After gaining 50 lbs in pregnancy, Fil-Am actress Melissa Ricks went through a make-over after giving birth to daughter Kiera.
The 5’7 mother, who weighed 190 lbs. is down to 160 lbs exercise, experiments with juice diets, calorie-controlled meals and non-invasive body contouring procedures.
However, at 28 years old, she already saw early signs of aging such as cracked heels, dry skin and hair. A digital native, she turned to vloggers who dispensed personal care tips.
“In the past, I didn’t’ care about sunblocks and moisturizers. I never had wrinkles. YouTube taught me the skin-care routines like applying moisturizer and serum. The next day, the skin is beautiful. Since I iron my hair, I have to apply hair treatments,” she said.
Model, TV host and triathlete Victor Basa, 32, is more conscientious about skin-care especially since he is constantly exposed to the sun.
“When you reach a certain age, you have to be more careful. Because I run, swim and bike, the elements can damage the skin,” he said.
He realized that slathering a sunblock before taking the plunge or hopping on the bike isn’t enough. A thick coat has to be applied 20 minutes for the formula to penetrate the skin and it is reapplied every two hours.
When he swims, he washes his hair to keep it cool under the swim cap.
At his age, Basa has been noticing that dead skin cells don’t shed as quickly and the renewal of new skin cells is slowing down. His daily routine is to cleanse, use a facial wash with salicylic acid a few times a week to slough off dead skin and moisturize.
Meanwhile, model, doctor and businessman Dr. Hayden Kho has been taking glutathione and collagen capsule by Belo for seven years. It’s the secret to his soft hands, the healthy skin tone and his well-being.
Although these three celebrities are at the prime of their youth, they’ve been paying attention to healthy habits to retard ageing..
At the Watsons press event, “#HappyNewYou,” resource person, dermatologist Liza Mangondaya said the skin starts ageing in the mid-20s. Over time, the production of collagen–the protein which serves as the mattress or support to the skin– decelerates. She recommends that 2018 is the time to start taking precautions.
Karen Fabres, Watsons group marketing manager, explained that “#HappyNewYou,” is a campaign that inspires help people to maintain their resolutions for personal care. At a press event at SM Aura, influencers such as Ricks, Basa, Kho, beauty experts and partner brands shared insights on how to be a better version of the self in 2018.
“The general trend is that beauty doesn’t come from the outside but also from the inside,” said Fabres.
Aimee Pernia, senior category manager for skin, added, “Customers have more options. We offer a holistic approach. It’s not only about looking beautiful but also staying fit and healthy.”
Fabres added the personal care market is booming as Watsons has been continually experiencing double-digit growth up even in January. She observed that the types of customers consist of value seekers who want bargains; shoppers with a mission; the adventurous who look for novelty and the indulgent who seek pampering products, DIYs such as hair color and masks.
These shoppers have established product preferences that will be strong this year:.
MASKS. Koreans conquered the world with beauty masks. According to Marie Claire UK edition, it’s the most Googled beauty trend last year. Filipinos are snapping them up. The sheet masks not only nourish and improve skin tone. The sheets are shaped into animals and fruits that are fun items for pajama parties.
SKINCARE SUPPLEMENTS. Dr. Mangondaya said that topical treatments are complemented with ingestives to deliver maximum anti-aging benefits.
“Drink plenty of water to hydrate the skin. Eat fresh fruits for nourishment and take Vitamin A for skin elasticity, C as an antixoidant and E for healthy skin, hair and nails. Take 1000 mg of a collagen supplement everyday. If you are over 40, you will need to double the dose,” she said.
Kho takes Belo glutathione with collagen supplement for health benefits. Glutathione aids the liver in detoxifying the body. “If your liver is weak, your system goes haywire,” he said. Glutathione works 24/7 to protect cells and recharge them.
He added that collagen production decreases one percent every year, and elastin– the substance that enables skin to snap back into place– has less bounce. Thus, the collagen in the supplement helps to improve skin elasticity. The effects are visible after two weeks.
BOOSTED PRODUCTS. Dr. Mangondaya said new-generation products are infused with more nutrients or moisturizers for added benefits. For summer, she pointed out the importance of sunblock despite the cloudy skies. “With or without sunlight, you have to protect the skin from radiation such as exposure of lights and computers. Sunblocks today have added benefits such as moisturizers and Vitamins A, C, E,” she said.
For sensitive skin, use sunblocks made of plant extracts such as arbutin, kojic acid and bearberry. Stronger skin types can use chemical-based hydroquinone.
“IF your skin is leathery, there are whiteners with moisturizers to soothe sun damage,” she said.
BEAUTY DEVICES. Studies cite that gadgets are game changers or will evolve into a new skin-care category. Pernia cited that Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Light was sold out in e-commerce. The
LED activator mask is worn in 10 minutes. People swear that it reduced redness, decreased breakouts and smoothened the skin. More customers are seeking the convenience of a dermatologlist’s service at home at a lesser cost.
LAID-BACK HAIR COLOR. After seasons of contrasting highlights and shocking colors, the hair color trend is going subtle but sexy. A top seller, L’Oreal’s Ultra Fashion has developed four lighter shades for the Filipina hair. The DIY package includes pre-color and post-color treatments to protect the hair shaft, said Pernia.
GLITTERY MAKE-UP. The beaded trend in fashion is reflected in glittery makeup, gold highlights and strobe creams. . Celebrity make-up artist Jake Galvez declared, “It’s time to go bolder. Try pink, purple, violet on the eyes. Let lips look edgy with metallic colors –gold, bronze, blue. If you’re conservative at work, champagne lipstick brings the shine and texture.”
Galvez urged the make-up shy to start with a simple routine for a polished look. “You need to practice application everyday to get makeup right. For the eyes, start with light shadows like light brown or neutral since they need little blending. When you’re confident, you can graduate to medium shades and later, darker colors. Ultraviolet has been the trend last year popularized by Kylie Jenner. The blue undertones suit the Filipina complexion,” he said.
ACCESSORIZE THE HAIR. Ariel Manas, hairdresser to such celebrities as beauty queen Pia Wurtzbach, said if you’re shy of haircuts, beautify the hair with silk wraps, scrunchies. Classic hair ties and bows go with rows of braids. Short hairs can be prettified with rhinestones, gold barrettes and stylized bobby pins.
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