Playing Santa
In the
Here in YStyle, we couldn’t really give a reindeer’s sass about what Santa does or does not say — as long as the gifts keep on coming. And they will. To you. Once again, we, along with some of our favorite brands, are spreading the Christmas cheer by giving our readers samples of the products featured in this article.
We’re also hoping that it will trigger light bulb moments for those whose shopping lists still hold blanks. Beauty products are no-fail presents: they’re practical, useful, don’t spoil as quickly as food, and are not as embarrassing to give as, say, underwear.
If you want to be on the YStyle gift list, shoot us an email at ystylecrew@yahoo.com with the heading “Give me gifts” and tell us which among the products featured you’d like for Christmas by Dec.17.
Shu Uemura
How do you reinvent an icon? Shu Uemura goes about it with nary a hitch by downsizing their beloved and award-winning eyelash curler. The mini eyelash curler, equipped with a head about half the size of the original eyelash curler, enables you to curl those hard-to-reach lash areas such as the short and fine eyelashes on the inner and outer corners of the eyes. The mini curler can also be used to primp up the lashes on the outer corner to create elegant flaring.
The curler goes hand in hand with the brand’s new holiday makeup collection. Called Muse, this collection was created in collaboration with international celebrity makeup artist Gina Brooke (a Google search reveals connections to Madonna and Eva Longoria) and showcases earthy palettes lightly dusted with a bit of shimmer. The collection also includes limited- edition glitter mascara that’s perfect for enhancing those fully-curled sweepers. The subtle glitter, meant to reflect the abundant sparkle of the holiday season, is encased in a limited- edition twinkling black cylinder. Now, you can aim for perfect batting precision.
Guerlain
Gold is such an ubiquitous holiday color that if it were to snow on
Beauty brand Guerlain is not one to get left behind. Its makeup collection for holiday 2007 plays up the metallic shade to the max, starting with its gold-tinged colors down to the makeup’s heavy gilded packaging.
Its limited-edition offerings are all cashing in on the gold dust as well. Their best-selling Meteorites Pearls are now available in six new-gold and silver shades, while the Kiss Kiss lipsticks and gloss come in shades tinged with gold.
To add brilliance to the eyes, Guerlain has come up with a for-the-holidays-only Golden Lash gel that can be applied over mascara to add a golden shine to lashes. Use this with their Midnight Gold Ombre Eclat eyeshadow duo and liner. The palette shines with two sparkly shades, ivory and gold, and an unusual liner shade in reddish-bronze, also subtly speckled with gold. Guerlain is available at Rustan’s.
Kiehl’s
I think we’ve already established that Christmas, despite the cheerful décor and gastronomic abundance, can actually be very stressful. I’ve known grown people who actually broke down trying to finish their gift-wrapping. Thankfully, Kiehl’s makes it a bit easier for us.
In line with their long-standing traditions of service and giving, Kiehl’s in its first Christmas in
Kiehl’s also has gift sets packed especially for men, and for fruit-loving beauty junkies (a grapefruit collection). All packs come in either a bright red box or bag, and come packed with potpourri for a more sensory holiday experience.
Make Up For Ever
It’s no use trying to play up your lips this Christmas: every sumptuous buffet and food tasting you encounter begs a lipstick retouch. So if you’re not one to whip out a color tube after every oily lechon bite, than might as well just focus all effort on your eyes.
Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Essential eye kit is an all-in-one pack that contains five of the brand’s most staying eye makeup. Start out by using the Eye Seal with your eyeshadow. This best-kept secret among makeup artists waterproofs and increases the staying power of any makeup. It also works well with eyeliners, particularly with Aqua Eyes waterproof eyeliner pencil. Called the brand’s “hero product,” its supple formulation combines long-lasting hold with easy application.
For more intense lining, opt for the (extremely) waterproof eyeliner. This durable liquid liner supposedly resists everything: sweat, tears and even pool water. Finish off with the lengthening waterproof mascara, a long-lasting highly-pigmented formula that extends the lashes with every stroke without leaving any irritating clumps. Make Up For Ever is located at The Block at SM North Edsa.
YSTYLE PICKS Youth potion
It is said that actress and beauty icon Gretchen Barretto uses Olay’s moisturizer not only on her face, but on her whole body. Given that every inch of her seems flawless, then it should also be said Gretchen has found her match in Olay, of which she is a brand ambassador.
Gretchen’s Olay ritual can be compared to that of Cleopatra’s who was said to have bathed in milk (high in lactic acid, thus good for skin exfoliation) and applied honey (a good skin moisturizer) to her face. Both beauty rituals aim at one objective: to achieve youthful, radiant skin. Since forever, women have been striving to reverse the effects of skin aging. In the 21st century, amidst professional anti-aging facial treatments, the new Olay Total Effects strives to be the new potion of youth.
This new line boasts an improved VitaNiacin technology that promises to give seven anti-aging benefits: line minimization, pore refinement, subtle lifting, gentle exfoliation, nourishing moisturization, all through the combined formula of Niacinamide and anti-oxidants. Niacinamide also helps enhance and even out the skin tone, while vitamin E and C work in synergy to protect the skin from damaging free radicals. It’s as if you’re getting a daily facial, perhaps even better.
Olay Total Effects is available at leading supermarkets and drugstores.
