morning skincare routine

An Essential Morning Skincare Routine

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Rise and shine! As you and your fresh face start the day, a simple, straightforward skincare routine is best. Three products should do the trick for most people.

Cleanser

Sorry to break it to you, but those cleansing wipes don’t count as washing your face. If you’re traveling or otherwise in a pinch, they’re better than nothing — but as a rule, cleansing should involve water.

To pick the best cleanser for you, consider your skin type. If your face is prone to dryness, stay away from foaming cleansers and if your skin is sensitive, look for cleaners that have the words ‘gentle’ or ‘for sensitive skin’ on them.

Avoid using cleansers with physical exfoliants like microbeads or gritty-textured products to prevent irritation and inflammation. Those provide a more gentle, even exfoliation.

Sunscreen

If there’s a skincare fountain of youth, it’s sunscreen. But if you think you’re all set because you wear a moisturizer with SPF, think again. That’s not actually enough to keep your skin protected.

Most dermatologists strongly recommend SPF 30 or higher. Then, if you know, you’ll be out in the sun, golfing, or at the beach, put on SPF 50 or higher.

Try a tinted mineral sunscreen, which doesn’t have the thick, pasty consistency you might think of when you think about applying sunscreen to your face.

Moisturizer

The older you get, the drier your skin gets. Give your skin back some of what it’s lost with moisturizer.

As you get old, you want to replace some of the moisture you’re losing. Moisturizers that have hyaluronic acids and ceramides can be helpful to replace some of that moisture.

Wait, what about toner?

These astringents are thought to help shrink pores. If you use one, apply it after cleansing as a second step in readying your face for sunscreen and moisturizer — but you probably don’t need it.
Want to improve your skincare routine?

Call our Patient Care Lines: (+632) 7-368 5238 l (+63) 917 862 7454 l (+63) 921 217 0517 for inquiries, questions, and appointments or talk to our consultants via LiveChat here on our website.

Facial Icing Is Ice Good For Your Face | Shinagawa Blog

Facial Icing Is Good For Your Face

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Icing your face isn’t just for black eyes and bumps on your forehead. In a world of wacky wellness-related tips and tricks, this recent TikTok trend takes it back to basics: facial icing as a means of reducing puffiness.

So does it work? Let’s see why this old-fashioned skin care method is in the spotlight again — and what it can do for you.

What is facial icing?

It’s not that deep: Facial icing is exactly what it sounds like, the process of applying ice to your face. Low temps cause blood to rise beneath the surface of the skin, which has a variety of benefits.

Though it can be done at a spa or at an aesthetics clinic, it’s easy to reap the rewards of simple ice facials at home.

What are the benefits of icing your face?

If you wake up feeling puffy or just notice that your skin is especially dull — say, after a night of drinking, eating poorly, or not sleeping well — facial icing might be the right morning move for you.

1. Reduces swelling, puffiness, and tenderness

Everyone knows about the benefits of applying ice to injuries but it does the same for the face. The cold helps help drain excess fluids from the lymphatic system, which also helps decrease facial puffiness

2. Lessens the appearance of under-eye bags

The same lymphatic drainage that reduces overall puffiness can specifically reduce the appearance of a puffy under-eye area. Gently icing under the eyes can help release fluid buildup, drain toxins and cause a tightening effect.

Don’t expect a miracle, though. She warns that if your under-eye bags are of the genetic variety, facial icing won’t able to work any extra-special magic.

3. Brightens your complexion

Who needs a top-of-the-line highlighter when an ice cube can give you the same glow for free? Icing constricts the blood vessels in your face, which can lessen the appearance of pores and wrinkles and make you look lighter, brighter, and more radiant overall.

4. Free and easy to do

You don’t need any fancy equipment or expensive products to ice your face. This is something that everyone can do at home. It offers an easily accessible way to tend to your skin care needs.

How to safely ice your face

All you need to ice your face is, well, some ice. However, most doctors do not recommend applying it directly to your face on its own, as it could cause irritation and redness.

