So…when my godchildren’s mama was given an award recently, I found myself blushing when her male bestie, the stylist and designer of her dress for that evening, found himself surprised when I told him my age. See, he’s a fellow Gemini like I am, and if there is one thing that we ain’t gonna do, pretty much ever, is play around with compliments, just to flatter someone. Nah, if we give you props, we mean it — and so when he told me that I looked great for my age, to the point where he never would’ve guessed that it was what it was, I took that to heart. Be still, it.
And honestly, before even knowing that the word “skinification” even existed, I must say that I must give props to it directly — because that is what’s become a part of my own skincare lifestyle for many years at this point…and yes, it has 1000 percent paid off.
What Is Skinification?
Not familiar with what skinification is? No problem. Keep reading and I’ll break it down for you, along with some ways that you can incorporate it into your own world…so that someone can “oooh” and “ahh” at your skin and how it causes you to look so good…as well.
What I Dig So Much About Skinification
So, here’s the thing about skinification: If I were to use one word to define it, it would probably be “holistic.”
That’s because holistic means “incorporating the concept of holism, or the idea that the whole is more than merely the sum of its parts, in theory or practice” and, at the end of the day, that is what skinification is all about — not focusing on just one part of your skin (like your face) but your skin in its entirety. Because if you really stop to think about it, when it comes to the skincare routine that most of us have, it pretty much includes our face (and hopefully, the neck) — and that’s about it.
The problem with that approach is, our skin is literally the largest organ that we have and so, it’s important that we don’t neglect any part of it. Doing so can lead to all kinds of skin-related chaos including premature aging; sun damage (which happens to us too, chile); irritated skin; dry skin; hypersensitive skin; (more) breakouts; uneven skin tone; hyperpigmentation, and so much more. Meanwhile, skinification is about proactively preventing these issues by applying products, tips, tools and hacks that will help to bring out the best in ALL of your skin.
And that’s what I like so much about skinification; when it’s utilized properly, it helps to — reduce fine lines and wrinkles; soften the appearance of skin scarring; deeply hydrate your skin; balance your skin; restore the pH balance of skin and even slow down the aging of the scalp (since your scalp is a part of your skin), which can ultimately (and significantly) improve the health of your hair.
And since skinification covers so much ground — well, skin — that is why it’s broken up into categories:
- Skin
- Scalp and hair
- Nails
- Oral hygiene
- Preventative sun damage
- Smell goods
Yep, if you’re someone who wants to commit to a skinification routine, you’ve got to make sure that your regimen covers all of these areas. Oh, and if you’re wondering why “smell goods” are on the list, that’s because many perfumes, colognes and even deodorants oftentimes contain chemicals that can dry out your skin which can lead to premature aging and skin damage…which is a part of the reason why I have been sold on essential oils for years now.
How To Incorporate Skinification Into Your Skincare Routine
5 Ways to Add Skinification to Your Skincare Routine
Jacob Lund/Shutterstock
So now that you know what skinification is all about, what are some things that you can do to make it a part of your own skincare routine?
1. Get into some body oils.
Personally, I left body lotions alone a long time ago. Not only can they clog up your pores, many of them contain ingredients that can dry out and even harm your skin (check out “Moisturizers May Be Turning Your Skin Into ‘Swiss Cheese’” sometime). Instead, I nurture my skin with body oils. That’s because ones like marula, turmeric, rosemary, avocado and grapeseed have properties in them that will deeply nourish and hydrate my skin without any side effects in the process.
And, as a bonus, while you shouldn’t lotion your scalp (it’s not really the best for your nails either), you can use these same oils to that part of your body without any issues or drama (unless you are allergic; test the oils on a small part of your hand or wrist beforehand for about 24 hours or so, just to be sure).
2. Apply masks that are good for you from head to toe.
If you wish to deeply hydrate your skin and/or soothe inflamed skin and/or indulge your skin with nutrients — face masks are able to do that. And these days, there are things known as sheet masks that can do this for every part of your body from head to toe. If you’d like to try one, check out Allure’s “11 Sheet Masks for Every Part of Your Body, From Your Butt to Your Feet” for some pretty solid recommendations.
3. Pamper hands and feet in between salon visits.
Massages. Cuticle oils. Body butters. Certain essential oils like geranium, lemon and frankincense. All of these things play a role in not only keeping your hands and feet looking great, while keeping them looking younger for a longer period of time, they also help to keep your nails strong, longer and healthy in the process too. Try ‘em. Pretty sure that you will like them.
