4 new skin saviors to add to your regimen
The changing of seasons means one thing for your skin: new products! Although we don’t have autumn and winter in the Philippines, you may notice your skin getting a little bit dryer and tighter this time of year, which makes it more prone to irritation and itching. Year-end stress might also cause darker-than-usual under eye circles and an overall dullness in skin tone. These new products may just save your skin in the coming months.
1. Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water, Herbal Mist, and Maifanshi Aqua Foundation
Let’s face it, we are all cleansing water addicts here. What did we do before this essential skincare step, wash off makeup with facial wash? The horror. Japanese skincare brand Koh Gen Do actually makes the mother of cleansing waters — and the product has been around for 10 years. Koh Gen Do Cleansing Water is a thermal spring water makeup remover and the brand’s hero product and bestseller. It is formulated with Spa Blend Water with has mineral-enriched onsen water, betula platphylla japonica juice and six herbal extracts that together also hydrates, plumps and firms skin like a serum. It can be used on-the-go and doesn’t require rinsing.
This year, Koh Gen Do created a supersized version of the Cleansing Water (very exciting because I know 100 percent of cleansing water users like to buy the giant bottles — and maybe a small one for traveling). The new 380ml bottle also comes with a nifty new pump dispenser that saves more product as opposed to the old cap.
Another Koh Gen Do product made of Spa Blend Water is the Herbal Mist, which relieves five skin challenges — dehydration, enlarged pores, oiliness makeup creases and redness. So it’s not just a way to cool down, it’s also skincare.
Speaking of skincare, if your goal is to achieve that dewy glow, Koh Gen Do’s Maifanshi Aqua Foundation should do the trick. It has been reformulated for improved radiance, increased coverage and longer wear, all while reducing discoloration, dullness and enlarged pores. Formulated with the brand’s signature Gloss Film Powder and Bretagne Sea Water, this foundation delivers water-repellent coverage and protects skin from dehydration and environmental stressors.
At the launch of the new products, Koh Gen Do president Shintaro Itabashi tells me that her Filipina wife loves them. “She doesn’t test them. I test them, then I give her the perfected product,” he said.
Koh Gen Do is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. and is availanle at Beauty Bar stores, Visit beautybar.com.ph or follow @BeautyBarPH and @ssilifeph on Instagram for information.
2. Neal’s Yard Remedies Frankincense Intense Eye Cream
If you really want to get into the spirit of the season, try an eye cream that will take you to church as you meditate before bedtime. Neal’s Yard’s Frankincense Intense range is a fan favorite for a reason — it contains powerful antioxidant Frankincense Active Phyto Complex, which is firming, rejuvenating and protective of skin. This blend of reviving green tea caffeine, brightening turmeric extract, revitalizing organic green coffee seed oil, and nourishing fatty acids lift, plump and improve the appearance of skin around the eyes.
Sourced from the resin of Boswellia sacra trees in Oman, pure frankincense essential oil is a potent and age-old beauty ingredient. Women used to eat the resin and some ancient cultures even chewed it like gum. Neal’s Yard Remedies international trainer Gloria Yuan says, “There are so many essential oils that are good for skincare, but frankincense in particular is the most rejuvenating. The oil can do so many things. The oil is antiseptic and wound healing, and it is anti-inflammatory. It makes cells active and young. As you know, all our products have essential oils. With this range, we chose frankincense not only because of its wonderful antiseptic properties, but also for the aromatherapy factor. It’s very de-stressing. Frankincense goes well with lemon or any citrus. Omani frankincense also goes with bergamot, sandalwood and rose. Lavender and neroli would also be great partners. But if you use it by itself, it uplifts your consciousness.”
Koh Gen Do president Shintaro Itabashi and Beauty Bar merchandise group manager Reena Rosario.
Frankincense essential oil can be blended with a carrier oil to create a facial oil; it can also be added to a cream or clay mask (must not be used directly on skin). You can blend the frankincense essential oil to make a facial oil, or add a drop of the oil into your cream or clay mask, or even sheet mask. Again: Don’t use it directly on skin.
Neal’s Yard Remedies Frankincense Intense line also includes the Frankincense Intense Lift Serum and Frankincense Intense Lift Cream.
Neal’s Yard Remedies is available at Rustan’s Makati, Shangri-La Plaza, and Adora.
3. Kiehl’s Ginger Leaf and Hibiscus Firming Mask
If your skin needs a mini vacation, try Kiehl’s Ginger Leaf and Hibiscus Firming Mask. This tropical-sounding sleep mask is like a mini retreat for the skin, with instant overnight benefits. Made for all skin types, the mask has hibiscus seeds from Southern India and ginger leaf from Hoa Binh and Bac Giang, Vietnam. It also contains essential oils that add a calming aroma to the paraben-free formula.
Hibiscus, whose flower is known to close during the night to preserve its nectar, offers up seeds that deliver firming benefits overnight, while ginger leaf extract which is widely used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine reduces the appearance of fine lines.
The product was launched at The Retreat Spa in Okada Manila, where editors were treated to a full spa experience — sauna, meditation rooms, heated spa beds and all. To complete the experience, I had hibiscus tea and mangos in every form after my treatment, with the sunset in the background.
This is exactly the kind of indulgent behavior that this overnight mask encourages, and we deserve it. The velvety mousse-like formula glides easily on skin and off. It can be applied five times a week on clean skin after toner and serum. You’ll feel an instant firming and tightening sensation. The scent also encourages you to sleep. Leave it overnight and cleanse skin in the morning.
Ginger Leaf and Hibiscus Firming Mask is available at Kiehl’s stores.
4. Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gel
As a fan of many Murad products, I was particularly excited about this. This product combines all the important skincare buzzwords in its name — nutrients, water, gel — and delivers on all aspects. Murad’s Nutrient-Charged Water Gel works on Cumulative Hydration-Release Technology, which means it hydrates skin immediately and over a long period of time. According to Murad, it increases hydration retention for up to five days and includes a blend of five peptides, five vitamins (B3, B5, B6, B9 and C) and five minerals that work together to strengthen and plump skin. The brand’s studies show that 100 percent of people showed skin repair 30 minutes from initial application.
Dehydrated oily skin will benefit most from this formula, which is oil-free. It is part of Murad’s Age Reform Collection of anti-wrinkle treatments, serums and creams that boost hydration and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
I recently went to Murad Spa in Rustan’s Makati and tried their new IP5 facial. IP5 (Intensive Peel 5) is a youth-building facial that reduces congestion, improves skin texture, firms skin and provides lasting hydration. It induces mild peeling and stings a bit, but delivers instant results. Immediately after treatment, skin is brighter. After a few days of mild peeling, skin is smoother and firmer. My therapist applied the Nutrient-Charged Water Gel after the treatment to soothe and hydrate the skin. I’ve also been using it as an after-care product at night.
Benefits: it is instantly soothing and feels like it’s drenching the skin in water. The lightweight texture makes it ideal for daytime use, too. It doesn’t clog pores and does not have a strong scent.
Murad Nutrient-Charged Water Gell is available at Rustan’s Department Stores, Adora Greenbelt, Beauty Bar Central Square and TriNoma.
