This past September, my husband Dan and I spent just over two weeks in the beautiful islands of the Philippines, visiting some of my husbands family and enjoying a beautiful wedding of a friend who was getting married in Cebu. We spent our days sightseeing, visiting family, and exploring a few of the almost endless number of shopping malls in Cebu and Metro Manila.
We also ventured out to the bat filled caves of the underground river in Palawan and paid a visit to Moalboal in Southern Cebu. We enjoyed lazy days on the beach and snorkelling in crystal clear waters with an amazing variety of fish and coral. It was an unforgettable experience and we were lucky to have mostly beautiful sunny days during the rainy season in the Philippines. The sun was strong with temperatures as high as 35 degrees celsius and this extreme weather definitely played havoc on our skin.
In heavily populated cities like Manila, we had to deal with smog that followed us everywhere from the exhaust of the never ending traffic. Air conditioning was the only way to survive the heat, but hopping in and out of the hot and cold caused uncomfortable fluctuations of body temperature for me, especially combined with my irritating hot flashes.
My skincare regime at home in Vancouver (being an Esthetician and skin care enthusiast), I had a variety of skincare products to choose from, but while travelling, I was limited to whatever I could bring through customs.
Travelling to countries like the Philippines can be such an amazing cultural experience, but it can also be a challenge for the skin. For those of you looking to spend time in similarly hot climates, I’ve put together a few Health & Beauty Survival Tips that might help:
Health Tips:
Tea tree and Lavender oil
In Moalboal, I don’t know why, but I was a beacon for mosquito attacks! Thank goodness I took my shots and I had the tea tree and lavender oils with me. Both are great to treat insect bites. The tea tree is great to disinfect mold, especially when there is air conditioning everywhere, there is a high risk of mold that comes out of the vents. Lavender is also an antiseptic, but if you suffer from insomnia or jet lag it’s a great way to help you relax or sleep better. Take a lavender bath or put a drop on your fingers and massage it into your temples.
Antiseptic Wipes
For those that don’t already know, I’m a bit of a clean freak. I usually like to put a bunch of antiseptic wipes in a zip lock bag so I can wipe down the door knobs, toilets, and faucets in hotels and restaurants. (We like to bring extra zip lock bags and Dan came up with a great idea of putting the remote in a zip lock bag so we don’t have to contaminate ourselves with other peoples’ germs when watching TV or turning on the AC.) Keeping your hands clean helps to prevent the spread of disease and reduces your chances of getting sick.
Vitamin C – Ester Coated
The sun in tropical areas can be intense. Taking vitamin C prior to venturing out, can help make the effects of the sun less severe. It makes sure your body is internally strong enough to fight the free radicals you come across.
Probiotics
Food in the Philipines is definitely great for your taste buds, the fusion of Asian and Spanish inspired dishes are everywhere, but digesting it may be a bit of a problem. Taking probiotics will help your digestive tract break down the food easier, and also prevent breakouts.
Now the following are a few Beauty Products I couldn’t live without while I was there:
Beauty and Skincare Tips:
Cleansing the Skin
A two in one cleanser that both exfoliates the skin and cleanses, provides more convenience and eliminates all the dirt and grime from the pollution I came across in and out of the cities. The Eminence Red Currant Cleanser binds to the dirt and provides deep pore cleansing.
Protecting the Skin’s PH
Restoring your skin’s ph in a hot climate with a toner prevents dehydration. I love using the Eminence Stone Crop Toner, it helps hydrate, make my mineral powder water proof and refreshes the skin during my hot and sweaty days.
So glad I bought this one with me…Eminence Strawberry Hyaluronic Serum! Hyaluronic is essential for the skin’s moisture, keeps the skin nice and plump, especially if you sweat a lot! Also contains vitamin C to help fight free radicals as well.
Applying facial oil helps retain the water in your skin, but I chose the Eminence Yarrow Oil, incase I get any allergic skin reactions, especially to insect bites or food allergies that appear on the skin (which I did).
Applying a dewy moisturizer lingers on the skin longer, creates a better barrier (I personally love the Eminence Rich Black Perlette Moisturizer), but I like to top it off by brushing my skin with the Eminence mineral SPF 30 powder. The mineral powder is a great way to create an additional buffer from the sun’s UVA and UVB, and other environmental factors, as well as provide a bit of coverage. Especially with all the dust and pollution, having a good buffer prevents clogged pores.
Frizzy Hair?
I can’t stand it when my hair gets frizzy. The days I can’t blow dry my hair, I simply wear a baseball cap or tie my hair up, but I have to say Aveda’s Smooth Infusion Straightening Conditioner is fabulous. Throughout my trip it kept my hair frizz-free
I admit, I’m a bit of a travelling diva, and a city slicker. But by being cautious and keeping my skin and body healthy during my holiday, it made my trip more pleasant and enjoyable. I wasn’t afraid to venture into the jungle or water of the Philippines! Such a memorable trip!
-Winnie Cheung-Pozo