• Those who bleach lack confidence and may later have kidney problems • For healthy, glowing skin, eat right
By Vivian Onyebukwa
Joyce Adenike Busari is the Founder of BIYOU, a women only spa. She’s a nutritionist and the CEO of Health Bistro, a health restaurant. She is equally a formulator for black skin care, and an accomplished and CIBTAC Certified aesthetician, Electrologist and laser technician with17 years experience in the beauty and wellness industry.
In this interview with Saturday Sun, she spoke about health, beauty, and their relationships, while giving some tips on how to maintain a healthy skin without inflicting bodily harm on the skin.
What were you doing before now?
I grew up in this line of industry. My mum was into the business, so it is something that passed on from her generation to me. I am passionate about seeing women become the best version of themselves when it comes to their health, weight and skincare, because I know that as women, they have a lot of issues that they are dealing with, especially mothers, when it comes to their families, children, husbands.
They hardly have time to take care of their skin. What I am preaching is that, women need to start taking care of themselves before they take care of their families because, once you take care of yourself, you can be able to take care of other people.
What did you study in the university?
I graduated with a degree in Banking and Finance, but I actually went to one of the best cosmetologist schools, Champney College of Health and Beauty, United Kingdom to become an aesthetician. I also studied Nutrition in Nutriora, a Nutritional School in Canada. I went further to study Cosmetology for my skin care brand in London as well.
Why did you abandon banking and finance for all these?
Banking and finance was just what I chose. It was not something that I was passionate about. I have always been passionate about seeing women, and because I was one of the children that my mum used to take to her shop that time, I grew in love with the industry. So I went to study more about this line of industry because I wanted to be a professional.
How has it been?
It’s been awesome being able to help women get their confidence back when it comes to their skin and weight issues as well. More so, even the people that have diabetes, I am helping them to bring down their sugar level through nutritional coaching, telling them what they need to do to bring down their sugar level, because I am a nutritionist.
As a nutritionist, how does food enhance beauty?
In Biology you talk about skin cells. Skin cells are made of food that we eat. If you eat the food that we are meant to eat, healthy food such as fruits and vegetables, your cells are made up of that food that you eat. Now, if your food consists of so much junk food, sugar, etc, it will definitely tell, and because these things actually age the skin, you are eating them, ageing your skin. So that is why it is very important the kind of food that you put into your skin. Everything around our body is made up of cells, so you are feeding your cells. If you give your cells good food to eat, it will show up in your skin how young you look.
Mention some of these good foods you are talking about
Nigeria is blessed with so much vegetables and fruits like ugu leaf, waterleaf, oranges, soko, they all contribute because they are all natural source. Right now, most of the products we get from the farm are organic. People should concentrate more on fruits and vegetables than carbohydrates.
What is the effect of skin bleaching?
When I see a lady that bleaches, the first thing that goes to mind is, lack of confidence, because, why would you want to change your skin colour? Those chemicals they are using are very harmful. Everything you put on your skin goes into your blood stream. When it goes into your blood stream, that is why we see a lot of people having kidney problems. Those things go straight into the system and cause kidney problem and other related diseases. So we may have a lot of people later on that will have kidney problem. I don’t see why women should want to change their skin. You can brighten your skin, obviously, with the harshness of the sun. There are natural things you can do to brighten your skin, but not change your skin colour.
What are some of the challenges you go through putting your products together?
One is the rate of forex right now. It is not so friendly. Again, the courier services, bringing those things into the country. Sometimes, we meet a lot of hurdles, especially coming into Nigeria. Moreover, storing our products is a problem. Some of them need to be stored in the fridge, so electricity is another one.
What is a spa?
Spa is a Latin word which means health through water. However in modern times, spa is a place that encompasses a range of services that promote health, beauty, relaxation and wellness.
What is the essence of spa treatment?
The spa treatment is like medicine to the mind, body and soul. It should be made a necessity in our current world scope, with the never ending stressors that we encounter in our day to day life. A day at the spa will restore, rejuvenate, refresh, making you more productive in every aspect of life. A spa day is beneficial to have sporadically before you take a long holiday. This will definitely help to prevent stress and burn out.
What are the physical and mental health benefits of massage?
Massage helps to relieve muscle aches and pain, increase blood circulation while mentally, it helps to decrease anxiety and stress, promotes sleep and deep rest. I would prescribe that an individual get at least a massage twice a month.
Give us tips on what a client is expected to do before and after spa treatment?
When coming to the spa, a client is required to come in, to unplug from the stresses of the world, which will mean locking away your phone, immersing and enjoying your time at the spa. After your spa session, you will be in a state of total relaxation, so it is expected that a client is to drink water, eat something light and healthy. Also continue to rest to reap the full benefit of the spa session.
Can one request a specific gender therapist for reasons best known to the client
Preferences for a specific gender therapist are entirely up to the client and how comfortable he or she is with the therapist. We know that culture, nationality and religion also play a role in gender preference. In my experience, Muslim women prefer to have female therapists. Whatever the preference is, the spa therapist should aim to give the client a professional service.
One is not expected to go for facials all the time. How can one keep the facial glow without going to the spa?
For maintenance of healthy glowing skin, feed your skin from within and without, by using the correct skincare products for your skin type and condition that has been recommended by your skincare therapist. Most importantly, eat healthy nutritious food because our skin cells and whole body is made out of the food we eat. Hence the quote, “You are what you eat”.
What do you think the government can do to help the Nigerian beauty industry
Government should help SMEs to get loans, and in getting our products out to other countries
How long do you intend to do this?
For as long as God would help me.
What’s your advice to women, especially when it comes to taking care of their skin?
For women, let’s keep it as simple as possible. Beauty is within and without. What you put in your body is most important than what you apply on the outer layer. So you could be eating all the junk food, and applying all you should on your skin, but it won’t show, because the cells within are not fed properly. Feed your cells properly with the good kind of food which are abundant in Nigeria. Then feed your skin as well.