Anyway, the team comprised myself (the ‘model director’), my brother (the photographer), my 2nd sis (the model), her boyfriend (the assistant) and my youngest sis(the do-nothinger). But less than half way thru, I gotta run coz I’ve church to attend so the model was left to think of poses for herself.

As this was our 1st attempt at fashion photography, everything was quite a challenge, from getting the lighting right, getting the model to pose right and getting the photos right. In the end, considering that there’s no editing done to the photos as my sis was in a hurry to launch the collection on Sunday evening, the result was quite satisfactory, although I know we do have plenty of room for improvement.

Anyway, this is an overview of her collection:

To view more, please visit http://erinchocolat.livejournal.com/3457.html#cutid1

Btw, my company Vitasence is sponsoring the Gift with Purchase promotion. We are giving away 1 Nutritive Hair  Repair Serum with every purchase.

Next collection which we are targetting to be launched by end Feb will be mine! Yup, we’re going to take turns to launch our collections. I’m really excited coz one of the batches has already come in yesterday. It’s a dress with simple and elegant cutting suitable for the office and smart casual events. What’s more, it comes in 3 delectable colors – champagne, silver plum and rose pink!

I find that I need to attend church every sunday. Not because attending church will bestow upon me spiritual superiority (by the way, I think this idea is rubbish) or add to my ‘merits’ as a Christian (again, another nonsensical idea), but because I need to hear the sermons just like how I need food, water and air.  Like the quality of food, water and air, the quality and type of sermon one feeds on will determine the state of one’s health, which in this case, is mental, emotional and spiritual.

During yesterday’s sermon, Pastor Prince encouraged us not to live by our feelings but rather by unshakable facts that are based on God’s words and God’s truth as written in the Bible. Troubles may come, we may experience symptoms of illness, depression, etc, but if we stand by  and believe in God’s words and His promises on our healing, fullness of joy and provision and refuse to accept anything less, but keep confessing that only God’s word is truth, blessings will surely manifest. This is because God cannot lie.

Yeah, it’s not easy to think of God’s word sometimes when we’re in the midst of some problems. That’s why sermons like these are so important. They’re reminders of who we are in Christ.

Have a blessed week ahead!

Step 1: Cleansing (Twice daily) Time required: 1 to 2 minutes

Cleansing ’sets the stage’ for the rest of your skin care regime. Regardless of your skin type, it is important to use a gentle cleanser that will not dry out your skin or leave behind greasy residues. As facial skin tend to be more delicate, it is best to avoid washing your face with soap. This is especially true if your skin is dry, sensitive or prone to breakouts.

If you wish to save time, you can cleanse your face while in the shower (after rinsing off the shampoo and shower gel). This process should take only a minute or 2.

Step 2: Toning (Twice daily) Time required: 1 minute

Besides refreshing and balancing your skin, a good facial toner will help to prepare your skin to receive the goodness of skin treatment serums and moisturizers.

Always use toners that do not contain any synthetic colors, fragrance or alcohol as these ingredients are bad for the skin.

Here’s a tip to applying toners: instead of cotton pads, pour a small amount onto your palms and pat it lightly onto your face and neck until it is completely absorbed by your skin. During the day, toner can be used to keep your skin fresh and rejuvenated.

Step 3: Exfoliating (2 to 3 times a week, at night only) Time required: 1 minute

To achieve smooth, clear skin, exfoliating your skin regularly is a must. While exfoliation is important, we do not recommend abrasive facial scrubs as the abrasive action of scrubbing your skin can lead to skin damage in the long term.

A gentler, more effective approach would be to use an exfoliator composed of fruit and flower acids as these have been shown to be effective in gently dissolving away dead skin cells while providing your skin with natural moisturizers and antioxidants.

I have listed exfoliation as Step 3 here because Vitasence’s exfoliating product, Cell Renewal Serum, is actually a leave-on serum that has been specially formulated to support your skin’s renewal process throughout the night as you are asleep.

Step 4: Treatment (Twice daily) Time required: 1 to 2 minutes

This is what we call the ‘flexi-step’ which can be adapted to suit your particular needs. E.g. if you have acne problem, this step should comprise of applying acne treatment products. Depending on your skin condition, this step may involve more than one product, e.g. if you have both acne and pigmentation, you may want to apply an acne treatment product together with a skin lightening product. Nevertheless, the application of each product should not take you more than a minute.

