I’m tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That’s deep enough. What do you want — an adorable pancreas?

Whitening products are all over the market. Grr! When all I need is something that could help me clear my pimple scars. You see, I have very delicate skin. It seems very translucent that you can even see my veins. But, all I spot in groceries and supermarkets are various whitening products.

Have actually been using calamansi (sometimes spelled as Kalamansi) and I can guarantee you that it is one effective way to treat pimple breakouts and scars.

So, why am I looking for an alternative if I find calamansi effective? Well, am still looking for a more effective one that can promise an instantaneous effect. Y'know, something that will wipe out all my scars over night.

...to my dismay, all I see are hundreds of different whitening products. Yes, I know there is no other way to do it but to peel the outer layer of the skin. But, I already look like a moomoo (ghost) to even consider peeling my skin more. Grr!

My friends would tell me that many Filipinos desire to have whiter skin that's why whitening products are incredibly sought after merchandises. I wonder why. Don’t they know that lots of Americans would kill for a skin tone like that of Filipinos? They’d even bathe under the radiant heat of the sun just to achieve that look.

Oh well. Life’s like that. We always hanker for something we don’t have. Must be the influence of chi-novelas and korea-novelas. Hehe. Koreans have very smooth and fair skin. And yeah, I must agree that having lighter skin makes one more attractive.

But, that’s not what I need, though. I just wish that manufacturers would also create products exclusive for people like me who only needs to remove blotches.

Calamansi

Is there really no other way but to bleach? Calamansi also lightens, FYI. So, I wonder why won’t people desiring for a lighter skin tone just bathe with calamansi extracts in stead? It’s far less pricey. Plus, breakouts will be less common as well.

Another option for blotches or dark spots caused by pimple scars, which I also tried, is radish. Yes, it is as effective as calamansi.

Rub a small portion of radish on the problem area or obtain its sap and apply on your skin where lightening is needed. Leave for about a minute or two and then rinse. You will feel a tolerable sting, though. You need not wait for a minute once you start feeling the tingling sensation.

Very simple and practical way to treat zits and pimple scars, right? All can be found in the kitch. The only downside is that the effect doesn’t show as fast as you expect it to. Dunno, maybe it’s just with me. Hehe. Or did I expect too much?

Tomato is a good alternative, too. Same with radish, it can be rubbed on the skin and leave for a few minutes. There is also a tingling sensation once the skin absorbs the extract. Just rinse it well. It’s better to use lukewarm water for rinsing. After a few seconds, wet your face with cold water to close your pores.

You should feel your skin smooth and supple after doing any of the regimens I suggested. If you don’t, don’t blame me. But, it’s worth the try. So, try any of the three!

By, the way, you can also combine calamansi with evaporated or fresh milk.

For more tips, visit this site.

See, I know a few tips? So, why the heck am I putting up with the hassles of foraging each beauty soap shelf in the supermarkets?! Just impatience, what else?

Am scared of trying out just anything so should you have any suggestion, I will be glad to hear them.

Tea Tree Oil Foaming Facial Wash

Tea tree oil is also another option. It’s good for zits. However, it leaves pimple scars. I tried it before and I must say that pimples go away fast. But not the scars. I think it depends on the skin texture. So, it’s still worth the try. The one I used, I bought from The Body Shop.

So far, the most effective pimple fighting solution I have tried is Proactiv. It was suggested by my aunt. Now, it’s also in the Philippines. You can buy it at any Watson’s branch. It’s a bit costly, though, for the average buyers. Priced at almost 3,000 PhP. Correct me if am wrong.

Among the best seller pimple fighting treatment is Murad. Haven’t tried it yet but it’s on my list now. And yeah, the one Bryanboy promoted – Obagi.

Well, there are several more. You can go visit recognized derma clinics around like Belo. They can better give you suggestions. But, most of the time, they promote their own formulations. Me… am so scared of going to a dermatologist. So, not an option for me.

