People are amazed when Victoria Encarnacion, Watsons personal care marketing director, reveals that she’s 58 years old.  She attributes to her youthfulness to starting anti-aging regimens in her 30s.

 

“It’s proof that if you start with a correct beauty routine early, aging signs will be delayed,” says Encarnacion. She uses Maybelline’s eye makeup remover, Cetaphil for facial wash, L’Oreal’s RevitaLift anti-aging creams for the face and eye, and the water-based Neutrogena sunblock.

 

However, Encarnacion is part of a minority of Filipinos who believe in anti-aging.  Watsons trading director Maita Santiago observes that the Philippines lags behind its Asean neighbors in the use of anti-aging products. Skin whitening is still the beauty ideal in this market.

 

“Filipinas start using anti-aging products in their 40s and 50s, when the effects of aging are more dramatic,” says Santiago.  By then, loss of muscle and fat under the skin, depletion of collagen and elastin, and proteins that hold up the skin  result in sagginess, dark spots and deeper lines, especially with long sun exposure.

 

To make women aware of the irreversible effects of aging, Watsons is making its products available at discounted prices, from six to 50-percent off in its “Kiss Aging Goodbye” campaign.

 

“We aim to educate the market. The early start of an anti-aging regimen retards aging, and Watsons is making it easy for them.  Some products will be on sale on certain weekends,” says Encarnacion.

 

The Kiss Aging Goodbye campaign addresses women in their 30s, when the skin begins to look dull due to effects of the sun, and fine lines start to appear as collagen begins to break down.

 

Neutraceuticals

 

Watsons offers advice and products that are of great value.

 

Nutritional supplements and ingestives are as important as topical creams and serums. Youthful glow begins with nutrients that nourish the body and the skin.

 

iVi Collagen drink is a Japanese food supplement that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration Philippines. The marine collagen content keeps the body’s balance of minerals that accelerate cell regeneration. The vitamins, minerals and hyaluronic acid stabilize the body’s nutrient level.  People swear by it because it’s also good for the hair, bones and nails.

 

Mosbeau Placenta Advanced Skin Whitening is another Japanese product that uses placenta, which not only whitens the skin but also improves skin elasticity and moisture.

 

Watsons Collagen + Vitamin C + Zinc is a  capsule  that contains vitamin C for better absorption of nutrition and  the building of collagen. Zinc helps maintain skin membranes and cell renewal.

 

Watsons Hyaluron and Collagen Powder Drink is taken at bedtime. It is infused with the beauty nutrients of  collagen, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, elastin, biotin, which supports skin health, and pearl coix extract  derived from a plant with therapeutic properties.

 

Belo Nutraceuticals Glutathione + Collagen capsule is taken to achieve glowing skin. It is infused with glutathione that cleanses the system and whitens the skin, while the collagen makes the skin more supple.

 

Belo Collagen Powder Drink is a vanilla-flavored formulation with marine collagen to fight the fine lines, glucosamate hydrochloride to strengthen the skin barrier and sodium hyaluronate for moisturization.

 

Sun protection

 

Defend the skin from the sun.  Most dermatologists will say that if you need to use only one product, it will have to be  sunblock. The harmful effects of the sun produce discoloration and damage collagen, the skin’s framework, and elastin, the protein that enables the skin to return to shape after the face stretches from expression. Doctors advice a tablespoon of sunblock on the skin every two hours, including for indoor use.

 

Bioderma Photoderm comes in variants to suit the skin color, and a special variant for people with skin pigmentation. All the variants are made with a patented formula that protects the cells and DNA. Although this is not part of the promotion, Watsons recommends it for the potency.

 

Celeteque Sun Care Moisturizer with SPF 30 claims to offer double the sun protection while keeping the skin hydrated. Alpha hydroxy acid removes dead cells and enables the formulation to penetrate the skin.

 

Regimen

 

Invest your time in a day-and-night regimen with the right products. Look for key ingredients to keep the skin youthful, such as hyaluronic acid to plump up the skin, vitamin C for protection, glycolic acid to peel away dead skin and retinol, which increases cell turnover and improves collagen build-up.

 

Encarnacion says skin care doesn’t have to be tedious, but it needs  the right essentials. Daytime care means using sun protection under the moisturizer and makeup so that the skin can still restore itself after a long day.

 

Watsons Collagen range consists of a cleanser that exfoliates the skin, a moisturizer that makes the skin more elastic, smoother and even toned, a firming facial mask to tighten sagging skin, and a complexion corrector cream that claims to provide 10 benefits to make the skin look youthful in one dab. The hand cream is said to be the most effective in preventing dryness.

 

L’Oreal’s RevitaLift contains elastin and pro-retinol A, a patented name of a branded vitamin A derivative, and retinol, which smoothens fine lines and helps in collagen production. The star product is the RevitaLift Laser X3, which is more intense, making the skin thicker and improving the contours.

 

Olay’s Regenerist Range takes pride in the  beauty awards given to the moisturizer, the eye serum and the regenerating serum. The star product, Regenerist Micro Sculpting Cream,  claims to allow the skin to absorb regenerative ingredients.

 

Pond’s Age Miracle prescribes the use of a foam cleanser with a patented formula that removes dead skin cells, a day cream with peptides for anti-aging, a mild sunblock and a BB Cream that evens the skin tone and provides SPF 30.  The night cream is richer and does the job of promoting the the regeneration of skin cells.  Age Miracle contains retinol which, dermatologists say, is the main ingredient for anti-aging, as it refines pores and refills the depleted collagen.

 

Neutrogena Hydro Boost range includes the foaming crème, water gel, essence and lotion. The key ingredient, hyaluronic acid, refills the water on dehydrated skin to make it smoother. The olive extract boosts moisturization.

 

Santiago adds that Watsons also provides solutions for hair challenges such as Lauat, a shampoo from Indian laurel leaves that has won an award for addressing falling and thinning hair, and Celeteque Dermo Science Hair and Scalp Care Clarifying Shampoo, which removes residue in the scalp and thoroughly cleanses it.

 

Encarnacion points out that bargains can be had in vitamins such as body products from Watsons, Glamworks, Body Buffet and Cosmo Skin.

 

The “Kiss Aging Goodbye” promotion runs through August.