DR. CRB’s advice on caring for your skin at every age

For Dr. Cecilia Ramos Bernad of DR. CRB Aesthetic and Laser Clinic, taking care of your skin begins with knowing what it needs. While information and skincare products are easy to find online, she says a dermatologist can assess your skin type and recommend care suited to you.

She elaborates, “Everything is online and available now. So they can easily buy or access all these products, but whatever they use might not be good for them.” She pointed to teenagers with acne as one group that may benefit from consultation, so they can understand what to use and receive treatment suited to their skin.

“There’s AI; people just Google and do these things. But it’s still important to have a proper assessment on what kind of skin you have and what’s good for you at this particular age,” she advises.

Dr. Cecilia Ramos Bernad of DR. CRB Aesthetic and Laser Clinic

Acne may ease as a person gets older, Bernad said, though scarring can remain a concern. She also noted that sun damage from earlier years may become more visible in one’s 30s. In her experience, some of that damage is easier to treat before the 40s, with sun protection and skincare. From the 40s onward, she said, sun exposure and aging can lead to more permanent skin damage, which may call for more procedures and products.

Her advice is to start using sunblock as early as possible. She said it helps reduce sun damage associated with photoaging, including wrinkles, darkening and enlarged pores. She also described sun protection as important for pigmentation and cancer prevention.

Bernad discussed skin types in relation to heritage, describing types 1 and 2 as often associated with people who have Scandinavian heritage, blond hair and blue eyes; type 3 as very fair skin that may not burn easily; and many Filipinos as type 4. She reminds people who like spending time under the sun to take particular care to use sunblock.

For busy working women, Bernad’s daily advice includes drinking water, getting enough sleep, and exercising. She recommends using sunblock even at home, citing radiation from laptops, computers, and phones. On sleep, we asked, “Is there truth to “beauty sleep?” She replied, “I believe so,” adding that “six hours can be okay, while eight hours is very good.” She also advises limiting alcohol and smoking.

Recommending a holistic approach to skincare, she validated that nutrition is part of the conversation, too. Bernad said young people with acne may be experiencing hormonal changes and producing more oil. Her advice is to eat healthier and more balanced meals that include vegetables. She also said that salty foods can contribute to water retention and a puffy face, emphasizing that both salty and oily foods should be eaten in moderation.

Asked what she would tell her 16-year-old self, Bernad’s answered with conviction: “Use sunblock.”

She encourages people to take care of their skin early. In her view, starting young can help people become more conscious of skincare and have fewer skin problems as they get older. She described a preventive, proactive routine as a good approach.

One skincare myth Bernad wants to address is that people with oily or acne-prone skin should avoid moisturizer. She said her clinic recommends special types of moisturizer for acne patients and includes moisturizer in their skincare routines, alongside products intended to minimize breakouts.

Bernad said she enjoys working with patients and helping them feel beautiful. When patients return and tell her they feel good about what she has done for them, she sees it as a way to provide a service and do something positive for them.

When asked if she has seen internal benefits aside from the physical, external, and aesthetic, she was quick to confirm: “Oh yes, so much! There’s a glow, you can really see the confidence. And if they have that confidence and inner glow, they become better persons, they deal with other people better, they find better jobs, they have better family life.”

Bernad adds that feeling beautiful can bring self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-love. “They are happier people.”

Located in BGC, DR. CRB Aesthetic and Laser Clinic describes its space as a place for clients’ beautification and pampering needs. Its interiors reflect a modern interpretation of traditional Filipino design through natural earth tones and solihiya weave accents. 

Face Skin Analyzer and Drip Lounge

The clinic describes the atmosphere as homey and calm, suited to a relaxed glow-up session. Its mission is to offer services and treatments that make clients “Naturally More Beautiful.” 

Alongside the Hollywood Lift, the clinic also offers Red Touch and IONTO treatments.

