By Kevina “Liz” Mitchell, Employee Benefits Account Specialist
To give context I have two skin issues on opposing sides of the spectrum. If my skin gets too dry there is an inevitable eczematic flair up. If my skin gets too oily, specifically in the T-zone area, I get cystic acne. Middle and High school Picture Day were the stuff of nightmares for me, because in the late 90’s – early 2000’s, there wasn’t the variety of skincare products available like today unless you were willing to sell off pieces of your soul. I think the absolute best at that time was Proactiv…which was too harsh for my skin *laughs in teenage angst*. So, I have a couple of school pictures (that went into the yearbooks) where I have a couple of golf ball sized lumps on my gooey face. They were gross.
Now in 2022, we have skincare products like supermarkets full of food. You can find something for everyone and have a grand ‘ol time! There are products for sensitive skin, medicated ones, Korean skincare (I love it), vegan products, and the list goes on. But before you dive into the actual products, it’s important to have a general understanding of your skin.
Do you have dry, combination, or oily skin? Do you have underlying health issues that affect your epidermis? How does your skin react to the different seasons? These questions are important to answer because if one starts slathering themselves with unknown concoctions willy nilly, well…it could lead to varying degrees of disaster. For example, if your skin is naturally oily and you choose to use an oil-based product, you could find yourself with a sudden outbreak because your pores are extra clogged or you may find that your face is now dripping with oil and making a mess. I am guilty of both.
But once you cross that hurdle you get to swan dive into the world of self-care! Creams, mud masks, toners, mists, cleansers, serums, STEAM! You can steam your FACE!! Clearly I am a huge fan, but there really is something to doing something nice for yourself every once in a while. We’re the only person we can’t get away from so we should be kind to the person we look at in the mirror. Skin care is a great start! It’s where it all started for me.
