I just saw Sarah Palin on the cover of this month’s Newsweek, and she doesn’t look like the flawless Alaska governor we’ve seen on the national stage. No, this picture wasn’t airbrushed, so you can see Palin’s facial hair, enlarged pores, blemishes and wrinkles.

Republicans are up in arms, criticizing the magazine for not prettying her up. To me, the picture isn’t unattractive by a long shot. I think most middle-aged women would be happy to look that good, that up close, with little makeup. But the manipulation of photos is a given in the image-is-everything world of celebrity. In fact, we have become so accepting of the practice, that we’re increasingly keen to digitally enhancing our own mundane, non-celebrity lives, too.

Daniel Ciraldo of Miami recently launched an airbrushing service for customers who want to improve their pictures without going on a diet, or going under the knife. For a few dollars, cellulite and love handles are a thing of the past; wrinkles, blemishes and dark circles are banished. It’s not surprising the service is has proved incredibly popular with men and women who want to put their face – and body – in the best possible light.
“What we’re doing is a general retouching so people can look better in their photos,” says Ciraldo. “Why is it celebrities can only do this. Why can’t anyone?”

You can check out some of Ciraldo’s work at http://www.picwashslim.com. And don’t you worry Sarah, you still look pretty darn good.