Sisterhood beauty pact

Sisters have a love-hate relationship.

There are times when you fight and want to play Juliana Hatfield’s My Sister song as loud as possible. No matter what, you just can’t stay mad at her for long. Besides, having a sister is just great. A best friend at home comes in handy, especially if you need a shoulder to cry on at 2 o’ clock in the morning.

Did you know that there is such a thing as Sisters’ Day? Well, it is celebrated on the first Sunday of August to commemorate the special relationship between genealogical sisters and other dimensions of sisterhood. Interesting, eh?

To celebrate this sisterhood, Clearasil and Veet recently made a declaration of the special bond that exists between females. The sister brands invited bosom buddies and real sisters to a bonding session at Oakwood Suites.

"Clearasil and Veet define a sister as a girl’s best friend, partner in crime, trusted confidante," says Maui Valdez, marketing manager for Reckitt Benckiser. "The bond between two people is a connection that leads to shared experiences, a sisterhood which transcends time, distance and family ties."

It may seem like a hard slog to get the body in top condition, but it is possible. So, if you are craving for a sleek body with smooth, hairless and blemish-free skin, Clearsil and Veet offer effective do-it-yourself-at-home products that aren’t that expensive and will definitely help coax your body back into loveliness. Perfect for bonding sessions with sisters and friends.

Crystal Clear

Whenever a zit pops out on my face, I turn to my younger sister Tash and complain how horrible it is. Zits completely put me in a bad mood and they just ruin the perfect outfit. When I think of a pimple cure, I think of Clearasil – the brand that pioneered curing pimples for clear, unblemished skin.

"Clearasil has a long heritage of preventing and treating pimples," explains Valdez."Generations of women grew up with the brand." It is the only skincare solution which immediately addresses the problems of pimple and acne.

Now, Clearasil has a Blue Line daily control care. It starts off with the Clearsil Daily Face Wash, which has deep-cleansing and antibacterial actions to remove oil and pimple-causing bacteria. The great thing about this product is that it contains skin conditioners to prevent dry skin. Plus, it is pH neutral and soap-free, too.

Just recently, I started using the 3-in-1 Deep Cleansing Wash. My face never felt so clean. It contains a deep-cleansing microbead formula, which cleans away oil, dirt and impurities. If you want a cool, tingling sensation, try the Ice Wash. I use the Clearasil Pore Cleansing Toner after to get rid of grease to helps remove bacteria, which causes blackheads and pimples. To top off my pimple-free ritual, I use the Overnight Acne Defence Gel with two percent salicylic acid that prevents pimples during sleep.

At last, I wake up refreshed and happy knowing that my pimples have dried up.

As Veet As It Gets

The truth is, most women want smooth skin without hair, of course. It’s either we go to the extremes of shaving the hair off or endure the pain of waxing. If we are loaded, then perhaps the laser hair removal will work best. But if you want something painless, quick and easy, then depilatory creams are the best alternative for hair removal.

"People are afraid of pain. Waxing involves special techniques," says Valdes. "This is why Veet created depilatory products to remove unwanted hair on legs and underarms without harming the skin’s surface – perfect for every woman’s varied needs and lifestyles."

Dig this: when you shave, the razor blade will cut the hair in a jagged line. Stubble will appear. The Veet Hair Removal Cream (with aloe vera or Sensitive Plus variants) dissolves unwanted hair on the legs, arms, underarms and bikini lines in a span of five to ten minutes. Because it contains moisturizing and exfoliating ingredients, hair regrowth will be thinner and the skin will become smoother.

Veet Hair Removal Mousse is perfect for the legs. It applies evenly on the skin without dripping and works in just eight minutes. Variants include Veet Mousse with moisturizing aloe vera or with softening silk extracts.

Waxing can be such a painful experience. But with Veet Wax strips, the skin becomes silky and smooth for up to three weeks. Unlike other waxes that require heating, Veet Wax strips remove the hair from the roots without pain at all.

"Clearasil and Veet put an emotional dimension to the functions of two beauty-care products which an older-younger sister team would definitely consider part of their growing and grooming lives," concludes Valdes.

It just goes to show that the beauty pact among sisters goes beyond skin deep.

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E-mail love-hate whatever things to becca_rodriguez@yahoo.com