Step 5: Moisturize (Twice daily) Time Required: 1 minute

To ’seal-in’ the goodness of the treatment products, you can apply a moisturizer. This is not a must by the way. If you have naturally oily skin, the treatment products which you have applied earlier may be more than enough to keep your skin moisturized. However, if your skin is prone to dryness, applying an extra layer of moisturizer will be very useful to keep your skin well hydrated all day. Choose a moisturizer that is not to oily or heavy to avoid getting breakouts and clogged pores.

Step 6: Protection (Once daily, in the morning) Time required: 1 minute

Pigmentation, wrinkles and many other skin problems are the result of accumulated sun exposure. Hence, it is essential to use a good, broad spectrum sunblock that can double up as a light moisturizer during day time.

I hope from the guideline given above, you can see how in less than 10 minutes twice daily, a good skin care routine will give you healthy, beautiful skin for life.

I’m thinking, perhaps, this has nothing to do with genetics or the person’s inherent health condition but rather, it has more to do with our exposure to an increasingly ‘chemicalized’ or ‘radiationalized’ world. Yeah, I know words like ‘chemicalized’ and ‘radiationalized’ probably don’t exist in the dictionary….yet. But their existence is certainly felt in our lives.

Believe it or not, a sensitive skin reaction is actually a natural response of the skin to protect itself and fight off ‘foreign invaders’ that may be potentially harmful to itself and the body system. When your skin detects the presence of potentially harmful materials, it’s natural immune response will trigger off a series of chemical reactions. One of the most powerful substance released by our skin, which many of us may be familiar with, is histamine.  Histamine will then further activate other components of our immune system needed to fight off the offending foreign material.

It all sounds great but one thing we’ll experience whenever histamine is released is sensitive skin reactions ranging from redness, stinging sensation, swelling, rashes, etc. Not very pretty or comfortable in fact.

It may sound like an overgeneralization but now we could guess at the fundamental reason why more and more people are experiencing sensitive skin! With all the chemically processed foods, canned foods, fast foods, environmental pollution, increased UV radiation, radiation from computers, mobile phones, wireless, high alcohol consumption, synthetic colors, fragrances and other chemical stuff in cosmetics and personal care products, it’s no wonder larger quantities of histamine need to be released at higher frequency to fight off these harmful stuff!

Therefore, I believe if we make a few changes to our eating habits and lifestyles, sensitive skin reactions can eliminated, if not reduced.

1. Avoid eating chemically processed foods that are laden with salt, sugar, hydrogenated oils, preservatives, synthetic flavors, colors, etc. This means no soft drinks, instant noodles, canned food, bacon, sausages, potato chips, most dairy products, and the list goes on.

2. Go for organically grown fruits and veggies whenever possible. This is to avoid harmful pesticides and herbicides that are so prevalent in commercially grown fruits and veggies.

3. Keep the air in your living environment dust and pollutant free with an air purifier.

4. Use a gentle cleanser for your skin. I cannot over emphasize how important this is. Remember, your skin, being the largest organ in your body, is your 1st line of defense against any harmful bacteria or foreign materials. To perform this task efficiently, your skin is naturally equipped with a layer of acidic mantle that is made up of various lipids, amino acids, etc. We call this the skin’s natural barrier function. Whenever you use harsh cleansers or when you’re exposed to harsh detergents, this protective layer will be stripped off. That’s why your skin feels dry and taut after such exposures. So what can you do? Choose cleansers that are mild and gentle and do not contain any harsh detergents. While it’s important to wash your hands regularly to keep them clean, especially before eating or handling foods, choose a hand soap that is non-drying. Apply just a little and dilute it with water before lathering up. And when you’re handling household detergents, always wear protective gloves.

5. Don’t smoke and avoid smoky environment.

6. Minimize alcohol intake. Coz alcohol dries out the skin whether thru oral consumption or topical application. And dry skin is always more vulnerable to the environment.

7. Try to minimize your contact with chemical dyes, synthetic colors, fragrances found in many cosmetic products. These are well known allergens as they are harmful and your skin and body system know and will ‘rebel’ accordingly.

It seems like one favourite mottos the Okinawans live by is, “Don’t worry, it’ll all work out.’

Such a simple yet profoundly comforting statement. That is, once it gets into our consciousness.

Citing a few verses (Proverbs 14:30, Proverbs 4:20-22) Pastor Prince explored the root meaning of the original hebrew words and sure enough, time and again, the Bible tells us that healing can come only by relaxing and letting go.

