he past summer meant the sun and the beach for a lot of us. Sun usually means more freckles are caused by dark pigments of the skin, and exposure to sunlight hastens the production of these dark pigments. Result: a small map of Aisa Minor on the sun-exposed area of the skin.

Some people go to great lengths to cover this dermatological Asia Minor. Others just shrug it off.

Carmina Villaroel is one of those who do not bothered to hide shoulder freckles. "This is my trademark," she says. "Kumbaga, pag sinabing freckles, 'Ay, si Mina 'yan."'

She explains:" The freckles on Smy shoulder are actually because of a second-degree burn due to sun exposure. Nasunog because of too much sunbathing on the beach. It happened in La Union. I didn't put any sunblock, that's the sad part. Nilagyan lang ng dressing. After that, nagging gayyan na."

Another part of Mina, however, usually gets coverage." For my face, I use Clinique sunblock," she says.

In contrast, Cheska Garcia, a regular in GMA 7's "Sana ay Ikaw na Nga," spends an arm and a leg just to cover her freckles. "Aksaya ako sa concealer," she admits." I use MAC C3 or C2. I spend a lot on concealers. I also use Hawaiian Tropic Sunblock, the one with the highest SPF [sun protection factor]. It's important to find a sunblock with a nice SPF. I have to spend a lot of money again. I can't really be under the sun a lot because I'll be going through Facial Care IPL [Intense Pulsed Light] treatment. It's a treatment that lightens freckles."

Antoinette Taus, for her part, hopes to prevent freckles from, spreading with a simple strategy: "I always use sunblock, especially when I go to the beach, para hindi magkaroon ng age spots."

On Carmina: Clinique Sun-Care UV Response Facial Gel Lotion; P1180

On Cheska: Hawaiian Tropic Oil-Free Sports Sunblock SPF 30+; P395
MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF 15; 750
On Antoinette: Neutrogena Fairness UV Block SPF 30; P599 - -