Laikou Sakura Peel Off Mask – 50g

There is a thin sound, like paper tearing. Standing in front of the shelf in Rimi's bathroom, Farzana is slowly lifting the film from under her chin, while the old exhaust fan rattles overhead. On the shelf: a coconut oil bottle, a comb with broken teeth, two black hair bands, a half-open tube of toothpaste.

From the other side of the door Rimi calls out, "Go slow near the nose!" Farzana spreads the peeled film on her palm — thin lines all over it, the exact print of the pores on her nose. The green mug lies upside down in the corner of the basin.

Last month it was not like this. Leaning on this same shelf that afternoon, she had used her face wash twice, and still the rough texture beside her nose kept showing through the foundation. When the photos were being taken she moved away from the window light and stood in the back row.

That same day Rimi pulled a small tube out from the very back of the shelf — Laikou Sakura Peel Off Mask – 50g. Small enough to sit beside the toothpaste. Farzana turned it over in her hand, then picked one up for herself.

Press the tube and a clear gel comes out, cooler than your skin the moment it touches your finger. Spread over the cheek it settles into a thin layer, with no weight to it. A soft sakura-like floral scent, never sharp. After about fifteen minutes, talking makes the cheeks pull tight — that is how you know it has dried. Then comes that paper-tearing sound.

Now, after rinsing with cool water, Farzana runs a finger along the side of her nose. Smooth. Rimi hands her the towel and says, "Stand in front for the photo this time." Farzana's own tube is in her bag — tonight it goes on her own bathroom shelf.

You can keep this 50g tube on your shelf too, for the afternoon before your next get-together.