Men are now ‘beauty-conscious,’ too!

According to Dr. Paolo Santos, managing director of House Of Obagi (HOO), 25 to 30 percent of their clients are men

Did you have your nose lifted?

Short of actually examining my olfactory area with her hands, the erstwhile TV host nonetheless looked very closely, inches away from my face, as if trying (in vain!) to find even the slightest trace if I had ever undergone any “lifting” job.

Finding none, she was incredulous.

“So how did you get it?” pointing at my nose. “Where did you get it?”

“From my parents,” I told her.

I think she was neither convinced nor satisfied with my answer but fortunately (for me), she stopped trying to unravel what must have seemed a “mystery” to her and left my body parts alone…untouched…un-examined.

On top of this page is an Obagi ad featuring a face that looks familiar. Modesty aside, yes, that’s your Conversationalist as HOO (House Of Obagi) endorser along with such worthies as Pia Guanio (until lately) and, don’t look now, “beauty-conscious” male celebrities like Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas and hardcourt “lodi” (“idol” spelled/pronounced backward in the millennial idiom) Marc Pingris who have also graced the huge HOO billboards around the metropolis. It was Lolit Solis, my self-appointed manager, who negotiated the deal seven years ago.

Marc after an Obagi treatment.

Similar questions are popped right smack on my face by friends and strangers alike why I look, ehem, “so young” at this my senior-card-carrying phase of my life and they couldn’t believe that I didn’t, that I don’t, that I will never tamper with Nature’s work, and they (grudgingly?) nod in knowing that I haven’t, that I don’t, that I will never resort to any scientific re-invention.

“And, yes,” I would admit, “I have Obagi to thank for, well, making me look like this. Nothing invasive, though, just regular facials plus enough sleep, aerobic exercise, positive mindset, good vibes and lots of green tea.

In case you’ve been looking the other way, perhaps you haven’t noticed that men have likewise become preoccupied with their looks. Times have changed, indeed! Vanity has gone beyond gender, that’s why besides male beauty pageants proliferating with a vengeance, the number of men trooping to beauty parlors is increasing by the day. As the poet John Keats said, beauty is truth, truth beauty, that is all ye know on earth and all ye need to know. After all, as Keats also wrote, a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

Men who groom are called metrosexuals, aren’t they? The good news is that Chanel has just launched in South Korea its revolutionary makeup line-up for men called Boy de Chanel. Metrosexuals should find reassuring what Kristine Kim, the PR/communication manager for Chanel in Korea, revealed about the inspiration behind Boy de Chanel, “For Chanel, beauty is not a matter of gender, it is a matter of style. This new range allows men in their beauty routine to have the tool necessary to feel better about themselves. Moreover, men should be free to use makeup products to correct their appearance without calling into question their masculinity.”

What’s more, also in South Korea, men are reported to have started a “beauty revolution.” According to reports, Korean men spend more on skin care per person than men anywhere else in the world. They are inspired by their K-Pop idols to strive for what they consider to be the perfect face.”

The “beauty revolution” is alive in the Philippines.

“It’s true,” said Dr. Paolo Santos, managing director of House Of Obagi (HOO). “I can tell you that 25 to 30 percent of our clients are men. They usually avail of any of their favorite six treatments — HOO Lift, HOO Ultralift, Oxypro, Revlite, Hydrafacial and Botox.” (See boxed portion for explanation of the treatments.)

“I have never been conscious of going to a beauty parlor,” said Alfred. “As a public servant and actor, I have to look good all the time and I trust Obagi in giving me confidence. Obagi makes me not only look good but also feel good by having healthy, glowing skin. I always avail of Obagi’s signature facial. It’s part of my regular routine every two weeks.”

Alfred lovingly touches the tummy of Yasmine who is heavy with their third child, a boy.

Of course, leading a healthy lifestyle helps a lot.

Asked in a previous interview if it was hard to maintain a “player’s body,” Marc admitted, “I don’t think it’s hard. You just have to be disciplined. Kailangan talaga sa trabaho namin ‘yung fit and healthy ka. Sleeping early, getting a lot of rest and eating well are very important. If you take your body for granted, you will eventually suffer the consequences. Manghihina ka talaga.”

Alfred agreed. With his wife, Yasmine Espiritu, Alfred shares the following regimen: eat lots of veggies, sleep well, travel around the world to eliminate stress, drink lots of water and always wash your face before going to sleep. The couple has two daughters, Alexandra, seven years old, and Aryana, six years old. A few more months and they will welcome a new member of the family, a boy.

Marc and his wife Danica Sotto have two children, Jean-Michel, nine years old, and Anielle Micaela, seven years old.

Asked what health routine he shares with Danica, Marc said, “Sometimes she joins me in the gym or when I run around the village.”

Before a game, added Marc, he must have complete rest. “I take lots of liquid, lots of soup, especially tinola. And I pray with my wife and our kids.”

Would Alfred advise other men to undergo regular beauty treatment?

“Yes, I would. Friends usually ask what my secret is in having healthy skin and my answer is simple: good diet, enough sleep and Obagi.”

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)