At long lash - the ultimate mascara for the hot weather!

Dear Rissa, 

My favorite mascara is now starting to melt and smudge with the hot summer weather. I sometimes catch myself in the mirror with dark smudges under my eyes! Can you recommend a mascara that suits our humid weather?

Please suggest one that is easy to take off because I have sensitive eyes.

Nikki DV. 

If there’s one makeup item I’m serious about, it’s mascara. I love how they instantly open up the eyes! But I passionately hate waterproof mascaras that are a pain to remove at the end of the day. Pretty lashes aren’t worth it if you have to tug and rub your eyes just to get the mascara off. The everyday tugging is a brewing recipe for future wrinkles. 

I’ve tried a good number of waterproof mascaras that are easy to remove. But I’d never end up repurchasing because daily use would reveal their flaws. There was one that I fell in love with, but it ate up a lot of my time — the mascara brush was just too big and a big chunk of mascara would always stick to it. It was such a tedious ceremony to scrape off the excess mascara every single day! It was my worst enemy when I was in a rush. There was one brand I repurchased, but I had to combine two variants of their mascara (one for the roots, one for the tips) just to achieve length and thickness. It was a costly love affair. Another brand was close to perfect, but I’d always wake up to a residue of mascara under my eyes. Yes, the mascara was easy to wash off, but it would never wash off 100 percent. 

I recently discovered a mascara that made my heart skip a beat — Becca The Ultimate Mascara (P1,850, exclusively available at Adora, Greenbelt 5, Makati). This mascara currently rates the highest in my book. How much do I love it? Let’s just say I wish I had discovered this before my wedding! 

Becca The Ultimate Mascara boasts a formula that both thickens and lengthens the lashes while keeping them real and natural-looking. (Yes, no scary spider lashes or drag queen-like lashes.) I simply love the brush — the conical-shaped brush curls, lifts, and separates lashes, and it picks up the perfect amount of mascara every single time. It makes application a breeze — you get evenly coated lashes in a single swipe!

Becca The Ultimate Mascara is your perfect ally to our hot humid weather — its water-resistant formula repels water, sweat, and tears. It dries fast before you can even sweat in this heat. It doesn’t run, smudge or flake and is extremely long-lasting. Unlike other waterproof mascaras, this one feels light and weightless on the lashes.

It provides a long-lasting curl that will never droop and will last from day to night. 

I absolutely love this mascara for its easy removal. No makeup remover is required. All you need is warm water or the gentle pressure of water while in the shower. In my experience, I actually never needed warm water. All I did was wash my face with my favorite cleanser as I normally do and I instantly end up with clean lashes. I love how it takes out the extra step in my routine of using makeup removers! It was really effortless to remove — yes, no smudging or leftover residue. This mascara is suitable for those with sensitive eyes, oily skin or eyelids, and contact lens wearers like me. 

Becca The Ultimate Mascara earns bonus points in my book: This mascara is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which help repair and condition lashes plus prevent lash loss!

Gosh, is there something this mascara can’t do?

Rissa

* * *

Looking For A Nice Affordable Work Bag

Proudly Filipino: There are so many nice bags out there that are made locally, like this chic Aranaz evening bag.

Dear Lucy,

I am looking for a work bag, but I cannot afford the sosyal luxury bags that I dream of! What can I get that would still look nice and sleek? How about evening bags?

Jerri

A simple rule for a simple life: Do not buy it if you cannot afford it. Life will not be less happy. There are so many nice bags out there that are made locally. If leather is still too expensive for you, there are nice structured bags made of fabric. There are even those brilliantly made out of native materials. There is a beautiful bag for every budget, shop around for the best one.

The same goes for evening bags; we have so many talented local designers. Check out Fino and Aranaz, they have excellent products.

Lucy

* * *

The Secrets To Self-Confidence

Dear Ms. Tingting, 

I admire you, Mikee, and China, for displaying such confidence. Please give me some pointers on how to be self-confident. Any secret, beauty regimen or something that gives you confidence?

Hannah

The most difficult challenge in life is to exude enough confidence to face the world. It can be hard, but it’s not imposssible. I suggest you pay particular attention to things that affect your looks, such as:

• Good fit: Whether you’re wearing hand-me-downs or designer clothes, make sure that it fits you well. Make sure that your top sits nicely on your shoulders. You shouldn’t be bulging in it like a sack about to burst or it shouldn’t hang on you like you’re a clothes rack.

• Cleanliness: Again, old or new, cheap or expensive, it’s more important that your clothes are clean. The same rule applies to your shoes. Make sure that they are clean and polished. You don’t want your unclean shoes to be the only thing they will remember of you.

• Knowledge: Read books and, current events, and smile! 

• Attitude: Lastly, a great attitude can spell the difference!

Tingting

* * *

Send e-mail to Tingting Cojuangco at tingtingcojuangco@yahoo.com. E-mail Lucy Torres-Gomez at ltg@pldtdsl.com. E-mail Rissa Trillo at stylesos_rissa@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter @RissaMananquil.