This reminds me of a movie, ‘The 3 Idiots’ which I’ve watched a couple of weeks ago. In the movie, the protagonist’s favourite motto, whenever he gets into a stressful situation, is to place his hand over his own heart and tell himself aloud, “All is well!” Btw, this is one of the BEST movies I have watched so do try to catch it if you haven’t. It’s a Hindi movie but there’re subtitles so it’s ok even if you don’t understand Hindi.

The central theme was taken from John 14:27 which is one of my favourite verses to recall and quote whenever I feel overwhelmed. Try it for yourself too. Keep repeating and meditating on the verse until it sinks into your heart and soul and replaces any thoughts of worries, fears, negativity which you might be feeling. I would say, it’s certainly a handy verse to keep in mind! =)

In life, it’s certainly not easy to stay positive and upbeat all the time. It’s not even easy to remain in a restful state for long. I guess that’s why Jesus said we have to ‘labour to enter into rest’. Haha! I dunno why that particular statement tickles me so? God is indeed very succinct and precise whenever He gives an instruction! He definitely knows that even entering into rest can be a struggle for many of us…at least in the beginning until we get a hang of it. The Bible was written thousands of years ago but God knows certain human characteristics are timeless. That’s why Pastor Prince said something like God’s words will never go out of fashion, so don’t scoff at the Bible as ‘old-fashion’.

I don’t have a surefire method to enter into God’s rest but I do find that reciting and meditating on certain verses such as the ones in John 14:27, Proverbs 3:5, II Timothy 1:7, Joshua 1:9, and Philippians 4:13 work wonders for me.

Btw, I love love love the way Jesus is depicted by Pastor Prince, which I believe with ALL my heart is the true and accurate picture of our Jesus in the Bible. Religious paintings often portray Jesus as a skinny, effeminate softie and certainly far from heroic looking. But the Jesus in the Bible went about tirelessly healing, preaching and blessing multitudes. I laughed when Pastor Prince once said that since Jesus had worked as a carpenter before going into his 3 year ministry, he must have very strong and muscular arms as well! Haha! That makes more sense right? And while He is kind and loving, he has no qualms telling people who are hypocritical and self-righteous off. Right to their faces, he rebuked them and called them a brood of vipers! He must have comforted many a hearts and souls that had suffered under the iron fists of these religious leaders back then.

Have a blessed, restful week ahead! Shalom. =)

The following is extracted from my book, Nature’s Spa: DIY Beauty Treatments:

Henna Magic

Whenever I use henna for my hair treatment, I’ll feel as though I’m communing not just with Nature but with thousands of years of human history and a multitude of cultures. For henna has been used in beauty care and medicine for a long long time by many cultures throughout the world. To add to the magical quality of henna, I have read from an old herbal journal that henna is one of those rare herbs which is aligned with the Earth’s polar fields and thus attract the powerful magnetic forces of the Earth. Perhaps this is why henna is also used in many sacred and important ceremonies to anoint and bless the people.

Getting to know henna

There is a lot of misconception surrounding henna. To clear the air once and for all, let us take a closer look at the various types of plants that are called henna.

Henna (Lawsonia Inermis or Lawsonia alba)

Strictly speaking, Lawsonia Inermis is the true henna. The leaves of lawsonia inermis are collected, dried and ground into a fine, greenish powder. As the leaves contain a natural red-orange dye, it will impart a reddish shade to the skin and hair.

Neutral/non-colouring henna (Cassia obovata/senna)

The so-called non-colouring or neutral henna is actually a totally different species of plant called Cassia obovata or senna. Appearance-wise, it resembles lawsonia inermis as it also comes in the form of a greenish powder. As its name implies, neutral henna does not give off any colour. However, it is great for hair care as it helps to condition the hair and scalp, control dandruff, and keeps the hair healthy and shiny.

Black Henna (Indigo or Indigofera tinctoria)

Again, black henna is not the same type of plant as lawsonia inermis, but its processed powder resembles lawsonia inermis in form and colour. Black henna does not impart a black colour though, but a deep, purplish blue.

Therefore strictly speaking, a product can only claim to be 100% pure henna if the content comprises only lawsonia inermis. And if it contains only pure lawsonia inermis, the only colour it will give is various shades of red, not black, brown or mahogany, and most definitely not blond!

