Meet Oilatum's Newest Baby Line: Oilatum Soothe & Protect

With our erratic weather nowadays, my kids' and my skin are starting to show dryness. While I have skin eczema, they normally don't have dry skin but with this weather, dry skin may be inevitable. It can really get frustrating and there are times when my kids don't want to put lotion because it gets sticky throughout the day and when the itching spell begins, ayayayay! I can't blame them because I know the discomfort they feel. We want our kids to be comfortable, free of dryness and itchiness and always be happy!

I recently attended the launch of Oilatum's newest products, the Oilatum Soothe & Protect baby line at Cafe Naya and I'm really happy that they came out with this line. Oilatum has been around for so long, I remember using the bar soap when I was in high school for my face because you know adolescence haha! But really, I used it on my face and my body as recommended by my dermatologist.

It was a small and intimate event attended by fellow mom bloggers and the program was hosted by new mom Isabel Oli-Prats. A few weeks before the event they asked me to send a photo of me and my kids and that picture was included in a wall at the event where I wrote an answer to the question "How do you soothe and protect your child?".

Here's Y looking for our photo.

And there's my answer! Na-ambush ako kaya hindi na nakapagisip masyado. Heehee!

The lovely Isabel Oli-Prats who doesn't seem to have given birth and looking so fresh!

They had a play area and arts and crafts corners for the kids while the mommas make chika with other moms and so we can also put our attention to the program. Thank you Spark It to your superb interns who entertained my kids and also for their patience!

R enjoyed the mini playground especially this ball pit!

While achi went for the arts and crafts section.

They also had Pouf Cotton Candy Art which we all find amazing and gave my kids sugar rush hahaha! Ok lang, enjoy naman sila!

Y and her Finding Dory cotton candy!

Serious sila sa cotton candy! Haha! I was looking for milk powder to make budbod the cotton candy... hahaha! That's how I like to eat it. Lolz!

A short but very informative talk about dry skin and how we should care for it was given by dermatologist, Dr. Cindy Jao-Tan. One thing that stuck with me was to put lotion while the skin is still damp not dry so the skin will absorb the lotion and all of its goodness. I always thought I should pat the skin dry! Eeeep!

Jon Lee, Head of Skin Health and Nutrision - GSK Consumer Healthcare Philippines

The new Oilatum Soothe & Protect baby range is clinically proven to provide immediate relief and long-term prevention for babies and children with dry and irritated skin. Oilatum has 50 years of proven scientific expertise and efficacy in dermatological skincare for babies.

Oilatum Soothe & Protect is developed with dermatologists and formulated with nourishing oils and moisturizers which replenishes the skin's moisture barrier. The current range features four products:

Oilatum Soothe & Protect Baby Moisturizing Lotion (200ml, SRP Php450) is clinically proven to help reduce occurence of dry, irritated skin in babies, even newborns. It contains nourishing mineral oils and moisturizers to help soothe and protect your baby's skin. This product helps prevent further dryness by nourishing the natural moisture barrier of the skin.

Oilatum Soothe & Protect Baby Bath Foam (300ml, SRP Php360) contains ultra gentle, effective cleansers for dry skin. Safe for everyday use, it helps to reduce the occurence of dry, irritated skin.

Oilatum Soothe & Protect Baby Shampoo (200ml, SRP Php300) is kind on the eyes and contains an ultra gentle yet effective cleaner for the hair and scalp. It also has a detangling and static control properties to better manage your little one's hair. It's suitable for everyday use, even for newborns.

Oilatum Soothe & Protect  Baby Head to Toe Wash (300ml, SRP Php400) helps reduce the occurence of dry and irritated skin with everyday use. Suitable for babies amd children, it contains an ultra gentle yet effective cleaner for the hair, scalp and body. This product helps prevent further dryness by nourishing the natural moisture barrier of the skin.

Oilatum Bar Soap is suitable for everyday cleansing for your baby's skin.

We only want the best for our kids, to see them happy and free of discomfort. Oilatum Soothe & Protect baby range is here to help break the dry skin cycle, providing relief and protection from irritants and other external aggressors. With Oilatum, my kids' skin is soothed and protected everyday! 

Fellow mom bloggers who attended the event!

Oilatum Soothe & Protect baby range is available at Mercury Drugstore, Rustan's Fresh, Landmark, Royal Duty Free and Rose Pharmacy. Soon to be available at Shopwise, Robinson's and SM Save More. For more information and tips from experts, visit www.oilatum.com.ph!

Almost Eczema-Free + Quick Review of Products That Worked For Me!

