They are the means, but the "victors" are people's vanity. If people didn't want blemish free pictures, they wouldn't be offered --but airbrushing was a thing

They are the means, but the "victors" are people's vanity. If people didn't want blemish free pictures, they wouldn't be offered --but airbrushing was a thing and old fashioned paintings also tended to skip the blemishes --unlike mirrors. So, today, this continues albeit more perfect and automated for our consumption.