Nothing makes me happier than my friends sharing their skincare wins with me. Okay cake and icecream tops the list but you get my point.
Recently I casually mentioned “mineral sunscreen” when my friend showed me a recent buy and she called my attention to not knowing what it meant.
That’s the inspiration behind today’s post! The mineral vs chemical sunscreen debate is still common and it’s good to know what they are so it informs your decision making.
Mineral vs chemical sunscreen
There are two main types of sunscreens- minberal/ physical and chemical/organic. Before I explain more, there are some things your sunscreen needs to have.
☀️What you need in a sunscreen
SPF 30 and above
Shows broad-spectrum protection (PA +++) as that shows it shields against both UVA and UVB rays.
Water-resistant
Now let’s get into the real thing, shall we?
Mineral susncreens
These sunscreens work by reflecting the UV rays away from your face. They act like a physical shield.
Check my take on the mineral vs chemical sunscreen debate and which is better for you.
☀️Ingredients
Mineral sunscreens contain physical filters like:
Titanium dioxide & Zinc oxide.
One example is the Gavia sunblock I reviewed here (ADD LINK).
My current mineral sunscreen is the Nivea****
Picture of Me and the sunscreen
☀️Pros of Mineral sunscreen
Thjeyre a safer optin for sensitive skin since theyre not absorbed anc are less likely to cause irritation.
Naturally offers a broad spectrum protection
Non-comedogenic meaning it’s less likely to clog your pores (aka won’t cause break outs)
NB~ definition of broad spectrum*
☀️Cons of Minerak Sunscreen
Easily rubbed off from sweating hence needs to be reapplied more often.
The risk of a white cast is higher
Takes more effort to rub in as it is usually thicker than chemical sunscreen
NB~ Whatvis a white cast?
Picture of Nivea texture
Chemical sunscreens
This sunscreen act by forming a thin film that absorbs UV rays before penetrating the skin.
Needs to be applied 15-20 minutes before sun exposure as it’s effect is not immediate.
More likely to irritate the skin due to iys ingredients
Requires more frequent application.
More likely to clog the pores so could causes frequent breakouts.
Could sting the eyes
Picture of bondi sands texture
“So Iruoma, which is better?”, you might ask.
The one you would actually wear according to byrdie. Mineral sunscreens are better off due to being less irritating but, don’t let the mineral vs chemical sunscreen debate rob you off trying whichever type you want and actually using it.
What sunscreen do you use currently? Is it a mineral or chemical sunscreen? Let me know in the comments.
As I count down to my 8th week out of 12 weeks In Paediatric posting, I can’t believe how much time has passed. Hey beauty, the last time I wrote on the blog was the anniversary giveaway. By the way, if you missed that, more would come okay?Let’s get into the new phase of my life or what I like to call an update.I’m also having jitters about writing. I haven’t done so since I resumed work and I feel so rusty. The first one is the tough transition from medical student to medical doctor. Why doesn’t anyone talk about this? I went from being able to schedule my time and having routines to my time not being my own. Also the responsibility is wild. Now people really listen to me and I have to be sure of the information o give people. I still shudder when I rmenebe how a patients mother really called me “doctor” and I was consider for a moment because I’ve been so used to being a student. Another thing I’ve noticed is the tendency to focus on things ahead. One thing I’ve seen is that prayer points don’t finish. As long as we live, there will always be stuff to pray about. Same here- when I got my job, the next prayer was an Accomodation. Now that’s sorted, I’m thinking about schedules. Nect up is looking forward to the end of this posting and so on and so forth. When does it end!! Anyways; to paediatrics. I don’t see myself specialising in this field for a number of reasons. One I don’t like attending to sick babies. It’s not a pleasant sight. Second getting their Intravenous (iv) access is tough. The only reason I’m happy I started from here is because I can atleast get 75% of my lines in premies (babies born prematurely)up to toddlers. That’s a big win by the way. Thirdly, it’s so stressful and the mortality rate can be as high as anything. One moment you’re rejoicing a baby is stable. The next moment, that child decides to leave this world. Excuse me? All these to say, paediatrics is not the specialty for me and this housejob has shown that. I’ve had good moments here nonetheless. But I’ll ascribe that to my colleagues. 9 out of 10 times, our jokes and moments brighten the day. Somebody jokingly commented that I’m chilling because I always take pictures of my colleagues when we’re at a seminar or event. That’s not entirely true but I think we’re al on the same page of enjoying our days because the profession itself is STRESSFUL!Also, who decided to make 24 hours call a normal thing? How do you expect people to finavyoon iptuymllu and still go on to carry their usual sctovitsies? That’s by the way. The only thing I regret not doing earlier was taking lots of pictures but hey, we’ve got a long time to go so it’s not late. How are you doing? What’s one life update you’re happy about? Share with me!
