FLAWLESS.. IN 2014.
By now not only are we familiar with Beyonce’s ‘Flawless’ track, we probably are guilty of posting selfies
on instagram with the caption “I woke up like this’.
Only problem is, we actually didn’t wake up that way! Most of us have perfected the art of making up to
look un-made up. A lot of effort striving to convince people that we are naturally perfect. Sound like I’m
talking to you perhaps? Starting to feel guilty? Don’t be.
We at style Me Africa understand that elusive concept of perfection. And we’ve got your back. This
beauty column is dedicated to all of you out there, who like me, are constantly striving for continous
improvement, not perfection, just realistic and natural enhancement. In this column we will bring you
ideas drawn from personal experiences, features and tips that wont break the bank and are guaranteed
to accentuate you.
So lets kick this off with the very basics of how to get that flawless skin in 2014.
1.
Good news: Mama always said to start with the good news so that it’ll act as a buffer for the
bad news! Our skin -African American, Afro Caribbean, Indian, Sri Lankan and other parts of
South Asia, is naturally protected against UV damage. This doesn’t mean that we should never
use sunscreen; it just means that our skin doesn’t age as quickly as our other contemporaries
do. Our pigmentation also acts as a natural coverage against different types of skin conditions
such as redness. (We aren’t really able to blush in that rather adorable way, are we?). Also, ever
notice how it seems as though we don’t really have cellulite? Yeah? No, we do! Our
pigmentation is just better at concealing it than other races. So first of all, love yourself, love
your skin and its tone, love your own unique shade of black.
2. Exfoliate: Not with the run-of-the-mill apricot,
honey and coconut scrubs. With Microdermabrasion. I
recently went to this uber posh dermatologist in Victoria
Island and my first microdermabrasion session. It was
divine! My skin felt soft, supple and smooth within
seconds. And what’s more, it totally took out all the
already existing, almost existing and intending-to-erupt
acne. Microdermabrasion is a totally painless skinbuffing treatment and one session could give your skin a big boost. You really can’t get
comparable exfoliation to microdermabrasion over the counter or at your local supermarket. I
recommend it once a month for that soft and smooth feel.
3. Sunscreen: Sunscreen!!! SPF 32. I cannot emphasize it enough. Our
skin has a natural resistance to the ultra violet rays but that doesn’t mean we
should wear it out. Sunscreen is so important, especially in our very humid
and hot climate. A daily use of sunscreen actually does a lot to improve the condition of your
skin. I personally use a moisturizer-sunscreen combination. The other good thing about
sunscreen is you can wear it under your daily make up and it doesn’t cause your make up to feel
heavy, caked, cracked, oily, dry etc. It still gives you that youthful glow.
4. Diet: It’s not a myth. It’s a fact. Beauty is literally skin deep so what you eat determines how you
look. A diet rich in antioxidants and vitamins is considered good for your skin. So load up on
apples, strawberrie, tomatoes and spinach especially. Apples are rich in vitamin C and help to
firm and tone the skin as well as prevent free-radical damage. It also protects your skin cells and
delays any signs of ageing. Strawberries are good because they bring a healthy radiance to the
skin whilst tomatoes have an antioxidant called lycopene which acts as a sunscreen from within
and also has anti-ageing properties. Yep. It also is naturally acidic so applying its pulp to a pimple
causes the skin to dry and the pores of the skin in the region get tightened. Spinach is loaded
with antioxidants which can help reduce the onset of wrinkles making it a good anti-ageing
product. It also strengthens your skin tissue and has anti-inflammatory properties which helps
flush out the toxins.
5. Invest in a makeup remover: I personally use a very potent facial wash. I am yet to find
something, anything that really takes make up off as effectively as facial washes. We all get
those nights when we come back home dead tired and all we want to do is sleep. We reckon
one night with make up on will not do a lot of damage. Wrong! It will! So try to resist that
temptation this year and watch your face transform. Invest in a suitable wash but don’t use a
washcloth, loofah or any other abrasive material to wash your face. Washing with your hands is
perfectly acceptable, and will lower the irritation you might get with an abrasive material. Wash
once in the morning and once at night especially if you have very oily skin, or numerous pimples.
Don’t forget to moisturize after every wash. Washing your face with a facial cleanser sucks all
the natural oils from your face. Clear, beautiful skin is hydrated skin.
6.
Drink plenty of fluids: Try to drink 8 glasses of fluids, preferably
water, every day! Avoid soft drinks, caffeine and coffee. Green/herbal tea is rich in antioxidants,
which protect cells in your body from damage.
Here’s to hoping that the next time we indulge in ‘I woke up like this’ selfies, we actually did
wake up flawless!