One day, while I was on a bike, I greeted my mother’s friend, but she didn’t reply. When I got home, the woman said she didn’t recognise me because my complexion had changed. I would have thought she was being malicious, but she wasn’t the first person to comment on my skin changing, and not for the better.
If you’re anything like me, you get skincare recommendations from social media and friends. I didn’t have any specific skin condition, but I wanted my skin to have that healthy glow. So, I decided to expand my skincare routine. I added a new mist toner, an oil promising to reduce fine lines, an eye cream, and a moisturiser.
For two months, I religiously applied these products morning and night. However, I noticed my hyperpigmentation worsened. My face only felt oily and sweaty throughout the day, and there was absolutely no true glow in sight.
I spent a lot of time thinking about the potential cause. Since I had just purchased several new skincare items, it was nearly impossible to pinpoint which one was the culprit. I decided to go back to basics and only use my trusted sunscreen, which I had been using for years, and vaseline for my feet and hands (as they tend to get ashy). After only a week, I noticed my skin started to glow again, and the positive comments flowed.

This isn’t to dismiss the effectiveness of skincare; it’s essential and it works. But what did I learn from this experience?
Don’t buy products based solely on social media hype; consult a dermatologist or skin aesthetician
Every day, someone online shares their amazing experiences with a product, making it incredibly tempting to jump on the bandwagon. While a product might work wonders for others, it may not be suitable for you. Instead, consider consulting a dermatologist or skin aesthetician to get recommendations tailored to your specific skin needs. The damage that wrong products can inflict on your skin may be more than you can anticipate.
I probably bought fake or counterfeit products
I hate to admit it, but there are many counterfeit skincare products out there, and it’s possible I didn’t purchase the genuine items. I recently watched a TikTok video highlighting the differences between fake and original products, and to my dismay, my moisturiser turned out to be the fake one.
I didn’t need that many skincare products
There’s a tendency to overconsume skincare products, you don’t need a 10-step skincare routine. We often buy new items before finishing others, or we rush to buy trending products, but our skin is capable of taking care of itself to a certain extent. You primarily need to drink enough water, sleep well, sleep on clean sheets, eat a healthy diet, and make a conscious effort to protect your skin from the sun.
Now that my skin has regained its glow, I’m not going to stop buying skincare products altogether because I know my skin has the potential to look even better. However, I need to be certain about the products I choose – not only that they are right for my skin type, but also that they are authentic.
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Feature image by Crea8iveicon from Pexels
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