Learn more about the best face essences for skin hydration and how it should be used as the first step of the moisturizing part of your skincare routine.

Are you one for New Year’s resolutions? Some people may be naysayers but I personally believe in the power of a new year for sparking change! Sure, you’ll need to follow through for the next 11 months to achieve success but getting started is almost always the hardest part. If one of your resolutions this year is to achieve your best skin yet this 2020, here are four things you can do to reach that goal.

Whether you have dry skin or oily skin, applying moisturizer is an essential step of any skincare routine. However, this can be tricky to do in a humid country, as many formulas can feel too heavy and sticky, especially when it’s hot. Gel formulas are a great alternative to the traditional cream formula, but did you know that there’s an even more lightweight option?

I have a confession to make: last year, I started teaching myself to buy less makeup. I unfollowed a lot of cosmetic brands on social media, and stopped consuming makeup content from videos to blogs, and even newsletters. When I see a sale, I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and walk away. I still love makeup and that’s not gonna change, but I needed to stop an unhealthy shopping addiction that had me buying waaaay more than I need. What snapped me back to reality was seeing a drawer full of expired makeup that I hadn’t even used more than thrice. So this 2020, my New Year resolution is to stay committed to #ProjectPan and doing a low buy!

Having extremely oily skin with a lot of skin concerns, finding the best skin care products for my particular needs has been a challenge. I’d like to have bright, smooth and glowing skin with less visible pores but the best facial treatments often cost a pretty penny. That’s why I was intrigued by the claims of Olay’s Power Duo, which aims to help achieve all my concerns using the White Radiance Light Perfecting Essence (P1,299 for 30ml) and the Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream (P1,899 for 50g), at a price that’s not too heavy on the pocket.

It was in my many travels to Japan that I first heard about “petal skin”. I’ve observed that the Japanese prefer matte yet bouncy skin that’s supple to the touch, as they don’t like a lot of shine or shimmer on their complexion. I’ve since tried to duplicate the petal skin effect in the way I apply my makeup, but then I thought: what if I could achieve it with my skincare routine?

New York Times recently published an article about why essences may be more important than moisturizer. I beg to differ - I think that if you had to choose one, a good moisturizer for your skin type will serve you far well - but I do agree that essences are important to our skin. A serum, toner, and moisturizer in one, essences (or sometimes called lotions) can help moisturize and plump up the skin without adding extra texture underneath your moisturizer. Good ones typically contain actives for better results. You can use them alone if you layer them several times (read here about the Korean 7-Skin Method), but I find them most effective as a booster for my regular moisturizer.

Fresh has been around for a while (since 1991 to be precise), but I only got to try the brand when it finally became available at Sephora Philippines last year. I swiftly fell in love with the its focus on naturally-derived active ingredients that are not just mere afterthoughts; I can see how clean and tight the formulations are. Fillers are used sparingly - the price tag reflects that - which means that you get exactly what is promised.