Elizabeth Awosika is the founder of Sika House, a natural skincare line that uses pure and non-toxic ingredients to improve skin health. She sits with TANTV for an interview about her beauty line, sharing tips on how to use plant-based oils for better skin care.
What’s the inspiration behind Sika House?
For as long as I can remember, I have always had a passion for the beauty industry. I love everything about skincare and makeup. I use these two interests as a form of self-care. To further my knowledge in this area, I enrolled in cosmetology school to learn the A to Z of the beauty industry. I enjoyed the course and went on to use my skills as a freelance makeup artist. However, as I started to pay more attention to the long list of ingredients of each makeup product, I used less of it because I became worried about the long-term effects of the toxic ingredients. I also didn’t want to depend on makeup to cover up skin issues. I embarked on researching the best ingredients to combat different skin concerns. This led to my healthy obsession with skincare.
Over a short period of time, my skin texture, tone, and overall skin health drastically improved! I was ecstatic and grew more curious about skincare. What if I can get the same results with natural, non-toxic ingredients? Are there other women out there looking for the same solution that Sika House has to offer? My skincare research led me into the world of plant-based ingredients and aromatherapy. I fell in love with the diverse range of essential and carrier oils, the earthy aromas, and vast therapeutic healing properties of each plant. I started getting creative with different recipes to address different skin concerns. Recipes such as mixing lavender essential oil and rose hip carrier oil together to reduce dryness, fine lines and promote a soft, silky, and renewed appearance.
This skincare journey inspired starting Sika House. I want everyone to experience the healing properties of plants, through our essential and carrier oils. They help boost collagen and rejuvenate skin, moisturize hair, and promote health and well-being. Sika House also aspires to provide an opportunity to escape from your busy schedule and help to transform your mind, body, and spirit into a space of calm and relaxation. The simple act of adding a few drops of jojoba carrier oil to your shower gel enhances your shower experience. Adding lavender/eucalyptus essential oil to your humidifier provides a pleasant scent. Rose hip mixed with lavender oil as a face serum is great for a facial massage accompanied with a jade roller. The conscious act of self-care is highly important especially during these trying times, people are looking for outlets that promote feelings of relaxation, mental clarity, and peace.
Tell us about your current product line and why you started with these products first?
Sika House is a natural, plant-based skincare and aromatherapy line, with a range of four products, Jojoba Carrier Oil, Rose Hip Carrier Oil, Eucalyptus Essential Oil, and Lavender Essential Oil. I started with these four products because they are my favorite oils and the benefits each oil delivers to the skin, hair, and overall well-being is truly unmatched! Our products are 100% authentic, free of pesticides, synthetics, or adulteration of any kind.
At Sika House, we believe nature is our best medicine and provides all the resources to heal our mind, body, and spirit. That is why we are passionate about keeping it simple and natural through non-toxic ingredients in all our skincare products. Sika House is simply skincare inspired by nature for natural glowing skin!
What skin issues will you say Black women experience the most?
As a Black woman myself and the concerns I hear from other Black women, leads me to believe hyperpigmentation is the most common skin issue.
Hyperpigmentation is a common, usually harmless condition in which patches of skin become darker in color than the normal surrounding skin. It occurs because of excess production of melanin. Melanin is a pigment that gives the skin its color and is produced by the skin cells called melanocytes.
The best way to prevent this condition is by wearing protective clothing, using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Retinoids, chemical peels, topical therapies, and laser therapy are very effective methods of treatment for this condition.
What are the benefits of using face oil in your skin care regimen?
Face oils are having a major moment of popularity in skin care regimens these days as many people are discovering the benefits and experiencing the results of radiant skin. Face oils have a long list of benefits. The key benefits that stand out in face oils is that they deliver healing properties to calm, balance, hydrate, and nourish the skin. Face oils are specially tailored to work with your natural skin oils. Our skin naturally produces oils and lipids, which help prevent water loss to keep the skin hydrated and elastic. Sika House oils helps to keep your skin balanced, adding an extra level of protection.
When should we apply facial oil, and should we use it every day?
Facial oils can be applied in the morning before applying sunscreen and evening as the last step of your nighttime skin care routine. I would advise depending on your skin type, you may only want to use oils before bed so that your skin can soak them up overnight and provide protection throughout the day. This is especially true for oils that can increase your skin’s sensitivity to light or thicker oils that might give your complexion a little too much shine for a daytime look. If you have dull skin, I also suggest using face oil as a primer before applying makeup. Allow the oil to fully absorb before applying your makeup for a natural, hydrated glow (I love a glowy makeup look!).
