They call us brown skin girls. we're neither dark, yellow nor white. We're just us. Sometimes, we see ourselves as colour palettes, showcasing the blend of every stunning colour created by God. As one of the brown skin gals, I feel my skin tone is mixture of milk and honey, combined with my ancestral heritage, some melanin warmth, the kisses of the sun and my unique beauty.
To maintain my skin, I'm one of the few that don't put too much efforts. I am a minimalist when it comes to my skincare. I don't like to be too conscious of my skin. So, I don't overwhelm my skin with products. I only use one body-cream product after a warm bath and I glow.
My View
Contrary to popular assumption, my minimalist approach isn't only driven by budget constraints. I simply dislike excess products because of the harshness of some chemicals. Many encounter more skin challenges in their quest to have a glow skin. Some products contain harsh substance that give them clogged pores, irritation and the acnes, and the likes. Some products even bleach beyond recognition while some give uneven tone.
Sometime ago, I got intimidated in my hostel. My roommates and their friends constantly made fun of me. I, innocently would display my less expensive cream on the shelf, only for everyone to come me and asked, "who used this kind of cream?. My body cream was just equivalent to $2. I then decided to look into their own kinds of skincare products and their prices. Alas! Some cost 4-6times of mine. I decided to visit a cosmetics shop where they recommended some expensive skin products for me. I was so glad, I thought I had joined the classy lady gang until strange marks started appearing on my body weeks after using it
Also, talking about the financial implications, we cannot deny the fact that most skincare products consume money. One can easily burn his or her savings on products if care is not taken. So, I only spend little on my skin and save the rest for other things. The cream I use now especially, cost less than $3 and I'm glowing.
I also dislike the "back to square one syndrome" – where skin reverts to its original state once products are stopped. This can be frustrating and costly. Imagine investing in expensive products, only to lose your glow when you can't afford them. That is betrayal! I'd rather maintain a simple, sustainable natural routine, like:
-Taking healthy foods: I eat a lot of vegetables from my garden and I drink enough water which keeps me hydrated. I also take beans, this I learnt from the story of Daniel in the Bible. He was only eating beans and vegetables and he was glowing. I think it's also working for me.
I equally take fruits and I can say I'm healthy and glowing. I also do not expose myself to too much sun: I sometimes use sun shades and I am not ashamed to use my umbrella whenever the sun is scorching.
Aside sun burn, I also avoid too much oil in my meal. I noticed pimples pop up on my skin when I take much oil in my food. I love melon soup but I have reduced too much intake. I now make the soup at intervals. In fact, money spent on skin care can be a waste if we're not mindful of what we eat. Above all, I believe whatever happens in the blood can affects the skin. If the blood is not purified, there can be an outbreak on the skin. More reason I don't just focus on the surface or buy lots of skincare products. I rather consume healthy food and lots of fruits. Now, I am 30 but looking 20. Isn't that amazing?
All photos were taken by me.
