World News – AU – This app is a great way to improve your skin care game from home

MANILA – Wondering if to spend hard earned cash on the newest crowned Holy Grail serum or the reigning cult favorite? Remember, different skin types require different products. A « must-have » for one can lead to a massive outbreak for another.

So before you start reading tons of reviews and watching top beauty vloggers make up your mind, be sure to check the ingredients list first.

“I was fascinated by the skin care products available from an early age. I started an inventory and found that each through trial and error had different effects depending on who it was applied to, ”explained cosmetic dermatologist Eleanor Reyes.

Reyes is one of the beauty experts who voluntarily contribute valuable knowledge to Picky, a skin type and product analyzer developed in South Korea in March.

« We developed the mobile app to educate individuals about proper skin care and help them make better product decisions, » said Lee Jihong, Founder and CEO of Picky.

The new app has an extensive database with over 30. 000 products from Eastern and Western labels.

Before members can freely browse the extensive library, they must answer a 14-question quiz to determine their skin type and specific cosmetic needs.

« It is very important to know your skin very well and to identify the ingredients that best suit your skin type. If not, the skin care product can either make your skin problem worse or cause skin reactions, ”she said.

To further personalize the search process, after determining the general skin type of the user (dry / sensitive, dry / elastic, oily / sensitive, and oily / elastic), the skin analyzer asks the user what other concerns he or she would like address: pore tightening, whitening, anti-aging, hyperpigmentation, etc.. .

Depending on the analysis, each product is then labeled with the following risk levels: « Holy Grail », « worth a try » or « risky ». ”

Remember that any skin care regimen should be as unique as the person who is following it. Each person has a different set of ingredients that are best for them. For example, hyaluronic acid, rose hip oil, and ceramides are usually ideal for dry skin, while salicylic acid, niacinamide, and zinc are great for oily skin.

While the options mentioned are good options to begin with, they are just one of the many ingredients that enthusiasts can try.

“An ingredient that might work for one person may not work for another. That is why skin care should be personalized. You can’t really give an ingredient and guarantee that it will work for everyone, ”explained the cosmetic dermatologist.

Ironically, it is more confusing than helpful when myriad jargons and many beauty trends come up frequently and learn more about skin care. Hence, Picky’s CEO is encouraging both beauty newbies and junkies to use the free app to guide them accordingly.

“Developing the app required extensive research. We have a medical advisor on our team and have consulted over a dozen dermatologists. We want your skin care journey to be as easy and safe as possible, ”recalls Lee.

“We want to create a simple but meaningful experience. That’s why we came up with the Picky to serve as a guide, ”he enthused.

Aside from sorting products by brand, ingredient, or product type, users can narrow down their search to a specific problem like pore care, whitening, hyperpigmentation, anti-aging, UV protection, and the attributes that suit their lifestyle like alcohol free, cruelty free, fungal acne, eczema free, pregnancy friendly, vegan etc. .

Picky also breaks down the long list of ingredients for each item and categorizes what skin problems the user is experiencing (acne, calming, hyperpigmentation, etc.. ). ) can address it.

Reyes emphasized that it is important not only to know the ingredients that work for you, but also to know those that could potentially damage your skin.

While the system isn’t foolproof and trial and error is still inevitable, Picky aims to minimize the chance that people will get a side effect that will waste their hard-earned money (let’s face it, skin care isn’t cheap ). .

“Maximize the functionality of the app. Read the active ingredients and ask questions about the skin care products (and their compatibility with your skin type) before actually buying them, ”advised Reyes.

“Acne and contact dermatitis are among the most common problems I see in my patients. And the tightening could have been avoided if only they had been well informed or had adequate guidance, ”she added.

With new beauty trends popping up and new products coming out so often, Lee updates his app weekly to keep up with the rapidly evolving beauty industry.

« We have an internal medical advisor, she is a dermatologist. She helps us over and over again. We also consult several external doctors. We always keep the list up to date, ”he said.

The CEO added that while work experience is critically important, the insights of Picky members are also valued.

“We encourage everyone to write honest reviews. We don’t accept sponsors because we want to provide a space where those who want to learn more about skin care can get unbiased and impartial information, ”he added. « This will help brands improve their products and help other users achieve their goals, » he said.

« To improve the overall user experience, we also read any feedback sent to us and update Picky accordingly every week, » he added.

While all of the ingredients are beneficial for your skin, they may not be suitable together. Topical acids, in particular, can damage your skin if not used properly.

Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, for example, can dry out your skin and trigger higher oil production. Meanwhile, vitamin C and abrasive acids like salicylic and glycolic acids can cause too much peeling. Likewise, the combination of retinoids and acids can irritate your skin.

Picky recognized the complex and contradicting nature of skin care (especially for beginners) and developed a « Routine Help » section on his Q&A page. Picky members can recreate their routine in the app and get advice from seasoned skin care junkies and Picky experts from all over the world.

In addition to the above topic, several other interactive pages have also been created in the digital space, on which skin problems, product questions and other things are addressed.

To make the journey to skin care more intimate, Picky also added a “Pinoy” section in its latest update.

« We decided to open a Pinoy division as this is one of our top 5 markets, » said Lee. “Here they can talk about the local brand, use their local language and reach local experts,” he added.

The new feature is particularly useful for Filipinos who cannot afford prescription drugs and professional treatments to solve their skin problems.

« I used to focus on prescription drugs to address my patients’ skin problems. Until I noticed that some of them were being misled by advertisements into trying over-the-counter products that were causing acne and causing allergic reactions, ”Reyes recalled.

« I learned that a large number of teenagers and young adults in the Philippines cannot afford prescription drugs, which gives them more reason to try skin care products available in the market. Because of this, I had to learn more about skin care. So that I can provide more guidance on how to properly choose and use skin care products, ”she added.

While a doctor’s diagnosis and treatment is unparalleled (never self-diagnosed), participating in the added page can reduce unnecessary and avoidable trips to the doctor’s office – we are still in the middle of a raging pandemic, after all.

Picky is not only an app for exchanging information, but also a community. To date, the application has over 40. 000 customers from 39 countries.

To encourage its users to join the community and help their skin care enthusiasts, Picky created a reward system. Any user can earn points by leaving reviews, asking and answering questions, and inviting friends.

The collected points can then be used to participate in weekly product giveaways from various popular brands.

The most active users also get a place in the “Super Picky Squad”, where they can enjoy special perks such as access to exclusive workshops and webinars.

« Anyone who is passionate about skin care or wants to learn more about it is very welcome, » said the CEO. “We’d like to hear about your skin care experience and your trip. ”

Skin Care, Retinol, Glycolic Acid