Your Skin... Your Health, Your Wealth. By Mariam Toyin Lawal

           @reeshcosmetics

The skin is the largest organ of the body. Of all the most expensive fashion items we wear, our skin is the permanent fixture that stays with us all through our lifetime.

Great skin is not simply a matter of DNA - our daily habits and skincare choices have a big impact on what we see in the mirror. Great skin starts from within, there's a popular saying that "if you are comfortable from your home or not, we look at your skin". Your skin is a reflection of your health, diet and will depict your wealth status from outside.

Skincare is the range of practices that we engage in, to support skin's integrity, its appearance and relieve skin conditions. Its a deliberate and consistence practice targetted towards a skin goal. The goal of any skincare routine is to tune up your complexion so it's functioning at its best, and also target any areas you want to work on.

As an individual, our skin goal differs, while a glowing natural skin tone attracts one, a whitened skin is another person's goal. While skin whitening will give the instant attractiveness and beauty we crave for, its short term!   it damages our skin such that the skin cells aged faster and we look much older than our real age! As they say "Blacks don't crack" . Toning your skin to achieve a glow is desirable by all but always bear in mind that our skin has permissible stretch limits,  once we cross the line, trouble sets in and leads to severe, sometimes irreparable damages.

Here are some tips on how to nurture and achieve a glowing skin that last a lifetime:

- POWER OF WATER:

Aim to drink a minimum of 4 bottles of 75cl water daily (3 litres). Simply put - the skin is like a flower, when you plant, you need to add water inside to allow it to blossom outside. When the plant is dehydrated, it looks pale on the outside and can die. It's exactly the same effect on the skin. Drink plenty of water and see how your skin bloom. Simplest but the best. Start your day with warm lemon water.

- Eating Healthy and Exercise

We are familiar with the expert advice to eat Proteins, fruits , vegetables, walnuts, fish, citrus, spinach,  less sugar, less soda, less alcohol, quit smoking, taking 30-minutes walk daily etc. While our hustling may be a barrier,  making the right nutritional and lifestyle choices have to be INTENTIONAL.

- SKINCARE ROUTINE

Adopt a skincare routine that suits your skin goal. Follow correct order of product application, from thinnest to thickest, morning and night routine, weekly exfoliations, monthly facials, etc (fully discussed next time). Adopt make up free days and let your skin breathe. Remain Persistent.

- VITAMINS SUPPLEMENTS

We need lots of nutrients, it may be hard to get everything in our food alone. Supplements help to compensate for ingredients missing in our everyday diet for glowing skin, great hair, strong nails. Biotin, Vitamin C, Collagen, Fish oil, Zinc, etc

Summarily, achieving the goal of a successful glowing skin has the same rules as achieving other life goals: CLARITY - what is your aim, this will guide you towards lifestyle and product choices to stock. glowing or whitening?  INTENTIONAL- eat, drink, use products and adopt a lifestyle that supports your skin goal.  PERSISTENCE & CONSISTENCY- Give it time to get results. Be patient, don't change products out of impatience, (except if irritation occurs) Use a product consistently over a period of 6 - 12 weeks before switching.

 It's my intention to inform, never to dissuade or discriminate against any skin decisions. This advice shouldn't replace that of a licensed medical practitioner.

Remain Beauty-full....