By JERICO VILLAMONTE
Aging is a natural and inevitable process that is accelerated by internal and external factors such as stress. Since the start of the year, Filipinos have faced tremendous stress that has taken a toll on our bodies. (Do you still remember the ash fall from the Taal eruption, which prepared us to wear face masks even before the Covid-19 pandemic?) Stress will soon be (if not already) visible on our faces in the form of dullness and transient surface textural changes as signs of skin aging that can appear as early as the age of 18.
Navigating through these interesting times, Kiehl’s, one of the top go-to skincare brands of Filipinos, recently introduced the newest addition to the serum line. Since mass gatherings are still not allowed due to Covid-19, the American cosmetics brand gathered members of the media in the first-ever digital launch that featured the ultra-lightweight, biocompatible, and fast-absorbing Vital Skin-Strengthening Super Serum.
“Given our ever-changing environment, our skin should be all the more resilient and healthy to prevent these daily stressors from threatening our overall skin health,” says Gracinha Arceo, senior product manager for Kiehl’s Philippines. “The Kiehl’s Vital Skin-Strengthening Super Serum is your first step in your serum-routine that helps fight against unavoidable skin stressors that weaken the skin barrier by restoring suppleness and plumpness for healthy and youthful skin in just four weeks.”
Kiehl’s kicked off the virtual launch with an introduction of existing serums, the Midnight Recovery Serum, the Clearly Corrective Dark Spots Solution, and the Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate. With its potent formulation, the Vital Skin-Strengtening Super Serum, or VSSSS, is powered by 11kDa hyaluronic acid and an adaptogenic herbal complex that helps strengthen the skin’s resilience for youthful-looking skin after just a couple of weeks. This particular formulation is the ideal for targeted, deep, and fast efficacy within the skin’s surface layers. Scientifically tested to fortify the skin's upper layers, this super serum delivers skin-strengthening hydration to the most vulnerable layer of skin most susceptible to external aggressors.
Adaptogenic herbs, esteemed in ancient medicine, are used for treating fatigue and stress. Kiehl’s potent adaptogenic herbal complex contains schisandra berries, holy basil, and red ginseng root. Schisandra berries that are rich in schisandrins help reinforce skin resiliency and elasticity. Holy basil, rich in ursolic acid and rosmarinic acid, helps neutralize skin-damaging free radicals and revitalizes the look of the skin, aiding to lessen the visible effects of skin stressors. Red ginseng root helps stimulate essential resurfacing of skin cells.
“Your overall skin appearance can be a vital indicator of the effects of internal factors like stress and diet, and external factors like pollutants and environmental aggressors that affect not only your skin but your overall wellbeing,” Arceo says. “Filipinos should be able to prioritize ‘self-care’ and that involves also taking care of their skin to be able to combat these stressors.”
The Vital Skin-Strengthening Super Serum acts like a pre-serum, which means that you use it before you apply other serums, whether you apply it during the day or before bed. Regular use of VSSS leaves the skin feeling smoother and resistant to daily stressors, allowing you to feel younger and healthier as fine lines, texture, and radiance begin to visibly improve.
Kiehl’s Vital Skin-Strengthening Super Serum is available now at all Kiehl’s Since 1851 stores nationwide and via Facebook through Kiehl’s Social Commerce page. Price starts at ₱3,200 (SRP).