How To Fight Adult Acne

We're way past our teens already and we think haywire hormones and oiliness that causes pimples have already bid adieu in our lives. However, spots sometimes appear here and there and I admit, these pimples can be annoying and a confidence breaker that we hide with layers of makeup if we can't bury our faces under our pillows. Isn't it weird? How come we get pimples when we're no longer teens?

get clear skin from teens to adulthood

Turns out, there is such a condition as adult acne. It occurs in adults, either when we hit our 30s or menopause. "Though acne is seen primarily in teenagers, it can also occur in adults. There is no age limit," says dermatologist Dr. Lot Uyehara-Scher. There are various causes and aggravating factors of acne such as medications, the food you're taking, the ingredients in your cosmetics, etc. "Acne in general is genetics, " adds Dr. Uyehara-Scher. "There are people who are more susceptible to it."

If you find the occasional annoying and painful bumps are ruining your day, try out these solutions so you can enjoy your prime with clear, beautiful skin even without makeup.

Assess your diet

Your skin reflects your overall condition. If you feed yourself bad food, it also shows in your skin, so be sure to get good nutrition as much as possible and eat real, good food instead of fake food. Some may try to avoid dairy and refined carbs, especially if you are lactose intolerant or are allergic to refined sugars.

Proper skin care

Pond's Acne Clear, Pond's newest line is formulated to attack the cause of pimples. Use the facial foam with the leave-on expert clearing gel to combat pimples together for fast results.

You may come from a two-hour commute with crazy Manila traffic. You may have to check your kid's homework or catching up on your favorite television series to wind down after a long day. Whatever reason you may have, please do not forget to remove your makeup and wash your face with the cleanser suited for your skin type. Choose a cleanser that's gentle on your skin and doesn't strip away the natural oils, which actually serve as protection from your skin. If your skin is super sensitive, opt for fragrance-free or non-comedogenic formulas as well as organic formulas with no added chemicals that your skin reacts to.

Change the other products you use.

care for the other parts of your body without sacrificing your skin with products that do not irritate such as Sensodyne toothpaste

It may not just be the products you use on your face. Your  other personal care products (shampoo, soap, deodorant, etc)  may also be the cause of your flare-ups. If you find the pimples being concentrated on your chin and mouth area, it may be your toothpaste. Pimples on the forehead and around the hairline may be due to hair products and/or shampoo. Try switching to products for sensitive skin such as Sensodyne for sensitive teeth. If the pimples stop, you will know the culprit.

Reduce Salt

We all know too much sodium in our diet causes high blood pressure, obesity, and PMS bloating.  Too much salt in our diet can also lead to breakouts as well. Check if you're consuming too much canned and processed food or junk food. Choose low-sodium alternatives of your favorite seasonings and avoid soup mixes or instant anything.

Stress Less

All these adulting can stress and overwhelm us. What causes these flareups is cortisol, which is that same stress hormone which causes belly fat buildup, Aside from making you fluffier, it can also increase  inflammation. Remember our college acne from like exam week or hell week? Same cause. Manage stress with meditation, exercise, or just simply avoiding negative things and negative people and surround yourself with things that make you feel happy.

Use gentle detergent on pillowcases and towels

Messy Bessy Liquid Detergent is safe for your delicates and your skin. Smells awesome too!

The detergent or fabric softener in your pillowcase might also be the culprit. Rinse your pillowcases really well to remove all traces of detergent or fabric softener that can irritate your skin. You can also use gentler or mild detergent such as Ivory or Human Nature for your pillowcases and towels, which contain ingredients that are gentler for the skin. Try also sleeping on your back instead of sideways or belly down so your face doesn't get in too much contact with the pillow.

Change your hairstyle

a change in haircut or a sleek ponytail can keep hair and pimples away from the face

"The layers of hair can sometimes come in constant contact with the chin and the sides of the face," says Dr. Uyehara-Scher. Opt for longer layers when you visit your stylist so that you always have the option to pull back the hair so it doesn't touch your face all the time. If you love your bangs and layers, have a headband with you so that  you have an option to pull your hair back when you're exercising or at home so your hair isn't always touching your face.

