Dear Sister: Skincare, Acne & Makeup

In this episode of Dear Sister, I sit down with my sister Warda and we talk about something that turned out to be way more personal than I expected. Skincare, acne, makeup, and all the quiet feelings that come with them. Warda opens up about her acne journey, the treatments that changed her skin, and the weight of other people’s words. And we ask a question that so many of us have: do we really need a ten-step routine to feel okay in our own skin?

The acne story that changed everything

Warda had been struggling with bad acne since she was younger. She tells me, “I was always very conscious. You know how we are.” Desperate, she went to a famous doctor from Pindi and started a treatment without doing any research. Within a week, the side effects hit hard. “It was so strong, my hair was literally shedding,” she says. It scared her enough to dig deeper, and she found out the medicine she was on was known to cause hair fall. The doctor hadn’t warned her.

Her turning point came when she found another doctor, a really good one she says, though expensive. That treatment completely changed her skin type from oily to dry. It wasn’t easy. “For six months my hormones were crazy. Mood swings, you know how you feel when you’re PMSing, now imagine that for six months.” She laughs now, but it was tough. Her parents handled it with patience, and today her acne is manageable, though her skin remains dry and flaky. She says, “It changed my life.”

The quiet weight of other people’s words

I ask her how the acne affected her when it was at its worst. “It affected me a lot,” she admits. “My self-esteem. I used to be very conscious, like no matter how much I tried to cover it, it would still show.” She talks about the battle between wanting to look natural and feeling the need to hide. And then, the comments from others. “Why do people have to make me feel worse? Why can’t they pretend like they can look past it, like they don’t see it? I know what’s on my face. I know what my problem is.” I nod along because I’ve seen this happen. Even at doctor’s clinics, I heard patients share how unpretty and unconfident they felt because of acne. We all know the taunts and the unsolicited advice, and it just makes everything heavier.

Is a skincare routine really for everyone?

We get into a conversation about the pressure to have a skincare routine. When I started vlogging, people kept asking what my routine was, and I thought, “What routine? I don’t have one.” Warda points out that so many brands push the idea that everyone needs a multi-step regimen. “Some people actually need it, but many don’t,” she says. I agree that basic care is different. “You have to take care of your skin on a basic level. Sunblock, makeup remover, moisturizer, these three are what anybody needs. The rest is want. Do you want super glowy, flawless skin? Then you can add all those extra things.” It’s okay to keep it simple, and it’s okay not to have a shelf full of serums if you don’t genuinely need them.

Makeup, confidence, and that one thing you never leave without

We talk makeup, and I admit I fully support anyone doing whatever they want. Warda loves how makeup makes you feel pretty on a rough day. “If a day is not going good, I just put on eyeliner and I feel okay, I look fresh,” she says. I can’t leave the house without concealer, because my biggest insecurity has always been my dark circles. “I have to cover them. That’s my main thing.” Warda’s is lipstick, because it instantly brightens your face. We all have that one comfort product, and there’s no shame in it. But I’m also trying an experiment: investing more in skincare and less in makeup to see if my skin can do the talking. I remember times when my skin was good and all I needed was lipstick and mascara, and I felt ready. Skincare feels like an investment in confidence that goes deeper than a foundation bottle.

The laser story: painful but worth it

One thing we both agree on: laser hair removal has been a game-changer. I share how I wasn’t prepared for the pain. “I went for my first session and I was like, this hurts so bad.” But when you think about the monthly salon trips for waxing, the trade-off feels worth it. Warda’s experience was smoother because she used a numbing cream, and she saw much better results. “Now I only go after four or five months,” she says. For anyone with sensitive skin like hers, it’s a relief not to deal with waxing patches and breakouts. It’s one of those things that quietly makes life easier.

The small things that remind you to care

I’ve started to believe that skincare can be more than just products. There’s something spiritual about giving your skin attention with intention. I tell Warda, “You are putting your energies in there, your thoughts. Your intention is to make it better, to give it love and care, and that will start showing.” It sounds a little out there, but I’ve seen it. When I work out mindfully, really feeling the muscles, it makes a difference. Same with skincare. When I’m rushing through it, it’s a chore. When I slow down and do it as a small act of care, my skin actually responds.

This whole episode reminded me that our relationship with our skin is rarely just skin-deep. It’s tied to confidence, to the opinions of others, and to the small daily choices we make to take care of ourselves. Warda’s journey taught me that sometimes the right help can genuinely change your life, and that it’s okay to invest in that. And for the things we can’t change, like dark circles or genetic quirks, there’s a quiet power in acceptance.

I’d love to know: what does your skincare look like, and what’s the one product you never leave home without? Let’s keep talking.