Posts Tagged ‘beauty’

Hair Today

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010
Mucota: the celeb overhaul for world-weary hair

Mucota: the celeb overhaul for world-weary hair

Every time I get my hair treated at a salon, I feel like I’m cheating on a lover; I’ve mastered the art of denial (the beach! new color! etc.), at the same time dodging the look of disappointment on my (current) stylist’s face as s/he looks at my dry, damaged strands. Only recently has it been getting better–pleased to report that I’ve been a good girl, hair masks and all–and a most recent discovery at Park Jun’s Beauty Lab, the famed Mucota Reaction Treatment, may actually make an honest gal out of me yet.

As with everything awe-inspiringly high-tech, the treatment comes from Japan, and I’m told is already favorite of Korean celebrities and high rollers due to its exceptional hair-rehabilitating qualities. Something about its highly reparative mix–a cocktail of lamella liquid crystal structure, keratin proteins, hyaluronic acid, and polypeptides–keeps moisture, nourishment, color vitality, and elasticity from seeping out of the hair strand. And, bonus, it’s aftercare at-home range has different products for colored, waved (permed), or all-around damaged hair as well. Whatever it is, the miracle blend instantly rejuvenated my fried, fresh-from-Coron locks… and, shockingly, has locked in the softness for days on end without the weigh down (read: it still feels silky when I wash it, daily attacks by the blow dryer notwithstanding). It’s been two weeks and, for the first time in a long time, I’ve gotten compliments on the new bounce in my strands, which is a big deal if you’ve got fine locks and a full fringe to go with it. A healthy sheen, silky-softness, and color that stays bright for weeks… fidelity was never this easy.

The Mucota 6-Step package treatment costs P2,200 (short hair),  P2,700 (medium-length hair), P3,200 (long hair), and P3,700 (extra-long hair).

Eunice

Down the Rabbit Hole

Friday, March 12th, 2010
"Open me!"

"Open me!"

…of more irresistible beauty products I go. Paul & Joe Beaute’s latest-released Disney collection features none other than our favorite precocious tea-sipping, adventure-seeking blonde, Alice herself, charmingly rehashed for fans of the 1951 cartoon (and all ephemera before and after). After seeing the movie last week, I actually felt a tangible pang after the end-credits rolled; like a song on repeat, I desperately did not want to come down from the visual high that was Burton’s Alice In Wonderland. The dreamy, vintage-y, reusable tin of essentials – with blotting tissues and a sublime, delicately-tinted lip treatment (choose from pink or peach) – means I actually, magically, might not have to.

- Eunice, Preview Associate Editor

Paul & Joe Collection 2010 Disney Character Alice edition (two designs), P2850, Rustan’s.

More Love!

Monday, February 8th, 2010

A lot more stores are giving shoppers some sugar this coming holiday weekend. For those in need of more eye-fluttering drama for Valentine’s Day, Make Up For Ever is giving away an Eye Defining Kit–a mascara, cleanser and brush zip pouch–with every purchase.

MUFE's vday

A makeup V-day blowout!

For those prepping for the coming Lunar New Year, get your chi in order with a luck-enhancing haircut before the 14th. Piandré sweetens the deal, with a 20% discount off color and/or treatment services with your haircut:

Piandre

Metal Tiger Prepping!

Happy V-Day and Kung Hei Fat Choi! Are you red-dy?

Eunice xx

Cross It Out

Monday, January 11th, 2010

For New Year’s, I treated myself to a really good haircut–I got rid of my damaged ends and, in weird manner of hair feng shui, welcomed some good mojo for 2010 (or so they say). One of my resolutions is also to let my hair down, in more ways than one: aesthetically-speaking, it means finally having a great enough cut to not hide it in a bun, my stressed-out hairdo of choice. This assumes, though, that I also find creative ways to do so, ways that don’t ultimately frazzle me out and, yes, bring me back to said avoided stress bun. Catch 22 indeed.

Enter the across-the-head-headband. Although it’s appeal for me is slightly 2009–I kind of went through a hippie ’70s phase last year and approximated some serious groupie locks–a look this earthy and sensual is always welcome. Also, the S/S 2010 runways were chock-full of laid-back ‘dos like middle parts and natural texture, so the attitude still resonates.

I do not, however, want to end up with anything like this:

KC

Laid-back hair, though relaxed and unassuming, should never be sloppy, overdone, look like it’s a sticky mess on your forehead, or any combo of the above.

Dear KC, please stick to your awesome, shampoo-commercial blowout. You look more fabulous without a heavy curtain of locks hiding that heart-shaped face. Life’s too short to hide behind some hair… believe me, I know!

Eunice xx

Will Shop, Won’t Stop!

Friday, September 11th, 2009

ChanelBeauty shopaholics should head on over to Rustan’s Department Store ASAP: the retail giant has teamed up with HSBC, Thai Airways and JVC for hot cosmetic deals  this September. Their latest beauty promo, Rustan’s is the Beauty Source, gets big ups from HSBC’s Red Hot Deals–buying an item from participating brands means extra goodies for shoppers. Each single receipt purchase of P10,000 (or P6,000 worth of purchases with your HSBC Card at the cosmetics department) entitles shoppers to receive a Beauty Box, a yummy treasure trove of beauty goodies from cult faves Mario Badescu, Acca Kappa, Murad and lots more. Gift cards from Thai Airways, Univers Phyto, Belo Medical Group and even Machiavelli Chocolatier sweeten the deal further.

