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How Your Hormones Affect Your Skin

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Ever wondered why your skin breaks out before your period? That “pregnancy glow” isn’t a mirage after all? It might not be your beauty regimen’s fault — it could very well be your hormones. Yes, those tiny messengers in your bloodstream have a bigger impact on your skin than you might think.

Dry spots are replaced with dark spots and premature lines, your hormones are typically in charge behind the scenes.

Puberty: When It All Starts

hormone levels start to rise. As your body’s androgen levels rise, your oil glands become more active, producing excess oil that can clog your pores and lead to breakouts. The excess oil can clog your pores, leading to breakouts.

For many, these teenage breakouts settle down over time. However, for some women, hormonal fluctuations can continue to trigger acne well beyond the high school years.

Your Cycle This Month: Skin on a Schedule

If you’ve ever noticed breakouts popping up right before your period, you’re definitely not imagining things. In those days leading up to your cycle, estrogen and progesterone levels take a dip while testosterone stays steady — and that shift can throw your skin off balance.

Your skin might get drier, which can lead to clogged pores, especially around your chin, cheeks, or jawline. It’s all part of the hormonal rollercoaster your body rides each month — and your skin’s just along for it too.

Not poor hygiene, dirty skin, says Dr. Ifeoma Adeyemi, a dermatologist in Lagos. “It’s how hormones shift throughout the month.”

Pregnancy: The Glow and the Grit

During pregnancy, rising estrogen and progesterone levels—along with increased blood flow—can give your skin that characteristic “pregnancy glow.” But not all transformation is so. Many women experience melasma, those blotchy dark spots prone to showing up on the face as a result of a mix of hormones and sun, appear on many women during pregnancy. The good news? It’s totally normal—and with the proper skincare and daily sun protection, you can manage it.

Menopause: When Skin Needs Extra Love

As estrogen levels drop at menopause, your skin might become drier, thinner, and more delicate. You might discover that it does not bounce back the way it used to, and your face loses a bit of its natural plumpness. It’s all normal, but it also means that your skin can use a little extra moisture and care.

Estrogen keeps the skin hydrated and stretchy, says Dr. Adeyemi. So when estrogen declines, skin loses the healthy, young look.

When Hormones Go Off-Track

There are times when hormones can go off balance and affect your skin. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), for instance, can cause higher androgen levels, leading to chronic acne, facial hair, and hair thinning in women

Disorders with the thyroid — restless or underactive — can also impact your skin. It may get drier, coarser, or cold-sensitive.

So, What Can You Do?

 

Start by paying attention. When you notice a pattern — for instance, when you get breakouts during the same time every month or when skin issues do not heal with normal products — then you are likely to explore a bit deeper.

A consultation with a dermatologist is a good first step. Dermatologists can advise on whether your skin problems follow a hormonal pattern, and can refer you to an endocrinologist or women’s health doctor. Treatment might include topical creams, hormonal therapy, diet changes, or stress management, since cortisol (your stress hormone) also affects your skin.

Conclusion

Good skin isn’t just about what you put on your face; it’s also about what’s happening inside your body. What you put on your face; Hormones play a big role in how your skin looks and feels, often without you even realising it.

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Beauty

Gift Eno Ndah Finishes Third Runner-Up at Miss Supranational 2026

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Photo: Instagram/@gift_ndah

Nigeria’s Gift Eno Ndah finished as Third Runner-Up at the 2026 Miss Supranational pageant during the grand finale held on July 31 at the Strzelecki Park Amphitheater in Nowy Sacz, Poland. The result earned Nigeria a place in the competition’s Top 5 which featured contestants from more than 60 nations.

Photo: Instagram/@gift_ndah

The title went to Katrina Llegado of the Philippines, who succeeded Brazil’s Eduarda Braum as the new Miss Supranational. France’s Eve Gilles finished as First Runner-Up, while Brazil’s Lara Marina claimed the Second Runner-Up position. The Czech Republic’s Karolína Gorylová completed the Top 5 as Fourth Runner-Up.

Ndah arrived in Poland as Nigeria’s official representative after winning the national Miss Supranational title. In the weeks leading up to the finale, she took part in the pageant’s activities and earned a place in the Top 20 of the Influencer Challenge.

Photo: Instagram/@gift_ndah

Her finish has been welcomed by Nigerian pageant followers, who praised her consistency throughout the competition and celebrated another strong international outing for the country.

Before departing for Poland, she spoke about her determination to represent Nigeria with pride and to use the platform to promote her “Bloom Within” initiative, an advocacy focused on encouraging young women to develop confidence and pursue personal growth.

Photo: Instagram/@gift_ndah

Although she missed out on the title, Ndah leaves the competition with a Third Runner-Up finish. Her Third Runner-Up finish adds another notable result to Nigeria’s record at Miss Supranational and brings her international campaign to a close on a strong note.

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Beauty

Everything You Need to Know About Toner Pads

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Photo: Google/@Byrdie

If your skincare shelf doesn’t have toner pads on it yet, you’re really missing out on one of the easiest ways to improve your routine. These small, soaked cotton discs have taken over bathroom cabinets everywhere, and once you understand what they actually do, you’ll get why so many people never skip them.

Toner pads are basically what they sound like, pre-soaked pads filled with toner that you swipe across your face, no pouring into your palm, no digging through a bag of loose cotton rounds. The formula inside each pad determines what it can do for your skin, from hydration and soothing to exfoliation and brightening.

