Self-care and skincare musings with a side of fresh summer beauty picks
If there’s one thing I learned in the past couple of months that surprised me, it’s this: yes, you can get acne well into adulthood.
It’s also possible to get acne for the first time as an adult, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. This could be triggered by hormonal changes, especially for women, because our estrogen levels decline as we age. When this happens, oil production increases and our pores look larger thus making us more susceptible to acne. Throw in high levels of stress to the equation and you get an increase in hormones, such as cortisol. This can then result in inflammation, which can worsen your condition.Â
A lot of other factors can exacerbate one’s skin woes like dehydration, diet, seasonal changes (AKA summer), suspicious ingredients, sun exposure, etc. So it’s important to listen to your body, do your own research, optimize your routine and remember that while having a skincare routine is great, it's not the be-all and end-all of self-care. After all, we want to look good and feel good, too, right?
In the meantime, here are some fresh summer beauty 2024 releases for your consideration:
SKINCARE
Brand: Anessa
Product: Mild Series
Made for: sensitive skin; also suitable for acne-prone skin
What it does: skin-calming sun protection
How it works: Anessa’s latest innovation is made for those with sensitive skin. The Mild Series requires lesser UV protection agents that doesn’t diminish effectiveness. Lightweight and packed with 50% skin-caring ingredients, Anessa’s latest series is free from additives like alcohol, colorants, fragrances, mineral oils and parabens.
The difference? Mild Milk contains only 5 types of UV absorbers and provides lasting moisture for up to 4 hours. Meanwhile, Mild Gel is chemical UV absorber-free and moisturizes skin for up to 8 hours.
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Brand: NUXE
Product: Super Serum [10] Eye
Made for: all skin types
What it does: make eyes appear years younger
How it works: NUXE’s Super Serum [10] Eye is specifically designed for the eye area. It contains botanical oils encapsulated in micro-fluids and natural hyaluronic acid that stimulates the eye area’s youth mechanisms, making peepers look younger. It also contains botanical caffeine, an antioxidant that decongests and refreshes tired skin around the eyes. Light and non-greasy, it might just be the skin-saving serum you need to brighten your skincare routine.
Brand: Y.O.U Beauty
Product: Y.O.U Sunbrella Triple UV Elixir Sunscreen from the Sunbrella Series
Made for: oily skin
What it does: broad-spectrum sun protection
How it works: Y.O.U Sunbrella Triple UV Elixir Sunscreen is made for the girlies with oily skin. Lightweight and hydrating, this sunscreen is formulated with skin-soothing ingredients like matmarine, witch hazel and 4D Centella Asiatica. All these work together to give you maximum sun protection while preventing grease build up and white cast on skin.
BEAUTY
M·A·CXIMAL Silky Matte Lipstick in No Coralation, a light muted coral shade
Brand: MAC
Product: M·A·CXIMAL Silky Matte Lipstick
What it does: silky matte lipstick with pigment-rich color that stays on for 12 hours
How it works: MAC’s iconic lipstick gets a silky matte finish with good-for-the-lips formulation that colors richer, feels better and lasts longer. With 40 artist-approved shades, the M·A·CXIMAL Silky Matte Lipstick boasts a creamy blend of coconut oil, organic shea butter and organic cocoa butter that nourishes your kiss. (No wonder it glides effortlessly!) It also stays on for 12 hours with non-fading and long-lasting color that gives lips a fuller look.
Brand: Issy
Product: Issymania: Eyes Of A Champion collection
What it does: eye makeup collection that offers precision, extreme color pay off and maximum impact
How it works: Issy’s done it again! In this round, the homegrown beauty challenger steps up to deliver a knockout collection: Eyes Of A Champion. Wrestling references aside, the collection features three new exciting products, the Gel Pencil Extreme, Precision Fluid Liner and Lash Maximizing Mascara. The gel pencil features a high-pigment and creamy gel formula with built-in brush for customized application. It also boasts a varied color range, from black to audacious brown and dramatic amaranth to intense navy. Meanwhile, the high-performance eye ink has a flexible fine-tipped brush for smooth application that delivers rich color pay off that won’t budge. A double-wand mascara rounds out the collection that features a lash base and volumizing mascara that coats lashes evenly. The best part, it’s smudge-proof and water-resistant.
Art Alexandra Lara
