My New Dermatologist and Some Updates

Early this January, I decided to visit a new dermatologist. I had previous experiences with a dermatologist. Although I saw a lot of improvements after those visits, I realized how costly it could get for maintenance. Simply put, my original dermatologist caters to well-off patients. Each tiny bottle of skin care product costs 300-400 pesos. His cleaning sessions alone costs 800. I just didn't feel I was getting a great value for my money.

This time, I found a new dermatologist who doesn't demand much from my wallet. He doesn't require me to use his clinic's products. It's fine for him that I use my store-bought products as long as they work well on my skin. The only products I got from his clinic are skin medications that require prescriptions, namely: retinoic acid and clindamycin.

Meanwhile, I had promised in my earlier post (Acne, Air Pollution, Poor Diet, and Suggested Solutions) to give an update about the results of my new skin-friendly lifestyle. I would be lying if I said I strictly stuck to my do's and don'ts list. Taking care of the skin can indeed take a lot of effort! Despite not being strict down to the last letter of the list, I managed to see results on my skin health.

Shortly after starting my new regimen, I went to Tokyo for a vacation. The cool and dry weather there had immediate results on my skin. My pimples dried up and my Alba Botanica sunscreen provided ample protection against the weather and the sun. My skin loved the Tokyo environment and during my week-long stay there, I noticed my skin to be slowly clearing up.

It's quite funny that it was after that period that I decided to see a dermatologist. Well, I wanted to maintain a clear skin, especially since it's already a new year. Here's a rundown on his treatment:

He gave me a cleaning, that is, he manually pricked my pimples. He told me that I inherited my oily skin from my dad, and so it is expected that my acne will flare up again. I can visit him once a month for a cleaning session, to maintain my skin. He told me that my problems are mostly the whiteheads and blackheads. He told me I could keep using my facial wash, and gave me a toner with clindamycin, which I should use twice daily. He also gave me a retinoic acid cream which I should apply every night after cleansing and toning.

Do you visit a dermatologist too? How was the treatment?

Acne, Air Pollution, Poor Diet, and Suggested Solutions

Source: Danilo Rizzuti | Freedigitalphotos.net

Lately, I've been having serious acne flare ups on the face and I am not proud of it. It must be the air pollution or the poor diet I'm having. For some reasons, the vehicles passing by our neighborhood has increased, making dark smogs to be a frequent sighting whenever I go outside home. Ice cream and dairy products have also become more frequent in my diet.

So, after much scouring on the Internet, I decided to construct a list of skin care do's and don'ts. I will be putting these suggested solutions on my smartphone to remind myself constantly of the proper skin care habits. I hope that after observing the list diligently, I will finally find some improvements on my skin. Below is my list and I promise to update you as soon as I see some progress.

Suggestions to Get Rid of Acne:

Don't touch the face.
Do apply sunscreen everyday to protect skin from UV (UV becomes more harmful when combined with air pollution).
Do moisturize everyday to stay hydrated and to create barrier against pollution.
Don't eat too much sugary foods.
Don't take too much dairy products.
Do take supplements including Vitamin C and Omega-3 to protect the skin.
Do exfoliate the skin twice a day (check though for signs of irritation).
Do apply acne medications such as benzoyl peroxide.
Do change the pillow cases every other week.
Do lie on the back while sleeping.
Do clean the laptop's keyboard, tablet, and cellphone everyday.
Do sleep earlier so as not to worsen acne.
Do eat more nutritious foods beneficial for the skin.

Note: This is actually a late post and I will publish the results soon.

My Recent Skincare Routine

I used to follow dutifully the ever so popular trend of skincare regimen: wash, tone, moisturize. Now, I'm becoming less convinced of this trend's necessity. For the past several months, I've been trying to revamp my skincare routine into a much less complicated regimen. During some periods, my skin repaid my modifications with a lot of breakouts. But as I adjusted slowly, my skin eventually improved. I learned that I need not use a lot of products in order to have a healthy skin.

For now, my recent skincare routine is only consisted of two steps: wash and moisturize. I like this simplicity very much. It's much easier to squeeze this routine into my daily schedule. Not only that, my wallet is much happier as well. Less products means less expenses. I need not worry about the effects of combining a lot of different product ingredients anymore. In addition, having only two types of products to use makes it easier for me to point out which product triggers my breakouts.

