I am a Madonna fan and despite all her chameleon tendencies and multiple style reincarnations, there is one thing I have never seen her change: her skin tone. It has been as fair as a baby’s bum from her dancehall days and is still clearly her epidermal preference today.
Personally, I prefer a more sun-kissed look. It is more natural to my olive-yellow skin tone. When I’m white, I look pale and gray, not milky and fresh. That is, until I hit my late 20s and subsequently developed freckles on my cheeks. My dermatologist said it is a latent birthmark — the kind that appears later in life. In that sense, “birth” mark would be a misnomer. I’m sure there’s a scientific name for it, but when you are faced with the appearance of extraterrestrial permanent spots on your face, you are not really concentrating on the science of it. My assessment, though, was that my freckles were aggravated by constant sun exposure through the car window. I usually sit as a passenger on the right side of the car, and surprise, surprise, most of my freckles are concentrated on the right. I used to only apply sunblock at the beach or by the pool. I naively assumed ultraviolet rays could not penetrate an enclosed, tinted car window. You live and learn.
Like my laugh lines, I have learned to accept my freckles as my constant companions, but I cannot help but compare my brown specks to the “greener grass” over in Madonna’s backyard. I have some Caucasian blood and that should have given me a forewarning about sun sensitivity. I suppose I was just banking on my Filipino genes to act as some sort of a sun shield. But now that we know better, the sun does not necessarily choose whom to burn. It will fry you no matter what color you are. And most people, including darker skins, are susceptible to sunspots, freckles, discoloration, rashes, and worst of all, melanoma.
Many beauty and wellness companies have done their market research vigilantly and addressed the public’s concern with tube after tube of sunblock and sunscreen. For the unlucky multitudes that have already been affected, facing the mirror in the morning need no longer be a connect-the-dots exercise.
The latest offering is a custom-fit brightening program from Clinique called Derma White. Inspired by the latest dermatological findings, Clinique labs developed a slew of innovative formulas engineered to progressively improve different skin types and concerns, particularly for Asian skin. Derma White’s custom-fit programs — Basic Care, Treat, Prevent — address your skin’s pigmentation concerns and overall condition. Clinique’s proprietary formula with potent Black-Out yeast extract fights skin darkening through gentle exfoliation and antioxidants. The Derma White brightening program consists of Derma White Basic Care, a skin-typed soap, light lotion and moisturizer. Derma White Treatments prep the skin. I tried the wonderful Intense Brightening Mask, an innovative gel-treatment that delivers high-speed brightening. My skin felt instantly refreshed and hydrated. Derma White Prevent provides protective formulas for the face, eyes and hands that also brighten. I tried the Intense Brightening Complex, a concentrated serum full of antioxidants that sinks into the skin and immediately blurs the look of dark spots.
As with every trend, Clinique covers all ground with perfect complements for the entire face. Inspired by the ethereal qualities of light, Clinique has blended swirls of color into an unexpected range of shimmering shades for its White in Bloom makeup collection. Designed to highlight and enhance your complexion, this unique approach to makeup intends to impart a luxe glow to the face through the use of subtle, understated hues born of whiteness. The result is a luminescent and translucent effect that creates day-to-evening looks that may vary from edgy to angelic. Here are some of the standout items from this collection:
The Color Surge Eye Shadow Quad offers a mix of pearly, brilliant undertones of pink, green, blue and gold, perfect for either day or night. (P1,700)
Shimmering Tones Powder (Limited Edition) is an all-over face powder in a checkerboard pattern comprised of nine iridescent shades that give a luminous glow wherever you dust it. This is my personal fave. (P1,800)
Nothing sets off a pristine complexion like the contrast of highly defined lashes. Defining Power Mascara features an exclusive, double-sided brush-comb applicator to define even the tiniest lashes. There are three mini tines at the tip of the comb to reach almost impossible areas like the inner corners of the eye. Perfect for Asian eyes. (P1,290)
All Clinique products are allergy-tested and 100-percent fragrance-free.
* * *
Derma White and White in Bloom are exclusively available at Clinique counters in Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Tower, Rustan’s Alabang, Rustan’s Essenses Robinson’s Place, Rustan’s Gateway, Rustan’s Cebu Ayala, and at www.clinique.com.