Since facials are still out of the question during this time, here’s how you can recreate that spa experience at home.
After months in lockdown, stressing over everything from your health to your senior parents’ whereabouts to what to wear in your next Zoom meeting, your skin could probably (definitely) use a little pampering. No doubt you’re hoping you can book an appointment with your dermatologist. Unfortunately, with the way things are going, it looks like you’re going to have to wait a little longer before you can treat yourself to a facial.
That doesn’t mean you can’t still indulge in some skincare self-care. Dr Maximin Navarro, Fellow of the Philippine Dermatological Society and co-founder of Bella Pelle Philippines, has come up with a step-by-step guide to recreating a luxurious spa experience—and achieving its benefits—without having to leave home.
Step 1: Cleanse
As with any skincare regimen, whether at the spa or at home, everything starts with proper cleansing. This step normalizes the skin and gets rid of surface debris, giving you a clean canvas to work with.
Navarro says it’s important to choose a cleanser that’s right for your skin type. ZO Skin Health by Zein Obagi has a gentle, an exfoliating, and a hydrating cleanser: The gentle cleanser works for all skin types and removes impurities while keeping skin hydrated. The exfoliating cleanser is ideal for normal to oily skin, and gets rid of sebum without stripping the skin of its natural moisture. Finally, the dual-action hydrating cleanser is formulated to moisturize dehydrated skin and soothe sensitive skin.
 ZO Gentle Cleanser, P3,500 |
 ZO Exfoliating Cleanser, P3,500 |
 ZO Hydrating Cleanser, P3,500 |
If you have blemish-prone or aging skin, Navarro recommends NeoStrata’s Clarifying Facial Cleanser. It gently exfoliates, unclogging the pores as it cleanses.
Take a pea-size amount of your cleanser and massage it on your face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Take your time and get into the nooks and crannies. And make sure to rinse thoroughly after.
Step 2: Exfoliate
Here’s an insider secret: Exfoliation is the secret to dewy skin. “It improves skin texture and appearance,” says Navarro. This step gets rid of dead skin cells, and preps the skin, so that it can better absorb the products in the subsequent steps.
There are two types of exfoliants: chemical and physical. Chemical exfoliants contain ingredients like alpha or beta hydroxy acid (AHA or BHA, respectively) that help in skin cell renewal. Physical exfoliants are scrubs that use grains to slough off dead skin cells.
Chemical exfoliants are generally safer and gentler than physical exfoliants. They also have the ability to penetrate the skin for deeper exfoliation. A great example of a chemical exfoliant is the ZO Enzymatic/Invisapeel, an at-home peel that you can use once every two weeks to smoothen uneven and dull skin, and minimize signs of sun damage.
“Apply this to clean, dry skin and leave on for one to three hours, as tolerated. It doesn’t require rinsing afterward but you may do so if you wish,” says Navarro.
There’s also the NeoStrata Smooth Surface Daily Peel, a one-step, at-home glycolic acid peel that’s easy to use and does not not require neutralizing or rinsing. It primarily targets fine lines and hyperpigmentation, but also smoothens the skin and reduces pore size. It’s ideal for normal, oily, and combination skin.
“The first time you use it, shake the jar gently after pouring in the solution to ensure all pads are saturated. You can initially use this once a week, gradually working up to every other day or daily, as tolerated,” Navarro advises.
 ZO Enzymatic/Invisapeel, P4,300 |
 NeoStrata Smooth Surface Glycolic chemical peel , P3,400 |
If you’re more into physical exfoliants, there’s the ZO Exfoliating Polish. It contains magnesium crystals that get rid of dead skin cells to create a clearer, smoother, and more even-toned complexion.
“Apply a pea-size amount on your finger tip then massage it gently in a circular motion, adding water as necessary. Start with the forehead, then move on to the cheeks, nose, chin and jaw area, and finally, the neck. Avoid the eye area,” says Navarro.
He warns against overdoing it though. Scrubs need to be handled with care to avoid irritating the skin and causing micro-tears. “Massage the product onto your face for about one to two minutes then rinse thoroughly. Limit the use of the Exfoliating Polish to once every 2 weeks,” he advises.
