Shades of summer

Dear Ms. Tingting,

What should I look for when choosing a pair of sunglasses for summer outdoor fun?

Carrie

Here’s a guide to summer sunglasses that I came across at www.carefair.com:

As with buying clothes, sunglasses aren’t all the same. Not only is a pair of summer sunglasses a fashion accessory, it’s also vital in protecting the eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. If it’s time for you to buy a new pair for summer, make sure you’ve got all bases covered. Take these hot tips:

• Just like choosing a hairstyle, your face shape plays a role in what type of sunglasses you should buy. The latest trend that’s managed to stick around for a while is sunglasses that are oversized. This actually is better for you, since the larger design covers more of your face, hence protects you better from the sun. But not everyone can get away with oversized lenses. Look at your favorite celebrities and see what type of frames they’ve chosen. It helps to choose celebrities with a similar face shape as yours.

• Round face shapes tend to look better in sunglasses that have straight lines, which balance out the roundness and curves of the face. The oversized sunglasses look doesn’t quite work for faces that are heart-shaped, since they can make the face — especially the chin — appear much bigger. Angular glasses do wonders for long faces. Rectangular frames are ideal to create curves.

• Don’t shop for sunglasses purely based on price. If you don’t have the same budget as your favorite A-list star, this doesn’t mean you can’t get a decent pair of sunglasses. Many frames look exactly the same but carry different price tags. Found an expensive pair you just have to have but you don’t have the money for it? Take a picture and shop around for a knock-off pair. With enough research, you’ll be able to find a copycat pair at a much more affordable price.

• Sunglasses aren’t just about how cool they look on you, it’s also important to know that they are properly protecting your eyes. Any pair of sunglasses you buy should offer 100-percent UV protection for up to 400 nanometers. Most glasses sport a sticker that states it offers 100-percent UV protection and those are the only kind you should buy. If you don’t see a sticker or aren’t sure how much protection a pair of sunglasses offers, if any, ask the salesperson. Be clear about what you’re looking for and bring photos for reference if you have a specific style and design in mind. Speaking of designs, you may want to invest in a pair of sunglasses that wrap around towards the ear, coupled with a wide lens or frame. This particular design offers even more protection for your eyes.

• Did you know that the color of your sunglasses also matters when it comes to protecting your eyesight? While shopping for sunglasses this summer, look for shades that are lighter in lens color. Lighter lenses don’t cause your pupils to dilate, which keeps your vision intact. Look for sunglasses that are blue, yellow, green, brown or amber.

Tingting

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Keeping Abreast Of Bra Strap Styles

Dear ms. Rissa,

I have drooping shoulders and my bra straps keep falling off.  Even if I tighten them, they tend to fall down my shoulders as I move around.  I have even tried to tape them to my shoulders with surgical tape, but it causes irritation after a couple of hours.  Is there any gadget that I can buy to hold these bra straps up?

I also would like to know if there is a “dry shampoo” available for women who cannot shampoo their hair because they cannot wet their head at the moment due to fever, illness, etc. but wish to clean their hair.

Queen mary

For your falling bra straps, why not opt for racer-back styles for your bras? This way, your bra straps are secure and will never fall off. Check out La Senza (located at Bonifacio High Street and TriNoma). This specialty lingerie store boasts high-quality, comfortable, and great-fitting lingerie — from bras and panties, to sleepwear, loungewear, body care and accessories. They offer a wide variety of bra styles imaginable — everything any woman will ever need! Remember, the right bra can make a huge difference to your appearance. I recently bought a convertible bra that allows me to wear it many ways — halter, crisscross, low back, or racer back. The straps can be worn in the regular vertical manner, but the bra also features a special clasp that allows you to hook the straps at the back into a racer-back style in just a click — definitely a must-have item in every woman’s closet. 

Most people tend to associate dry shampoo with women in confinement after giving birth or for bedridden patients who cannot shampoo their hair normally. But knowing how to clean your hair without water comes in handy especially when you don’t have access to water such as if you’re camping in the wilderness, you’re on bed rest, or if you’re just in a big rush. Regular shampoo works by removing sebum, all the dirt, styling products, and scalp flakes that are stuck to the hair and scalp. Dry shampoo absorbs sebum — rather than rinsing it away — and is brushed out, leaving your hair cleaner and lighter.

 I haven’t found any dry shampoo available here in Manila. But if you have a relative or friend going home from the US, you can ask them to buy you one. Otherwise, you can easily improvise by looking through your own kitchen cabinet. Some of your options are semolina or pasta flour, ground oatmeal, cornstarch, baking soda (which helps minimize any odors), large grain salt (but this can cling to oily hair). You can also try talcum powder.

 Start by brushing your hair, making sure there are no tangles. Add about a tablespoon of the dry shampoo to the top of your head and massage it throughout your scalp. Make sure to brush your hair so the dry shampoo is distributed throughout your hair and scalp, adding more as needed. Five to 10 minutes should be long enough for the dry shampoo to absorb the sebum in your hair. But if you have oily hair, it may take a little longer. After this, brush the shampoo out of your hair. You can turn your head upside down and brush out all of the powder. You can also use a hair dryer to help you get rid of the excess dry shampoo. Keep in mind that this might get messy, so do it over the sink or be ready to sweep or vacuum when you’re done.

Rissa

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The Cheapest Way To Look And Feel Beautiful

Dear lucy,

April is my birth month and I promised I would surround myself with all things beautiful. What’s a good way to start?

Liway

I agree — given especially the pessimism of a large chunk of the population regarding the state of our economy, we should fill the spaces of our lives with lovely things that make us smile. Why not start with flowers? They cheer up anything/anyone almost instantly. You can pick fresh blooms from your garden (if you happen to have one) or you can make a quick trip to Dangwa or Market! Market! where plants and flowers are priced very reasonably. For less of a hassle, you can just order flowers from Fiori di M, owned and operated by Gaita Fores. Gaita’s girls arrange these floralscapes beautifully and you will be surprised at how long they actually last before you need to have them refreshed again. Available at Adora, call 703-0370.

You can also update your wardrobe with lovely dresses in fabrics that please you. Even beyond nice cuts and nice styles, wearing the dresses should also make you feel good. 

Or how about being brave enough to try a new shade of lipstick or a new haircut that will allow even you to look at yourself in a new light? Shop around for the perfect look before settling on a hairstylist. And choose the latter very carefully — please go to someone reputable. The extra amount you might have to spend will be well worth it.

Perhaps my best tip for you today would be to celebrate every day as if it were a special day. Then that will be reason enough for you to use your best sheets, your nice plates, your new bottle of perfume, that beautiful outfit hanging in your closet waiting to be worn one perfect someday. That someday is now, embrace it.

Lastly, smile. It is the cheapest and fastest way for anyone to look and feel beautiful. Let me leave you with this thought from one of my favorite Chinese proverbs: “If you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other.”

LUCY

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