Rx for dry, thirsty skin

Dear Lucy,

Belated happy wedding anniversary to you and Richard! I have a little problem with my skin and I believe that since you have flawless skin, you could help me. I have very dry and thirsty skin; thus, I keep applying lotion but still, my skin feels dry and thirsty. I even followed your advice to apply oil first and then lotion, but it didn’t work for me. Is my long bathing habit affecting my skin (I bathe for 45 minutes, twice daily)? Also, I’m trying to make my skin fairer by using whitening and papaya soap, followed by whitening lotion. Could you recommend any affordable whitening soap and lotion that can help heal my dry skin at the same time?

Jayne

Definitely, I think you have been too much of a mermaid, bathing twice a day for 45 minutes per bath. No wonder your skin has dried up. You need to put lotion on your very dry skin. I can suggest some really good ones that I have personally tried: Daintree vanilla and Mandarin body lotion (available at PCX), brazil nut and coconut body butter (available at Body Shop), L’Occitane cream with shea butter (available at Rustan’s Essenses), Nivea Body and Soul Skin Oil and Johnson’s baby oil with lavender. These body oils are very rich and they really lock in moisture longer. Baby cream oil from Baby Bench is also a favorite and so is the olive dry oil mist, again from Body Shop. Always have body lotion handy so you can reapply within the day as needed.

As for whitening the skin, I cannot think of any other soap to recommend except papaya, which you are apparently already using. For a natural alternative, you can also try bathing with water infused with guava leaves. It is said to do wonders for the skin and I remember as a child, my yaya would often bathe me and my sister in guava water. I can’t say for sure if there’s any connection, but it may be worth a shot. After all, it is a very inexpensive option. One last thing: Instead of solely concentrating on moisturizing lotions and oils, maybe you should also make sure that the soap or body wash you use is rich in moisture. There are good moisturizing bars like Dove, Body Shop soap in olive, Caress and Johnson’s milk bath. Lactacyd (the one with the light blue color) is also a good non-drying option.

Lucy

* * *

Cure For Pimple Scars

Dear Tingting

Is there a cream on the market today that could remove scars caused by pimples?

Scarface

Use Flamazine, Contrabix or Mederma, if it’s a new scar without an open wound. For an old scar, try dermabrasion.

Tingting

* * *

Shaving Grace

Dear Mary,

I’ve been shaving my legs for many years now. Consequently, the hair on my legs is now very stiff and unsightly. What inexpensive remedy could you suggest?

Hairy Gal

I’m afraid the only answer is to have electrolysis done on your legs. Consult a lesser-known dermatologist – he would probably charge less.

Mary

* * *

Send e-mail to style_sos@yahoo.com or write to Style SOS c/o Life Section, The Philippine STAR, 13th and Railroad Sts., Port Area, Manila.