Naomi Campbell once famously said she didn’t need plastic surgery because she had great genes, and well, “black don’t crack.” For many years, I mistakenly believed the same thing – i.e. that my darker skin tone and the fabulous skin of my mother and grandmothers would save me from crow’s feet. It was only recently that I began to see the folly of my ways. Sure genetics may play a big part in how I age, but my mother and grandmother did not lead my 21st century life. They were not exposed to the same chemicals in their food, or the ever-diminishing ozone layer. They may have plucked, tweezed and primped, but they stuck to one product rather than the millions that are available today with God only knows what ingredients in them. And finally, they most certainly did not pull all nighters throughout college or go to clubs till 4 am and fall asleep with their makeup on.
Now, you may be reading this and rolling your eyes. I’m not going to lie, I used to think the same way. But, ladies, being brown is not the panacea to aging – it may slow down the process slightly, but in today’s world, you have to take whatever measures you can to prevent yourself from looking older than you are. If you believe leaving your eyeliner/mascara/foundation on when you go to sleep isn’t a big deal and that experts only insist on removing it to prevent acne or infections, you are making a big mistake. The chemicals in the products are drying and damaging, they don’t allow your skin to breathe, and they will, believe you me, cause premature wrinkling. If you want skin like your grandmother’s, then you need to keep it clean like she did, and the first step is investing in a good eye makeup remover.
“Why can’t I just use face wash to remove my mascara?” Well, first of all, many face washes have harsh ingredients that are not appropriate for the delicate skin around your eyes. Read the rest of this entry »
