Self-study and classroom lessons based on newspaper feature stories

This column is for self-study or classroom use and gives guided help with reading the wide variety of writing styles and topics that appear as feature articles in the Bangkok Post. The lessons include background information, skill-building practice and vocabulary explanations.

July 22, 2003

Skin care — read with care

INTRODUCTION

There are many different types of articles in any day’s issue of the Bangkok Post – something to appeal to every kind of reader.

The stories here in feature focus normally come from the lifestyle and entertainment section, Outlook, or the Friday weekend section real.time. Even in those sections there is variety in the styles of writing. You’re going to explore one of those kinds of writing here today.

You can see from the pictures with the story that this is a feature about skin care products – certainly a topic of interest for young and not so young readers. And these days, men are becoming as much interested in good appearance and healthy skin as women.
Clearing the way

If you think about it, producing skin care products involves a lot of science, so you will find science and skin chemistry terms in the story. Here are those you should be familiar with before you begin reading so you can concentrate on the ideas:

sebaceous: producing a substance like oil in the body
sebum: fatty lubricant (oily) matter given off by sebaceous glands of the skin
serum: any liquid, like water, in body
salicylic acid: used as an analgesic (pain killer) and antipyretic (to reduce fever)
H₂O: water
microbial: related to extremely small living things that may cause disease
As you read

You should always be thinking as you read, so here are some questions to keep in mind:

What am I learning about my skin?

What am I learning about the products?

Where did the information about the products come from?

Did the writer report that anyone had tried the products?

Does the language used remind you of anything else you’ve read?

Is there an outsider opinion about any of the products?

Why did the writer say “The product … is claimed to employ special technology…”? Why didn’t she say “The product employs special technology”?
After you’ve read

If you are a careful reader, you will have noticed that this sounds a bit like an advertisement. Words like “deep cleansing oil”, “Regular usage of the product will…”.

Clues to the source of the information come in phrases like “The product … is claimed to employ special technology…”? and “La Prairie emphasises that skin care serums are…”. In fact, the information comes to real.time from press releases – documents prepared by a company to announce new products.

Did you notice many references to natural ingredients in the skin care products? Natural is an important selling point nowadays. So the companies like to emphasise those points.

The word “ecosystem” is used. Check the usual meaning below. Why do you think the word is used about your skin?

You won’t find the word “Sebustop” in your dictionary. Where do you think it comes from?

Check the meaning of serum again. Now look at the way it is used in the story. Why does the advertiser use it that way?

Does all this mean that this is a bad article full of information you can’t trust? No, certainly not. What did you learn about caring for your skin, for example? An article like this can also make you a more informed shopper by introducing different products.

The important thing is to be a critical reader. Think about where the information comes from. Ask yourself if there is more to the story than what is in the article. For example, are there other ways to help keep your skin healthy?

This type of article is sometimes called an advertorial. Can you explain why?

OUR STORY FROM THE BANGKOK POST

In the clear
COSMETICS: Latest skincare products get
to the root of greasy problems

KANOKPORN CHANASONGKRAM

accumulate
to gradually increase over a period of time

aggravate
to make a bad situation worse

agony
extreme physical or mental pain

peau
(Fr) skin

huile
(Fr) oil

-maquill-
(Fr) make up

innovative
introducing or using new ideas or ways of doing something

dissolve
(of a solid) to mix with a liquid and become part of it

clog
to block something or to become blocked

pores
the very small holes in your skin that sweat can pass through

ecosystem
all the life forms in a particular area considered in relation to their physical environment

secretion
a liquid substance produced by the body

regimen
a set of rules about food and exercise or medical treatment in order to keep or improve your health

penetrate
to go deeply into

matte
not shiny

rampage
wild, destructive activity

burnet
any of the herbs of the rose family

astringent
a liquid to make the skin less oily

marine
connected with the sea

toner
a liquid or cream used for making the skin firm and smooth

launch
to start an organised activity

comprehensive
including all, or almost all, the concerned details

address
to find a solution to a situation

conspicuous
easy to see or notice
There she stood amidst the crowd, realising that life as a shining star isn't oh so glamourous because it was her oily T-zone that was absorbing everyone's attention. Consuming 20 oil blotters is the standard measure to ``dry'' another day.

And when skin oil overflows and sebum and dead cells accumulate to plug skin pores, the resulting acne aggravates the greasy agony of being an oily skin type.

Acknowledging such sebaceous suffering, cosmetic brands have developed new products to counteract oil and acne problems.

From Clé de peau Beauté, the ``Huile Demaquillant'' is a deep cleansing oil containing ingredients such as rice germ oil and grape seed oil.

The new product was designed to include an innovative diamond-cut applicator, which assists in dissolving sebum and de-clogging pores. According to the Japanese beauty house, the applicator should be massaged over the T-Zone or other areas with enlarged pores for one to two minutes. Regular usage of the product (once or twice per week) will smooth the skin surface and minimise pore visibility.

La Prairie says that blemishes, enlarged and clogged pores and unattractive oily shine are visible signs of an imbalance in the skin's ecosystem. Besides treating unsightly symptoms, an ideal product should get to the root of the problem in order to effectively rebalance the skin, normalise moisture and control oil secretion.

The Swiss cosmetic company thus developed the “Cellular Purifying Systeme” featuring seven products to combat complex problems of oily skin.

One of the seven products in the regimen is the “Normalizing Serum” which is an active shine regulator that absorbs excess sebum and minimises enlarged pores. La Prairie emphasises that skincare serums are in-depth treatments that penetrate the skin to get to the heart of the problem, and therefore should be an essential part of a daily beauty regimen.

Recognising the problem of midday oily skin shine, and how using powder to absorb oil yielded a “cakey” look and clogging of pores, Philosophy created “on a clear day” to sustain a matte complexion.

The product, which is a non-drying surface oil control serum, is claimed to employ special technology that lifts the oil off your skin, while holding it away from pores. It can also be applied under or over make-up.

If pimples are on the rampage, H₂O offers “Acne Rescue Mask”. Developed for the treatment and prevention of acne, the oil-free and skin clearing mask contains Sebustop, besides salicylic acid, sea silt and vitamins. According to H₂O, Sebustop — a blend of ginger, cinnamon and burnet — delivers powerful astringent and anti-microbial effects. Regular application of the mask helps eliminate blemishes, reduce excess oil and mattify surface shine.

L'Oréal has also incorporated salicylic acid and marine ingredients into its latest skincare line. As a new and serious solution for clearer skin, “Pure Zone” works as a system to combat against undesirable oil and acne. The system features a deep purifying gel, purifying clarifying toner, oil-control moisturiser plus an anti-breakout gel.

Ettusais has also launched a new medicated acne skincare series that provides consumers in their 20s with a comprehensive care for pore problems that significantly affect the skin conditions and the ease of applying makeup. Product improvements include a new approach to prevent darkening of acne scars and a solution to address the problem of conspicuous pores by improving skin condition.

•This lesson was prepared by Maureen Paetkau, a professional teacher of English as a second and foreign language and Assistant Manager and Webmaster for Learning Post at the Bangkok Post.

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