After years of writing about beauty and being obsessed with products, I still get surprised when encountering skin and hair problems.
But these experiences serve the purpose of sharing with readers the things I have learned about these problems. Thanks to certain suppliers, I have found products that deal with these problems when they occur time and again.
Day cream
After having an extensive skin-peeling session, I went horseback riding around lunchtime the next day and forgot to reapply my 10 a.m. sunblock. Blisters appeared on my face and neck, with the surrounding areas turning gray and blotchy.
I used the TonyMoly Intense Care Snail BB Cream with SPF 45 PA++ as my day cream and midday-evening foundation to cover up the disaster areas. Three straight days of applying the eye cream and washing my face with a gentle cleanser twice a day licked the problem—the blisters dried up and the grayish dark skin flaked off.
My new skin had a satin-like texture with a pinkish tint; it also looked dewy, tight and firm.
The cream also worked when I was undergoing a tretinoin treatment for acne and insisted on waxing my unruly eyebrows and fuzzy upper lip. The top layer of the skin came off with the wax, so I had three exposed raw arches of skin on my face that was starting to develop as blisters.
I applied a cold towel compress on the areas to soothe the burn. Before the week was over, my skin seemed to regenerate with no trace of the burn. This time I used the entire Snail Cream line which has anti-wrinkle, whitening and nutrition properties.
Snail Cream is best for women aged 25 to 50 who are experiencing the first signs of aging. (Visit tonymoly.ph to find the branch nearest you.)
The downside: If your wrinkles are the deep kind and you are advanced in age, the snail cream might not work. Try Crème de La Mer or Strivectin instead.
A godsend
Korea made BB cream into a household name and I love its effect on the skin of Korean women. But that’s because BB cream works best on dry skin and biting cold weather.
My acne-prone skin went wild with all that rich moisture! Good thing the Body Shop has Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream made especially for my skin type. It’s a godsend for women living in the tropics.
The tint covers up spots and blotches while it treats and soothes the skin with a fresh matte finish.
The problem is that the cream’s shades are limited and tend to cater only to those with pink skin tones. I have to mix 01 and 02 to get my shade. It also does not have sunblock.
Go for SPF 30 or higher like Watsons Pure Beauty SPF 45 pressed powder.
The less touch, the better
Each time we “care for our hair,” we also damage it. As soon as we dry it with a towel, blow- or air-dry, comb, pull into a ponytail and brush, the vulnerable wet strands cause it to split and break off. Don’t even start on coloring and curlers.
So, the less we touch it, the better. Applying an oil-based treatment on strands and tips alone (stay away from the scalp) seals in and protects the hair from outside aggressors.
Dove’s Daily Hair Vitamin is a steal at P75 per capsule, which can be halved for two people. Apply to damp hair, comb through or blow-dry. Hair keeps its shape, style and shine even when the wind blows.