List of other well-known Derm Clinics in the country:

DermClinic
Calayans
Ysa Skin Care Center
Let’s Face It
Ellen’s Aesthetic Center

Now, here are a few of the top rated soaps for whitening you can find in the groceries and everywhere (actually):

Oil and Herbs Whitening Soap
Also available
Green Papaya and Orange Papaya

Likas Papaya

Placenta

Savona Kojic Soap

I do not have a price list so just do your own research.

Anyway, going back to the pimple scar problem, I believe the best there is in the market is Ponds Whitening Detox. It promises a week or two noticeable changes. Your pimple scar will be less visible in a matter of weeks. Still not good enough for me. Am expecting an overnight, right?! hehe. Shooting the moon.

Here's another one recommended by a few friends. It did work for them. And many local performing artists are using the product -- Amira. It's also a whitening something, of course. It's just so an 'in thing'.

Oh, and a lot of people believe that Glutathione really whitens skin. It's a misleading marketing scheme, people! It's more of an antioxidant, so don't get fooled. The whitening is just a side effect which may or may not occur. So, unless you need to detoxify yourself, do not waste money on this one for your whitening ambitions. You will just end up frustrated.


...and if you are going to buy one, do not buy the cheap ones or else you will get a rather bad side-effect. In stead of making your skin light, it might only make it dark or even worse, blotch. You will have spots.


The Gluta soaps...hmmm...can't tell yet. But, it could only be another fake.

Read here about Glutathione.


There are still countless beauty products available like whitening toners, bleaching creams... I dunno a lot so just add any suggestion if you have.


Just a tip, it's important to read labels. Do a lil research before heading to the store to buy whatever you need for your skin. It will save you time if you know exactly what you are looking for. You will also be able to spare yourself from spending for products that won't really help.



Finally, to achieve a healthy and glowing skin be sure to always get enough rest, drink plenty of water, exercise, do regular cleansing routine (twice a day) and have some time under the sun at least 10 minutes a day.

No problem is so formidable that you can't walk away from it.

We often hear people grumble about how hard it is to get a job. Most are already losing hope. Most of them come from the provinces. Some are even from the remotest areas trying their luck here in Manila. They have this notion that opportunities are here. What they do not know is that, although, bigger chances of opportunities are here, the very tight competition will impede them from getting close to their dreamed break.

(Needless to say, many companies, especially the big ones, prefer applicants coming from the most prestigious schools and universities in Manila.)

Poor people usually would point out how deprived they are of so many things, including a comfortable life. Those who live in the shanties beside creeks, I often hear them point fingers at the government as if it is the government’s obligation to feed them everyday and supply them all their daily needs.

How about those people who are working their asses off just to support their families and themselves? Are they not also the government’s responsibilities as citizens of the country? I hate it when impoverished people complain that way.

My view about this is that they (the indigent people) also have responsibilities to themselves. Like, for goodness sakes, when you go to slum areas, you will witness how indolent people are living there. All they do (almost) the whole day is to gossip about the latest showbiz happenings…about a neighbor living the next door…about nonsensical things that do not in any way help in earning them even a centavo.

You will also see adolescent men taking pleasure in drinking alcoholic beverages (gin or beer) in front of the stores almost everywhere even early in the morning! Who ever gave them the right to complain when they are the ones causing their misfortunes? Had they worked their way out of their present condition, they could’ve somehow elevated their status… which, later on, could stop them from whining and blaming the government for their state.

Lizzie would often reiterate to me that I should not always pity the needy. Yes, I understand his point. Poor people, they are poor partly because it’s their choice. Like, I know some poor people who were given the chance to study as scholars. Good will. But, they screwed up the chance. They let it go away.

Just a couple of months ago, I was to help a teenage girl to get a job. I was telling the mother that it would be better if she earn and save money so she won’t need to depend on anyone since it’s only her mother who’s working for the family. The mother only works as a house helper; earning only 2,500PhP a month. The girl still has two more siblings. Both are studying. One is in Elementary and one is in high school.

