Pia Wurtzbach’s hair hack & other beauty news
How does Miss Universe 2015 get such gorgeous locks? Pia Wurtzbach says she usually wraps her hair when she works out in Cream Silk conditioner or ultra-cream, lets it absorb while she’s exercising, then rinses it out in the shower. “That’s a little beauty hack that I do,” she says. “I use the conditioner every day because I rely on it so much for the scent, too. Not only is my hair more manageable, healthy and easy to style, it’s also the smell: I feel like I have perfume on my hair and it stays on till the next day so it always smells so good.”
Pia’s hair hack is even more effective now that Cream Silk has been ultimately reborn with Tri-Oleo Complex, which combines three hair-loving oils: argan, rosehip and marula. Many of us are familiar with the benefits of argan oil. Rosehip oil, extracted from rose-bush seeds commonly found in Chile, contains healthy nutrients to give hair smoothness and shine. Marula oil originates from South Africa, where Zulu people use it to maintain a healthy glow in both their skin and hair. In combination, Tri-Oleo Complex targets the weakest areas of the hair fiber, nourishes them from within and coats and protects each strand to restore strength, smoothness and moisturize for hair like Pia’s, as well as fellow Cream Silk ambassadors Catriona Gray and Heart Evangelista.
“That’s why I bring it with me when I’m traveling abroad because when I stop using it, I just feel the difference,” Pia says. “I can see it, too. You can see I’m having a bad hair day without it. So that’s why I bring it with me everywhere. I have so many bottles of this whenever I travel; I don’t trust any other brand.”
The new makeup trend? Pandemic punk
Chanel showed its Cruise collection 2021-2022 at the Carrières de Lumières in Provence, and the eye makeup look was fierce. In ’70s Britain it would have been called “punk.” In today’s climate I think of it as “Pandemic Warrior.”
Chanel’s creative director Virginie Viard and makeup artist Lucia Pica did indeed pay homage to British punk, though there were no Mohawks to be seen, and the main piercing was a Chanel monogram logo lip ring that reportedly stole the show.
After prepping the models’ skin using the Hydra Beauty Micro-Sérum and Hydra Beauty Camellia Water Cream, Pica and her makeup team let the eyes take center stage. Natural, fluffy brows were defined to frame them using Chanel’s Stylo Sourcils Waterproof brow pencil.
Eyes were rimmed in kohl-like black using Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof eyeliner, with both upper and lower lash lines extended out into a double wing. Le Volume Révolution de Chanel mascara added the final dramatic touch.
Cheeks were washed with Chanel blushes in the shades Rouge Profond and Pinceau for a subtle, pretty flush, with radiance provided by Les Beiges Fluide Enlumineur Belle Mine in Pearly Glow and Pinceur Illuminateur Retractable.
Nude, luscious-looking lips were achieved with Rouge Coco lipstick in Dream and Rouge Coco gloss in Aphrodite.
Punks never looked this pretty.
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Chanel is exclusively available at Rustan’s The Beauty Source.
Pioneering vegan brand marks 25 years with discounts
Cruelty-free, vegan British beauty brand The Body Shop marks a milestone as it celebrates its 25th anniversary in the Philippines. The brand, which introduced cruelty-free and nature-inspired skincare and bath and body treats to Filipinos when it first opened its doors on May 16, 1996 at SM Southmall, now has over 60 standalone stores, and is in 10 The SM Stores all over the country.
The Body Shop is more than a beauty brand; activism is in its DNA, and like its counterparts all over the world, Body Shop Philippines has participated in many campaigns that promote real change. With the support of its customers, they helped The Philippine Eagle Foundation in 2018, Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation in 2019 and SM Foundation for the typhoon victims in 2020.
To celebrate, The Body Shop is offering deals and promotions for the entire month of May. The Filipina’s most-loved Lip and Cheek Stain, which was first launched in the Philippines, will be going to its old price of P395 during the anniversary month.
On top of that, The Body Shop’s most-loved products over the years such as the Tea Tree and Drops of Youth ranges, as well as the White Musk fragrance collection, will be offered at 25 percent off. There will also be weekly offers to watch out for so you can stock up on your favorite skincare and bath-and-body treats.
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The Body Shop online store is open 24/7. Just add to cart and check out any time of the day at Thebodyshop.com.ph. Products are also available at The Body Shop stores, Call & Deliver, Lazada, Shopee and ShopSM.
The Body Shop now accepts SM Advantage Card for points earning and redemption, SM and Sodexo premium pass in all The Body Shop stores nationwide.
Edgy makeup brand issues Korea-made skincare
I’ve been a longtime fan of Australian brand BYS for its edgy, colorful makeup, in particular its eyeshadow palettes, which are high quality and trendy while being very reasonably priced.
