DEAR LUCY,
I get so overwhelmed when I need to pack for a cold destination. There’s just too much to pack and everything is so thick and chunky I hardly have any space left in my luggage. Also, I never quite know what to pack. Where do you get your coats?
FARICA
Uniqlo’s Heat Tech line is a godsend. It keeps you warm even if the layers seem thin. They are very comfortable, very affordable, very easy to wear and they come in several styles and a variety of solid colors. I layer them on, and because I easily get cold sometimes, I go as high up as five layers before I throw on a coat.
Re coats, I get mine when I travel. I have several favorite brands that I lean to. You need not have too many coats, but when you do buy, get the best your money can afford. You do not need many new coats every year, but make sure that the ones you do get are beautiful in every way that matters — it must serve its purpose of keeping you warm, it must be beautiful, it must be flattering on you. Coats can be quite expensive, so don’t waste your funds on so-so ones that are trendy. Choose the ones that are timeless, the ones that will serve you well in the many years to come.
LUCY
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NAIL IT WITH SHINY AND CHIP-FREE POLISH!
DEAR RISSA,
I love gel polish, but they cost so much and removing them destroys my nails. I’m looking for a nail polish brand that stays shiny and chip-free. What do you recommend?
C.G.
I love the shine and strength of gel nails! But yes, removal is not the most pleasant and all that scraping damages the nails in the long run. I’m not so happy about having my hands regularly exposed to harmful UV light, too, which is why whenever I have gel nails done, I bring a tube of sunscreen and ask the nail technician to apply it on my hands (avoiding the nails, of course) prior to the gel polish application.
As a mom, hands-on entrepreneur, and a writer, I’m always working with my hands and they really are the most abused body part. With a tight sked and the terrible traffic, the services or products I will want to keep coming back to are those that are easy to use, multi-task, and give mileage and value for money. I also want nail polish that lasts long so I don’t have to keep having my nails done over and over.
Try Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel collection. It’s a two-step at-home gel manicure system that delivers 14 days of color and shine. With its gel finish, it promises to be more chip-resistant than regular polish. All you have to do is apply two coats of the Miracle Gel color of your choice, then follow with one coat of Miracle Gel Top Coat for a high-gloss finish. No need for a UV lamp to get the mirror-shine finish. Regular nail polish remover can easily remove the nail polish, too! No soaking and scraping required.
If you already have your favorite bottle of nail polish, you can try using Seche Vite Dry Fast Topcoat (available at BeautyMnl.com). It gives an amazing shine and makes virtually any polish last longer, too! I especially love how it makes your polish dry faster.
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. STYLE S.O.S. Lucy Torres-Gomez and Rissa Mananquil-Trillo