But, in stead of taking that advice / offer, she married a teenage boy who doesn’t have a decent job like her. Am just wondering who’s going to support them? What if she becomes pregnant?

… and they even prepared a good wedding reception last June. For crying out loud?! Where the *&^$ did they get the money to spend for that event? Just unimaginable.

Lemme emphasize that the mother is just getting 2,500PhP per month and two of her 3 children are studying. How much is the daily spending needs per family in a month?

According to a research, “for areas outside NCR, the daily cost of living was 662.93PhP”. This figure was the COL back in 2006. I wasn’t able to get the figure for this year.

So, 2,500PhP in a month is a very inadequate sum to support the needs of all the members of the family for the whole month. A family should actually get around 19,887PhP per month.

I am not against it. I mean, it’s their life, y’know. Why the heck should I care?! Yeah yeah, I know I sound so anti it. But, I really find it impractical, though. She’s just 17. And just imagine how many teenage girls and boys marrying at a very early age? What’s going to be the future for them and their children?

This situation is more prevalent in the provinces. People marry at a very young age. The earliest I heard of was 15. A few of them eloped. Eventually, the parents would just consent for an arranged marriage (is this even the right term?).

I find this really alarming. And, I actually believe that early marriage is one of the major causes of broken family or failed marriage. Why? Because they are still too young and they do not know the consequences of their actions. They still do not know what they want. And they do not understand that marriage entails responsibilities and obligations. Sooner or later, they will realize that this is not the person they want to be with for the rest of their lives. Eventually, they will just call it quits.

So impractical. So habitual. I dunno but as a concerned citizen, I think this problem should be solved firstly. I have heard so many situations where a young boy gets a young girl pregnant and the parents would resolve to arrange a marriage for them. Which, should not be the case.

Not that I do not value what everybody else is valuing. It’s just that a mistake should not be covered with another mistake. Marriage is not always the solution. Especially, not for kids.

I have blogged about limerence a couple of times before. I think it’s about time that we become practical with every decision we make before it’s too late.

I have also seen this documentary -- Reversal of Fortune (2005) -- about a homeless man who was given a $100,000 by a film director. The idea was to do a lil experiment, “what would a homeless man do with this huge amount of money?” It’s interesting, right?

I got interested because I have always been thinking of doing charity work. And I really wanted to know if giving them ( poor people) money to start a life over would truly help. Just as expected, the homeless man just blew the $100,000 off!

Of course, this is just one example. Who can tell with so much certainty that the others would do the same? Well, here in Manila, there was a lotto winner who won a lump-sum millions. If I remember it right, it’s 8 million PhP something. That was about a few years back. Now, the winner’s life hasn’t changed a bit. Still living in the same house and still living the indigent life.

How pathetic!

The money was spent for unnecessary luxuries -- rented a suite in a nice hotel, spent 20,000PhP cash everyday for whatever… -- they did not even think that no matter how big that money maybe, it could be gone in a flash.

Same thing with the other needy people who were able to climb up and reached a certain success but now are again living miserably. They screwed up. One example? Nah...won't drop names. She's a BIG star.

On a television documentary, I have learned that there are homeless families who have 13 members and up. There are couples who have 12 children and to think that they do not have a decent shelter. Plus they don't get to have a decent meal. They only get to eat once in a day. Just some 'pandesal' and a cup of coffee for all 13 of them. At night, they just find a waiting shed for them to stay.

Now, what is this ranting about? Just what am I trying to say?

Simple, before others can help you, you better help yourself first. You better understand that there are lots of opportunities for you no matter where you are and who you are. It’s just up to you to take it in or screw it up.

And for people like me who have visions of helping the needy, you better realize if the help you are giving will truly help. You have to understand when to help and who really needs help.

Anyway, for people who are determined to uplift their status, here’s a list of websites you can check for job opportunities.

Best Jobs
JobsDB
Learn For Good
Call Center Jobs
My Trabaho
Trabaho.Com
Manpower Philippines
Jobstreet