Red Touch is a non-invasive anti-aging treatment, with DR. CRB as the first clinic to offer the system. It uses a 675nm wavelength that acts directly on collagen at the dermal level. The system’s selective absorption by collagen supports skin rejuvenation without damaging the epidermal layer, reducing side effects.

The clinic describes the treatment as using heat to produce a deep, uniform heating action. This causes collagen fibers to shrink and stimulates fibroblasts to produce new collagen, with immediate and cumulative effects that can continue to improve over time. The treatment can also help tighten skin, restore skin tone and firmness, and improve texture.

Red Touch Laser Treatment

A gel is applied to the treatment area before the handpiece is placed on sections of the face. The procedure takes about 15 minutes for the face and neck and is relatively pain-free. While considered as a virtually zero downtime treatment, some people may feel mild stinging in sensitive areas; those with sensitive skin may have slight redness afterward. The clinic recommends one treatment a month for at least three consecutive months.

The system is manufactured by DEKA Aesthetics, an Italian company that the clinic says also makes devices such as Motus and Onda, which focus on non-invasive treatments.

Bernad describes IONTO as a treatment she recommends for flattening scars, correcting discoloration, and minimizing large pores. The procedure uses microcurrent to help a topical medicine absorb into the skin. She said the clinic has developed and improved its medicines over the years, using different formulations for acne and melasma.

The treatment may feel a little uncomfortable because of the current, she said, but it is not painful. Bernad said the clinic uses IONTO for acne, large pores, and melasma, which she described as difficult to treat and requiring continuous treatment because it can disappear and return. She said the treatment can be customized according to each client’s needs and is one of the clinic’s best-selling procedures.

The Operating RoomThe Hollywood Lift: A four-step facial

The Hollywood Lift is one of DR. CRB’s signature treatments. It is a non-surgical, no-knife facelift that combines facial muscle toning and skin rejuvenation using four technologies. The treatment is also described for use on the arms, thighs, and abdomen to reduce cellulite.

According to the clinic’s treatment information, the Hollywood Lift works on the skin and muscles. It uses collagen ampoules and firming serum for skin rejuvenation, alongside microcurrents and movements intended to reeducate, tone, and tighten muscles. The treatment works across 32 facial muscles and is painless, with no downtime or side effects.

One of the Treatment Rooms

The facial begins with ultrasonic skin peeling, which provides deep cleansing and gentle exfoliation, stimulates circulation, and destroys skin bacteria. 

Microcurrent toning follows, to reeducate muscles, increase blood and lymph circulation, and increase collagen and elastin. 

Enhanced tissue repair is the third step which stimulates tissue healing and lightens pigmentation. 

The final step is the wrinkle comb, which helps plump deep lines and soften the appearance of age spots. A collagen infusion and moisturizer complete the facial.

According to the clinic, the Hollywood Lift’s main effects are lifting and toning facial muscles and improving facial contours. Its treatment information also says the ultrasonic peeling removes blackheads and whiteheads and minimizes pores; the wrinkle comb plumps deep lines and softens age spots; and enhanced tissue repair lightens pigmentation and stimulates tissue healing on scars.

The Conference RoomOn how the Hollywood Lift is different from other anti-aging treatments, the clinic shares that the microcurrent technology is patented, explaining that the current begins as a small wave on the skin and expands as it reaches the muscle, minimizing sensation on the skin while maximizing the effect on the muscle. Furthermore, the technology was initially devised to treat facial muscle weakness in people who had Bell’s palsy or strokes, and is also used for muscle injuries from sports or burns.

Its recommendation for clients over 30 is an initial course of 10 treatments, two to three times a week, followed by monthly sessions. The effects may last four to six weeks, and may last longer after additional treatments. For people whose facial muscles are already toned, the clinic advises the treatment can be done monthly as preventive care. DR. CRB’s trained nurses assess each patient’s muscle tone and adjust the intensity and frequency of movements; patients can also identify areas where they would like to receive more focus.