Eki’s Ultimate Q & A: My Skincare Routine | Part 1

I usually shy away from interviews but a lot of that is about to change with this new column on BellaNaija Style. Eki’s Ultimate Q & A is all about getting to know more about me and my lifestyle routines, as well as the things I learn from other individuals.

In this column, I’ll answer questions you have about me and questions for experts in various industries so prepare yourselves (and your questions) for special guests too!

The first segment of this column will focus solely on skincare – body and face but today I’ll answer one question I get asked quite a lot; What body cream do you use?

I use simple Coconut Oil.

In the past, I’ve used brands like Johnson Johnson, Dove, Vaseline and Nivea but over time there was a major shift once I decided to go natural with my hair. When I made that decision, I had no idea it would affect other areas of my life, including my diet and what I use on my skin as well. With that in mind, I switched by body creams for Olive Oil, Shea Butter and Coconut Oil.

These other brands aren’t bad but they never fully moisturised my skin. In secondary school, I’d get quite itchy because my skin was always dry and it would either cause a random rash or my skin would literally be scaly and start peeling off then I’d apply Shea Butter as more of a medicinal remedy, I never thought of using it all over my body. My elbows are still quite dry and scaly but I’m actively trying to fix that and when I do I’ll share but if you have any tips, please share as well in the comments section.

Now, I’ve narrowed it down to (cold pressed) Coconut Oil every day and the others I use every other day in a mixture present in the Malicha Luxury, Luxury Butter Soufflé. This product contains Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Sesame Oil and other essential oils like Lemongrass, Lemon, Citronella and Sweet Orange essential oil. I’ve chosen to use cold-pressed Coconut Oil because I prefer the smell, the hot-pressed version has a burnt smell that I just can’t stand.

Coconut Oil is made from a superfood and is naturally antibacterial and antifungal, it’s also an excellent moisturizer for me because it’s lightweight nature makes it easier to penetrate my skin after I’ve had a shower. This is key for me because I like to leave a bit of water on my skin before putting any oils or butter on. Similar to my hair, I do have dry skin so I use the same routine for my hair as I do on my skin, the LOC method which means liquid-oil-cream. For my hair, I do all three but for my skin, I alternate between liquid-oil and liquid-cream but liquid must always be there because water is where I get my moisture from, the oils and creams just help lock in the moisture, adding extra health benefits and protecting your skin as well.

Finally, I’m grateful to God because I don’t have major skin issues that I haven’t been able to actively control, I also don’t bleach my skin so I don’t really know a lot about skin bleaching or toning. I have nothing against people who do, I just don’t do it. Also, if you’re allergic to Coconut Oil or any of the oils mentioned, please do not use them. Always make sure you test something new before using it generously to avoid any issues.

Bonus Round:

• I use cold water in the shower. It’s only hot when I have a cold but I’ve heard hot water isn’t good for dry skin, so keep it cool or lukewarm if you have dry skin like me.
• I use a glove sponge from Body Shop.
• I use Imperial Leather shower gel and Malicha Luxury Moroccan Black Soap interchangeably.
• I lightly pat my body dry before I apply Coconut Oil or the Malicha Luxury Soufflé on my body while it’s a bit damp.
• I use a mixture of Vaseline, Coconut Oil and the Malicha Luxury Soufflé to prevent friction between my thighs. I also use Coconut Oil as a cuticle oil and a makeup remover sometimes.

That’s it for this edition of my skincare routine. If you have any more questions you’d like me to answer please leave them in the comments section, feel free to ask about anything!

Photo Credit: Dreamstime