Do you ever see products and think, wait, this looks a lot like this other one that came before it? It’s becoming more and more common as supply chains become global. The good news for us here in the Philippines is that our local brands are truly world-class and highly competitive, with brands like Hello Glow (under Ever Bilena) investing heavily in their product development. I love that they have their ears on the ground and commit to making products that can go toe-to-toe with other global brands.

Rejuvenating sets are by no means a new invention. Even before I began paying more attention to skincare, I remember seeing them in bazaars and tiangges during the early aughts. They’ve gained quite a reputation for making quick work of skin brightening, but they’ve also gotten a bad name for being too harsh to the point of burning the skin. However, not all rejuv sets are created equal. Some place emphasis on giving users a safer, more pleasant experience. And guess what? I’ve gotten to try this new gen version first hand!

As a dermatologist, I come across patients seeking consult for brighter and smoother skin. More often than not, they would ask me what I think of rejuvenating sets and which one I can recommend them. If you’re not familiar with these, rejuvenating sets are skincare products that are grouped together as a set, usually containing a cleanser, toner, bleaching/whitening cream, and sunblock gel/cream. Here’s my take on them - they’re not meant for every skin type, for every skin concern, and for long-term use.