Good skin starts with a clean face

HI, REGINA!

What would you recommend for removing makeup? It’s supposed to be the most important thing when it comes to skincare, right?

KRISTIN

After wearing sunblock daily, yes! Making sure your face is totally clean before hopping into bed is crucial if you want good skin. It doesn’t matter how tired, lazy, or inebriated you are, find a way to get it done.

If you have eye makeup on, especially if it’s waterproof, I’d suggest taking that off first. I really love the gentle oil-and-water mix eye and lip makeup removers, like The Body Shop’s and Maybelline’s, and if you have the budget, Lancome’s oil-free Bi-Facil. They really work well to get every last smidgen of mascara and eyeliner out.

After that, if you have makeup on your face, use a cleansing oil, like Shu Uemura’s. You apply it on dry skin and massage it all over your face, then it emulsifies when it comes in contact with water, removing pretty much every bit of makeup.

I like to follow that up with a gentle foaming cleanser, just to be sure that all the residue is gone. Pick one that’s suited to your skin type. If you’re really dead set on making sure that your face is totally clean (but not squeaky-clean, because that indicates overwashing and possible dryness!), use a toner. It usually clears away anything that gets left behind. Then follow through with the rest of your regimen.

Sounds like a pain, sometimes it is a pain, but it’s a great habit to develop. Soon enough, you’ll be doing it like clockwork, even when you can barely keep your eyes open.                                            REGINA

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Oil right for your hair

DEAR RISSA,

I love my hair when it’s blow-dried at the salon, but I know it’s not good to subject hair to so much heat all the time. Is there a product that can protect my hair or speed up the drying time?                           TMA

If you’re the type who enjoys styling her hair often, then try Moroccan Oil (sold exclusively in fine salons globally). This phenomenal beautifying oil boasts fatty acids, Omega-3 oils, vitamins, and antioxidants, which restore protein to the hair to make it stronger. Its formula also absorbs instantly to fill in gaps made by heat, styling, and environmental damage. When paired with a blow drier, it can effortlessly transform frizzy hair to shiny, smooth, and manageable hair. You can even apply it after blow-drying to tame fly-aways or condition dry ends. My personal experience? What I do is apply it to damp towel-dried hair — remember, a little goes a long way — and then let it air dry. I naturally have straight hair, but it’s my dream to wake up every day with hair that looks salon blow-dried. This makes my hair shinier and it feels super smooth — yes, like it was newly blow-dried! I can’t help but stroke my hair over and over! I’m sure your better half will love running his fingers through your hair, too. I’ve tried it with a blow drier as well and what I love is how it seems to speed up the drying time. So, yes, apart from protecting your hair, the Moroccan Oil also helps lessen the number of minutes your hair is subjected to heat. This is a must for women who blow-dry their hair every day as part of their beauty routine.                                 RISSA

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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.