4. Use make-up that is actually good for your skin.
Have you ever read the label of standard eyeshadow or blush? Chile, the amount of chemicals that are hard as hell to pronounce are endless — and all of that stuff is sitting on your skin for hours on end? Uh-uh. That’s why it’s a good idea to look for cosmetic brands that are designed to nurture and pamper your skin. Vogue’s “These Makeup Products Can Actually Replace Your Entire Skin-Care Routine” and The Good Trade’s “10 Best Natural Foundations With Non Toxic Ingredients” have a few recommendations.
Same thing goes for your oral care products (because teeth age like everything else). Some non-toxic toothpaste brands are located right here.
5. Be open to making some of your own skincare products.
There was a season of my life when I was all into making body washes (check out “Love On Yourself With These 7 All-Natural DIY Vaginal Washes”) and body butters (check out “What You Need To Know About Shea, Mango, Kokum & Other Body Butters”). As I’m writing this out, I need to get back into that because it was fun, rewarding and my skin really liked it. Anyway, since skinification is all about giving your skin your absolute best, what’s better than DIY’ing (some of) your skincare products; especially since you know exactly what you are putting into them?
If you go to your favorite search engine or YouTube and put “homemade body wash” or “homemade body butter” recipes into the search field, you’ll find all types of options to choose from.
How To Incorporate Skinification Into Your Hair Routine
3 Ways to Add Skinification to Your Hair & Scalp Routine
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A/Shutterstock
Remember how your scalp and hair were on the skinification list? Let’s get into a few ways that you can take better care of both when it comes to this specific approach.
1. Be super proactive about the health of your scalp.
It was around this time last year that I penned an article for the platform entitled, “Your Scalp Ages Six Times Faster Than Your Face. Why It Matters.” A big part of the reason why this is the case is because many of us aren’t hypervigilant about taking care of our scalp — which is the foundation of our hair.
So, if you want to bring skinification into your hair routine, definitely cultivate a scalp regimen. You can learn more about how to do that by checking out “10 Things Your Scalp Has BEEN Waiting For You To Do.”
2. Use shampoo bars on your wash days.
From a practical standpoint, off top, shampoo bars are awesome because they take up a helluva lot less space than shampoo bottles (and conditioners) do. Not to mention the fact that they typically contain less chemicals; some are a shampoo and conditioner hybrid; they don’t need as much water to lather your hair up, and they are usually cheaper than traditional shampoo brands are.
Another thing that I dig about shampoo bars? Some are a 2-in1 deal which means that you can shampoo your scalp and hair and turn around and wash your body with them as well. Etsy tends to have plenty of those. Go to the site and put “shampoo bars” in the search field.
3. Prioritize moisture at all costs.
No matter what your hair type may be, your scalp and your tresses are going to need hydration — and dry scalp can ultimately lead to an itchy and irritated scalp, dry and frizzy hair, flaking and, over time, even hair loss. The key to hydrating your hair properly is knowing what your hair type is and also drinking lots of water and consuming foods that contain lots of water (like watermelon, cucumbers, berries, tomatoes, broccoli, peaches and bone broth); that way, your scalp and hair can also receive moisture from the inside out.
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RELATED
Anyway, I personally think that the less shallow folks out here may contemplate calling things “quits” or they at least distance themselves a bit from their partner (and what I’m referring to is serious relationships) due to all of the stress and strain that oftentimes comes with the holidays whether it be financial, familial, due to their tight schedules or something else.
Listen, I would hate for you and your man to miss the fun and happiness of experiencing this time of year, all because you are so overwhelmed or irritated that you can’t really enjoy it. That’s why I have a few practical tips for how to avoid allowing the typical holiday season stress from INFECTING your relationship.
Manage Your Expectations
GiphyUnmanaged expectations. If there is a main reason why the holiday season tends to be so stress-filled for so many people, I’d bet good money that this is the cause. And when you’re in a long-term relationship, expectations can manifest themselves in all sorts of cryptic and/or unexpected ways. You might have relatives who assume that you are going to be with them for Thanksgiving or Christmas when you have other plans in mind. You might be thinking that you are going to spend one amount for presents while your man is thinking something totally different. When it comes to scheduling, your signals may be crossed.
And you know what? To all of these scenarios, this is where clear and consistent communication come in. Don’t assume anything. Don’t dictate anything either. From now until New Year’s, mutually decide to check in once a week, just to make sure that you are both on the same page as it relates to the holidays and what you both are thinking will come along with it. The less blindsided you both feel, the less stressed out you will be. Trust me on this.
Set (and Keep) a Budget
GiphyOkay, so I read that last year, 36 percent of Americans incurred some type of holiday-related debt. Hmph. Last year, there was still some sense of normalcy in this country, chile, so I can only imagine what finances are gonna look like over the next several weeks. That said, since I don’t know a lot of people who don’t find being broke stressful, make sure that you and your bae set a budget and then stick to it this year — no ifs, ands or buts.
