Nina (60)

Wilmington, Delaware

All-Natural Beauty

Unlike many others that are addicted to a certain “look,” Nina believes that there is nothing more beautiful than looking all natural - as long as “all natural” means boasting a full-time glow and perfect skin achieved through an elaborate routine of natural products…whether they’re designated for skincare or not. She’s addicted to the routines she has developed for herself, and it leaves her friends and family wondering if it’s really beauty she’s on a quest for, or if these behaviors are more significant of a hyper-specific manifestation of OCD.

 Nina starts her days at the grocery store, stocking up on limes, sugar, and aloe pants that each play a unique role in her beauty routine. The amount of lemons and limes is staggering. Sugar and lime build a scrub that keeps her glowing, then a turmeric, Vitamin E, Lime face mask tightens the skin before it gets rinsed off. Nina uses a chopped up aloe vera plant as a face wash, and a baking soda mixture to get squeaky clean. She then applies ice cubes for at least four minutes, followed by natural butters and creams. Her only makeup product is a primer, on days that she wants to enhance her look with an extra touch. Nina believes in her routine strongly and insists that she doesn’t ever miss a day - it’s hard to even think of what would happen to her if she did! People say that what’s on the inside counts, but Nina wants to be beautiful both inside and out - and she won’t settle for anything else.

Nina is 60 years old but no one around her can believe it. She works with a group of women at a Collections Agency, many half her age, who look to be even older than Nina. She gets the feeling that they’re all jealous - but of course in secret, they’re all dying to know about her routines! Nina isn’t shy about sharing her key to skin success - the problem is, no one believes it! Who has ever heard of using lime, sugar, turmeric, etc. on your face?! Nina’s niece, Katara especially has a problem with her aunt’s habits. She’s a licensed cosmetologist and maintains that Nina needs to be using less harsh products on her face…there’s a reason limes are not sold for skincare. According to Katara the acidity and sugar cannot be good for her skin.

 As Nina follows her strict skincare regimen, other parts of her life are becoming increasingly controlled, too. She doesn’t allow guests to wear shoes in her home, and requires that anyone entering her home wash their hands immediately. If someone touches her fridge or anything else delicately organized, they’re immediately kicked out. Nina is recently divorced, so now she has no one in her life to try to control or diminish her OCD routine.  Her family is also concerned. The question then is, will her obsessive routine grow and spiral out of control? Will she find new routines that add to an already unrealistic beauty routine? If it’s unchecked, will the routines continue to escalate out of her home impacting other areas of her life?