After flaunting chicken skin on my arms for 13 years, I finally took seriously the most basic lesson in skincare: Pamper the body as much as the face.
While not everyone knows about my occasional acne, there’s fulfillment in knowing I baby my body because I can touch the difference.
Many women ignore the variety of body products that Asian beauty labels offer. Is it because the Asian face is more marketed than the other? Or could it be that Western brands like Bath and Body Works are easier to recall?
Whatever the reason, here are quirky beauty tips and things we can adopt from our side of the world.
- Protect your hair.
Enter the liquid hair savers: vinegar rinses, leave-in fluids, and essences. It turns out that hair is at its healthiest when treated with acidic or low-pH (less than pH 7) products.
While others recommend a rinse, the most convenient way is via sweet-smelling vinegar solutions like the Piolang Raspberry Hair Vinegar which can be applied like a conditioner.
Not everyone likes putting oils on their manes, so snag a combo of Skinfood Avocado Leave-In Fluid and Etude House Silk Scarf Hologram Hair Serum. Run the fluid through your hair, avoiding the scalp and roots, and then apply the serum.
The serum’s a blend of camellia, argan, sunflower, and macadamia seed oils that help restore the hair’s bounce and sheen.
- Mask how you like it.
Body masks tend to have a gimmicky side. Like sheet masks, these slap-on sheets and patches are supposed to alleviate a flaw overnight. Then again, where’s the fun if it’s all about functionality?
There’s a body mask out there for various kinds of concerns. For those who want to trim some flab and are too lazy to run a mile, the Tony Moly Trust Me Body Corset Patch helps tone the abdominal area like a corset sans the pulling and tugging.
If you have peeping hangnails like mine, the Innisfree Eco Finger Mask in Rose & Rosehip cocoons your fingers to moisture oblivion.
In case your feet look rough, the Tony Moly Super Peeling Liquid can give them a makeover—just be ready for the intense dead skin cell shedding later.
And if you sweat too much, the Milky Dress Deo Cross Armpit Patch might work better than deodorant. Just make sure to wear something with sleeves when you use it.
- Beat dryness with body oils.
If body oils tend to be too slippery, skincare specialists recommend Nature Republic Bath & Body Nature Provence Peach Mousse Body Oil and the Too Cool for School Egg Mousse Body Oil.
Spritzing or opening caps with slick fingers are now a thing of the past because these come in convenient pump bottles that make application not only easy, but also clean and dry. A light pump can give you a dollop and—the best part—a serving of oil that doesn’t feel too heavy on the skin and, yet, still does the job.
Plus, these work as a nice first layer of fragrance, given their lingering scents and lasting power. —CONTRIBUTED
