DEAR RISSA,
Because of my work, I’m always in and out of the office. I have to walk to the different buildings in Makati. I want to keep my skin protected from the sun, but I just find it such a hassle to apply sun block every time I have to step out of my office. I find it sticky and it makes me smell unpleasant. Is there a sunscreen I can easily apply but isn’t messy to put on?
LALA
Make sure to get yourself a bottle of Supergoop Everyday Protection Spray. I got myself one recently (available only at Beauty Bar, P1,350). It’s perfect when you suddenly need sunscreen on the go. Just like your convenient hand sanitizer sprays, you simply whip this out and spray on areas where you need protection. It provides you with both UVA and UVB protection and is water, sweat and sand-resistant. Yes, you can use it both on the face and body. It’s gentle enough to be used every day and is oil-free so it will never leave a sticky residue.
I read that Holly Thaggard founded the Supergoop range of products because she wanted to create safe and advanced UV products that meet international sun protection standards. She made sure that Supergoop is free from possible carcinogens, parabens, petrochemicals, fragrances, phthalates, and toxins. Supergoop is so safe, it can be used by those with sensitive skin and even newborns. Supergoop is also proud to be a cruelty-free line of sun protection — they don’t test on animals.
RISSA
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Matching lip color with your earrings
DEAR LUCY,
Is it just me or do you agree that matching my lip color somehow to the color of my earrings is not a bad idea? And if my earrings happen to be multicolored, how do I pick which color to match?
JEN-JEN
I totally agree with you. I do not like too many colors on the face and I would say it is a good idea to try and coordinate or match the color of my lips with that of my earrings, especially if the latter is quite chunky to begin with. For instance, I will not wear coral with pink lips. I can just imagine it will be so distracting for the person I will be facing or speaking with. I would wear peach, or any other tone from the same color family. Just pick the most dominant color (if you are wearing multicolored earrings) if you ever get confused. Of course, it goes without saying that this rule will not apply if you are wearing green or blue or purple-colored earrings, in which case, reach for the same hue in your eyeliner instead. As would be best, try and keep a balance. Dramatic eyes go with more understated lips; bold lips complement gentler eyes (but curl your lashes beautifully always please as it makes a huge difference!).
LUCY
HI, REGINA!
I want to start taking better care of my skin, should I see a derma? How often should I set appointments?
ANNA
Seeing a dermatologist is the best first step to scoring better skin. He/she will be able to assess your skin’s current condition, and then help you specifically address all your issues based on your skin type. There’s so much skincare advice floating around all over the Internet, but unless you understand precisely how your skin works and what problems it has, and the reasons why it reacts to external stimuli the way it does, then that advice could be useless, or worse, harmful. A good derma will be able to help you there. Definitely go for at least one consultation with a board-certified dermatologist that you can trust. That first consultation will already be able to help you get to know your skin better, and to know the proper way to care for it.
I personally see my dermatologist (Dr. Michael Chua at Imperial Dermatology) on a monthly basis, for cleaning and a diamond peel. No matter how vigilant you are about your cleansing regimen, no matter how thorough, you still won’t always be able to get everything. Monthly professional cleaning has helped keep my skin super clear (look, Ma, no foundation!). Plus, my dermatologist helped me whittle down my super-long regimen into just a few necessary steps, so not only is my prep time quicker, but my skin is also so much better.
If you have specific skin concerns you desperately want to address, by all means, definitely see a derma. I can’t recommend it enough.
REGINA
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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.