THEE Woman In Skincare

To many, the world of skincare may be a foreign concept, often reserved for those who can afford to spend hundreds and thousands of Rands on 7 step routines, or for those with dire skincare needs. Like most of us, I never thought too much about my skin or the importance of skincare until my late teens/early twenties. When I did, it was a continuous cycle of trial and error, with me trying every single trend I saw on this here internet, not realizing the kind of harm I was causing to my skin. 'Skinfluencers' were not really a thing let alone South African ones, who understood the needs of our skin with the necessary context of our climate and region. And with everyone claiming to have the "most effective", "most perfect" routine, trial and error was my best bet. However, times have changed and information on skincare is a lot easier to attain than it was 6+ years ago, so like the amazing blogger I am, I have brought it straight to your finger tips with the help of Thee Woman in Skincare, the one and only Mantombi Makhubela. It may seem easy to throw on a few lotions, serums and sheet masks and consider your routine to be the best out there, however, the world of skincare is often either over-simplified or overly complicated which is why the presence of people who are passionate, knowledgeable and understanding of the needs of various skin types, especially that of black women who are often misrepresented in such areas, is so important. Cue Mantombi. I was privileged enough to have a moment of her time to ask her about her love for skincare and how it all got started. She shared:

"My love for skincare was inspired by many things. Apart from the fact that I one day

aspire to have my own skincare brand, the inspiration comes from the concept of Black

Skin. For many years Black skin hasn't been prioritized and the ability to tap into the

influencer space , and being a middleman between product and brand by

simplifying skin care is what makes me admire it even more.

I’m also at a stage where I can boldly say that skincare and the career chose me.

I started taking it seriously when I realized how much help people really needed. The

need to have something explained to you in a way you can understand was when I

realized that I am adding value in what I’m doing thus, let me continue.

KALLY: With the lack of information that many seem to have regarding skincare and how to manage ones skincare needs, what is something you wish people understood more or just generally knew regarding skin care?

MANTOMBI: SKINCARE IS PERSONAL. Understanding YOUR skin and that the type of skin you have is different from everyone else. Some may have similarities when it comes to

responsiveness but, what works for me will not always work for you. It doesn't take a

science degree to understand your skin or learn how to take care of it.

KALLY: Why would you say skincare is important? beyond the aesthetic benefits that may come from investing in your skincare regime.

MANTOMBI: Your skin is the largest organ in your body. Yes, we consider the most important organs being your heart and lungs but skin is always the last to be considered. Skin is the most taken for granted part of our body, poked at, scratched at and rubbed and experimented with, never really being given the true respect it deserves - until there’s a problem and your skin doesn’t behave the way you want it too. In all its complexities, your skin is important and plays a huge role in your health and happiness. It communicates and shouldn’t be treated as an afterthought.

KALLY: What is an item you think everyone should incorporate into their skincare routine?

MANTOMBI: A GOOD MOISTURIZER. I don't know if this is because I have dry skin but a good moisturizer whether you have dry, combination or oily skin is vital. And please don't think because you have oily skin type you automatically shouldn’t use one.

KALLY: What do you think is an overrated piece of advice commonly shared regarding skincare?

MANTOMBI: DRINK WATER!!!!!

Mantombi has managed to use her platform to not only 'influence' but really inform those who visit her various social channels, from Twitter (Or rather X) to Instagram and YouTube. She continues to curate digital work that spreads awareness of the importance of skincare, that is both entertaining to watch and highly informative. With videos in her native tongue of Swati, you can really see just how important creating an informative space for black woman has been for her.

"For many years Black skin hasn't been prioritized and the ability to tap into the influencer space , and being a middleman between product and brand by simplifying skin care is what makes me admire it even more".

KALLY: What would you then say, is a step or practice that isn't spoken of highly enough that everyone should be jumping on to.

MANTOMBI: A part of me still feels like Double Cleansing didn’t land the way it should’ve in South Africa. It was a craze internationally but I would say, as POC (people of colour)

double-cleansing should be at the top of our lists. The climate in Africa is generally at an

all time high and the humidity can really cause some skin to ‘appear or look oilier’ than

others. With Summer upon us and all the sunscreen we will be using *wink wink* after a

long day, double cleansing should be at the top of the list.

KALLY: What is a product you swear by?

MANTOMBI: A hydrating facial mist / thermal water!

KALLY: Where would you like to see the world of skincare, more so in the digital realm of influencing in South Africa, in the next few years. And what spaces do you see yourself not only taking up but creating ?

MANTOMBI: I’m not certain of other spaces I’ll be taking up other than in skincare. I think my purpose in this field becomes clearer as the days go by. In terms of ‘world of skin in the digital realm’ I’m not too sure where it’ll go but I can tell you, you’ll see a lot more black women/black-owned skincare brands taking up space. Creating experiences and products that cater to the needs of black skin.

KALLY: Growing up (adolescent years) I always figured that skin related products were always targeted to older women and when they were directed at my age group it was always towards people suffering from acne or eczema which I personally didn't relate to, so I never really made an effort to look into my own skincare until fairly recently.

When would you say is the right age for an individual to start investing in their skin?

MANTOMBI: As early as possible. As soon as you hit your teen years its important to start taking care and managing your skin a lot closer. Acne, whiteheads and blackheads, dark marks and dry skin are common conditions that usually come up with teenage skin; but by keeping on top of your skincare as a teen you’ll be able to make the experience less painful and tiresome.

KALLY: When visiting your various social media pages from your Instagram to your YouTube and Twitter, what is one thing you would like people to take away from what you have to offer?

MANTOMBI: I want people to be EDUCATED, EMPOWERED AND IMPACTED.

_______________________________ fin ______________________________________

There is no doubt in my mind that, that is exactly what many take away from engaging in Mantombi's content. I cannot wait to see what the world of skincare holds for her and hope to see her work on our shelves very soon.

You can see more of Mantombi and all she has to teach us on skincare, on her various Socials

@mantombiii (Tiktok & Twitter)

@mantombimakhubela (Instagram + YT)