skincare – Jellybeans in the City

Unlock the skincare benefits of glutacollagen for the whole family with SmoothGlow

I admit that early into my journey of motherhood, with all the roles I had to play and responsibilities that I had to take on for the family, I did let my personal skincare fall by the wayside. Fortunately, both Hubby and my eldest child #ExhibitA are both avidly into skincare and have slowly but surely educated me on the discipline of self-care.

This foray into skincare has led to one happy discovery: skincare products with glutacollagen – a powerhouse combo of two important skin-boosting ingredients: collagen and glutathione – can provide a multitude of benefits for the whole family.

Collagen is a protein that is naturally found in the skin and helps to keep it firm and elastic. As we age, our body’s natural collagen production decreases, leading to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. By using skincare products that contain collagen, we can help to replenish our skin’s natural collagen levels and improve its overall appearance.

Glutathione, on the other hand, is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that can cause damage to our skin cells and accelerate the aging process. By using skincare products with glutathione, we can help to neutralize these free radicals and protect our skin from damage.

Using skincare products with glutacollagen, the family can achieve the following:

Improved skin elasticity. We can counter the ravages of time on our skin such as the loss of its natural elasticity, which would then lead to sagging and wrinkles. Collagen can help to improve skin elasticity and firmness, giving the skin a more youthful appearance.

Reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Collagen helps to plump up the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, helping to diminish the signs of aging and keep our skin looking youthful.

Brighter, more even skin tone. Glutathione helps to brighten and even out skin tone, reducing the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation, resulting to a more radiant complexion.

Protection from environmental stressors. Did you know that environmental stressors like pollution and UV rays cause skin damage? Skincare products with glutathione provides protection from these stressors, helping to prevent premature aging and keep our skin looking healthy and youthful.

Improved overall skin health. Glutacollagen helps to reduce inflammation, prevent acne, and promote a clear, glowing complexion.

So the next challenge is finding a way to bring the benefits of glutacollagen to the family. The newly launched SmoothGlow skincare line helps me do just that.

This line includes:

Glutacollagen Lotion with SPF 60

This lotion contains Glutathione, Niacinamide, moisturizing Vit E, and nourishing shea butter to help improve skin elasticity , firmness and moisture retention. Thanks to its natural actives, it helps to slow skin aging. With gentle peeling effects to eliminate skin pigmentation and blemishes, it helps to lighten scars and skin tone for healthier glowing skin. It also provides effective protection against the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays.

To use, gently massage an appropriate amount into skin until fully absorbed.

Glutacollagen Face and Body Whip with SPF 30

This whipped scrub emulsion helps improve skin hydration and provide sun protection. Regular use also helps in acne treatment and prevention, removal of dirt, dark spots and dead skin cells as well as minimizing pores and wrinkles, all resulting to radiant, soft and smooth skin. It is suitable for use by pregnant women, lactating moms and teenagers.

To use, apply an ample amount to the target area using small circular motions. Leave on for two to three minutes on your face and for twenty to thirty minutes on the body. Then, rinse with soap and pat dry.

Note: Never exfoliate when your skin has open cuts or wounds, or is sunburned.

Glutacollagen Soap with Himalayan Salt

Regular use of this soap can help improve skin texture and promote a smoother, brighter complexion. The exfoliating properties of Himalayan salt can help to remove dead skincells, revealing healthier-looking skin. The addition of collagen can also help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

This soap helps treat rosacea – the flushing, reddening and swelling of facial skin – as well as other skin conditions, while unclogging pores, evening skin tone and lightening dark spots.

It is best to patch test these products prior to application and discontinue use if negative reactions occur.

Clearly, taking care of your family’s skin is essential for their overall health and well-being. Skincare products with glutacollagen such as SmoothGlow can help to keep your family’s skin looking and feeling healthy, youthful, and radiant.

Want to incorporate these skincare products into your family’s skincare routine? The good news is that all three are available in a Trio Set for only Php699!

Know more about SmoothGlow products and offers by following it on Facebook.

Shop for SmoothGlow skincare products at Shopee and Lazada.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature.

Olivia’s Touch: Skincare for a Touch of Confidence

I used to pride myself on being extremely low maintenance; in fact, I considered myself a koboy long before it became trendy.

I was not one to spend hours on a skincare routine, nor one who is constantly on the lookout for new skincare products to try.

Being koboy about skincare was a lot easier back in my teens and twenties when I still had the gift of youth to back me up by forgiving the sins I commit against my skin (oh, those times when I refused to wear sunblock!), as well as the sheer luck of escaping my adolescent years mostly unscathed by teenage acne.

However, as I near the more challenging period of my forties, I do realize that I owe it to myself to give nature a helping hand by taking better care of myself.

Self-care is becoming even more important as I age, so I’m glad that Olivia’s Touch makes this easy.

Olivia’s Touch is a line of beauty products which are locally made and produced using the finest ingredients. These are dermatologically tested to be perfect for all skin types and were manufactured in cruelty-free conditions to bring about the fuss-free yet luxurious kind of skincare that’s right for me.