Recently, Philippine partner iFace Inc.’s Angelina Goyena and Tony Chua launched Skin by BYS, a complete skincare line that offers either brightening or anti-aging benefits. The hypoallergenic line contains no nasties like animal products or cancer-causing chemicals. Instead, all of the products contain 10 natural, antioxidant ingredients (like brightening Angelica Gigas root extract) formulated and manufactured in Korea, the world’s current beauty mecca, and designed to transform your complexion into a smooth, firm, glowing canvas for makeup (or you may like the results so much you’ll go makeup-free).
The core line consists of seven products that I’ll list in order of usage:
Skin by BYS Extra Gentle Micellar Water – I love the dispenser, on which you place your cotton pad and it pumps just the right amount to gently but effectively sweep away your makeup — an essential first step before cleansing.
Extra Gentle Milk Jelly – A creamy cleanser with added antioxidants and milk protein to hydrate and improve elasticity while gently removing impurities.
Extra Hydrating Balancing Toner – Its name says it all: this toner refreshes, nourishes and plumps with hyaluronic acid.
Extra-Firming Youth Serum – Plant-derived and powerful, this serum firms and helps reduce wrinkles and fine lines with Skin by BYS’s Botaniceutical Plus-10, cranberry extract and peptide complex to stimulate collagen production and give you a youthful glow.
Extra-Brightening Eye Cream – Niacinamide, vitamin C-rich papaya and lime extract plus anti-aging Betaine work together to reduce puffiness and dark circles under the eye area.
Extra Glow Face Cream is Skin by BYS’s beauty game changer with additional hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamin C — the current holy trinity of skincare.
Extra Effortless Pore Perfecting Sunblock SPF 50 – This suddenly shot to the top of my sunscreen list because not only does it have a high SPF, it also blurs pores, mattifies and can be used as a makeup primer.
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Skin by BYS is available at Watsons stores and online at Watsons Ph.
Summer staples you should have in your kit
There’s only one good narcissist to be, and that’s a beauty Narsissist. Every Nars fan should have three staples in their kit: Orgasm blush, Laguna bronzer and Radiant Creamy Concealer.
You can have all three plus enjoy three more in Nars’ new Discovery Sets — curated selections for every beauty obsession, whether you’re an Orgasm fan (try the Triple O set) or want a collection of Nars Favorites.
If you follow my Instagram account @thebeautytraveler_ph, you can try these sets for as low as P2,200 for six full-size Nars cult products! With my personalized code, NARSTHERESE, you get 15 percent off your first purchase at Nars Beauty Butler https://bit.ly/beautybutler.
Nars’ new Uninhibited Collection is a limited-edition wardrobe of romantic rose and taupe shades for eyes, lips and cheeks, and includes a nine-shade eyeshadow palette, a blush duo with shimmering beige and pink-gold powders; and Afterglow Lip Shine in deep raspberry with gold shimmer, shimmering rose and peach.
Nars also recently released its Soft Matte 2021 collection. I highly recommend the Soft Matte foundation and Tinted Lip Balm, which is ideal for matte fans that dislike the inevitable dry, chapped lips. These go on matte but feel so moisturizing and comfortable I’m obsessed.
The limited-edition, collectible Soft Matte Full Dimension Cheek Palette houses a matte blush complemented by a highlighter, shimmering blush and bronzer that will impart such a summery glow you’ll look like you just came from the beach.
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All products available at Nars boutiques and Rustan’s The Beauty Source.
Beauty brand loved by K-Drama & K-Pop stars is here
W. Dressroom is a Korean beauty brand founded by acclaimed menswear designer Choi Bumsuk, whose fashions and perfumes are beloved by K-pop stars and fans alike, and have been featured in K-dramas like My Love from the Stars. W. Dressroom also offers skincare, body care, aromatherapy diffusers and scented candles to help promote emotional, mental and physical wellbeing.
Bumsuk’s line of 10 fragrances is perfect for today’s situation because the eau de colognes kill 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria upon application — you can even spray your room, car, clothes and bed linens to deodorize and disinfect them (just not on delicate fabrics or finished wood).
The scents also boost your mood with their aromas, which range from summery-fresh to gourmand-yummy.
On the refreshing side are Baby Green Tea, which mixes green tealeaves with citrus to create one of W. Dressroom’s bestsellers; and April Cotton, a clean scent that smells like freshly laundered linens drying in the breeze.
On the fruity-floral side is Gogo Mango, which smells like a smoothie with its blend of peach, orange, jasmine, rose and comforting musk.
W. Dressroom recently released two limited-edition dessert scents: Strawberry In Cream, which layers vanilla with strawberry, candy, cassis and citrus for a strawberry shortcake scent that’s sweet and yummy; and Hazelnut In Chocolate, a chocoholic’s dream of cacao, vanilla and brown sugar that smells like a cup of hazelnut chocolate latte topped with vanilla whipped cream.
Now I’m hungry for more W. Dressroom products.
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W. Dressroom is available at Beauty MNL, IG @w.dressroom.ph and FB on the W. Dressroom Ph page.
Follow the author on Instagram @thebeautytraveler_ph.
