MAKE-UP OR MASK?

Intern journalist Lineo Leteba tucked away her make-up bags for a month. This is what she learnt about facing the world as her natural self…

- Lineo Leteba

Make-up has been there for me through all the hurdles of life. Now, imagine how scary it was to accept a challenge where I would have to live without it for a month! I suffered from bad acne for most of my teen years, and pegged it down to puberty and my menstrual cycle because most girls I knew would get a pimple or two during that time of the month. This was until I started noticing that the periods were coming and going, while the pimples remained. I was left with dark spots that I have, over the years, masked with make-up.

THE SOLUTION

I couldn’t wear make-up to high school, so I found refuge in facial products. I experimented with different products almost every month because there were never any results in sight, except for my skin getting worse. I’m naturally fair in complexion, so some of these products brightened my face, intensifying the contrast between my skin and the blemishes. It didn’t help that my peers would recommend products to use, and make weird comments about the cause of my acne. I tried my best to ignore my marks, and expected everyone around me to do the same.

THE COVER-UP