrities open up about mental health issues
For decades, mega-stars did their best to present only the most polished and sparkling versions of themselves and even give off an aura of mystery.
But nowadays, many celebrities are opening up to fans about their mental health struggles. Consumers of pop culture seem hungry for shared stories and experiences that are transparent and relatable rather than glamorized perfection. This cultural shift permits movie stars and pop sensations to get real with the world about personal issues that are far from picture-perfect.
Eliminating the stigma associated with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more
When megastars get vulnerable and share about their behavioral health issues, individuals who are battling with mental illness feel seen. Knowing that their favorite actors and musicians also deal with anxiety, OCD, and depression can help so many people feel less alone.
And, fans can feel less ashamed about their own personal struggles when the people they look up to face similar obstacles.
If Selena Gomez can release an entire documentary about her experiences with bipolar disorder, it takes a weight off of people’s shoulders. If Megan The Stallion can shamelessly drop a track called “Anxiety,” fans can feel a sense of validation for their emotions. There’s something so comforting about knowing these mega-stars really are “just like us.”
But are these celebrities oversharing about their mental health?
Are Celebrities too candid with fans?
Not everyone is on board with this newfound transparency. On the other hand, a growing number of pop culture consumers think these celebs’ first-world issues have no relation to real-world problems and leave them totally out of touch.
Considering how wealthy most A-list stars are…some are convinced that celebrities will never understand the tribulations that lower and middle-class people face. As a result, some argue that celebrities have resources and access to things most of us could never dream of so they should have less mental stress.
Back in 2022, Bella Hadid was famously dragged when a resurfaced clip featured her crying when she couldn’t have a designer bag.
Of course, we’re all aware that Kendall Jenner has faced years of criticism for using her platform to talk about her crippling anxiety,
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“There is going to be those people that say, ‘Oh, OK, what does she have to worry about? What does she have to be anxious about?” the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star said in an interview with Vogue.
While Jenner goes on to acknowledge her privilege, she also says that fame doesn’t automatically preclude her troubles with mental illness. The reality star adds, “I’m still a human being at the end of the day.”
And let’s not forget during the height of the pandemic, when A-listers were brutally attacked online for complaining about being stuck inside their homes despite living in million-dollar mansions. In this instance, the masses were not so quick to sympathize with celebrities’ complaints.
When Ellen Degeneres whined about being unable to go outside during the pandemic and compared it to “being in jail,” the general public called her out.
Sophie Turner and other celebrities use their platform to advocate for mental health
But the notion that celebrities are out of touch when it comes to their first-world struggles is only half the argument.
Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan stirred the pot when he suggested many celebrities “fake” mental health issues in an effort to boost their careers. “Sadly, I know a lot of well-known people (not The Rock) who’ve jumped on the ‘victimhood’ bandwagon to get positive publicity for themselves,” the controversial figure tweeted in 2019. “They do those with genuine mental illness a great disservice.”
His controversial take was met with a wave of backlash from celebs and the general public alike. Game of Thrones superstar Sophie Turner, who is an avid advocate of mental health, clapped back at the Good Morning Britain host.
She responded in a heated tweet, saying, "Or maybe they have a platform to speak out about it and help get rid of the stigma of mental illness, which affects 1 in 4 people in the UK per year. But please go ahead and shun them back into silence.”
Sophie Turner via Twitter
There seems to be a divide over how people feel about celebrities sharing intimate details regarding their mental health affairs. Whether you believe stars are splattering personal concerns all over social media simply to remain relevant or if you genuinely think they do a terrific job destigmatizing mental health problems is entirely up to you.
Personally, I love it when people like Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande reveal their struggles with depression and anxiety because it makes me feel less sensitive and ashamed about my own inner frailties. And I feel less alone.
The way I see it, when someone like Kendall Jenner gets brutally honest about her journey with crippling anxiety, it creates a sense of unity for everyone out there who is dealing with the same thing. Kendall, along with a slew of other celebrities, leverages her platform to build a fervent discourse on topics that have been swept under the rug for far too long.
FIOR Vs Drunk Elephant. Which Is The Best Moisturizer?
We're always on the lookout for the best moisturizer. It's a staple in everyone's skincare routine and the most important product for happy, hydrated skin.
There are many facial moisturizers on the market and it can seem impossible to know the best one for you, but we decided to take on the task. Our editors recently tried one of the most popular moisturizers and one of the newer brands, that caught our attention after positive reviews going viral on TikTok. We're talking about: Drunk Elephant Protini™ Polypeptide Moisturizer and FIOR Perfecting Moisturizer.
Here's what we thought.
Key Similarities
- Both promise hydration
- Both come from brands that have been hyped up on #SkinTok
- Both are meant to be used on a daily basis
Key Differences
- FIOR is brand new and is not available at Sephora
- Drunk Elephant is meant to be used with the accompanying serum
- FIOR comes in squeeze bottles; Drunk Elephant comes in wide jar containers
- FIOR uses a special formulation called CBX
Drunk Elephant Protini™ Polypeptide Moisturizer
A Sephora favorite, the Drunk Elephant line is known for its clean ingredients, high-quality formulas, and fun, minimal packaging.
The ingredient list is impressive: Signal Peptide Complex of amino acids which bind moisture to the skin, Pygmy Waterlily Stem Cell Extract, Soybean Folic Acid Ferment Extract...
This product was very hit-or-miss. Some of our editors thought it was a fantastic moisturizer, but many found it underwhelming and didn't really notice a difference. It's also meant to also be used with the companion product, the $82 Protini™ Powerpeptide Resurfacing Serum. We figured if we weren't fans of the moisturizer, Drunk Elephant could just claim that's because we weren't using the serum with it.
This moisturizer nourishes the skin and claims to target aging and dullness, but it's suitable for all ages and skin types.
A 50 mL container goes for $68.
FIOR Perfecting Moisturizer
This one is brand new, so we didn't know many that have tried it yet, but their viral customer reviews got us thinking if we should be paying close attention. Simply put, we were instantly in love. It's a clean formulation with CBX (a blend of CBD & CBDA) with other skin-loving ingredients like Oat Kernel, Bark extract, Oleanolic acid, packed full of antioxidants and essential fatty acids to help reduce redness and hydrate skin.
The formula feels luxurious, super light-weight and you can feel it working. We enjoyed the slight cooling sensation from the wintergreen leaf, and it fully absorbs into the skin quickly leaving a soft-to-the-touch finish. It's perfect for right under makeup as it minimizes glare and excess sebum. We noticed a difference right away in our foundation applications with this as a base.
It's meant to revive and optimize skin for a healthy, hydrated look. We loved that the fragrance and packaging were gender-neutral and unique for gift-giving.
A 90 mL tube goes for $89.
Final Verdict
Although both of them have their pros and cons, and it's about what works for you, we have to say: FIOR is your best bet. Drunk Elephant's moisturizer worked well on some but not others - perhaps it would work better with the serum, but we'd rather not have to purchase a second product when we all got great results with FIOR's moisturizer on its own.
With FIOR, none of us had negative reactions, we didn't feel like the CBX factor was some gimmick, it felt high-end, and most importantly it made an immediate difference. Even though it's a new brand, it's legit. We can tell it's going to be the next big thing.
