Photographs of bare-faced women with common skin conditions celebrate the beauty of imperfection

The resulting beauty shoot aims to break down the stigma surrounding skin issues and celebrate diversity. "I wanted to create a series of work that empowers and allows women to love the skin they’re in, regardless of what condition they have. Suffering from severe acne throughout my teens and twenties left me incredibly self-conscious and I longed for 'normal' skin. Normality is defined by the images we see all around us.

"We are led to believe all women have perfect flawless skin – they don’t. Whether not shown or simply disguised, many women suffer from conditions such as acne, rosacea and eczema, most of these women feel a pressure to hide behind a mask of makeup, covering up what actually makes them unique. Here these beautiful women proudly bare their skin."

The series is shot in the style of a traditional beauty editorial, exploring the juxtaposition of style and subject – something that is linked to classical beauty. You can see Epidermis during a solo exhibition at the Francesca Maffeo Gallery in London this September.

Documenting the personal lives and experiences of her own and others, Sophie’s work is effortlessly truthful, approached with sensitivity and confidence. She is renowned for her images created with natural and ambient light sources, which lend her work an unusual softness and depth. Discover more at sophieharristaylor.com.