EVEN the most simple or conservative of women will do at least one little thing to clean or brighten up their faces. It may not be as complicated as putting on tons of moisturizer, sunscreen, foundation and lots of makeup, if they want to feel more attractive or conceal some skin blemishes, but I’m pretty sure we all wash our face with soap at least once a day. Keeping the face clean is one of the most important rituals women over 50 should keep. The face is the first thing other people usually see and gaze upon, and a glowing, blemish-free complexion is the most attractive quality a woman can have. Clean, dewy skin indicates good health and wellness. For my concluding piece on women’s skin over 50, my dermatologist and friend Dr. Reena Corona prescribes this simple daily regimen:

• Use a mild soap or cleanser to wash the skin one to two times a day.  Overwashing the face can cause more harm than good.
• Aside from a good sunblock with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 35, use a “barrier block” like a hat, umbrella or shawl to keep you protected from harmful UV rays.
• Use a mild toner or clarifying lotion to remove makeup or dirt that remains on the skin despite washing with soap and water.  Avoid using harsh astringents or scrubs that damage or abrade the skin excessively.
• Only use skin-care products for the correct skin type.  For example, a woman can use an oil-free moisturizer on rough, dry patches of skin if she generally has oily skin. Use a product with retinol at bedtime if you have comedones (i.e., blackheads or whiteheads), superficial pigmentation, or fine lines. Use products with antioxidants like green tea or vitamin C, especially if you are exposed to a dirty, polluted environment.

Doc Reena does point out there is “not one product that is perfect for all skin types.  Each individual is different.  But it’s also true that we can use products which our skin finds agreeable, or  hiyang.” Of course, when a woman reaches 50, there are some age-related skin issues, such as saggy or droopy cheeks, fine lines and wrinkles, and for those largely sedentary, a larger abdominal area. While some skin-care or wellness brands aggressively market their products claiming to miraculously solve these problem areas, we will able to get more permanent and favorable results with cosmetic surgery, Doc Reena says. Not that I am pushing anyone to get these treatments. I, for one, am scared of getting on a surgical table to get rid of my jowls, or have the fat in my tummy and thunder thighs siphoned out. But let’s face it, the P5,000-plus moisturizer can only do so much to tighten our skin, especially with our kind of climate and polluted surroundings. “Honestly, the gold standard treatments, which will give satisfactory results and more permanent desired effects for droopy cheeks, dark and puffy eyebags, big tummies, are plastic surgical treatments. These include the facelift, blepharoplasty , and liposuction with tummy tuck,” Doc Reena says. But she emphasizes that before any woman undergoes any of these procedures, she must first check on the credentials and backgrounds of the surgeon. Only a board-certified plastic surgeon—meaning he or she is a fellow of the Philippine Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, or Papras—should be allowed to touch your face or body for cosmetic or reconstructive work. Over the years, media have reported about women suffering from botched plastic surgeries done in back-alley clinics, malls, and by dermatologists not even certified to do cosmetic surgeries. (An aside: One of my guilty pleasures, I must admit, is watching the TV show  Botched on E! It’s ridiculous what many people do to their faces or bodies just to achieve a certain look like that of Hollywood celebrities. The show has also featured patients that suffer from disfigurement just because they went to some mysterious cheap doctors and clinics in South America and, yes, the Philippines. One of the would-be patients featured was that Pinoy trying to look like Clark Kent/Superman, who wanted to have fake abs inserted in his physique. Rightly so, the doctors-hosts turned him down.) Meanwhile, for those patients who are averse to plastic surgery or who for any medical reason are unable to undergo surgery, there are noninvasive options available, as well. But Doc Reena does underscore that these usually require multiple sessions, or repeated clinic visits and the effects are not as long-lasting as from surgery. “Available treatment options to improve the appearance of droopy cheeks and eyebags are radiofrequency and highly focused utlrasound machine treatments,” she enumerates. Tummy fat can be treated with mesotherapy injections and lipocavitation machine treatments, plus RF to tighten or tone the area after. “While these nonsurgical options may not solve the said problems permanently, these noninvasive options definitely improve one‘s appearance,” she stresses. Also, we’ve heard Hollywood celebrities always crediting their fat- or carb-free diets or lots of water for their healthy skin. Can nutrition help women over 50 maintain a good complexion? “Nutrition alone will not be able to clear up one’s skin,” Doc Reena says. “But definitely, good nutrition is essential to having good skin!” She explains that all the essentials necessary to maintain good health are the same for maintaining good skin. “These include regular exercise , a balanced diet , eating fresh fruits and vegetables , drinking enough water , getting enough sleep and rest and good hygiene .” She also emphasizes that it’s best to “avoid too much alcohol or caffeine and smoking cigarettes .” She also notes that current research trends now indicate that “cutting down on too many sweets and lessening the intake of carbs not only improve one’s skin, but also one’s general and cardiovascular health.” Women don’t have to wait until they reach 50 to start taking care of their skin. It’s best to start early. A visit to a board-certified dermatologist to address problem areas will help women of any age, come up with a specific skin-care regimen or treatment to resolve these.