Saving face

Back when I was in my early 30s, my mom would constantly nag me about how harsh regular soaps were for facial washing, and that while still early, I should create a simple regimen of moisturizing regularly, and especially looking after my facial skin and neck. Of course, other than the token shift to Ivory or some non-perfumed and purer soap, I’d ignore her advice. She was a constant worrier about pollution, the sun, and its effect on your skin. And on her yearly visits to New York from the late 1980s, she’d drop by the clinic of dermatologist Dr. David Orentreich (who along with father Norman and sister Catherine head the prestigious Orentreich Medical Group on Fifth Avenue), and come back to Manila armed with custom-formulated Orentreich potions, lotions, creams and emollients that I would mistakenly scoff at.

Flash forward to the present day, and how I wish I had heeded her every word, and started paying attention to skincare at an earlier age. I mention this in passing because, lo and behold, I read the literature about the new Clinique Skin Supplies for Men, and the name Dr. Norman Orentreich is listed as the guiding dermatologist for the Clinique product range, and that the new men’s line and its 3-Step Program of Cleansing, Exfoliating and Moisturizing was created by no other than the esteemed doctor.

Now that I’m a diligent convert to my mom’s way of thinking, I am always on the lookout for the newest, improved products, and checking them out for efficacy. But of course, having said that, it still is a straight man’s prerogative to say that in these things, we still seek for that which is simple, and requires minimum fuss. On these counts, the Clinique line comes highly recommended. While the line itself is varied and extensive, basic care is achieved with no more than three to four products, and involves a morning and night regimen that entails no more than three minutes of one’s time.

The first great thing about the Clinique line is that it recognizes the variety of men’s skin conditions. There are four basic categories addressed in the product line: Very Dry Skin, Dry Combination Skin, Combination Oily Skin and Oily Skin. Through a few simple questions answered, one can establish what one’s type is, and buy accordingly. And in the Clinique tradition, all the products are allergy tested and 100 percent fragrance free.

Step one is cleansing and for this, one can use Clinique’s Facial Soap or the new Liquid Face Wash. The Facial Soap is for traditional men out there who still feel more comfortable using a bar of soap, and not some ‘fancy’ tube. Both build into a rich lather that rinses off easily without leaving residue. The cleansing process removes all traces of pore-clogging dirt, debris and pollution, as well as prepping the skin for shaving. It’s thorough but non-drying cleansing that these products promise. I was happy with the Liquid Face Wash that felt like a liquid gel of minimal viscosity. And the clean feeling promised really was there.

Step two – exfoliating – is something I tend to be extra-careful about. Too many astringents and scrubs are harsh. That hapdi feeling we seem to search for in order to feel that it’s effective is a fallacy. Clinique’s Scruffing Lotion is an oil-free product that removes dry and dead flakes, controls excess oil, reduces the likelihood of ingrown hairs, and lessens the chance of pore-clogging. Makes one less prone to blemishes as well. With a cotton ball, one applies it on the neck, cheeks, nose area, and forehead, avoiding the eyes and mouth. There are four variants of this Scroffing Lotion, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 - depending on how oily your facial skin is.

Step three – moisturizing – is achieved either with their M-Gel Lotion, M Protect 21, or M-Lotion. The Gel Lotion offers oilier skins the perfect amount of hydration as it helps normalize oil production and protect skin from the environment. Protect 21, as its name suggests, has the added feature of sun protection, while the M-Lotion is fast absorbing formula that replenishes moisture and soothes normal to dry skin. It is suggested for use right after the Scruffing Lotion.

Other products in the line include a Lip Balm with SPF 15, Soothing Shave Oil, Hydrators, and Maximizing Hair Shampoo and Serum. The hair line is especially apt given how Dr. Norman Orentreich made a name in the 50’s with hair transplants and treatments.

The Clinique Skin Supplies for Men line is available at all Rustan’s Department Stores (Makati, Shangri-la Place, Alabang Town Center, Gateway Cubao and Ayala Center Cebu) and at Essenses Robinson’s Place Manila. As can be expected, the Orentreich seal of approval makes the line somewhat costly; but in this day and age, quality does not come cheap.

My mother passed away a decade ago, but as I looked over and tried these Orentreich-consulted Clinique products, it was so easy for me to imagine her smiling and giving approval to how I was using the products, while smugly laughing and telling me "I told you so!" It may be Father’s Day, but more often than not, mothers do know best.