Sportscaster Mikee Reyes on upping his skincare routine
If Mikee Reyes is to be believed, there is an ongoing resurgence in elevated men’s grooming habits. The former professional basketball player-turned-sports presenter is also a podcaster who now refers to himself as “Tito” Mikee. As his followers’ internet uncle, he dispenses advice gleaned from his 33 years and which now includes ways to upgrade one’s grooming regimen.
Interestingly, the last time this push for improved men’s hygiene was popularized was exactly three decades ago in 1994 when the term “metrosexual” was coined by a writer for the British Independent. He used it to refer to the trend where men living in cities became more open about preening, shopping and going to the gym.
“When I used to play basketball, I was a skinhead. I was very low maintenance, I had no need for shampoo,” Mikee said at a recent event for Watsons.
He began making more of an effort after his girlfriend CK de Leon suggested he use facial toner and lotion. “At first I used her stuff, then I began seeing the results like less visible under eye circles. That’s when I really started taking care of myself. I now have a routine and I spend a little more time in front of the mirror.”
Younger days
When he was younger, Mikee was able to get by on the barest minimum, face wash and toothpaste. “I was fine then with just brushing my teeth. Now I gargle with mouthwash, I apply body lotion and sunscreen. When I started doing those things, I saw the results and these gave me a little more confidence when I would go out for work.”
When he was in high school, he dealt with acne by washing his face with a readily available product. “I used Ponds Men, the black one. When my acne finally cleared up, that’s when I began experimenting with other products.”
With his clean-cut look and prescription glasses, Mikee looks like a nice young man, but then he also has a full set of sleeves—intricate tattoos that cover both his muscled arms. On his neck is a tiny crown tattoo, decidedly off-center. “I regularly moisturize my arms because if you’re tattooed and have dry skin, any dry patches make it more obvious.”
Mikee said that in the past, he used to accompany CK when she shopped at Watsons, preferring to wait until she was finished. Now, he also walks around the store, reading the labels and checking out the merchandise. “Syempre, pa-simple lang.”
‘Ambassador’
He has since become an “ambassador” for Old Spice and Irish Spring, two brands geared towards male consumers. “That’s why I really appreciate how Watsons has been including men as brand advocates. There’s more representation now,” Mikee said.
He used to think that the less he cared, the cooler he was, but has since changed his mind. “If you care for yourself, your hygiene and how you present yourself, you’re also showing respect for the people around you. There’s an effect. People will trust you a little more, especially when it comes to first impressions. They’ll say, ‘He looks like he takes care of himself.’”
