I was wondering if it was my lamentations about the dryness of my skin whenever I return to the UK is what heralded these unprecedented, successive heatwaves. It begs the internal questioning, because, for the first few months of being back in the country of my birth, from the tropical climes that I'm fortunate to call home, I was facing the usual battle against the telltale ashyness that invariably signals moisture deficiency, due to harsher environmental factors.
Having what seems to be a genetic tendency towards dry (read to the point of scaliness) skin (thanks Dad), compounded by menopause induced hormonal shifts and glaringly highlighted by a richly melanated hue...I've always been faced, armed, legged, kneed and elbowed, with dry skin challenges. A definite no-no in my infused African-Caribbean-British cultures!
I recall as a schoolgirl skipping home from school with long socks sagging at my ankles and kneecaps looking like I'd rolled in the teachers' chalk dust just before the home bell rang. My dear mother would lament at the tom-boy antics of her little girl, who just couldn't maintain the well moisturised skin that she diligently sent me off with each morning.
So pre-heatwave, it wasn't long before my sun kissed, humidity moistened and sand smoothed dermis went into 'crackling mode', resembling the parched base of a dry riverbed. That's when, after much whinging, that I was gifted a Naturally Tiwa 'skin revival kit'. That's what I called it. Because that's exactly what it did!
First was the Oka Body Polish. I had to keep remembering NOT to get water into it while I applied inside the shower cubicle, prior to showering. I'm a creature of 6 decades of habit, so my tendency whenever in the shower is to apply water first! Made from Shea Butter, Millet and Coconut, the sensation of mild exfoliation was pleasing to the mind, as I immediately imagined the unwelcome layer of dry skin being rubbed away. At first, it felt strange showering without a soapy lather, but I followed instructions, rinsing off the fine grains of millet (incidentally one of my staple grains as part of my intermittent Macrobiotic Diet), from my newly awakened skin's surface. Then came the delicious smelling Oroma Body Wash. Again, conditioned to equating loads of suds with washing efficacy, I soon realised that a little did a lot and got the cleansing job done! The smell in the bathroom was divine, so as I reached for the towel to commence the patting dry process, I allowed my mind to liken the aroma in the room to that of a spa, adding to the 'feel good factor'. I couldn't wait till the end of the process, I peeked at the skin on my legs and was pleasantly impressed by the noticeable disappearance of the creases! But I wasn't going to stop there, as 'there is many a slip between the cup and the lip' (the younger among you will have to ask your elders about that saying). The final step was the application of my Naturally Tiwa favourite, IYA Body Food! Prone to skin sensitivity since childhood, I prefer to go for the most natural of even the natural skin care ranges. After IYA's application...my skin felt sated! I felt renewed. Pampered and refreshed. My scaly legs were no more. I kept checking on them over the course of the day, just in case all the applied products had succumbed to being sucked into the formerly deep crevices and the white lines had re-drawn themselves...but no, they were gone.
I now had my skin rescue routine for future visits to the drying climes of England, especially during the skin ravaging winter months! In the meanwhile, with the heatwaves of late, I've been able to reduce my exfoliation practice to once or twice per week, while continuing with the Oroma body washing and IYA moisturising...my hot flashes and the heat have obviously joined forces to sustain an above average skin moisture level.
Hoping you have all been coping with the unprecedented weather shifts and suggest you get your back up skin care lined up for the inevitable fluctuating weather conditions...wherever you find yourself in the world.
