From Brightening Soap to Moisturizers: Exploring First Skincare's Eco-Conscious Range
I'm absolutely thrilled to dive into the offerings from FIRST Skincare, a gem of a local brand that caught the eye of Project Vanity's ever-curious gaze. Embracing the ethos of clean and sustainable beauty, FIRST Skincare stands out as a beacon of innovation in the Filipino beauty scene—an initiative that's nothing short of inspiring.
With a keen focus on catering to both men and women, FIRST Skincare harnesses the power of the PSE (Pumpkin Seed Extract) Antioxidant System, a marvel of Swiss technology. But that's not all. Their products are a testament to the richness of nature, blending key botanical extracts and ingredients like nourishing coconut oil and vibrant calamansi extract, all of which are sustainably sourced right here in the Philippines. Beyond their commitment to natural beauty, FIRST Skincare takes pride in being FDA-approved, ensuring that every product meets the highest standards of safety and quality.
FIRST Skincare's commitment to environmental stewardship shines through in their thoughtful use of eco-friendly bamboo packaging. It's a small yet impactful gesture that speaks volumes about their dedication to being kind to our planet. The bamboo caps on their products aren't just aesthetically pleasing; they're a nod to sustainable living.
But the brand's eco-conscious efforts don't stop there. The set I'm delving into also includes a Bamboo Vanity Case , priced at an accessible P100, and a Cork & Canvas Bag for P395. These aren't just add-ons; they're practical, stylish pieces designed for longevity and repeated use.
The Ultimate Daily Skin Love for Her set, now available for P2,024 from its original P2,700, really stands out for its comprehensive approach to skincare. This set is thoughtfully assembled with everything one might need for a complete daily routine: a cleansing soap, a toner, a serum, both day and night moisturizers, and a body lotion. It represents the entirety of the FIRST for WOMEN skincare line, designed to work in harmony for optimal skin health.
The Skin Brightening Soap (P275 on sale P250) is the first step in the FIRST Skincare regimen. Crafted with a blend of nourishing ingredients like Coconut Oil and Castor Oil, alongside the potent Black Oats Seed and Pumpkin Seed Extracts, this soap is a standout for its rich lathering capability. It's advised to work up a lather in your hands before gently applying the bubbles to your face, ensuring a thorough yet delicate cleansing experience.
An intriguing accessory to complement this product is the Sisal Pouch (P29 for 2). This pouch is made from the natural fibers of the Agave Sisalana, a succulent plant native to Mexico, and it's designed to not only help produce a generous lather but also to softly exfoliate the skin when used on the body. Sold separately, this pouch enhances the soap's efficacy while promoting gentle exfoliation.
Upon use, the soap leaves the skin feeling clean without the harsh sensation of being stripped of moisture. It's a delicate balance to strike, and this soap seems to do it with ease, making it a promising start to any skincare routine.
The second step is the Skin Balancing Toner (P275 on sale P250) that leans more into cleansing than skin balancing. With key ingredients such as Witch Hazel Extract, Pumpkin Seed Extract, and Calamansi Fruit Extract, it aims to help clean the face using a cotton pad or ball without stripping the skin of moisture. Calamansi is locally known to reduce dark spots and remove dry rough patches, so it makes sense that this toner is said to do that too. It isn’t harsh when tried on the skin though if you have sensitive skin, it would be best to apply lightly.
The third step is 3-4 drops of the Skin R&R Serum (P995 on sale P650). Its main purpose is it "brightens skin tone, prevents wrinkles, improves skin's elasticity & rejuvenates skin cells" and Calamansi Fruit Extract is one of its key ingredients. Paired with the toner, I saw my skin brightening a bit after just a couple of days of use.
The last step is moisturizing the face and body using two face moisturizers and a body lotion. The Skin Radiance Day Emulsion (P695 on sale P450) and the Skin Reboot Night Gel Crème (P695 on sale P450) have pretty similar ingredients lists save for two ingredients: Titanium Dioxide and Octyl Methoxy Cinnamate. Both are commonly used sunscreen ingredients and while the brand mentioned that the Skin Radiance Day Emulsion has UV filters, they did not indicate the SPF (Sun Protection Factor). The two face moisturizers are lightweight, non-sticky, and easily absorbed by the skin with anti-aging benefits like smoothening skin, strengthening the moisture barrier, and soothing stressed skin. There is a difference in texture though, the day cream is more opaque while the night cream has a gel consistency.
