Summer is in full swing, which means it’s time to make plans with loved ones to enjoy the great outdoors. A day spent outside the home is fun, but the intense heat can affect anyone’s health.

Watsons encourages families to stock up on health essentials that can help combat the harmful effects of sun exposure and high temperatures. With over 60 million people affected by El Niño^[1], there is a high chance of disease outbreaks. This also causes heat stress and respiratory diseases, among a wide range of health problems.^[2]

Since prevention is better than cure, here are the must-haves that the leading health and beauty retailer recommends:

Sunscreen

Sunscreen protects the skin and helps prevent sunburn and premature aging, and more alarming conditions like skin cancer.

When looking for sunscreen, it’s important to choose broad spectrum products that protect the skin from both the Ultraviolet A (UVA) and B (UVB) rays of the sun. Another consideration is the sun protection factor or SPF. This is a number that tells you how long the sun’s UVB rays will turn the skin red after applying sunscreen. Minimal exposure to the sun needs an SPF of 15 or higher, while longer time spent outdoors needs at least 30. It is recommended to use sunscreen 30 minutes before heading outdoors and to reapply every two hours.^[3]

Facial mist

Complement sunscreen with a generous spritz of facial mist. This product serves a dual purpose: it hydrates the skin and helps it absorb other products like serums and moisturizers. Facial mists have other benefits depending on the ingredients. Some have essential oils for aromatherapy, while others have antioxidants.^[4]

Vitamin C serum

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals that damage the cells. It also controls infections and heals wounds.^[5] The vitamin plays an important role this summer: when used as a serum, it can hydrate and brighten the skin, protect against sun damage, and promote collagen production to prevent fine lines and wrinkles.^[6]

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is another antioxidant that reduces damage caused by free radicals. It’s also an essential vitamin during the summer because it cares for the skin and hair. Vitamin E creates a protective barrier on the skin’s surface to lock in moisture. Additionally, it supports the scalp and adds shine to hair.^[7]

Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that helps make the heart, bones, muscles, and nerves operate at their best.^[8] It even regulates body temperature. Thankfully, the mineral is available as a supplement that can be easily bought at health stores.

Zinc

Zinc is a mineral that helps the immune system. It aids in wound healing, blood clotting, and the optimal functioning of the thyroid. A shortage of zinc may lead to pneumonia, skin changes,^[9] and even hair loss.^[10] The heat can damage hair so a zinc supplement may help address that.^[11]

Collagen

Collagen is a type of protein that helps cells grow, provides a protective layer for organs, and gives elasticity to the skin.^[12] It’s also available as oral and topical products that help with signs of aging such as wrinkles and dehydration. These can be caused by the summer heat so it’s advisable to take collagen this summer.

Glutathione

Glutathione is an antioxidant that fights off oxidative stress, which may lead to diseases like diabetes and cancer.^[13] Its oral and topical supplements may help lighten dark spots and free radical damage to the skin caused by the sun.^[14]

All these health essentials are available at Watsons. The global brand in health and beauty retail offers a complete and wide range of vitamins, supplements, over-the-counter or prescription medicines, personal care products, and other essentials in its network of 1,000+ stores in the Philippines.

Watsons makes the shopping experience more convenient with its added services. Customers can choose Click & Collect Express, where they can purchase online and pick up their orders from their selected store in 30 minutes or less. They may also try the Home Delivery Express, which delivers orders right to their doorstep within three hours.

“Filipinos are making the most out of the summer by spending more time outdoors or traveling. The right health products can help them ease their worries so they can focus on celebrating and enjoying the season. Let Watsons remove the burden of shopping by visiting our wide network of stores and availing of Click & Collect Express and Home Delivery Express,” says Jared De Guzman, Watsons Customer Director.

^[1] El Niño Affects More Than 60 Million People. (2016, April). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/el-ni%C3%B1o-affects-more-than-60-million-people. Accessed 11 May 2023.

^[2] El Niño Affects More Than 60 Million People. (2016, April). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/el-ni%C3%B1o-affects-more-than-60-million-people. Accessed 11 May 2023.

^[3] All About Sunscreen. (Last updated 2022, Jul). Skin Cancer Foundation. https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/. Accessed 3 May 2023.

^[4] The 16 Best Facial Mists for Every Skin Type. (Last updated 2022, Sep 26). Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/best-facial-mist. Accessed 4 May 2023.

^[5] Vitamin C. (Last reviewed 2023, Mar). Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-c/. Accessed 4 May 2023.

^[6]  11 Reasons to Add Vitamin C Serum to Your Skin Care Routine. (Last updated 2023, Feb 3). Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/vitamin-c-serum-benefits. Accessed 4 May 2023.

^[7] How Vitamin E Can Benefit Your Hair. (Updated 2019, Mar 8). Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/vitamin-e-for-hair. Accessed 4 May 2023.

^[8] ​​Magnesium. (Last reviewed 2023, Mar). Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/magnesium/. Accessed 3 May 2023.

^[9]  Zinc and your health. (Last reviewed 2021, Mar). Healthdirect Australia. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/zinc. Accessed 4 May 2023.

^[10]  The 8 Best Supplements for Hair Growth, According to a Dietitian. (Last reviewed 2023, Feb 23). Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/best-vitamins-hair-growth. Accessed 4 May 2023.

^[11] The 8 Best Supplements for Hair Growth, According to a Dietitian. (Last reviewed 2023, Feb 23). Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/best-vitamins-hair-growth. Accessed 4 May 2023.

^[12]  Collagen. (Last reviewed 2022, May 23). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23089-collagen. Accessed 5 May 2023.

^[13]  Glutathione Benefits. (Updated 2023, Apr 18). Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/glutathione-benefits. Accessed 5 May 2023.

