Glow with the ultimate lip gloss

DEAR RISSA,

I’m looking for a lip product that gives great color but at the same time a nice shine. Lipstick can sometimes be drying to my lips. I want something with amazing color but no sticky exaggerated glittery shine, please.

KAREN 

Lip glosses do have a bad rep for having a glue-like feeling. I’ve also been very anti-lip gloss for the longest time because they can get too sticky, too gloppy, too “stripper,” and too sparkly. But one product made me change my mind. Have you tried Becca Ultimate Color Gloss (available at Adora, Greenbelt 5, Makati)? This brand has made lip gloss more wearable. It has the bold color of a lipstick combined with the shine of a gloss — without the heavy and sticky feeling! This is love at first swipe! It’s so highly pigmented that you don’t need to layer lipstick underneath this lip gloss! One coat is all you need. This will never feel dry because its formula contains Vitamin E to nourish and hydrate while emollient oils provide glide, slip, and comfort on the lips. The result? Feather-light, long-lasting color and moisture with a modern shine. 

Another reason to start stocking up on lip glosses? They can make you look younger! For women dealing with little lines on their lips, lip gloss is more forgiving than lipstick and blurs away those unwanted lip wrinkles. Shiny nude glosses (a must is Becca’s Ultimate Color Gloss in the shade Fallen Angel) are also a good option if your teeth are starting to show their age. The shimmer in a neutral shade reflects against graying enamel, creating an illusion that teeth are shinier than they actually are. Lip gloss is definitely something to smile about again!  RISSA

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Fashionable shades of grey

DEAR LUCY,

My wardrobe is very colorful, too colorful in fact for my own good.  I also like my clothes flowy and embellished.  Minimalism is really not me.  But I am told  to channel some sleekness  because the office I now work in has a strict dress code.  So, now I feel compelled to start getting myself some neutrals.  Problem is I abhor black and white.  I really do not like them, wearing those non-colors make me feel sad.  Any suggestions?

JESSY

How about grey?  It can be subtly more exciting than black or white, and takes versatility to a whole new level if only because it is seldom top of mind.  Depending on how light or dark the shade of gray you choose, you can pair it with the whole spectrum of pastels and brights.  You can also wear it as a solid (just make sure it is cut and sewn well) and if that is not exciting enough for you, you can work with your tailor/seamstress/designer and look at combining different textures in one outfit.  With gray as a base, you can also start to make friends with black as a detail in the outfit.  Maybe when you slowly introduce it in bits and pieces, you will not find it so repulsive.  I don’t mean to insist, but black and white, worn together or on its own, is classic and foolproof.

You also say your style is more frou-frou.  Fret not, you can always reserve that for occasions and events outside the office.  But to keep things simple, follow the dress code imposed by your office, it will be one less thing to worry about. When you get around to wearing sleek clothes, especially those that fit close to the body, remember that fit is very important.  It is best to be mindful of your underwear, too.  Make sure there are no visible panty lines and that your bra provides coverage as well as support.

LUCY

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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.