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.

When our skin is dry, our first instinct is to reach for the richest, heaviest moisturizer we can find and apply generously. However, this is not always the best solution, because we can just end up looking greasy and possibly clog our pores. Instead, we’ve talked about layering our skincare with lightweight, moisturizing products. The same goes with our hair.

At the start of the quarantine way back in March, I was joking to my friends, “I wash my hands so much now, my nail polish just can’t stand a chance!”

Not quite a germophobe but wary of germ-caused illnesses, I’ve always been a fan of hand washing, but I have never ever washed my hands so often in my life. So bye-bye, nail polish. Within weeks, I discovered I’ve changed many of my beauty rituals.

The big news flash of my life these days is that I’m getting married next month. I’m starting to plan my makeup already, which is exciting, because I have so many ideas! I’m going to do my own makeup, of course. Better put all my beauty kung fu to work, right? Initially I was thinking of doing the classic bridal look - very natural and neutral on the eyes and lips - but right now I’m considering a big bold red lip. I’m so torn! What do you think? The lipstick will really determine what I do with the rest of my face.

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.

Skincare selection is a uniquely personal experience. Our skin types and mileages vary, and we also have specific issues that we would like to take care of. Take myself for example. I have dry, dehydrated skin with an oily t-zone. I also have the beginnings of fine lines and wrinkles that are seemingly typical for a 35-year-old. While I will be okay with the basic moisturizer, I will certainly benefit from the targeted application of a serum or two. Thankfully, there are brands such as Kiehl’s Philippines who have long made the commitment to do their utmost for customer care.

In times of massive uncertainty and change such as the one we live in now, economists have noticed a behavior called the Lipstick Effect. This describes how consumers still tend to buy small luxury items (like premium cosmetics and trips to the cinema) during recessions or when they personally do not have much cash. Makeup doesn’t stop being a mood booster when things go south, so we don’t stop trying to be beautiful despite our situation.

I consider myself really lucky to have found a guy who not just accepts the fact that I love makeup, but who is also interested in it. No, my boyfriend doesn’t wear makeup, but he always asks me about my makeup purchases and encourages me to post makeup looks.

One afternoon, I decided to surprise him with a challenge. I asked him if he’s willing to do my makeup. To my delight, for someone who has zero experience with makeup, he was so quick to say yes!

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.

Quarantine may have us all locked indoors but that doesn’t mean beauty’s dead and gone. In fact, being locked up at home with no access to salons and beauty clinics have given birth to interesting new looks. And who says we’re hiding away? With social media as our platform, we can show off our quarantine-created looks!

Queer Eye’s resident grooming expert Jonathan Van Ness warned, “Don’t try new lewks during quarentine!” Yes, let’s all notice he spelled quarantine wrong and also let his his well-intentioned advice go unheeded. “Quarentine lewks” are really the most interesting beauty trend these days.

Don’t you just wish you could go to the salon to have great hair everyday? Well, achieving salon-ready hair at home is easier than you think. We asked Francis Guintu of Culture Salon Manila in BGC for some tips on how to achieve salon-looking hair in your own home without your favorite hairstylist’s help!

By now we know that non-cosmetic face masks are here to stay. Now while there may be a lot of frustration about the fact that we can’t show off our carefully painted faces while outdoors, we don’t have to be completely drab about it! We can definitely use our face masks to express ourselves and our personal style. Luckily, local mask manufacturers have stepped up their game, and we’ve found the prettiest ones for you.

EB Advance, Ever Bilena’s more sophisticated sister, has an exciting new release called the EB Advance Power Paint Multi-Use Color Cream (P199 at Lazada). It comes in four wearable shades that are formulated to be used on the eyes, cheeks, and lips. Before we go on the full review though, I think it’s important to address the elephant in the room! Yes it looks almost exactly like the Glossier Cloud Paint, but that’s pretty much where the sameness end.