26 tried & true products

For our 26 countdown, Uptown/Downtown is sharing 26 reliable products that have been tried, tested and have been proven worthy of mention!

1. Eskinol Classic. The favorite of millions of Filipinas, this tried and true product has been around for decades and for good reason — Eskinol Classic is a great astringent that rids your skin of surface dirt.

2. VMV Superwash. The VMV line is known for its hypoallergenicity. This excellent product makes an effective cleanser for face, body and hair. (Available at all VMV counters.)

3. Herbs of Kedem Maccabim. This  all natural elixir is made using plants from the Judean Desert and is excellent for those suffering from skin asthma and psoriasis. I apply this on my kids when their skin asthma erupts and their inflammations calm down in minutes. (Available at Patdu Medical Clinic, call 818-2698.)

4. Belo Sun Expert SPF 40. This lightweight sunblock is light, non-greasy on your skin and makes for an excellent makeup primer! (Available at all Belo Clinics, department stores and Mercury Drug.)

5. Zein Obagi skin care. I am a great believer in ZO products. This medical grade line smoothens, firms and brightens skin while reducing wrinkles and discoloration.  I am religious about my ZO regimen in the morning and at night and with good reason — my skin has never been this flawless. (Available at all Belo Clinics.)

 6. GIGA No Pain Massage Cream. Do not let the name fool you. This “massage balm” is actually a fabulous reliever of muscle aches, nausea, headaches and sprains. Its peppermint and ginger ingredients have a pleasantly calming scent. (Check out www. giga.com.ph)

7. Human Nature’s Hand and Foot Salve. I love the fact that Human Nature uses organic ingredients and promotes livelihood for depressed communities. Its products are fantastic, too (so no buying-out-of-pity here)! Its Hand and Foot Salve is wonderfully creamy without being sticky. I am partial to their carrot, eucalyptus and bee propolis ingredients give off a pleasant scent. (Check out www.humanheartnature.com.)

8. Lip Out. It is so seriously a dieter’s best friend! This pill is made out of cactus extracts and can rid the body of as much as 26 grams of fat (or 234 calories!) in a meal. And no, LipOut does NOT have any ugly (oily, smelly) side effect! Clinical studies have demonstrated that Lipout can reduce average body weight by up to .72 kilograms or 1.5 pounds within three days. (LipOut may be bought at PharmAsia-Cuvest Inc., call 813-4640.)

(For best results, consult your doctor.)

9. VMV’s Fine Finish Pore Minimizer. This special astringent not only cleans your skin but also stimulates the cells around the skin’s pores to expand slightly, giving you a seemingly poreless appearance. (Available at all VMV counters.)

10. Huiles and Baums SOS Balm. This all-around organic balm heals a wide range of boo-boos ranging from insect bites, small bruises, dry skin and headaches! (Available at SOUQ Organics, call 421-5745 or check out http://thesouqinternational.multiply.com.)

11. Dr. Gio Dimayuga’s Extra Strength Depigmentation Cream. Short of having your melasma lasered off, Dr. Dimayuga’s bleach is your best option in ridding yourself of very stubborn spots and discoloration. (Available at Dimayuga Clinic, call 771-9228.)

12. SOUQ’s Argan Oil. Argan oil is known as the liquid gold of Morocco. This rare oil is made from the nuts of the Argan tree, which grows in no other part of the world except in the Southwestern region of Morocco. It is high in Vitamin E and is known as the purest antioxidant. This golden-colored oil also contains high levels of phytosterols, squalene and both essential and unsaturated fatty acids. It is excellent as a face moisturizer and hair conditioner (your hair will be shiny and lush!). (Available at SOUQ Organics, call 421-5745 or check out http://thesouqinternational.multiply.com.)

13. L’Oreal Hair Spa. Despite the constant blow-drying, curling and flat-ironing that I put my hair through, I manage to keep my mane healthy and lush with regular spa treatments. I spied on my hairdresser Raz Rimor as she applied the treatment cream on my hair. The product was L’Oreal Hair Spa (in a blue jar), which is available in most department stores.

