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WANNA be the crush ng bayan? Then start taking care of your face! All that flak might be getting from work plus an unhealthy lifestyle equals wrinkles, saggy bags and pimples. These will definitely make you look at least five years older than you really are – and the manongs at the jeep will stop addressing you as Neneng, but tell the other .passengers to pakiabot your sukli "doon sa Ale!" To avoid this aggravation, we consulted a skin expert on the bes to achieve that radiant, kutis artistahin glow.
LIFESTYLE LAPSES
Dr.Shirley Samson-Valdez, a dermatologist at the Facial Care Center in Makati City, says that pimples are a result of stress and lack of sleep, two thins are common in the contact center biz "People who work at call centers may have already adjusted their Circadian rhythms, or their sleep cycle. As long as they complete their sleeping hours, then that is OK, but what I do observe is that people who work in this field try to catch up on their lost recreation time during their off hours. So, instead of going home to rest, there are many who stay behind, drinking either coffee or alcohol, and smoking!" she reproaches. And she is quite particular about the smoking part. "It contributes to unhealthy skin because it produces free radicals that cause aging!"
FACIAL PERKS
To help you look your best, aside from giving up the unhealthy stuff, the expert recommends some face time. "What a facial does is to manually remove all the dirt that has accumulated on the skin. With clean skin, you prevent whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. You will also look more radiant because your circulation is improved with the facial massage. A facial is also a way of de-stressing."
"For normal skin, it is OK to have a facial once a month. Even if you work in an air-conditioned environment, you may not be as exposed to pollution, but your skin still accumulates dirt, which clog the pores. Our pores have oil glands that produce sebum, if the pores are blocked, they can get inflamed, and that's how you get pimples," she explains.
After the facial, she recommends daily maintenance. "Keep your skin glowing by washing it regularly with mild soap and water. Clean your face all the time. Never neglect your face!" she advises. What about all those products that are now crowding the beauty shelves? "If you are on a budget, just buy a mild soap or cleanser for your face. If you have extra, then you can buy toner, moisturizer, etc." she says.
LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP
There are a lot of facial spas that have been mushrooming all over the metropolis, and you might have heard some horror stories about them. "The rule of thumb is to have a dermatologist assess your skin before you get any treatment done. You cannot perform something onn a patient without evaluation first," says Samson-Valdez.
Common complaints are redness and irritation, instead of achieving that relaxed, I-am-pretty feeling. "They might have used the wrong products for the procedure. You have to check whether the products they use are really applicable for your skin type, and if they are hypoallergenic." Another complaint is the pricking pain. "A facial is supposed to help remove impurities, but if it is too painful, then the attendant may not have been trained properly, or hindi doctor yung nag-train. There are also some cases where they touch something that they are not supposed to touch, like they think that an eruption is just a pimple, pero it is something else na pala, and they prick it, na hindi naman pala dapat," she says.
"The best thing to do is to stick with reputable facial centers. You can choose to have your face done sa mura, but there is a risk. Do not go to one place just because it is cheaper. Why would you take a chance on your face? Go for one na sigurado ka na,"she cautions.
Skin Healthy Tips:
• The bottomline for keeping your skin healthy is to have a healthy lifestyle.
• Watch your diet. Although your diet will not give you pimples - no matter how much chocolate you eat, or how many oily foods you consume - you won't break out. But if you eat healthy, and you are fit, it will reflect on your overall appearance.
• Get enough sleep. Even if you work the graveyard shift, make sure you get enough sleep when you get home.
• Keep your face clean. Wash your face regularly with mild cleanser and water.
For men, too!
"Nowadays, a lot more men are conscious about their looks. A lot of our clients are males! Facials are also good for them because they are more prone to oily skin," says dermatologist Shirley Samson-Valde
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