SINGAPORE, May 30 — Beyond providing hydration, SK-II Facial Treatment Essence helped global fashion icon Chiara Ferragni and South Korean actress Lee Si Young come up tops against some of the harshest environments in the world – plus the confidence to face the camera.

Their experiences were documented in the video series SK-II: ‘Face the Wild | Face the Camera’ Extreme Expeditions, which saw beauty being tested to its limits.

How will the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence perform when tested on our very shores and under our own extreme conditions?

Singapore’s SK-II ambassador Rebecca Lim spent an afternoon on a paddleboard at Sentosa’s Tanjong Beach to find out. With temperatures soaring past 30 degrees Celsius, harsh UV exposure and the struggle not to fall off the paddleboard, how did the 30-year-old Mediacorp artiste stand up to the challenge, and still look amazing?

The porcelain-skinned actress shares her sun-care tips, and how a certain "miracle water” helped her skin maintain its tone and stay crystal clear.

Q: Keeping your balance on the paddleboard aside, what was your main skin concern while at Tanjong Beach?

A: The stand-up paddling took place under the blazing mid-afternoon sun, and as an actress, I was concerned about maintaining the tone and texture of my complexion. Viewers can tell if my skin became darker and rougher between scenes in the same episode.

I was also concerned about shielding my skin from the immediate sun damage, including dehydration from the heat and oxidative stress from the UV exposure.

Q: How did SK-II Facial Treatment Essence take care of your skin before and after stand-up paddling?

A: I’ve been conditioning my skin with SK-II Facial Treatment Essence for seven years, so I was confident that my skin could quickly recover from the sun exposure.

For extra assurance before heading out into the sun, I soaked cotton pads with the Facial Treatment Essence and swept them across my face, neck and decolletage. For an intensive hydration boost, I then left them on the highest points of my cheeks for a minute.

Once I was off the paddleboard and back under the shade, I used SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion to lightly cleanse the impurities from my skin, followed by a generous amount of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence to soothe it. The effect was instantaneous. I could feel the essence cooling my face, and replenishing the lost moisture from the heat.

Q: What were your concerns when you had to face the camera afterwards?

A: It was a shoot for SK-II and as the face of the brand in Singapore, it was crucial for my skin to look its best. Even though I was confident of my skin’s condition, I did feel a tinge of concern that it might lose some of its radiance or develop uneven, red patches after the extreme heat and UV exposure.

So I applied drops of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence on the high points of my face for an instant extra glow. I never head off for work without the essence and that’s one of my secrets to feeling confident in front of the camera.

Q: What is your usual sun-care routine like?

A: My basic skincare routine includes a generous application of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence after toner. This not only hydrates and prepares my skin to better absorb the serum and moisturiser that follow, but also helps moderate the skin surface renewal cycle.

And I never forget sunscreen as my first outer layer of protection. I use SK-II Atmosphere Airy Light Emulsion SPF 30/PA+++, which gives my skin breathable coverage against external aggressors, including UVA and UVB rays, as well as infrared light from the sun.

When I’m wearing make-up, I also add a layer of SK-II Atmosphere CC Cream SPF 50/PA++++ for lightweight coverage and additional UV protection.

My sun-care routine also goes beyond skincare products. I keep myself hydrated throughout the day, and drink more water when I’m outdoors for extended periods of time.

Q: Over the years, what skincare concerns have you developed that are caused by sun exposure?

A: I’ve noticed just 30 minutes in the sun without adequate protection is enough to dehydrate and irritate my skin, creating uneven, red patches and dry, rough texture.

But what really concerns me is the long-term damage from sun exposure. Over time, UV exposure weakens the skin’s natural barriers and speeds up the ageing process.

Once the damage is done, it’s much harder to reverse the effects, so I believe in investing in a good, holistic skin and sun-care regimen. — TODAY

* Created by Brand Studio Productions.

** This article was first published here.