Facials oils can be used every day, they can also be used as needed. I personally like to use it in the evening to maximize the healing properties of the oil as my skin cells go into repair mode through cellular regeneration.
From your product line, what face oil to use for what skin type?
Sika House Jojoba Carrier Oil is great for oily and acne-prone skin because it can help balance your skin’s oil production, get rid of excess oil on your face, and minimize the appearance of pores. Jojoba oil absorbs easily in the skin and doesn’t clog pores. Jojoba oil has a high concentration of Vitamin A and E, which can deeply nourish and plump skin for a more radiant and glowing complexion. The thing that most people with oily and acne-prone skin don’t realize is that over stripping skin in an attempt to get rid of oily shine causes your skin to produce more oil to compensate, creating a vicious cycle. Face oils are not the enemy and can help balance oil production, soothe acne-prone skin with daily use.
Sika House Eucalyptus Essential Oil reduces and clears up acne outbreak naturally – it’s antiseptic and antibacterial, it helps cleanse the epidermis of impurities that contribute to acne breakouts. This essential oil can be diluted with jojoba or rose hip oil to deliver the healing properties onto the skin. It is important to note that essential oils are very potent and must be diluted with a carrier oil to slow the rate of evaporation (helps the scent to linger for longer), enhance absorption into the skin, and protect against sensitive or delicate skin.
Sika House Rose Hip Carrier Oil is great for dry and dull skin. It has great moisturizing properties and can also help to reduce wrinkles and fine lines and help the skin regain elasticity. Rose hip is rich in Vitamins A and C and fatty acids, which help to fade dark spots, scars, and hyperpigmentation – resulting in a more even skin tone. Vitamin A is a natural retinoid that helps fight aging, and both vitamins A and C can help reverse the effects of the sun on your skin. For best results, use every morning and night to refresh, repair, and firm up skin.
Sika House Lavender Essential Oil helps protect against wrinkles, fine lines, and dark age spots. This essential oil can be diluted with jojoba oil or rose hip oil to deliver the healing properties onto the skin. It is important to note that essential oils are very potent and must be diluted with a carrier oil to slow the rate of evaporation (helps the scent to linger for longer), enhance absorption into the skin, and protect against sensitive or delicate skin.
What are the benefits of plant-based oils and aromatherapy?
Plant-based oils are rich in natural antioxidants and vitamins, making them a powerful, all-natural alternative to toxic, chemical-laden traditional moisturizers and skin treatment. Antioxidants work to restore and strengthen your body’s cells by combating free radicals (oxidants). The vitamins in plant-based oils are vital to maintaining the health of your skin, it provides the skin what it needs – healthy oils. They also support cell repair and can help decrease signs of aging.
Aromatherapy has an array of benefits, it can help improve sleep quality, reduce stress and anxiety, soothe sore joints, treat headaches and migraines, fight bacteria, virus, or fungus, and boost immunity.
Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment with natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. It works through the sense of smell by either breathing them through your nose or putting them on your skin for absorption. With regular use, aromatherapy can improve the quality of the health of the body, mind, and spirit. It enhances both physical and emotional health. Humans have used aromatherapy for thousands of years, in ancient cultures in China, India, Egypt, and elsewhere incorporated aromatic plant components in resins, balms, and oils.
What would you advise for the best acne solution using oils and any other beauty secrets you use personally?
Usually when you hear the words “oil” and ”skin” in the same sentence, it screams acne and a recipe for disaster. Many believe that it is counterproductive to put oil on your skin if you already have oily, combination, or acne prone skin. Well, I am elated to bust this age-old myth, facial oils can help balance excess sebum in oily skin types and can be gentle on sensitive skin. I always advise people with this skin type to apply a couple of drops versus the natural tendency to over apply in hopes of seeing results immediately. Oils are very concentrated and potent so a little goes a long way.
Another great acne solution to combat acne is with these two products I refuse to live without, clindamycin and tretinoin. Clindamycin belongs to the family of medicines called antibiotics. Topical clindamycin is used to help control acne. It may be used alone or with one or more other medicines that are used on the skin such as tretinoin. Tretinoin is a derivative of vitamin A used on the skin (topically) to treat mild to moderate acne, reduce wrinkles, fine lines, fade away hyperpigmentation, and even-out complexion. I usually use clindamycin and tretinoin to combat cystic acne. I apply a pea size of clindamycin directly on the problem area and follow with a pea size of tretinoin. Tretinoin and clindamycin are not sold over the counter, these products require a prescription by a doctor/dermatologist. I highly encourage anyone that has acne or any type of skincare concern to give these two products a try, truly a game changer!
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