Say 'I do' to a new 'do with styling products

Dear Rissa,

I’ve always wanted to try bangs so I recently got a haircut. I wanted to go for side-swept bangs but the hairstylist ended up cutting them too blunt and straight. I don’t feel this flatters my chubby face. Is there still a way to remedy this? What do I do while my bangs haven’t grown out? Please help me.

Manica

Maybe you just need some time to get used to your new hairdo. But if you really feel your new hairstyle is far from flattering, learn to cope with it while your hair is growing out. You can sweep it back with a headband in the meantime. You can also try fixing your new ’do with styling products. Try Bench Fix Hair Gels (available at all Bench and Bench Fix salons nationwide). They come in Extra Shine, Normal Hold, Strong Hold, and Xtreme Hold variants. Apart from being alcohol-free, they’re enriched with vitamins to condition and moisturize the hair and scalp. Among all hair gels, this is my ultimate favorite because it provides invisible hold (yup, no flaking!) without the heaviness. The easiest, cleanest, and neatest style is slicking all the way away from your face. This doesn’t only solve that bad haircut, it also allows you to focus on your pretty facial features. Draw attention away from your hair by playing up those sparkling eyes with mascara or those pouty lips with lip gloss.

If your hair is layered, shift the attention away from your bangs and focus on your lovely locks. For a natural tossed hair look, try Bench Fix Sooo Polished Shine Wax. Enriched with olive oil to condition your hair, this product lightly shapes the hair with radiance and shine without giving you that heavy feeling. For more texture, go for the Bench Fix Clay Doh Molding Clay. This wonder product molds hair in workable shapes, leaving it with a defined matte finish, perfect for that out-of-bed look. The great thing about the Bench Fix wax and clay is that it’s super affordable, compared to many other styling products. A little goes a long way and this will be worth your money.

Lastly, I advise that the next time you want to try out a new hairdo, bring pictures of the style you want to the salon. They’re really worth a thousand words. If you describe the cut you want, the stylist may interpret it differently. If you bring a picture, the communication is clear.

Rissa

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Let There Be Light Skin

Dear Ms. Tingting,

I want to seek advice on how I can lighten my skin. My skin’s very dry and I’m having a problem finding a non-irritating lightening product. What would you recommend?

Jenna

First thing you need to consider is protection — yes, this should come first. Most darkening is caused and or exacerbated by indoor plus outdoor light exposure. Often, skin can lighten just by using an opaque protector every day, both indoor and outdoor. Protection sustains any lightening you achieve by other means.

Second, use lighteners that are called tyrosinase inhibitors. Some proven ones are Kojic Acid, Gigawhite, and Melfade.

Third, go hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. Some allergens like fragrances are also photo-allergens, they react to light to cause darkening. And skin traumas like pimples or rashes can develop post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, very stubborn dark spots.

And because hyperpigmentation is so difficult to treat, it’s best to prevent it as much as possible.

For dry skin, Armada by VMV–Face and Body Shield 60 is best.

Tingting

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Soft Eyes, Nude Lips

Dear Lucy,

I really love using dark eye pencil, but my mom says it always looks way too harsh. I’m not ready to give up my eye pencil, but how do I soften the look? My lips are also naturally rosy, which I don’t mind except when I want to go for a natural or nude lip. What do you do?

Madge

I’d say it would be best to use a chubby pencil with a round (not pointed) tip that has been warmed a little on the palm of your hand before application (a dark thin line will really age you and make you look tired, no matter how young you still are, and warming it up a little will immediately lend a softer line, it will also lessen the chances of you tugging to much at that delicate eye area). Use that warmed, chubby pencil to draw over your eyes as you normally would. Before, I would just use a q-tip to smudge it ever so gently, but this one is even better: Use gray or silver shadow as a wash over it. It will soften the look glamorously, and quickly.

I have the same issue with my lips, they are naturally rosy and as such, resist nudes and pastels when applied directly from the tube. What I do is apply a thin coating of liquid foundation over my lips before I even attempt to use any light color. It helps a lot although you may find that unless you put some gloss, you will have to retouch quite often as it can cake. Using gold gloss over unprimed lips can be an option, too, especially for more casual days.

Lucy

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