Eye-do’s for under-eye circles

Dear Tingting,

I noticed dark circles under my eyes when I was about 21 years old. I’m 32 now and working in an insurance company in Makati. My job entails dealing with people and offering them hope for a good life. But if you have these under-eye shadows, you might as well feel hopeless as the only reaction you’ll get from prospective clients is, “Do you lack sleep?” or “Are you anemic?”

Now, because I feel I don’t look good, I’m the most insecure person working in an insurance company.

MILLECINE BARCELO

Doctors say that dark circles under the eyes are harmless. But still, if you really want to blot them out, here are a few lightening tips:

• Try a cold compress. Close your eyes and cover them with a cold washcloth for about five minutes. Repeat this several times throughout the day.

• Hide ’em. More opaque than foundation makeup, a cream concealer is made to order for under-eye darkness. Select a cream concealer that’s a little lighter than your skin tone, when worn under foundation. Paint the concealer with a small brush into the dark areas. Then take your pinky (little finger) and very lightly pat the edges to blend it in. Finally, powder lightly to help the concealer stay  put.

• Spread on sunscreen. Use a sunscreen especially made for the face with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 or preferably 20, all day every day, to keep the sun’s rays from darkening the skin under your eyes.

• Supplement your foundation. Some foundation cosmetics contain SPFs of 6 or 8. For full protection, you’ll need either a moisturizer or a sunscreen lotion with an SPF of 15.

• Use an eye cream. If your circles persist, try an opaque eye cream such as Lancome’s Expressive (available at Rustan’s). Alpha hydroxy acid, found in many eye creams, decreases wrinkles and lightens and smooths the skin. The most common AHA is glycolic acid. Other new eye creams that look promising are Renova and Cellex-C eye contour cream or gel (a topical vitamin C).

TINGTING

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Battling Dandruff: Hair’s The Score

Dear Rissa, 

I have an embarrassing problem. My dandruff is a problem I’ve been battling for quite some time now. I’ve tried several anti-dandruff shampoos, but perhaps I’m not hiyang to them because they don’t seem effective. If they do work, some make my hair feel dry.

What is a good anti-dandruff shampoo that you can recommend?

FLAKY GIRL  

Try not to be embarrassed about it. You aren’t alone. Research shows that 44 out of 100 Filipinos suffer from dandruff. It is caused by so many factors such as hormonal imbalance, poor health and hygiene, stress, hereditary predisposition, excessive use of hair sprays or gels, cold weather, and inadequate rinsing of the scalp and hair, to name a few. Finding the right shampoo to clear away those flakes can be a frustrating task. Personally, I like Vaseline’s Dandruff Care Shampoo (available in leading supermarkets, drugstores, and health and beauty hubs). With so many fashion shows and shoots and our hair constantly styled with products, we models occasionally deal with flakes from product buildup. I like using Vaseline’s Dandruff Care Shampoo because it effectively wipes away flakes and keeps my hair soft and smelling good. I’ve recently seen a new anti-dandruff shampoo on the market called Clear (also available in leading supermarkets, drugstores, and health and beauty hubs). If you’ve already tried the existing dandruff shampoos on the market, perhaps this new product is worth a try and will finally solve your problems. A male friend of mine who has been dealing with flakes since high school has been raving about how effective it is. He swears that it has finally solved his problem. For someone battling this flaky issue for many years, he was so happy with the results. You too might find a clear solution with this new product. Good luck!

RISSA

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School Shoe Woes

Dear lucy,

My six-year-old started big school and I bought her black school shoes but after two weeks, the right pair fell apart. I do not know if the shoes I bought were not sturdy enough or my daughter used them extraordinarily, but I need a better brand fast!  One that will last the whole (school) year through. 

mommy mina

I grew up with Gregg shoes as my school shoes.  Long after my sister and I had outgrown a pair, it would still be sturdy and in tip-top shape.  With that memory behind me, I looked no further when the time came to find the perfect pair of school shoes for my daughter. Of course, I tapped the help of Lila Almario whose family was behind the famous Gregg shoes.  She has a line of school shoes called Julian, named after her grandfather, the founder of Gregg shoes. She uses only top-grade genuine leather and soft imported leather is likewise used to line each pair fully. She uses high-quality rubber outsoles for comfort and strength, and the soles are double-stitched to withstand the demands of active children. If your child has special needs — if her feet are too wide or she is flat-footed — or you want a different style or a bit more allowance than what is available, they also do custom-made shoes, which only take a very short time to make.  I got my daughter Juliana two pairs that she can rotate for the school year, both in black but one in adorable black patent.  Shoes that fit well are very important because otherwise, your child will end up with painful, ugly feet. Visit the Lila Almario  factory/showroom at 151 N. Domingo St., San Juan, Metro Manila with telephone number 724-4732 (look for Dory).

LUCY

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Send e-mail to tingtingcojuangco@yahoo.com, ltg@pldtdsl.com, and rissa_samson@yahoo.com.