Slowing down aging

MANILA, Philippines – Celebrity and TV host Patty Laurel-Filart said the demands of family, motherhood and her job all take a toll on her skin. She admitted that she’s never one to fuss too much over her skin and, in fact, only started her anti-aging skin care regimen when she reached her 30s.

“In my 20s, I was low maintenance, I would try something trendy but that’s it. In my 30s, when I got married and had a child, I kinda forgot to take care of my skin. Now, I have a simple skin-care regimen that only takes five minutes,” Patty said at the launching of Watsons’ Kiss Aging Goodbye Campaign held at a Watsons branch in Podium.

With all the stress and bad habits that come with hectic, modern lives, women are aging faster than ever before, Maita Ancheta-Santiago, trading director (for beauty) of Watsons, told reporters at the launch.

And the signs — both internal and external, visible and invisible — start to manifest as early as your 20s.

“Women during their younger years didn’t think about getting crow’s feet, wrinkles, saggy skin and dark spots as they spend long days at work and late nights out,” she said.

“If you’re not careful, those cute little laugh lines, now making an early guest appearance, might just stay on until they’re full-fledged crow’s feet. But it’s never too early to start,” Santiago said.

Today, women give more importance to whitening products, but Santiago said it’s high time ladies think about starting an anti-aging skin care routine.

“In Japan and Korea, most women start their anti-aging regimen in their teens. So, they are not just born with a beautiful skin, they worked hard for their supple, smooth skin. In the Philippines, more women want whitening but I suggest that they also start an anti-aging routine,” she added.

“It’s not too late to try. If you just take the right measures early on, you can prevent the physical manifestations of aging,” Santiago added.

Watsons marketing director Viki Encarnacion, for her part, shared that Watson’s Kiss Aging Goodbye Campaign teaches their customers how to prevent the negative effects of aging by taking care of themselves inside and out.

“We are literally helping people ‘Look good. Feel great.’ And it’s a wonderful thing,” Encarnacion said.

Meanwhile, Patty noted that buying anti-aging skin care products should not cost you so much.

Celebrity and TV host Patty Laurel-Filart

“There’s a misconception that you have to use expensive products if you want to start an anti-aging skin care regimen. You don’t have to spend so much. Today, there are a lot of value for money skin-care products that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. When I was pregnant with my son, I use rose hip oil at Watsons and it’s very affordable at P500. You just have to be creative, do your research, find a way to make it work. Be beautiful but don’t get broke,” said Patty, who has an online show with Nicole Hernandez and Kelly Misa titled Eat, Drink and Be Married.

Santiago said at Watsons they have a myriad of products that can help keep skin aging at bay.

“There’s the L’Oreal Dermo Expertise Revitalift Range — a skin care solution inspired by laser, that promises younger looking skin in four weeks. Or bring back your baby skin with Collagen by Watsons Intensive Nourishing Facial Mask, enriched with Collagen and Vitamin E to repair dryness and enhance skin’s elasticity,” Santiago said.

Today, topicals and creams are not the only way to have a great skin, now you can take tablets for that inner glow, Santiago said.

“A lot of the signs of aging we see on the outside are caused by the body breaking down on the inside. Calcium deficiency and lack of collagen are two common culprits. To help prevent a haggard look, you should give yourself the added nutrition you need in the form of food supplements and ingestible beauty aids. One of Watsons’ favorites is the iVi Collagen Ready-To-Drink, with 10,000 mg. of Collagen that helps smoothen fine lines and lighten dark spots,” she said.

Santiago said there are three things to remember if you like to look younger than your age.

“First, if you want to keep your beauty longer, keep your beauty bases covered from nutrition to skincare, inside and out. Two, you’re never too young to start looking old. Start preventive maintenance in your early 20s. If that ship has sailed, start as early as now. Three, there’s no better place to start your anti-aging regimen than the store that always brings you great beauty advice, amazing products and fantastic prices,” she enthused.