Because really, y’all — it doesn’t make sense to deplete savings and/or max out credit cards for a few days of giggles only to be damn near losing your mind because you don’t know how to make ends meet come Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
And by the way, this tip doesn’t just speak to things like food and gifts; I also mean travel. If it doesn’t make a ton of sense (or cents) to be all over the place this year — DON’T BE.
Keep Matthew 5:37 at the Forefront
GiphyIf off the top of your head, you don’t know what Matthew 5:37 says, no worries, here ya go: “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” That verse right there? Oh, it’s a boundaries lifesaver! I say that because do you see “maybe” or “I’ll think about it” in there? Nope. LOL. It says that you should tell people “yes” or “no” and leave it at that — and that complements Anne Lamott’s quote, “’No’ is a complete sentence” impeccably well. Yeah, you’ve got to remember that anything beyond a yes or no to a request is privileged information; you don’t owe anyone details or an explanation.
Besides, if you are really honest with yourself, when someone asks you something and you give a “Umm, let me think about it” kind of reply, more times than not, you already know what your answer is going to be — so why not let you both off of the hook? Give your response. Commit to that. And let everyone (including yourself) get on with their lives and schedules.
I promise you that when it comes to those holiday parties, you are pissing more folks off by not RSVP’ing or doing so and not showing up than just saying, “Thank you but not this year” off the rip.
Remember That Your Personal Space Is Privilege Not a Right
GiphyA friend of mine recently bought a new house and invited me over to come see it. He’s a single man with no children, so as I was taking in all of the space that he had, especially as I walked through his finished basement, I joked about relatives coming to live with him. “Hell no” and “absolutely not” were pretty much his immediate responses as he went on to say that some folks even had the nerve to be offended when he told them that he had no intentions on taking DNA in.
Ain’t it wild how people think that your stuff is their right? And yes, that brings me to my next point. Your home is your sanctuary space. If you want to host folks this year — cool. If not, ALSO COOL. Please don’t let folks (family included) guilt you into how they want you to act or even into what they would do if the shoe was on the other foot. You are not them — and as one of my favorite quotes states, “If two people were exactly alike, one of them would be unnecessary.” (A man by the name Larry Dixon said that.)
Hell, my friends? They know that I am good for sending them random things that they need or even want all throughout the year. Coming over to hang out at my pace, though. Uh-uh. Chalk it up to being a card-carrying member of the ambivert club yet I like keeping my living space personal — and I sleep like a baby, each and every night, for feeling that way.
Always remember that your space, your time, your resources, your energy and shoot, yourself period (including your relationship), are all things that are your own. You get to choose how, when and why you want to share them. The holiday season is certainly no exception.
Cultivate Some “You Two Only” Traditions
GiphyIt’s not uncommon for some couples to hit me up after the holiday season to “detox.” Sometimes it’s due to the financial drama (and sometimes trauma) that they experienced. Sometimes it’s because they allowed their relatives (especially in-laws) to get more into their personal business than they should’ve. More than anything, though, it tends to be because they didn’t get enough quality time together and so ended up feeling “disconnected.”
Please don’t let that happen. Listen, I’m not even a holidays kind of woman and yet, I will absolutely sit myself down with some hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies to enjoy a Hallmark holiday film or two. Aside from the fact that most of them are lighthearted and sweet, I also like that they usually focus on couples loving on each other amidst all of the holiday beauty and ambiance — which is something that all couples should set aside some time to do.
Maybe it’s a vacation. Maybe it’s a staycation. Or maybe it’s my personal favorite, A SEXCATION. Whether it’s for a few days, the weekend or even overnight — don’t you let the holidays go by without setting aside time for you and your man to celebrate one another. Don’t you dare (check out “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry 'Christmas Sex'?”).
GET. SOME. REST.
GiphyI once read that 8 out of 10 people get stressed out over the holidays and 3 out of 10 lose sleep during to it — and when you’re stress-filled and sleep-deprived, that can absolutely lead to hypersensitivity, making mountains out of molehills and even not being in the mood for sex.
Your relationship can’t afford to go through any of this, so definitely make sure to prioritize rest. I don’t care how unrealistic it might seem during this time, sleep should never be seen as a luxury; it will always and forever be a great necessity.
That said, try to get no less than six hours of shut-eye in (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”) and even ask your bae to take a nap with you sometimes (check out “Wanna Have Some Next-Level Sex? Take A Nap, Sis.”). Not only will sleep help to restore your mind, body and spirit but, when it’s with your partner, it’s an act of intimacy that can make you both feel super connected, even in the midst of what might feel like chaos.
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Holiday season stress is real. Still, never give it the permission or power to throw your relationship off. Put you and your man first and let the holidays be what they are gonna be, chile.
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