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How to Own Your Look & Break the Beauty Rules

  • Writer: Regina Duke
    Regina Duke
  • Apr 5, 2025
  • 6 min read


Let’s be honest—style isn’t about the latest trend or what’s hanging on a store rack.

It’s the electric feeling you get when you put something on and feel like yourself, amplified. It’s raw, effortless power.


And skincare? That’s your prep work.The quiet ritual before the world sees you.The intimate part of your day where you don’t perform—you just show up for you.


Skincare as Art: My Journey from Cancer to Confidence

This journey didn’t start in a bottle—it started with truth.


I’ve always had a deep love for radiant, healthy skin.

But after being diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma on my lips, that love ignited into something deeper.


That moment—cancer on my lips—wasn’t just about my skin.It was a cosmic wake-up call.

Our lips are how we speak, how we express, how we connect.Suddenly, I saw the symbolism: this was about finding my voice.


That diagnosis sharpened my purpose.It wasn’t lost on me that the cancer was on my lips—the very place we speak from.


It felt symbolic, like the universe was holding up a mirror.I saw all the times I stayed quiet, all the truth I swallowed, all the words I never let out.


That moment cracked me open.It gave me the power to speak my truth—even when it scares me. And this will be a lifelong journey for me.


Even today, I still hold back.I still get scared.


Sometimes, when I speak up—about my feelings, my boundaries, my truth—I’m met with resistance or silence.And for a moment, I fall back. But not for long.


Because I’ve learned: My words matter. My voice matters. And so does yours.


Speaking up became a form of healing.

Skincare became personal. A reclamation.A way to protect, honor, and empower myself from the inside out.

Now, skincare isn’t just my ritual.It’s my rebellion. My healing.My reminder that beauty begins with self-respect, and radiates from the inside out


Spring Skin Awakening: A Cosmic Invitation to Glow Up

Something big just shifted.


Neptune—the planet of dreams, illusions, and deep truths—has officially left Pisces and entered Aries for the first time since 1875.


This isn’t just astrology. It’s an energetic wake-up call.

A purge.

A reset.

A cosmic invitation to shed what’s no longer true, no longer serving, no longer you.


Over the next 14 years (yes, fourteen), we’ll be asked to trade illusion for clarity, comfort for alignment, and autopilot for full-on presence.


And I feel it in my skin—literally.

Because skin is a mirror.It tells the truth even when we don’t.


So as the energy shifts, let your skincare become more than a routine.

Let it be a ritual. A reckoning. A return.


This isn’t just beauty—it’s becoming.It’s how we show up—not just in our routines, but in our lives.


The way we care for our skin reflects how we care for our spirit.When we nourish our skin, we’re also nurturing the parts of ourselves that are ready to be seen, felt, and celebrated.


Spring Skincare & Makeup Must-Haves


Here are my picks for refreshing your skin and makeup game this season—carefully chosen to reflect everything I stand for: bold simplicity, intuitive beauty, and skin that speaks before you say a word.

Glossy Skin Finish:

Pair lightweight foundations or tinted serums with a dab of highlighter for an effortless, dewy look.


Lips That Speak:

I love soft nudes—clean, inviting, and effortlessly fresh.Think barely-there color that lets your natural beauty come through.

And don’t forget SPF—EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36 is a must for daily protection without the weight.


The Skin-First Glow

This is all about that micro-dosing vibe—precision, intuition, and what actually works.


My go-to micro-dosed formula?

Just a couple drops of SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic and Serum PIGM 400 mixed into Diamond Cocoon Sheer Cream.It delivers clarity, hydration, and next-level luminosity—without overwhelming your skin.


This isn’t the season of less—it’s the season of just right.


Add in Diamond Cocoon Sheer Eye and you’ve got a finish that’s sculpted, confident, and unmistakably you.


Skin-forward, glow-on—no filter required.


And don’t forget your neck.I love pairing everything with Alastin Restorative Neck Complex—it firms, hydrates, and completes the whole vibe.


Because glowing skin is an energy. And energy? Is everything.


SPF Is Non-Negotiable

No matter the season, protecting your skin is essential.

Sunscreen isn’t just a beach day product—it’s a daily defense.


The delicate skin on your face, lips, hands, and even your neck and chest needs protection from UVA and UVB rays that accelerate aging and increase the risk of skin cancer.


And don’t forget your accessories—who doesn’t love a badass hat? Style it, shade it, own it.


But here’s the catch: higher SPF doesn’t always mean better.


Dermatologists recommend sticking with SPF 30 to SPF 50.Anything beyond can give a false sense of security and may contain more chemical filters that can irritate the skin or disrupt hormones.


My go-to:

How to Own Your Signature Style Moment

Look in your closet.What lights you up?What feels like you?

Don’t wait for permission.

Your style is your rebellion, your invitation, your love letter to the world.


For me, it’s a badass pair of shoes (because I love shoes), jeans or linen pants, cut-offs and a tank top.A little rock-and-roll, a little hippie chic—my vibe all the way.


Whether it starts with a glow-inducing serum or a luscious nude lipstick, own it.I don’t follow trends—I write my own rules.


And if you’re ever in doubt? Ask Coco:

“Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.”— Coco Chanel

Sensual Skincare: How Rituals Spark Confidence & Connection

Caring for our skin is about honoring, nurturing, and celebrating every part of it.

Our skin reflects not only our physical state but our emotions.


It's a ritual that builds intimacy with ourselves.


My favorite ritual starts with:


This is more than skincare—it’s self-respect in motion.


These routines awaken the senses and reconnect us to our sensual and sexual well-being.


From luxurious oils to deeply moisturizing masks, every layer becomes a part of how we carry ourselves into the world—confident, connected, and whole.


Weekly Challenge

This week, I dare you to show up for yourself.

Not for the world.

Not for validation. J

Just for you.


  • Light a candle.Crank up that song that makes your whole body remember.

  • Apply your favorite mask—not because you have to be “better” but because you already are.

  • Swipe on the lipstick that makes you feel unstoppable.

  • Take five extra minutes to move slower, to breathe deeper, to say yes to yourself before the world asks you for anything.


Self-care isn’t a luxury.It’s a declaration:I am worth the time it takes to love myself.


My Self-Devotion Ritual

This isn’t about perfection.

It’s about presence.


Here’s how I show up for myself:

  • Meditation — Before anything else, I ground myself. Quiet. Breath. Stillness.

  • Manifestation + Gratitude List — I name what I’m calling in. I honor what’s already here.

  • Music On, Soul On — I crank up the tunes that raise my frequency.

  • Walk the Dogs — Movement. Fresh air. Play.

  • Morning Shower — A non-negotiable reset.

  • Micro-Dose Skin Ritual — A moment with my skin, my reflection, my care.

  • Hit the Gym — Strengthen the vessel. Sweat out the fear. Return to power.


🖤It’s not about checking boxes.It’s about creating a life that feels like a yes.

.

Guided Reflection

How are you showing up in the world right now?In your life, in your skin, in your relationships?

Everything is connected.

  • Where might you soften?

  • Where might you speak up?

  • Where can you let more of your truth shine?


Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do.— Brené Brown

With love and light,

~ Regina 💫


 
 
 

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