Skin Care Reveal 2026

When talking about taking care of your body, this includes your entire body, including your face.

Actually, I started to become conscious with skincare since I was 11 years old, yeah so early age because that's also the time when I started having breakouts. I was so vain and self-conscious back then that I even asked my mom to allow me to visit a dermatologist for treating my acne as a birthday gift. My mom at the time pitied me because I was so eager and I really  felt at that time that treating my acne will certainly boost my self- confidence. Since I always try my best to get high grades, my mom gave in to my request. After derma sessions, I noticed my skin getting more brighter, radiant, and whiter. However, I also noticed that my skin is getting thinner and more sensitive to sunlight.

The dermatologist was so kind and understanding and she was really the go-to expert when it comes to this things. Her name was Dra. Tolosa and I even recommended her to my highschool friend who also had the same skin problems before. 

What I liked about her is that she explained how acne forms in the skin and how the medication or treatment flushes out dirt and oil buildup. She drew a diagram of the skin and explained how dirt accumulates and gets trapped in the dermis, especially when we’re exposed to daily pollution like smoke and dust. Then, when we apply makeup and forget to remove it before sleeping, that’s when skin problems start.

So she explained to me the process of treatment in 4 steps:

1. Hydrating (Cleansing + Adding Moisture)

This step helps restore water to your skin after cleansing. Acne-prone skin can become dry, especially if you’re using treatments like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.

• Hydration keeps the skin barrier healthy

• Prevents overproduction of oil (your skin produces more oil when it’s dehydrated)

• Helps reduce irritation and redness

Think of it as: giving your skin the water it needs to function properly.

2. Toning

Toners help rebalance your skin after washing your face and prepare it for the next steps.

• Removes leftover dirt, oil, or cleanser residue

• Helps tighten the appearance of pores

• Can deliver active ingredients (like soothing or acne-fighting agents)

Tip: Choose alcohol-free toners to avoid dryness and irritation.

3. Moisturizing

Even acne-prone skin needs moisturizer—this is a common misconception.

• Locks in hydration

• Strengthens the skin barrier

• Prevents dryness caused by acne treatments

• Helps control oil production over time

Best choice: lightweight, non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores) moisturizers.

4. Protecting (Sunscreen)

This is one of the most important steps, especially if you’re treating acne.

• Protects your skin from UV damage

• Prevents dark spots (post-acne marks) from getting darker

• Shields sensitive, treated skin from irritation

Use: broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day—even indoors if there’s sunlight exposure.

How it all works together

These steps support acne treatment by:

• Keeping the skin clean and balanced

• Preventing clogged pores

• Reducing irritation from active treatments

• Protecting healing skin from further damage

After a few more months of derma sessions, I stopped and let my skin heal naturally. After that I have tried various skin cleansers like the following:

1. Celeteque

I started using this when I was in high school, I find it a little bit pricey at the time because I was still in high school. Anyways, it was indeed value for money. This was a good maintenance after I stopped using the products.

Then, I also tried Mary Kay, which was also good on my sensitive skin. I seldom had any breakouts when I was using this. It's comes with a set and a bit pricey, but hey, there's value for money. 

2. Mary Kay

Then I switched to Ponds. We know that there are a lot of Ponds facial cleansers tailored to different skin types. My skin is reacting good with the recent one from Ponds, the pink one, the Bright Miracle:

3. Pond's

Like I said, I am a Pond's girl now. However, recently my friend gave me a facial cleanser from Luxe. It's an organic facial wash infused with Aloe vera and vitamin C. I tried it recently and it smells good. Aside from that, it feels refreshing. 

Now that I’ve reached my 30s, I rarely get breakouts. I’ve learned not to be overly self-conscious, and I’ve broken the habit of constantly checking my face in the mirror. In other words, I’m less vain now that I’m a mom and fully in adulthood.

I only use a few things on my face for skin care. And here's my skin care reveal:

My daily routine:

Morning:

That's Pond's Bright miracle for my cleanser and applying sunscreen from Luxe Organix 30 minutes before going outside. That's it.

Evening:

Sometimes I skip the cleanser in the evening if I were so busy during the day and I skip to just using a toner. The toner that I use is Gluta-C which is whitening and makes my face look radiant (especially after an egg mask).  This was recommended to me by my girl  room mate before who is a pharmacist, and thanks to her it was a treasure because it's perfect for many skin type which is very sensitive or acne-prone. It's alcohol free so it's keeps your skin hydrated and soothing and removes irritants or impurities, without the risk of getting dry. 

In the end, taking care of your skin is not just about achieving a flawless or radiant look—it’s about understanding your skin, listening to its needs, and treating it with care and patience. Over the years, I’ve learned that more products don’t always mean better results. Sometimes, a simple and consistent routine is all your skin really needs.

As we grow older, our perspective on beauty also changes. For me, it’s no longer about being perfect or completely blemish-free, but about feeling comfortable and confident in my own skin. Skincare is not just a routine—it’s a form of self-care and self-respect. And at the end of the day, healthy skin is always more important than perfect skin.