See A Doctor

Acne flare-ups may be due to certain medications or hormonal imbalances. Consult your doctor for meds that are better for your skin or change the brand of pill that you are using. Doctors may also prescribe medications for acne as well as treatment for scarring or pigmentation.

Hope this helps everyone in their acne dilemma. Just a few adjustments and hopefully our skin can stay smooth and clear for the rest of our lives.

Image Sources:
Author's photos by Alfred Mendoza
Messy Bessy Detergent Photo facebook.com/messybessycleaners
Sensodyne Photo:  facebook.com/SensodynePH


Directory:

Messy Bessy
click here for a list of branches; messybessy.com; facebook.com/messybessycleaners

Pond's
available at all leading department stores and supermarkets

Sensodyne
available at all leading department stores and supermarkets; facebook.com/SensodynePH

Dr. Lot Uyehara-Scher
SKINHEALTH - 3rd Level Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall
63-2 6816245

A Tour Inside The Pond's Skin Institute

If you have been in Bonifacio High Street recently, you may have seen a building in front of Halal Guys amd Fully Booked, which I posted in my Instagram account.

Ponds helps us take good care of our skin and the newly-opened Ponds Institute here at Bonifacio High Street gives us access to great skin care especially now that we have to be conscious about aging. The institute offers derma consultation and skin analysis so we know how to take care of our skin better. #theskinexpert #pondsinstitute

A photo posted by Bambi De la Cruz 🐱🐯 (@bambikitty) on Feb 4, 2016 at 8:41pm PST

That's the Pond's Institute, your one-stop guide to every Filipina's skin care needs.

I had the chance to visit this place last week so I dropped by after work to check it out and let me share what's inside.

I may not wear a lot of white (#MUAproblems) but I appreciate white interiors in workplaces. White walls and floors light up the place quite nicely (perfect for photo-ops) and naturally and it gives a pristine appearance. If ever I had a makeup studio, expect a lot of white in it (with accents of black, red, and leopard print).

The first step was to have my skin analyzed with the skin analyzer. The skin analyzer is super accurate. It works even if you're wearing makeup, but I removed my makeup just in case for this because I wanted super clean results.

After that, a Pond's Skin Expert would recommend you the Pond's line that's perfect for you, based on your skin analysis and your lifestyle. Pond's has a whole range of products addressed to specific skin conditions and we of course want to have what's good for us.

What are these mirrors for? To find out the BB cream that's right for you, of course. The BB cream is the answer to every busy Filipina who wouldn't want to bother with a full face of products but would want to have a flawless face - it's skin care and makeup in one. It also contains sunscreen to combat both UVA and UVB rays. It also has the consistency of a tinted moisturizer instead of the super thick "paint-like" consistency of the BB creams of the past.

I've been swimming again recently as an added sport for arms and back day and since I'm still in peak season, I've been shortcutting my skin care so I guess I need a bit of help in the dryness/roughness and UV spots department. My skin age still matches my real age, though.  Of course, having my skin age younger than actual would be better. The line recommended for me is the Pond's Age Miracle line.

The Pond's Age Miracle line contains anti-ageing ingredients as well as boosts collagen production and can make the skin look up to 10 years younger. This was the line recommended to me.

As of the moment, my current facial wash at night is the Pond's Age Miracle Face Wash, which is non-drying for my skin. I guess it's time to try the rest of their line soon.

The selling area contains the Pond's products should you wish to purchase anything. Aside from popular ranges like the White Beauty and Pond's AcneClear Face Wash, it contains the ever-so-classic Pond's Cold Cream, which still remains a favorite makeup remover and cleanser for longtime fans at the end of the day.

As a makeup artist, I know very well the importance of beautiful and clear skin, which I always emphasize in most of my posts. If you want to jumpstart your way to beautiful skin and would want Pond's to help you with the journey, then feel free to drop by the Pond's Institute at Bonifacio High Street in BGC. They are located in front of Fully Booked/Halal Guys and facing Serendra. The Pond's Institute would be here up only until June 4, 2016.

