Tiktok
@lizzydeletzke
Rafia Matlub
Licensed Therapist and Content Creator
Rafia is a 34-year-old beauty and mental health content creator based in CA! She is known as “Chai and Makeup” on social media, and is both a makeup lover and a licensed therapist who makes unfiltered makeup videos and talks about mental health to uplift others and help them embrace their natural skin.
@raffytaffyz
Tiktok
@chai_and_makeup
Youtube
@chaiandmakeup
Rafia's Acne Journey
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How long have you experienced acne for?
"Since I was 12 years old… I am 34 now. So almost 22 years! Ahh, I feel old."
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What has been the most challenging part of your acne journey?
"The most challenging part of this acne journey has been the ability to love myself. I didn’t love myself or my skin for a long time; my teens and some of my 20s. It was hard to look in the mirror and feel beautiful, but now in my 30s I have embraced and LOVE my acne scars. I find that they give my face ✨character✨ ."
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What has helped you gain confidence?
"I gained confidence through knowing that people will say things to you, whether you have acne, or whether you don’t. So why should I let what others say about my acne/acne scars bother me - they would talk even if I didn’t have acne.
As a therapist, I would say just practicing positive affirmations has personally led me to gain confidence. Self-esteem and confidence take practice. Start each day by saying a positive affirmation about yourself - it will feel weird and awkward at first but eventually it will become second nature and become your internal dialogue. Examples: I am beautiful. I am amazing. I am worthy of all the good things. I am strong. I am capable of great things."
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What do you wish more people understood about acne?
"I wish more people understood that the physical pain of acne is hard - but the emotional pain that comes with having acne is the hardest pain of it all. Acne really directly affects your mental health and self-esteem."
Rafia's Personal Growth and Advice
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How has acne changed your perspective on beauty, especially the standards that often exist on social media?
"I grew up seeing people filtered and photoshopped throughout my teenage years. I thought everyone had perfect skin and that glass skin was the norm. But no, so many people struggle with acne and it is something we cannot always control. As a therapist, I have realized through experience, that so many of us struggle with something in our life (our skin, family life, friend issues, work issues, etc). No one is perfect nor has a perfect life. Just remember, reels and videos online are someone’s edited, curated, filtered, life - which is not always the reality."
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What advice would you give to your younger self?
"So many people struggle with acne, hormonal issues, weight fluctuations, etc., - it is all normal and a part of growing up. A lot of the “perfect” people you see online with perfect skin are using filters, different lightings, makeup, etc. You shouldn’t compare your REAL skin to a REEL filter."
Rafia's Unfiltered Message
"People who love you and appreciate you, will love you for YOU. They will not care about your skin, your weight, etc. But also, once you love yourself, you will not care what others think of you - BECAUSE you love YOURSELF."
Fun Facts!
Rafia's Favorite Hobby:
"Doing makeup and trying different makeup looks."
Rafia's Favorite Self-Care Activity:
"Watching true crime shows (so counterintuitive, I know)."
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