Aging is a privilege.
But aging gracefully? That can be a pricey feat often reserved for the privileged.
Which is precisely why we did a double take when Gwyneth Paltrow, the canonically unrelatable Goop goddess herself, shared a radically raw snapshot of herself today with her 9.2 million Instagram followers.
The collection of images features a glimpse into Paltrow’s whirlwind schedule during New York Fashion Week — during which she soft-launched her new quiet luxury fashion brand, Gwyn.
What stopped our thumbs mid-scroll, however, was the A-lister’s natural, Photoshop-free skin texture.
Crow’s feet, forehead wrinkles, and visible elevens? On a 52-year-old? Well, yeah!
This reaction shouldn’t be revolutionary, but given the plethora of cosmetic procedures available to celebrities and mere mortals alike — not to mention the prevalence of digital augmentation tools like Facetune — it was rather surprising to come upon an unfiltered snapshot of a gorgeous woman looking her age.
Fans of the Academy Award winner shared their delight in the comments, with one user noting, “The first photo is so refreshing and real.”
“Okay, I am VERY into this frown and normal lady face lines,” a second wrote. “No knock on injections, but (as an aging Gen Xer myself) seeing a grown woman’s face with its earned gravitas is a MOOD.”
Another chimed in, sharing, “She’s earned her face. And her face is beautiful.”
And a fourth wrote, “Agreed! I hope more celebrities realise [sic] we are sick of curated images. Real sells for me.”
Does this dose of unexpected authenticity signal a shift for the entrepreneurial mother of two? Not necessarily.
In a 2023 discussion with Glamour about Botox and fillers, Paltrow clarified what it means for her to be approaching middle age in Hollywood.
“I do want to age as beautifully as I can,” she said. “I’m not afraid of wrinkles. I’m not afraid of those things that come with aging, I’m really not.”
And while we appreciate this unexpected, unfiltered look at the appropriately menopausal woman behind an empire of Goop-y enhancements, it’s unclear if it will translate into sales.
That said, if anyone can turn fine lines and wrinkles into a trend, it’s going to be Gwyneth.
In the meantime, we’ll be waiting to see what else unfolds.