Prevention: Definitely Better Than Cure
When in Manila, alloting enough time to take care of the largest organ of our body can be hard. We Filipinos tend to neglect spending a good amount of time to ensure that our vital organ is properly nourished and protected, especially since we have a lot of stuff to do at work and in our home. With all the urgent projects and household chores that need to be done, skin care ultimately becomes the least priority.
When I got the chance to try SKIN Dermatology & Laser Center’s Ultimate Diamond Facial (My review can be read here), I immediately jumped at the opportunity to conduct a quick interview with one of their in-house dermatologists. My consultation with the doctor, who is affiliated with the Philippine Dermatological Society, encouraged me to seriously take care of my skin.
He answered my questions thoroughly and gave me insights on skin care. So here I present to you the important things you should know to better care for our skin!
1. Applying sunscreen regularly is important.
Contrary to popular belief, even dark skin still needs regular protection from the sun. Always remember that we must reapply sunscreen every two hours. You read that right. Every. Two. Hours. It’s a bit of a hassle since sunscreen is sticky, but still worth the time. After all, prevention is better than cure.
It is recommended that we choose cream-based formulations, too, since cream-based sunscreen contains ingredients that will react less with our naturally acidic skin. Just remember the sun protection ingredients available in a cream base: Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide.
PROTIP: Apply sunscreen before going outside, and just do touch-ups later using face powder fortified with sun protection ingredients.
2. You must choose the best sunscreen for your skin type and lifestyle.
You can try all the sunscreen products available on the market today if you want, but if you are a wise consumer, you should go for the products suitable for your skin. If you have oily skin, use water-based formulations so as not to irritate your precious skin. Likewise, use oil-based sunscreen when you have dry skin.
3. Your sunscreen product must at least provide SPF 15.
Do note that sunscreen is like topical medicine for your skin. Apply little and you’ll only be getting a tiny amount of protection from the sun. SPF15 sunscreens provide enough protection needed so that harmful UV rays won’t cause your skin to age prematurely or worse. Since it is a bit troublesome to apply thick layers of SPF15 sunscreen on your face, it is recommended that you go for products with SPF30. With a more protective product, you can apply a thinner layer on your skin without having to worry too much about sun damage.
4. We should allow any skin care product to rest on our skin for 15 minutes before applying the next product.
The reason? Our skin should go back to its natural acidic state after dabbing it with toner, anti-aging cream or any other beauty product. It is said that our skin absorbs more nutrients when it’s in its normal pH level.
And skin care products are usually formulated to work the best on skin’s natural pH level, so if you really care about your skin, then you should allot more time for your morning and evening rituals. This way, your skin can benefit a lot more from your most expensive moisturizing cream.
5. Cancerous moles are very uncommon in the Philippines.
Have a mole on your face? Don’t panic! Moles are only a cause for concern if they suddenly start to change in size, shape and color. With that said, it still desn’t hurt to consult a Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) affiliated dermatologist if and when you find flaky or discolored areas on your body.
6. There are natural ways to make ourselves look better.
Just maintain a balanced diet, drink lots of water, exercise, and sleep regularly. If you’re a marathon runner and your lifestyle requires you to be outside at prolonged periods of time, use sunscreen. Also, taking or doing things in moderation is key.
7. Dehydration, apart from genetics and an underlying medical condition, causes dark undereye circles.
Lack of sleep can cause your body to use more energy and water. Since facial skin is thinner around the eyes, dark undereye circles appear because dehydration can make the skin around the eyes thinner and thus more transparent. The underlying bluish blood vessels will appear more prominently and blood flow around the area becomes more sluggish, contributing to undereye darkening. Bottom line? DRINK LOTS OF WATER!
8. Frequent facials do not cause thinner skin.
Old age does. Healthy skin knows when to stop producing more layers of its protective covering, and facials just help the skin to reveal younger skin cells.
Speaking of facials, SKIN Dermatology & Laser Center is now offering SKIN Essential Express Facial for men and women who are in a hurry. The 30-minute facial starts with a cleanser and toner, and ends with a scrub. Extraction can be done for an additional fee. Set an appointment during lunch time or right before going home on a weekday.
Promo Alert!
SKIN Dermatology & Laser Center is generously giving away a free SKIN Essential Express Facial to two lucky When in Manila fans! This giveaway ends on September 26, and the lucky winners can redeem the prize until October 31.
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SKIN Dermatology & Laser Center
at The Spa Wellness at The Fort
B8, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Tel. (+632)403-8000 / (+63)917-809-2399
Important Things To Know When Taking Care Of Your Skin
