Last updated on November 22nd, 2023 at 03:14 pm
Stopping makeup and weaning myself of all forms of treatments
One thing that served as a wake-up call apart from the awareness of my declining self-confidence, was also minimalism, I was always tardy, had a whole bag of makeup, and was always seeking the next purchase. After finding minimalism and inculcating it, I became serious about time management and clutter, both of which make-up as a process and as a whole really contributed. At about this time, I got a new foundation and a new set of makeup in 2020 and the foundation didn’t match. It was the last straw for me. I gave everything out since I was unable to sell them. It was the last time that I used makeup until my grandma’s funeral on the 4th of October, 2023.
Of course, I kept up with the skincare products and hydroquinone after quitting make-up. Admittedly, my bacne (acne on the back) significantly improved by merely using Cerave and my skin generally looked more hydrated. But my face which was the main concern seemed to be suffering. So, I kept up with hydration, benzoyl peroxide for breakouts, hydroquinone for hyperpigmentation, and sunscreen for sun protection…until I stopped everything, even sunscreen. The hardest product for me to give up was the hydroquinone cream because it gave my face an even look. It’s now 2023 and I think the last time I used it was in 2021.
Beauty standard
If there’s a beauty standard, it’s wise to know that there’s got to be an exchange if you’d ever meet up. The average woman will never meet up. I started taking a less is more approach seeing as these products weren’t working, I eliminated some products and focused on hydration. At this time, my skin was dry and it looked like it had been through it with the treatments, I was breaking out still.
Where I am now
To me, it was all a wasteful endeavour. If I had to do so much then something was fundamentally wrong and my mindset had to shift. If I had to worry about my products finishing and the need to get new ones, then I wasn’t making progress as a human. What was the worst that would happen if I just allowed my skin to be? If I just existed without the need to fix it? If I allowed myself to enjoy my skin as is?
Right now, I have information about nontoxic products which the average “safe” skincare products still contain. While I’m open to more knowledge, I know that there are many factors that can cause acne. I’m more concerned about the root cause, which is what my skin is telling me, than treating the symptom. Overall, I keep working on healing myself psychologically. I’m perfect as I am. I’m not broken. I’m not going to be part of the aspirants for an unattainable beauty standard. I’m thankful for what my body does for me. I am beautiful.
I now use black soap for cleaning, neem oil for my body, evening primrose oil, which is lighter, for my face, and sometimes aloe vera for some skincare vibes. These may not be the best options seeing as I have more information, but I’m working with what I have. I also use a different towel for my face which I don’t wash with a detergent (I wash it with my body wash—black soap). I also recently adopted a cold water dip in the mornings for my face and warm water at night.
I don’t think I would get to the point of just not attempting anything because, honestly, I enjoy taking care of myself even beyond my skin. But I’m working on a more intentional mindset. I am curious about my intention with every routine I adopt. I also do not really expose myself to the sun when the UV intensity is high, but I enjoy the sun in the mornings and evenings. I’m working on a hormone-oriented approach as well, through quality sleep, exercise and movement, diet, etc. For me, I’m keeping it simple and following a normal routine regardless of my supposed to-be-fixed “skin issues”.