Naturally, not everyone desires to colour their hair red. Hence, lawsonia inermis is often mixed with indigofera tinctoria, cassia obovata and other herbs such as rhubarb, amla, saffron, turmeric, cloves, paprika etc, to produce a wide spectrum of colours, ranging from strawberry blond to black.

Buyers Beware!

I buy henna, indigo and senna directly from the same trusted supplier who has been supplying herbs to my company for a few years. Everyone who uses the pure, natural mixes has nothing but praises (although I must admit that for beginners, it take a bit of time to get the perfect colour for themselves). Hence, when an acquaintance complained that henna has destroyed her and her sisters’ hair, I found out that she had used some premixed henna bought from a neighbourhood store.

I took a walk the other day to check out the various brands of henna available in the shops. Some brands come with proper ingredients labeling so that at one glance, I could tell that they contain PPD. Others do not list their ingredients at all so one could only guess at their contents. It was then I realized why henna has somehow developed such a bad reputation.

While there are good brands that use only pre-blended natural herbs and henna, there are also brands out there that mix henna with synthetic dyes and metallic salts like lead acetate, iron, copper, bismuth, nickel etc to achieve various colours. The latter is also known as compound henna. Using compound henna on your hair will only cause it to become brittle, damaged, discoloured (especially if you use it on bleached or permed hair). Your hair will feel as if it has been coated with a layer of yucky stuff that makes your hair look really dull and lifeless. Pure, 100% natural henna/herbal blends will never do that! On the contrary, they will only make your hair lustrous, strong and healthy, and this is the noteworthy difference between pure, natural hair colouring products and synthetic dyes.

Another synthetic hair dye to look out for is para-phenylenediamine (PPD). Usually found in so-called black or dark brown henna, PPD is an aromatic amine compound found commonly in almost every hair colour dye on the market.  Usually, the darker the hair dye colour, the greater the amount of PPD.  Therefore, hennas which are supposed to dye the hair black usually contain the highest levels of PPD. A few brands I saw stated the level of PPD to be in the region of 5%.

This came as a shock to me because it totally contradicts the true spirit of ‘henna-ing’ your hair. In the first place, people choose henna because they want a safer and superior alternative to synthetic chemical dyes.

PPD has been listed as being known as one of many contact allergens. Symptoms listed are: Irritation pharynx, larynx; bronchial asthma; sensitization dermatitis.  Furthermore, when it comes to PPD, the allergic/sensitive reaction may not be immediately apparent. Sometimes, it may take days and months for the allergic reaction to appear. Therefore, the standard 24-hour patch test is not really useful when it comes to testing for allergic reactions against PPD.

What Can Be Done

Unfortunately, from the packaging alone, it is not always easy to distinguish between a genuine natural mix and one contains a cocktail of metallic salts and synthetic dyes. This is because not all brands come with ingredients labels, and almost every brand will claim to contain only 100% henna.

Unless you know of reputable brands, the only way to be absolutely certain that you are using a truly natural product is to blend it yourself. Buy your henna, indigo and senna, and other herbs separately (from a trusted source, of course!) and mix them together to achieve the colour you desire. It may sound like a lot of work but it is actually a very fun and exciting process.

How often should you henna your hair?

This depends on how long the colour stays on your hair. Usually, the colour lasts about two to three months, therefore, most people henna their hair about once every two to three months.

Yesterday, during church service, Pastor Prince told us that 2010 shall be a year of restful increase. He illustrated how Jesus performed most of His healing miracles on Sabbath day, a day which is set aside for rest from all works according to the Jewish religious law. He asked, is the bible trying to tell us something about miracles here? Is the bible trying to tell us that miracles can only take place if one is at rest, mentally and physically? Coz only when one surrenders to a state of rest, God’s power can flow into him/her? Hmm…food for thought indeed!

I used to think that Jesus was only trying to be ‘defiant’ against the religious leaders of His time by performing healing works on Sabbath, so as to show them ‘who’s the boss’. But now, after listening to Pastor Prince’s sermon yesterday, I realized that all these healing miracles that Jesus did on Sabbath have a deeper wisdom that is meant to teach us something about restful increase. God’s love and grace for us is indeed amazing!

Therefore, I pray that 2010 will be a year where we shall behold miracles coming to pass in our lives by resting in God’s love and grace. Amen! =)

Having been in the skincare industry for more than a decade, I realized that many people experience the same frustration with pimples, comedones and acne scars. Through interaction over the years with customers and hearing their stories, answering their questions, and researching hundreds of ingredients and acne treatment methods, I’ve come to this conclusion: treating acne requires patience and dedication and the most effective approach is an wholistic one that must also focus on building your skin’s natural repair and defense functions and healing your skin. Towards the end of this post, I’ll explain how this wholistic approach works with Vitasence. 

