Zit zapping solutions

MANILA, Philippines - I get a lot of e-mail from people asking the same thing: no matter what they do, they still can’t avoid blemishes. What are they doing wrong? Well, here’s the thing. Not all of us hit the gene pool jackpot when we were born. Some of us (like me for example), despite regular facials, still experience regular blackheads and whiteheads and the occasional zit. It comes with the territory if you live in a city as polluted as Manila. Factor in your sleeping habits (lack of sleep is counterintuitive when it comes to maintaining your skin) and your general lifestyle (the food you eat, whether you smoke): all take a toll on your skin. But even the most monastic of lifestyles doesn’t necessarily guarantee a pristine visage.

I’ve cut off soda and most junk foods from my life (I have yet to deny myself chocolate), and yet my skin? It’s as oily as ever. That could be due to my general genetic make-up. Who knows? For some, the cause of zits or blemishes can be as simple as the kind of shampoo you use. A hair expert once told me that a lot of popular drugstore label shampoos are just detergents masquerading as hair products. (Ironically, he was, at the time, being sponsored by a drugstore label.) The same sulfates found in your laundry detergent are often used in the formula for your shampoo, albeit in lesser amounts. The strong perfume can’t be good either because anything scented tends to dry skin as well. It could be as simple as changing your shampoo to something like Kiehl’s Amino Acid Shampoo. A mild formula, its wheat proteins and starch provide body while amino acid and coconut oil-derived cleansers work into a soothing light lather. The shampoo might not be cheap but, like fast food, things that are available on the cheap and everywhere often have a higher price than you think. Lots of the products that you use on your body can take a toll over time. A cheaper alternative is Ilog Maria’s organic honey propolis shampoo (available at www.ilogmaria.com), created by a small local business that puts a premium on keeping their products fresh and carcinogen-free.

While trying out a facial at VMV, the facialist informed me that numerous comedones peppered my cheekbones, resulting from the hair that usually covers the side of my face. Could it be from my shampoo? I’ve been roadtesting a lot of new labels lately and the numerous formulas could be wreaking havoc on my skin.

Another thing to try is a gentle facial cleanser. An interview with a Clinique VP that was recently published in YStyle opened my eyes to a lot of simple things about skincare. For example, using a drying toner that saps all the oil out of your skin isn’t good. No, sir. You need to maintain a balance. Ingesting fruits heavy on antioxidants, like grapes for example, can be a boon to your skin.

Regulate your sleeping hours. Wake up at the same time each morning (snoozing your alarm actually results in a more groggy feeling) and get some sunshine as soon as you rise. This can help your internal body clock recognize the hour, thereby adjusting your waking hour to something more appropriate.

Avoid booze. Hard drinks make you look like you’ve had a hard life. Look at Mischa Barton. Only in her early twenties, yet she looks like a 35-year-old Russian streetwalker. That’s what boozing can do to your face.

If some of these suggestions help, then great. If not, try the Drying Lotion from Mario Badescu at Rustan’s for some on-the-spot zit treatment. Works like a charm. If all else fails, invest in some concealer.

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E-mail me at jackieoflash@yahoo.com.