I Forgot What My Real Face Looks Like

Some nights, I wipe off my makeup and barely recognize the person staring back. My skin feels raw, almost embarrassed, like it’s not used to air. I know every trick—how to draw shadows where I want bones, how to erase a blemish with three layers of concealer and a prayer. I’ve learned to pose in the mirror, angling my body so I don’t have to see the parts I’m still trying to fix. Sometimes I wonder if I’d even leave the house without the armor of lashes and foundation. I tell myself it’s confidence, but it feels more like hiding. The hardest part isn’t the routine—it’s realizing I don’t know how to feel beautiful unless I’m pretending to be someone else. #BareFaceAnxiety #MirrorFatigue #BeautyBurnout #Beauty