At the end of the year I’m always brought to a place where I sit and reflect about how the year went. How my kids have grown, what they’ve learned and what I hope to teach them in the year to come. I think about how I’ve been as a wife, and a mother and how I can do better. From better habits to life lessons.

Of course we can’t protect our kids against everything, but I can take my experience and arm them in ways I wasn’t as a kid.

I love showing my children diversity in books, toys, friends, and leaders. Watching kick-butt black women anchoring the news was so inspiring to me as a little girl. And influential in choosing the career I did. I want my kids to see people who look like them, and people in all shapes in sizes doing inspiring things. I want them to know they can accomplish anything too. And I always want them to feel comfortable in their own skin.

As I’ve gotten older I’ve been trying to take better care of my beautiful brown skin. Though my grandma always says “Black don’t crack” I know she’s always been on top of moisturizing. She looks like she could be my mom. And there may have been a time or two someone asked if she was my older sister. I want to be like that when I’m her age! I’m drinking way less soda and drinking way more water and I’m finally moisturizing like I never have before. No more ashy elbows in winter months for me!

There are so many skin care myths out there, so I’m also trying to educate my self on the topic as well.

Dermatologist Dr. Barba says there are quite a few places on our bodies we tend to forget and not take care of – our hands, feet, neck and underarms are some of the most common. It’s important to make sure our skincare routine is inclusive and that we are always moisturizing every single inch of skin.

“Increasing the use of good products that will moisturize the underarm skin,” she said. “This is why I recommend Dove Advanced Care Antiperspirant. It protects you from odor and wetness for 48 hours and provides skincare benefits with its NutriumMoisture formula.”

Whether I’m teaching my children to love themselves for who they are, or continuing to grow in this own space myself; I want to make sure I’m doing what I can to insure we feel comfortable, confident and beautiful in our own skin. Inside and out.

This blog post is sponsored by Dove. Thank you for supporting brands that believe in us. 

Tags: biracial, dove, motherhood