Greetings!
I won't lie, I have wished many times that I were dark in complexion because I would have done away with anything cream or body maintenance. After all, I'm a guy, and we—those of us who grew up in rural areas—see things like using expensive creams, or even average-budget ones, as a waste of money. It doesn't typically have much effect on our bodies since the intense sunlight we experience while working on the farm tends to neutralize the cream's effects.
When I left my home village for school after gaining admission, I began to see the importance of using cream. Even though I have a fair complexion, the everyday sunlight was still taking its toll on my skin, making me look darker despite my light complexion. So, I decided to start using cream. Since I wasn't familiar with creams, I sought advice on what type to buy. To my surprise, the recommended creams were always expensive to me, but others saw them as normal. This was likely because I wasn't accustomed to using anything beyond the general cream we used at home. After much consideration, I decided to go for the cheapest among the recommended creams. Unfortunately, it left me bleached, and I hated it so much that I ended up throwing it away. I noticed that my skin reacts quickly to creams that work well for others, yet they seem to bleach me.
Ever since that experience, I haven't paid much attention to creams. I also realized that the skin receives special care when it's not subjected to the stress of daily intense sunlight like I used to experience in the village.
As funny and odd as this may sound, until recently, I was using "anointing oil"—as we fondly call it in church—as my daily cream. It served as my hair cream, body cream, and also as a spiritual substance. This is why, whenever I buy this oil for church events, I check carefully, especially the expiry date and the quality, to avoid getting the type that sticks to the skin or gives off an unpleasant smell. I became known for using this oil, and it worked for me so well without breaking the bank. Just N500, and I'd have enough to last me months before needing to buy another one.
Earlier this year, I decided to adapt to the modern lifestyle by buying a proper cream for my body. I thought about many options, sought recommendations, and all of them came with price tags well beyond my monthly earnings. Each time, I was shocked at how much people spend to maintain their skin. Finally, I settled on one that cost me N2,000, and I've been using it since the beginning of the year. It comes in a large volume and should last me a long time—potentially from year to year before I need to buy another. I still use the "anointing oil" for my hair, which works perfectly because the hair needs something oily.
Thanks for reading.
This is my entry #Kiss prompt of the week
Photos used are mine and the thumbnail was designed on canva