To be more specific, my morning routine is like this: wash with a mild cleanser (Happy Tea Time Cleansing Foam), apply benzoyl peroxide (Panoxyl, 4% cream), and apply sunscreen (Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen SPF 45). To my oily skin, a sunscreen is enough to act as a moisturizer to my skin. At night, I wash my face with a cleanser (Clean & Clear Essentials) effective to remove my water-resistant sunscreen, apply benzoyl peroxide once again, and apply my nighttime moisturizer (Jason Soothing 98% Aloe Vera).

In a list form, here is my regimen:

Daytime

- wash (Happy Tea Time Cleansing Foam)

- acne treatment (Panoxyl)

- moisturize (Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen SPF 45)

Nighttime

- wash (Clean & Clear Essentials)

- acne treatment (Panoxyl)

- moisturize (Jason Soothing 98% Aloe Vera)

I realized that my topical skincare products are not everything to my skin's health. There had been a time when I was so obsessed with finding the perfect products, sometimes even poring a big hole in my wallet, just to achieve a flawless skin. But this is a fact that every woman should admit: a healthy lifestyle and diet is all it takes to have good skin. 

Yes, topical products are great, in fact, I am dependent on them to control my acne. I am also very dependent on them to protect my skin from harsh conditions. However, even with those, their effect can only go to a certain point. Bad skin will still appear to reflect the health's condition. So now, I have another reason to eat more healthily. I also take fish oil capsules everyday to ensure I have enough good fats needed for a healthy skin. I make sure that I am always hydrated throughout the day by drinking plenty of water, and I sleep earlier too, never past 12 midnight, so as not to trigger my hormonal acne. I'm proud that most nights, I am already sound asleep at 11pm, quite a feat for a night-owl blogger like me!

How about you? What is your skincare routine?

Facial Soaps and Cleansers 101

Photo Source: dusky | Freedigitalphotos.net

The Basic Function of Soaps and Cleansers

Facial soaps and cleansers are the most basic personal care product we use for our face. They are essential for removing dirt and excess oil from our skin. In order to cleanse the skin, soaps and cleansers must include surfactants. 

Surfactants are ingredients that have special properties of being attracted to both water and oil. This enables the surfactants to bind with the oil and dirt found in the skin while lathering. The act of rinsing allows the water-loving end of the surfactant particles to bind to the water, bringing the oil and dirt along and down to the drain. Examples of surfactants that can be found on facial soaps and cleansers are: sodium laureth sulfate, sodium cocyl isethionate, and cocamidopropyl betaine.

However, there are downsides with the cleansing abilities of surfactants: they can be drying and irritating. In order to balance the effect, moisturizing ingredients are added into the soaps and cleansers for better outcomes. Glycerin, propylene glycol, and mineral oil are some of the ingredients that you may find for a more comfortable feel on the skin.

Ingredients for Acne

For acne concerns, two common ingredients may also be added on the products: salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Salicylic acid has the ability to cut through grease, thus loosening the clogged pores and effectively cleaning the skin. Benzoyl peroxide deals with bacteria that causes acne. However, these two substances have side effects to some people especially those with sensitive skin. They may cause peeling, redness, and dryness. Salicylic acid can also make the skin more sensitive to the sun (In this case, applying sunscreen after using products with salicylic acid is a must).

Bar Soap or Liquid Soap: Which is Better?

Now you may ask, which is better, bar soap or liquid soap? For many, they prefer the liquid form for washing the face. Although liquid facial wash costs more, it is milder to the skin. Bar soaps have a bad reputation for having a high pH level. In addition, used bar soaps may contain bacteria residue, but they do get washed away after rinsing anyway. If you are sharing your facial soap with other people, you will find the liquid form to be more hygienic. However, more and more bar soaps are becoming better. Many of these manufacturers are concentrating on formulating bar soaps that are gentle and lower in pH level. Nowadays, it is the matter of which type of vehicle you prefer, liquid or solid.

