At a time when contouring, highlighting, and all other makeup techniques are now common knowledge among makeup enthusiasts, all I wanted was to be able to go out for work with the most minimal makeup application. My secret wish for the past 15 years has been to face the world barefaced. The main obstacle was the presence of freckles and Hori’s Nevus on the apples of my cheeks.
Freckles are small brown spots on the skin, often appearing in areas that get sun exposure. Meanwhile, Hori’s Nevus manifests as benign, seemingly harmless blue-gray to gray-brown patchy pigmentation, predominantly on the cheeks’ prominences. This condition typically emerges during adulthood and is most prevalent among middle-aged Asian women, like myself. Hori’s Nevus is frequently misdiagnosed as it may resemble or coexist with melasma. Genetics and hormones are known to contribute to its development.
For a long time, I blamed myself for acquiring what I always thought was melasma due to excessive sun exposure without sunscreen. I used to walk to my office without using any sunscreen or an umbrella. The brown spots on my cheeks, which made me look like the female version of Archie Andrews, were a constant source of insecurity. I felt self-conscious going out bare-faced and always tried to find a solution to draw attention away from what I considered “stains” on my face.
After trying out pricey skincare sets from other known clinics, none solved the problem despite heavy peeling sessions and all. I turned to a quick fix instead and tried all sorts of concealers, color correctors, and heavy foundations to make the brown spots on my face look invisible.
I did have winning moments of minimizing their appearance for a while, but with our default humid weather, makeup could only last for a little while unless I stayed in an air-conditioned room all the time. My spots continued to make their presence known after a while, and it was a struggle. I couldn’t even put blush makeup on without rubbing off the powder or foundation underneath and uncovering my “freckles.” It was truly frustrating.
In a society where colonial mentality still exists, I found it funny when people who noticed my skin issue tried to make me feel better with comments like, “Ayaw mo n’yan, tisay ka! (mestiza)?” or “Yung iba nga naglalagay pa n’yan!” (referring to the faux freckles makeup trend). The funniest comment I can remember receiving was, “Totoo ba ‘yan?” (pointing at my brown spots!).
The turning point came when I went to a board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Kaycee Reyes. True to her words, Luminisce Clinic founder and CEO, Doc Kaycee, was right when she said that the solid spots could be broken down like peppercorns ground to the tiniest bits. The procedure felt like having sparklers touch my face. With just one session, I already saw results.
Doc Kaycee served like a fairy godmother, waving her magic wand and fueling transformations. Her expertise and precise treatment saved me from the frustration of endless skincare routines that yielded no results. It was a revelation that sometimes, trusting a professional and investing in quality care can lead to the best outcomes.
It is a liberating experience to embrace my natural look without worrying about concealing my imperfections. While society often pressures us to look a certain way, it’s essential to remember that beauty comes in all forms.
Whether you choose to flaunt your freckles or seek treatment, the choice is yours. As long as it brings you joy and confidence, that’s all that matters, of course.
For your random thoughts, e-mail the author at randomrepublika@gmail.com.
