Bella Arumse Skincare Studio

I want to talk to the women taking drugs or injections to change the colour of their skin.

I understand the pressure to look lighter can come from beauty standards, social media, family comments and years of being told that lighter means better.
But please you need to watch the way you put things into your body simply to become lighter.

Some skin-lightening products can contain harmful substances, and there are health concerns around certain skin-lightening drugs and injections.
If what you really want to treat is acne, hyperpigmentation, dark spots or uneven skin tone, there are safer ways to approach those concerns.

And this is why I’m starting a campaign on skin bleaching.
Not to shame women.
Not to tell you how you should look.
But to have honest conversations about why we lighten our skin, what we’re putting on and into our bodies, the risks involved, and healthier ways to care for our skin.

Before asking, “How can I become lighter?”
Let’s also ask: “Why do I feel like I need to?”
“Is what I’m using actually safe?”
“Am I treating a skin concern or trying to change my complexion?”

Your skin deserves care but so does your health.

Follow along as we have this conversation.

Hyaluronic acid is not a moisturizer, sis.
It’s a humectant, it pulls water TO your skin, it doesn’t create moisture on its own. Use it wrong (like on bone-dry skin with nothing to seal it in) and it can actually leave you more dehydrated.
Here’s the simple fix: damp skin → HA → moisturizer on top. Morning and night.
And whether you’re oily, dry, or acne-prone, dehydration can still be your issue. Dry means low oil. Dehydrated means low water. Know the difference and your routine actually starts working.

Save this for your next skincare restock 📌

If you have acne-prone skin and you use active cleansers like me, these are the cleansing rules I live by.

An active cleanser is still an active.
Just because you wash it off doesn’t mean it can’t irritate your skin. So I don’t automatically use mine twice a day.

I pay attention to how my skin is responding.
If my skin starts feeling tight, dry, burning or unusually sensitive, that’s my sign to reduce the frequency or switch to a gentle cleanser.

I don’t stack too many actives.
If I’m using an active cleanser, I’m careful about adding leave-on exfoliating acids or retinoids in the same routine. More actives don’t automatically mean faster results.

I don’t leave my cleanser on longer just because it’s active.
I follow the product instructions. More contact time isn’t necessarily better.

I always have a gentle cleanser in my routine.
Because there are days when my skin needs treatment, and there are days when my skin needs a break.

Having acne doesn’t mean your skin needs to be attacked every day.
Sometimes, it is best to simply cleanse your skin without disrupting your barrier.

That’s one cleansing rule I’ll always live by.