Know Your Skin: A woman’s journey to confidence and self-care

These days, with all the filters and fairness creams around us, the real meaning of skincare often gets lost.

Society keeps telling us we need flawless, perfect skin. But is that the goal? Should skincare be about fitting into someone else's standards, or should it be about knowing and taking care of our skin?

Skincare should come from self-love, not insecurity. It's not about fixing what's "wrong" with you—it's about understanding your skin needs and treating it carefully. When you know your skin, you stop wasting time and money chasing perfection. The goal isn't to have perfect skin—it's to have healthy, comfortable skin that feels like yours.

Every person's skin is different. Some women get oily skin by noon, some have combination skin, and some react easily to stress, spice or the weather. Unthinkingly following global trends doesn't always work for us. Rich moisturizers might feel too heavy in our humid summers, and minimalist routines might leave your skin dry in winter. So, the key is simple: know your environment, know your skin, and adjust your routine accordingly.

In Bangladesh, where the weather is constantly shifting—sometimes rain, sometimes harsh sun, sometimes cold wind—taking care of your skin becomes a daily challenge. Dhaka's pollution, Sylhet's cool air, and Cox's Bazar's salty breeze affect our skin differently. Women in Chittagong may deal with dryness, while in Dhaka, pollution causes breakouts. That's why skincare should never be one-size-fits-all.

One more thing: skincare is not just about the products. Your diet, stress levels, and even health issues like diabetes or hypertension all show up on your skin. Eating spicy food, under pressure, or following unhealthy habits can cause breakouts, dullness, or even early ageing. Sometimes, issues like pigmentation or wrinkles come from genetics, which no trending product can solve. We must take care of ourselves fully, not just on the surface.

While working at Shajgoj, I realised that we want every woman to feel confident and in control. We want women to understand their beauty, take care of themselves, and stop feeling pressured by society's unrealistic standards. Skincare should be about you, not about fitting in.

And let's not forget: skincare doesn't always come in expensive bottles. Our mothers and grandmothers used simple things—neem for acne, turmeric for glow, mustard oil for hydration—and those natural remedies still work. Every line, freckle, and scar on our skin tells a story of resilience and strength. The freckles from childhood, laugh lines from years of joy, or scars from life's battles aren't flaws; they're proof of who we are.