Fresh from her recent powder disaster, you’d think that Nicole Kidman would pay extra attention to her make-up for the Golden Globes …

Which is why I don’t think the patchy bronze streak (on the right side of her face) was intentional …  

This is the ever immaculate Nicole Kidman at the New York premier of her latest film, Nine, a few days ago. This was how she walked and posed on the red carpet that night.

I wonder if she’s fired her make-up artist yet.

Just scraped off the last bits of my Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate White Lifting Creme.

Now what?

Every picture you see in a magazine, and I mean every single image is digitally retouched. Did you know that?

The general aim is, of course, to make everything look good. On one end, it is done to remove little nitty-gritties like shadow, smooth out and brighten skin tone and texture, basically to make the image look a little more pleasing to the eye. We all appreciate a little touching up, right? But on the other end, the extreme end – is this month’s issue of W magazine, featuring Demi Moore.

She looks hot on the cover. But check out her left hip.

A sizeable chunk is missing. 

This cover’s gotten quite a bit of attention not just because Demi looks skinnier than usual here (and missing a bit of flesh), but now it seems that might not even be her body! W magazine has been accused of superimposing Demi’s head on to model Anja Rubik’s body – the shot was apparently taken when Anja walked the Balmain Spring 2010 show.

Image credit: popculturemadness.blogspot.com

Now I am not saying that airbrushing is a bad thing. For some, it’s no different from women applying make-up everyday to hide imperfections – call it digital make-up, if you will.

But it is ethically wrong when you’re so touched up, you’re not even recognisable, or in Demi’s case, you end up with a body that’s not even yours! (read also Ralph Lauren, Kim Kardashian and Kelly Clarkson) What’s more, if you follow Demi on Twitter, you’d have read her Tweet defending that it really is her body.

But the photographer who shot the cover, Anthony Citrano claims that the image isn’t Demi, going as far as offering US$5,000 to charity for proof that the cover was original. He also had this to say on Allieswired.com:

“While I really feel bad that Demi is on defense over this, I also don’t like being accused of “bullshit.” So, let’s find out who’s bullshitting. This isn’t about her and it isn’t about retouching (I’ve no problem with either).

It’s about a blooper, basically. The cover is a blooper; it goes on the art department’s wall of shame. So what? We all make mistakes. That’s got nothing to do with Demi. She’s a beautiful woman with or without retouching. And where the hell is W Magazine on this? Why are they forcing Demi to address it? It’s not fair to her.”

I’m not even going to go into the effects of “perfection” on glossies on women out there, especially teenagers. Suffice to say, when you pick up your next magazine, I say appreciate the images, but remember this – it isn’t real, just a piece of a beautiful fantasy.

As for whether or not it was Demi’s body, you decide.

Note to self: NEVER bother painting nails when you know you’re having crab for dinner.