S.O.S. on blackheads and the right lip gloss & hair care stuff

Hello Rissa,

I am an avid reader of your column. I would like to know how to get rid of blackheads. I have combination skin, my t-zone gets oily more than the other parts of my face, and I have blackheads on my nose. I tried pore strips but it didn’t work.

I would also like to ask for your advice concerning lip glosses and tints. Could you recommend a nice brand of lip gloss/tint that would not dry my lips or make them chapped? I seldom use lipsticks but I would like a more natural and young-looking fit for a casual girls’ day out or even just for a trip to the grocery. Any suggestions? What colors would fit me? I am on the fair side.

Finally, I would like to know where I could purchase sculpting products. I don’t enjoy using gel and hairsprays. I just want my hair to look natural and not stiff. Any suggestions? — Val

A blackhead is defined as a dark plug of dried fatty matter in a pore of the skin. The pore is obstructed with sebum or dead cells. Using a pore strip may somehow help the debris come out while pressing it can help only to a certain extent. The best way to safely get rid of those blackheads is to allow a professional dermatologist to perform acne surgery which will safely press them out.

Instead of spending money on products like pore strips and facial scrubs, you can save more money by visiting a dermatologist. What they will do is give your skin a good cleaning once a month and prescribe the appropriate medicine targeted to your problem.

For skin problems like whiteheads and blackheads, a dermatologist would prescribe tretenoin. When applied to the affected areas, it gently peels the skin so pores don’t have the chance to clog up. This also allows those whiteheads to open up and the accumulated oil gets pushed to the surface. For blackheads, tretenoin pushes the blackhead debris to the surface. Applying tretenoin is like a cleansing process that happens gradually. The great thing about this product is it helps prevent blackheads and whiteheads. You eventually see improvement over time.

When at home, try applying a warm towel over the affected area. This can help loosen up the oil. Rub very gently to remove the dead skin cells. You can also use a steamer as an alternative. But the best thing you can do at home is to wash your face often to prevent oil build-up.

Read My Glossy Lips

As for your lips, try Bloom’s new sleek, chic, mini-mirrored solid gloss compact. You can use it alone for a subtle tint of lip color or slick it over a lip crayon or pencil to add a moisture rich sheer shine. Bloom’s solid lip gloss not only colors but also cares for your puckers. It contains Vitamin E, shea butter, jojoba oil, evening primrose oil and Bloom’s trademark flavor — vanilla and mandarin essential oils.

Bloom’s solid gloss comes in six flirty colors: Iridescent (a pink/purple iridescent tone), Cosmopolitan (a sugary pink), Tangerine (a bright, fruity tone), Tint (a perfect hint of red), Cutie Pie (a sophisticated plum pink), and Pink Pink (a fun-bright, hot pink).

I have a Bloom solid lip gloss in Tint — "a perfect hint of red." It isn’t really bloody red but more of cherry red. And I love it! The color makes my lips look fresh. Even my model friend Phem loves my Bloom solid lip gloss. Whenever we’re out together, she just gives me a look where I know it’s time to whip out my Bloom solid lip gloss. Even if we have different skin tones, Tint looks great on her too. She loves it so much that she’s asking for it already! Another reason to love Bloom solid lip gloss is its packaging. The small compact is convenient to carry no matter which bag I bring and cute enough to take out when I want to moisturize my lips.

When buying lipstick or lip gloss, it’s really best that you try on the lip gloss over your color-free lips (take out any lip color you’re wearing!) so you can see how the shade will really look on your lips. Remember, our natural lip color affects the way lip colors look on us. That’s why even the same shade of lipstick will not look the same on every girl. Since you’re fair, I’d recommend Tint or Cosmopolitan.

Another must-try brand is Sue Devitt Studio. When it comes to make-up that cares excellently for the skin, Sue Devitt is one of the best. Her new Mini Stars mini-lip gloss palettes will definitely keep your lips hydrated and healthy. The great thing about the Sue Devitt lip gloss is that each compact contains four shades of lip gloss. "Talitha" is the neutral palette, "Chara" is the pink palette, and "Vega" is the red palette. I always have in my kikay kit Sue Devitt’s Mini Stars palette in Talitha. The four neutral colors go well with whatever I’m wearing, even if I just want to hydrate my lips while at the gym. I also like its consistency. It goes well over lipstick or alone — super shiny! Since you have fair skin, I think the neutral palette and the pink palette will work well for you especially since you want something you can use everyday.

Hair It Is: Organic Haircare

When it comes to styling your hair, the products you use will really depend on your current haircut. L’Oreal and Schwarzkopf are some of the leading names when it comes to serious styling. The best hairstylists trust these two brands. Even in fashion shows, these are the brands you’d see backstage. L’Oreal and Schwarzkopf are available in Bench Fix, Propaganda, Emphasis and other leading salons.

Bench Fix has Fix Hair Creme which is very good. Check also the PCX stores in malls and the new First Aid shop at Greenbelt 3 for good hair products.

Since you don’t enjoy using gels and hairsprays, why don’t you try John Masters Hair Pomade. I saw it at Essenses and was intrigued by the fact that this line was all about organic haircare. John Masters Hair Pomade is made of a rich blend of organic beeswax and pure essential oils which give potent conditioning and styling power. It adds incredible moisture and shine plus controls hair beautifully. Giacomo Forbes, who styles the locks of Sandra Bullock and Laura Bush, uses John Masters Organics Hair Pomade as his secret weapon. "The best pomade I’ve tried — and I’ve tried them all. Great for both chunky and slick styles; never looks greasy," he says.

Here’s another reason to love this product: It also makes an excellent hand salve for dry, chapped skin!

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In the Philippines, Bloom Cosmetics and Sue Devitt Collection are both exclusively distributed by Store Specialists Inc. and are available at all Beauty Bar shops.

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John Masters Organics is available at Essenses in Rustan’s.

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E-mail your questions and comments to: rissa_ms@hotmail.com.