“I wanna love Jesus, but I wanna look good while I’m doing it.”
Melanie Shankle, The Big Boo Cast
At some point in junior high, my mom sent me to a Mary Kay party with my sister and a check. While she had never once talked to me about skincare, makeup or the application and importance of either, she told me I was allowed to purchase a skincare line at the party.
I was excited to be going somewhere with my sister and given the “ok” to make a purchase. I don’t have many memories of the actual party. All I took away from that night was the Formula 2 skincare line and a new fascination with skincare and makeup. (Confession: there was also an eyeshadow palette of sorts, although I have no idea how that fell under skincare.)
Since that time I have been a consumer of multiple brands of skincare and makeup. I love trying new formulas and testing out products. While there are several products I really like, it’s rare for me to stick to any one for more than a month or two because I’m always on the lookout for a new formulation or a product that offers more or better results.
I have good genes and drinking tons of water to thank for being able to look several years younger than I am. But as I have eased into my 40’s I’ve come to realize the true importance of good skincare. I now follow people on Instagram and YouTube who can educate me not just on products, but the best ingredients and why they’re important.
As I’ve been absorbing (like your skincare products should!) information on taking care of my skin, I’ve seen a correlation between skincare and my spiritual life. (Writers are always looking for analogies, so you can bet this one jumped out to me.) Allow me to share with you how steps to protect your skin are similar to those available to protect your soul.
*A quick caveat to say that there are various steps to a skincare routine, from a simple 3-step to Jamie Golden’s 10-step routine. For simplicity, I’m sharing an easy-to-follow five for your skin and your spirit.
Step 1: Cleanse
Cleansing your face to remove makeup and dirt from the day is a must. For essentially forever this has been a simple washing with a cleanser and water. Recently it has been shared that a double-cleanse is where a true cleansing happens. This begins with an oil cleanse followed by a water cleanse. Spiritually speaking, the double-cleanse is all about confession and forgiveness.
1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV)
It’s important to realize our need to confess our sins. Unconfessed sin can block other areas of our life and wear on us physically (David talks about that in Psalm 32:1-3). Confession is the first step in ridding ourselves of our own dirt and grime, whether it’s physical, mental or emotional. Once we confess, we then have to accept God’s forgiveness (and that means forgiving ourselves, too!). Allowing God’s forgiveness to wash over us is the ultimate purification our souls need.
Step 2: Exfoliate
Exfoliation takes cleansing to a deeper level. It refines the skin, unclogs pores, removes dead skin cells, and helps to even skin tone so that you can put your best face forward. There are two different types of exfoliant: BHA and AHA. BHAs are a combination of beta-hydroxy and salicylic acid. These types of exfoliants target blemishes and pores. AHAs combine alpha-hydroxy and glycolic acid. They work on the skin’s surface to reduce sun damage and improve smoothness. Both BHAs and AHAs can reduce fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin’s overall tone and exfoliate the skin’s surface.
One great way to be spiritually exfoliated is with accountability. That can be found in a variety of ways, from one-on-one accountability time to small groups and Bible studies. Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) tells us “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Having community and accountability with others refines us and helps in our growth.
Step 3: Serums
Serums come in many forms and have many different jobs. Based on the type of skin you have and the specific area or issue you want to target, there is a serum for you. Regardless of the serum’s main purpose, they are all about the job of lifting up your skin.
We need some specific serums in our spiritual life, too. Life is never easy, even Scripture said so (John 16:33). When trials and troubles come our way, we need to turn to the avenues that uplift us. Those could be prayer, listening to worship music or even attending a worship service. Community can help to refine you, but it can also be a way to be lifted up or to lift others up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 instructs us to encourage one another and to build each other up. A dose of encouragement does the soul good!
Step 4: Moisturize
Moisturizers do exactly what they say – bring moisture back to the skin. Moisturizers aren’t oily, contrary to the opinion of some. Even those with oily skin need a moisturizer because a moisturizer is all about hydrating your skin. Through hydration, it helps in the fight to keep away deep (or at least defer) lines and wrinkles. Moisturizer not only helps to balance your skin, but it also plays a part in protecting your face from the day’s grime, grit and pollutants you don’t see.
Without purposeful attention, your spiritual life can begin to dry out and lose its luster, too. It’s important to regularly inject hydration into your soul. Think about the things that rejuvenate your heart and spirit and plan more of those. It could be anything from worship to taking a walk to having a weekly Sabbath. (Annie Downs is someone I turn to for all things Sabbath. Check out Annie’s January 2018 Rhythms: Sabbath episode of her That Sounds Fun podcast for more on how to incorporate a weekly Sabbath in your life).
Step 5: Protect
There’s no sense in going through any number of steps to cleanse, tone, brighten and lift up your skin if you’re not going to protect it. Sun Protection Factor (otherwise known as SPF) is something included in many skincare products on the market today. Plus, there are many SPF products specifically for the face. An SPF product obviously helps to protect the delicate skin on your face from the sun’s harmful UV rays, but it also protects from damaging free radicals.
As believers, we must also protect our hearts and soul. The amazing, crazy world we live in is full of options, opportunities, and occasions. It’s also full of ways to fail, falter and fall away. Ephesians 6:10-18 and talks about protecting ourselves with the full armor of God. To become and remain strong in our faith, it’s imperative we daily take part in armoring ourselves. Reading and memorizing Scripture, prayer and spending time with God daily are all ways we can protect ourselves.
When you take care of your skin, it will help to take care of you. After all, our skin is our body’s largest organ. Just the same, when you take care of your spiritual life, the connection you foster with God will be ready for you when you need it most. Jesus tells us in John 15:5 that He is the vine and we are the branches. When we remain connected to Him, He remains with us.
I don’t know about you, but I agree with Melanie Shankle. I want to love Jesus, but I also want to look good doing it.