There’s a general notion that only fair-skinned people can tone their skin to get an evenly fair skin colour; however, this has proven not to be very correct. In this interview, skin expert, SANDRA OWOYEMI-ADEYINKA reveals how dark-skinned people can tone their skin without changing their complexion and still get a wonderful result. Read excerpts.
As a mother of 3, what is the secret behind your youthful look?
Thank you very much; I will attribute it to the grace I enjoy from God. I’m a believer and I believe so much in God and what he can do. I stress myself a lot but I don’t look like the stress I pass through regarding my business. Sometimes I could be in three different countries in a week; I hardly eat though I try to balance my diet. Sometimes I eat once a day but in between, I take fruits and water in other to keep the energy. I also use the right product on my skin and my sunscreen is another little secret of my look. As a skincare and health care expert, I eat the right things, and get enough rest, for instance, if I’m travelling on the train, I don’t stay up, I make sure I got some sleep and if am on a plane I don’t eat, instead, I sleep and put don’t disturb sign because once I get to my destination, I want to keep going. So my beauty routine involves, having enough sleep, eating good food, drinking enough water and using the right skin products on my skin. It is very important to use good skin products, including others to keep one glowing. Also exercising the body, if one can’t go to the gym, then take a walk regularly because it helps to keep the body fit. I will also advise that we all use sunscreen as it is good for the skin and important for everybody. It is one of the beauty secrets that most people don’t know; especially in Nigeria. In Europe, people use sunscreen to protect their skin from the environment during summer due to the hot weather. These are my little secrets to beauty and glowing.
As a skincare expert, how does one maintain glowing skin irrespective of their complexion?
Very simple, one can keep her skin glowing irrespective of their complexion when they use the right products. But most people today use all kinds of products on their skin. As a dark-complexioned person, one can look after his or her skin and make it glow. I do admire dark people like you who look after their skin. And some people believe that it is only fair people who should look after their skin but it’s not true. In my spa, we have lots of dark-skinned clients who come around to polish their skin. One can be dark and still glow, we don’t need to bleach our skin. But our people don’t know the difference between a fair person and someone that bleaches. I work with lots of white people as friends and colleagues; they tone their skin. Did you know many dark people can also tone their skin in a dark shade? Let me use this medium to say this, let us stop using harsh products, and chemicals on our skin, it causes lots of damage to the body and the skin. Also, health-wise, watch what you eat and exercise because the exercise you do has an impact on how your skin will glow.
You have been married for years and your union is blessed with 3 kids, share with us the secret of your successful marriage, especially to an Ekiti Man?
Wow, I will attribute the success behind my marriage to God and my lovely husband. I am married to a caring and supportive man, am not saying this because I want to say it but the fact is that am blessed to be his wife. He is my number 1 fan, he has supported me financially, spiritually, morally, physically and in all aspects. He encourages and pushes me to do a lot of things regarding my business. I’m happy I married my friend, he knows me and knows what I want. He does not restrict me nor stop me, rather he encourages me in our capacity. He taught me how to do things at the right time. He had always been there for me and the kids. Despite his tight schedule, he is always there to cover up for me and look for a way around the issue and he will get results. You see, one of the secrets of a successful businesswoman or man is to have a supportive partner, such business will grow. He does not behave like a typical Nigerian man, he reasons like a white man. His support has made me move this far.
As a health care expert, fashion stylist and entrepreneur, a word of advice to youth out there who look up to you as their role model?
This is a question I love to answer because, in my home church, I am into the youth ministry. I have a passion for them and we have lots of plans coming up for the youths soon. I have lots of young girls, that are my friends, some of them are my children’s mates, I am very close to my kids and I talk to them and learn from them. At every opportunity that I have, I use it to advise the young ones and I will use this medium to reach out to them again. As youths they need to be patient and not be in a rush, Rome was never built in a day. They want to be this or that, it takes time and hard work. When I read or hear what is happening, my heart bleeds. Each time the young girls come to visit and see my store, they always say “Oh My God” but I always tell them, that what you are seeing is a process and it took me years before I got here. Our youths should know that before you climb up, you must fall and when you fall, you go back and climb again. So let us all wait for our time, be patient and keep pushing we will get there. As I said earlier, Zsandy Exquisite didn’t just become a brand, I started by selling inside the car, probably then some people were laughing at me but today it has become history. We should try and save and give our account a good record. I am involved in all businesses, I’m into a spa business, I run a boutique, I’m into skincare, I’m also into frozen food and we have a cold room and we are also into sales of water. In a nutshell, Zsandy house comprises of different businesses and hardly is there a day, we don’t make sales. That is how to grow in business, we don’t need to wait overnight for magic that will put us into trouble. My advice to them is to be patient. For those in college, let’s face our studies and get busy with one business or the other. No business is too small to start with. I’m a graduate of English at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and as a woman, we need to be educated even if we are into or going into business so that we can get enough access and connect with the right people; along the line, things will improve. Finally, let’s have faith and patience we will surely get there.
-Sunday Oyemade
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