All you need to start and maintain your skincare journey are skincare basics. You will set up your skin for success with a cleanser, moisturiser, and sunscreen.
Skin types are essential to avoid mistakes when creating a good skincare routine.
It took several typing and deletions to come up with this sentence. How long has it been on the blog? I have missed writing every week and sharing some life updates, so the new year seemed a perfect opportunity to start.
This article is probably my shortest blog post, but I did not want “perfection” or keeping a certain standard to prevent me from getting this out today.
First, Happy New Year! Nothing has humbled me more than the past year. I have always been a planner. Think of the girl with journals and yearly planners—that’s me. Last year, I utilized Notion for the fancy annual templates. To be fair, I ticked off some things and even accomplished goals I never thought of. But my point is that most of the time, not everything goes as planned, but God is always in perfect control, vision board or not.
New Year’s resolutions don’t always have to be new goals. They could be continuations of goals set before that were not completed. Resolve to keep going. Every new week is a fresh start; every day is another opportunity to make small decisions that add to that big goal.
This year, I intend on being. I want to explore and enjoy the beauty of living. I am no longer micromanaging my time, experiences or life.
I pray you have a fantastic year ahead, filled with joy in the chaos, peace in the storm, love, hope, and peace. Don’t be afraid to start in sight of everyone (this is my sub), and don’t fear rejection. Fear not starting at all.
Cheers to a beautiful chapter- happy new year, friend!
This year has been going super fast but I’m not complaining.
In between the stress of being a medical house officer/intern, I’m keeping an eye out for ways to destress and hang out with friends. My friend suggested an affordable restaurant on the mainland in Lagos called Sankofa and we went there some weeks ago.
Was it worth it?
Let me give you all the details!
L-R: Chris, Feyi and Iruoma
Affordable restaurant on the mainland in Lagos checklist
Location and setting
Sankofa is located at 62 Adeniran Ogunsanya street, Surulere. This location is fanlous for lots of restaurants and lounges so it’s np surprise an affordable restaurant can be found here.
It has a games arcade, lounge area and the kitchen called Ofada heaven.
The restaurant is found on the last floor of the building which houses various shopping stores.
What I love about the lounge is the decor. Their lighting isn’t the best for taking pictures in the evening, but the ambience from the decor exuded beauty.
My friends and I wanted to play the games at the arcade but their power supply was interrupted and they were using a solar panel. That meant they couldn’t use their air conditioners and the arcade space isn’t as large as I would have loved. It could only house 4-5 gamers. We decided to sit that one out and just eat.
Waiting time
We waited for about 30 minutes before our food came. In between waiting, we took pictures and caught up on life as house officers. That was my highlight.
My recommendation for them would be to have snacks or something “light” at the table like peanuts or bread while customers wait.
The Food
Feyi’s pretty drink
Their menu features mostly Ofada rice varieties,asun jollof, chicken and fries. They are also all within the range of 6500 naira (about $4) and above.
They have a wide range of drink options including mock tails, smoothies and wines.
For our food, we all got their ofada rice with sauce and plantain. Then the drinks were different.
I got the Mojito, Feyi ordered the Sexy baileys while Chris got the Pina colada.
Here’s what Feyi had to say about our experience;
Feyi :
I loved the ambience! The waiter was also really nice and patient. We went on a sunday evening so it was quite crowded, but they still made space for us.
They did not have the meal I wanted, but the waiter recommended their standard ofada. The ofada sauce was really nice and hit the right places. The meat and ponmo were also quite soft. My drink order was mixed my as I got a different drink which tasted like straight up gin. Once I called the attention of the waiter, he aplologised and got my correct order at no added cost.
The restaurant has really nice backdrops for taking pictures. However the lighting wasn’t great so we could not take pictures, as pretty as it was. That should be worked on. We had to settle with a potted plant at the entrance to take pictures with.
