Claire x Harbour Energy: celebrating women and caring for skin on 20 October

Working women often give their care to their work, their families and the people around them before themselves. Skin, then, is often the last thing they think about. For Vietnamese Women's Day on 20 October 2024, Claire had the chance to join Harbour Energy for a gentle conversation, as a reminder: caring for your skin is also a way of caring for yourself.

We called it a heart-to-heart more than a talk show. No distant podium, no hard jargon: just real questions about everyday skin and answers that are easy to apply.

A heart-to-heart about skin

The workshop's theme was "Practical skin care 2024", with Claire's familiar message: true beauty starts from within. It moved from foundations to practice: understanding skin structure, recognising common skin concerns, up-to-date guidance on proper care, and treatments suited to the rhythm of office life.

The Q&A was when the conversation felt closest. Questions such as "do I need sunscreen sitting in the office?", "what can I do about skin dried out by air conditioning?" and "how can I care for my skin properly when I'm busy?" were all answered with dermatological knowledge that's easy to apply right away.

Sharing: the spirit of 20 October

For Claire, 20 October isn't only a day for flowers. It's a time to appreciate the women quietly carrying many roles at once, and to remind each other that caring for yourself isn't selfish.

The spirit of the gathering was sharing: small but meaningful gestures that spread care to the people around us. Every attendee received a gift from Claire, along with a booklet introducing our space and team, so their skin care could continue after the conversation.

The "Practical skin care" workshop

Below are the key points shared at the workshop, for anyone who spends most of their day in an office.

Understanding skin structure

Skin has three main layers. The epidermis is the outermost layer, with the stratum corneum and a lipid barrier that holds water and protects skin from external factors. The dermis beneath contains collagen, elastin, blood vessels and sebaceous glands, and determines elasticity and firmness. The hypodermis is the supporting fat layer that shapes the contours of the face. Understanding the layers of skin helps us know where each step of care acts, and why no single product "does it all".

Common skin concerns for office workers

• Dry, dehydrated skin: dry air-conditioned air leaves skin tight, slightly flaky and more sensitive.
• Acne and clogged pores: stress, late nights, and makeup worn all day without thorough removal.
• Dull, tired skin: lack of sleep, little movement, long hours in front of a screen.
• Dullness, melasma and early ageing: UVA rays can still pass through window glass, adding up over the years.

Up-to-date skin care: simple and consistent

An effective routine doesn't need many steps. Morning: gentle cleansing, moisturiser, and broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or above, even when sitting near a window. Evening: remove makeup or sunscreen, cleanse, then use a suitable treatment product if needed. When adding a new product, add one at a time and watch how your skin reacts. Consistency matters more than the number of products, and a product everyone is talking about may not suit your skin.

Long-term work pressure and lack of sleep also affect the skin through the endocrine and immune systems. This is the foundation of Claire's Skinmentalism philosophy: caring for skin is bound up with caring for the mind. Enough sleep, gentle movement and a few minutes of rest each day are part of skin care too.

Treatments for busy people

Alongside home care, some in-clinic treatments give your skin intensive care without interrupting your work. Depending on your skin, a doctor may suggest:

• Da Ký™: skin analysis and a one-to-one consultation, building a skin record and personal routine. This is the step to start with before choosing any treatment.
• Skin Gym: low-level light therapy (LLLT) and LED, suited to dull, tired skin that needs regular nourishment.
• Skin Clear: medically grounded extractions that reduce inflammation, combined with LED, for inflamed acne and closed comedones.
• Skin Recovery: recovery and calming for sensitive, irritated skin.

Every skin has different needs, so the right treatment and frequency should be assessed by a doctor after an examination.

When should you see a dermatologist?

When skin is often red, stinging or itchy, when breakouts persist, when melasma or dullness is hard to improve, or when you're unsure which products to use. An examination helps identify your skin's condition correctly and choose the care that suits you.

A thank-you from Claire

Claire sincerely thanks Harbour Energy for creating a warm space where stories about skin could be shared openly, and thanks the women who took the time to listen, ask questions and care for themselves a little more together.

Partnering with companies on skin health

Alongside programmes for students such as the Clear Skin Campaign, Claire hopes to keep bringing accurate skin care knowledge to more groups and companies, especially on days that honour women such as 8 March and 20 October.

If your company or organisation would like to hold a skin care workshop for employees, please contact Claire via the hotline or Zalo of either location.