Toner pads help rebalance your skin right after you clean it. Washing your face, especially with certain cleansers, can leave your skin’s pH a little off, so the pads bring things back to where they should be while also getting your skin ready to soak up whatever comes next, your serum, moisturizer, anything. This is where something like the Torriden Balanceful Toner Pad does really well, made with centella asiatica extract so it calms your skin right after washing.

Photo: Pinterest/@Bibi

Getting enough hydration is another big reason people turn to toner pads. Some, like the Biodance Collagen Gel Toner Pads, are soaked in a gel-like liquid that leaves your skin feeling plump almost immediately, which works well if your skin often feels tight or dry after washing since the ingredients like collagen can help give skin a smoother, more hydrated appearance

Then there are the pads made for brightening and evening out skin tone. The Anua Niacinamide 5 TXA Brightening Pad works a bit differently from the rest, it’s shaped like a half-moon and made specifically for the under-eye and cheekbone area, the spots that dry out and dull first. You leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes like a mini mask before wiping it in, and the niacinamide and TXA combo goes to work on dark circles and uneven tone right there.

If you want something stronger for vitamin C, the Medicube Deep Vita C Pad is worth trying too, the pads are noticeably thicker and more soaked than most, delivering vitamin C-infused formula with every swipe, great for anyone hoping for a clearer, more glowing look.

Photo: Pinterest/@Joobeauty.fr

Convenience is a huge part of why toner pads became so popular. No toner spilling all over your sink or dressing table, no guessing how much cotton to use, barely any waste. You open the jar, take out a pad, and you’re done, which is exactly why it works so well for anyone who travels a lot or just wants a routine that doesn’t take thinking.

They’re also great for light exfoliation. Many toner pads have a slightly rough surface, sometimes with tiny ridges or bumps, so they lift away dirt and buildup that a regular toner splashed onto your hands would probably miss, sloughing off dead skin along the way and leaving things smoother underneath.

After cleansing, take a pad and gently sweep it over your face while avoiding your eyes. Some people like to press the pad down for a few seconds first so the product sinks in before wiping. Just don’t rub too hard, your skin isn’t a floor you’re scrubbing, gentle strokes do the job better anyway.

Photo: Pinterest/@Glowbeautyguide

You can use toner pads morning and night depending on the type, but if yours contains exfoliating acids or stronger treatment ingredients ease into it. Two or three times a week is a safer starting point until your skin adjusts, then you can build up from there once it’s tolerating it well.

Not every toner pad works for every skin type, so if your skin is sensitive or breaks out easily, go easy on pads loaded with strong actives since they can trigger irritation or redness if you overdo it. One thing worth doing before you try anything new, dab a little behind your ear or on your inner arm first and wait a bit, that way you know how your skin will react before it ever touches your face.

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Beauty

The Perfect Protective Hairstyles For The Rainy Season

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Photo: Pinterest

Rain in Nigeria doesn’t send a warning text before it falls. You could be looking your absolute best, and by the time you get to work, your hair has a completely different opinion. This is the reality every rainy season, and it’s why so many women start thinking ahead about what to lay their head down for once the clouds start gathering. Not every hairstyle can survive a sudden downpour, and honestly, some styles were just never built for this kind of weather.

Here’s a rundown of styles that actually stand a chance against the rain, and still look decent by the time you get home.

Knotless Braids

Photo: Pinterest

Knotless braids are lighter on the scalp than the regular knotted type, so your edges don’t feel like they’re being pulled all day, wet weather or not. The hair is fed in little by little instead of tied off at the root, which leaves less bulk sitting there to trap water. People also love how natural they feel on the head, comfortable enough to wear for weeks without your scalp screaming for a break.

stitch braids

Photo: Pinterest

There’s something about stitch braids that just looks intentional, almost too neat to be real. They sit flat against the scalp with very little hair actually showing at the root, which leaves rain with almost nothing to work with.Their close-to-the-scalp design helps them maintain their shape, although how long they last also depends on proper installation, maintenance, and natural hair growth.

Senegalese Twists

Photo: Pinterest

If you want something that can also handle a splash of rain, senegalese twists are worth trying. The extension hair used is silky and smooth, twisted into neat rope-like strands that just don’t puff up the way curlier textures tend to. They generally maintain their appearance better than many loose hairstyles after light rain. They can also stay in for weeks, so you’re not thinking about your hair every other day while the rain keeps coming.

Classic Box Braids

Photo: Pinterest

Skip the curly or wavy ends this season and go for straight box braids instead. Straight synthetic hair simply doesn’t hold onto water the same way the curly kind does, so your braids won’t look soggy or swollen after a downpour. Plus, box braids give you room to play. Pack them up, let them down, do whatever, and they’ll still survive whatever the sky throws at you.

Straight Back Cornrows

Photo: Pinterest

This one is an oldie but a goodie. Straight back cornrows hug the scalp so tightly that their close-to-the-scalp design helps them hold their shape better than hairstyles with loose hair in wet weather. There’s no loose hair hanging about to soak up water and frizz. Our mothers wore this style for a reason, and it still holds up today, decades later, simply because it does exactly what it’s supposed to do.

Faux Locs

Photo: Pinterest

Not all faux locs are created equal, and this matters a lot when the rains are around. Go for the thicker, tightly wrapped ones rather than the lighter crochet kind, which tends to fray at the ends once it’s been wet a few too many times. A properly made set of faux locs can survive a quick shower without a problem, and honestly, they can hold their shape for weeks with barely any upkeep.

If there’s one thing all these styles have in common, it’s that they require minimal daily styling and generally hold up better in wet weather than loose hairstyles. That’s really the whole secret. So before the rain catches you off guard again this season, maybe it’s time to try one of these and stop stressing over what the weather will do to your hair.

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