^[14] Benefits and Side Effects of Glutathione in Skincare. (2023, Apr 4). Healthnews. https://healthnews.com/beauty/skin-care/glutathione-for-skincare/. Accessed 5 May 2023.

Ortigas Land has launched Olin at Jade Drive, its newest stand-alone mid-market residential offering at the heart of Ortigas Center.

The 52-story residential tower, strategically located in one of the country’s most dynamic central business districts (CBDs), houses 1,245 units in total, with 1,031 studio units and 214 1-bedroom units. Parking is also available as well as a retail area for quick access to essential services.

“Ortigas Land is well-known for its legacy of master-planned estates, continuously catering to the evolving needs of the property market. This newest development is very exciting for us as this launches our venture into the mid-market segment within the Ortigas CBD,“ said Ortigas Land Assistant Vice President and Residential Business Unit Head Jenna Belardo at a media briefing.

With the launch of Olin at Jade Drive, Ortigas Land aims to provide the market with a residential development that offers all the perks and benefits of living within a bustling business district, under the Ortigas Land brand, while maintaining affordability.

Geared towards young professionals in adjacent offices and students in nearby academic institutions, Olin at Jade Drive features modern amenities such as co-working spaces, gym, garden, lounges, pools, and function hall to cater to the modern city dwellers’ needs. Ortigas Land maintains quality assurance for the design, construction, and maintenance of this property.

A prime location

Olin at Jade Drive is situated within Ortigas Center which has one of the lowest residential vacancy rates (6.8%) alongside other major CBDs, according to the Colliers Q4 2022 Property Market Briefing — making it a sought-after and in-demand location in Metro Manila. Colliers also mentioned Ortigas Center’s low office vacancy rate (15.2%), further elevating the property’s value as it bridges the growing demand for residential developments within the area for office workers and possibly their families.

“We see great potential in capital appreciation for the development with its accessibility to commercial developments, corporate offices, and educational institutions, as well as mass transportation and ongoing infrastructure projects like the Metro Manila Subway and MRT Line 4,” Belardo added.

Olin at Jade Drive will offer flexible payment terms for up to 72 months, suitable for those interested in finding a home or valuable real estate investment within Ortigas Center.

Launched in April 2023 for priority selling, Olin at Jade Drive closed the sale with 536 units, which is equivalent to 43% of the property’s total inventory. To date, Olin has sold more than half of the total inventory of Olin equating to 671 units, generating a total of P5.5B in value.

Olin at Jade Drive is expected to be turned over by 2029. For more information, visit the Ortigas Land website at www.ortigas.com.ph. 

It’s the reward waiting for you at the end of a long, demanding day. It’s the goal after a hard day’s work. It’s no wonder we need eight hours of it, and crave even more. When we finally sink into our beds, and lay our weary heads and shoulders on our pillows, we yearn for nothing more than to drift into a restful slumber – one that will recharge us physically and mentally so that we wake up refreshed and full of energy. No wonder they say sleep is a luxury.

            In our quest for a good night’s sleep, the myths, tips, and tricks have most likely outnumbered the actual hours of zzz’s that we’ve clocked in. Finding the right temperature, setting up just the right amount of light (less blue light, please!), and even playing soothing sounds or spraying calming scents are efforts in itself. But the secret to the best sleep ever is as close to you as second skin.

Sustainable fabric for a good night’s sleep

            Think fabric. Linen & Homes has developed sustainable bedding woven from 100% cooling bamboo viscose. The result: lightweight sheets that are 3x softer than cotton sheets. And while you slide into your buttery sheets, here are more benefits from bamboo:

They’re naturally cooling. Bamboo fibers actually regulate the temperature of your body, and even the temperature around you. They do not retain heat, so you stay cool. Its moisture-wicking properties means it is breathable which reduces hot flashes and night sweats.

They’re sustainable. Bamboo is an eco-friendly alternative fiber source – it grows faster and can still reproduce even after a harvest, and it requires less water.

They’re hypoallergenic and anti-microbial. Both great features when you have sensitive skin! Its free from allergens, dust mites and bacteria. The anti-microbial properties also mean the bamboo plant does not need pesticides so that’s zero chemicals for you to worry about.

The Linen & Homes Dream Suite

If you haven’t already, it’s time to make the switch and sleep in sustainable fabric. At the Linen & Homes Dream Suite, their new showroom along Perea Street in Legaspi Village, Makati City, you can go ahead and see and feel the attainable luxury and quality of the sustainable fabric that goes into each of their products. Run your hands across the smooth sheets and pillowcases, feel the buttery soft blankets between your fingers, and even get to try on a weighted blanket to see if it’s for you. The beds are inviting, set up completely in their range of products – from the covers all the way down to the mattress toppers and protectors.

In another corner, you’ll also find sleepwear – pajamas, loungewear and robes made to feel soft yet durable and with the perfect amount of stretch for the luxuriously comfortable sleep that you deserve. 

And even towels are also made from 100% eco-friendly bamboo terry, loomed to 700 grams per square meter so it’s a perfect combination of softness, durability and absorbency. All this as if to say even the art of getting ready for bed – a nice bath, comfy clothes – is the perfect lead up to falling into soft sheets and fast asleep.

The venue was created as a haven for all things sleep – conducive enough to try the fabric, you can sit on a corner of the bed and find yourself inching your way up to the pillows. You can mix and match the colors and prints, decide on softness, smoothness and weight, and choose sleepwear to complete the experience. At the Linen & Homes Dream Suite, you can design your own good night’s sleep – a feat you thought only possible in dreams.

Linen & Homes sleep fabric is available on www.linenandhomes.com and at the new showroom located at 107 Perea Street, The Palisades Unit GFA, Legaspi Village, Makati City .