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“All that is gold does not glitter,”—J.R.R.Tolkien wrote in The Lord of the Rings. The opposite is also true: not everything that shines is gold. And it’s something that we should keep in mind in our modern world which is dominated by the internet and social media.

We’re constantly bombarded by seemingly ‘perfect’ photos of people on Instagram but a lot of the images are heavily photoshopped. The Instagram Reality subreddit is dedicated to collecting the most retouched IG photos and we’ve collected some of the freshest examples of what not to do to your pics. Scroll down, upvote your faves, and read on for our earlier in-depth interviews with the subreddit’s moderators.

When you’re done looking through this list and if you want to see more examples of mindblowing Instagram photoshops, check out Bored Panda's previous articles about the Instagram Reality subreddit right here, here, and here.

#1

I'm So Glad This Greek TV Host Has Her Own Personal Cloud That Follows Her Everywhere She Goes

I'm So Glad This Greek TV Host Has Her Own Personal Cloud That Follows Her Everywhere She Goes

mathaiaus Report

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#2

Maybe Just One More Filter...

Maybe Just One More Filter...

Unity__Newbie Report

#3

Damn He's Ripped

Damn He's Ripped

Unknown_Gamer944 Report

The Instagram Reality moderators previously told Bored Panda that the coronavirus quarantine had slightly increased the subreddit’s membership but the amount of edited and photoshopped photos that people upload hasn’t decreased much during the pandemic.

The mods told Bored Panda that what people want to see are natural photos of influencers and celebrities, not done up and “edited to hell” images. “The influencer is going to realize that, I’m sure," the mods said about how they expected popular IG users to react to being stuck at home during the lockdowns which are now being eased or ended all over the world.

#4

I Don't Even Know

I Don't Even Know

CyberSpaceFetus Report

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#5

Half Person Half Cartoon?!

Half Person Half Cartoon?!

gritch_123 Report

#6

Found One In The Wild. I Bet She’s Never Late With Those Legs

Found One In The Wild. I Bet She’s Never Late With Those Legs

Naniibananii Report

According to the Instagram Reality team, “insecurity, envy, and money” are the forces driving some people to photoshop their pictures so heavily before uploading them on social media. That and wanting to avoid embarrassment because of real or imagined imperfections.

What can start out as a few simple edits or adding some minor filters can eventually lead to major photoshopping. And that creates a huge difference between how the person looks in real life and how they present themselves online.

To be fair, most of us try to show the best sides of ourselves to people. But there’s a rather obvious line between that and turning yourself into a completely different individual online.

#7

The Baddest Indeed

The Baddest Indeed

ZapatosDeMarca Report

#8

Such A Pretty Sunset :)

Such A Pretty Sunset :)

moclen Report

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#9

This Is... A Lot To Take In

This Is... A Lot To Take In

unknown Report

#10

I Have No Idea What This Is...

I Have No Idea What This Is...

mimiczx Report

#11

Where's The Nose?

Where's The Nose?

matty111222 Report

#12

Well That's Something New

Well That's Something New

FaceInTheSpace Report

#13

She Looks Better Without It Though....

She Looks Better Without It Though....

elic11 Report

#14

The Face Of A Ps3 Character

The Face Of A Ps3 Character

killerjags Report

#15

The Queen Of Makeup

The Queen Of Makeup

ConfidentNobody6 Report

#16

Turns Out Those Organs Did Exist After All

Turns Out Those Organs Did Exist After All

shiroyagisan Report

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#17

Something Out Of An Indie Horror Game

Something Out Of An Indie Horror Game

madohara Report

#18

She Could've Just Said The Truth..

She Could've Just Said The Truth..

dramainsanity Report

#19

Post vs. Profile Picture.

Post vs. Profile Picture.

Elphaba78 Report

#20

Linkedin Now Too

Linkedin Now Too

RampersandY Report

#21

This Fake Influencer Likes To Pretend She’s Rich, Constantly Posting Pictures Like That With Captions Like „short Trip To Clear My Mind“.

This Fake Influencer Likes To Pretend She’s Rich, Constantly Posting Pictures Like That With Captions Like „short Trip To Clear My Mind“.

