My 25 faves

Uptown/Downtown dishes out recommendations on the best value-for-money fashion and beauty products and services that have received this column’s seal of approval.

Skincare lines

* ZO Skincare line — This new offering of Dr. Zein Obagi prides itself of products that offer skin renewal. If you liked Obagi’s original formulation, you will love this new incarnation as it gives the same great results with less downtime. Available in all Belo Clinic branches.

*VMV Hypoallergenics — The VMV group is obsessed with hypoallergenicity. It has thoroughly studied every known potential allergen and has taken great pains to make sure that each of its products has the least number of irritating ingredients. VMV’s focus is on caring for skin in the tropics making it an ideal choice for Filipinos. Available in department stores nationwide.

Products

* Armada Sports SPF 70 (by VMV Hypoallergenics) — Considered by many to be the gold standard in sun protection, Armada is the favorite of many lady golfers and beach aficionados in the country. Available in all VMV stores.

* Biopha Organic Soap with Argan Oil — This scentless soap not only cleanses your skin; it also leaves you with a wonderful silky feeling (thanks to the argan oil) without feeling greasy! Available in Souq Organics at The Landmark and Mercury Drug in Glorietta 3.

* Dove Unscented — If you have dry or sensitive skin, chances are your dermatologist will recommend Dove Unscented Bar. This product is mild on the skin — even babies can use it!

*In2itBBMakeupCream5-in-1—AvailableinPCExchangeandinmostdepartmentstores,thisrelativelyinexpensiveproductworksasasunblockwithSPF30,concealsblemishesandspots,moisturizestheskinandworksasaprimerforeyeshadowandblush.Gooddeal!

*CoverGirlAdvanceRadiance—Itdoesagreatjobatconcealingfinelinesandspotswhileleavingyouwithadewy,freshlook.AvailableinSMDepartmentstores.

*MACStudioFix—Bynow,mostwomenhaveMAC’s2-in-1compactintheirpurse.Thisgo-toproductgivesyourskinfullcoverageevennesswhileeffectivelyblottingoutexcessoil.AvailableinRustan’sDepartmentStores.

*NiveaTintedLipCare—Thisdrugstorevarietylipbalmkeepsyourlipsmoistwithoutthegreasyfeelandaddsalovelytintofcolor.Ourfavorite:AKissofFlavorinPassionFruit.Availableinmostdrugstoresanddepartmentstores.

*PetroleumJelly—Wehavesaiditbeforeandwewillsayitagain,thisTyraBanksfavoriteisamustineverywoman’spurse.Itisamoisturizer,makeupremoverandlipbalmallrolledintoone.Quicktip:buyapeppermint-flavoredvarietyjustincaseyouoftenfindyourselfusingpublictoiletsasthepeppermintscentmasksfunkyodors.

SkinTreatments

*Ulthera—Anon-invasiveprocedure,Ultheraisidealformaturewomenwhoareexperiencingmoderatelossoftoneintheirfaceandneck.Theprocedurelifts,tightensandtonestheskinandmusclesintheaforementionedareasresultinginamoreyouthfullook.

*Endymed—Thismachineisquitethewonderamongolderclientsasasingletreatmentyieldsvisibleresults.Endymedisanadvancedradiofrequencyproductthatpainlesslyfirmsupskinbyincreasingcollagenproduction.EndymedtreatmentsareavailableattheclinicofDr.AmyPatdu(818-2698).

Haircare

*L’OréalHairSpa—Acrowdfavorite,thissoothinghairspanourisheseverystrand,givingeventhemostdamagedhairasilkysmoothappearance.Mostsalonscarrythisproduct.Tip:manysalonskeepthehairspaonforabout30minutesandthenproceedtorinse.Ifyougetthechancetobuythisproductonyourownanddoahometreatment,keepitonforaslongaspossibletoseeevenbetterresults!

*D&RBeautyEssentials—Wantafast,cheapandeffectivewaytogetyourhairsmoothandsilky?D&Rconditioner(1liter)isahousebrandofHortalezaandisimpressivelyinexpensive.

