Sometimes I have patients who will come in for consult for another matter but would segue into skincare because they have no idea on where to start with their routines or what to apply. After asking some questions, I would then learn what skincare mistakes they’re committing without knowing it like cleansing their faces only once a day, using products not suitable for their skin type or not putting on any sunscreen. So, to avoid any mistakes with starting your own skincare routine, here are some steps for you to follow.

Rejuvenating sets are by no means a new invention. Even before I began paying more attention to skincare, I remember seeing them in bazaars and tiangges during the early aughts. They’ve gained quite a reputation for making quick work of skin brightening, but they’ve also gotten a bad name for being too harsh to the point of burning the skin. However, not all rejuv sets are created equal. Some place emphasis on giving users a safer, more pleasant experience. And guess what? I’ve gotten to try this new gen version first hand!

Skincare has been at the forefront of my beauty life last year and I alternate between a full blown routine to days where I just want it quick and easy. But the thing with products for quick and easy, they kind of have to really do it all. Now Happy Skin recently released their new #GoodForYouSkincare line and it feels like this can be that minimalist skincare routine I’ve been looking for.

Learn more about the best face essences for skin hydration and how it should be used as the first step of the moisturizing part of your skincare routine.

I hit my mid-30s halfway through this year, just a couple of months after our son turned a year old. My hobbies now include taking daily selfies with our hyperactive toddler. Being the beauty writer that I am, I cannot help but notice the huge difference between his skin and mine. Baby skin is just so plump and bouncy! And while I have nothing against aging, I would still like to delay signs of it when it comes to my skin.

Unfortunately, my skin is starting to tell a different story which can be attributed to the steady loss of collagen. A bit of sagging has started which can be seen on my eyebrow area and cheeks. My pores are more visible, and some fine lines are settling down around my eye and mouth area. I’m sure you can imagine just how excited I was when I first heard about Avon’s newest skincare breakthrough!

Wrinkles are a normal part of skin aging. Apart from wrinkles, when the collagen and elastin in the dermal layer of the skin gets broken down, the skin will look less supple and plump, and will eventually sag due to gravity. The areas where wrinkles and sagging appear the earliest are the areas frequently exposed to the sun like the face, neck, arms, back of the hands, and the upper part of the chest. Today, I’ll focus on the neck because it’s a direct extension of the face.

When we talk of retinoids, we mean the big group of vitamin A derivatives which includes the non-potent forms like retinol, retinaldehyde, and retinyl palmitate found in skincare and the medical-grade forms like tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene and the oral isotretinoin. These are typically prescribed for acne. Scientifically speaking, they work by binding to the retinoic acid receptors in the skin cells which will increase skin cell turnover, increase production of dermal collagen, minimize pores, and brighten hyperpigmentation.

The year 2020 has brought us many problems, and one of them is maskne. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that it’s been such a drag! No matter how perfect my skincare routine is, just wearing masks so often for long periods of time causes pimples to form up where the masks rubs on it. Of course, there’s the extra humidity because of our breath and sweat, so my skin gets irritated easily. Dermatologist Nikki Paderna wrote about maskne in her PV column and her tips have helped me deal with it!

Since I started writing for Project Vanity many years ago, I have learned to adopt a multi-step skincare regimen. There was even a point where I challenged myself to a 10-step Korean routine! And yes, I totally get the sensorial appeal of each luxurious step. But I will always have just as much appreciation for the straightforward but efficient skincare routine. Now after having tried five of Japanese brand BCL’s high-performance products, I have no doubt that they have the simplified skincare routine down pat.

Even before the pandemic hit, most of us were already using our gadgets consistently. From our smartphones to our laptop computers, not to mention the seemingly endless Netflix binge, our eyes are constantly in use. This brings on what we call digital strain, which then causes on further issues like dry eyes, headaches, blurred vision, and neck and shoulder pain. Add to that the stress of working from home and some sleepless nights, it is no wonder we feel not just our beauty but our health taking a hit.

