I wonder: did man become dark because he lived near the sun and did he pass on darkness eventually as a genetic trait? The interaction between the environment and man is ever-permanent, but did men grow body hair to keep themselves warm? Did man stand erect on his hind legs to walk upright across land bridges and pick fruits from the trees? Do men who live in high plateaus acquire flared nostrils to breathe in more oxygen?
Since history was first recorded, man has adopted to the environment and has had to protect himself from its adverse effects. Obviously, our skin takes some punishment — UV radiation, industrial pollution and climatic changes are but a few examples of environmental hazards that mercilessly attack the skin so that we become willing (or unwilling) partakers of aging.
Because we haven’t been kind to the environment, the environment is getting back at us now, asserting its strength that is more powerful than men. For example, the rays of the sun can parch our skin, making it dry and rough. Brown dots appear that become dead pigment cells, also referred to as sunspots. Wrinkles and sagging become visible, and not something we can thwart. When the sun is around, I hide.
I spent one winter in America and it was devastating on the skin. Europe was equally unjust and mean in November. In America I went back to basics: Petroleum Jelly. In Florence I sought out Sisley; both worked wonders! There you have it: cheap and expensive remedies. If only dry air didn’t sap the moisture from our skin during winter! Have you seen men stretch their mouths wide just to loosen their facial muscles and complexions? I have. This is because winter skin is tight and even turns red, like the nose. Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer would find a lot of sympathizers walking on two legs out there, shopping. If we drink lots and lots of water, as we should during winter or the cold season, we usually end up seeking solace in every available comfort room.
Industrialization causes pollution, further harming the environment. Factories and refineries exhale oils, grease and soot that clog and irritate our complexion. That naughty environment causes acne and blackheads, too. Pasig has continuous specks of dust in the atmosphere from its factories. An accumulation of that and even a bare finger can trace the dust over stored clothes. And when we clean our drawers there’s also dust. We wipe our faces unconsciously and eruptions abound, red welts like pimples.
Even the air in our kitchen is oily. Toxic gases are excreted by motor vehicles. And did you know that hair follicles get damaged from toxins, inducing the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum? Production of excessive sebum causes blockage of hair follicles until they can’t breathe, so beware of acne breakouts near the scalp. Oh, my gosh: germs are everywhere. I’ve been wondering why all of a sudden I acquire oily hair just two days after a shampoo. Maybe the toxic environment is to blame.
I can’t stand dust and I dislike being around smokers. Mindlessly, they puff their lives away and we innocent bystanders become susceptible to cancer. If my clothes end up stinking from others’ smoking, so does my hair. Smoking pollutes so much and lungs are the prime victims. Cigarettes contain over 4,000 chemicals — most of which are exhaled and released into the atmosphere which means there is a massive amount of pollution released into the air every day. Leafy trees are often compared to our lungs. Even they breathe in poisonous air and every tree filters out pollutants for us. It seems almost crazy to add more cigarette smoke into the air. We need to breathe, but no one needs to smoke.
As our age creeps in and continues its celebration, the environment causes damage by force, so sensitivity to beauty counts because everyone has to hold on to those they love and their own lives.
Look in the mirror. You’re suntanned and burned like a red lobster. Very bad! A second look and — accept what the mirror tells you — it isn’t just a good night’s sleep. There are creases under those tired eyes. Look at the chin: it’s doubling up! It’s often due to our sleeping positions. So observe yourself at rest; though not necessarily the most comfortable position, sleeping flat on your back — moving neither right nor left — can achieve rewards because resting on your face as you sleep sideways can produce creases, if nature doesn’t.
Respect the environment and see what surprises it surrenders. Botanical extracts like vegetables from Sisley are my anti-aging choice. Aging is inevitable but we have to look smooth and pretty as we face the years. There’s no way around it, bar cosmetic surgery. Crow’s feet appear from smiling. So must we look sad, preparing for dusk in our lives? No way. Better check out how your husband looks. He should look more tired than you. We should look, as Maurice Arcache says, ever “cucumber cool.” That’s another tribute to nature. Tunting Cruz Natters and Karen Davila say meso-therapy is the best remedy.
Faces that intend to retire at 60 have complexions no longer luminous, pores enlarged, and hair that appears miraculously below the chin (it seems like it’s the start of a beard). Skin at the corner of the mouth begins to pull down and droop. How on earth can we shield all that damage from further wisdom and experience? Cover up.
Just cover up. Less is more, beauty magazines espouse. I don’t believe it. We know that can’t refer to us all the time. But a question pops up: “Couldn’t I just add much more and make it look like much less?” Yes, you can; but be careful where it goes. Like eye shadow, it shouldn’t fall on cracks and crevices. In Vogue, I’ve seen photos of models’ eyes that are smudged. But those peepers can look scary and haunting if improperly smeared. What Vogue is saying is that the old ‘70s eyeliner and lipliner are kaput. They’ve aged, too.
Another tip: moisten the lips and relieve chapped skin with vitamin E aloe vera extract and macadamia nut oil. Lemongrass honey lip balm is nature’s concoction from a cared-for environment — meaning nature’s products are alive in the environment, and good for our skin.
Expert application is the key to success. As women age, it’s far more flattering to see less foundation and much less powder. I recommend light-diffusing foundations that are targeted towards older women, like Estee Lauder. An ultra-matte face is no longer the mantra for the mature woman, but it suits me, so I still go matte. We mustn’t be slaves to what fashion or makeup experts dictate. I’ve taken to liking cream blushes that look fresh and moist, but for touch-ups use powder blushers. They’re easier to spread on while in the car! I try to apply the color just on the top of the cheekbone to help make the complexion appear brighter. I never do sculpting or shading. That really can be aging.
Finally, remember to cleanse the face thoroughly and never despair. Everyone gets to where we are, meeting and bidding adieu to the decades. It’s all a matter of time and confidence — and love for an environment that produces beauty aids from the bounty of the earth. Nature exists for man’s good, but have we been truly good to nature? I wonder, as I rub Flavonex (made from soybeans) on my neck.