The Mirror That Stopped Lying: The Story of Fanti, 26, and the Goodness of One Small Habit

Call me Fanti, 26 years old. For almost two years, the mirror in my room was my archenemy.

Every morning, I woke up with the same ritual: touching my cheeks, feeling the uneven “gradas” (texture), and discovering a “new guest”—inflamed acne that seemed to appear just to mock me. I suffered from severe breakouts that utterly frustrated me.

As a young professional, makeup was my best friend. A little concealer here, some blush on my cheeks there, and I felt ready to face the world. My makeup brushes were my magic wands, tools to blend blush to make me look fresher and more appealing.

But there was an irony I wasn’t aware of. Something silly, yet real.

The War Against Acne and Blackheads

I spent millions of rupiah. Truly. Vitamin C serum in the morning, Retinol at night, double cleansing every day, facials once a month. I blamed hormones, work stress, even dust on the street. I tried a sugar-free diet, drank 3 liters of water a day.

My skin condition? It remained stagnant. Severe acne came and went as it pleased. Blackheads accumulated on my nose and chin, making my skin texture look dull. I was tired.

Every time I applied makeup to cover my acne, I felt like a fraud. “What’s the point of expensive skincare if my face stays like this?” I complained inwardly.

On my vanity, there was a beautiful cup filled with a dozen makeup brushes. My favorite blush brush had hardened brownish-pink stains. My foundation brush was stiff. I always thought, “Oh, I’ll wash them later. They’re still usable.”

I was lazy. I underestimated. I didn’t know that within the bristles of those “still usable” brushes, I was breeding a monster farm.

Turning Point: Infection and Allergies

One day, everything culminated.

I had just returned home from an important event. My face felt hot, itchy, and stinging in several spots. This wasn’t ordinary acne. My cheeks were red (an allergic reaction), and some of my old acne felt painful (risk of infection).

That night, I cried while cleansing my face. I felt like a failure.

In desperation, I opened my laptop and started searching… again. But this time, I wasn’t looking for “the best acne serum.” I was looking for “why my acne wouldn’t heal.”

Then I found it. An article. About Staphylococcus and Streptococcus bacteria. About the accumulation of dead skin cells, oil, and makeup residue clogging pores. Not on my face, but on… my makeup brushes.

I stared at the cup of brushes on my vanity. Suddenly, I felt disgusted.

Bacteria. Dead skin cells. Oil. Blackheads. Acne. Infection.

All the answers to my problems were right there. I wasn’t applying makeup to my face. I was “smearing” bacteria and dirt onto my already inflamed pores, every single day.

The Ritual of Kindness That Changed Everything

That very night, I gathered all my makeup brushes and took them to the sink.

This was no longer a “dirty laundry” task. This was a “cleansing ritual.”

I watched the once clear water turn murky brown. I saw remnants of blush and foundation wash away. I cleaned them two or three times until the suds were completely white and clean.

The next week, I did it again. And the week after that.

I made this a habit. One good habit I routinely did every Sunday afternoon. No negotiation.

And the miracle happened. Slowly, but surely.

In the first month, the severe inflammation on my cheeks subsided. In the second month, I encountered “new guests” in the morning less frequently. In the third month, the “gradas” (texture) caused by blackheads began to smooth out.

Today, six months later, 26-year-old Fanti looked in the mirror. My skin wasn’t perfect, but it was healthy. Acne scars were still there, but the active breakouts were gone.

I didn’t buy new serums. I didn’t change my diet (though I probably should have!). I only did one thing: washed my makeup brushes.

I was free from severe acne, blackheads, and irritation, “simply” by changing one small habit.

It turned out that the solution to my biggest problem wasn’t something expensive or complicated. The solution was a consistent small act of kindness for myself—ensuring that the tools that touched my face every day were the cleanest tools.

Beauty Bestie, when was the last time you washed your makeup brushes? Don’t wait until it’s too late like I did. Start your small act of kindness today.