As I find myself coming out from beneath the rock of the monolithic Denim Issue that we've been laboring over these past few months, it feels as if we are about to give birth to a beast. A beautiful blue beast, but a beast nonetheless. One that has completely wreaked havoc on my beauty routine, mind you. My face is a mess. I can't even go into the gory details. I'm ready for recovery. And what to recover with? (Besides a massage, a pool, a good book, and decadent food.) A mask.

I love everything Natura Bissé comes out with, in particular their peels and masks. For the summer, they are introducing a few new things as part of their nb Ceutical line. I have high expectations of course, and decide to kick off the weekend with the Tolerance Enzyme Peel.

There is a gentle vibration that falls upon the craters of my face, as the process of micro-exfoliation begins. I can feel these damaged (damaged by denim) layers of skin begin to free themselves underneath the prickly pear and papaya extracts. Soothing chamomile is also invoked to maintain pH balance and calm down the wildness that has been thriving for the past months.

Fast forward ten minutes. My skin feels like it has begun the healing process and glows. The craters appear to be gone. I begin to think I can leave the office without shame.

Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong. One can never tell. The mind always deceives.

I consult a co-editor. We meet in the dimly lit hall.

"Wow!" she exclaims and proceeds to compliment.

I stop her. With this forgiving darkness, who can see anything? I usher us into a room that oppresses with harsh fluorescent lighting. Everything is revealed here. All my insecurities, my hopes, my dreams, my inner darkness…I begin to feel vulnerable. Especially as she gazes, mouth agape.

"O.M.G.," she says, "Your skin looks so much better! I just can't believe how renewed and fresh it looks! It was looking so sallow and sad and malnourished before--no offense of course."

"None taken, Molly." None taken.

Written by Mui-Hai Chu