Mariah Carey is known for her flawless vocals and her peachy skin.

But one magazine appears to have taken a heavy-handed approach to the retouching of a cover photo featuring the singer.

A heavily-retouched Mariah, 37, appears so smooth and flawless on the cover of U.S. magazine Allure, that it almost looks like an airbrushed painting.

Ironically, the cover line screams the issue contains 203 tips on how to look younger with the help of wrinkle-fighters.

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Absolutely flawless: Mariah Carey appears so airbrushed on the cover of a US magazine that she looks like a painting

Peaches and cream: Diva Mariah is known for her voluptuous looks and peachy , flawless complexion

Judging by the picture of Mariah seen in her natural state, it's hard to understand quite why it was thought necessary to turn her into a one-dimensional caricature of herself.

And it's even more hard to comprehend when the singer is currently in fantastic shape having showed off her newly-sculpted body in the video for her new single.

Mariah's latest music video for song 'Touch My Body', shot by X-Men director Brett Ratner, sees her cavorting scantily-clad in a nerd's fantasy.

Mariah said recently: "One of the rumours I just heard about was that I spent $150,000 in plastic surgery. What in the ham sandwich do they think I did? It's very annoying."

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The camera never lies? Mariah's latest promotional shot also appears to have suffered the heavy hand of the airbrush as she looks thinner than ever. The photo on the right shows the singer in August 2006

The singer - who is currently dating record executive Mark Sudack - said she definitely wants to start a family in the future, but only when she is in a position to devote herself entirely to a child.

She said: "Obviously having a kid is a commitment for life.

"I really would have to be very, very positive that I was in a place where I could completely focus and put everything into the job of being someone's mommy because it's hard enough to have a puppy."

Toned: Mariah in her new music video for song 'Touch My Body' with 30 Rock star Jack Breyer