All Jayme

Blast from the past: The Kikay Baby

Can you guess who this kikay baby is?

Yup, that’s me.

I was looking for some photos that we could use for our invites and wedding AVP when I chanced upon this 24-year old snapshot.

I can’t really remember how this happened but Mama used to tell me a story about how I would rummage through her make-up stack and imitate her while she puts on some eye make-up.

I can’t really say that they disapproved of my fascination with make-up.

I’m guessing they supported my interest too. (Or maybe they gave in to cute little me, pleading to try putting on a little make-up.)

So you see, my kikay days started when I was a baby. Mama said, she used to dress me up in cute dresses with matching ribbons, socks and shoes.

I was her little doll.

When I started going to school, Mama would never fail to fix my hair up in ponytails and braids. She’d make this fancy hair bands and ribbons, and she wouldn’t let me go to school without wearing at least one of them.

In turn, I was my Mama’s biggest fan. When she got her hair curled (as it was all the rage during the 80’s), I had to have my hair curled too. Mama dissuaded me, of course, but how can you resist a cute little six year old?

Mama fixed my hair up until my grade school days.

Then one day, I decided I was “too old” for kikay stuff and resorted to putting my hair up in a ponytail day after day.

Mama continued to remind me to fix myself up and look like a young lady. She’d tell me to style my hair, apply some lotion on my skin and dress nicely. But I found it all too troublesome at times and found comfort in looking ordinary.

The kikay returns

My kikay self took a back seat until I got into college.

I got myself re-acquainted with face powders, lip glosses, lotions and colognes. I also began exploring skin care products and I was enamored by those commercials showing girls my age with glowing and rosy white skin. I thought if I used the same products, I would look like them too.

This time, Mama warned me against using too many products that my skin don’t actually need. Just like most teens, I didn’t follow her advice then.

I thought I was turning into an “adult” and I felt I needed to pay closer attention to my looks.

I tried one product after another, hoping to get the same results I saw on TV, to no avail. I persisted with this destructive habit until I actually overdosed on beauty products.

The result was disastrous!

My once clear skin was wracked by red spots and breakouts. No amount of make-up or concealer could hide how bad my skin looked.

As I felt more miserable, my skin grew more worse.

It was then that I realized that I needed to go back to the basics.

I had to trash my facial washes, astringents and moisturizers.

I went back to good old face soap and water.

I had to get rid of powders and make-up.

Hard as it was, I had to maintain a bare face.

It took months before my face completely healed.

But I learned a valuable lesson in simplicity and beauty.

The simple kikay

I realized it wasn’t bad to be kikay as long as I knew my limits.

I had to learn it the hard way, but I learned my lesson well: Simplicity works for me.

Now I just stick to a simple facial wash, toner and moisturizer. I figured if if my skin looks great I would need little or no make-up at all to enhance it.

I no longer have a kikay kit.

I just curl my lashes, put a little cheek tint and lip gloss and I’m good to go.

A certified kikay woman recently reminded me though to be kikay again. Especially now that I’m married, I ought to pamper myself more and show the glow that married life brings. Not to mention staying delicious for the hubby.

I’m considering adding some more tools to my meager make-up arsenal soon. But I keep reminding myself that no matter what beauty product I use, I will never look like those models on TV.

I will always look like me, and that’s perfectly alright.

When Jamaine grows up, I’ll most likely teach her to be kikay too. But more than maintaining her natural beauty, I’ll teach her that it’s far more important to nurture her inner beauty.

Real beauty shines and lasts when you’re happy about your life, confident in yourself and grateful for your God-given gorgeous self.
I know I am beautiful just the way I am.

Posted in: Beauty, Motherhood

Tags: Beauty, kikay, skin care

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 7th, 2007 at 6:08 pm and is filed under Beauty, Motherhood. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.