We know that being an actor is hard. Our business is confusing, and our industry is always changing and there is so much uncertainty. One of the things that gets really frustrating with the uncertainty is my skin. I’ve had problematic skin my whole life. I’m allergic to a lot of things and in some ways I’m still very much a teenager. (I think I’ll always be actually!) Having to go to auditions and doing self-tapes and doing shows and going to set and various social and networking gatherings means wearing makeup is a regular part of my day, and it also means we undergo a ton of stress. People sometimes tell me that my skin looks flawless, and it makes me laugh because I know that just isn’t true. Like everything in our industry, perception is everything and over the years I’ve learned a few things that can really help.
Wash your face. It’s so simple, but the second you don’t need to be wearing makeup, don’t. The pandemic has been such a wonderful makeup break. It doesn’t matter how good the product is, it all clogs stuff and isn’t natural to be sitting on your face. Use a deep cleanser. I’m a big fan of the Neutrogena ones that also double as a mask or the Clean & Clear ones that are for problematic skin. You don’t need to spend a lot of money. Afterwards you can use plain old Witch Hazel on a cotton ball to get any excess sticking around. It’s cheap and works really well as an astringent.
Sometimes that isn’t enough. I’ve discovered a wonderful tool that helps get the stuff that’s trapped that my 16 year old niece got me into. She’s a guru friends. She told me about these things called face vacuums. So weird, I know, but they work! I think they use them when people get facials (I’m not sure, maybe?) but they are like giant suction cups and suck all the crap out of your face. Literally. Clogged pores are what lead to breakouts and this amazing tool pulls those little buggers out before they present a problem. I like to use mine in or after a shower when my pores are open. It changed my relationship with my skin. The only thing you need to watch out for is holding it over an area for too long and giving yourself a hickey!
If all else fails and those unwanted friends arrive, I’m a big fan of mixing a Clean & Clear Spot Treatment with good old-fashioned Neosporin and putting that like a sleep mask on my face. The spot treatment dries it out, and the Neosporin helps it heal and prevents scarring. It’s a simple solution that isn’t going to break the bank.
All these tips and tricks said, washing your hands, not touching your face, (which we should be doing anyways with COVID!), getting a good night sleep drinking 8 glasses of water a day, and eating healthy also play into our skin. In our industry youth is everything, and aging is a dirty word (which hopefully we’ll change!). Taking care of our instrument means taking care of our skin and we can do that with all budgets. I’m not going to get into moisturizing or sunscreen or any of those things, but they are important too.
Some people are really lucky and they are born with good skin. Some of us have to work harder for it. If it’s a big problem, obviously go see a good dermatologist. I've gone through the journey of the stuff that bleaches my towels, and the stuff that messes with your insides, and have found simple solutions are so much better. If all else fails and an unwanted friend does show up and wont go away, full coverage makeup and Photoshop is your friend!
Confidence is key in being an actor, and being confident about our biggest organ is important. So with all the uncertainty, having some tools that can combat those unwanted friends, keeps them away and gets them packing quickly when they do. It helps focus on the stuff that actually matters; doing that thing we love and are pretty damn awesome at.
Awesome Inexpensive Skincare Tools:
Awesome Tools to Hide Stuff When Your Skin Doesn't Listen:
Awesome Tools to Help Boost Your Confidence:
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(This picture is me right after I used a pore vacuum on my face!)