Pimples and Acne

 Contrary to popular notions, pimples do not afflict teenagers alone. While it usually first appears during puberty, many men and women in their 20s through 50s also experience sudden outbreak of pimples. While never life threatening, pimples can be a source of irritation and frustration. Chronic, persistent pimples can even adversely affect one’s self-confidence and self-esteem. 

Popular Myths on Pimples 

1. Dirty Skin Causes Pimples

While dirt looks and feels unpleasant on the skin, it does not cause acne. Example, a construction worker can have good skin in spite of being exposed to dust and dirt.

2.You Can Dry Up Pimples

You can dry up water but not pimples. Skin cells contain water and when you attempt to dry up pimples, you are really drying up the water in the skin cells. This can impair your skin’s natural barrier function, thus increasing the presence of bacterial in your skin. It can also cause the skin to become dry, flaky and irritated, thus aggravating your skin problems. What you really need to do is to reduce sebum production by using the right product. This process is not the same as merely ‘drying up’ pimples. You can observe that those who were misled by this myth suffering from dry, flaking surface skin even while they have acne.  

 3. You Can Spot-Treat Pimples

You can’t. The ‘making’ of a pimple takes at least 2 to 3 weeks before it appears on the skin surface.  To treat pimples and acne, you have to understand the multiple causal factors and address them directly.

When A Product Says “Oil-Free”, Proceed With Caution

Oil-free does not automatically imply that the product will not cause comedones or pimples. A product may be oil-free but may still contain pore-clogging thickening and emulsifying agents. 

The Four Main Causes Of Pimples

1. Hormonal Imbalance

Male hormones or androgen, in particular, testosterone, can cause the stimulation of the sebaceous glands to produce sebum. Testosterone converts into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), another form of male hormone that switches on the sebaceous glands.

Premenstrual pimple is an example of pimples caused by hormonal imbalances. The elevation of testosterone in the bloodstream begins 8 to 10 days before a woman’s period. This elevation is actually not an increase in androgen as much as a decrease in the female hormone, estrogen. Nevertheless, the sudden larger percentage of androgen in the bloodstream leads to an increase stimulation of the sebaceous glands.

Other factors that trigger hormonal imbalances include stress, birth control pills, pregnancy, menopause and of course, puberty.

2. Excess Sebum Production (Hyperseborrhoea)

Sebum is essential for healthy skin and hair. However, when produced in excess due to hormonal imbalances, the skin takes on an oily and unsightly appearance and may even lead to irritation and inflammation in serious cases.

Hyperseborrhoea results form the increases in the size and activity of the sebaceous glands following hormonal imbalances. This is because the activity of sebaceous glands is androgen (in particular, testosterone) dependent. Every target cell(fibroblast) of the sebaceous gland contains an enzyme called 5 alpha-reductase, that converts testosterone into dihydroxytestosterone (DHT). DHT acts on the activity of the hair follicles, causing the stimulation of the sebaceous gland and the resulting increase in sebum production.

3. Irregular Or Excessive Shedding Of Dead Skin Cells On Both The Skin Surface And Inside The Pore

When dead skin cells on the skin surface and inside the pore are not shed normally, they can join together in blocking up the pore. When combined with excess oil, it solidifies as a soft, white substance that plugs the pore. If the surface of the pore is covered by skin, it is called a whitehead (milia). If the pore is open, without any skin covering, the top of the plug is exposed to air and darkens, causing a blackhead. Whitehead becomes pimples when Propionibacterium acnes begin to grow inside the pores, causing irritation and inflammation. 

4. Bacterial Growth

Hyperseborrhoea is  accompanied by the proliferation of microbial flora in the pores, in particular Propionibacterium acnes. This causes irritation and inflammation. Inflammation and excess oil causes the wall of the oil gland to rupture, spilling out the contents (oil, dead skin cells, bacteria etc) into the surrounding skin tissues. The body’s immune system then responds, sending lymph to the inflamed area to help with repair (and causing swelling). A pimple develops.

What About Food?

