Way to glow, girl

Being in your twenties is such a great thing. You just feel absolutely free like a bird. So, they say that this is a decade of mindless revelry. But when it comes to your skin, being mindful is really important at this stage of your life.

Without a proper skincare regimen, the years of damage will definitely take a toll on the face. Here’s a reality check – your glowing baby skin will turn dry and lackluster. Fine lines and wrinkles will appear out of nowhere. And oh, it’s not cute to be freckle-faced unless you are a redhead like Lindsay Lohan.

Call me vain, but I really am into skin whitening. It is not because I want to look Caucasian, but it’s more of repairing the damage of my neglect for the lack of sun protection and non-existent skincare regimen back in my teenybopper days. Since my skin is quite fair, I hate to admit it but I do have freckles and my face looks horrible because of stress.

It is not easy to look flawless in a flash, but it isn’t impossible either. All you need are high-quality, effective skin and body treatments from the medical world that will make you glow inside out, which I was fortunate enough to try at Vicki Belo’s clinic in her Greenhills branch.

Dr. Vicki Belo participates in medical conventions so as to bring international recognition to Filipinos in the field of medicine. With the latest project of the Department of Tourism and Department of Health in medical tourism, Dr. Vicki aims to "make the Philippines the new beauty capital of Asia and a world-renowned destination for cosmetic surgery and dermatological services."

Whitening From Within

Skin whitening through oral means is relatively new to me. I didn’t understand the fuss about Glutathione when local celebrities started taking it back in the Nineties. I found out that this is the magic medicine known to whiten the skin.

"Glutathione is an antioxidant that strengthens the immune system," says Dr. Jesusa Lopez-Magallona, associate physician of the Belo Medical Group. "There are no side effects and it is known to whiten the skin with constant use in just six months."

I started drinking Glutathione capsules with lipoic acid (twice a day) and have been for a few weeks now. Lopez-Magallona explains that Glutathione boosts the body’s supply of vitamin C, stimulates the growth of new collagen and prevents suppression of the immune system by UV exposure. Lipoic acid helps in regenerating Glutathione and other antioxidants in the body. The result is whiter and healthier skin.

Together with Glutathione, I have been drinking Immunocal as well. At first, I had a difficult time mixing Immunocal until I tried it with a yoghurt drink. Just remember not to mix it with a blender or with a hot drink so as not to decrease the product’s effectiveness.

Lopez-Magallona explained that Immunocal helps the body produce its own Glutathione. This food protein concentrate is such a wonder powder for the immune system. Immunocal acts as a major antioxidant. So, it fights free radicals, delays muscular fatigue, detoxifies the body by enhancing liver function, and eliminates toxins. Amazing, eh?

For those who want quicker skin-whitening results, try the IV Glutathione, which is infused with vitamin C. This treatment makes use of a thin blood test needle that requires 15 sessions, but you can see the results in six sessions or in three weeks’ time. Do this treatment twice a week for three weeks straight. Then, a succeeding nine sessions per week should be done. Not only does IV Glutathione whiten the skin, it has antiaging properties as well.

White Out

For the external whitening treatment, I tried the Body Scrub with Bleach. Claude, my therapist, applied the scrub on my body, which increased my blood circulation. The scrub had a really nice scent made of fine sea salt and honey with almond oil that gently removes dead skin cells and dry skin. This treatment was very relaxing and felt like a massage, which eventually made me doze off.

When I woke up from my catnap, I took a shower to remove all traces of the body scrub. Then, Claude applied a natural bleaching agent all over my body that lasted until the next morning. Unlike other bleaches that smell like ammonia, this bleach is made from grape seed extract, AHA and licorice, which whiten the skin naturally.

"Skin whitening can be achieved without body peeling," adds Lopez-Magallona. "The Body Scrub and Bleach provide even results in terms of skin color and can be done as often as three times a week."

The great thing about this 45-minute treatment is that it evens out skin tone all over the body and definitely improves skin texture by giving it a natural glow.

For home-care maintenance, there is the bleaching soap while Belo’s Body Whitening cream can be used twice a day. To whiten targeted areas like dark spots, armpits, knees and elbows, try the Belo White cream.

Fresh Face

I hadn’t had a facial in a really long time. So, I tried the Full Facial or the classic European facial suitable for normal to dry skin. Claude, the same therapist who did my body scrub, led me to the facial room. She applied a cleanser and removed all traces of makeup. Then, she steamed my face for 10 minutes to prepare it for thorough cleaning.

I really dread extractions the most because it hurts, but the pain is worth it in the end. Claude removed the blackheads on my nose and extracted a few zits on my chin. She gave me a super relaxing face and shoulder massage, with a seemingly endless sequence of calming aromatic oil.

Afterwards, Claude applied a mask to my zoned-out, peachy-soft face to tighten the skin. When I looked in the mirror, my face was smooth as a baby’s. Plus, I didn’t even put powder or foundation at all so as to relish the fresh-faced feeling.

So, if you think you are too young to take care of your skin and just want to party hard from dusk until dawn, you’d better think twice and just go with the glow.

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Special thanks to Monica Eleazar and Adi Zarsadias. All products and treatments are available at Belo Clinics with branches at Suite 901 Medical Plaza, Makati; Westgate Center, Alabang; The Podium, Ortigas; Connecticut St., Northeast Greenhills; Tomas Morato and the 5th floor of Rustan’s Makati. For more information, call the Belo hotline at 844-2939 or log on to www.belomed.com.