Less is more

We have to learn to evade the common-place that does not allow us to save and instead explore the idea that we can be distinctive with less. Where might that “commonplace” be? At the cosmetics counter.

The cosmetic counter is the most alluring but most dangerous place to stand! It has been my constant companion through adulthood, a partner in my growth — during my pocketbook’s highs and lows, during emotional turbulence or immeasurable joy, off to the beauty counter it was. But not anymore!

There was a time when I would buy five brands of lipsticks — Lancome, Estee Lauder, Trish McEvoy, Dior and Benetton in their different shades — in a single visit. In the end, I settled for two that I used constantly. The other three I gave away. I owned too much for two lips.

You might want to try these two lipsticks on your own pair: Hydrating Conditioning Lip Color by Paula Dart from New York and Lancome, found worldwide. One is pink and the other is golden brown. Why am I particular about lipsticks? Because they’re the final touch to attractiveness in just a second. Your choice can brighten up your face! It can be the hallmark of your identity. If you ask me what I remember most, it would be the red lips on Lucy Torres Gomez, or the pale-lip look of Tina Maristela Ocampo, or the glossed lips on my daughter Mai-Mai. All different shades on a barely made-up face. They’ve selected lipsticks that can withstand kisses even on children’s cheeks and won’t attach itself to teeth, gums or your loved one’s lips! Anyway, you don’t need too many lipsticks because they’ll melt in your handbags or cabinets.

If you don’t want a failure in communication, you can exaggerate your eyelids with lilac, navy blue, sea green or smoky gray. My mushroom-brown eyeshadow and another lighter brown shadow are the safest shades day and night. I even buy the less expensive Maybelline and Revlon, available in bigger drugstores. Most expensive brands have branched off to selling lower-priced cosmetics that are within reach of the majority of buyers. We’re such international consumers, though. We’ve made companies compete with themselves. All foreign manufacturers of lipstick conspire with couturiers for their forward-looking fashion to complement each other. Soon enough, the desired colors of the season burst out on the market to catch up with publicity, expensive or less pricy, to remain fashionably up-to-date with brands as long as they’re hypoallergenic and non-dry emollients. There, I succumbed to the “counter” but only for two, mind you! Still exercising self-control.

Now, a little about powder.

A long time ago, Chinese women pounded rice from the smallest pearls to make their powders. In Tawi-Tawi, women pound rice and add a sticky substance from the sap of plants. They mix them together and spread it on their faces, for a ghostly whitening effect. Their husbands don’t get frightened because all day they’re out fishing. Every blackhead attaches itself to the rice and sap when it is removed and — voila! — a smooth complexion. I’m a modern woman and unconventional: I use just one face powder and never a foundation. As long as I wash my powder’s sponge clean in the morning, when I return at night it’s dry to use for an evening appointment. With a slight swish of the brush, ever so lightly I pass it over a pink shimmering Chanel or Nars blush-on to add sparkle to my cheeks. These were bought in the US, by the way, where every salesgirl wants to sell you “stuff.” Beware: never be too embarrassed to say “no.”

In a world where time moves so fast, we need things that can preserve the moment and won’t smudge and flake. Makeup that needs reapplying takes too much time. At one application, I like doing my lashes. I’m referring to L’Oreal and Lauder mascaras that stay on from morning to midnight and are waterproof. One trip to the beauty counter for a five-month daily beauty supply is one way to save money!

Skin tells us the naked truth: Can we be younger than our age? We can appear to be! But the bitter question to answer truthfully is are we “more” than cocktail drinkers? Do we party too much and cheat ourselves out of sleep? Are we cramming for exams? Coffee addicts? Chain smokers?

Here are my creams for everyone — those with vices or even lily-pure lives. There are four favorites that I’ve used over time. I won’t short-change you on information about them. The truth is my column is meant to protect and enhance the qualities of the female gender and make every woman attractive and appreciated.

I’ve been extremely happy using Derma-Collagen with Tetrapeptide-3 and Q10 Peptide–CL on my face. I buy them at Dr. Val Herbosa’s clinic at Makati Medical Center. See? No beauty counter. My leech liquid moisturizing cream is for anti-wrinkles and serves as cell renewal. The brand is called Biorica. I thought, how can something so watery be so potent? Dr. Imelda Cervantes was right. Trust your dermatologist to monitor what they recommend. It’s the safest route to complete complexion care.

The direction reads: “Apply one single pump of Vitamin C Complex from Skin Medica.” But I usually pump twice or thrice. It’s not that I have a wide face, but being a vitamin C devotee I can’t have enough. I’ve used Iskin Vitamin C too, applied with a dropper. Either one is super. On top of the vitamin C liquid I put Skin Ceuticals Vitamin B complex so as not to dry up my sensitive and thin complexion with vitamin C. I use Ytheal Crème by Avene as my moisturizer then apply Ceutical sunscreen, SPF30.

When the days and nights are hot but the air chills you or the weather is cold and every wrinkle appears beyond control, it’s time for Strivection Eye Cream. Still, that’s not enough, because even an air conditioner dries us out. Here’s when Sisley Anti-Age products come in. The price of this cream increases constantly — from P11,000 to P12,000, now up to P16,000 — but it’s great for the traveling blues in any weather.

As you may have noticed I don’t stick with one brand of cosmetics. I change creams constantly to get the best value from every line. Besides, my skin could become immune to a cream’s constant use.

We mustn’t forget our arms and hands. No matter what surgery the face has gone through, hands and arms can still yell out your age. I happened to find this excellent cream; I never thought it would be that good, coming from a counter — but I fell for it again! I’m referring to Shea Butter at Marks & Spencer. I apply it to my hands and arms to the inner elbow and the smell is so pleasing. It’s actually my daughter, China, who introduced this to me. It’s the cocoa butter I love to smell.

My newest discovery is HTY Gold that conquers dry, wrinkled, crepe-paper skin. It’s not a very popular product in the Philippines but what a wonderful cream from San Francisco. It’s a super skin emollient and my daughter Liaa ordered it for me over the Internet. We just have to continuously observe our bodies to remind ourselves: Oops, youthful skin!

Most anti-aging creams on the market today are water-based. Shortly after application, most of the water evaporates leaving only chemicals and preservatives that don’t nourish skin cells. Since I’m always in a hurry and wear long sleeves and black or white clothes, HTY Gold is easily absorbed into my skin, so I can dress and off I go. Tocotrienols, Tocopherols, CQ10, Alpha and Beta Carotenes, vitamins E and A to fight cell damage are the ingredients I look for in products — which you may not find in commercial beauty counters just yet.

Lastly, the danger of skin breakout. I use Clean and Clear for pimples; TriLuma Dark on face for pigmentation; Belo White for dark body scarring.

What I’ve written here are my secrets for staying young. I thought it was time to share them with you. Every woman needs to feel forever young — happy in appearance and accomplished. The last two are yours to pursue. The first one you know now, from me.

So, in conclusion, don’t get tempted by beauty counters. You need much less than what they sell, for sure!