"Makeup is a way for me to express myself creatively," says this medical frontliner
While Manila is on lockdown, we have everyday heroes fighting against a deadly virus in their scrubs and PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment). Some, like Medical Technologist Elle Zamora, go the extra mile with her beautiful makeup looks and show-stopping natural curls. I was inspired by her when I saw her post on a Facebook group the other day and thought that you should hear her story as well! This is what her life as a medical frontliner is like, and how she copes with brutal 12-hour shifts and stress about COVID-19.
How is it like being a medical frontliner during the pandemic? Do you have enough supplies and support from the people around you?
As healthcare professionals we are in constant risk of contracting whatever pathogens our patients may have. We all have this fear of bringing the virus home to our families. We’re more concerned about whether or not we’re endangering them than getting sick ourselves. We’re extra cautious when it comes to hand washing and even shower before heading home. Some even stay in the hospital just to ensure their family’s safety.
Transportation is also an issue. I don't really bike, and I don't drive either. I have to rely on the kindness of my coworkers and depend on the hospital's ambulance drivers to get to and from work when I don't have anyone to carpool with. In the first few days of ECQ I experienced having to walk for half an hour under the afternoon sun, with three hours of sleep coming off a twelve hour shift the previous night, just to catch a free shuttle ride so I wouldn't be late for another twelve hour shift. I almost couldn't get on the shuttle because my temperature was too high from walking in the heat. The situation is better now compared to the first week of ECQ but still, it’s another thing you have to think about. We have so many things on our minds already: our health and safety, our families, our schedules, and our transportation or sleeping arrangements. I miss the days when we didn’t have to worry so much about so many things.
Despite the hardships we face I’m thankful for the blessings that come our way. We are provided food, essential supplies, and some personal protective equipment by generous donors. Some even provide us with vitamins, soap, and alcohol for personal use so we can each stay healthy. There is no shortage of love and support from the Filipino people and we draw strength from their kind gestures. We are honored to serve our countrymen in any way we can.
What do you wish more people knew about this pandemic?
I wish people understood the gravity of our situation. I wish they knew how much each person's actions affect this country as a whole. There's a reason why we promote practices such as social distancing, self-quarantine when feeling ill, and proper hand washing. It's because each individual needs to do their part so we can stop the virus from spreading. Some may think that they're just one person, that their actions won't affect anyone. If one individual had that point of view, maybe it really wouldn't matter, but what if tens and thousands of people thought the same? The only way to beat this is to cooperate and each do our part; every person matters, every action matters.
Also, don't be afraid of your healthcare workers. Most of the people support us, but there are a few who see us as people who "spread the virus". There have been reports of healthcare workers being physically assaulted and some have even been ostracized by their communities. It breaks my heart to hear about these events and I hope people understand that we take extra precautions to ensure infection prevention. After all, we deal with illness even without a pandemic. We are here to help you.
What is the biggest challenge to the health care system that you see during this time?
The biggest challenge that we face right now is the shortage of donated blood. We have a lot of pediatric patients, some of which require frequent blood transfusions. Because of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, our blood drives have been cancelled and our supply is almost depleted. We are encouraging people to donate blood and help us keep an adequate supply for patients in need. We have mobile blood drives to remedy the issue of transportation. You may set an appointment with us at Philippine Children’s Medical Center: 85889900 local 352 or 89219781.
I saw your post in a Facebook group that I follow about how beauty makes you feel normal, and I thought it was so inspiring. Can you tell us how your love for beauty started?
The first time I tried applying makeup was in high school. The result was horrendous and I swore never to touch the stuff again; then came college graduation. I’m from Quezon City but went to a university in Silang, Cavite. I didn’t know about any salons in the area or people who could do my makeup for me, so I decided to learn how to apply it on my own. I watched so many YouTube tutorials just to end up with a barely made up face. My powder foundation had little to no coverage, my eyeshadow was ashy, my lipstick had no coverage as well and my blush was virtually non-existent. I’m lucky I had the bare minimum skills to apply some liquid eyeliner properly.
Despite looking like a total mess, I still felt beautiful on my graduation day. It was then that I discovered how fun and diverse makeup was. I got into it so quickly after that. It became my creative output. Skincare was a side effect of my love for makeup. I wanted a clean and healthy canvas, so I also started to take care of it. Ironically, my skin is healthier now than when I didn’t use to wear any makeup.
