Pop icon Selena Gomez has responded with refreshing candour after a fan posed a surprisingly blunt question about her appearance. The 33-year-old singer and actress took to her Instagram Stories to address a query about managing facial hair, using the moment to educate her millions of followers on a common skin condition.
A Blunt Question and a Frank Response
In a since-deleted video, Gomez shared that 'someone made me laugh' by asking her: 'How do you shave your moustache?' Rather than taking offence, the newlywed star reacted with openness, publicly explaining the real cause of the shadow above her upper lip. She clarified it is not facial hair but a skin condition called melasma.
Melasma is a harmless condition involving discoloured patches, often triggered by sun exposure, hormonal changes from birth control, or pregnancy. Gomez confirmed her case is 'from the sun,' adding that she 'totally gets' why the question was asked. The 'Come and Get It' hitmaker, who founded the cosmetics line Rare Beauty in 2019, seized the opportunity to offer crucial advice to her audience: wear sunscreen.
Health Advocacy and Beauty Philosophy
This is not the first time Gomez has spoken openly about health and skincare. In a 2020 interview with Vogue's Beauty Secrets, she revealed her preference for Drunk Elephant sunscreen. She emphasised its importance for keeping skin healthy, noting a personal stake in sun protection. 'I have Lupus, so being in the sun is kind of difficult for me,' she explained.
Gomez has been remarkably transparent about her health journey over the years, discussing her lupus diagnosis, bipolar disorder, and weight fluctuations due to SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). Her approach to beauty has evolved significantly. In a 2020 essay published via CNN, she detailed her changing perspective.
'I used to think I had to wear makeup in order to feel pretty, but now I understand that I don’t need makeup to feel beautiful,' Gomez wrote. 'Now, I view makeup as an accessory and something to be excited about.' She observed the pressure to look a certain way and stated her goal with Rare Beauty was for people to 'challenge the beauty “norm”' and celebrate uniqueness.
Pickles, Christmas, and Personal Joy
Gomez's latest health disclosure follows a festive post where she treated her 416 million Instagram followers to images of her and new husband Benny Blanco decorating their Christmas tree. 'Our first Christmas as a married couple,' she captioned the post.
Eagle-eyed fans quickly spotted a charmingly personal touch among the ornaments: a pickle jar. This nod to Gomez's well-documented love of pickles delighted her admirers. One fan quipped: 'selena gomez never beating the pickle girl allegations,' while another exclaimed: 'obsessed with the fact selena put pickles on her tree.'
Her passion for the snack traces back to her Texas childhood, featuring pickle juice snow cones, pickle juice popcorn, and even a pickle and watermelon sandwich made by Blanco. This playful ornament symbolises the personal joy and authenticity Gomez continues to share, whether discussing serious health topics or her favourite treats.