Preservatives in Soaps

A soap or cleanser without preservatives is hard to find in the market. Microorganisms love to thrive in water, thus, a soap or cleanser without preservative will be a paradise to them. Preservatives come in many forms, some of these are: parabens, DMDM hydantoin, methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone. Parabens are highly controversial preservatives, which are found to mimic our hormone regulation. Despite that, only a small amount of the substance are used in cosmetics, which is far below the level needed to cause danger on the body. DMDM Hydantoin is another preservative with unwanted effect. It is known as a formaldehyde-donor, a substance necessary to prevent spoilage, but is irritating on the skin. Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone have recently raised some issues about its skin sensitization potential. In my opinion, I trust that manufacturers would be responsible enough to use these preservatives within the safe levels dictated by cosmetics standards.

Which type of Soap is for Me?

After learning all these ingredients of soaps and cleansers, ultimately, we also need to know which works best for our skin type. For the normal skin type, an ordinary soap or cleanser would suffice. For dry skin type, go for formulations with added moisturizers, and wash less frequently. For the oily skin type, go for foaming facial soap or cleanser to remove extra grime, and don't wash more than twice a day unless after sweating. For the sensitive type, go for liquid soaps that are clear in color and fragrance-free, or bar soaps that are similarly fragrance-free and low in preservatives. For acne-prone skin, as mentioned above, look for ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, but use only as needed because of their drying and irritating effect, and don't forget to put on a sunscreen.

Can Soaps and Cleansers Remove Makeup?

For women who love makeup, a good news for your wallets: soaps and cleansers are enough to remove them. Of course, you need to first check if your soap or cleanser is good enough. After washing with your chosen soap, get a cotton pad with toner, then see if the cotton gets some stains. If the cotton pad looks clean, then your soap is sufficient.

Sources:

What type of soap do I need to use for my skin?

Does Bar Soap Work Better Than Liquid Soap?

SKIN DEEP; Bar Soap Sheds Its Irritating Image

Chemical Marketplace: Bar Soap vs. Liquid Soap

Last Updated: July 31, 2015

What is Facial Exfoliation?

Facial exfoliation is an additional step in a skincare regimen, with the frequency depending on the exfoliant used and the person's skin type. The purpose of exfoliation is to remove dead skin cells that we shed over time. Built-ups of dead skin cells tend to clog the pores - leading to acne breakouts - and make the skin look dull. In addition, de-clogging the pores make absorption of other skincare products more effective.

There are several ways to exfoliate the skin, but can be summed up into two types: mechanical and chemical.

Mechanical exfoliation is a method wherein a form of abrasives is used to manually slough off the top layer of the skin, which can be done from once to thrice a week, depending on your skin type. Abrasives may be in the form of facial scrubs, rotating brushes, or abrasive cloth. The abrasives of facial scrubs differ in roughness and size, with those containing larger grains to be more likely irritating, thus should be used less frequently, and with those containing micrograins that have smoother texture, thus less irritating and more suitable for the sensitive skin type. 

Chemical exfoliation uses no physical form of abrasives, and the process of exfoliation, as the label indicates, occurs on a chemical level. Since no form of rough abrasives is present, this method is more likely to be preferred by the sensitive skin type. Instead of grains, AHAs and BHAs are used. AHAs, such as lactic acid, not only chemically slough of the top layer of the face, it also moisturizes the skin at the same time. BHAs, also called salicylic acid, work better for the acne-prone and oily skin type due to its ability to cut through grease and fight acne. Most of AHAs and BHAs can be applied once or twice daily.

Of course, with any type of exfoliation, moisturizing the skin afterwards is a required step. Removing the top barrier of the skin makes it more delicate, thus, a form of protection is a must. The skin also becomes more sensitive to the sun, so applying a sunscreen is another essential step. 

If after using an exfoliant, you find your skin to be irritated, lessen the frequency or discontinue use. To be on the safe side, always try a patch test on the inner side of your elbow to see for any allergic reactions before using the exfoliant on the entire face.

For my own skincare regimen, I use a facial scrub as my exfoliant. I am currently using Kiehl's Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-dermabrasion which contains very small abrasives that are comfortable on my skin. Since my portion of facial scrub is already running low (and the said scrub is very expensive), I am starting on a lookout for a new form of exfoliation. 

Do you exfoliate your skin regularly? What type of exfoliant do you use?

