Everything on Skincare & Beauty
- Deborah Ope
- Nov 10, 2019
- 6 min read
For the longest time and for as long as I can remember, I've gotten compliments regarding how great and smooth my skin is. Now for the most part, it's good ol' genetics at play that I got from my mom and I'm honestly grateful for but sometimes take for granted. I have normal skin; it doesn't get too oily or dry and I rarely ever break out unless triggered by change of environment or weather. Nevertheless, I still feel the need to take good care of my skin to ensure that it stays that way and ages gracefully. I thought I'd share some of the products I use regularly as part of my skin care regimen that may be of benefit to some. I don't use too many products and I'll be honest, that advice that drinking water is the secret to great skin is total bullshit. I mean stay hydrated, water is great for you, it just doesn't correlate to skin hydration. Check out the Refinery29 post on Beauty “Truths” We Now Know Are BS to find out more. I'm aware everyone's different and that each skin type needs a different form of attention but overall I believe in the simple approach; less is more. Cardinal rule: Don't touch your face and more importantly don't let others touch your face.
Body Wash
When it comes to body wash I try to go as simple as possible while looking for the best scent. I'll start by saying that I shy away from bar soaps even though there are some really nice ones because they require more maintenance by keeping dry and cleaning to avoid bacteria (It's just not the most sanitary option for me). Shower gels with their packaging have a very easy use and make for a smooth cleansing routine. I follow the general rule of not using too many products with assortments such as microbeads that are found in soaps, toothpastes and scrubs. Microbeads are made from plastic which do not dissolve in water after you bathe or shower. They're bad for the environment as the plastic affects our oceans and animals. Aside from that, although they make a great exfoliant, I prefer not to do too much by using products that could harsh. Simplicity is everything. So here are some of the soaps I use below.
Dove body wash is quite affordable and accessible from CVS, Target, Boots to Superdrug (currently on sale here, link above). It's sulfate free which is important because a lot of cleansing products have sulfates which are harsh cleansing agents and can cause skin and eye irritation depending on the level of sulfate. They have a variety of options to choose from but again try to avoid soaps and exfoliants with microbeads.
If you are looking to splurge more on quality shower gel, Neutrogena Rainbath is definitely the way to go. It's been my mom's go-to for years so every now and then I steal and use hers (sorry!). It has a wonderful perfume smell and the aesthetically pleasing packaging would also fit nicely in your bathroom. It is not as accessible as Dove and I'm yet to spot it in the U.K. However, you can easily get it at your local Ulta beauty, Walgreens, Walmart or Target (Huge tip, you can purchase the large 40 oz. gel from Sam's Club).
Facial Wipes
With my face, and this has always been a preference, I do my best to keep the product use to a minimum and this is mostly because I don't like things on my face. Ideally you should wash your face twice a day, which is in the morning when you wake up and at night before you go to bed. I fortunately have good genetics on my side so I have nice smooth skin and I don't use makeup (with the exception of some lip gloss and eyebrow pencil every now and then). So with that I prefer to use facial wipes after every shower and at night, if I did my brows or had a night out. I give my face a wash if I've had a more active day or I feel the need to just cleanse my pores every now and then but I've found it important not to over cleanse and even spot changes with breakout rashes when I do. These are the facials that wipes I use everyday as part of my daily routine. Partly because I tried them and they worked fine so I didn't bother testing many others and also because I didn't find them to be as oily.
Simple Wipes are quite affordable and there are always deals on them. You can easily find them at your local drug store like CVS, Boots, Walgreens or neighborhood Target or Tesco. It's great for sensitive skin in that it's not too oily, while having a soft texture and it doesn't have any harsh chemicals. You could also use it to remove your makeup if you err on the side of minimum makeup, otherwise it's better to use a makeup remover.
Burt's Bees has a great moisture as wipes. The different scents, white tea extract, cucumber extract and grapefruit are very soothing and don't overwhelm the senses. I like to use the tea extract cause it has great antioxidants and the grapefruit smells wonderful. The wipes are quite affordable and the 30 count towelettes means that you definitely get your money's worth because they're a lot more than other wipes. I wouldn't say they're difficult to find but they're not as accessible other brands. You should be able to find them at like a Target or CVS if they're stocked (apparently Sainsbury's carries them. Yet to see this).
Body Moisturizer
I'm all about moisturizing your skin daily. I think its the secret to youthful skin. They say black don't crack and it's because black people know how to moisture and don't hold back. I'm honestly not too picky about which lotion I use for any other reason than I've fallen into a routine. However I tend to pick lotions that are not too thick so its easy to moisturize and not too thin where it feels like I'm not getting enough. All in all, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. I have pretty normal skin so I've used anything from Nivea, Jergens to E45. Lately these are the products I've been leaning towards.
Trader Joe's and coconut oil are ultimately the two best things you can join together to create happiness. Trader Joe's is known for making its own organic products at affordable prices and the coconut oil is no different. It's rich in content, multi-purpose as you can use it for cooking as well. I use it for my skin and hair everyday once I get out the shower. It just gives off that rich-moisturized glow and is perfect during the winter when your skin just needs that extra shine and moisture. You're not likely to find it anywhere other than Trader Joe's, Amazon and sometimes Walmart (be on the look out).
Aveeno is definitely one of the priciest drug store lotions but there's no denying that its good. I try to look out for the Aveeno containing SPF especially during the summers to get that sunlight protection and the colloidal oatmeal is great for your skin. You can pretty much find this in any store whether is Target, Tesco, CVS or Boots. I have noticed though, that in the UK they tend to carry the much smaller ones unless you check Boots for a larger and more expensive one
Tea Tree Oil
The miracle that is tea tree oil is marvelous. It's a wonderful essential oil that's known to have many benefits from functioning as an antiseptic to heal cuts and burns, to working as a natural deodorizer. I have quite a number of piercing and I use tea tree oil to treat them and sooth any possible inflammation. I also use it to assist with any ingrown hairs and I pretty much utilize it as a home remedy. It's a very strong solution so it's recommended that you dilute with water before use (I don't always). However, I like to buy 100% tea tree oil to make sure I have a full concentration. The minty like smell does not appeal to all but I personally enjoy the herbal and spicy scent that comes with using it. I don't have a specific brand that I use. I tend to grab whatever is available at the drugstore but here are some for your perusal.
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