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A trip to the emergency room turned me philosophical, and just a few hours later, the theme of this month’s edition had changed entirely. August, it turns out, is for radical optimism.
I began August in the emergency room, after accidentally ingesting a chemical — a frightening few hours that, thankfully, turned out to be nothing serious. But there is something about a hospital visit, however brief, that strips away the ordinary noise. Sitting there, grateful and shaken in equal measure, I found myself confronting my own mortality in a way I usually keep at a comfortable distance. And strangely, that confrontation left me not with fear, but with a fierce sort of clarity.
If life is this fragile, this quick to remind us of its limits, then why spend it bracing for disappointment? For me, August has become about allowing myself to experience all that I have spent months preparing for. Not postponing joy until some later, more convenient season, but permitting myself to feel it now. So often we hold happiness at arm’s length, waiting for proof that we have earned it, asking ourselves whether it will all fall apart. This month, I am turning the question over. Instead of asking if it won’t work out, I am asking if it will — and choosing, all month long, to be radically optimistic.
That spirit shapes this month’s edition of Elevate & Illuminate. These are the products I am using to care for my body while my mind and soul tune into that radical optimism — the pieces, scents, and small rituals keeping me grounded, glowing, and open to all the good that is its way.
Fragrance
Town & Country
₦900,000
Clive Christian
My second-favourite Clive Christian perfume after Matsukita. This woody fragrance blends the sensuality of sandalwood, a note I absolutely adore, with a soft hint of powderiness from Clary Sage. It is refined, warm, and elegant, and should be worn on any day you want to leave a lingering impression.
Isra & Miraj
€350
Stephane Humbert Lucas Paris
Powdery at first meeting, yet it rewards you with real complexity as it unfolds. Notes of mandarin orange, sandalwood, and ambergris weave together into a rich, unmistakably oriental palette. It is intricate, evocative, and transporting.
Splendida Tubereuse Mystique
₦230,000
BVLGARI
Tuberose and myrrh in the same fragrance? Count me in. Keeping with the oriental theme of my last few picks, this one opens bright and floral before settling into a rich, creamy base of vanilla and myrrh. Indulgent, mysterious, and beautifully done, it adds a bit of chic to any ensemble.
The Alchemist’s Garden, A Gloaming Night
$415
Gucci
Truly intoxicating, and perfectly suited to autumn. It blends beautifully with the changing of the seasons, and is ideal for those of us who’ll be in and out of Europe this month. Vetiver remains a favourite of mine, and here it’s rendered gorgeously.
Skincare
Even Tone Barrier Repair Ceramide Cream
₦49,500
Urban Skin Rx
With dry skin, any compromise to my barrier tends to feel magnified, so I love keeping products in my routine that specifically target and reinforce it. This ceramide-rich cream does exactly that. It replenishes and strengthens while it evens out tone, which is a welcome bonus.
Blemiderm Treatment (10% Azelaic Acid & Retinol)
₦84,000
Mesoestetic
A genuine powerhouse for blemishes and breakout control, this one pairs two of my favourite actives, azelaic acid and retinol, in a single treatment. Azelaic calms and clarifies while retinol keeps things turning over, so if your skin is acne-prone, this earns a spot in your routine right away.
Retinol Advanced Firming Cream
₦18,360
Advanced Clinicals
This one has been especially meaningful for me. I’m currently on a GLP-1, and this is my preemptive strike against any loose skin that might follow. I love how firm my skin feels, particularly around my arms — an area that’s been a little fluffy in the past. A small, hopeful step, and so far a satisfying one.
Clarifying and Brightening Serum
₦148,837.21
Yokuro Skincare
Fresh on the market just a few weeks ago, this power-packed serum has already earned its place on my list. It’s non-greasy and clarifies beautifully, thanks to a brightening trio of alpha arbutin, tranexamic acid, and kojic acid. These actives can be potent, so using the serum every other day is best, especially if you notice any tingling, tightness, or mild stinging.