Step 3: Tone
Once upon a time, toners were astringents that stripped the skin of its natural oils. Today, toners are designed to soothe and nourish the skin in different ways. Depending on the ingredients, a toner can have anti-aging, antioxidant, and/or anti-inflammatory benefits.
If you’re looking to control oil, Navarro says the ZO Oil Control Pads will get rid of excess oil, minimize the appearance of pores, and soothe and smooth the skin. Another option is the NeoStrata Oily Skin Solution, an anti-acne and anti-aging solution that clarifies and tightens pores as it reduces fine lines and wrinkles. For those with sensitive skin, there’s the ZO Calming Toner, which soothes and restores the pH of your skin.
“Apply the toner using the control pad or with a cotton to the face, working your way down from the forehead to the nose, cheeks, area around the lips, chin, jaw, and neck. Make sure to avoid the eye area,” says Navarro.
“If you’re using the Oily Skin Solution, you can initially apply it at night for two weeks, then you may also apply it in the morning, as tolerated, in the succeeding weeks,” he notes.
 ZO Oil Control Pads, P4,200 |
 NeoStrata Oily Skin Solutions, P2,650 |
 ZO Calming Toner, P3,000 |
Step 4: Moisturize
Up next is hydration. Bust out your serums, lotions, moisturizers and creams, layering from the lightest to the heaviest consistency. Choose products that match your skin type and address your specific skin concerns.
ZO Renewal Creme is an all-day cream that restores your skin’s moisture and its natural protective barrier. Meanwhile, the NeoStrata Bionic Face Cream, which contains 12% PHA blend (Gluconolactone and Lactobionic Acid), is a rich, soothing emollient for dry and sensitive skin. It improves skin texture, minimizes fine lines, and gives you clearer skin.
Massage the products onto your face in outward and upward motions. This will help the skin absorb the products more effectively, improve blood circulation, and drain your lymphatic nodes. Plus, it has the added benefit of making you feel like you’re getting a real facial. If you want to go the extra mile, use a face roller to massage the products onto your skin.
 ZO Renewal Creme, P5,700 |
 NeoStrata Bionic Face Cream, P2,500 |
Step 5: Anti-aging Products
It’s never too early to address skin aging. According to Navarro, “This step helps prevent and correct signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, and uneven skin tone.”
For your morning treatment, he suggests the ZO Daily Power Defense, an antioxidant serum that has DNA-repair enzymes. It tightens and firms the skin and protects against free-radical damage. Simply massage two to three pumps of the product on your face every morning.
At night, you can use ZO Growth Factor Serum. This lightweight anti-aging gel serum firms the skin, reduces fine lines, and restores skin’s moisture. “Massage one to two pumps on the face and neck in the evening for stronger, rejuvenated skin,” says Navarro.
 ZO Daily Power Defense, P11,500 |
 ZO Growth Factor Serum, P10,500 |
You can also try the NeoStrata Skin Active Tri-Therapy Lifting Serum, a powerful anti-aging serum that targets sagging, dark spots, and irregular texture. It can be used in the morning and evening, after cleansing. Just apply two to three drops on your fingertips then massage the product onto your face and neck.
Step 6: Photoprotection
Just because the farthest you’ve been the last couple of months is your backyard doesn’t mean you can skip this step. It would be a shame to let all the efforts above go to waste by just ending up with sun-damaged skin anyway.
The ZO Sunscreen + Primer Broad Spectrum SPF30 protects against UVA, UVB light, and High-Energy Visible (HEV) light. And its 12-hour time-release antioxidant complex guards against photodamage.
Another highly-recommended product is the TIZO 3 Facial Primer Sunscreen. It’s a reef-friendly mineral sunscreen that provides SPF40 protection and doubles as a tinted primer. Chemical-free, fragrance-free, and preservative-free, it’s suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
 ZO Sunscreen + Primer Broad Spectrum SPF30, P5,000 |
 Tizo 3, P1,950 |
“Apply the sunscreen liberally 30 minutes before sun exposure, and as needed. Remember to reapply every two to three hours, especially when you’re sweating a lot,” advises Navarro.
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