They have a play area, however the place was so hot, and we could not stay. It would have been nice to explore that, but oh well! All in all, even though they did not have my initial food order and mixed up my drink, I still enjoyed my meal, had a good time with friends, and I believe I got value for my money.
Activities
There’s a spot for karoke , cute places to take pictures, a bar area and some arranged chairs outside that would give you this serene feeling.
Overall, Sankofa is one good affordable restruant on the mainland I recommend.
If you’re looking for a place with cool vibes, activities that suit different age categories and yummy food, then try it! Just don’t go on a weekend or peak hours if you can help it
Have you visited this restaurant in lagos? Will you like to try it? Share with me!
It’s that time when reels and posts on our year’s highlights hit the streets of Instagram. I have enjoyed seeing people’s 2023 recap because it is an avenue to zoom in on the good things which our brains quickly forget.
I also believe is a good way to see how much you’ve grown. It is now a tradition on the blog, and even though I have not published a new post in 2 months, I couldn’t miss this one!
I’m sharing my recap in quarters instead of months like last year’s post this year.
You can read about my other yearly review blog posts from the previous years here: 2022 | 2021
Are you ready?
Let’s go!
2023 Recap- Q1 (JANUARY-MARCH)
My highlight in the first quarter of 2023 was having the full house. My siblings and I are at different phases and locations due to school. Having everyone at home was the definition of chaos and fun. It’s so beautiful how much we have grown.
By mid-January, I rounded off my outside posting(i.e. going to another hospital to observe and participate in their unit activities). My group members were fun, and we had our backs all through.
In February, I had a photoshoot with my friends. The plan was to post our pictures once our results came out and be a reminder to give all we had during the preparation process. I remember looking at those pictures whenever I was tired of reading and getting motivated.
We passed with flying colours, and my friends had a whole spot in my journey to an MBBS.
Another highlight this month was Valentine’s Day, duh!
In between all of these, we had to leave school for the presidential elections. If you’re not Nigerian, that would take another blog post to explain, but the point is that it created another shift in our exam schedule and was pretty messed up.
By the end of Q1, my final year exams were drawing close. Final year comes with a weight on your shoulders. It’s the “end” but also the beginning. When I tell you, I was reading more than I had ever done. The pressure was insane!
The stress of reading with no power supply, looking for where to charge my devices, study groups, reading and more reading. While that was happening, it was my blog’s second anniversary. I couldn’t celebrate it at the moment, but it was a win that made me look forward to being done with my exams
2023 Recap- Q2 (APRIL- JUNE)
This quarter started with eye bags, yet the skin was popping. One thing I did not miss during my finals was my skincare routine. I simplified it to my cleanser and sunscreen during the day and then cleanser and moisturiser at night. It was one of my destressing moments; thankfully, the skin cooperated.
Usually, by 10 pm, I would close my books and pray. During those days, I realised the truth in what my seniors said- residual knowledge is what sees you through during exams like this and not last-minute reading.
By the 26th of April, my study group did our graduation outing. It was a massive leap of faith because we believed we would post the pictures we took in February without resits. We visited a nice Indian restaurant in Lagos, and now my friends love Indian food!
Two days later, our final results were out! Shout out to @scenesbytosoke for capturing these moments.
Image source: Scenes by Tosoke
Image source: Scenes by Tosoke
May came with opportunities I never thought of. I had my first gig as a skincare consultant with Joy’s new bar soap launch. This increased my resolve to share all about skincare because people’s perceptions of their skin were worrisome. The first week was in Ibadan, which opened my eyes to that city! It is so serene, and I look forward to visiting there by train in 2024.
I fell sick when I returned. That was an accumulation of all the stress, but the joy of that period was amazing.
I resumed creating content again. I even installed my first set of false eyelashes and learned 5 easy ways to care for them. Did I mention it was in this quarter my creating limits were tested?
By May, I started a content challenge where I consecutively posted on Instagram for 60 days. It built my community and gave me cheerleaders!
I became the team lead for interviews for the 2nd edition of MWAN magazine. Kemi put me up to it and believed in me before I caught up.
Image source: Clealth
June saw me getting my brows microbladed. I shared the caterpillar-to-butterfly process of micro-blading on my Instagram. There were many events: birthdays, a friend’s wedding, and my parent’s wedding anniversary. It was also the last time I saw my dear friend before he japa’d.
PS: Japa means to “run away” and in our context as Nigerians, it means migration to another country.