 Almost but not quite, I still have small itchy spots here and there but I have found my "perfect" combination of products and it's what I've been using for the past three weeks and so far so good! I have been struggling with eczema for three years now. I hate it! I hate when the weather is bipolar because that's when eczema attacks and it can be really bad. I can't go to the gym because my pawis can also trigger eczema attacks. I have been going back and forth to my dermatologist and have tried and tested different products but nothing would really work - long term. It's either it would work for a week or so then it would come back again or it would not work at all. The back of my knees have darken because I can't stop scratching! Hindi na ako flawless! Ahihihi!

My current fight-against-eczema arsenal. Will tell you more about these products as you read on.

When we came back from our trip to Baguio, my red patches from my last eczema attack were almost gone then one day after coming back. Boom! Hello attack of eczema nanaman!!! I haven't worn shorts or dresses for a long time and when I do, people kept asking what happened to my arms or my legs. Kawawa naman daw ako! There was even a time when I would always wear long sleeves (kahit mainit!) because I was too conscious. But not anymore! And because I'm so happy I'm almost eczema free (for now and I hope it stays that way!), I want to share you with what worked (and didn't work) for me.

This is the current state of my arms. See those red spots? That's what's left of what used to be like a size of a map of I don't know which country. Hehe

I've used a lot of lotions and heavy creams from different brands but nothing has worked until I used QV Cream. QV Cream ha not the lotion because I've also tried the lotion and it didn't work. A friend recommended QV Cream and I had my mom bought it for me in Hong Kong. Seriously, it works like magic! I can't believe I waited one month before opening and using it!

QV Cream is my lifesaver! I love love this product because it really saved my skin. QV Cream contains squalene, a natural component found in the skin's oil. It's a rich and protective cream that replenishes the skin and repairs dry skin. I've been using this religiously for three weeks, applying it every after bath. It's a heavy cream but it feels very light on the skin. I'm hoarding more QV Cream as we speak!

If you have eczema, you would know how itchy it can get. Lagi akong pinapagalitan ni BOS when I would scratch my itchy arms and legs even when I was asleep but I can't help it! Then a friend gave me Suu Balm to try. Suu Balm helped me escape the urge to scratch. It gave me rapid itch relief, it's smooth, non-sticky, and  steroid-free.

Please note it doesn't treat eczema but it only gives relief. Suu Balm helped me naman but when the going gets tough and eczema attacks, Suu Balm can't handle it anymore. 

Another product that gave me instant relief was Zenutrients' Argan Skin Salve-ation. It reduces the redness but I have to apply it constantly but when it get's hot or humid, it get sticky then it would feel itchy again. But I still love this skin salve because it works with insect bites and burns.

Tip: Put the skin salve in the ref so it's cool when you apply it.

While I like using Mustela's Stelatria on my kids, it doesn't really worked on me anymore. Maybe because hindi na ako kid. Hehe! While it works on insect bites and small wounds, it takes a while or baka hindi na nga effective on my eczema, well it used to work but I may have become immune to it.

But Stelatria is still one of my favorite Mustela products!

And last but not the least is the medicine that really healed my eczema. A co-parent of mine gave me this pot of Clobetasol. Her husband also suffered from eczema and this was the medicine that worked for him so I asked her to buy one for me. Clobetasol Propionate is very potent and should not be used for more than two weeks. My eczema cleared up after one week of using Clobetasol and even I couldn't believe on how effective it was!

Please consult your doctor before using any medicine!

I'm so happy that my skin is almost back to normal well sa arms, sa legs hindi pa but nonetheless, I have found what works for me. While I don't use Clobetasol now, I use Stelatria for the red spots and religiously use QV Cream and mild soap. And whenever I feel I want to scratch, I just apply another layer of QV Cream or use the Suu Balm.

Do you also have eczema? Can you share what products you use? I want to try more products! Whitening ng peklat meron kayo, I need! Or mag gluta na din ako? Heehee!

Hello 2015!

My first post for 2015 is late because we were all sick welcoming the new year. We're all recovering now.

2014 came and went by so fast. It's 2015 na, the year Back To The Future 2 was set and I see no flying cars... Hehe! 

Do you do New Year's resolution?

I don't but there are a few things I want to do and stick to it in 2015. So resolution ba yun? Haha!

