Rejuvenating sets have become a staple skincare regimen for the working class Filipino who wanted to achieve a glass and fairer skin without budget compromise.
Not only does this skincare system readily available in the market but this also comes at a cheaper price compared to other skincare products considering that rejuvenating sets in the Philippines come in various packages. If you think about it, it’s a sweet deal. For 300 PHP, more or less, you can have 3-5 products that promise to deliver results in just 7 weeks.
Tempting right? No wonder a lot of us wanted to get our hands on one; and if you are already using one, you certainly want to use it again seeing the fast results after each use.
However, as highly effective these rejuvenating sets are, there are dangers that we tend to set aside because we are so engrossed with achieving fast results.
But before delving into some rejuvenating set pros and cons, let us first have a closer look into the nature of this type products ingredients wise and functionality wise.
What are Rejuvenating Sets
Basically, a rejuvenating set is a set of skincare products containing a rejuvenating soap, an exfoliating toner, a cream, and an SPF. All these fit into the basic skincare system of cleanse, tone, moisturize and protect.
So, is rejuvenating set really good for the skin?
What gives this routine with a kick is the fact that these products contain peeling and exfoliating factors from the soap to the toner and the night cream.
Typically, these peeling factors are in the form of retinol/tretinoin, hydroquinone, alpha arbutin, alpha hydroxy acids like lactic acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid and the like, and BHAs or beta hydroxy acids like salicylic acid as well as the kojic acid that is present in the soap.
Rejuvenating Sets: Ingredients in detail
Tretinoin – This is a form of Vitamin A and was the first retinoid. This is basically used as an acne treatment and later on discovered that it is also effective in treating skin pigmentation, and speeds up skin turnover thus allowing for better skin texture and improving the appearance of pores and fine lines and surface wrinkles.
Retinol – Vitamin A alcohol or all-trans retinol belong to the family of endogenous natural retinoids and is a precursor for synthesis of endogenous retinal and retinoic acid. This derivative is 20 times less potent than tretinoin making it a staple ingredient in cosmetic products that target skin photoaging issues. However, since this is not the pure form of retinoid, this has to be converted into retinoic acid for our skin to absorb it. This is less irritating but is also unstable and can be easily degraded by the sun.
Alpha arbutin – An active ingredient extracted from berries that help brighten skin and reduce the looks of spots and hyperpigmentation.
Hydroquinone – This is a depigmenting agent that lightens dark spots, age spots, and melasma.
AHAs – These are chemical compounds that work by removing the top layers of dead skin cells. Also known as Alpha Hydroxy Acids.
BHAs – BHAs or Beta Hydroxy acids work similarly with AHAs. The only difference is they can penetrate deeper into the skin, thus, removing blackheads and excess sebum.
Kojic acid – A chelation agent produced by several fungi which has the Japanese common name koji. This is a by-product of the fermentation process of malting rice which is the main ingredient in making sake or Japanese rice wine.
Its Functionality: Rejuvenating Sets Pros and Cons
Rejuvenating sets are basically what the name implies. It helps you become youthful again by eliminating acne, wrinkles and fine lines, dark spots and hyperpigmentation, revealing a more even toned and renewed skin.
The ingredients listed above all have a stark similarity when it comes to functionality – all of them have exfoliating properties and at most peeling factors that help you achieve that rejuvenated skin.
However, the thing about these actives is that we cannot overuse them lest we suffer more skin problems. This is why rejuvenating sets can be bad.
Retinol and products with retinol in it or any form of retinoid as advised by dermatologists can only be used for as much as twice or three times a week depending on the formulation and the percentage. Retinol is also easily degraded by the sun so wearing it during the day is counterproductive.
What consumers tend to do is use these rejuvenating sets twice a day for weeks on end.
No wonder that their skin gets so red over the course of the treatment primarily because they apply the product in the morning and expose themselves to the sun without using a very effective sunscreen.
This is the main reason where most users I see, mostly women and mothers, have developed melasma and hyperpigmentation when the rejuvenating set that they are using is supposed to treat that.
Because of the overuse of the product, the skin has become so sensitized that it has turned bloody red.
Moreover, Philippine rejuvenating sets usually contain a system of four different forms of exfoliation.
The soap as the first step contains acids that exfoliate the skin. The toner also contains exfoliating acids. The night cream as the moisturizer also has peeling ingredients.
So, imagine applying all these products in one routine all doing basically the same thing. The skin will really peel-off intensely revealing that promised youthful glow.
This very fast-track routine becomes very detrimental because it does not provide the skin enough time to recuperate.
Moreover, the outcome of the skin once the treatment is over is a skin that has been so stripped off that it looks like a peeled onion with the skin so thin it doesn’t completely look naturally healthy – a very common rejuvenating set bad side effects.
Furthermore, consumers are not as religious in applying and reapplying sunscreen as they are with the treatment application.
Since your skin is under the retinol treatment, applying a very generous amount of SPF is imperative. In fact, since you are under treatment, SPF should be applied every two hours. With sunscreen, more is more, otherwise, your rejuvenating set will never work the way it’s supposed to work.
This video clip below explains how Vitamin A works topically and the things we should remember when using this active.
In the context of Chemical Exfoliation, the video clip below discusses the basic tenets of exfoliation. Press play and learn some more.
So, if retinol is advised not to use during the day, what active should you use instead?
The answer to that are actives that help in some way the efficacy of your sunscreen like Vitamin C, Amino Acids, and Pycnogenol. I have made a skincare routine that provides a tri-defense mechanism, so you may want to check on that too.
Retinol and all these exfoliating acids are really good and effective ingredients if we use them properly. An over usage because we want faster results can only mean harm to our skin.
Remember that skincare is self care. There are no magic results. It takes time for the products to actually work. Handle your skin with care. Listen to it. Most of all, be patient. You’ll get into that skin you so wanted but proceed with caution.
Rejuvenating sets are highly effective products in doing what it claims to do and because of this high efficacy rate, people tend to overuse it creating more skin issues than treating them.
So, when using one make sure your skin can tolerate the treatment process and that give your routine enough space so your skin can recuperate naturally.
Do not bombard it with the same active ingredient all in one routine.
Lastly, use sunscreen as often as you can.
I hope that this article provided you with enough information on the nature of rejuvenating sets and the harms it can pose when you use it inappropriately. May you have better skin days ahead…
1 thought on “Rejuvenating Sets and What You Might Be Doing Wrong”
Super great read. very very helpful.