2023 Recap- Q3 (JULY-SEPTEMBER)
The third quarter in this 2023 recap starts with July’s best month of the year! Yes, I’m biased because it’s my birth month.
It was time for university clearance, where you moved from one department to another to sign off with proof that you were a student. We need to get over these manual processes, but I digress.
It was in this quarter that I got a brutal confirmation of my diagnosis. While that was depressing, knowing there was finally a way forward was an answered prayer.
While battling that grief, I got the first paid skincare-sponsored post on the blog. It was a dream come true!
I got back into fiction reading with Today I Become a Woman by Aiwanose Odafen, started my IG live series and tried my first ever plastic-free retinol serum by Common Heir. It’s wild how I went from being scared of retinol to trying 3 this quarter. I will post on that so you know your options if you’re ready to incorporate retinol as a beginner.
I even put beads on my hair for the first time in over 10 years. Looking forward to trying new things on my hair. Then, at the point we had given up, my school finally released the date of our induction into the medical profession. It was time for the glam, the celebrations, and the joy! Q3 ended with a sleepover with my friends and visiting my longtime friend’s home for the first time.
Image source: Papii Anthov
I had another IG live session and created more content. Then, I finally celebrated my blog anniversary with 2 brands. Delay is not denial, okay? That’s my justification for celebrating my brand after 5 months, lol! It was a full circle moment going from the first giveaway social media post in 2022 to having 2 sponsors in 2023.
There were birthdays to celebrate, outings with my sister, my first medical outreach as a licenced doctor, and lots of family wins.
In between this, I was lobbying for my house job, one of the most stressful adult realisations. I also migrated from MailChimp to Substack for my newsletters. You can sign up here.
2023 Recap- Q4 (OCTOBER- DECEMBER)
October started slowly with a breast cancer event and more content creation. Then, when I least expected it, I got a job as a medical house officer.
PS House officer is a medical intern fresh from medical school and still undergoing training before specialising.
I started with paediatrics (taking care of children). My hospital’s paediatrics is not divided into units like the other specialities. As a house officer, you take blood samples, get the history from patients/relatives, and implement patient management.
As much as I enjoyed starting my house job, it took me a while to be emotionally stable. My friend kept reminding me I was living in answered prayers whenever I ranted to her.
I started my elevator pictures, tried to dress cutely, learned how to set intravenous line access for babies and took blood samples. That takes a lot of patience, to be honest. I met nice colleagues and formed a bond off our work trauma. Some of my classmates resumed work some days later, and the environment again became familiar.
After a stressful first set of 4 weeks moving back and forth from home to work, I finally got a space close to the hospital. Also, who invented 24-hour calls? Why do I have to work for 24 hours and still do my normal 8 working hours?
By the time I was settled with work, I found it challenging to create content. I would come online, view reels and posts and wonder why I couldn’t do what I used to do consistently earlier in the year.
In November, my partner started his house job, and that was another answered prayer! It felt good moving from students to graduates to colleagues! In the same month, my department celebrated World Prematurity Day and more birthdays.
Did I mention that you must be extra careful with children and your health? It was after my really bad flu that I started wearing face masks. I also took sick leave the second time I got ill because it was so bad. Thankfully, my call after my sick leave was the best, and I got to go home for the weekend to recuperate.
December was also my friend’s bridal shower, which was so beautiful! Then, I also attended the resident doctor’s dinner with my bae. My makeup skills are still in perfect shape after over 3 months of doing so, and that feels good!
Also, I finally did a dental procedure I’ve been looking forward to. All I can say is I wish I had started this earlier! The dentist teased me so much, and I resolved to get my teeth checked every 6 months to a year as a good patient.
Then came Christmas! My prayer was to enjoy Christmas the way I wanted to. That meant sleeping, eating, seeing movies and catching up with family. We also had a Secret Santa gift exchange among the house officers, which was so cute!
It was also in this month that I got scammed. One day, I will share that story. I was devastated. People are mean; sometimes, being kind can make you look foolish. It’s funny how I kept showing up as if nothing happened . God came through and made that loss pale compared to his provision. I still shudder at the thought of that incident.
This period also showed me how much God’s peace reigns in my heart. My 2023 recap is a glimpse of the emotions, wins, losses, answered prayers, lots of waiting, falling, rising again, lost friendships, renewed ones, and so much more!
