I Forgot What My Real Face Looks Like

Every morning, I scrub and layer and blend, like I’m erasing the girl who woke up. I used to think it was just about looking clean, but now it’s like I’m building a mask I can’t take off—even when I’m alone. I keep deodorant in my bag, concealer in my pocket, and a tiny bottle of perfume for emergencies. I know exactly how to make my lashes clump just right, how to brush my lips so they look fuller, how to pick the shirt that hides my arms. Sometimes I wonder if my crush would even recognize me without all of it. Sometimes I wonder if I would. I stare at my bare face in the mirror at night and it feels like I’m meeting a stranger—one I’m not sure I want anyone else to see. #BareFaceAnxiety #MirrorFatigue #BeautyBurnout #Beauty