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A woman who’d hidden behind make-up for years because she feared how people would react to the birthmark covering half her face has decided to finally reveal her make-up free face.
Aesthetician Becca Ask (25), from Minnesota in America, had numerous laser treatments to try to diminish the mark she’s had since birth, before turning to creative make-up to reinvent her look.
Becca’s unusual birthmark, which stretches across half her face and neck, consists of two types – a port wine stain and a nevus birthmark, which resembles bruised skin. The mark was caused by blood vessels that developed abnormally before birth.
As she grew up she became more and more conscious of its presence and from a young age she had laser treatments done to try to remove it.
Until recently she didn’t feel comfortable leaving the house without wearing make-up to cover her birthmark – and to shield her from the stares and taunts she’d become used to receiving.
“Growing up with my birthmark was definitely a challenge,” Becca says. “My friends were always so supportive and told me they didn’t even notice it because it was just part of who I am.”
But, she says, she’d always hated her birthmark and after laser treatments would avoid going to school until the spots had reduced.
“It was always something I felt contributed to me being so shy when I was younger. I was scared of what everyone else thought of me and how I looked.
“I was lucky enough to grow up in a small town so most of the kids I grew up with knew who I was and what my birthmark was. I think that shielded me from some of the bullying.”
However, when she entered middle school she started getting stares and regularly saw people whispering as she walked by.
“I often got asked if something was wrong – did I get a bad sunburn, was I sick, or did it hurt?
“These comments and stares in my sixth grade brought me to the realisation that I looked different to others around me. That’s when it hit me the hardest.
“That was when I started to cover up my birthmark with make-up.”
For a long time Becca was afraid to approach boys and even thought no boy would ever find her attractive.
Covering her birthmark with make-up gave Becca the confidence to leave the house because she could hide behind the veil that it created.
Make-up soon became a creative outlet for her as she began trying various products and styles. Her talent for creative make-up soon became apparent.
Despite years of struggling with her birthmark Becca now feels confident enough to post occasional pictures of herself without make-up on to inspire people and help others with birthmarks to accept theirs.
“I used to have a really poor relationship with make-up because it was definitely a security blanket I used to hide behind,” Becca says.
“I didn’t feel comfortable going out in public without make-up on until just a few months ago.”
Now, she says, her relationship with make-up has changed significantly.
“I’ve always been a creative person and I’ve learnt to use make-up as an art and not as a way to cover up.
“I think it’s also a great way to help others – I know make-up can be seen as vain, but for me it’s so much more than that.
“I love making people feel good about themselves and confident, with or without make-up.
“I want people like me to come to a place where they’re more confident and comfortable. It’s important to realise that everyone is on their own journey and we can’t force how someone feels.
“My self-confidence with my birthmark is still a journey. I’m working on it every day.
“A year ago, I didn’t feel comfortable showing my birthmark, and that’s okay! But I’m glad I found make-up as a creative outlet and a way to show others that beauty comes in many different forms.”