Proper Care for Your Skin Care Products

One way to get beautiful skin is to apply good skin care products. Skin care products protect your skin from stress, pollutants, UV radiation (for those that contains SPF), dryness, and free radicals. But skin care doesn't just stop there. Your beauty products degrade over time, and if not taken of properly, may even do more harm than good to your skin. So taking proper care of your beauty tools is a must. 

But how do you take care of your beauty products? First, you need to know what degrades them. Heat, direct sunlight, air, moist, dirt, and germs all contribute to lessening your products' potency. By avoiding these variables, your products will tend to stay fresh and effective throughout their shelf life.

Location

The question of where to place your skin care products shouldn't be taken lightly. I like placing my products on a vanity table that is unfortunately located near the window. I kept wondering then why my bleaching gel that my dermatologist prescribed turned brown quickly. Other products that used to work wonders on my skin had somehow become ineffective on me. It took me a while to realize that the heat coming from the window was degrading my products. Instead of doing major furniture rearrangements in my room, I put the products in a basket instead for easy transport and placed it somewhere safe, far away from the light. The basket allows me to easily grab all my skin care products back to my vanity table whenever I needed to do my regimen.

Here are some examples of beauty baskets that you may use to keep your products in a safer place:

Instead of the vanity table, some women prefer placing their beauty kits on the bathroom counter. That isn't advisable. Bathroom is one of the most humid parts of the house, and you will only attract more bacteria or molds onto your beauty products. With the exception of your facial cleanser and other facial scrubs, place the rest of your beauty products away from your bathroom.

Container

Different skin care products have different types of containers. Pumps and tubes are the more hygienic containers as the mechanism of the containers allows you to use the product without having to touch the inside. Jars tend to be the most unhygienic of all due to the required dipping of the fingers during every use. Not only do jars allow more exposure to dirt and germs, the wide open surface area of the brim promotes oxidation, which degrades the product eventually.

There are two ways to address the jar issue: One, you can simply transport your product to another container you prefer, maybe a jar too but a smaller one (at least less amount of product will be exposed in a small container, and before they degrade to spoilage, the contents will all be used up), or a squeezable plastic bottle/tube. Two, get a clean spatula and dip it instead of your fingers. Spatulas are far more hygienic than your fingers as your fingers may contain bacteria (even after washing) and natural oils that you don't want to be mixed in with the product.

Transfer your product's contents into a squeezable bottle such as this:

Or into a smaller jar:

Using a spatula such as the one below for better hygiene.

Remember, you cannot always expect your skincare products to work if you don't store and handle them properly. Follow your regimen diligently and do not neglect to care for your products. Once you've done these two, you can surely be on your way to better skin.

Last Updated: August 10, 2015

Skin Care 101: A Guide to Beautiful Skin

Photo by photostock via Freedigitalphotos.net

When I was a teenager, I didn't know anything about toners and creams and facial masks. There are tons of products along the beauty aisle of my favorite store, yet I didn't know much about them. Soap was my only skin care routine. My lack of knowledge did pay a price: an irritated and unhealthy-looking skin. After learning that there is such thing as a skin regimen, my skin improved greatly. You see, you didn't need to go to expensive treatments to get the skin you want. It all starts at home. Give your skin a few minutes of pampering and you won't regret it. Here are the things you should know about skin care. Read full article.

Skincare Product Ingredients that Won't Clog Pores

I have an acne-prone skin and a very oily face. I guess it runs in the family. In the morning after washing my face, my skin becomes rejuvenated, clean, and glowing. However, as soon as midday arrives, my face starts to become very shiny. The sebum that appears of course makes my skin even more prone to acne breakouts.

Do you know that oil is one of the major contributing factor to breakouts? Oil blocks the skin pores and therefore leads to breakouts. That is why oily-skinned people need to control their excess oil production. Choosing the right skincare products is even more important, as you don't want to add more oil to your already oily skin. Take note though, that not all oils or fats or lipids are comedogenic or pore-clogging. Some are in fact very good moisturizers that act not only as lubricants but also as a barrier between your skin and the harsh entities from the environment.

However, it is not that simple to just list down all the acne causing ingredients in order to completely avoid breakouts. In addition, it is often difficult to determine an ingredient's comedogenic potential, as researches often show inconsistent results. More so, the combination of certain ingredients changes the comedogenic potential of the final mixture of the product. Even skincare products having no comedogenic ingredients at all may possibly cause breakout.

