I Don’t Recognize Myself Without the Mask

Some nights, I paint my face white and black, tracing wings around my eyes until I look nothing like myself. It’s supposed to be a costume, but it feels more honest than my real face. I watch the pale paint cover my skin, hiding every scar and shadow. My cheekbones sharpen, my lips go dark, and I almost believe I’m someone powerful—someone who isn’t afraid to be seen. But when I wash it off, I see the tired skin underneath. The real me, softer and smaller, blinking in the bathroom light. I wonder if anyone would recognize her. I wonder if I do. #MirrorFatigue #BeautyBurnout #BareFaceAnxiety #Beauty #Makeup