Swatch It: Make Your Own Sunglasses

Dear Rissa,

I’m looking for new sunglasses. I read somewhere how one’s glasses (frames) should match the shape of one’s face. Is there an enduring, classic style? Maybe you can also direct me to some eyewear brands.                                        

Clarice

When buying eyewear, I don’t let brands dictate my choice. To be practical, sunglasses are usually among the first things people lose or destroy while traveling. If you’re the type who always loses her glasses, an expensive brand will be painful to the pocket. Consider a reasonably priced brand if you feel you just might misplace them. Shape, comfort and fit are the first things I look for. Style comes next — if I love it and I see myself wearing it all the time, then I buy it. 

When it comes to eyewear, you generally work against face shape. The most attractive frames gently counterbalance your face shape and features. For example, round faces do well with more angular shapes to offset the roundness of the face. If your face is on the squarish or angular side, you’ll want to make your face appear softer with frame styles with rounded corners. Be fussy about fit and proportion, too. The size and weight of your eyeglasses should be in proportion to your body size and weight. A big well-built man wearing thin, delicate frames will not give a balanced look.

I’m obsessed right now with the newly launched sunglass collection of Swatch (yes, the Swiss watch brand!). True to its fun yet innovative nature, Swatch created sunglasses with interchangeable snap-on lenses! You can buy a pair and later add to your collection and change the look by getting a new frame. A total of three classical round, edgy squared or winged core shapes come in an exciting palette of patterned, bi-color and monochrome front designs. I really love how you can “make your own sunglasses.” Style doesn’t get more personal than this! I’ve been wearing mine all summer. They’ve been perfect for long drives, at the pool, or even just every day. I hate how heavy glasses can leave a dent on my nose bridge, so I love these Swatch sunglasses — they’re so comfortably lightweight. I’ve gotten mine wet, too, and they’re so easy to maintain.                         

Rissa

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Bare it: Bare Minerals, as a concealer, gives good coverage.

No shortcuts to good skin and weight loss

Dear Lucy,

My skin is so bad. I know covering it up will make it worse, but I cannot go to work looking the way I do. I have too many red marks. And I am so fat. I need a quick fix. What can you recommend? I feel people are judging me.         

Remy

Hold them by the horns and take control of your problems one at a time. You seem overwhelmed by the weight of it and I understand where you are coming from. First, your skin. Have you gone to your dermatologist? You may have tried something new, or you may be trying to fix the problem by trying too many things all at once. Apparently, our skin renews and heals itself in cycles — a dermatologist told me it takes about 28 days or so, so bear that in mind when trying on products for the face. If nothing seems to be working, you have to look inward and heal your gut — there is a real connection between skin and gut health. So, perhaps that is worth looking into.

Those suggestions are geared more towards long-term solutions. The Band-Aid solution is, yes, covering up the marks as you transition from bad to good/clear skin. There is no perfect way to do that, really, and you do what you can as best as you can. Choose a formula that does not clog. I would suggest mineral powder as a concealer — Bare Minerals is a good brand. It is light but gives good coverage. Use the right brush to apply it (a round brush with a flat tip is best for large areas; for spot application, the usual concealer brush that looks like a lip brush will do). Then set lightly with ambient powder to diffuse, light play at its best.

Regarding your weight, don’t look at quick fixes as an option. Again, I know it is easier said than done, but it is best in the long term to go for permanent solutions — that is, diet and exercise. Do not believe those who say you can eat anything as long as you diet. You have to mindfully choose nutrient-dense food, and then exercise. Start light. Maybe begin by cutting out carbs, sodas, desserts, dairy. Don’t look at drastic weight loss; do it slowly but surely. Do not mind those who judge you. We are all works in progress. If you invest in yourself, you will reap real results in the end. What is important is that you are doing something about it.                                                               

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.