The verdict? Well, more research is needed, but for now, learn all you can about the ingredients' current information. You may not correctly predict a certain product's comedogenicity based on the ingredients alone, yet there are certainly some ingredients that you definitely need to avoid. These are the heavy and penetrating oils or fatty acids such as cocoa butter, isopropyl myristate, and lauric acid. For cosmetics, avoid mica (a mineral that adds shimmer to your skin) and coal tar derivatives as they are highly irritating to the skin. Here's a helpful link I've found that lists down all the ingredients that are comedogenic and irritating.

Of course, the bottom line is to use your common sense. If you notice that your skin breaks out after using a certain product, discontinue usage. To be on the safe side, always try a new product in a small area behind your ear and wait three days to check for any sign of irritation. If you find no bad effects, then go ahead and use the product!

UPDATE: In my latest post, I've listed the highly comedogenic ingredients commonly found in skincare products. It is a summary of a study conducted by James E. Fulton.

Frugal Shopping and Reading the Labels

Choose your products wisely.

Photo by Ambro 

I came from a frugal family. Going to boutiques has been a challenge to us. When we choose products, we not only consider the quality but also the price. I remembered going to a boutique with my mom many years ago. I was so happy to find a very cheap bottle of lotion. It was a buy one take one commodity. I quickly showed it to my mom, but soon after

, she stopped me from placing it into the shopping basket. She told me the brand was an unknown one. Also, the lotion was manufactured in China. For some reasons, my mom was very apprehensive of products coming from China. It was way long before the melamine scare from dairy products or the infamous recall of China toys.

Anyway, so I got disappointed because the thought of getting a good bargain quickly dissipated into thin air. We bought another well-known lotion instead of the product I’d intended to buy. I was very young then. I then came to realize that although quality should never be compromised with the price, knowing the product’s composition would help me save money. Sometimes, the tendency for consumers who lack knowledge about the ingredients is to just choose the products based on the price. People tend to think that the more expensive the product, the better the quality. Frugal people tend to go for the middle price - not too expensive, not too cheap. But price is not always the accurate indicator of quality. It was during that realization that I have decided to learn more about reading labels. 

Here is a list of the common skin care ingredients you might find in your favorite products. By learning about the ingredients, you’ll know whether the product you are using is safe or not, effective or ineffective. You will also realize whether the money you are spending on these products is worthwhile.

My Dermatologist

I used to have a lot of pimples. My lack of knowledge on skin care had worsened my acne condition. I rubbed and scrubbed my face and overused topical medications. My skin was peeling so badly. But I endured all these unsightly marks thinking that acne is normal for teenagers. High school passed then came college. My skin became a bit better, as a friend suggested me to use Likas Papaya Soap which has salicylic acid ingredient. However, my skin was still flaky and dry. Breakouts would still occur from time to time as college life was quite stressful. Now that I’m way beyond those teen years, I still get breakouts. It was only a few years ago that I decided to see a dermatologist.

My dermatologist gave me a facial. Every session he would manually tweeze my pimples using his special equipments, a procedure called extraction. It wasn’t that painful. He gave me a skin care regimen to follow daily. So there, I would always buy those skin care products from his clinic. Those bottles didn’t have any brand names. Only the active ingredients were included in the label. I had no clear idea what products I was using.

I painstakingly did my research. I learned about the ingredients found in personal care products. I also learned how to read the labels. I stopped buying products from my dermatologist and started switching to store-bought products. I realized that by doing this, I could save more money. Of course this is not something that you could simply do especially when you have severe acne. If you have controllable acne, you could just rely on good personal care products for better skin. Of course, research thoroughly and see which works best for you. Read my article Skin Care 101.

Of course, my dermatologist was good. After a few sessions, my skin became smoother and clearer. The only problem I had was the brandless products. For me, it would have been better if he just suggested some personal care product brands that were suitable for me instead of selling me his own. Recently, a friend passed by another skin care clinic only to find out some of the dermatologist's employees filling out dozens of empty plastic bottles with a certain skin care product. Now that might be what my own dermatologist was doing.