At long lash, a mascara that does not smudge!

Dear Rissa,

I just finished my final exams and we’re finally on our Christmas break. I’m super excited because my blockmates planned a really big party. I’m also looking forward to attending my boyfriend’s class party. I’m really planning to get dolled up for these parties. I already have an outfit nga eh! My concern is my makeup – specifically my mascara. I’m such a smudge girl when it comes to mascara! The moment I put mascara on, it gets smudged and creates a tiny dark patch under my eyes. It will be super embarrassing to mingle with my mascara all messed up. I certainly don’t want to keep going to the bathroom to do touch-ups. My friends might tease me endlessly about my gazillion trips to the bathroom. I’ll never hear the end of it. Anyway, I just want to ask if you know of a good brand of mascara. I want it to last longer. My current mascara doesn’t hold well enough. Have you tried a good brand? I don’t want to waste my money on a mascara that I’ll only use once.

Princess

No woman wants to look like a panda. If you get dark circles under the eyes from mascara, it’s not always the mascara’s fault. You can also blame long lashes or moist under-eye skin. Waterproof mascara is the best solution. And if I were you, skip mascara on your bottom lashes. Use a subtle, smudged pencil line instead.

Maybelline Great Lash (available in all leading department stores and personal care stores) is one magic wand that almost every makeup artist keeps. It’s waterproof, smudge-proof, and lasts looong! If it can withstand the endless outfit changes and the humid backstage a model goes through at a fashion show, there’s no need to doubt that it can make your lovely lashes last all day and night.

I’d also recommend Shu Uemura Precise Volume Mascara (exclusively available at Rustan’s). Get it waterproof – it gives long, thick, defined lashes as if lashes were hand drawn one by one. It can even do wonders on short and fine lashes – when crowded, they’re almost invisible as lashes. Shu Uemura Precise Volume Mascara separates and defines lashes and adds length and thickness.

My current favorite is Model Co. Lashxtend (exclusively available at Beauty Bar). This rich, water-resistant, lightweight mascara separates as it extends, leaving lashes looking thick and shiny – it really lengthens and thickens lashes. Every time I use it, people ask me if I put on lash extensions or if I’m wearing false lashes. And this mascara has surpassed many moments of sweat and tears. But the biggest reason why I love it? It’s a waterproof mascara that’s easy to remove! Most waterproof mascaras are really tough to take off at the end of the day. No matter what eye makeup remover I use, I end up tugging my lashes with a cotton swab just to remove the stubborn waterproof mascara, and, of course, some lashes would fall off along the way. I really hate that. But with Model Co. Lashxtend, I just have to wash my face like I normally do, and the mascara emulsifies and washes off, too. All I have to do after is just wipe off the little bits of mascara left – no painful pulling or tugging, no lost lashes. Funny thing is, I discovered that by accident. One night, I came home so tired and forgot to remove my mascara. When I washed my face, it was a pleasant surprise to see most of my mascara get washed off, too. I don’t know if Model Co. knows what their product can do, but that was the greatest little discovery I’ve ever had with mascara.

Rissa

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Dear Tingting,

I’m worried about the dark spots caused by my pimples. What’s the quickest way to banish these dark spots? I tried this magic cream, but it didn’t work magic.

Mariz

You have to put on a whitening cream and a sunblock on top of that in the daytime. At night, just the lightening cream will do. It’s got the ingredient licorice and you can get it at any local drug store.

Tingting

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Giving The Elbow A Hand

Dear Lucy,

Is there a way to whiten dark elbows?

Raymond

To whiten elbows, use a whitening cream twice daily, or go for a body scrub with bleaching option. More than whitening the area, though, you must first give it some tender loving care, Keep the elbow clean, don’t use it to mindlessly prop your face on the table, and keep it moisturized. Apply lotion on your elbow as lavishly as you would the rest of your body.

Lucy

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Send e-mail to tingtingcojuangco@yahoo.com, ltg@pldtdsl.com, and rissa_samson@yahoo.com.