Instead, wrap an ice cube in a thin cloth, which will protect the skin on your face and your hands, and begin to lightly massage your face. Rub the ice around your face in a circular motion. Lightly massage the following areas:

  • around your mouth
  • Cheeks
  • Chin
  • Forehead
  • Jaw
  • Nose

Don’t let the ice rest on any portion of your skin for too long, as it could cause irritation and redness — and even frostbite. And do remember to moisturize after icing your face so that your skin doesn’t dry out.

Who should avoid ice facials

Facial icing is safe for most people, but be mindful to steer clear under certain circumstances and conditions.

  • Thin or sensitive skin: Facial icing may cause irritation and redness, especially in people whose skin is already susceptible.
  • Broken capillaries: If you can see a spider web of little red lines under your skin, avoid ice, which can make them worse and prevent healing.
  • Facial procedures: If you’re recovering from cosmetic surgery, lasers, peels, or another procedure, skip facial icing (and any other forms of intervention not explicitly recommended by your doctor) in favor of letting your skin heal naturally.

How often can you ice your face?

Facial icing is a nice little trick for a natural pick-me-up but isn’t a cure-all or a long-term fix for skin problems like acne, genetic under-eye bags, wrinkles, or other issues.

You shouldn’t do it more than once a day. It’s just a temporary way to get a little wake-up for your skin after a long night or a hard day.

And remember: No shortcut or quick fix works as well as prevention. To avoid puffy skin altogether, prioritize sleep, hydration, and nutrition.

Our doctors know the best tricks when it comes to your face and skin!

Call our Patient Care Lines: (+632) 7-368 5238 l (+63) 917 862 7454 l (+63) 921 217 0517 for inquiries, questions, and appointments or talk to our consultants via LiveChat here on our website.

Do You Know How Long Does Sunscreen Last? | Shinagawa Blog

How Long Does Sunscreen Last?

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It’s important to keep in mind that if you’re using sunscreen correctly, it shouldn’t last you all that long.

Realistically, if you’re using sunscreen the way it’s directed, each bottle shouldn’t last you more than a couple of months. The recommendation is to put on a full ounce of sunscreen to cover the exposed parts of the body ― arms, legs, back, and chest.

The SPF protection found in sunscreen helps guard against:

  • Early skin aging
  • Skin damage
  • Skin cancer
  • Sunburns
  • Sunspots

An ounce is the size of a typical shot glass. And as most sunscreen bottles have about 4 ounces in them, you could be using the whole bottle in a single day or within a few weeks if you’re outside a lot.

But what about end-of-the-season sales? Most stores will offer marked-down sunblock to help get rid of inventory.

It might be okay, but you don’t know how the sunscreen was stored. It could have been kept in a hot warehouse all summer long. At that point, the active ingredients may have already gone bad.

When it comes down to it, it’s reasonable to replace sunscreen every summer ― or every month, if you’re using it often. If you don’t spend much time outside, store it in a cool, dry area over the winter.

While some manufacturers print the expiration date on the label or bottle, some don’t.

Write the date you got the sunscreen on the bottle to remember when it’s time to replace it. And remember that sunscreen can maintain its full strength for three years if stored properly.

Make sure your use sunscreen properly and practice the best skin care possible. Need more skin tips?

Call our Patient Care Lines: (+632) 7-368 5238 l (+63) 917 862 7454 l (+63) 921 217 0517 for inquiries, questions, and appointments or talk to our consultants via LiveChat here on our website.

Caffeinated

Do Caffeinated Skincare Products Work?

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When you need a morning jolt, a cup of joe typically does the trick. Can applying caffeinated creams and serums do the same for sleepy skin?

Let’s take a look at why beauty enthusiasts are abuzz about skin care products featuring caffeine and outline what exactly they can (and can’t) do for your skin.

Is caffeine good for your skin?

Caffeine has become a popular ingredient in skin care products ranging from under-eye serums to face masks to anti-cellulite creams and beyond. While marketing claims it can “wake up” your skin, here’s what that really means.

1. Protects skin from damage

Caffeine is an antioxidant, which is known to protect skin from damage caused by free radicals — molecules that break down your collagen and cause fine lines, wrinkles, and otherwise saggy, sallow skin.

