Skincare has always been one of those things I took for granted. I was one of the lucky teenagers who didn’t get the bad onslaught of acne. I was never prone to breakouts. There was even one year in my early 20s when I used Safeguard for a whole year to wash my face! (Something that horrifies people when I tell them now—but I promise, I moisturized! Also, learn more about the importance of moisturizing here.)
But when I hit my 30s, I suddenly felt the need to take my skincare regimen more seriously. I was suddenly wearing my age on my face, and I promptly panicked. I followed the 10-step Korean routine for years until the pandemic hit, and I had to take a skincare detour.
Suddenly, I was too lazy to do essence and face masks on top of toners, serums, and moisturizers. And with all the struggles entrepreneurs were going through, I was looking to support local brands—as long as they delivered high quality too, though.
Discovering Cebuano Beauty
Enter Primo+Skin, a Cebuano skincare line that promises that much-coveted inner glow through their products, which have hyaluronic acid and niacinamide—familiar names for those in the skincare mafia.
“Primo+Skin dares you to go all-skin, and embrace your skin’s best glow with two active ingredients that have been proven safe and effective, and will provide the skin with a lot of amazing benefits,” says Phoebe Fernandez, one of the partners behind the brand.
Hyaluronic acid is an antioxidant, helps in hydrating skin, and fights premature signs of aging. On the other hand, niacinamide brightens the skin, making it smooth and supple while evening out skin tone. It’s a combo that sounds like a match made in heaven.
And it’s a combo that works. “I confidently use Primo+Skin every day, and I’m happy seeing the results it has given to my skin,” Phoebe shares. The team is composed of five individuals, all of which have different roles and responsibilities so they can run the business from a holistic approach.
The Importance of Skincare
Phoebe is a familiar face to most Cebuanos, with experience as a TV and event host under her belt. Naturally, she’s been dedicated to giving it the best care.
“I’ve been a believer of good skincare for years already. I was fascinated with different products and ingredients that promise great results. Some were indeed great, some not,” she shares.
“I researched and read about ingredients that can help us with our skincare needs, and eventually saw the value of adhering to a routine,” Phoebe continues. “And so with this knowledge and years of testing out different kinds of products, I came up with an idea of creating a brand that I know will definitely bring out impressive results, benefit the consumers, and in return, make people feel good about themselves.”
For the Locals
The Primo+Skin Hydro Glow line comes with a facial wash, toner, moisturizer, sunblock, body soap, and body lotion for a complete routine.
I switched to the Hydro Glow routine a few weeks back, and have noticed a healthier undertone to my skin. My favorite of the routine, though, is the sunblock. I know sun protection is probably the most important thing about skincare, but most sunblocks come in thick formulas. Not the best match for our tropical weather. Primo+Skin’s sunblock is lightweight, so it glides onto your skin easily and wears comfortably throughout the day.
It’s these small considerations that, I think, make it important to advocate local beauty brands. Their formulations were made with our climate in mind, so they fit in seamlessly with our lifestyle.
“We know our skin better,” Phoebe adds. “Even our culture and practices, which can greatly affect our skincare needs. We know the routine that works best for us.”
Of course, the Hydro Glow line is just the beginning. Phoebe shares that they have more lines in the works under the Primo+Skin brand. “For now, our focus is making our six Primo+Skin Hydro Glow products available to more consumers in different areas, and on different platforms,” she says.
Shop the Primo+Skin Hydro Glow line on Lazada, and learn more about the brand on Instagram.
