“I’m wondering if Singapore can accept a star like Alicia Keys,” says Priscelia Chan when we meet her after Ch U’s Fresh Takes! press conference at The Projector. The actress is referring to how the pop diva no longer wears make-up and has taken to appearing at events and even hosting this year’s Grammys completely bare-faced.

In case you haven’t heard, Pris hasn’t been able to wear make-up for the past two years because of a health condition that caused her skin to flare up horrifically. Even though she has since gotten a lot better, her complexion still reacts badly to make-up, which explains her continued absence from the small screen. “I can’t wear make-up one day for work and then have to take a break for a few days to recover,” she explains. “I have to be able to wear make-up constantly if I want to be onscreen again.”

She only has light make-up on now — a little foundation and just lip balm — but already she looks fantastic . She tells us that today’s event marks her “eighth make-up trial”. For the past year, Pris has been experimenting with various make-up brands — from organic to vegan, she’s tried them all — to see if she can find a product that would not cause her skin to react negatively. When we last spoke in December, she was about to embark on her fifth make-up trial, which sadly didn’t go too well. Neither did the sixth and seventh trial.

[Ed: A few days after the press con, we texted her to see how the last trial went. She replied: “Nah, it flopped” along with the grinning face with sweat emoji.]

But Pris remains upbeat and positive. While she still can’t bring herself to be in front of the camera — “I caught a glimpse of myself [on camera and without make-up], and I just can’t,” she says — she has found new passion being behind it.

Her directorial debut, Soul Connection, stars Cheryl Wee and Darryl Yong, and is set to air this month on Ch U. She had fully immersed herself in the project, including writing the script — a digital love story about a jaded woman who discovers new meaning in life through a dating app and a food delivery guy.

She tells us that the “essence” of Soul Connection comes from the life lessons she had learned from battling her health condition over the past two years. For her next project, Pris is set to flex her writing abilities again, this time for a Toggle series.

Goes to show that when life gives you lemons, you just have to make it write.

8 DAYS: How did you feel when you were putting on make-up this morning?
PRISCELIA CHAN: I told myself not to think about it ’cos the past few days had been quite bad. I was very disappointed about the last trial, which happened last week. But I managed to pick myself up again.
What happened?
The reaction wasn’t… encouraging. It was actually worse than the sixth time. You know, if the reaction turned out milder, than I would have felt more encouraged. But it got worse.
Sorry to hear that. How are you feeling about today’s trial then?
(Smiles) I will only know 12 hours later. But since I need to look presentable for today’s event, which to me is a form of respect for my co-workers, I decided that I would just [wear make-up] lor. Try a different brand lor. No choice (smiles).
How does it feel having to do all these trials?
It’s very depressing when it fails.
So how do you deal with each failure?
It’s all about soul connection lor (guffaws). It’s true! You have to give yourself the courage to pick yourself up. And to look out for the light that gives you the joy again. And… just focus on that. Then you’ll get out [of that rut].

What type of make-up can’t you wear exactly?
I think foundation. And lipstick. But I’m also not sure exactly why and what. People have been telling me to go for patch tests… but… there are so many ingredients in make-up! And I’ve done my fair share of research. The only way to do a make-up trial is on my face. Several people have also been hooking me up with their brands, so okay (smiles). But I do hope this one succeeds.
What about not wearing foundation?
(Laughs) Cannot. I’m also quite a perfectionist, you know.
But you look good now!
But going on TV is different. Especially from a director’s view point. I don’t want to come back like that. I’d rather stay behind the scenes! (Laughs)
Will you be attending this year’s Star Awards?
Yes, I will. But the make-up part… I don’t know yet. I’m just going to take a leap of faith and see what happens. Maybe I’ll have very light make-up again.

Have you thought about creating your own line of make-up?
(Shakes her head) Nah…. there are just so many elements to make-up. I can’t even wear make-up that contains zero chemicals. So it's going to be quite hard [to create something]. Why don’t you do a poll for me? Can Priscelia Chan pull off an Alicia Keys? (Laughs)
I’m sure everyone will say yes.
Don’t think so. Some people will surely say no. (Laughs) But I really like Alicia Keys. I think she is even more beautiful without make-up.
I read that her skincare routine is very expensive and that she’s very serious about taking good care of her complexion.
She’s awesome ’cos not everyone dares to pull off the no make-up look.
Actually, how bad a reaction from make-up are you talking about here? ’Cos your skin looks great now.
That’s ’cos I have make-up on! (Laughs) But, for example, my lips will crack. It’s like an allergy thing.
Is the reaction from make-up so bad that you can’t shrug it off and continue wearing make-up?
You wouldn’t want to. Not after what happened to me the last time. ’Cos after one round of flare ups, you need to let the body rest as it is fighting hard to get back the balance. And after what I’ve been through, I just don’t want to push it.

How has the reaction been since we ran the story about what happened to you the past two years?
I’ve had a lot of people messaging me on Instagram, people telling me that they also suffer from the same problem. They also ask for what holistic methods I’ve used and so I share with them what I know. But different bodies work differently, so I hope they are not overly hopeful too. Just listen to your own body.
Yeah what works for you, might not for them.
That’s right. I also told them that they have to stay really positive ’cos the power of the mind can work wonders.
Earlier at the press conference, one of the producers said on stage that everyone is waiting eagerly for you to return to acting. What goes through your mind when you hear encouragement like that?
It’s something they’ve been telling me for the past two years. I have had to let go of so many projects and each time I had to turn a role down, it hurt. Whenever I go back to Mediacorp, I’ll see my co-workers and colleagues and they would say similar stuff to me. So the love is very encouraging. I don’t want to get overly emo here but I really feel it. And I really hope to be able to start acting again.

We hear you’re writing another script again.
Yeah, it’s for Toggle. The scriptwriter invited me onboard so I’m just channeling my energy into that. I can’t say much about it now but [the show] is going to be an hour long, two episodes. So it’s like an extension of this project… Woohoo! (Guffaws) From 30 minutes to an hour! I’ve got more time to write more things! (Laughs)
In a way, because of what happened to you, you’ve discovered a whole new skill set.
Yes. That’s why I say, it’s serendipity. It flows and you really just have to have the courage to let go and see where life takes you. Actually this directing thing, it just happened. A director may seem like he has the most control, but he also has the least control ’cos he can’t control so many things at once. And yet at that point, you make the best decisions. Things will happen in the most unexpected ways and you become more beautiful. So maybe that’s what life is all about. That maybe I have to go through this incubator project and that it’s God telling me, “No, you can’t go back to acting yet. Not yet. Write another story first. Learn more.” Maybe it’s like that. (Smiles)
Now that you haven’t been working, how is it like financially?
Yeah… I did tell [my husband] Alan that he has to support me for this period. And he said, “Yes, I’ve already signed a contract to.” (Laughs)
Have you thought about doing something else in the meantime to earn more money, while you fully recover?
Like what? I mean the incubator project and writing the Toggle story is like pocket money here and there. But yeah, I really need to come back and start earning my money again. (Laughs)

Priscelia’s Soul Connection airs Mar 29, 9pm on Ch U and Toggle.

PHOTOS: Kevin Lau/ 8days.sg