Katt Valdez. Photo courtesy of NIVEA.
Three women open up about their experiences with dark spots and how taking care of their skin helped them feel more at ease, even without makeup
Daily sun exposure and high humidity come with the territory of living in the Philippines. And with these factors, it’s not uncommon to deal with acne, sun damage, skin inflammation, and even dark spots. While they are harmless, they can affect how people feel about their appearance.
For many, the search for effective solutions becomes part of their skincare journey. And for theater actress Gab Pangilinan, content creator Katt Valdez, and voice artist and events host Joelle, this journey also became about restoring confidence.
Gab Pangilinan on learning to go barefaced
As a theater actress, Gab Pangilinan is used to being under the intense glare of stage light. But offstage, she shared that dealing with dark spots made her feel less sure of herself. “Too much has happened since then. I have rehearsed, opened, and closed Othello. We’ve started rehearsing for We Aren’t Kids Anymore. We have been celebrating Women’s Month. Ang daming nangyayari,” explaining how her schedule tends to pull her in all directions.
“Thankfully, I haven’t been neglecting my skincare as I so often do when I’m tired,” she candidly shares. She documented her skin’s journey from the beginning: showing how it looked before using the NIVEA Luminous630, after seven days when she attended its launch along with brand ambassadors Janine Gutierrez and Precious Paula Nicole, then two weeks in, and again after 100 days. The progress for Pangilinan was visible, seeing change over time helped her feel comfortable in her skin again, even on days without makeup.
Katt Valdez on building confidence through self-care
Content creator Katt Valdez noticed how constant beach trips and sun exposure took a toll on her skin early this year. “With all of the beach time I’ve had in the first quarter of the year, constant sun exposure has left me with dark spots,” she says.
“I used to worry about sun exposure,” Valdez adds, noting that she felt less confident going makeup-free when her skin looked uneven. According to the content creator, that shifted when she began using the Luminous630 range. “I started using NIVEA Luminous630 consistently [for two weeks]. Not only did it fade my existing dark spots, but thanks to Thiamidol, the most effective anti-spot ingredient, it also helped prevent new ones from surfacing.”
Joelle on how journaling helped with her skincare
Voice artist and host Joelle shared how acne and skin treatments had left her with dark spots. “I had my moles cauterized and I’ve had some dark spots. I wasn’t that worried because I had been using the NIVEA Luminous630 line for day and night.”
Beyond skincare, Joelle also credits journaling as part of her self-care. “[With] journaling, you can process your feelings and see how far you’ve come,” she reflects. “I had a journal for my biggest heartbreak. I’ve had a journal for my random thoughts since I was 10. And recently, I’ve tried to keep a journal about my skincare.”
She also shares how traveling has disrupted her routine, but the simplicity of the product line has helped her. “I’ve been traveling a lot in the past few weeks [as well]. And nakakatamad mag skincare. Buti na lang using this only takes two steps in the morning and two steps in the evening.”
NIVEA Luminous630 is formulated with Thiamidol, a patented ingredient developed after 10 years of research by Beiersdorf. According to the beauty brand, it targets hyperpigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for melanin production. The range includes the NIVEA Luminous630 Antispot Advanced Dark Spot Serum, NIVEA Luminous630 Antispot Night Complexion Repair, and the NIVEA Luminous630 AntiSpot Daily Moisturizer Light Cream SPF50 PA+++ that help reduce the appearance of visible and invisible spots with consistent use.
For more information, visit NIVEA’s official website.