What is your beauty (makeup, skincare, and hair) routine like at the moment?
For skincare, I use the Human Nature Balancing Facial Wash in the morning and their Acne Defense Facial Wash at night. Wearing masks for hours every day can cause pimples along our chin area especially since we sweat under the mask.
I also use the Human Nature Sunflower Eye cream, because long nights and shifting schedules can take a toll on your skin, especially the under eyes. Whether it’s before makeup or before going to bed, moisturizing is a must, so I go for Human Nature Day/Night Moisturizers.
After skincare comes makeup. Because we tend to sweat under our PPEs I try to keep it simple. Just a bit of concealer on the under eyes and lids, pat some translucent powder on top, add a bit of eyeshadow to contour my crease, lay down some brows, swipe on some lip balm and I'm done. For days when I still want to be extra, I go for my regular, pre-pandemic-routine:
1. Prime the face with QuickFX No Shine Mattifier
2. For foundation I use Maybelline Fit Me Matte+ Poreless, shade 118
3. I apply a thin layer of the Essence I love Stage primer and set it with translucent powder or any light colored eyeshadow.
4. I pat on a thin layer of Coty Airspun all over the face; shade Naturally Neutral
5. I use Etude House Drawing Eyebrow Pencil in the shade 01 for brows, and then blend it with an angled brow brush.
6. My everyday eye palette is the Revolution Reloaded palette in Newtrals 2. Just a bit of peach or brown shades for a subtle, every day look.
7. Eyeliner is kind of my signature, and I currently use Maybelline's Line Tattoo Impact Pen. It's long wearing, jet black, and sweat proof which are musts when it comes to my choice of eyeliner.
8. For blush I use VICE Cosmetics Aura Blush in the shade Title.
9. For bronzer I use VICE Cosmetics Aura Contour in shade Porshur.
10. Lipsticks vary from day to day, but Maybelline Superstay in the shade Seductress is a staple. You can never go wrong with a nude lip.
It may seem like a lot, but trust me when I say my face doesn't cake even after sweating under a mask. If you’re worried about clogged pores or the like, here’s what I have to say: If you know how to take care of your skin before and after applying makeup, as well as how to properly remove it, there's nothing to worry about.
For my hair, I subscribe to the Curly Girl Method. I use the Human Nature Moisturizing Shampoo as cleanser. Normally I’d cowash, but I’m following CGP’s advisory to use low-poo as a precaution until the virus is contained. I apply the Garnier Fructis Hair Food Macadamia for Deep Conditioning twice a week instead of my usual once a week to counter the drying effect of the frequent low-poo washes.
Human Nature Strengthening Conditioner for S2C (squish to condish technique). I do the planggana method and leave in about 80%. The Bench FIX purple gel is my styler. I do the praying hands method on dripping wet hair. Finally, I wet plop with a cotton shirt for 15 minutes before air-drying for an eternity. Just kidding (sort of).
Why are you still committed to your beauty routine even with such a challenging job?
Makeup is a way for me to express myself creatively on a near daily basis. My style of makeup is my signature; it’s how I express my individuality. And after discovering CGM seven months ago, I've slowly regained a unique part of myself I thought I'd lost forever—my curls. It's yet another thing that makes me me. Aside from self-expression I also see my beauty routines as self-improvement projects, and I strongly believe that we should all invest in ourselves because we are worth the investment.
What advice can you give other people suffering from stress and anxiety because of the pandemic? How can others cope better?
We find our solace in different ways. We don't need to be productive in a time like this. It's daunting to think about what's happening all over the world, and sometimes you can't help but feel powerless. Don't downplay your feelings; don't think that you're being weak. You're simply feeling the gravity of the situation; you’re empathizing, so do whatever it is that helps you cope.
But if I were to give one solid advice to help with the anxiety of this pandemic: it's to surrender all our worries to God. At times when I feel like my heart can't take it anymore; I close my eyes and talk to Him. I tell Him everything I'm feeling even if He already knows, and then I surrender all of it to Him. I ask for strength and courage to keep me moving forward and He has provided me with such. No matter what I do to cope with our current situation, nothing beats the peace that comes after prayer. Everything happens for a reason, and I have to believe that something good will come out of all of this.