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F-Stop Blues

Friday, August 28th, 2009

Yesterday the Summit girls had the opportunity to be the first audiences to the Olay-sponsored F reunion talk, where the ladies of the popular late ’90s fashion, travel and lifestyle show were back on the same couch again after 11 years. Daphne Oseña-Paez, Angel Aquino and Cher Calvin, former F hosts, real-life friends and most recently, Olay’s newest beauty spokeswomen, chatted with us and offered a glimpse into their present lives and filled in the gaps since their gig more than a decade ago.

Being one of the show’s loyal viewers, I couldn’t help but get a bit nostalgic myself; when they introduced themselves, inadvertently in the order and manner they used to do on the show, we all felt that inner collective awww, only experienced by those who fondly look back on some really awesome memories.

Yesterday’s casual meeting marked the actual first time they’ve all seen each other (Cher was down with a fever the first two days she came to Manila), so before it formally started, a lot of LOL-ing over old albums–and past fashion missteps–took place. Then an earnest admission came, that aside from sunbathing, which both Daphne and Angel agreed was their biggest beauty mistake, the Cher-initiated “skirt over pants” phase was certainly the most hilarious.

Now all settled down and successful–Daphne a producer and host of home and lifestyle show Urban Zone, Angel an iconic model and host, and Cher, an Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist in the U.S.–the girls now reunite years later and share their winning stories as part of being Olay’s brand ambassadresses. Fans and curious cats should make a note to catch the special F reunion show, airing September 27th, 10pm on ABS-CBN, to catch up on the golden times of local beauty, fashion, travel and lifestyle with these lovely ladies.

Eunice xx

The Hair That Made History

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Now that another great has left us, we’re left to wax nostalgic with how she touched our lives. And we all know that even more iconic than the great Farrah Fawcett (1947-2009) was, yes, that hair. Eclipsing even the fame of Charlie’s Angels and that famous red bikini poster that opened up worlds to many a high school boy, her Farrah flip remains to be one of the most influential and recognizable hairstyles in history, literally making waves since the disco era to modern pop culture.

With that, we pay homage. Peace out Farrah, our favorite Angel. Stay groovy.

Pop culture figures like Paris Hilton keep the flip alive. credit: usmagazine.com

With her Cal-gal tan, beaming smile, surfer girl sex appeal and of course that hair, Farrah was the quintessential girl of the ’70s. Her famous poster now hangs at the Smithsonian. credit: tv.yahoo.com

xx
Eunice

Fall From Grace

Monday, October 20th, 2008

Sometimes I think clubbing in Manila is just plain bizarre. People take longer to get ready than they actually stay out; they dress up yet just stand around when they get there, perfecting the non-dance; they nurse one drink (que barbaridad — P100 beer?) yet make a big show of wobbling out of there in glorious inebriation. It makes for quite the spectacle.

Yet for all its hypocrisy, there’s still nothing like a night out on the town after a hectic workweek. Especially when you’re in your haunt du jour surrounded by your favorite people and God decides to throw your jaded self a bone.

I was at my friend’s club last Saturday for a birthday, and had to get there at the painfully early hour of 9pm to meet up with Kim, who in turn was meeting his posse for their NBA Fantasy draft (completely ridiculous, these grown men playing make believe. It was like an episode of The Big Bang Theory, only with Phoenix Suns power forwards instead of Klingons. Still hell, though.). A long, long hour and a half later we were finally starting our evening with drinks and some proper people watching, where I got to thinking about some girls’ clichéd ideas of beauty and sexiness.

Backstory: I am a firm believer in the power and accuracy of first impressions, and I actively put the theory to test upon seeing a group of girls do a grind, complete with gold-plated chain belts, come-hither expressions and overblown makeup. In this day of well-informed fashion forwardness (oh yeah, I also believe that everyone’s got their daily fixes on Bloglovin’ by now, and if not, then get to it) and industry hypersaturation, there is NO excuse for mediocrity. NONE. The only thing worse than not trying at all is looking like you tried too hard.

That said, the next 30 seconds seemed to pass by in serious hi-fi slow-mo. The girl on the far left was first to go, her knees buckling upon the sheer weight of her partner in dance crime, toppling to the floor in a mess of limbs. Next came the lady in the middle, tangling herself in her poor friend and finally bringing down the last in the triad, who really was the most unfortunate, as she came topmost on the furpile, her extremities gangling about and her bottom halfway out of her 4-inch skirt. I felt bad for them, but then Schadenfreude got the best of me, and though I tried (unsuccessfully) to conceal the giggles, one of my girlfriends asked who fell in a very well-modulated voice, and I lost it.  What can I say, human nature. In fairness to the party girls, they had the decency to make their exits when they did.

Moral of the story: there is a reason and lesson in everything, even if it’s as simple as picking yourself up after a really humiliating fall.

On that note of righteous redemption, I clumsily segue into last Friday’s Estee Lauder Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign World Pink Art Gallery exhibition. To all the great and wonderful women who have survived the battle against breast cancer and who I had to pleasure of listening to last Friday, I salute you. I wish my grandma, who succumbed to the disease, could see how far we’ve all come in the battle against the Big C. You are an inspiration to us all, and please, please, please keep fighting the good fight. I’ll post a whole other article on the event soon!

I’ll leave you with my pick for age-appropriate sex appeal. We could all stand to take a page out of Miss Tallulah’s book.