Give your hands the royal treatment

Dear Rissa,

I love pampering myself and when I entertain at home, I also like making sure my guests are pampered. I’m looking for a good liquid hand soap to put in our guest bathroom that doesn’t just have a pretty bottle but cares for my guests’ hands, too. Although fragrant, the bars of soap I used to put by the sink are not only very drying to the hands, I also find them unhygienic. Would love to hear your suggestions. Thank you!

Kate P.

You’re such a thoughtful host for thinking of your guests. The guest bathroom is perhaps the most frequented place in the house when entertaining. And when they do not see your bedroom or your entire home, the guest bathroom says a lot about the host.

Indeed, bars of soap may be fragrant but all those perfumes and chemicals can dry out the hands. To give your guests the ultimate pampering, try Penhaligon’s of London Quercus Liquid Hand Wash (exclusively available at Adora, Greenbelt 5, Makati. Contact 0917-557-7402 or visit www.adora.ph). Englishman William Penhaligon founded the brand in 1872, when he created his first scent. By the end of Queen Victoria’s reign, he had been appointed Perfumer to the Royal Court; 135 years later, the brand Penhaligon’s is proud to hold Royal Warrants from the Prince of Wales (1988) and the Duke of Edinburgh (1956) — marks of recognition given to individuals or companies who have supplied goods or services for at least five years to the royal family.

You can add luxury to your guest bathroom with Penhaligon’s of London Quercus Liquid Hand Soap. I love this because it not only looks good but also smells good and superbly cares for the hands, too. The pump bottle makes it very hygienic, and the hand wash itself boasts anti-bacterial properties. Free from common irritants that dry out the skin, this product is soap-free and color-free. And because it’s enriched with hydrating glycerin, it helps bind moisture to the skin, leaving the hands feeling soft, supple and nourished. The scent features the fresh, uplifting scent of quercus, which smells light and modern. It’s so mild yet fragrant that you’ll wish you could wear the scent every day!

If you want to take the extra step of pampering your guests, keep a bottle of Penhaligon’s Quercus Hand & Nail Lotion (also exclusively available at Adora, Greenbelt 5, Makati) beside the hand wash. Containing cocoa seed butter, grapeseed oil and sweet almond oil, this helps lock in moisture for dry hands that get chapped from frequent washing. The grapeseed helps strengthen nails. I just gave birth a month ago and have not had time to get a manicure. But when I first used this, I swear it instantly made my hands look like they got pampered from a manicure! With Penhaligon’s of London’s Quercus Liquid Hand Soap and Hand & Nail Lotion, your guests will feel like royalty.

Rissa

* * *

How to get wavy hair without a curling iron

Hi, Regina!

Beachy waves: Vanessa Hudgens’ tousled tresses are achievable with a few simple tricks.

Beauty trends to update your look

I don’t own a curling iron. Is there a way for me to get wavy hair that doesn’t require one?

Kristel

If your hair is already naturally wavy, it’ll be a lot easier to get more defined curls. One thing you can do to prep your hair for styling is to run mousse through it while it’s damp (it’ll help hold your style). Then, blow-dry or air-dry, but don’t brush your hair straight while doing so; just keep tousling with your hands as you dry.

Twist your hair and put it up in a bun to let it set; take your hair down after 20 minutes or so. (You can also weave it into big braids for looser waves.) Twist it up when you’re in the car or between events to set it again; you’ll get casual beach-babe curls that don’t look overdone.

Regina

* * *

Look of the moment: Jessica Alba goes for the bold red lip.

Dear Lucy,

What are five beauty trends that I can embrace immediately to update my look?

Mara

I can share five with you right now:

Bold, matte lips. Shy away from rosy cream lipsticks and peachy glosses for now; go for bright and matte. Whether you choose a shade that is red, orange, or a combination of both, be unapologetic about it. Always exfoliate your lips before using a bold hue. Define the borders of your lips with a blunt-tipped liner (so you do not create a harsh line that can make you look older) before filling in your lips. Blot, reapply, blot, reapply.

Cat’s eye. Maybelline’s Hyper Sharp Liner does the job so, so well. You can go subtle during the day, and exaggerate it at night. When done well, it looks sophisticated and sexy at the same time.

Bejeweled clips, sharks, headbands. Hair should never look perfectly coiffed. There has to be something loose, undone, and imperfect about it. Loose hair is a statement when anchored here and there with something jeweled or sparkly. 

Blue instead of black. There is navy and there is cobalt blue. Line your eyes with blue — it’s dramatic but definitely more forgiving and less harsh than black. 

Nail polish in colors that are never sweet. Think deep colors, metallics, and dark nudes at the very least. It will feel like you have jewelry on your nails. Plus, peep toes always look sexier when toenails are colored.  

Lucy

* * *

Send e-mail to Lucy Torres-Gomez at ltg@pldtdsl.com. E-mail Rissa Trillo at stylesos_rissa@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter @RissaMananquil. Send Regina Belmonte your questions at vivatregina.tumblr@gmail.com or tweet her @vivatregina.