Choosing a scent depends on your chemistry
HI REGINA!
Can you suggest a perfume that’s affordable but smells good? I really don’t know what to buy. TAMI
Perfume choice really depends on how well a formula works with your chemistry, and also what scents you lean towards. There are some scents that everyone swears are amazing, but do nothing for me personally because they interact badly with the chemistry of my skin, so that’s probably one of the most important things to take into consideration: How a scent smells on you, specifically. Another important factor is what notes you are drawn to. For example, I know people who absolutely love vanilla notes in their fragrances, but I find them cloying. (Although I’ve been wearing Chanel Coco Noir lately and that has vanilla, and I still love it.) Some friends love vetiver, some friends hate it. It’s a matter of personal preference; what appeals to me might not necessarily appeal to you.
What notes do you lean towards? Do you prefer fresh, green scents? Light florals? Heavy florals? Fruity florals? Woody scents? Oriental or spicy scents? There’s a world of fragrances to choose from; you can even select fragrances based on the time of day you intend to wear them, or the kinds of occasions you intend to wear them to. Perfume’s like a language of sorts.
This is why it’s so crucial to smell the fragrances in the department store. You can do this by spritzing it on little strips of cardboard that they’ll likely provide, and this will help you narrow your selection down. However, once you find a scent you like, you have to test it on your own skin first and see how it develops, because sometimes something that’s good on paper doesn’t turn out as lovely on you.
I’m afraid most of the fragrances in my arsenal can’t be considered affordable (I’m guessing they cost around P3,000 up per bottle), but the thing about perfume is, eau de parfums last a really long time, so you don’t have to spritz on so much of it (please don’t!) to smell good and have that good smell linger throughout the day. It’s an investment. I have a bottle of perfume that I bought back in college (and wore pretty much daily) that still isn’t empty yet. Once you find your signature scent, you’ll find that it’s well worth the price you’ll pay for it.
REGINA
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Matching sandals with chunky legs
DEAR LUCY,
I notice that the trend now is sandals that have wide straps. But they make my already chunky legs look even more chunky! However, I’m dying to buy and wear them! What can I do?
I found beautiful brocade during a trip to Shanghai, they are not in any Oriental print, they are in nice pastels. My worry is that I might look like I am wearing upholstery, or that I would look old!
LULU
Well, you can still wear them and make the look work (yes, even with what you say is your chunky legs!) if you are just mindful about what you pair them with. You can wear them with a jumpsuit in jersey, or a calf-grazing skirt (worn with a cropped top). Make sure your toenails are pedicured, and use polish as they make the feet look so pretty during summer!
Oh, brocade is so beautiful! To keep the look current and not frumpy or staid, choose shapes and silhouettes with a young vibe — a mini or above-the-knee shift. You can have it made into a bomber jacket, or shorts and wear them with pointy shoes or ankle-strapped ones. It should look very nice. LUCY
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Wanted: An eyeliner for sensitive eyes
DEAR RISSA,
You’ve mentioned several times that you wear graded contact lenses. I have extremely sensitive eyes and I easily get teary-eyed when I attempt to apply eyeliner or eye makeup. Is there an eyeliner brand suited for sensitive eyes? JESSIE
Yes, I do wear graded contact lenses and I’ve been doing so for the past 16 years. It has made my eyes quite sensitive, too. Like you, my eyes easily get teary or even red because of certain elements. I’ve discovered that oftentimes, it’s the fumes emitted by the scent of some beauty products. The strong scent can sometimes sting the eyes so I make sure to opt for fragrance-free makeup.
I recommend you try Soft Liners for Eyes and More by German makeup brand BeYu. This eyeliner is not just waterproof and long-lasting, it is also dermatologically approved as suitable for sensitive eyes and is fragrance-free. I love how it comes in so many colors — 30 to be exact — from metallic to matte hues. Experimenting with colored eyeliner can make such a big difference. Instead of the traditional black, try going for a blue, purple, or green color. Don’t be afraid — the change will be very subtle but very interesting. The last time I wore navy eyeliner, a friend even asked if I was wearing colored contact lenses because my eyes looked sparkly and intriguingly different. Imagine what a change an eyeliner color can do!
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.
