I am blessed to work in an industry where we focus on skin, so I would be remised if I didn’t share with you some gems I’ve learned along the way. I sometimes feel as if I have found the “fountain of youth”. I love getting carded when I’m at the restaurant and when I’m shopping with my son getting mistaken for his sister…heck sometimes even his girlfriend. Trust me this hasn’t come easy all through high school and most of my adult years I’ve struggled with acne and hyperpigmentation. I still have occasional breakouts here and there, but they definitely aren’t what they use to be. So I am sharing with you my go-to’s for all my beauty needs…it’s simple as 1-2-3.
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My number #1 Secret: I keep my circle small…smaller circle less drama. I tend to have breakouts when I’m stressed or detoxing so if you have toxic friends cut them loose.
#2: Watch what you eat! While I love carbs…my skin and waistline don’t. They cause bloating and inflammation for me so I try to consume in moderation. Oh, and water is a must—I try to drink half my body weight in ounces. For example, if you weight 130#…that’s 65 ounces of water daily. Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure there are no contraindications.
Now let’s get to the easy stuff! Now let’s get to the easy stuff!
#3: If you have acne-prone skin it is a must to have a non-comedogenic cleanser—they help avoid clogging your pores. My favorite go-to’s are Equate Hydrating Cleanser and Cetaphil! They keep my skin clean and hydrated all at the same time. I only use in the morning.
#4: I don’t leave home without it sunscreen…I apply it immediately after washing my face and up to 3 times a day.
One of the biggest, most unfortunate myths black people have passed down through generations is that we don’t need to wear sunscreen. No seriously, somewhere along the line, we convinced ourselves that thanks to all this wonderful melanin, we can’t get sunburned and therefore sunscreen is a non-issue. But the thing is, this is only partly true. While melanin does serve as the skin’s means of protection against damaging UV rays (basically the more melanin, the more protection), having an abundance of melanin doesn’t make our skin sun damage-proof. It is still essential to wear sunscreen, no matter how dark your skin is. When UV rays penetrate your skin, it causes cell damage and in response, your body produces more melanin in the form of a tan. Tans don’t mean that suddenly your skin has a suit of armor against the sun, in fact it is indicative that you probably need to layer on the sunscreen to prevent further damage. Experts suggest that you should wear SPF 30 or higher when spending time in the sun and reapply every couple of hours. Not only will wearing sunscreen lower your risk of skin cancer,it will also help keep your skin looking vibrant and youthful. People of color are less prone to wrinkles as a result of skin damage, but we are prone to hyperpigmentation, textured skin, uneven tone, and dark patches. If you are someone who notices any of these skin challenges, try incorporating sunscreen into your routine. Even if your skin is perfect, layer on the sunscreen just to be safe (remember, prevention is always better than cure). UV rays are unavoidable, which means that wearing sunscreen simply isn’t negotiable. Give your skin the TLC it deserves, simply by adding a little sunscreen into the mix, your skin will thank you. I definitely have some favorites…but my all-time go-to is Oil of Olay Total Effects and when I can find it on sale Perricone MD Photo Plasma. I swear by these…I’ve been wearing sunscreen religiously since 2012 and my skin has been glowing ever since. I have recently added Eva Natural Skin Clearing Serum and it has my skin feeling and looking so amazing. I attribute that to the Vitamin C boost.
#5: I don’t use lotion…I use apricot oil! Can you believe it—it’s Crisco just with a better smell. I use it all over my body excluding my face right after I get out of the shower. At night after I wash my face with water only I apply Vitamin E oil(another game changer)!
#6: Finally because I don’t wear make-up…maybe cause I don’t know how to apply it or just because it’s too messy I have my two favorite products that I think make my face really pop…Red Lippie and Eyebrow Pomade.
While this regimen may not be appropriate for all skin types this has definitely help me keep my skin glowing. I recommend doing a small patch test on the skin when trying any new products. Click here to find a local Dermatologist. I hope this has been insightful and please leave me your comments below. Omniley
*All thoughts and recommendations are from my own experiences and this is not a sponsored post.
