Meds You Never Knew You Needed: 11 Possible Solutions for a Talent’s Common Problems
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Your alarm loudly sounds off at 4 a.m. on the dot, and your adrenaline kicks in. That gig you auditioned for, did the callback for, and officially booked a few days ago is finally here, and you can’t wait to get to set! You make yourself a delectable double shot espresso, wash your face, and try to look like you didn’t wake up at 4 a.m.. You grab your bag, jump in the car, and try to ease any nerves as you navigate through traffic.
When these days come, nothing is more thrilling! You’ve worked so hard to get to this point, and many times, that yes is making up for the other 20 no’s you got over the course of the month. You want to put your best face forward and ensure that all factors within your control are prepped and ready for the shoot. You’ve checked off all those to-do’s on your list (if you need a good checklist, click here), but you are wondering if there is anything else you can do to be better prepared for the shoot day ahead.
Believe it or not, there are some chemical substances/medicines other than your delicious caffeine (I mean, who doesn’t love those amazing cafecitos they sometimes have at crafty?! But I digress…) that may make your life a little easier as an actress or model! Many of them can be found in your skincare or self care, and many of them can be found over the counter! Let’s talk about it…
I don’t sweat… I glisten ;)
It was one of the first “big” commercial jobs I had booked which I had self-submitted for. I had woken up super early to get there in plenty of time, was immediately taken to wardrobe, hair, and makeup, and then was told to take a seat while they were shooting another couple first. I took that time to get to know the other actor I was paired with for the day. I was thrilled to be there and was just soaking in every moment.
Then a sort of panic started to kick in- why are my armpits sweating so much? I excused myself to the bathroom, got some paper towels to dab the area, and went back to the holding room. But it kept happening! So I would periodically excuse myself to dry my underarms and tried to do everything I possibly could to prevent any armpit stains. Thankfully the shoot went amazingly, but I was so frustrated that I had to deal with my body “acting up” all day. This caused me to do some research to prevent that situation from happening again which led me to discover this incredible antiperspirant!
Now I always have it on hand, but let me fill you in on how to use it and what to expect! You apply it the night before a big shoot or audition, right before you go to bed, and it lasts for up to 72 hours! Great, right? Down side: It can cause your armpits to be itchy so make sure to apply a thin layer. A little goes a long way! Also it can mildly stain your clothes so make sure it is fully dry before you put on your shirt and/or put a shirt on that you don’t mind possibly staining.
Also, it does not replace a deodorant so make sure to still use one in the morning.
You look tired…
I hate when people say this… it’s so rude! How do they think we will respond?! Haha! But anyways, of course, getting lots of rest the night before should work wonders, but even if you do, what can you do to help ensure you look well-rested? Here are two ways!
I love using Red Eye Drops the morning of a big shoot. They work so quickly and add that special wide-awake touch in making those eyeballs pearly white!
Good thing to keep in mind if you wear contacts: Make sure to give your eyes about 15 minutes to absorb the drops before putting in your contacts. That way, the medicine goes where it’s supposed to go and doesn’t get absorbed into the contacts instead.
Nothing like caffeine, amirite?! This Caffeine Undereye Balm is perfect for visibly depuffing, tightening, and brightening the undereye so you look refreshed and ready to go!
Maybe she’s born with it….
Well, she’s not… haha! It takes effort! Everyone wants that beautiful, flawless-looking skin, and there are a lot of skincare ingredients that can help you have your best skin yet! As someone who has struggled to have clear skin, it’s been a journey for me to find products to address my various skin concerns. I was on Accutane for a while, and boy, was that drug rough on my skin! It made my skin so utterly dry that it cracked and bled… it was miserable. But I didn’t have any acne! Hehe, ehh…..
Over the last several years, I’ve zero’ed in on my skincare regimen, and I really feel like I have the best skin I have ever had. Here are some of my faves:
Niacinamide Serum to reduce redness, tighten pores, reduce dark spots and hyperpigmentation & hydrate the skin
Salicylic Acid Toner to cleanse skin & prevent and treat acne breakouts
Retinoid oil to reduce signs of aging, unclog pores, reduce redness, and make your skin look more healthy & plump
Now for skincare for the body…
AHA Body Scrub to exfoliate dry, rough, bumpy skin and make it oh so smooth & soft
Witch Hazel to apply after shaving to help soothe and calm the skin. To be followed up with a body lotion of your choosing :)
Salicylic Acid Body Wash for treating & preventing body acne
What a beautiful smile…
I started using whitening strips as a teenager, and although I liked the look of having whiter teeth, the experience of wearing them was always miserable. Ever since I started using this teeth whitening kit, I’ve loved my results and the experience of using it is so much more pleasurable! Use it for 9 to 30 minutes and done!
Hydrogen peroxide & carbamide peroxide teeth whitening kit to make your teeth beautifully white without causing teeth sensitivity
A prescription that may help…
Lastly, since I am a pharmacist, I figured I would touch on a prescription medication which may help certain performers. This is not for everyone, but it may help those who have the physical symptoms of anxiety in higher pressure situations (rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, etc.). There is a medicine called Propranolol which is commonly prescribed for performance anxiety. It is a beta blocker, which is a class of medication that is often prescribed for high blood pressure. Unlike many other anxiety medications out there (like Xanax for example), this medication is non-addictive and doesn’t make you as sleepy. Your doctor would need to evaluate you and check your vitals to ensure that you would be a good candidate for it, but it’s nice to know there are options out there if that’s something you struggle with. See your physician for more information :)
Who knew?!
I would have never guessed that having medication and chemical knowledge could be so helpful in this completely different industry. I hope these tips help solve some problems you may be experiencing and that you more confidently walk into that next booking, knowing that you look and feel your best. You are doing the thing, and you should be so proud for how you have withstood the inevitable rejection to now reap the glorious benefits of your perseverance! You are doing great!
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