Unfortunately for many, addiction can be a road leading to disaster. Luckily for me, I’m just a beauty junkie and my obsessions consist of scouring the shelves for products that give me a real high when they execute optimum performance. The casualties I occasionally incur are irritations from ingredients that inflame my skin; but with a little cortisone, there’s nothing to fear. The little guinea pig in me doesn’t discriminate either — I am an equal-opportunity user, from budget finds to pricey creams that could rival some schools’ tuition fees. Below is a roundup of some of the latest products on the market which, I’m happy to say, work overtime.
Lancôme Mystery Cube and Kohl Oriental Duo
Inspired by Agatha Christie thrillers and luxe Orient Express trains, the latest from Lancôme features conspiracy and opulence in their fall collection. This season’s cult item, the Mystery Cube contains hidden compartments that house mauve and bronze shades for the eye and two hues in nude and wine for the lip. Covered with adjectives in French that describe women best (charmeuse, fatale, jalousie, coquette and secrete), it’s almost like a Rubik’s cube for beauty. The gorgeous eyeliner for this collection is an Oriental kohl that is half gold and half black, aptly named the Charm of Istanbul.
Tommy 10 and Tommy Girl 10
Tommy Hilfiger’s been around the block. The release of two fresh scents to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the initial launch of his fragrance is quite a grand gesture. These new fragrances are crisp reincarnations of the classics. As American as apple pie, a whiff of these colognes immediately transports you on a cross-country road trip eliciting feelings of excitement. Tommy 10 for men’s road trip includes stops at Seattle for rain, Hawaii for pineapple, Kentucky for blue grass, Cape Cod for cranberry, the Rockies for blue spruce, Arizona for cactus flower, Long Island for driftwood, Vermont for maple and Wyoming for cottonwood. For the gals, a road trip with Tommy Girl 10 is oozing with Nantucket cranberry, Marion pear, sweet Pixie tangerine, Indian River grapefruit, Mississippi magnolia, Californian honeysuckle, Virginia water lily, Vermont cream and Rocky Mountain birch. Cool and contemporary, these fruity and flowery scents are ideal in tropical weather for a little pick-me-up.
Make Up For Ever’s Diamond Shadow
Diamonds surely are a girl’s best friend. It doesn’t hurt to have diamond eyeshadow to accompany the ice dripping down your neck and the fab rocks surrounding your fingers. Whether you can afford the real thing or not, Make Up For Ever has a gorgeous eyeshadow that can satiate your sparkly desires for now. Twelve shades of rich, iridescent eyeshadow have been launched to celebrate the first anniversary of Make Up For Ever in the Philippines. A swipe of this brilliant shadow across the lid adds that extra je ne sais quoi to your party look, which will be in full force during these “ber” months. Its intense color can’t be rivaled and won’t come off until you scrub it away (which you must always do before hitting the sack no matter how tired you are). The subtle glitter effect from borosilicate crystals and mother of pearl (ooh, fancy!) blends easily and looks sublime. I fancy the dark blue and black shades for a hip, smoky, sparkly eye.
CKIN2U
Who can forget CK One — or am I revealing my age here? While CK One was the successful unisex signature fragrance of grungy Generation X, times have changed and the need for something more progressive has been developed with CKIN2U. Gender specific (with the rise of metrosexuals) and riding with the waves of technology, these scents seek to represent the technological age of texting and Facebooking and being connected 24/7. Essentially a “technosexual” scent, in text talk (which has truly become part of the cultural vernacular), CKIN2U directly says “I’m into you.” For him, the scent is charismatic and uninhibited with notes of lime gin fizz, cool musks and warm vetiver. Seductive and spontaneous, the ladies’ version is a burst of pink grapefruit fizz, sugar orchid and neon amber. With the Philippines on top of its game in the texting arena, these scents are spot-on for the text generation.
Olay White Radiance Intensive Whitening Cream
I could have dressed up as a ghost for Halloween without having to get a costume made, since I’m so white. I don’t need to use whitening products but the latest from Olay covers lots of other ground aside from keeping us light and bright. It protects against UV rays with SPF24, evens out skin tone by diminishing dark spots and acne scars, while titanium dioxide makes pores look smaller. Love that! White Radiance also hydrates with a non-greasy formula making it easy to use under makeup; antioxidants also protect skin from harmful free radicals.
Origins Save the Males
It’d be so rude if we just neglected men in this beauty smorgasbord. Origins for Men has a kick-ass multi-benefit moisturizer in its range of skincare specially designed for men. It’s easier to prevent skin damage than to correct it, so pay for it now and reap the benefits later. Oil-free and lightweight, it’s easily absorbed into the skin, which is particularly desirable right after shaving. The formula is not oily due to avocado extract while mangosteen extract and Chinese Wolfberry provide antioxidant protection. Green algae boosts skin’s natural collagen production and does its best to combat signs of aging. It’s our duty to help out the men in our life.
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Comments? E-mail me at jcantonio@gmail.com.