Even if you follow a full skincare routine—cleansing, moisturising, maybe adding a serum—your skin might still feel off. One common reason is the kind of products you use, specifically whether they are oil-based or water-based. In Nigeria’s climate, which swings between dry harmattan winds and humid rainy seasons, knowing how these products affect your skin can make a noticeable difference.

What Sets Oil-Based and Water-Based Skincare Apart?

At its simplest, skincare products are either oil-based or water-based depending on their main ingredient. Oil-based products use natural or synthetic oils, often feeling richer and thicker on the skin. They form a light barrier that locks in moisture and protects your skin. Water-based products, by contrast, are lighter and absorb quickly, delivering hydration without heaviness.

The label alone doesn’t tell the full story. How a product feels and behaves on your skin is a better clue. If it spreads like a serum and vanishes quickly, it’s probably water-based. If it leaves a slight sheen and feels more substantial, it’s likely oil-based.

When Oil-Based Products Work Best

If your skin feels dry, rough, or tight—especially during harmattan or after frequent washing—oil-based products help by sealing in moisture. Some oils closely mimic your skin’s natural oils, which helps balance and soothe irritation.

Even if you have oily skin, certain lightweight oils can work without clogging pores or causing breakouts. The key is choosing oils that absorb easily and feel comfortable throughout the day.

Why Water-Based Products Are Ideal in Humid Weather

In hot, humid cities like Lagos, heavy products can feel overwhelming. Water-based skincare hydrates quickly and refreshes without leaving a residue. These products are often the first step in a routine, helping your skin absorb moisture and prepare for what comes next.

For oily or acne-prone skin, water-based formulas reduce shine and minimise the risk of clogged pores. They keep the skin feeling light and breathable throughout the day.

Combining Both for Balanced Skin

You don’t have to pick one or the other. Many find the best results by layering: start with water-based products such as toners or serums, then apply oil-based moisturisers or face oils to seal everything in. This helps your skin retain hydration longer and keeps it nourished.

Adjust this routine depending on how your skin feels or the season—lighter in humid months, richer in drier times.

Choosing What Works for You

Listen to your skin’s signals. If it feels tight or flaky, it needs more hydration—water-based products can help. If it feels dry quickly or lacks softness, an oil-based layer might be necessary.

When shopping, check ingredients for irritants like harsh alcohols or heavy oils that might not suit your skin type. Focus on products that support your skin without overwhelming it.

The difference between oil and water-based skincare isn’t just marketing—it’s about matching your routine to your skin’s real needs and the changing Nigerian climate. By understanding how these products work and when to use them, you’re better equipped to build a routine that keeps your skin healthy and comfortable all year round.

You just met someone. They call you in the morning, again before lunch, then at night to “hear your voice.” At first, it’s sweet—like they can’t get enough of you. But after the fifth call in one day, you start to wonder: Is this love or just a bit too much?

In a world where constant communication is only a tap away, it’s easy to confuse attention with affection. But there’s a fine difference between being emotionally available and simply not knowing when to give someone space.

Are You Reaching Out or Hovering?

The truth is, everyone likes to feel wanted. A midday call can brighten a tough day. But when those calls start to feel like mini interrogations—“Where are you?” “Who’s there with you?” “Why didn’t you pick up?”—what felt like interest can suddenly feel like surveillance.

In a healthy relationship, trust does the heavy lifting. When you call constantly out of fear or insecurity, it sends a different message: “I need to keep tabs on you.” That kind of energy rarely ends well.

Not Everyone Loves the Phone

Let’s be real: some people are not “phone people.” They don’t enjoy talking for hours or jumping on the phone multiple times a day. For them, texting or quick check-ins are enough. If you’re someone who enjoys long conversations but your partner sounds distracted—or worse, irritated—every time you call, it might be time to pull back.

Romance is not about frequency—it’s about fit. It’s about figuring out what makes both people feel valued, not overwhelmed.

What’s Driving Your Need to Call?

Sometimes, we call because we miss them. Other times, it’s because we need reassurance. That’s not a bad thing—emotional needs are valid. But it’s important to ask: Am I calling because I want to connect or because I’m anxious? That difference matters.

