Have you ever been judged because of your looks? Or rejected because your skin wasn’t perfect? The 4 women you are about to meet experienced negativity that have impacted their lives in a lot of ways simply because of a skin condition — acne.
We see it every day, a lot of us have had acne at some point in our lives, but for these women, it’s the source of undying insecurity, causing them pain that goes beyond skin deep, scarring not only their faces but also their self-esteem.
And in a society where looks and aesthetic is very influential, the fight for respect and equality is a lifelong struggle for people with pimples. But that fight is a fight that Maxi-Peel is unwilling to give up. The brand’s mission is to amplify the voices of those who have been misjudged, ridiculed, and discriminated because of their acne through their newest campaign — “'Wag Mong Isuko ang Laban." (Don’t Give Up the Fight)
Maxi-Peel puts their brand on the line with a documentary campaign that follows 4 women from different walks of life in a 60-day journey with Maxi-Peel Exfoliant Solutions, capturing real progress, with real results in real time. The campaign begins with a heart-wrenching 60-second testimonial video of these 4 women telling everyone what society tells them every day.
“Alam mo Kata, mas maganda ka sana kung kasing kinis ng legs mo yung mukha mo.” Kata San Mateo, a digital marketing head and an aspiring artist, recalls a painful moment during her acne breakout. Teary-eyed, she continues, “Siyempre tatawa-tawa lang ako pero sa loob loob ko, sobra na.”
“Bakit siya ‘yung napiling host, eh ang dami niyang pimples?” Andrea Roces, a retail manager and an active humanitarian says pimples have affected her work and her credibility, damaging her self-esteem and self-belief, “The confidence I’ve built for many years, it all goes away.”
“Honestly, lately hindi ako lumalabas ng bahay. There’s this misconception na ‘pag ma-pimple ka, madumi ka kaya sometimes I feel hopeless.” A former special education teacher, now a full-time mom, Angeline Carandang powers through the negativity, despite an overwhelming feeling of insecurity, “Behind this face, I can be a great mom… matatapos din ‘to, ngayon lang ‘to.”
“Nakulam ka ba… Naagnas ka na” Joepy Libo-on, a cum laude graduate who is now working as a marketing manager, still remembers some of the most painful things people have told her. “Before nu'ng sobrang lala talaga ng pimples ko, there was a time na sobrang bumaba ng self-esteem ko.”
Through real stories from real people, Maxi-Peel aims to open our eyes and minds to the truth behind acne. That removing pimples is not just about being beautiful, or achieving smoother skin, or to gain more followers, those are just the aesthetic effects. The real purpose of the brand is to help Filipinos treat and cure an actual skin condition, boost their self-confidence, revive their self-belief, and empower them to have a fighting chance against prejudice and discrimination.
This fight isn’t just about the face, this fight is about facing challenges head on, and acknowledging that it’s only just a phase. Never quitting, never stopping. To all Filipino women out there who have lost their confidence, hope is not lost. You can get past this, in your fight against acne and all its inherent negativity, “Wag Mong Isuko Ang Laban”.