These include:

Signature Minute-White Lotion 250 ml

Now I can welcome the brightest days with much brighter skin, thanks to Olivia’s Touch Signature Minute-White Lotion.

It is enriched with anti-aging and antioxidant ingredients – SPF60 Sun Protect to shield your skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays; Arbutin that evens out your skin tone by lightening dark spots, acne marks and scars; Licorice Extract to reduce wrinkles and fine lines; and Niacinamide to reduce pores and treat hyperpigmentation.

After my morning shower and evening bath, I massage this lotion all over my body to enjoy its moisturizing and brightening effects for up 12 hours, giving my skin round-the-clock care.

Niacinamide Serum 20ml

The neglect I subjected my skin to back in my youth does haunt me from time to time in the form of breakouts, hyperpigmentation and (ack!) the beginnings of fine lines.

Olivia’s Touch Niacinamide Serum is formulated to counter these ill effects, thanks to its active ingredient Niacinamide which shields my skin from sun damage, encourages keratin growth to keep my skin firm and healthy and reduces oil production and pore size.

As part of my morning skincare routine, I massage this serum on my face and neck using my fingertips.

Sun Gel SPF 50 100ml

I have known for some time now that the sun, though vital to our survival and day-to-day life, does bring with it some harm in the form UV rays.

Olivia’s Touch Sun Gel SPF 50 helps shield my skin from the sun’s ill effects while minimizing pore blockage and other acne-causing substances. It is also infused with Aloe Vera Extract to keep my skin cool and moisturized, even when exposed to direct sunlight.

Before going out, I spread a small amount on my face and neck using my fingertips to afford me my much-needed sun protection. Reapplying every two hours is not a problem as it feels lightweight and is non-greasy.

Whipped Scrub 200ml

An integral part of any skincare routine is cleansing but how do I gently scrub away the day’s dirt and grime, as well as dead skin cells to reveal the radiant skin that I know (or hope!) is just waiting to come out?

Well, Olivia’s Touch Whipped Scrub is formulated exactly for this: it contains Dimethicone that softens and moisturizes; Carica Papaya Extract which has anti-aging and antioxidant properties; Aloe Vera Extract which soothes dry, damaged and sensitive skin; Arbutin to help with uneven skin tone; Niacinamide which protects skin from the harmful effects of sunlight, toxins and pollution; and Shea Butter to moisturize skin and also prevent aging.

During my evening bath, I gently massage this whipped scrub on my face and neck using circular motions, then leave it on for two minutes (fifteen to twenty minutes for the rest of my body) then rinse off and pat dry before proceeding to my moisturizing routine.

With these initial products, Olivia’s Touch has certainly equipped me with a simple and fuss-free skin care routine – in keeping with my koboy tendencies – but one that that’s all set to protect and maintain my skin so I face growing older with a healthy touch of confidence.

Want to include Olivia’s Touch beauty products into your skin care routine to help out your skin’s radiance? Simply shop at oliviastouch.com and enjoy 10% off your purchase when you use my code “IGINFRAJ10.”

Be sure to take good care of your Olivia’s Touch products so they can also take good care of you by storing them in a cool, clean and dry area, away from direct sunlight and heat.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature.

An honest promise to better skin: Celimax

Let’s face it: when you’ve reached the “wrong” side of forty, you have to step up on your skin care routine.

When you get to this stage, the sins of your past tend to catch up with you: the times when you stayed up at all hours, slept with your makeup on, or spent all day in the sun with no sunscreen on will start to leave their marks on your face and skin.

Hopefully, these sins of your youth against your present self are few and far between, and you still have so many years left in which to enjoy the skin that reflects how young and radiant you actually feel.

Personally, having grown up thinking that skincare simply involves washing my face with soap and water right before bedtime, I was dumbfounded to discover that it is actually comprised of several steps (which can be as many as ten!) and involves so many products. I could hardly tell where to start or how to go about my skincare regimen.

Fortunately, there are ways to pare down the complex skin care rituals to the most basic – yet essential – steps that still help to achieve to goal of minimizing pores and maintaining a youthful freshness despite the advancing years.

Honestly, I find a simplified routine a lot easier to do – and definitely a lot more sustainable to maintain in the long run.

This routine includes:

Step 1: Cleansing.

My busy days (and the hot and dusty city environment) tend to layer on dirt, oils and makeup residue on my face which may clog my pores, increasing the chances of unsightly breakouts. A skin cleanser should be able to remove the day’s accumulation of dirt while still maintaining my skin’s pH balance.

Step 2: Toning.

A thoroughly, but gently, cleansed skin should also be prepped to absorb moisturizers and other treatments you want to apply.

That’s the job of the skin toner. It also restores the skin’s pH balance and improves the overall skin tone.

Step 3: Treating

Despite a meticulous approach to skin care – or because of our past transgressions towards taking care of our skin during our youth – we may have some problem areas that we would like to address. These may include dull looking skin, fine lines and wrinkles, acne breakouts, among others.

