7 Essential Skincare Tips for Pinays of All Ages

There will never be one skincare routine that will suit everyone. Everyone is unique and has their own skincare needs. A product that works for some, may not necessarily work for you – it takes a lot of trial and error to find the right products that will suit your exact needs. 

However, with literally hundreds of beauty products, “must-have” ingredients, and beauty techniques being released seemingly each day, it can be difficult to determine what products you really need and what’s just another trend. 

We understand how overwhelming the skincare industry can get, which is why we are here to help. To guide you through the constantly evolving beauty industry, and to help you on your quest for perfect skin, here are 7 skincare tips for Pinays of all ages. 

Tip #1: Learn more about your skin type

First and foremost, you need to know and understand your skin type. Learning more about your skin type is the most important thing that you can do for your skin. If you don’t understand your skin type, you could compromise your skin’s natural balance and trigger breakouts, inflammation, and even premature aging by using the wrong products. 

The most common skin types are oily, dry, acne-prone, mature, and sensitive skin. It is also important to note that you can be more than one type and that it can change over time or due to the weather, so always observe your skin. If you are unsure what your skin type is, you can consult a dermatologist. 

Tip #2: Don’t skimp on your sleep

Are you constantly pulling all-nighters to study, work, party, or to simply binge-watch shows on Netflix? While pulling all-nighters is sometimes unavoidable, avoid doing it all the time. Not only is it bad for your overall health, but it’s bad for your skin too! 

Though you can’t see it happening, you lose about 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells every minute – that’s almost a million skin cells every day! Add to that being exposed to horrible pollution, the sun’s damaging UV rays, and other stressors that damage the skin. Sleep is the body’s way of recuperating; it is when the body repairs damaged and old cells, and replaces them with new ones. Not getting enough sleep means not depriving your body of the time it needs to recover fully. Furthermore, it deprives your skin of the nourishment it requires. So, don’t skimp on your sleep! Make sure that you get at least six to eight hours of sleep each day. 

Tip #3: Don’t apply too much product

Contrary to popular belief, more is not always better when it comes to skincare. For instance, if you apply too much moisturizer, the product could potentially block your pores. Over-exfoliating your skin with mechanical beads and/or multiple acids may result in dryness, irritation, redness, and worsened breakouts.

Furthermore, overusing or combining products can worsen existing skin conditions. 

Applying too much can also be a waste of the product seeing as your skin won’t be able to absorb it all anyway.

So, instead of applying too much product on your skin, carefully consider each one and determine which suits your needs more. Also, when applying a product, layer it from the thinnest to the thickest. Layering your essences and serums from thinnest to thickest helps the skin absorb each layer more efficiently. 

Tip #4: Take note of the combination of products you are using

Another thing that you want to keep in mind when it comes to applying products on your skin is the combination of the products that you are using. While you might think that any and all skincare products work well together, there are some that simply don’t mix well. 

Certain key ingredients in most skincare products don’t mesh well together. For instance, retinol (also known as Vitamin A₁) loses all efficacy in the presence of AHAs and vitamin C. Furthermore, when multiple products are combined, it is the full formulation that is mingling. Some emollient bases don’t mix well and can create environments with comedogenicity and non-absorptive sticky environments. Oftentimes, these multi-product issues can be detected by touch. Sticky and greasy skin surfaces all suggest that you are using too many and/or the wrong type of skincare products. A skincare regimen with fewer products of higher quality may be better – both for your skin and your wallet. 

Tip #5: Never forget your sunscreen

If there is one thing that literally all dermatologists tell us; it’s the importance of using sunscreen daily to help protect your skin from sun damage. Prolonged exposure to the sun’s harmful rays can speed up the aging process, and can cause hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles.

Furthermore, just because majority of Filipinos have brown to light brown skin (which is less susceptible to skin cancer) doesn’t mean that you are totally impervious to skin damage.

The sun is at its harshest between 10AM to 4PM, so make sure to wear sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection. Stick with products with at least SPF 30 or higher.

Also, make sure to reapply after 15-30 minutes of sun exposure or after swimming. Apart from using sunscreen, you can also protect your skin by seeking shade whenever you can. Additionally, always bring an umbrella and wear protective clothing whenever possible. 

Tip #6: Drink and eat with your skin in min

No matter how many high-quality skincare products you use, if you don’t eat a healthy diet, your skin will suffer. To get that radiant, healthy skin, you need to supply your body with the right vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Similarly, there are some foods that you need to avoid, such as deep fried foods, alcohol, junk foods, etc. if you are eating with your skin in mind. 

You also need to make sure that you drink plenty of water throughout the day. If you are not drinking enough water, it can make your skin look dull and dry, and it can emphasize fine lines and wrinkles. Your skin also becomes dehydrated. To compensate for it, your skin then produces oil, which ultimately leads to the development of dry patches, breakouts, and dull skin. Drinking caffeine and alcohol can also dry out the skin. So, make sure to stay hydrated. Aside from water, you can also hydrate by eating foods high in water content, including watermelons, cucumbers, lettuce, strawberries, peaches, oranges, and more. 

Tip #7: Change your skincare routine as you age

Everyone’s skin is constantly evolving and adapting to its surrounding environment. This is why it is crucial to change your skincare routine according to your age. When you’re a teenager, your body is going through some major changes. And as your hormones fluctuate, it can wreak havoc on your skin. Moisturizing, cleansing, and toning using products that are catered to your skin type is essential.

Your 20s are a time to establish a consistent, skincare regimen – you need to start creating good habits that will set you up for better skin for the rest of your life. At this point, your skin is still producing collagen (although it decreases every year), so this is the time to start incorporating preventative products. Furthermore, you may start to develop skin conditions in your 20s like adult acne or rosacea.

By the time you hit your 30s, you should have an established skincare regimen. However, this is a time for you to step up your skincare routine as well. The collagen in your skin starts to break down at this point, and your skin produces less oil, so you want to look for rich formulas that can hydrate your skin. Using high-quality products with plenty of active ingredients can make all the difference.

By the time you hit your 40s, your skin will start to change as you enter perimenopause – this means that for the first time since your teenage years, your hormones will start to shift dramatically, affecting both your mood and skin. At this point, the skin starts to get thinner from a loss of collagen, leading to wrinkles and fine lines. Pigmentation is also more likely to show at this stage – consulting with a dermatologist and applying SPF daily will be your best defense for this. 

By the time you reach your 50s, you must have your skincare regimen down to a T. This is the time to really nurture your skin so that it looks as radiant and healthy as possible. At this stage, the sebaceous glands produce fewer lipids, causing the skin to become drier so hydration is really key. Also, as the collagen in your skin has depleted, you will begin to notice volume loss which results in skin sagging. Use rich formulas containing multiple hydrating products; a serum, face oil, moisturizer, and an eye cream. Also, look for rich formulas containing as many active ingredients as possible.

Generally, the main skincare issues past the age of 60 are sensitivity and dryness. Even if your skin wasn’t sensitive before, it will likely become red with flaky patches. Furthermore, wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of aging will become more noticeable. At this point, it is all about hydrating your skin with soothing ingredients. 

Take the time to examine the changes in your skin as you get older. By doing so, you can cater to your skin’s evolving needs. 

The Bottom Line

Like most things in life, having radiant and healthy skin takes a bit of effort and care. Simply using high-quality products isn’t enough – you need to sleep well, eat healthily, and adjust your skincare regimen to cater to your skin’s evolving needs too. 

The tips listed above are suited for Pinays of all ages – keep them in mind and always take good care of your skin!