The Icon Clinic: How to achieve glowing, youthful face at home

MANILA, Philippines — Now that women spend so much time at home, the glory days of the boudoir have returned and they have time to rediscover themselves and their beauty. For the older generation, this rediscovery is a time of renewal; for the young ones, a time of reinvention.

To help them with these, we sat down with The Icon Clinic’s skincare specialist and medical consultant, Dr. Aileen Dela Rosa, and asked her for some tips on how to achieve a glowing and youthful face from home.

According to Dr. Dela Rosa, the most common beauty dilemmas women face are dark circles around the eyes, crow’s feet, patches that appear on the face due to hyperpigmentation (also known as melasma), pimples and acne, and overall tiredness around the facial area.

There are some quick and practical ways to treat or lessen them using products already available at home or readily available online. 

Topicals—medicines, creams, or substances that are used through local application or action—may help to lessen or completely eradicate dark circles around the eyes. Caffeine is a good topical because it serves as an antioxidant protector and increases the blood flow of the skin.

Other commonly used topicals are retinoids and retinols which help prevent fine lines. B vitamins such as niacinamide (vitamin B3) can be used to calm redness and inflammation, and vitamins C and E help boost collagen production.

Because the eye has the thinnest skin layer, it is most susceptible to the sun, hormonal changes, and free radicals. All these, coupled with continuous facial muscle use, lead to wrinkles and crow’s feet.

The best prevention for crow’s feet come from vitamin A derivatives such as retinols and retinoids, B vitamins such as niacinamide to soothe skin, peptides that act as humectants which pull moisture, ferulic acid that prevents sun damage, and ascorbic acid that reduces radicals and build collagen.

Skin acids—such as glycolic acid and lactic acid solutions—can be used to smoothen out lines and prevent sun damage.

The simplest but most important treatment for melasma is simply to avoid sun exposure. The first lines of defense against melasma are retinoids, retinols, kojic acid, azelaic acid, or compounded tranexamic acid. The alternatives include alpha arbutin and licorice root which are both pigment correctors. Another advice is to always use sunscreen.

There are many do’s and don’ts in the management and prevention of pimples and acne. These include proper facial hygiene to prevent oily skin, clogged pores, skin inflammation, and bacterial infections.

Retinols and retinoids, if tolerated, can address these causes. It is best to use salicylic acid as an acne wash in order to reduce inflammation, blackheads, and whiteheads. Furthermore, benzoyl peroxide is best for the treatment of spots and acne. Lactic acid, glycolic acid, and citric acid all help in building collagen because they are rich in exfoliating properties. Azelaic acid works best for sensitive skin.

Avoiding dairy, sugar, and refined foods is the most effective dietary change in order to eradicate pimples and acne.

Professionals also advise against popping pimples, zits. Consulting a dermatologist or medical practitioner is always best.

Skin rejuvenation is the key to a fresher look and the overall improvement of skin texture, tone and volume. Although lasers and fillers are the best options for facial revitalization, some may opt for the more convenient and natural at-home solutions: moisturizer, sunscreen, healthy diet, and enough sleep.

Keep morning facial regimen simple: clean facial area, apply serum, lightweight cream, and sunscreen.

Wash your face with a deep cleanser. It is important to wash off the pollutants, like those on your pillowcase and the remnants from your makeup.

Apply an antioxidant serum after, preferably a vitamin C antioxidant that brightens up the skin. Afterward, moisturize with a lightweight moisturizer and finish off with a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

You can also start cleansing at night. Then apply a serum that's based on your skin type.

To address fine lines and wrinkles, a retinol-containing serum is best. For acne, niacinamide serum to help reduce inflammation, while chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid-based serums help remove skin cells and minimize the appearance of pores, contributing to the improvement of overall skin tone.

Apply a night-time cream after the serum. Don’t forget the neck.

While keeping these tips in mind, it is also important to remember that skincare is a personal and unique journey for every woman.

Perhaps the most important of all the tips is to simply get to know and love the skin you are in. Here lies real beauty and the true essence of glowing!