I never used paid products growing up.
Not because I did not care. Because it never felt natural. We used what we had. Spices. Leaves. Honey. Whatever was growing nearby or sitting in the kitchen. That was skincare. That was what I knew.
Then I got older. Started working outdoors. Ten years under the Philippine sun as a landscaping manager. And someone told me I needed sunscreen.
I tried it.
It made me overheat.
You know that feeling when something sits on your skin and just traps everything in. The heat. The sweat. The humidity. The Philippine sun does not play and adding a layer of product on top of a face that is already struggling felt like the wrong answer.
So I kept looking. I tried different ones. Light ones. Watery ones. Ones that promised no white cast. Ones that said perfect for humid weather.
Still looking honestly.
But here is what I learned along the way. Sunscreen is not the enemy. Finding the right one for your skin in this climate takes time. And that is okay. I am 50 years old and 3 months and I am still learning. Still trying. Still showing up every day under that sun.
The search is part of the journey. And I am not stopping.
If you found a sunscreen that works for you in the Philippine heat please tell me in the comments. I genuinely want to know. We are in this together.
Shared with love always. Everything here is based on my own personal research and the tools I use to stay informed and keep growing.