Stocking up for ‘07

Much as we would want to deny and ignore it, beauty products come with an expiration date. Lipsticks stay good for about a year (don’t wait until they begin to smell like your little bro’s Play Doh collection before throwing them out). Powdered makeup also has a shelf life of 12 months (although you should wash sponges and applicators weekly and change each month), as well as creams and moisturizers once opened. Fragrances last longer with an average life span of three years. Nail polish remain usable until a year after opening, two if you keep it tight and well-stored in a cool, dry place (humidity hastens the proliferation of bacteria which can cause all cosmetics, not just polish, to spoil).

Since it’s a new year and as part of a personal goal to rid myself of things I don’t need, I’ve had to go through my skincare and makeup collection and weed out the still-good products from those that have turned rancid or unfit for further use. Throwing out bottles and packages has left some space in my cosmetic shelf, and I am most eager to re-stock, particularly with the following must-haves.

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E-mail comments to ana_kalaw@pldtdsl.net.

Awake Stardom Collection for spring/summer 2007

I follow a certain principle when applying makeup: Wear your lips bright during the day and dress up your eyes come night time. So while I can face the office computer with my face bare save for red lip tint, I can’t step out at night without smearing color onto my eyelids. For the coming balmy summer nights, I plan to put the shine in my eyes with Awake’s new Stardom "Mirror Reflects" collection for spring/summer 2007. Eye shadow comes in sparkly, pearlescent shades that shine like "the light and colors inside a kaleidescope." Choose from a pink, gold, or blue palette. Enhance the shadow play with the Gem Glint liquid eyeliner, which comes in jeweled brown and blue shades. (Available in Rustan’s Makati, Shangri-la Plaza, Alabang and Robinsons Place.)

Kose Junkisui Body Styling Serum

You can easily burn off the extra poundage gained over the holidays in the gym, but cellulite isn’t as easily overcome. As controversial tabloid pages have shown, even size zero catwalk sylphs have this lumpy phenomenon. Cellulites are fat cells that form on the back of thighs, arms, and on the stomach due to poor blood circulation in the subdermal structure. No amount of exercise can metabolize cellulite, but what gym time can’t cure, Kose’s Junkisui Body Styling Serum can. This magical serum is formulated with hydrangea serrata extract, which consequently prevents the accumulation of fat within the body, and green tea extract, which contains caffeine, a fat-burning and fat-degrading ingredient. It also contains chili pepper extract which burns fat due to the perspiration effect it promotes. (Available in February in Essenses Makati, Shangri-la Plaza, Alabang and Robinsons Place.)

Hierbas de Ibiza perfume

The overwhelming musky notes of French-made fragrances can be a bit overwhelming for a (self-lauded) nature junkie like me so I tend to avoid spritzing them on and just hope my intrinsic scent will hold up and not put me to shame. Hierbas de Ibiza perfume, however, satisfies my picky olfactories. The fresh-smelling cologne is evocative of the unique aromas of the known Mediterranean party island, unleashing whiffs of natural essences such as orange, lemon, lavender, jasmine, and sage. An added bonus: the aromatic brew is completely free of artificial coloring. (Available in Essenses Makati, Shangri-la Plaza, Alabang and Robinsons Place.)

Pond’s Double White moisturizers

Though I am not a follower of the skin-whitening movement, I am surrounded by people who are, my mother and sister included. One of the latest and more affordable whitening products in the market is Pond’s Double White system, day and night moisturizers that whiten and clarify the skin both day and night. During the day, SPF 17 protects against the sun’s damaging and darkening UVA and UVB rays, while Vitamin B3 controls the dispersion of melanin in the skin. The accompanying nighttime moisturizer works while you sleep with an AHA ingredient that gently exfoliates dead skin cells and collagen, which stimulates the production of new, vibrant skin cells. (Available in major department stores.)

Elianto nail color

I’m not big on nail color but when I do decide to have my nails painted, I try to choose shades beyond the usuals: safe nude, Moulin Rouge red, or pretty pink. I recently discovered Malaysian nail color brand Elianto and realized that avoiding the usual was the least of my problems. Elianto has one of the widest assortments of nail color, offering 60 brilliant shades. Looking for a canary yellow nail polish? They have it. Metallic purple? They have that, too. Glamorous bronze? Yup. Color-of-the-moment royal blue? Yup. That suspicious green that evokes images of a night of drunken debauchery? Oh yes. Elianto’s formula is long-lasting, quick-drying and chip-resistant. And with each shade going at only P99, going safe will never be an option. (Elianto is located at the 2/L SM Mall of Asia, 3/F The Block SM North Edsa, and at the G/F SM City Clark.)