Beauty Tips for the Busy Lady From Ponds.

A beauty routine need not be complicated. Just last Saturday, I attended an event where Cheska Garcia-Kramer shares with us her beauty secrets that are quick and simple. Cheska started out in the 90s as a teenybopper star and now, she not only is an actress but she is also a model, designer, and a mom of three children. She is a hands-on mom and she describes how she takes good care of her family. However, as she takes care of her family, she never forgets to take care of herself and it could definitely be seen by her glowing skin with very minimal makeup.

Although I'm not a mommy to humans, I could still learn a thing or two from her tips. I wear a lot of hats - makeup artist, yoga teacher, cat mom (yes, it's a hat. taking care of pets is not an easy task), pole dancer, the list goes on. On a normal day, I'm not really into the whole 2 hours of hair and makeup kind of thing (I save that for special events or shoots), especially for everyday and more so in today's weather. However, there is a need to take good care of your skin and to look just a bit better. I emphasize on the skin. We should take good care of our skin too, because no matter how expensive the makeup is, if the skin is in bad condition, how will the makeup still look good? Also, with good skin, there's less to cover, less makeup, less sticky feels.

Here are some tips I learned in simplifying my morning routine:

Have your makeup kit ready and organized with your essentials

We have our big baul of makeup that stores our palettes and magic tools. On a normal day however, let's stick to the essentials and keep this in a smaller kikay kit ready for us to use. An eyebrow pencil, lip and cheek tint, eyeliner, mascara, lash curler, a few bright lipsticks, BB cream/tinted moisturizer and powder are all you need to look just a tad better. Sneak in a few brushes (clean of course!)  It's summer still. Go have fun.

Get that checklist and tape it where you can see it.

#ChekasChecklist is all the tutorial you need on a busy day. It's simple and fast and gets the basics covered. One thing about Cheska's super fast and super efficient makeup tutorial is that she really stresses a lot on brows. Brows are what frame the face. In one shoot I did, the designer client also noted how the brows change the entire face. I personally prefer using my favorite trusty eyebrow pencil (Shu Uemura hard 9 formula) to give my brows some shape and definition. They even last an hour of pole class and a quick ashtanga workout.

For beginners, I would recommend what Cheska used here, which is brow powder or a nice matte brown eyeshadow that's a step lighter than the head hair color.

Caring for your skin is as simple as 1-2-3!

Clients would know me as aside from being very OC with brows and blending, I really have to start makeup with clean skin. Either tell my model or client to get their face washed or I would cleanse it myself using facial cleansing cloth or makeup remover and Evian water (wiped with facial wipes). Toner and then moisturizer come next and we don't have to put a lot.

Pond's  Age Miracle Cell ReGEN Day Cream is a non-sticky facial moisturizer

We just need a pea-size amount. The best way to apply moisturizer is to massage it to the face in an upward motion because this will counter the downward moment of sagging (one tip I learned). The massage also boost circulation and creates a glow from within.

Pond's Age Miracle BB Cream is a primer, foundation, concealer, and sunblock in one awesome tube.

 A layer of BB cream protects the skin and enhances its glow. Pond's BB Cream has SPF to protect our skin from the harmful rays of the sun and it's tinted so it also acts as a foundation evening out the skintone. I also like that it's light enough and perfect for warm climates. Now do your makeup and you're finished! Not hard!

Looking good doesn't have to be hard, and no matter how busy we are, we should always take time to take care of ourselves, because it's something we owe to ourselves and keep ourselves balanced, mom or not.