2. Brightens the skin

Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, which means it makes the blood vessels constrict, or tighten. That, in turn, reduces blood flow to the skin and makes your skin look brighter and smoother — like a real-life Instagram filter for your face!

3. De-puffs under-eye bags

Wake up with a huge hangover? Just didn’t get enough sleep last night. A caffeinated product may be just the trick to reduce the appearance of those dark circles and under-eye bags that come with general exhaustion.

That’s because it can help with microcirculation, which constricts the blood vessels and helps temporarily reduce discoloration in the skin. Say buh-bye — at least in the short term — to those dark circles under your eyes.

4. Soothes inflammation

When applied to the skin, caffeine’s anti-inflammatory properties help reduce redness and soothe skin inflamed by sun exposure (but try not to subject yourself to sun damage, to begin with!)

5. Reduces the look of stretch marks and cellulite

Caffeinated creams become particularly popular in the summer when people are preparing to bare them at the beach. That’s because they can be a quick fix to temporarily lessen the appearance of skin dimpled with cellulite and streaked with stretch marks.

Caffeine is known to stimulate enzymes that break down fats, so it can temporarily dehydrate fat cells. That results in a smoother and more firm appearance for a little while.

When using cellulite creams or stretch mark reduction products, the best way to apply them is to massage them into your skin. The massaging motion teams up with the caffeine itself to help stimulate those enzymes.

Caffeine’s benefits are short-term

Just like a cup of coffee only keeps you perked up for a few hours, so too do topical caffeinated products only provide benefits for a little while. That means they don’t cure wrinkles, fine lines, under-eye bags, and puffiness — just temporarily change their appearance.

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, think of it as a Polyjuice potion for pores: As soon as the product wears off, your face returns to its standard state. It might change the appearance of your skin in the moment, while you’re using it, but it’s not a treatment.

When to use caffeinated skin care products

Caffeinated skin care products are typically safe to use at any time, though if you’re using them for temporary tightening, brightening, and the like, it’s best to use them in the morning because remember: As the product wears off, so too will its benefits.

Know more about the best products for your skincare regimen!

Call our Patient Care Lines: (+632) 7-368 5238 l (+63) 917 862 7454 l (+63) 921 217 0517 for inquiries, questions, and appointments or talk to our consultants via LiveChat here on our website.

does sunscreen ever expire

Does Sunscreen Ever Expire?

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With the approach of summer comes the need to protect our skin from UV rays. While most of us understand the importance of using sunscreen, a frequently asked question is whether sunscreen has an expiration date.

So, does sunscreen ever expire? Let’s take a closer look.

Why Sunscreen Has an Expiration Date

Sunscreens have ingredients in them specifically created to counteract the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the skin.. However, over time, these ingredients can break down and become less effective. In addition, exposure to heat, light, and air can cause the sunscreen to deteriorate and lose its potency.

Thus, sunscreen manufacturers include an expiration date to indicate when the product no longer guarantees protection.

What Happens When Sunscreen Expires

When sunscreen expires, its active ingredients break down, leaving your skin vulnerable to UV rays. In addition, expired sunscreen can also become thicker and harder to spread, making it difficult to apply evenly to your skin.

How to Check if Your Sunscreen is Expired

Examine the packaging for the sunscreen’s expiration date to determine if it has expired. Most sunscreens will have a shelf life of around three years, although some may last longer.

If you can’t find the expiration date, a simple way to test the effectiveness of your sunscreen is to place a small amount in the palm of your hand and rub it between your hands. If the sunscreen is still effective, it should be easy to spread and should not leave a white residue.

Conclusion

In conclusion, sunscreen does expire and it’s important to replace your old sunscreen with a new one every three years or sooner if you notice a change in its texture or effectiveness. By using fresh sunscreen, you can ensure that your skin is protected from the harmful effects of UV rays, and enjoy a healthy, sun-safe summer.

For more skin concerns, our dermatologists are ready to help you!

Call our Patient Care Lines: (+632) 7-368 5238 l (+63) 917 862 7454 l (+63) 921 217 0517 for inquiries, questions, and appointments or talk to our consultants via LiveChat here on our website.

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