Left-Right: Skin Radiance Day Emulsion, Skin Reboot Night Gel Crème
The brand probably considered Philippine weather in their development as both creams are noticeably lightweight. The day cream has a matte finish which made my sunblock drag a bit on top but still tolerable. The texture of both will work better for the hotter months in our country.
The Nourishing Hand & Body Lotion 250 ml (P895 on sale P650) is recommended to be used after taking a bath, after washing the hands, or when the skin feels dry/dehydrated. Special attention is given to the knees, elbows, legs, and dry areas as the lotion "rejuvenates and purifies the skin, seals in moisture, improves texture and smoothens". While it moisturizes the body enough, on the hands, you might need extra especially if you have dry hands like mine.
Overall, First Skincare offers a thoughtfully curated line seemingly made for our weather. The inclusion of calamansi extract also feels like a fun tribute to our local beauty solutions. Their products only come in one size though, so there's no option to buy a bigger or smaller amount. You can purchase each item individual as needed, or in other value sets with less products than the full lineup I tried.
FIRST Skincare also has products for men formulated with different key ingredients like Green Algae and Siberian Ginseng. There are also other products like linen sprays and hand sanitizers that are around P250 for 100ml. You can check out their website at http://www.firstskincareph.com.
Ingredients:
SKIN BRIGHTENING SOAP
Cocos Nucifera, Deionized Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Virgin Cocos Nucifera, Glycerine, Ricinus Oil, Vitamin B3, Nature-identical Scent, Titanium Dioxide, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerine (and) Water (and) Avena Strigosa Seed Extract (and) Lecithin (and) Potassium Sorbate (and) Citric Acid, Cucurbita Pepo var. Styriaca (Pumpkin Seed Press Cake) Extract
SKIN BALANCING TONER
Deionized Water (Aqua), Hamamelis Virginia (Witch Hazel) Extract, Glycerin, (PEG-40) Hydrogenated Castor Oil (and) Trideceth 9 (and) Aqua, Glycerine (and) Water (and) Avena Strigosa Seed Extract (and) Lecithin (and) Potassium Sorbate (and) Citric Acid, Cucurbita Pepo var. Styriaca (Pumpkin Seed Press Cake) Extract, Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin, Nature-identical Scent, Citrofortunella Microcarpa Fruit Extract
SKIN R&R SERUM
Deionized Water (Aqua), Cucurbita Pepo var. Styriaca (Pumpkin Seed Press Cake) Extract, Citrofortunella Microcarpa Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Glycerine (and) Water (and) Avena, Triethanolamine Strigosa Seed Extract (and) Lecithin (and) Potassium Sorbate (and) Citric Acid, (and) Citric Acid, Epilobium Angustifolium Extract, Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexyl Glycerine, Carbomer, Triethanolamine
SKIN RADIANCE DAY EMULSION
Deionized Water (Aqua), Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentaxiloxane, Sodium Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer (and) Hydrogenated Polydecene (and) Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerine (and) Water (and) Avena Strigosa Seed Extract (and) Lecithin (and) Potassium Sorbate (and) Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Cucurbita Pepo var. Styriaca (Pumpkin Seed Press Cake) Extract, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Octyl Methoxy Cinnamate, Nature-identical Scent, Disodium Edta, Cocos Nucifera (Virgin Coconut) Oil
SKIN REBOOT NIGHT GEL CREME
Deionized Water (Aqua), Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentaxiloxane, Sodium Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer (and) Hydrogenated Polydecene (and) Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerine (and) Water (and) Avena Strigosa Seed Extract (and) Lecithin (and) Potassium Sorbate (and) Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Cucurbita Pepo var. Styriaca (Pumpkin Seed Press Cake) Extract, Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Nature-identical Scent, Disodium Edta, Cocos Nucifera (Virgin Coconut) Oil
NOURISHING HAND & BODY LOTION
Deionized Water (Aqua), Stearic Acid Triple Pressed, Paraffin Liquidum, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteareth 20, Glycerol Monostearate, Dimethicone, Olea Suropaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Triethanolamine, Glycerin (and) Water (and) Avena Strigosa Seed Extract (and) Lecithin (and) Potassium Sorbate (and) Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerine, Titanium Dioxide, Cucurbita Pepo var. Styriaca (Pumpkin Seed Press Cake) Extract, Nature-identical Scent, Carbomer, Cocos Nucifera (Virgin Coconut) Oil