*Goodoldcoconutoil—Ourlolashadtherightideaallalong.Heatasmallcontainerofcoconutoil(aboutfourtablespoons)toacomfortablywarmtemperatureandapplyontoyourscalp.Massagethoroughlyandapplyremainderoftheoilonyourhair.Wrapyourheadwithawarmtowelforatleast10minutes(ifyouhaveahairsteamer,thatwouldbeevenbetter!)andthenrinseasusual.

*Revlon’sColorsilk—Speakingofsealsofapproval,thisproductwonamajornodfromGoodHousekeeping(USA)homehaircolortreatment.Easytouseandrelativelyinexpensive,Colorsilkisavailableinmostsupermarkets,drugstoresanddepartmentstores.

Makeup

*M.A.C.—M.A.C.standsforMakeupArtCosmeticsandisaToronto-basedcompany.M.A.C.’swiderangeofcolorsappealtoeverywomanandthestayingpoweroftheireyeshadows,blushesandpowdersislegend.AvailableinRustan’s.

*FannySerrano—HaveyoucheckedoutFannySerrano’slineofeyeshadowlately?Theyarefantastic!Onecanbuytheseshadesinsinglesorchoosetopurchaseseveralandhavethemattachedinapalette.

*NYXCosmetics—FundoesnothavetoloseitsfunctionalityandNYXCosmeticsisproofofthis.NYXhasawidevarietyofpalettes(containingeyeshadows,blushesandlipsticks)tochoosefrom.Thiscolumnistlovesitsjumbolipandeyepencils.CheckoutNYX’sofficialdistributoratwww.facebook.com/NYX.Official.

*EtudeHouse—ThankstoK-PopandthemanyKoreanovelasonTV,theKoreanlookisnowadmiredbymanyFilipinas.Forthosewhowishtoemulatethislook,thereisEtudeHousethatcarriesarangeofskincareandmakeupproductsfromSouthKorea.Specialmentionshouldbegiventothestore’sLashFirm3-StepVolumeMascara—anofferingthatallowsladiestochoosehowthicktheywishtheirlashestobe.AvailableinallSMMallsnationwide.

*SalesoffalseeyelasheshaveskyrocketedinAsiaandforgoodreason:thicklasheslikewell-formedeyebrowsaddalluretoawoman’sface.Therearemanyexpensive(branded)falseeyelashesinthemarket.Thisbeautyresearchersuggestsforgoingtheexpensive(anduseless)packagingandoptforequallyreliableyetcheaperalternatives.Hortalezacarriesfalsiesinvariouslengths,thicknessandstylesformuchlessthanthosesoldindepartmentstores.Ifyouwishtohavefalseeyelashesmade-to-order,callMarielAgovidaofFeEyelashes(0927-567-4724).Youwillgetexactlytheshapeandthicknessthatyouwant(sheusesrealhumanhair)atasurprisinglyreasonableprice(farlowerthanretailtags)!

*Eyelashextension—Anotheralternativetowearingfalseeyelashesareeyelashextensions.Manywomenlovehavingextensionsappliedastheyaresparedfromthehassleofattachingeyelasheseveryday.ChooseareliableeyelashextensionsalonsuchasLavishLashesStudio(340-9592).

Fashion

*DeFactoIndustry—Thesecrettoagreatfitishavingyourclothescustom-made.DeFactoisthiswriter’sgo-toplacefortheperfectpairofjeansorkhakipants.Thecompanyhasanampleselectionofmaterialandcolorstochoosefromandthepricesarecomparabletoitsdepartmentstore-boughtcounterparts.DeFactoIndustryislocatedatUnit127G/FMileLongBldg.,MakatiCity(0917-698-7664).

*Whatwouldawomandowithouthertrustedkusturera?LindaTolentinoisthiswriter’sgodsend.JustsendheradressandshecancopyittoaT!Thatfantasticoutfityousawmeinlastnight,whichyousworewasanEscada?FabricfromDivisoria,lovinglycraftedbyLinda!CallLindaTolentinoat824-1387.

Superstarteeth

*CosmeticandmicrodentistryexpertDr.PioTriponhasmadeitpossibleforhundredsofpeopleachievetheirHollywoodsmile.Nowonderheisknownasthedentisttothestars!Visitwww.tripondental.comorcall0917-890-3114.