Having good skin that doesn’t need to be filtered with VSCO, Instagram, FaceTune, or whatever other enhancing apps that exist, is something a lot of us desire. Not to say we don’t love these apps or filters, but that not-so-humble filterless brag on social media about “minding your business and drinking water” to maintain your healthy skin is goals for many of us desiring perfect skin.

While for some people, achieving healthy skin goals might be as easy as drinking water and “minding own business”, for some of us, good skin goals require tons of products and a check that won’t bounce. It is no surprise, therefore, that people like us jump on the Beauty bandwagon — ready to do whatever it takes to get that clear, youthful, glowing skin.

I had a skin care routine 3 years ago, which took about 2 years to develop. I couldn’t settle on just “better” skin because according to Tumblr threads, I could be doing better. Also, I felt as if I was not giving my skin the best because I was using mostly drugstore brands, and at that time, I believed that cheaper meant lower quality. My Pinterest board soon became flooded with tons of beauty tips and “skin care for black woman” dominated my Google search history. My new obsession with thousands of retweet-worthy skincare tips ultimately led to my being dissatisfied and unhappy with my usual products (which were working just fine, btw!)

I stopped using my regular products and started brand-hopping. Shortly after that, my skin began to show signs of over-manipulation (also, my life was pretty stressful then and we all know what stress does to your skin). The plus side of my obsession with viral skincare routines on the Internet and my product-hopping was that I became more knowledgeable about what is best for my skin. While I have returned to some brands/products I used, with better understanding about how to use them, I have also added and switched my routine to one that involves a more natural, organic approach.

Knowing better now, my advice for fellow Beauty Bandwagon-hoppers like myself would be:

Learn what kind of skin type you have. Armed with this knowledge, you can ask an Instagrammer or Tweeter, or other social media blogger and/or influencer, what kind of skin type they have whenever they recommend products that you’re interested in. Usually, people have either dry skin, oily skin, normal skin, sensitive skin or combination skin.

Don't get overwhelmed by the DIY routine. A lot of social media beauty enthusiasts are now shifting towards green/natural beauty, so you’re bound to get a lot of DIY routines. Don’t get overwhelmed by this. With time and practice, you will soon become confident knowing what natural products work for your skin.
Let's be honest. Spending so much on skincare can sometimes make some of us feel irresponsible, especially when we don’t see any improvement. The good thing about DIY masks or products is that with 3 or 4 base ingredients at home, you can make a VARIETY of masks, scrubs, and moisturizers, which saves you money in the long run.

Not all advice is good advice. This seems like something that goes without saying, but I look back to the time I tried moisturizing my face with coconut oil because it was one ingredient that I saw frequently whenever I researched masks. Let’s just say my pores and coconut oil aren’t friends, which I learned the hard way.
Do your research. If you don’t have time to make or try out DIY scrubs and masks, you can also research and buy products from companies that use natural ingredients. FDA requires companies list what ingredients they put in their skin care products, so reading the back of the labels, reviews of the product, and researching what some of the terms on the back mean could help better inform you about what is absorbed by your body through your skin.

Lastly, Stop Stressing. I no longer fret over every pimple or dark scar. Now that I know better about my skin and how products work, I am more confident about my ability to treat whatever skincare issue I may develop.

Skin care is just that--care. It’s supposed to be fun! Know what best works for you, that is the best skin care for you.

How to Make the Best of the Beauty Bandwagon