For An Even Skin Tone
By Marie Calica for Yahoo! Southeast Asia
It doesn't matter if you're fair-skinned or tanned. To me, what makes a woman's skin beautiful is its clarity and evenness. But not all of us are born with patch-free skin, the extra cash to spend on expensive dermatological treatments, or the talent to Photoshop all imperfections on our profile pictures. Still, with the right products, a little patience, and some practice, we can achieve smooth, even-toned skin.
1. Make like a dermatologist and use specially formulated over-the-counter skincare products that contain salicylic acid, which cleans skin at a slightly deeper level. This formula is able to remove dry, dull skin while penetrating the pores of your skin so that follicles become as clean as a whistle. At-home preparations have smaller doses of salicylic acid, which means they are gentler on your skin than dermatologists' treatments. Try not to rely on ordinary soap as they can extremely dry your skin and result in uneven patches or blotches (if you must use soap, pick the ones with moisturizing properties).
2. Buff up. It takes about 28 days for your skin cells to turn over, but sometimes you need outside help to make this happen. That's why you need to exfoliate your skin to get rid of the layer of dead skin cells that prevent new, skin from re-surfacing. For this, use a gentle scrub to help slough off the dull layer of film on your complexion (cleansers with microbeads can also help). To apply, splash your face with lukewarm water, then squeeze a pea-sized amount of your chosen exfoliator on your fingertips and gently massage the product on your face (focusing on the T-zone, which is the oiliest area) in circular motions. Rinse with water, then gently pat dry.
3. Hydrate—both inside and out. Drinking water keeps your overall circulation healthy, thus preventing your skin from drying out (the first step to getting uneven and patchy skin). But water doesn't just to refer to what you drink; fruits are an excellent source of water, too! Moisturizing your skin is another way to hydrate your skin. Your facial cream or lotion acts as a film that prevents water from escaping, keeping your skin soft and smooth.
4. Wear SPF. Because all the sloughing of dead skin cells reveals new and polished skin, it's important to keep such skin protected. Slathering on sunblock or a moisturizer with SPF will prevent your skin from getting dark or patchy. Always follow the 30-minute rule: Apply your SPF half an hour before you expose your skin to the sun. And aside from lotion with SPF, hats and caps also help shade you from the harmful effects of the sun.
5. Use color correctors. Makeup can also help you achieve perfect-looking skin. When ordinary concealers and foundation cannot deliver, professional makeup artists turn to color correctors to do the job. "My all-around corrector is [in the shade of] orange," reveals professional makeup artist Samantha Unson-Gallardo. "You don't need any other corrective shade like lilac, or green—orange is your best bet," she emphasizes. Dab a light layer on your problem area, then simply apply your current foundation shade on top of it to reveal an even-looking complexion.
Marie Calica is a beauty writer, makeup artist, rock climber, and runner. When she is not busy climbing rock faces, running on the road or trails, or traveling, she edits Runner's World Philippines, does makeup, and acts as beauty editor at large for Women's Health Philippines.
