self-care, self-love
Photo Cred: @sarashakeel IG
It is undeniable that beauty and self-esteem are interconnected as many youths feel self-worth is shaped by external judgments about physical appearance. Growing up I knew the pain of damaged self-esteem a little too well. As I grew into a teen I started comparing my physique to other teenage girls and realized I was different. I began to idealize my idea of a perfect physique. I was at a deficit. So I worked tirelessly to change my appearance.
At 23 my journey took a hard turn. Overnight my melanin began to disappear in patches. I didn’t understand why my body was betraying me and I sought every possibility to hide my white patches from the world. Seborrheic psoriasis. This disfiguring condition eroded my esteem and the psychological effects were profound. I heard my mother’s self esteem mantras in my ear, but the image in the mirror said different. I isolated myself until my skin recovered, but the emotional scars were harder to heal.
Beauty and self-esteem have an undeniable connection. It is such an individual journey because not everyone defines beauty in the same way. My definition was associated with the health and beauty of my skin, and it became a healthy obsession. As I focused on my skin, facing daily life became easier and I became more confident.
Over the years I have found it important to create my own perception of beauty to maintain my self-esteem. I’ve changed my definition of beauty and realize that my skin is one way to positively impact my self-esteem. My daily skincare routine has become an expression of self-love, self-acceptance and healing. It is a reminder that my beauty matters. Every person should take time to define their beauty and then nurture it. Love on yourselves. Take time to disconnect from stressors and focus on YOU. You deserve to feel empowered, you deserve to feel emboldened as you face the world with raw confidence.
Self-care can teach you to be kind to yourself. Self-image and self-care impacts self-esteem, and self-esteem impacts self-care; they are inextricably linked. Have you learned to embrace your beauty? Have you begun your journey of self-care? My journey of self-discovery has not been easy but it is one of the greatest journeys I’ve embarked upon. It led me to finding ME. It led me to my passion. It led me to Zenobia Skin, a lifelong promise of self-care.
