And now, Kiss & Make-up by Pipay

Pops Fernandez is very happy nowadays. Not only is her showbiz career doing great, but her business venture is also doing good.

Riding on the success of Pipay Designs, her line of women’s casual clothes and bags, the multi-talented performer/entrepreneur has recently launched Kiss & Make-Up by Pipay, a complete line of cosmetics and perfume.

"It seemed the logical next step after the opening of the Pipay stores. I’m in the fashion and beauty business, at hindi kumpleto ang pagpapaganda kung walang make-up," Pops states.

Having her own make-up line has always been her dream. A few years ago, she launched a limited edition lipstick line for HerBench. The line was so popular it inspired Pops to come up with a complete line of cosmetics.

She admits though that putting her line together was not easy. She consulted Ricky Reyes and together, they approached a cosmetics manufacturer in Hong Kong to develop the make-up.

"There were a lot of consultations and product testing involved before it was finally ready," says Pops.

But she quickly points out that, although manufactured abroad, Kiss & Make-Up is formulated specially for Filipino women. The line consists of pressed powder, eyeshadow in single and combination shades, blusher, mascara, lip gloss and cologne.

"I don’t want to sell anything unless I’m sure of its quality. I believe in my line and I use my products. I can personally tell my customers that Pipay products are very good," Pops says proudly.

The colors were handpicked by Pops herself. A fan of the no-make-up look, Pops selected earth tones for eyeshadows, and pinks, peaches and reddish browns for blusher and lipstick.

"I think it’s important for women to look natural, and not use make-up to change their looks. I personally love lipstick. Just a little bit of lipstick can add color to your face and transform you. The colors I chose for Kiss & Make-Up do just that but still look natural."

She also launched her 2004 Summer Collection, which she says are "perfect for those hot summer months." The line includes sexy tees and tank tops with the signature Pipay logo and women tops like Vietnamese long blouses, strappy floral tanks, spaghetti tops and dresses.

"Pipay has been so successful considering that we’ve been in the business for only a year," shares Pops. "And we want to surpass that success by opening more branches and offering more products but we’re still studying it. We’re attacking it slowly but surely."

Start simple. Believe in your business. Know what customers need. These are the tried and tested business principles that Pops swear by.

"I try to run my business on a personal basis. I talk to my customers, find out what they want. I don’t’ just want to let my products sit in the stores and wait for customers. With the help of the hairdressers, I hope to introduce the line to more people. Feedback helps. I’d really like to give them what they want," Pops concludes.

The New Liza Lorena

Liza Lorena wants to look her very best when son Tonton Gutierrez exchanges wedding vows with longtime girlfriend Glydel Mercado on March 15. Liza wants the occasion to be picture-perfect, just like all mothers do.

This is why she decided to undergo the Aptos Thread Seamless Facelift under the masterful hands of Dr. Vicky Belo.

Born to an Irish-German father and Pampangaueña mother, Elizabeth Ann Jolene Luciano Winsett a.k.a. Liza Lorena has always been genetically gifted. She was a flight attendant and beauty queen before she was lured into show business. She was 17 then.

At 18, she gave birth to her first-born, the handsome Eduardo Antonio "Tonton" Gutierrez. At 26, she had daughter Wenesday Winsett Palanca.

But, unlike her contemporaries, Liza took her looks for granted. She only noticed the tell-tale signs of aging when she hit her mid-40s but she refused to undergo cosmetic surgery. She found the classic facelift "a bit scary." She has seen facelifts that made women look like they came from the same factory and had a certain stretched quality about them.

Now in her early 50s and with the upcoming wedding of her son, she decided to undergo cosmetic enhancement to look her very best. When she heard of the Aptos Thread Seamless Facelift, she decided to go for it.

And she was the perfect candidate for she only had fine lines and very little loose skin. A procedure that is only slightly invasive and with very minimal blood loss, Aptos was performed on her temples and eyebrows to lift the eyelids and cheek areas. This resulted in the re-emergence of her regal cheekbones. And while she was at it, she had her neck and double chin liposuctioned.

The entire procedure shaved off a good 15 to 20 years from her face. She still looks like herself – only younger and certainly in fighting form in time for her son’s wedding.