Elisa-Allin-666 Report

#22

This Girl Has A Disney-Themed Account, For Her ‘Travels’... Most Of The Pics Are Like This

This Girl Has A Disney-Themed Account, For Her ‘Travels’... Most Of The Pics Are Like This

SofyB Report

#23

A$$ So Phat Even The Car Had To Make Space

A$$ So Phat Even The Car Had To Make Space

DomingoJoe Report

#24

Why Do Women Want To Look Like This??

Why Do Women Want To Look Like This??

unknown-persons Report

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#25

Who Needs Organs Anyway?

Who Needs Organs Anyway?

JoSQ9725 Report

#26

I Think We've All Wondered What She Really Looks Like

I Think We've All Wondered What She Really Looks Like

Ebby1369 Report

#27

Profile Pic On Twitter vs. Still From Interview

Profile Pic On Twitter vs. Still From Interview

medianfold Report

#28

This "Makeup Artist" Advertising Her Work...

This "Makeup Artist" Advertising Her Work...

genericpurr3 Report

#29

Such A Beautiful Home

Such A Beautiful Home

unknown Report

#30

This Can't Be Just "Angles"

This Can't Be Just "Angles"

oireachtas Report

#31

Literally A Different Person Every Single Photo

Literally A Different Person Every Single Photo

laisdavid Report

#32

Armpit? I Don’t Know Her

Armpit? I Don’t Know Her

eileen_likeacholo Report

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#33

I’m Sorry But His Edited Nose On The Left Literally Looks Like It’s Going To Collapse

I’m Sorry But His Edited Nose On The Left Literally Looks Like It’s Going To Collapse

ulabadula Report

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Val/Malibu/Dante/Bob
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, some peoples lips just kinda naturally part? Like mine?? So, i don't see the need for the hate??

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Mad Mar
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dude is so fake. I refuse to buy his products and anything with his name. Just normal people doing makeup is nice for normal people's faces. Not aliens or plastics. An SIstaaaaaa don't forget in real life ya gotta wash it off eventually. Someone will see what's hiding. This is insecurity and need for constant approval in all these pics.

Amy Pattie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow he must be so good at makeup even his individual eyelashes are identical.

starhunter64
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

is he eating one of those fake edible lip candys? no? then what up with that?

Al Reilly
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Going after the Michael Jackson look on the nose I think!!

Jenifer Halpern
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are there seriously people alive who do this!? You need to get a grip!

Sandra Gomez
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This guy creeps me out badly. I'll never buy or watch his garbage

Debster
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bleach and he'll end up like MJ and he was fukcing hot before his surgeries.

2BFunny
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They need to realize that they are far more stunning on the right, blessed with the perfect nose

Pseudo Puppy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is James Charles. A guy, who identifies as male. He is a makeup artist. He demonstrated his skills, by doing "how to do your own makeup" tutorials on youtube - which of course meant doing makeup on himself. As a result, he was the first male spokesperson for Covergirl. Just like men across many nationalities and cultures, including anglo-christian straight men in history.... he just happens to like wearing makeup. :)

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Sandy Feuerbacher
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So.........THIS is a Male, Female? Bet " IT" doesn't EVEN KNOW!!!!! What a SAD, SAD WORLD IT'S BECOMING!!!!!!!!!

Blackheart
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

Hafida
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I respect each one, I only don’t understand why men wear make up.

Niko Alarcon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some men just like to feel pretty... in my case its usually to get my eyelashes out of my eyes [mascara] and for cosplay.

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Luisa Vasconcelos
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, who is this person ?!?!? I like his / her jaw. Lokks so androgynous that I don't even know if is a he or a she. Beautiful

Cathelijne van Weelden
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The nose is not photoshopped but this is make up and overlighting a picture... I think it is called contouring in the make up world

Jayne Kyra
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yea, no. This has been long since debunked to be mere "contour". Each and every one of his before and after images has been enhanced.

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#34

I Posted The Left One Yesterday And People Were Not Believing That The Hair Don’t Belongs To Her

I Posted The Left One Yesterday And People Were Not Believing That The Hair Don’t Belongs To Her

halbmondkatze Report

Note: this post originally had 61 images. It’s been shortened to the top 34 images based on user votes.