I was shopping in Landers BGC when I spotted the E45 Cream (P575 for 350 grams) on the shelves. I’ve not heard of it before, but looking at the claims in the front and ingredients in the back immediately convinced me to try it. I’ve been suffering from dry skin on my hands and feet, and needed something that can fix the issue fast. Normal heavy creams and lotions aren’t doing it for me as I always wash my hands and neglect my feet.

Since puberty has come and gone, I have heaved a sigh of relief that my skin is no longer as erratic as it was during those tumultuous years. Most of the pimples I experience as an adult can be chalked up to bouts of pre-period hormones, purging, or product incompatibility. And because age comes with wisdom, I’ve already assembled a Dream Team of products that help manage those tricky times a little better.

Many beauty lovers temporarily put the makeup away in favor of renewed vigor for baking and skincare when summer 2020 was “canceldt” due to the pandemic. Admittedly, I went down the same path, in addition to doubling my efforts in balcony vegetable gardening! Even during the intense heat and lagkit though, my dry skin is still a high-maintenance piece of work that gets exacerbated by the frequent baths and hand washing. Here’s what works for me - my current hot-weather skincare routine that’s preventing my face from getting as leathery as the backs of my hands.

The close of the last decade brought me more than wistfulness for bygone days. It also gave me some seriously dry skin! And while I’m not sure if it was caused by hormonal changes, good ol’ fashioned skin aging, or something else entirely, I spent most of 2019 actively seeking out skincare products to help counteract the dreaded papery texture that my skin had suddenly become. I’m happy to say that I’ve found some keepers that might just work for you as well!

The clay mask made my already dry skin feel even more dry and tight. It was also very difficult to wash off, so I had to use a damp towel to remove the mask. I later learned that a bentonite clay mask is more apt for use on oily skin, because it’s made from a very absorbent material that is sometimes even used for cat litter. It’s not a bad ingredient, but if you have dry or sensitive skin, there is a better alternative.

Kiehl’s is one of those skincare brands that my skin just seems to love. I’ve tried a few of their cult favorite serums as well as some then new releases), and my experience has been good thus far. Sam also did the Kiehl’s Let Us Change Your Skin Challenge with quite satisfactory results. The brand has been around since 1851, after all, and has many fans worldwide!

The most potent skincare potions usually get the revered label, “Sleep in a Bottle”. As someone who doesn’t get a lot of sleep on the regular, the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Intense Reset Concentrate (P4,800 for 20ml) promise of waking up to better skin certainly appealed to me. I especially I wondered how it could possibly improve on a routine that already included the iconic Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II (P4,200 for 30ml) which made my skin smooth and glowy despite being sick.

People tell me that I’m lucky to have dry skin because I don’t have to worry about getting pimples or having a shiny face. Both are certainly true, but dry skin has it own concerns, too. Your skin can look either red and irritated, or gray and sickly due to dullness. Extra dry spots can cause skin to look flaky and you can’t cover that with makeup because of the weird texture. Dry skin is also more prone to getting wrinkles and fine lines; just imagine how super matte lipsticks make every single one of your lip lines look more visible!