Local skin care products that give you great skin days without breaking the bank – newsdubai

By Zsarlene B. Chua

SKINCARE has always been a very important part of my daily routine because I believe that feeling beautiful starts with feeling good about yourself. Yes, I believe in the good saying “skin care is self care”.

I’m also a sucker for all the trendy skincare products and routines — from the 10-step Korean skincare routine to the daily face mask routine and layering on so many toners, hyaluronic everything, to name a few.

But as I continued on my skin care journey, I realized that I needed to create a routine that would not only suit my skin, but also take into account the amount of time and money I’m willing to spend on my products.

I became more targeted in my skincare choices by trying newer, more affordable brands. This led me to turn to local skincare brands who – in my opinion – are having a moment right now by putting out great products at great prices.

If you’re looking for affordable and local skincare finds, here are some of my favorites:

(NOTE: My skin is currently dry to normal.)

SUNGLOW BY FRESH CREME TINTED SUNCREAM SPF 50 PA+++ FAIR (P329/50ML)
Fresh PH is a local skin care brand that offers “Korean value skin and personal care products that are affordable yet high quality.” It should not be confused with the Fresh beauty brand under LVMH.

According to the brand’s website, the brand believes that “it’s possible to look your best without having to spend on expensive treatments”, something I totally agree with. It’s no wonder why Fresh PH is one of my favorite brands right now.

One of the products that has become a staple in my routine is their Sunglow Tinted Sunscreen. I’ve always been a fan of multi-purpose skincare products – especially those that can simplify my makeup routine – which is why I’ve always used tinted sunscreen instead of foundation or BB creams.

Tinted sunscreens are great if you need light to medium coverage or if you’re going for the “clean girl” or no-makeup-makeup aesthetic.

Sunglow Tinted Sunscreen offers SPF50 PA+++, which means it offers broad-spectrum protection against the UVA rays that cause skin aging and the UVB rays that cause sunburn. The product also contains Centella Asiatica (which has good anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties), Niacinamide (also anti-inflammatory) and Sunflower Oil (which has anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties), making it perfect for people who have sensitive or acne-prone skin.

At only P329 per 50ml squeeze bottle, it’s a great price for all the benefits it offers. It also comes in three shades: Fair, Medium and Deep. The texture is smooth, but because my skin tends to be a bit dry, I have to mix in a bit of moisturizer to make it glide on better. However, I think this texture is perfect for people with oily or combination skin. A little pump goes a long way for coverage, but since I use this as my primary sunscreen, I do two pumps all over my face and let it set a bit before applying my makeup.

While I still have a special place in my heart for the Belo Sunexpert Perfecting Shield Tinted Sunscreen, this Sunglow sunscreen is currently the star of my skincare drawer.

Sunglow by Fresh Creme Tinted Sunscreen is available at Fresh.ph, Lazada, Shopee and Watsons stores.

FRESH SKINLAB TOMATO GLASS HYALURONIC WATER BAPTIST CREAM (P239/80ML)
As a dry-to-normal skin girl, moisturizer is something I always have in my life. While there are a ton of options out there, I tend to have very specific requirements for my moisturizers. In the morning I prefer lighter moisturizers that go under makeup, while at night I prefer heavier moisturizers that keep my skin hydrated until I wake up.

One of my latest finds is the Fresh Skinlab Tomato Glass Skin Hyaluronic Waterdrop Cream which I bought on a whim because we were leaving for Boracay the next day and I had run out of my Hada Labo travel size moisturizer.

And I loved it. It has that super light “water” texture that sinks into the skin upon application (great for oily to combo people!) but still keeps skin moisturized all day. As it has tomato extract, it has anti-aging properties while promising that dewy, luscious glow. It also has Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, a sunscreen agent (still use sunscreen though!), Hyaluronic Acid (to hydrate the skin), Arbutin and Vitamin C (to lighten dark spots).

I layer after my serum in the morning and I add a little bit more to my tinted sunscreen to make it go on smoothly. If you’re looking for a lightweight moisturizer, this is a product to consider.

Fresh Skinlab Tomato Glass Skin Hyaluronic Waterdrop Cream is available at Fresh.ph, Lazada, Shopee and Watsons stores.

HUMAN HEART NATURE SUNFLOWER EYE CREAM (P325/15ML)
Human Heart Nature (or Human Nature) is a Filipino vegan and cruelty-free personal, home and beauty care brand known for using sunflower oil and all natural ingredients in their products.

In the past I have loved their moisturizers and their sunflower beauty oil is still one of the best beauty oils I use for my face, hair and all over my body. Sunflower oil has good anti-inflammatory properties alongside fighting dark spots and moisturizing the skin. That’s why I’m glad to have discovered Sunflower Eye Cream.

Eye creams are one of those types of skin care products that I consider add-ons: they’re not super essential like moisturizers and sunscreens, and you can definitely live without it, but if you want something for your eyes, it’s a product to consider to add to your routine.

I haven’t always used eye creams, but now that I’m entering my late 20s, I felt like it was time to step up my anti-aging game, and eye creams are one way to do that . Human Heart Nature Eye Cream promises to improve suppleness and help relax tired, puffy eyes – something you’ll need if you’re like me and prone to staying up late.

I use this morning and night after moisturizing and a very small dot does more than enough for both eyes, so the 15ml squeeze bottle goes a long, long way (I’ve been using mine for over two months). I love this product because it hydrates my under eye area and softens my dark circles, plus it has this very smooth texture that makes it easy to apply.

Human Heart Nature Sunflower Eye Cream is available at HumanHeartNature.com, Lazada, Shopee and physical stores nationwide.

HUMAN HEART NATURE NATURAL SHAMPOO BAR ZESTY VANILLA DELIGHT (P144.75/35G)
I am currently on a journey to take better care of my hair and to address issues like hair loss and frizz. I have thin wavy hair that tends to be oily on top and dry underneath. I’ve tried the trendy methods of skipping shampoo altogether and only using conditioner, with no luck. It just gives me dandruff and more hair fall. No thanks, I keep shampooing every day.

So instead of the no-poo (no shampoo) method, I decided to look for other shampoo brands and that’s what led me to the Human Heart Nature Natural Shampoo Bar. This shampoo bar is not only eco-friendly as it is free of plastic bottles and does not contain harmful chemicals, it also contains delicious ingredients like cocoa seed butter, vitamin E and avocado oil to keep hair healthy and smooth.

I was new to this shampoo bar game and it took me a while to get used to it, but once I got the hang of it, I really started to enjoy the product. Like regular bars of soap, wet the shampoo bar and lather it on your hands before applying it to your scalp. As someone with an oily scalp, I only shampoo my scalp and condition my mid-lengths and ends.

The Human Heart Nature shampoo bar is great because it keeps my hair soft even without conditioner and the Zesty Vanilla Delight variety smells amazing – it has that refreshing citrus vanilla scent. I love smelling my hair with this product. It also keeps a lot of greasiness at bay, so that’s a big plus.

One thing I had to learn to do was keep it in a dry place to make it last longer. In my first forays my shampoo bar melted too quickly, but now I put it in its very own case and keep it away from water after using it – I am on my second month of use now.

I also feel good about making better choices for the environment because using a shampoo bar means one less plastic bottle.

Human Heart Nature Natural Shampoo Bar Zesty Vanilla Delight is available at HumanHeartNature.com, Lazada, Shopee and physical stores nationwide.

Zsarlene Chua is a former BusinessWorld reporter who is now a new PR girl. She’s all about skin care, makeup and video games. None of the reviewed brands are her customers.