14. Herb’s Best Amori Pasta. This line of pasta products  from entrepreneur Fannie Guanzon is too fantastic to be true! Very low in calories (and carbohydrates!), each noodle is packed with antioxidants and vitamins from malunggay, carrots, spinach and squash. Chefs like Roland and Jackie Laudico have been using Amori pasta in their dishes. (Available at South Supermarket and at www. herbsbest.com.)

15. Organika Rice Coffee. I stumbled onto Organika Rice Coffee when I was doing my grocery at South Supermarket. I bought a bottle and since then have been hooked! Rice coffee’s taste is a cross between coffee and chocolate (without the nasty caffeine roller coaster ride!). The product also improves digestion and relaxes one’s nerves. (Available at South Supermarket.)

16. Sweet & Fit Stevia. Stevia is the only sugar substitute that has not been lambasted by the scientific community. It is an all-natural derivative of the stevia plant that is perfect for diabetics or dieters who crave for something sweet but are forbidden from taking sugar. I searched for a local supplier of stevia in the Philippines and managed to find one in Sweet & Fit  by Glorius Industrial and Development Corp. (Available at South Supermarket, check out www.gloriouswellness.com/sweet-fit.)

17. Porky Popps. So sue me I love chicharon! Porky Popps baked chicharon by Oishi takes some of the guilt out of eating the otherwise forbidden food. Apart from being baked, this chicharon is made out of lean meat and is 20 percent lower in fat than regular chicharon. (Available in most supermarkets.)

18. China Glaze Nail Polish. I love the consistency of this brand of nail polish as well as its thoughtful array of colors. The fluid is easy to apply and is so foolproof that you can apply it on yourself without fear of messing up! (Available in PCX.)

19. Orly Sec’ n Dry Quick Dry Topcoat. This product is Orly’s best-seller and with good reason — apply a bit of the lacquer on your newly painted nail and watch the wet polish dry in seconds. This takes time out of that irritating waiting period most women encounter when having their mani-pedi! (Available in PCX.)

20. Fanny Serrano Concealer Stick. I have been using this brand of concealer stick for about five years now simply because it does an excellent job of hiding any blemish or discoloration I may have. It is just as effective and infinitely less expensive than the top brands in the market. (Available at any Robinson’s Department Stores.)

21. RB Hortaleza False Eyelashes. Yes, you can buy lashes worth P200, P300 or even P1,000 in department stores. But seriously, why do this when you can buy a perfectly great pair of false eyelashes from Hortaleza for as low as P18.75? (Available at all Hortaleza branches.)

22. Aido Eye Putti. It was originally made for Asians who wanted to make their eyes look more Western by creating double lids. What folks do not know is that it makes for an excellent (and inexpensive) glue for false eyelashes!  (Available at Robinson’s Department Stores.)

23. Pond’s Perfect Care Lemon Cold Cream. Cheap and effective! This classic cold cream is reliable as a cleanser, make up remover and moisturizer for the face. Just apply on skin, wipe off with a wet wash cloth and rinse! (Available in supermarkets and department stores.)

24. Virgin Coconut Oil. I can’t list down all the benefits of using VCO — there are just too many! I will tell you this: VCO is excellent as a balm for skin asthma and psoriasis, and helps rid your face and body of nasty acne and dryness. Taken internally, VCO helps lower your lipid levels, aids your digestive system and is used in weight loss by speeding up your body’s metabolism.

25. Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. Oh, the many uses of Vaseline! I always place a small tub in my purse as it makes an excellent lip balm, moisturizer, makeup remover and eyebrow tamer! Coat your feet with Vaseline and cover them with socks overnight for baby-soft skin on your feet the next morning.

26. Human Nature’s Natural Strengthening Shampoo is said to reduce falling hair by 80 percent and thickens hair by 90 percent. The fragrance of this shampoo is so lovely, you would be tempted to use the shampoo as a body wash!