1. Fight for Fitness

I have a love and more of hate for exercise. I really really do. Just thinking about it makes me tired already. I always had an excuse not to work out. One of them is living in my side of the city, it is a challenge. No yoga or pilates studio in my area. No crossfit gym. I have to drive at least 40 minutes to and from. Dami kong excuses diba? BUT, there are gyms naman downtown. One of my co-mommies in school have been going to the gym ever since, she has been bugging me to go with her. After weeks of prodding me, I finally went with her. I have been going to the gym since November, 2-3 times a week for 1.5 hours. But haven't been to since the holiday vacation haha! Uh-oh.

There are days when I really dread going to the gym. Sakit ko to. Tamaditis. It's really a struggle. But rather than eating while waiting for Y in school, why not exercise na lang and burn my fats. Plus I really have and need to lose all these pregnancy weight (hello, R is 2.5 years old na!)! And I want to look nice in my clothes and not be asked by people if I am pregnant. Bwiset, hindi ba pwedeng mataba lang? Heehee! I failed with my weight loss goal last year so hopefully this year, I won't. Aja aja!

2. Healthier Skin

This year I turn 31. Holy moly. And I still break out like a teenager. Must stick to my skin regimen and to not fail on putting them on regularly. Exfoliate once a week with Cure then put on face mask.

Two goals for 2015. Sounds small but it will take a lot of initiative from me. So if I fail, it will be on me talaga. Set my goals not as high so I can hit them and not fail. Yan ang motto ko for 2015! 

Game? Game!

An Extraordinary SoMom that is Patty!

I "met" Patty very long time ago online in a forum. We met once I think but lost touch and only got to reconnet again last year. When I learned she got breast cancer, I didn't know how to react to the news. But Patty put her game face on right after learning about her cancer.

Last week, Physiogel brought three extraordinary women, all breast cancer fighters to share story all while feeling and looking their best.

Some of the SoMoms went to the event to support Patty! We love you Patty! Hihi

The remarkable women are Patty B. Balquiedra, 44, a blogger, online entrepreneur and a mother of two; Alya B. Honasan, a veteran editor and writer for newspapers, magazines, and books. She is also a certified Iyengar yoga teacher, an avid scuba-diver, an occasional theater actor, and a doting mom to her dog Kikay; and Michee Cadhit, head of the customer service and international relations department of The Medical City and a mother of three.

Michee, Patty, and Alya

One common trait they have is they are fighters. When they learned they have cancer, they all went to fight mode. Each of them had different stories but they all looked at the bright the side and see cancer as one of the best thing that ever happened to them.

Watch this video! (Oh ang get tissue before you press play)

I admire their positivity and these women really are an inspiration!

As these three cancer fighters know, having dry skin after breast cancer radiation treatment is an inconvenient aftereffect. Patty, Alya and Michee suffer from dry, flaky, itchy and sunburn-like skin after each session.

I, myself, use Physiogel on my dry skin caused by my skin asthma. I also used Physiogel cleanser on my kids when they're were still a newborn.

Physiogel, however, helps them get relief from their discomfort. Alya swears by the efficiency of the product, moreso because it was endorsed by her personal surgeon. Michee, meanwhile, uses Physiogel to ease the scars and rashes caused by radiation. Last, Patty knew about the virtues of the product long before she underwent chemotherapy.

As part of its advocacy in supporting breast cancer patients, portion of the proceeds of the Physiogel sales for October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, will go to the I Can Serve Foundation.

Photo from I Can Serve Foundation website

Physiogel is the No. 1 dermatologist-prescribed moisturizer according to the Philippine Medical Data Index (PMDI MAT 2012) and is available in leading drugstores and supermarkets nationwide. It is also available in handy 10ml sachets. Ask your dermatologist and pediatrician about Physiogel.

For more information, visit www.physiogel.ph/ or www.facebook.com/PhysiogelPH Follow them on Twitter www.twitter.com/PhysiogelPH

My Almost Non-Existent Skincare

I had bad skin growing up. I had bad acne and pimples during my adolescent years that I was in the Derma every week. My skin improved, Thanks to Dra. Lim Ke! But nakakatamad bumalik-balik and to wait for an hour or two for my turn even when you set an appointment!

My mom takes good care of her skin. I remember her having facials where a scramble egg looking mask is put on her face. She's been using Shiseido for as long as I can remember!

When I was single, I had more time to put on whatever cream that my mom buys for me. When I got married, wala na akong time! Glad that my mom still buys for me. Or naawa lang talaga siya sa skin ko hahaha! So I'm sharing with you my skincare musts!

Shiseido for my face, minsan Celeteque. Muji Cleansing Oil for make-up removal and lotion and meds for my skin asthma!

What's your skincare regimen? Skincare secrets? Share!!!