Looking Good After a Disaster-Skin Care

October 8, 2009 Thursday

I am seriously upset by those disaster movies where the people come through their terrible ordeals looking great. I know you know what I'm talking about. Perhaps the script calls for the female lead to be caught in a violent earthquake. The earthquake will knock her off a steep cliff and into a flooded, raging river which will then wash her downstream. In movie-land when the heroine manages to drag herself ashore she will have damp but attractive hair, flawless make-up, and an artfully applied bruise on the side of her face (all the better to showcase her beautiful cheekbones).

Give me a break! I climbed down a ravine after someone who had fallen once and you want to know what I looked like by the time it was over? I was covered in dirt and mud, my nails were broken off and bleeding, and my face was covered with a mixture of smeared mascara and dried snot from my crying. Lovely? No. Real? Yes.

In order to look better following a disaster of any kind the first thing you must do is lower your standards...a lot. If you are able to stay clean and prevent any further damage you will have been successful. Uncontaminated water is a precious commodity following any disaster. It is crucial for you to obtain enough clean water to drink and wash yourself with. Dehydration will make your skin look older and, if severe enough, could make you ill. Illness has never positively added to anyone's appearance. Contaminated water could cause a wide variety of skin reactions so don't use it to wash yourself. It is possible to clean your face and body with one bottle of water and three of those moistened cleansing towelettes during emergency conditions. (Yes, I am speaking from experience.)

The most important lotion you can apply to your skin after cleaning is either sun tan lotion or moisturizer. I am most often impacted by hurricanes which are followed by intense heat so I reach for the sunscreen. If you are in a disaster which has only overcast skies and rain, you should choose the moisturizer. Protect your lips with a good basic lip balm such as ChapStick or Burt's Bees. Both of these products are good and readily available at most drug stores.

This is where you should halt the trying to look good activities. Put on a big pair of sun glasses to hide behind and get back to the hard work of dealing with whatever disaster has impacted your life.

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