general manager Raghavendra Sadashiva, trade marketingmanager Carlo Ulep –MAGIC LIWANAG
There is a portion in the childhood classic “Heidi” by Johanna Spyri where the child protagonist is told by her grandfather to wash up one morning before she can go up the mountains with her friend Peter. When she reappears, she has scrubbed her face, arms and neck clean that “as she stood there, she was as red all over as a lobster.”
That squeaky clean feeling might seem like the ideal of cleanliness, but is actually proof that we’ve gone overboard. As Dr. Mara Huber, a and member of the Philippine Dermatological Society, pointed out recently, “Cleanser is the most damaging part of our regimen because of the surfactants (surface active agents) that don’t differentiate between oil, dirt, proteins or lipids. They strip away the good as well as the bad.”
16 different skin types
As a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist, Huber specializes in diagnosing skin disorders under a microscope. Apparently, there are 16 different skin types, not just normal, oily, dry or combination skin. She cautions against using harsh cleansers, and suggests going for a mild surfactant that also moisturizers skin.
“Be aware of your own skin, how it reacts or feels,” she said.
For those with specific skin concerns, their best bet is to see a licensed dermatologist. “People need to realize that it is not expensive. Look for those who are licensed members of the Philippine Dermatological Society.”
Huber was the resource speaker at the launch of Cetaphil’s Ultra Gentle Body Wash. The brand is the world’s most doctor-prescribed gentle cleanser.
“The Philippines ranks second after the US when it comes to Cetaphil,” Galderma business unit head Jade Silva-Netto said. “This proves that Filipinos are really conscious about skincare and personal hygiene.”
Like the original cleanser, the body wash is fragrance-free, has a low pH, and gentle surfactants. It also contains panthenol and aloe vera. Panthenol is a provitamin of vitamin B5 that helps skin hydration and improves the skin barrier while aloe vera helps improve skin moisture levels.
“We want to change how the world views skincare through product innovation,” Galderma general manager Raghavendra Sadashiva said.
When it comes to skin cleansing, always err on the side of being gentle.
