Beauty Edition - V Day Special

Normally I keep the knowledge of beauty to myself, but an artistic muse just inspired me. After all my nature is Venusian.I won't reveal everything though. In the past couple of years I've seen less than competent people start questionable beauty trends .The good ones are tricker to find. There are also less than ethical people who have no qualms stealing other people's original thoughts and ideas and passing it off as their own. I'm here to expose the truth, my penchant for journalism in full display.

My interest in beauty sprung due to my mother who learnt the trade and had a beauty parlour for a year when I was around 7 years old . So around 13 years, I became interested in beauty make-up etc. My mom told me wait only 12. I lived in a culture ( this was early to mid 1990s and in a less modern town) that thought that lipstick and your attire enticed men . It is usually always the women's fault so they got to dim their light. This is important. If I choose to dress up and take care of myself, its for me .

I had dreams of being a model for the longest time and I even made it to the first audition round of the local beauty contextMiss India Canada way back in 2009. It was late for a model but I looked young. I was the only one in a pencil skirt, everybody else was in traditional attire. That didn't stop me. I had freedom to wear what I wanted without winning any competions or be upheld to any unrealistic beauty standards.

That was a version of me I no longer recognize. Life decisions, life expereinces and stress took its toll on me. It was harder to start accepting that nothing lasts forever, not even the body you are in. This is important because most people think I have it all, but I've had to work pretty hard at it. My youth passed me by since it was spent in studying, earning a living and learning a lot of valuable life lessons along the way. The only memorable experience was a dance class in my mid 20s but the problem was I was more content curating my own unique music playlist and choregraphing it in privacy.

My background in Biology and Psychology helped me develop critical thinking and question things. It's quite hard to convince me unless I see proof.

• Firstly skin care starts from the inside so what you eat, drink, consume, exercise ,daily habits (smoking , alcohol, sleep, humidity levels ), stress etc affect it.

Skin is like a living plant or animal. How you take care of it shows.

Often genetic factors play a role in conditions like eczema, pigmentation. For these conditions, please consult a certified dermatologist.

• Make-up should be used sparingly to enhance your features, not to hide any distorted perceptions of yourself.

By that I mean one should be comfortable in their own skin.The unfortunate reality is that some make-up have artificial or harmful chemicals. It should be always removed before you sleep no matter how tired you may be.

• A 3 step routine to take care of your skin is sufficent unless you are on TV or showbusiness.

Cleanse, Tone and Moisturize

• Know your skin type - Oily, Combination, Dry

Now comes the interesting part and some people will not like it:

• Skin does not care about being glowy or dewy.

It cares more about being cleansed and hydrated. We tone it to balance the pH levels or control the sebum production.

If it naturally glows from the inside out since it is hydrated and you are happy from the inside then that is a good sign.

It may look nice in the short term or on K - Drama so I am for those products but I won't spend too much of my time or money to achieve that look.

• Skeptical of Brigtening and Fairness Products

Have you noticed none of the actors/actresses on K Drama are dark skinned ?

If you know the history of Eastern cultures- India, China, Korea, Japan - fairness is considered to be beautiful.

• Vitamin C is something that is produced from inside the body by eating fruits/vegetables rich in it andhelps the immune system so when I see Vitamin C Serums taking over shelves, I too was curious and enticed.

So I've tried an experimental approach to keep an open mind. I questioned the trend- if Vitamin C is good , what if I put drops of lemon juice when I inhale steam . Technically it is a cheaper way of my skin to absorb Vitamin C from the outside instead of spending money on expensive creams that I cannot afford.

If I'm inhaling it, the aroma should hit my brain quicker to improve my mood ?

Citrus smells are supposed to enhance mood.

• The important ingredients are Hyalauronic acid , Collagen and Retinol.

You don't have to spend a lot of money for the raw ingredients. Getting 10 -20 ml bottles is better than masks that cost more for the volume.

I credit this to a person whom I used know some time back who taught me the chemical difference between the brand name and no brand name medication. However, the brands that suit you depend on your unique chemistry with the brand.

