Sometimes I feel like a tree when I see how much effort and resources people put into their skincare routine because skincare hasn't changed from what it used to be for me in a long time now. At a time, I felt like it was just ladies doing the extra to look good, but I was wrong. I was completely shocked seeing a male apply two different creams to his face before topping it with oil. He has a different cream for his body, and I was like, really?
Looking good is important, and I don't dispute it, but do we have to go that far just to have good skin? People go to the length of injecting themselves chemicals just to look good, and it's just crazy. It doesn't bother me with adults, but for kids, it gives me headaches. Kids have tender skin, and many parents just apply chemicals to them all in the name of wanting their children's skin to look good.
Growing up, I bet a lot of us didn't know the grammar skincare routine, but we did great with our skin. Many times, people have asked me the things I use for me skin and they think I am secretive when I say nothing. I really do not have the best of skin, but trust me when I say it's good except for the spots on my right hand courtesy of oil splashes when frying.
Having dark skin is a blessing because it requires just little effort to maintain, and even if I weren't black, I wouldn't do more than I am doing now—I can't be competing to shine brighter than the sun.
As a kid, my mom made me understand that caring for the skin doesn't end with applying creams and lotions, it includes the things that pass through our mouth into the belly, and I took her words seriously.
Every food we eat has an impact on our skin, so it's important to always eat what's right so that we won't have to depend on chemicals or a special soap to have beautiful or glowing skin. For my skincare, my favorite routine is eating healthy food and fruit. I can forget applying cream to my body in the morning, but it's impossible for me not to eat, so I make sure that my meals are healthy and not just junk food.
Fruits specifically do a great job when it comes to maintaining good skin, so I don't joke with them. Bananas, watermelon, oranges, and others contain nutrients that can make our skin glow. Vegetables work as well since it's not everyday I eat fruits, and the most important thing is ensuring we eat healthy meals.
I always say that if body cream and lotions are what truly make human skin good, then mine would be worse because it's not everyday I remember to apply cream so the things we eat actually work. In addition, I drink enough water as well because it helps too.
Away from food, I am one of those people who love bathing a lot. I don't spend much time in the bathroom, but I can bathe four times a day if there is a chance to do so. I bathe that much because I have oily skin so that's my way of getting rid of the oil on my pores so that it won't cause me any skin issues. I use antiseptic soap, and anything other than that would immediately cause me rashes. Beauty soap and glowing soap don't work for me, so I just stick with antiseptic soap to keep my skin in a good state.
I use body cream, especially on days when my skin looks too dry because of the weather. Applying cream on a sunny day would only make me sweat a lot, and it's really uncomfortable for me. Most times, I just apply little when necessary and am good.
Nivea lotion has been my thing, and I am very rigid, especially with the cream. You can't convince me to try another, so it's just Nivea for me. One plastic of the cream sometimes lasts 7-8 months because I don't use it every day and my skin still looks well.
I use Aloe vera once in a while since I have a small Aloe vera plant at home. This was my way of combating pimples during my teenage years, and it's still very effective today. I just extract the fluid from the plant and apply it to my face, rinse after some minutes, and that's all.
My wife, being a beautician, helps me apply a face mask, scrub, fruit (cucumber), and others to my face, but you can't see me using these things in her absence. I find them kind of stressful, but they are quite effective too. To keep my skin good, it doesn't require much routine, and it's been like this for a while. It's simple, and I don't see myself making adjustments anytime soon.
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