Sunblock is the best anti-aging secret

MANILA, Philippines — Cetaphil is the most prescribed skincare brand by dermatologists in the Philippines. We are the skincare expert,” Cetaphil brand manager, Francesca Sy, said at the launch of the Cetaphil National Healthy Skin Mission campaign in Makati City. “We’d like to use this as an avenue to educate Filipinos on how to take care of their skin. It is our brand purpose to improve the life of Filipinos through healthy skin.”

“The first step to proper skincare is to know your skin type, so you can follow a skincare regimen according to your skin type,” said Dr. Zharlah Gulmatico-Flores, PR and external affairs chair of the Philippine Dermatological Society.

There are 16 skin types according to the Baumann skin type classification system. This includes oily, dry, pigmented, sensitive, resistant, wrinkled, and tight skin, and various combinations of these different characteristics.

“You can avoid having to go to the dermatologist if you establish basic skincare early, and you don’t even need to follow 10 steps,” Dr. Flores remarked.

The recipe is simple: cleanse, moisturize and protect.

Choose the appropriate type of skin cleanser according to your skin type.  Use moisturizer, whether your skin is oily or dry or normal. Make sure you use oil-free moisturizer if your skin is oily, and use oil-based moisturizer if your skin is very dry. Always wear sun protection. Apply sunblock 30 minutes prior to sun exposure. Sunblock should have UVA and UVB protection, SPF 30+ and above.

“Many Filipinos have oily skin, which is not altogether bad,” Dr. Flores explained. “The sebaceous glands secrete oil that protects your skin against sun damage. It filters some of the UV rays and it contains vitamin E, an antioxidant which helps retain moisture inside the skin.”

For sensitive skin, use products that are hypoallergenic. It is best if the skincare product that you use is fragrance-free and colorless, which means it has less preservatives, Dr. Flores noted. 

“Wash your face before you sleep,” Dr. Flores said. It’s important to take care of your personal hygiene. Change your towel every two or three days, and your bed linen every week.

Bianca King, Janeena Chan, Joy Mendoza

Product endorsers Bianca King, Janeena Chan and Joy Mendoza shared not only their skin care regimen but also their personal experiences and insights about health and beauty.

Bianca King makes sure that she gets eight hours of sleep every day.  She has learned to avoid stress by slowing down and keeping a schedule that’s less busy than what she used to have as an actress and model.

Joy Mendoza, mother of six and homeschooling advocate, is never too busy to find time for her daily skin care regimen. No matter how tired she is, she never sleeps with her makeup on.

“There’s no such thing as ugly people, only lazy people,” she said.

TV host and presenter Janeena Chan said she learned about Cetaphil skincare products from her mom.

“Cetaphil is not only the skin care brand most prescribed by dermatologists, it is also the most recommended by family members,” she said.

“Our iconic Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser is even gentler than water, with its mild, non-irritating formula with pH level of 5.5,” Francesca Sy explained.

The Cetaphil moisturizing lotion for 24 hours hydration is lightweight and fragrance-free. Cetaphil Sun SPF 50+ UVA/UVB is dermatologically tested and proven for very high sun protection.

The Cetaphil ultra gentle body wash with Aloe Vera and vitamin B5 gently cleanses without stripping the skin of its natural moisture.

Besides SM in Metro Manila, the Cetaphil National Healthy Skin Mission campaign, which is being done in partnership with Watsons, will also hold activities in Cebu and Davao. Beauty advisers will help you match your skin type through the skincare patch and with the digital retailer you will know how to properly take care of your skin based on your skin type.

“At Watsons, we believe that you can look good, feel great by being healthy inside and out,” said Aimee Pernia, Watson’s category manager.

“We aim to change the way Filipinos think about skin health and improve their life through healthy skin,” Sy concluded.