 This is still a very subjective issue. Some people can consume loads of chocolate and spicy foods without any problem while others experience outbreak of pimples at the slightest intake of such foods. We believe it depends on one’s body constitution. If food is the cause, it can likely be linked to hormonal imbalances as no one can deny that food has an impact on the balance of one’s body biochemistry.

Types of Pimples

1. Acne Vulgaris

Also known as common acne, usually begins during puberty.

Symptoms:

• Infection-induced pustules (pus-filled pimples) on the surface of the skin.
• The pustules usually discharge this white pus when squeezed.
• Occurs on the face, upper and lower back, and upper chest.

 2. Cystic Acne

Symptoms:

• Deep infections that are nodule or cyst like
• Infections do not surface and do not discharge their waste materials
• Infections heal very slowly and permanent scarring is possible.
• A slight, reddish and hard bump may appear on the skin surface which does not diminish for a long time. May feel slightly painful.

 3. Acne Rosacea

Symptoms:

• Should be diagnosed by a physician
• Characterized by periodic redness of the skin, usually on the cheeks and spreading across the nose.
• Excessive skin flaking and crusting.
• Does not respond to usual acne treatment. In fact, ingredients normally used for acne treatment, such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide etc, may worsen the condition of acne rosacea.

How to Get Rid of Pimples

 Available Types of Treatment (By Prescription)

1. Antibiotic (Oral)

Several studies indicate that antibiotics, such as tetracycline, erythromycin, and clindamycin can help to reduce acne-causing bacteria when used in conjunction with

topical Retin-A treatment. However, antibiotics should only be used as a last resort as they can produce some adverse long-term health problems such as chronic yeast infections and stomach problems. In addition, acne-causing bacteria can become immune to antibiotics if taken for prolonged period of time. According to an article in the American Journal of Clinical Deramtology (2001, volume 2, issue 3, pages 135-141) “The main cause for concern following the use of systemic antibiotics is the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of P. acnes.” “ At a time when there is a global concern that antibiotic resistance rates in common bacteria pathogens may threaten our future ability to control bacteria infections, practices which promote the spread of antibiotic-resistance bacteria must be fully justified.”  Similarly a paper presented at the General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in May 2001 stated that “antibiotic treatment in patients with severe acne causes development of antibiotic resistance…The prevalence of antibiotic resistance to tetracycline, erythromycin, clindamycin, and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole was found after two to six months. When patients with acne are treated with antibiotics, the risk of development of antibiotic resistance should be realized. The use of antibiotics to treat acne should be restricted and other regimens should be tested.” 

 2. Hormone Therapy (Oral)

This method of treatment is available for women only. The FDA has approved low dosage birth-control pills, Ortho Tri-Cyclen and generic norgestimate/ethinyl estrodial, for use in the treatment of acne. It appears that low dosage birth control pills can decrease the presence of excess androgen which can be highest just before the onset of menstruation., thereby decreasing sebum production that causes breakouts.

However, like any drugs, low dosage birth control pills can result in estrogen-related side effects like nausea, headaches, breast tenderness and weight gain. There are also chances for health risks such as heart attack, strokes, blood clots, breast cancer, vaginal bleeding. A side effect on the skin can be increased melasma (dark brown skin patches).

Besides low dosage birth control pills, a testosterone-blocking drug, spironolactone, is also frequently prescribed for acne treatment. However, the results are controversial.

3. Tretinoin (Topical)

Tretinoin is a form of Vitamin A. Products that contain tretinoin include Retin-A, Renova, Avita and Retin-A Micro. Tretinoin changes the way the skin cells are formed in the layers of skin as well as in the pore. Tretinoin can transform cell production by improving skin shedding and unclogging pores. Tretinoin are however, not able to kill acne-causing bacteria. So it must be used together with antibacterial agents for best results. One of the major drawbacks of tretinoin is the irritation it can cause. It also makes the skin more vulnerable to sun damage.

 4. Accutane (Oral)

Accutane (isotretinoin) is a drug derived from vitamin A. It works by stopping the sebum production in your sebaceous glands and literally shrinks these glands to the size of a baby’s. This prevents the sebum from clogging the hair follicle. Normal resumes when treatment is completed and the sebaceous glands slowly begin to grow larger again, but rarely as large as they were before the treatment.

Dosage and treatment duration depend on the severity of the patient’s acne. Generally they last 16 weeks. If a second treatment is necessary, an 8-week rest period is required between treatments.

