BY Jill Alphonso

HERE'S something you might not know about the effervescent singer Katy Perry: She once suffered from bad acne.

"I started getting acne really bad when I started touring," said Perry, 25, who was here to play at Singfest recently.

"I was under so much stress... Suddenly, all that stress started showing up on my face as blemishes."

What saved the day for her, said Perry, was the American anti-acne product Proactiv.

After using Proactiv, a three-step system of a cleanser, toner and repairing lotion, the singer said "acne doesn't get in the way of me having fun and living life to the fullest".

Proactiv (available at all Watsons stores, selected Guardian pharmacies, BHG, OG and Robinsons Raffles City), launched in Singapore in 2000, works to heal pimples and blackheads with prescription- grade benzoyl peroxide, and helps prevent breakouts before they start.

The brand is teaming up with my paper to give away seven sets of Proactiv cleanser, toner and repairing lotion (worth $91.90 each).

To stand a chance of winning, write an essay of no more than 200 words, saying why you want to use Proactiv, and why you would recommend it to your friends.

E-mail your essay, along with your name, age, phone number, e-mail address and occupation, to: office@drm.com.sg

Use the subject heading "Proactiv and my paper contest". The deadline for entries is 12pm next Friday.