If you’ve been dealing with acne for most of your life like I am, you’re probably looking for new products for both acne and its ‘souvenirs’ – hyperpigmentation and post-acne marks.

I’ve been looking for a good acne treatment to add to my current regimen when I found out about Oxecure, a skincare brand that focuses on acne-control for the face and body. I was instantly intrigued by the brand’s promise to deliver results in six hours.

The Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is something I grew up with. I remember when I was in high school, my Titas in the US sends us the brand’s 3-step Skin Care routine with all the travel-sized GWPs (they have the cutest pouches!) and that yellow bottle was quite memorable. I liked how simple and effective it was but as with all cult classics, sometimes, they need a bit of an update for new users to take notice.

Is there a star ingredient that you always look for when shopping for skincare products? As soon as I heard about the hydrating capabilities of Hyaluronic Acid (HA), I wanted it in as many of my skincare steps as possible. I find that specifically having Hyaluron in my serum gives me a more potent hydration boost (and gets me one step closer to my glass skin goals). So I'm thrilled to share that the #1 serum sold in the US is finally coming to the Philippines on October 21!

As a dermatologist, I come across patients seeking consult for brighter and smoother skin. More often than not, they would ask me what I think of rejuvenating sets and which one I can recommend them. If you’re not familiar with these, rejuvenating sets are skincare products that are grouped together as a set, usually containing a cleanser, toner, bleaching/whitening cream, and sunblock gel/cream. Here’s my take on them - they’re not meant for every skin type, for every skin concern, and for long-term use.

Part of the new normal now includes proper hand hygiene and stringent disinfection rules around the home and work area. That means frequent hand washing, use of alcohol, and cleaning – all of which will have your skin in contact with either a detergent, soap, or other irritating solvents. Some can tolerate these harsh chemicals and not have any reaction to them. On the other hand, some with sensitive and dry skin can develop a scaly, itchy and red reaction as a consequence which leads to me to today’s topic, eczemas.

I’ve talked about acne last time but now let me discuss one of the two dreaded consequences from having a breakout – post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or PIH. This happens because any inflammation to the skin (e.g. acne, eczema, irritant/allergic reaction, trauma, etc.) will have inflammatory cells causing a cascade of events that will lead to melanocytes (pigment-producing cells of the skin) to produce more melanin – what’s causing the skin pigmentation.

With my face skin care good and done, I want to expand my routine Down There. Got to say, the marketing gods definitely agree! I keep getting ads for Mink, an intimate skincare company “made with passion, spunk, and a little bit of mischief”. They have several products formulated especially for taking care of boobs, butt and bikini line.

Q: My maskne is out of control! I didn’t have pimples before on my chin and jawline area, but since I started wearing a mask, I’ve started to get these pimples that just won’t seem to go away. What can I do to get rid of these? - Kristina

A: Hi Kristina! That’s a question that’s been frequently asked of me and a big percent of my patients now come in for consult for that reason. What’s being called “maskne” is actually a kind of acne we identify as Acne Mechanica, caused by friction from repetitive rubbing of masks against the skin and obstruction of the pilosebaceous unit, leading to congested pores.

Skincare is a huge part of my beauty routine. Beyond the basics, I feel that it’s important that my chosen products contain active ingredients as part of my quest on how to get smooth skin on my face! On the other hand, my body care routine is kind of boring. I use moisturizing and scented body washes in the shower, but I don’t get any added skin benefits. If I were a billionaire I would buy face care for body use, but sadly I don’t have that kind of money!

It's 2020 yet I still know so many guys who think that having a skincare routine is for women. They tell me that all they do is wash their faces with soap. Little do they know that that's a skincare routine in itself! Guys, you're lucky if soap alone works for you. However, if you have skin concerns, then you might want to consider expanding your skincare routine.

Yes, skincare can be very intimidating. Sometimes, I think guys are apprehensive not just because they think having a skincare routine is for women, but also because they do not know where to start.

Yes, skincare can be very intimidating. Sometimes, I think guys are apprehensive not just because they think having a skincare routine is for women, but also because they do not know where to start.