Fashion
Curly Hem Mini Dress in “Midnight Blue”
₦65,000
Bawsty
If “she was a fairy” were a dress, this would be it. The way it sits is pure magic, from the shade of midnight blue to the fabric. The curly hem? Instant flower child. I feel like I might bloom or float off at any moment.
Sleeveless Terra Mesh Maxi Dress
₦115,000
LáLé
I love a mesh moment, and this one wins me over most colours. Rather than the expected earthy neutrals, they leaned into the marbled reds, golds, and greens, the vibrant side of Mother Terra. It’s a refreshing reminder that the earth isn’t all browns and beiges, and I’m here for it.
Luzara Top
₦50,000
Aminda
I love this because it feels like a pocket of sunlight against the incessant Lagos rains. Rather than leaning into colours as gloomy as the weather, I’d rather keep things light and fresh — a little internal brightness to counter the grey. Aminda, thank you!
Flora in “Pink”
₦55,000
Ifulicious
From a rising bag maker, and the craftsmanship genuinely impresses me. There’s a particular joy in supporting young women carving out a name for themselves. And when the work is this well made, and in my favourite colour, it’s an easy yes.
Wellness
Stainless Steel Gua Sha
₦17,726
Kitsch
I can’t believe it took me THIS long to get into gua sha. What sells me on this one is the glide. It moves seamlessly across the skin, and the cool stainless steel feels wonderful every single time. Everyone best prepare to see me absolutely snatched in a few months!
Nectar Diffuser
₦46,500
Cececa
A beautifully scented space matters to me, so this is a happy expansion of my Cececa collection — I already have their Iris Wood room spray and adore it. Where a spray is a quick refresh, a diffuser keeps things going, releasing scent slow and steady so the room stays an escape all on its own.
Makeup
Candid Blush in “CB2”
₦14,500
Yanga Beauty
The new kid on the block from Yanga Beauty, and an immediate yes from me. It’s beautifully pigmented, easy to blend, and beginner-friendly. If you’re into blushes, this one deserves a spot on your roster.
Lip Gloss in “Holographic”
₦39,375
Glossier
The girlies know Glossier is the truth, and this holographic gloss is proof. With it, you get a hit of futurism for any look. For someone raised on disco, ‘70s and ‘80s glam, and every glittering thing in between, it’s less a want and more a necessity.
Cream Stick Highlighter in “Delicate Glow”
₦47,520
Inglot
This is one cream highlighter I actually like. I’ve long been sold on cream blush and concealer, but highlighter took its sweet time growing on me. This is the one that changed my mind. The pigment is great and the shimmer is lovely. Feel free to swipe it everywhere, collarbones included!
Better Than Sex Volumizing Mascara
₦63,800
Too Faced
Better than sex? Honestly, yes. This one works overtime on my bottom lashes, my favourite place to use them. My favourite thing about them is how they turn a glance into a whole moment. One sweep and I feel sensual and mysterious.
The Season’s Affirmations
1.
I am allowed to feel my joy now, not someday.
2.
I am worthy of the good that is making its way to me.
3.
I am choosing to ask if it will work out, and to believe that it can.
4.
I am grateful for this body that carries me through everything.
5.
I am done bracing for disappointment I have not yet met.
6.
I am ready to receive all that I have been preparing for.
7.
I am radically, defiantly optimistic about what comes next.
8.
I am safe to hope out loud.
9.
I am living the life I once only planned for.
10.
I am open to possibility, and I let it find me.
What if it all works out?
So here is the question I will leave you with, the same one I have been asking myself all month: what if it all works out?
When you have grown used to things not panning out the way you hoped, it is easy to settle into an emotionally stagnant place, to expect the worst as a form of self-protection. But there is a difference between preparing for hardship and drowning in it.
Instead of letting yourself sink under the weight of everything that might go wrong, why not turn your face toward the sun? I will not pretend it is easy. Choosing optimism when life has taught you to brace yourself is a daily, deliberate act — some days it feels almost foolish. But it is so deeply worth it. Because the alternative is missing the warmth entirely, waiting for a disappointment that may never come.
This month, and hopefully long after, I am turning toward the light. I hope you will turn with me.
All my love,
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