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My escape from the haze came through spending hours in the beauty closet at the fashion magazine where I was an intern. I would organize the products and take home whatever I could carry.
On a whim, I grabbed the Boscia Sake Bright White Mask ($38, sephora.com). I found immediate relief in the way it tightened on my skin, forming a glossy layer that felt like armor. That shell gave me a sense of protection, and I believed removing it would leave me feeling better.
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Taking it off felt strangely liberating, too. For once, my tendency to pick at my skin—a condition called dermatillomania—worked to my advantage. Unlike other masks I had used, this one was designed to be peeled away. The act of peeling it off helped me reconnect with my body in a way that felt like healing. I would sit there, acknowledging my pain, and peel the mask as if performing a beauty exorcism. Each strip seemed to pull insecurity from my pores. After several months of regular use, I felt like I had broken free from the tangled web my relationship had created.
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It wasn’t that the mask magically solved my problems. Instead, it showed me the link between my mind and body—that I needed to care for both, rather than ignore the hurt I was experiencing. Every application reminded me of my duty to myself.
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Seeing the mask visibly improve my skin reminded me that the body can heal after trauma, given time and support. Remember, your cells are constantly renewing—parts of you live, die, and are reborn. The mask made me feel like I could accelerate that process and become someone capable of escaping a difficult situation. And I did. I still reach for it whenever I need to break out of my shell.
This story originally appeared in the January/February 2018 edition of Women’s Health. For more expert advice, grab a copy on newsstands now!