The Bare Minimum Look with Ponds

Even if I studied makeup and how to apply it the professional way, it's quite ironic to know that nowadays, I feel most comfortable makeup-free, or at least with eyebrows and lipstick (and the lipstick at sometimes can be optional). I remember back then when I thought less was ugly and more was fab. Name it - colorful eyeshadows (I hated browns and neutrals then), smoky eyes, a full face of foundation and two hours of makeup. When it was a shock for me to be makeup-less many years ago, right now, people do a double-take when I actually have production number level makeup on. Because really, who has the luxury of two hours and the hassle of setting up things and packing them back up when there's so much things to do?

I think the makeup gods heard me when I attended a Beauty Trends Talk yesterday led by beauty expert Agoo Bengzon. Guess what? This season, the look that is in is - the bare minimum look or no-makeup look, or what we called in makeup school as the Ponds look. Okay, that flawless face we see in TV is actually a face full of makeup applied by a makeup artist who applied that thick layer of makeup artfully in such a way that the face looks absolutely flawless (and lights, softboxes, the whole shazam). There is, however, a way to recreate that same look without having to hire a glam squad. The best thing I like it is that it's fast and it uses multitasking tools that do not take up a lot of space in our gym bags, handbags, or travelling bags. To sum it up, it's like a better version of yourself with no makeup. Since it doesn't take a lot of time and makeup kit real estate, you have more time to do other things, like have an extra cake or go ahead and fix your hair.

Multitasking tools are probably one of the best inventions in makeup world. Makeup noobs will love it and so do people who hate bringing a lot of things.

A BB cream acts as a moisturizer as well as makeup primer or tinted moisturizer. Back during the day when BB creams were appearing left and right, I really steer clear from them because the formulation was super thick, almost like a foundation and most of the super potent formulas look and feel more like a mask. I'm glad that local brands like Ponds came up with a BB cream that has a lighter formulation on the face with a non-oily finish. I used it this morning on my way to a shoot and I was quite impressed that it looked like a better version of my skin instead of foundation or a mask. Tip: massage the BB cream onto the face, giving your face a mini-massage to boost circulation and give skin a glow.

Lip and cheek tints give you some color so we look alive, especially since I tend to get pale-looking if I'm in my non-tanned skin color. Bobbi Brown Art stick in Rose Brown is a neutral rosy color that glides on the lips in a sexy matte color (a la Kylie Jenner) and can also be used on the apples of the cheeks as well.

After lightly powdering the T-zone and oil-prone areas, You may go ahead and do your eyebrows or if you still have time, lightly sweep the lids with your eyeshadow. Inglot;s Rainbow eyeshadow is a 3-in-1 pan with 3 shades that you can use together without taking up a lot of space in the teeny makeup bag or the hassle of carrying a lot of eyeshadow pots. This particular palette can also double as blush too.

Busy ladies who need to have pretty polished nails minus the chips despite doing a lot of work can finish off with gel polish, which gives shiny nails sans chips up to 2 weeks or until you cry because you want to take it off,

Of course the skin itself should be taken good care of before and after (most especially after) makeup. I always emphasize on skincare because good skin is the perfect base for makeup, whether it be that full glam-on face or the relaxed everyday makeup for going out. Ponds launched yesterday the newest addition to their skincare line - the Ponds Pearl Cleansing Gel.

I am recommending this to those with extremely dry and/or sensitive skin because this really cleans the face when I tried it. Most people with dry or sensitive skin tend to get that tight, stingy feeling after they wash their face. For those who wash their face with regular bath soap, they feel this too. While the tight and tingly feeling may feel oh-so-nice and clean, it actually means stripping your skin of its natural moisture. Although some opt to just clean their face with water, this still does not feel clean enough. This gel cleans the face so you get the nice clean feeling without the stingy, dry feeling after. This feels lighter than the other Ponds facial washes that I'm familiar with, especially those formulated for oily and acne-prone skin.

The cost is also light on the pocket (100 g for Php 155 and 50 g for Php 85. You can take the 50g with you on the gym and you still have extra space in your bag). This will soon be available on March but if any one of you would like to be one of the first to try the Pond's Pearl Cleansing Gel, log on to Zalora on February 20 . If you are on of the first 100 shoppers, you will get this with free shipping.