No horsing around when it comes to hair care

Steering her trusty steed through an intricate maze of twists, turns and hurdles, the dapper equestrienne is a picture of sheer determination. In their moment of truth, horse and rider become one — amazing onlookers with their difficult leaps, navigating the circuitous track with clockwork precision, clearing the highest hurdles with élan unmatched even by her more experienced peers.

This is Toni Leviste in her best elements — equestrienne, the highest-ranked Asian rider according to International BCM World Rankings, and only the second and youngest Southeast Asian rider to qualify and participate in the Olympic Games.

Although primarily an athlete at heart, the petite 28-year-old is also a lady of multi-faceted talents, and a beauty to boot. Bearing no hint of the scars, broken bones and other perils of her trade, Toni is the perfect epitome of natural beauty — brimming with an unflagging zeal for her passions, the confidence of a woman who has mastered her craft, and an inner glow that emanates from the heart.

Hers is beauty regimen of stark simplicity — a far cry from the time-consuming rituals espoused by today’s stylemeisters and fashion gurus. It’s a philosophy that works well for her sporting lifestyle, as well as her discriminating taste.

Toni has been chosen as spokesperson for Clinique’s Simple Hair Care System. Clinique will soon be launching its own hair care line that affirms its commitment to simplicity, service and tangible results.

Exclusively available at Rustan’s, Clinique’s Simple Hair Care System is composed of three shampoos, three conditioners, four goal-specific styling products and six brushes that cut through the clutter to deliver the benefits that meet every woman’s stringent demands for beauty, health and manageability.

"I’ve long been using Clinique’s Compact Powder, because it’s very light and gentle on the skin. It’s one of those few compact powders that absorb the oil right away," confesses Toni. "This is why I was happy when I found out that Clinique was launching own haircare line, since the name has always been synonymous with quality."

Surprisingly, Toni confesses to being more fussy about her horses than herself. "I don’t have much time for beauty rituals," she avers. The only pampering she indulges in is a haircut every other month, and a hot oil treatment twice a month.

For her modest lifestyle, she also sees no need for a funkier hairstyle. "I wish I could, but I’m not daring that way," she chuckles. "I’ve worn this hairstyle since I was 13, and I’m not about to change it now. I can’t imagine what I’d look with shorter or funkier hair."

Before she hies off to North Korea to prepare for next year’s Asian games, Toni wants to see the fruition of one of her projects. "I’m putting up a ‘horse spa’ in Lipa, Batangas," she says. "It will be the first of its kind in the country and maybe in Asia. I already have the basic structure. I’m in the process of expanding my barn. In my sport, horses are not merely pets; they’re our ‘sporting partners.’ The success of the rider in the competition ring depends highly on the physical and mental fitness of the horses. If riders want to build a successful partnership, they have to treat their horses very well."

Of course, because of her political lineage, she also sees herself heeding the call of politics in the not-too-distant future. "The world of politics excites me. It’s a crazy world, but it’s also a challenge and could be a noble endeavor, if ventured in with good intentions," she shares.

A fitting ambassadress of goodwill, Toni’s sterling career has once again rekindled the flickering hopes of Filipino athletes who still yearn for that elusive victory in the global arena. At the same time, her achievements serve as a laudable example for today’s younger generation.