The most serious side effect associated with Accutane is that it can cause severe birth defects in babies born to women who took Accutane while pregnant. Other side effects include dry skin and lips, dry nose (even leading to nosebleeds), dry eyes, lower back pain (30% of the patients), joint pain (16.5% of the patients), headaches, nausea, depression, severe stomach pain, blurred vision, bowel problems, increase in cholesterol levels, and skin yellowing.

5. Laser and Chemical Peels(Topical)

There’re many types of laser and chemical peels that are used to treat pimples and acne as well as pimple scars. Generally, they’re effective if properly administered by a skilled dermatologist but it is very important to make sure you practice good post-laser or post-peel daily skincare regime. This applies especially to deeper laser and peels that calls for downtime recovery period. You don’t need to load your skin with too much skincare products during the recovery period. In fact, applying too much products may do more harm than good. However, you do need products that will help your skin with recovery and soothe any redness or skin discomfort which is inevitable during the post-laser/peel period. 

We’ve always received questions from people who’re going or have undergone laser/chemical peels for their acne as to what Vitasence products they can use to help with recovery. So briefly, here’s a guide:

1st 2-3 weeks post laser/peel:

Cleansing Mousse with Amino Acid

Revitalising Tonic

Soothing Moisturiser

Protective Hydrator (Daytime only)

Thereafter to keep your skin clear:

Cleansing Mousse with Amino Acid

Revitalising Tonic

Cell Renewal Serum(Use at night only, 1-2 times per week)

Pore Clarifying Essence

Acne Detox Serum 

Soothing Moisturiser(if your skin needs extra moisturizing, otherwise can skip)

Protective Hydrator(Daytime only)

Conventional Pimple Treatment Cosmetics

Most pimple treatment products in the market contain harsh, drying ingredients that do more harm than good to the skin. Remember, acne skin must be treated gently as it is in an imbalanced, fragile state. So-called ‘deep cleansing’, scrubs and ‘spot-drying’ products will only add more stress and aggravation to acne skin. Commonly-used acne treatment ingredients such as alcohol, peppermint, and eucalyptus are highly irritating to the skin. They are supposed to exert antibacterial properties. However, when the skin becomes weakened through irritation, it is even more prone to bacterial attacks.

Examples of commonly-used harsh ingredients:

Alcohol, menthol, camphor, eucalyptus, peppermint, myristic acid, palmitic acid, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate 

Vitasence’s Method to Get Rid of Pimples

At Vitasence, we do not use any of the harsh, irritating ingredients listed above. We take into consideration all pimple causing factors and address them in a wholistic manner. Rather than just killing bacterial alone, our pimple treatment products help the skin regains its healthy equilibrium and strengthens the skin natural defense mechanism against bacterial proliferation. In that sense, it boosts the skin’s inherent capacity to ‘fight its own battle”. As acne skin tends to have impaired healing capacity, Vitasence products include synergistic combinations of biodynamic herbal actives that aid the skin to heal from pimple scars and marks. 

 Vitasence Products To Get Rid of Pimples

1. Cleansing Mousse with Amino Acid 

Rationale: Cleansing Mousse with Amino Acid is an award-winning, mild and gentle cleanser that will not stripped the skin of its moisture. It cleanses thoroughly without irritating the skin. Also, it does not leave behind pore-clogging residues.

 2. Revitalising Tonic

Rationale: Revitalising Tonic contains multiple flower acids(BHAs) which can penetrate clogged pores for exfoliation and pore clarifying actions. It also helps to stimulate cell renewal and lightens pimple marks and scars.

 3. Cell Renewal Serum

Rationale: Acne skin is prone to oil clogs and poor cell renewal capability. Cell Renewal Serum contains microencapsulated BHAs which help to penetrate clogged pores for exfoliation and prevent build-up of excess cell debris(which contributes to clogged pores). In addition, it helps to keep the skin’s cell renewal rate at a healthy level. Kojic acid and the mixed fruit and flower acids also help to lighten pimple marks and scars and refine the appearance of pores.

 4. Pore Clarifying Essence

Rationale: Pore Clarifying Essence contains biodynamic herbal actives that help to soften and dissolve away comedones. It helps to regulate sebum production, reduce inflammation and inhibit bacterial proliferation. It has been our bestseller for years!

 5. Acne Detox Serum

Rationale: Helps to reduce inflammation and pimple-related skin irritation. Promotes the skin’s natural healing ability and defense mechanism. Inhibits bacterial growth. Gets rid of pimples thoroughly.

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