This year started with hope and a fear of the unknown. I learned the meaning of one step at a time while trusting God. Thank you for being a significant highlight of my year.
Please share one highlight from your 2023 in the comments.
Say hi if you see yourself in any picture, too!
If anyone asks if you’re ready for 2024, reply them with “Is 2024 ready for me?”
Happy New Year, my friend!
Please don’t forget to subscribe to the blog, tap the love button, and share this post with a friend!
A Dash of Iruoma was picked by some of my friends. In December 2020, I started thinking about coming out with the blog instead of hiding it. Sgaring on the internet was not new to me as I had a space on Medium, but I wanted a “place” of my own.
Then I started checking bloggers like Cassie Daves and Ijeoma Kola. These are some of my biggest blog inspirations, by the way.
My friends often say I’m relatable, and that was one vision for the blog. A dash signifies a sprinkle or bit of my perspective and ideas. It’s seeing the world through my eyes via product reviews, location reviews, my faith, and helpful tips for living wholly!
My logo was also designed to perfection by my partner and the best graphic designer, Beclover, bearing in mind what the blog would represent.
That was the start of the brand!
How do you keep the blog running?
I keep the blog running with payments from sponsored posts and gigs. Also, when you buy a product through my affiliate links, that counts towards maintaining the blog. One of my goals is to the point where the blog pays for the maintenance of the blog comfortably.
I also didn’t get approved for Google ads when I tried earlier this year, which was a bummer. That being said, please engage and like my posts on Instagram, as well as leave a comment on the blog. They add up to being considered for sponsorships.
Do you want to be a full-time blogger, and how long do you think you’ll keep blogging?
My cake says year two and counting. That means I would love to blog for as long as I can. Cassie Daves blogged for almost ten years before focusing fully on YouTube. She says that life is in phases, and i agree! This is the phase im at an i love it.
A dash of 9ruoma has affrodnes me such good experiences and i want to keep at it. As for full time, i don’t think so. Atleast not yet. ,mky blg stull needs my support n trms of generating an income. Plus i love healthcare and stull see myself in it. Meber say never but as at today while typing, i would say no.
Can you believe it’s another blog anniversary post?
As of March 2023, I had been blogging for two whole years!
Can you believe that? Two years of sharing my thoughts and favourite things on the internet.
The past two years of blogging have been filled with experiences I never imagined, but I first want to say a big thank you!
Getting to this point is a dream come true, and many times, it still feels surreal. For the comments, retweets, pinning my pictures, and telling someone about A Dash of Iruoma, THANK YOU!
It means so much to me, and that encourages me to keep at this.
If you have been following the blog for the past two years or a few minutes, thank you for being here. It feels like yesterday when I just shared about the first-year anniversary below.
I started this blog to share what I knew about beauty, faith, and lifestyle, so providing what you consider helpful in your daily living is a privilege.
This year, it took me six months before I could share the good news with you.
One reason is that I just graduated from medical school. March was filled with exam prep, so I couldn’t take the time to celebrate as I wanted.
Also, I planned to celebrate with a giveaway, and getting the partnership for that took longer than I hoped.
Blog Anniversary Giveaway
Now to the part, I thank you with gifts: drum rolls! I concluded one on Instagram last week, and there was no way my blog readers would miss out on another one!
Before we get to the instructions, you should know about Naby Naturals.
It is a Nigerian brand located in Abuja, Nigeria, at Silverbird Gallery (2nd floor), Central Area. They also have an online store.
While it was founded by Nabyem in 2020, the brand relaunched in 2022 with science-backed and effective skincare to cater to all skin types!
According to Naby, “Our clients love all products, especially the Lucent Body Oil, which has topped the charts!”
My favourite thing about them is their combination of face and body products such as the hydrating Daily Face wash, hydrating essence Toner, brightening cocktail, rejuvenating face cream, even tone body lotion & lucent body oil.
Leave a comment at the end of this blog post with your IG handle & type DONE (e.g. @johndoe DONE).
Two winners will be picked at random and cover the cost of delivery. This is open to only Nigerian residents.
Ps: The giveaway will run for two weeks, and the winners will be announced on Instagram. Please make sure your handle is correct so you don’t miss your gift!
Source of all product pictures: Naby Naturals
Also, I would love to hear from you!
What would you like to see more of on the blog? What would you like me to do differently?
Your feedback is essential to this blog, so feel free to share in the comments.
