Heritage Month reminds us that radiant skin isn’t bought in a bottle; it’s built from a simpler lifestyle.
By Zuko Komisa

Ever wondered what we can learn from our grandparents about looking after our skin? While they didn’t have fancy 10-step skincare routines, expensive serums, or tubes of SPF lined up on the bathroom shelf, their habits were shaped entirely by what was around them. Some of those traditional practices worked wonders, while others probably caused a bit more damage than anyone realised at the time.
With Heritage Month as the perfect excuse, Drive 959 thought it is worth looking back to figure out what previous generations actually got right and what we should definitely leave in the past.
Our traditional diets played a massive part in overall health. Eating fewer processed foods and more wholesome ingredients naturally benefited the skin, especially when you consider how sugar and heavily processed foods drive inflammation.
Beyond the kitchen, we have to look at grandma’s remedies: which of those traditional oils, herbs, and homemade concoctions actually have scientific backing, and which ones ended up irritating or damaging the skin?
The team also spoke about the elements. Older generations spent plenty of time outdoors and often gathered around indoor cooking fires, meaning prolonged sun exposure and smoke were just part of daily life.
All of this raises a burning question: have we genuinely improved how we look after our skin, or have we just turned something relatively simple into a terribly complicated and expensive routine?
Listen to the podcast for the full conversation. Kaya 959 podcasts are available for download.
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