Time to Talk about Financial Rights and Skin Care


As overtime at home during violence and new skincare products declined in value, many took over a few new products last year. The heated debate over skin care as self-care has generated tons of purchases. While all of this sounds good in theory, it does not consider it a privilege to buy skincare.


Ask yourself, 'How much money did I actually spend on skin care? It is expensive to get a schedule. You buy a product, it doesn't work for you, and then you go into the next one. The cycle, unfortunately, only financial right-holders can participate in. Exploring skincare products is something only people with the ability to do so can participate in.



The problem

The fact is: Skin care is not as affordable as it should be. Yes, there are affordable products like Cerave and The Ordinary — but accessibility is very much dependent. Spending $ 20 on a product may seem like a great investment for one person, but it can be a huge purchase for someone struggling financially. When I was growing up, my family used stamps to survive. Skin care products were not in question. My mother, sister, and I used to do spa days once a month with a clay mask from Walmart that lasted for years.

If we were to spend money on products, it would always be shampoo, conditioner, and body wash — necessities.


Like many others, my skin began to break down during the epidemic. There were emotions. Our skin and our confidence are deeply connected. The financial right to fair skin should be discussed in more detail. It is a privilege to address the concerns of skin care. When people pressure and humiliate others in building their own skin care system, they fail to see that other people cannot afford it.


This discussion about skin care grew and gained more tension during the epidemic. And although I appreciate it, it would not have come at a very bad time.


Lack of Access to Prescription Medication

A prime example of the unavailability of acne treatment medications. Those with hormonal or cystic acne rely on those instructions. Therefore, you need to be able to afford to go to a dermatologist. And even if you cannot afford a doctor's visit, you may not be able to continue buying prescription medications, month after month.


I have acne caused by PCOS. I am taking birth control to help with my acne and other PCOS-related symptoms because I have health insurance. But if I lose my health insurance, I will not be able to go to the doctor regularly to get a fixed birth plan, and I will have difficulty paying for it. It is a vicious cycle that continues to plague many people. The sooner we realize that not everyone has the same skin condition, the sooner they can make a change.


How We Deal With It

Skin care advice may sound like a great privilege. There is a pressure on “clean” food to treat skin anxiety, but “clean” food and buying fruits and vegetables are a right within you. Some say we need to “sleep and not be stressed,” but supporting the family is stressful and not everyone can choose his or her working hours.


So, what can we do? Change begins with challenging our way of thinking about these things. Note how the financial right is directly related to the unavailability of skin care, whether commercially available or prescription products. Before you tell others to eat healthy food and get more sleep, think about how this person may not have the opportunity to do those things like you. Before recommending a miracle product, note that what is "affordable" depends entirely on you.


Note how the financial right is directly related to the unavailability of skin care, whether commercially available or prescription products.


Lastly, the most important thing is to allow recognition and acceptance of the truth in everyone's struggle. Growing up poor, I have never found that my experience is guaranteed, and even now, I am still unsure. I know how difficult it is to find effective and affordable products. When you can’t afford the necessities, it becomes hard to think about buying things like skincare. I hope that by starting a conversation, we can validate the experiences of others and take steps to make the skincare community a more inclusive place.