If you can afford brand names, that's fine but the difference is not that exponential. Sometimes a brand name has multiple ingredients however the tradeoff is the volume of the jar. You are paying more for the 15 ml/30 ml jar.

• Do your own research ( not on Tik Tok videos or where people are selling products).

Read a couple to notice commonalities.

Below is my observations based on my experimental approach in the last year since I am approaching another decade.

The below 3 ingredients are good to start off with in your mid 30s. You could start it early but I think timing is crucial. Until your mid 30s, eating healthy,exercise and managing stress levels is more crucial. We should always give the body a chance to heal or repair itself. Keep in mind as you age further, other ingredients become important.

Skin is a external protective barrier so whatever you do affects the "top soil" layer. What you do inside - eat, control stress hormone - cortisol levels etcis more effective in the long haul. Stress is the worst, much worse than aging.

• Hyalauronic acid

Better for colder climates in winter ,unless you have dry skin.

I started off with masks and then tried a non-brand name . Right now I'm trying out a US -Korean brand that was affordable for my budget.

• Collagen

Collagen is something useful inside and outside the body. My Biology background helped me think about it critically. I just started using it a few months ago but I have used the masks a few years back a few times a year. I yet have to take a deep dive into the inner workings of the ingredient.

• Retinol.

My research yielded that it stimulates production of collagen and helps in cell turnover. The only important detail to remember is that you can't expose to sunlight ,so it is better to include it in your night time beauty routine.

• Sun exposure at certain peak times is bad for you

Avoid the sun at peak times 12-3 in the Tropics ( 12-4 in the Northen Latitudes)

Some of the mellow sun is good for us since it stimulates Vitamin D production. Severe sun exposure over a long period of time can cause sunburns and skin pigmentation problems. Unless your skin naturally produces melanin as an antidote.

I yet have to look more into the effects of tanning .

If you have noticed, the Asian women avoid the sun by wearing special hats that cover most of their face ?

• Skeptical of Anti-Aging products

You can't fight aging for too long. You can delay it but the thing is do you want to age gracefully or via artifical means ?

After mid 30s, the body and skin start changing more rapidly. The only antidote is how you maintain it by taking care of it and how you accept it as it is.

• Exercise to maintain your body and become strong ,not for the superficial aspects of taking less space or looking ripped

I won't deny that superficial aspects like ripped and well toned muscles look good in the short term, but I tend to look deeper. Mental acumen ,Openess and Humor turns me on over the long term.

How strong is my body ?

Can I walk or climb stairs without panting ?

Can I shovel snow,lift grocery bags, winter tires to take to the car mechanic, haul furniture, move boxes while residences, bend to pick up things without pulling a muscle etc.

Ladies , you are going to crack at this - how many men ( from South Asia since I know their behavior better than the rest) do you see lifting weights at the gym but need to be reminded to lift a finger to help you with the household chores ? i.e it does not come from their own volition :)

Last but not the least

• We don't have to be exactly like the celebrities or supermodels and have perfect bodies or live their lifestyles, thinking they have it all.

It just needs to be well maintained like the inside of a car engine and perhaps the manicured look of the perfect lawn.

I'm hard to impress but Olay and its jars of Retinol has made me a fan. I'm about to experiment the Olay Vitamin C Serum in a day or 2. I'm not sure about L'Oreal even though they are affordable. They are a tad better than Neutrogena. I was only impressed with Neutrogena's gel cream. I do use the classic creams more often whilst I save the Olay for Februrary and September, December. Classic creams that have stood the test of time - Ponds, Nivea, St. Ives etc.

It's years of experimenting that I have come to the conclusion. I balance Olay with Cera Ve since my skin is both sensitive and dry and as a teenager I had eczema ( very dry skin ). Always test the facial product on the inner side of your wrist to see whether you are allergic to it.

I'm starting to care a little about my hair especially when I go swimming and the chlorine changes the texture.

February is a month when I focus on Beauty and taking care of myself so hope you enjoyed reading this piece and it inspires you in some way and you can prepare for a sizzling summer.