You don’t have to be skinny to look pretty in a bikini

HEY, REGINA,

The beach trips are piling up and I’m just not confident enough to wear a bikini. Are there any alternatives for girls like me?

NICOLE

Tell me about it! I’m a big girl surrounded by skinny, waiflike friends; it’s almost enough to make me hate beach trips.

Luckily for us, though, there are more and more cute maillots available out there. (You know, one-piece suits.) They cover up trouble spots without sacrificing fashion; win, right? Two-piece swimsuits with high-waisted bottoms are also an option if you’re trying to hide your puson,  but are otherwise slender.

My favorite place to shop for swimwear is online, because the selection is so much wider and the prices are so great. (My favorites are Wanderlust, bemywanderlust.com; Soak Swimwear, soakswimwear.multiply.com; and I Love Koi, ilovekoi.com.ph.) The only thing you need to worry about is sizing. Online swimwear shops do have size charts, but picking your size can be tricky, especially if you’re a little more gifted up top. Some styles may fit perfectly, but other styles in the same size might not; it really depends on your body. You can risk ordering a suit in your corresponding size, or if you want to be sure, check out where the brands’ retail partners are located (they usually sell in some shops, too) and try the sizes on there before making your purchase.

If your concern is that you wear different sizes of tops and bottoms, go for a brand that lets you select which size you want for each piece. (Wanderlust’s online shop does this automatically; you can even mix and match the colors.)

Seriously, you can be sexy and stylish in a one-piece suit! Believe it!                                      REGINA

Peeling good: Skinmaster Treatment is a unique program that targets exfoliation, clearing, circulation, and moisturizing.

What makes Lucy Belo-beautiful

DEAR LUCY,

What is your beauty routine? And what treatments do you avail of at the Belo clinic? Can you help me understand also how stem cell treatment is supposed to make me beautiful? I read about so many clinics using stem cell and a person’s own fat.

DANG

My beauty routine is simple, really, and I find that consistency in terms of using the products that really work for me and regularity in getting facials are the two factors that really determine how nice my skin will be.  I supplement my nightly beauty ritual with my favorite treatments from the Belo clinic, namely: Obagi Oxygen Facial (this is a relaxing facial and works really well because the treatment makes use of powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals.  The best part is the pure oxygen infused into the skin at the very end which has anti-inflammatory and healing properties), Powerpeel (also known as microdermabrasion, this treatment makes use of corundum oxide crystals that gently exfoliate dead skin.  It is great for acne scars and superficial pigmentation and it also addresses fine lines), and last but definitely not the least, Skinmaster Treatment (a unique program that targets exfoliation, clearing, circulation, and moisturizing.  You can even have the armpits treated so they look pretty!).  Those three for me really produce lovely results that I see and feel instantly.  

Regarding stem cell treatment that targets beauty, I am presuming that you are referring to Stem Cell Auto Grafting, a new technique that uses the patient’s own fat and adult stem cells to fill up and improve the areas of the face that have become sunken.  The result is a face that looks rejuvenated and naturally youthful.  As I have not tried that treatment myself, I suggest you go to the Belo Medical Group and ask more about it.  I’m sure the doctors there can give you a thorough explanation and, if needed, an assessment of whether you need it already or not just yet.

Cheers!  Here’s to looking and feeling good!                LUCY

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Once more, With peeling

DEAR RISSA, 

Ready, set, glow!: Malin + Goetz 10% Glycolic Acid Pads allows you to enjoy a personal chemical peel in your own home. Available at Adora, Greenbelt 5, Makati. Tel. no. 217-4030.

My friend regularly goes to her derma for a chemical/glycolic peel. I want to try it, but I find that regular treatments can get a bit expensive in the long run. Is there a more affordable alternative?

JCT

A glycolic peel is a chemical treatment that takes off the top layer of the skin to reveal the soft new skin underneath. How does it work? Dermatologist Dr. Anna Palabyab-Rufino explains it causes “irritation” to the skin to help peel off and renew the skin gradually with less downtime compared to other treatments. Available in different strengths, the glycolic peel is used to even out pigmentation and to brighten the complexion. 

To enjoy “a personal chemical peel” in your own home, check out Malin + Goetz 10% Glycolic Acid Pads (P2,650 for 50 pads, available at Adora, Greenbelt 5, Makati). After cleansing the face, you simply smooth the pad over the face, avoiding the eye and lip area. After leaving it on for 20 minutes, rinse it with water to neutralize it. Use one to three times per week or as recommended by the physician. The 10-percent strength does not cause you to be as photosensitive and is effective enough for maintenance and regular use. But because a glycolic peel exposes new skin, always make sure to use SPF to protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. Sun protection is actually your best defense against pigmentation and wrinkles. 

I once read that glycolic peels are popular among celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna to get them red carpet ready. Some women tend to get hooked on or obsessed with the treatment because it improves texture and has a brightening effect. But if you are under the hands of someone inexperienced, it can worsen pigmentation and cause paper-thin skin in the long run. I’ve never had a glycolic peel ever done on my face, but I did have one on my belly after I gave birth. I was given a light glycolic peel to lighten the dark vertical line (or linea nigra) from pregnancy. After one peel, the glycolic peel visibly lightened it.

It’s always best to still consult a dermatologist.

For inquires, you can contact Dr. Anna Palabyab-Rufino at the Palabyab Skin Clinic tel. (02) 633-6737. Visit palabyabskinclinic.com.

RISSA

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Send e-mail to Lucy Torres-Gomez at ltg@pldtdsl.com. E-mail Rissa Trillo at stylesos_rissa@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter @RissaMananquil. Send Regina Belmonte your questions at vivatregina.tumblr@gmail.com or tweet her @vivatregina.