It’s about time you do it!
Ahh, taking care of your skin. For beginners, it will sure seem like a daunting task, with social media buzzing from all the multi-step routines, all these celebrities pushing out their own lines, and the flurry of skincare products available here in the Philippines.
The thing is, it shouldn’t really be so complicated. Like many life-changing decisions, we begin with careful discernment—understanding your skin. And only then can you customize a proper routine to meet your skin’s needs.
Related: What You Need to Include In Your New Year’s Skincare Resolutions to Prevent Premature Aging
Here, we made an expert-approved guide with the help of Dr. Maximin Navarro, Fellow of the Philippine Dermatological Society and co-founder of Bella Pelle Philippines, on how you can customize your skincare routine.
First, know your correct skin type
By now, you should know your skin type. Is your skin oily, dry, combination, or normal? Observe how your skin is throughout the day. If you get greasy midday, then you have oily skin. If your skin always feels tight, then it’s dry. If you have dry patches and oily parts, then you have combination skin. If you observe that your skin stays fairly moisturized by itself, you have normal skin.
Start a basic skincare regimen suited for your skin type
Look for products that contain key ingredients for your skin type. Only use what’s necessary for your specific skin concerns. Start with the basic steps of cleansing and toning, then add additional products as needed.
For oily skin, Navarro recommends looking for products with fruit acids or AHAs and BHAs that smoothen, moisturize, and brighten the skin. “These stimulate cell renewal and collagen [production], addressing fine lines and wrinkles,” he says.
Neostrata Oily Skin Solution, P2,650
Here’s a toner specifically formulated for oily and acne-prone skin that not only exfoliates, clarifies, and tightens pores but also reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
ZO Skin Health by Zein Obagi MD Oil Control Pads, P4,000
These oil-control pads are made for acne-prone skin: They unclog your pores, getting rid of pimple-causing dirt and oil, remove dead skin cells, and target oiliness. They also contain salicylic acid for acne treatment.
If you have dry skin, Navarro recommends stocking up on moisturizers with both emollients and humectants. Emollients soften and smooth the scales of the skin, reducing roughness and flakes. Humectants, on the other hand, draw water from the environment and aid in the skin’s ability to absorb moisture.
Froika Omega Plus Cream, P2,200
Especially formulated for acutely dry and atopic-prone skin, it contains vegetable oils and shea butter that help replace lost lipids as well as provide additional protection from moisture loss and adverse environmental skin stressors.
Biologique Recherche Émulsion Originelle Régénérante Visage
This intense hydrating emulsion prevents skin aging by restoring lost lipids, fortifying your skin’s natural protective barrier against the drying effects of extreme climates, and preventing water loss.
If you’re lucky enough to have normal skin, “get creams and serums that address the specific skin concern, like pigmentation, dullness, or laxity. Use a Vitamin C serum in the morning and a retinol product at night. You may also use brightening or lightening serums or creams at night. If your skin is sensitive to retinol, you can use something with a fruit acid instead,” says Navarro.
Neostrata Tri-Therapy Lifting Serum, P3,450
A serum that lifts with its Aminofil® amino acid, exfoliates the skin to reduce the appearance of dark spots, and hydrates deep within the skin with its Low Molecular Weight (LMW) Hyaluronic Acid.
Neostrata Triple Firming Neck Cream, P3,100
The three active ingredients in this neck cream are Neoglucosamine®, which smooths fine lines and evens out skin tone; Neocitriate®, which plumps and firms up skin; and Pro-Amino Acid, which boosts collagen and elastin production.
Combination skin can be a little tricky to take care of. Navarro recommends you use a moisturizer with sebum control and a toner that addresses the oiliness but is not harsh on sensitive skin.
Neostrata Cellular Restoration, P4,100
It contains Apple Stem Extract that maintains the skin’s stem cells and delays signs of aging, and powerful antioxidants that protect against free radical damage. The product, as the name implies, also works to restore skin cells.
Neostrata Matrix Support SPF 30, P3,400
This day cream contains NeoGlucosamine® which addresses skin-aging concerns like wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots. Additionally, it contains 0.1% retinol, peptides, and provides broad-spectrum protection against sun damage.
Don’t skip the sunscreen
No matter the skin type, it’s important to put on sunscreen, says Navarro. After all, the harmful rays of the sun is the main culprit behind accelerated skin aging—making your skin susceptible to sunspots, wrinkles, and lines. Religiously applying sunscreen improves your skin’s condition, eliminating the need to layer on too many products.
For oily skin, look for sunscreens in gel form or those that are oil-free. For dry skin, use a cream-based sunscreen. For normal and combination skin, cream or gel sunscreen will do.
Heliocare 360º Gel Oil-free SPF 50, P1,550
A sunscreen that not only protects against the UVA and UVB rays of the sun, but also Infrared-A and Blue Light. What’s more, it has anti-aging properties. It works best on normal, combination, and oily skin.
Heliocare Ultra Gel SPF 90, P2,400
This premium gel sunblock has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial benefits, making it suitable not just for normal skin but also for oily and acne-prone skin.
Heliocare 360º Color Gel Oil-free, P1,750
It offers the same protection as the Heliocare 360º Gel Oil-free SPF 50, except this one also functions as a tinted foundation. It’s good for all skin types.
Heliocare Oil-free Compact Color, P2,350
This three-in-one product provides SPF 50 protection, prevents photo-aging and evens out skin tone, and works as a compact foundation. It has a matte finish and an oil-free formula that’s great for normal to dry skin.
Here’s a tinted mineral sunscreen that provides SPF 40 broad-spectrum protection and doubles as a primer. Use it in lieu of your makeup primer for a matte finish. It’s gentle on all types of skin, including sensitive skin. What’s more, it’s reef-friendly so it’s good for the environment.
Go lite with the skincare
No need to hop on the famous 10-step Korean skincare routine—it’s unnecessary, especially with the Philippine climate. According to Navarro, all you need in your skincare routine are the following: cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen (in the morning).
“Wash the face with a gentle, hypoallergenic cleanser morning and night. Avoid cleansers with mineral oil and alcohol—these are harsh especially on mature skin. Follow up with a toner or exfoliating lotion, which is a necessary step for those who tend to have skin that is on the oily side,” he says.
“Then in the morning, apply a serum, such as a Vitamin C serum. It’s an antioxidant that protects your skin from sun damage. Follow this up with a moisturizer with sunscreen.
“At night, apply a serum that addresses your skin’s current need, followed by a moisturizer. Then, apply retinol. Retinol works hard to prevent new wrinkles from forming, as well as smooth out any fine lines that you may already have. It will also help to decrease pigmentation by encouraging cellular turnover. For those sensitive to retinol, Hydroxyacids, which are fruit acids, serve as alternatives and have the same effect,” says Navarro.
Neostrata Clarifying Facial Cleanser, P2,300
It’s a soap-free cleanser that exfoliates and unclogs pores, and is formulated for acne-prone and oily skin.
This botanical milk wash is perfect if you have normal or combination skin. It washes off makeup, impurities, and oil without stripping your skin of its natural moisture or leaving an oily residue.
A gentle, vitamin-infused face wash that nourishes dry, dull, and mature skin. It contains an amniotic-fluid compound that nourishes and soothes the skin while removing dirt, makeup, and other impurities.
Would you like to learn more about the right steps to prevent skin aging? When it comes to sun protection, how much is enough? Learn more about the finest skincare products thoughtfully selected for you by Bella Pelle Philippines here.
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