When every missed call triggers doubt or every silence feels threatening, the issue may not be with your partner—it might be with your expectations.

Make the Calls Count

Instead of calling ten times in a day, make the one call they do receive something they look forward to. Laugh, listen, share something meaningful. Don’t call just to ask where they are. Call to hear how their day went. Call to tell a story you know will make them laugh.

Healthy romance isn’t measured by how many calls you make—it’s measured by how good those calls feel on both ends.

So, What’s the Verdict?

Calling often isn’t automatically clingy. But calling without boundaries, or ignoring your partner’s energy, can wear things down. If you’re constantly reaching out and rarely getting the same vibe back, it’s worth asking yourself if the connection is mutual—or if you’re forcing closeness that isn’t naturally there.

Sometimes, love looks like giving space. And in that silence, something beautiful can happen: they just might call you back—because they want to, not because they feel they have to.

Some movies exist purely to entertain. others tell deep personal stories. As a firstborn myself, I can relate to this movie in many ways. From the sacrifices to the silent struggles, it felt like watching my daily life unfold on screen. Here are 10 thoughts that ran through my mind while watching this emotional rollercoaster.

1. Firstborns don’t talk enough about how hard it is
From the very first scene, with Oma and Ebuka washing plates under the rain while Oma’s voiceover spoke about the weight of being the firstborn, it felt so real. We take care of everyone and often forget ourselves in the process.

2. Mercy Johnson was made for this role

Ebuka and Oma

She didn’t just act Oma. She was Oma. The way she portrayed pain, love, pride for her brother Ebuka was as if she had passed through something like that in reality. Even moments when she was just sitting silently with a drink, from her eyes, you could tell she had been through a lot and there’s this loneliness quietly creeping in.

3. When did we start thinking struggle is normal
Oma sacrificed her entire life, and somehow society has made it look normal, like that’s how it’s meant to be. We’ve normalized putting our lives on hold for others so much that when someone like Oma breaks down, we don’t even see it as a red flag.

4. I love Bimbo — she’s that friend we all need

Bimbo and Oma

Every time Bimbo took that drink from Oma’s hand, it made me smile, those were the scenes I loved the most. She did it with humor and warmth without disregarding the level of Oma’s pain. Bimbo made me realize how important it is to have someone looking out for you, even when you’re pretending to be fine.

5. Ebuka’s job hunt is every Nigerian graduate’s story
First class graduate with an NYSC certificate and still no job? I felt his frustration deeply. It’s sad that after spending almost half of your life passing through school struggles and coming out successful only to find out that brilliance doesn’t always translate into opportunity in this country. That scene where Oma talked to her customer about Ebuka’s struggle and he got him the job just proved that everything is connection, you have to know somebody. To get a good job by just relying on your certificate, it’s by the grace of God.

6. Julia and Shirley gave off “bad energy”
I knew trouble was brewing the minute Shirley shot Oma a look of disgust and called her “wretched-looking.” Julia’s sudden change in attitude right after made my blood boil. Sometimes, the real threat to peace at home isn’t your partner — it’s the people whispering in their ear.

7. The weight of loneliness can kill you
When Oma collapsed, my heart sank. When the doctor said it was emotional trauma and loneliness, I wasn’t even surprised. It reminded me how many strong people are slowly dying inside while smiling and pretending to be okay.

8. Ebuka choosing his wife over his sister broke me
Even though I understood it, that moment when he shouted at Oma shocked me. I felt disappointed. She gave up her life for him, and all she wanted was a little space in the new world she had helped him build. I was livid.

9. That proposal at the hospital came too late

Oma on her sickbed

When the old customer finally confessed his love, I almost cried. Finally after all the pain, she finally had someone who saw her and she didn’t live to enjoy it. Life really isn’t fair sometimes.

10. We need to appreciate our firstborns more
Oma’s story made me want to hug every firstborn I know. We often carry too much, and we act like it’s fine when deep down we know it’s slowly eating us. This movie reminded me that while being strong is great, but what’s the point when the cost you pay is with your life.

Final Thoughts
This is to every first child out there, it’s okay to be selfish at times, so someone won’t end up eating the fruit of your labor.

Put yourself first and you’ll see there’s always plenty of room for your siblings.
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