Using serums, ampoules, acids or sheet masks with a higher concentration of ingredients to treat these problem areas will help in maintaining your skin’s health.

Step 4: Moisturizing.

Since we are not young as we used to be, moisturizing our skin is the order of the day – any day! How else can we keep our skin from drying out, keeping them nice, supple and young-looking.

To equip our skin care arsenal with the appropriate products to support our skin care goals, we can look to Korean skin care brand Celimax.

This line of beauty and skin care products is focused on transparency: it designs honest, user-friendly products with clean ingredients (allergen-free fragrance and no harsh chemicals) to bring about better skin for people with various skin types and skincare needs.

Among its products are the The Real Cica Calming Ampoule and The Real Cica Soothing Cream. As their names imply, both contain extracts from the cica (Centella Asiatica) plant, well-known for its healing, soothing, antibacterial and inflammatory properties, naturally derived within forty-eight hours of harvest to ensure maximum concentration of active compounds.

The Real Cica Calming Ampoule

This product contains 75% cica extract and an oil-free ultra-concentrated hydration complex to hydrate and soothe irritated skin.

To use, apply two to three drops from the automatic dropper and apply evenly across your face using your fingertips, avoiding the eye area. Use gentle pats to facilitate absorption of the formula.

Stock up on The Real Cica Calming Ampoule here.

The Real Cica Soothing Cream

This light-weighted hydrating gel cream is infused with 73% cica extract along with Dermatic AC3 (to manage sebum production and acne care for oily skin) and Niacinamide + Adenosine (to brighten skin and manage the effects of aging).

To apply, squeeze out a pea-sized amount of face cream then apply evenly throughout the face, gently massaging into the skin with small, upward circular motions.

Stock up on The Real Cica Soothing Cream here.

I love their light, refreshing and non-sticky feel on my face and the way they work together to quickly and effectively soothe away facial redness and swelling from irritation.

They are also easy and simple to apply, so including them as part of my nightly skin care routine would be no hassle at all.

Want to try these cica-based skincare products from Celimax?

While cica extract is usually safe for all skin types, it may aggravate or irritate the skin in certain cases. Also, results may vary from person to person. Be sure to scan the full ingredient list of these products before purchase and conducting a small patch test before the application to ensure your safety.

To know more about honest skincare products, follow Celimax on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature.

VREAL Cosmetics brings real beauty solutions for real people

I pretty much consider myself a low-maintenance kind of girl.

I seldom have the time or the patience for tedious beauty rituals and multi-step self-care routines. With this personal bias, you can bet that when presented with a beauty routine that involves several applications or complex instructions, you can bet I’d be avoiding that like the plague.

However, I’m definitely not getting any younger. As a woman nearing – or already in – middle age, I have resolved to let myself age gracefully but not to just let myself go.

Fortunately, VREAL Cosmetics makes it easy for me to inch my way into a beauty routine.

True to its tagline “Real Beauty Solutions for Real People,” homegrown beauty brand VREAL Cosmetics seeks to make skin care more accessible to Filipinos.

An offshoot of one of Ilocos’ biggest beauty service businesses, Villareal Salon and Spa, VREAL Cosmetics prides itself on its unique formulations and simple applications, such as:

VREAL RealNew Set A.

This illuminating set that began as an aftercare routine for salon customers who availed of facial services received so many positive reviews that it was spun off as a retail product and started the VREAL Cosmetics line. It consists of a triple whitening soap, toner, nutrifirm gel, day cream and night cream.

Buy Now

Morning Routine:

Wash face with Realnew Triple Whitening Soap. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a clean cloth.
Using a piece of cotton, apply Realnew Toner all over face and neck.
After cleansing and toning, apply a sufficient amount of Nutrifirm Gel on fingertips and spread evenly on face and neck.
Apply Day Cream liberally onto face before sun exposure. Reapply as needed.

Night Routine:

Wash face with Realnew Triple Whitening Soap. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a clean cloth.
Using a piece of cotton, apply Realnew Toner all over face and neck.
Using your fingertips, apply a thin layer of Night Cream onto face and neck.

VREAL Sensireal Foaming Wash.

A facial wash that helps reduce acne as it gently cleanses and brightens skin.

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VREAL Ultra Real Deo.

An effective anti-perspirant that protects from excessive sweating and body odor, as it gently whitens underarms.

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I’m in my first week of use, and while I experienced a slight amount of peeling but there was no discomfort. The peeling is caused by the tightening of the skin’s pores and removal dead skin cells.

This new skin care routine is very easy to follow up and does not significantly add to the time I take to get ready for my day or to wind down for the night.

VREAL Cosmetics products are available in Villareal Salon and Spa branches in:

Ilocos Sur: Second Floor, Bantay Arcade, Bantay, Ilocos Sur (Contact: +63 077 6040628 or +63 917 5682043)
Ilocos Norte: Viven Hotel Phase 2 Ground Floor, Valdez Center, Barangay 1 San Francisco, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte

VREAL Cosmetics products are also available online through Shopee and Lazada.

Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature story.

This post contains affiliate links.