Sleeping Beauty

Use these soothing goodies at bedtime and feel just dreamy.
When you’re all tuckered out, the last thing you’ll want to tackle is that before-bed beauty pentathlon of washing, toner-ing, moisturizing, brushing and flossing. But don’t dive under your duvet in defeat. Get ready for bed with products that might actually help you have a better night’s sleep. Give your mouth a rest Cool mint toothpaste can perk you up in the morning, but at night you need something calming, says GoSmile founder Jonathan B. Levine, D.M.D., a dentist in New York City. He included lavender, chamomile and vanilla in GoSmile PM Toothpast, as well as extract of valerian root, which has been shown to improve your snooze. Put tired skin to bed According to recent research, , skin tends to lose more moisture at night. To keep it hydrated, slather on a soporific body lotion like Nivea Renewal Night Cream with cardamom, a cousin of ginger and a natural relaxer. Get instant aromatheraphy Dab a little Qiora Inner Serum on your wrists and inhale deeply for a few minutes. The scents of sandalwood, rose and iris may relieve stress and clear your cluttered head before it hits the pillow. Sweet dreams. – Shannan Rouss

Nailing it

Good morning friends. There are women who were very particular on their nails. Some use bright nail polish and some use natural color. But the important is that we should always see to it our nail is clean.

IT’S no secret. The Fashion Freaks love nail polish.

We fell hard for Hard Candy, and the adorable plastic rings that came with each bottle. We went goth with Urban Decay.

We also adore Essie’s sweet shades and OPI’s funky named collections. Even Shu Uemura’s glamorous colors send our hearts racing. We’ve drooled over Chanel’s Vamp and now pore over Ebay’s pages in search of the elusive limited-edition Chanel Black Satin.

And then we found another great source for a quick (and affordable) nail color fix: Elianto.
Elianto, a beauty brand from Malaysia, does not just offer a wide assortment of naturally inspired body and skin care products and a cosmetics line made especially for countries with hot and humid weather. It also boasts of an extensive nail care line. (Try the nail polish remover, which is safe and smells great.)

Elianto offers 60 brilliant nail polish colors that you can play with. Our favorites include Shine Star, Deep Pink, Neon Purple, Khaki Pearl, Neo Kissy Pink, X-Rose, Light Gold Pearl and Soft Purple. For just P99 for each bottle, you can start your own nail color collection.

And to show you just how much fun you can have with nail polish, Elianto will offer free Accent Nail Art for a minimum purchase of P200 on nail care products at Elianto’s SM North Edsa store on Nov. 11 and 12. Elianto’s nail polish is long-lasting, quick-drying and boasts of a chip-resistant formulation—perfect for nail art that you’d want to flaunt for a long time.

Let special nail artist Tricia Chua transform your nails with bold hues, vibrant shades and chic designs.Visit Elianto at SM North Edsa-The Block for your free Accent Nail Art. Elianto is also available in SM Mall of Asia, SM City Fairview, SM City Clark and will soon open in SM City Manila. - Pam Pastor

Ancient routine revolutionizes skin care (2)

It is Awake’s belief that the extent of the damage wrought to the skin by external factors, much like on a tree, can’t be fully analyzed just by looking at the surface. This is why it aims to fight skin aging by tackling it from within.

Sign Revolution is a six-step skin care routine that may be daunting for Filipino women used to the basic cleanse-tone-moisturize regimen. But the Japanese seem to believe in the adage “no pain, no gain”—and justifiably so.

Step 1 is the Sign Revolution Cleanse, a gel that transforms to oil upon contact with dry skin. Used in the nighttime, it dissolves makeup and oxidized sebum.

Step 2 is the Wash, a deep-cleansing, rich foaming liquid, for both day and night.

Step 3 is the Lotion Concentrate that works as a light moisturizing toner to prime the skin for further moisturizing. It is followed by the Fluid.

Step 4 which both softens and firms up the skin. Both products are used for day and night.

‘Common’ routine

The thick, high-moisture Cream is the fifth step. Used in the evening, it functions as a protective film to seal in the skin’s moisture. The Cream, says Oka, stops oxidation and balances the skin’s oil and moisture. The Eye Cream is the final step, moisturizing and firming up the skin around the eye area.

The moisturization steps may seem a bit much, but Oka insists this routine is “very common” in Japan. She hopes that, like the skin-whitening craze, this exacting if laborious skin care process will be adopted by most women.

“Whitening used to be a trend,” she notes, “but now it’s so basic. It’s no longer a big deal. It’s part of every Japanese woman’s routine… You have to know that we want a brighter complexion, not ‘whiter’ skin as some believe.”

Oka says modern women are now more sophisticated when it comes to makeup and skin care so that a lot of money is invested by cosmetics companies into research and product development.

“Skin care has become more diverse and technical, and the market’s demands are more complex. Today a mascara isn’t just a mascara. You have to be able to give something more.” Cheche Moral

Ancient routine revolutionizes skin care (1)

Good morning everyone. Some of the people were so conscious about their skin. Some don’t mind it at all. Those who were conscious about it do anything just to have that flawless skin. Others who were not used to use make up is not a big deal to them as long as they have that beautiful skin.

IF you’ve ever wondered about the secret to the Japanese’s enviably fine, translucent skin, a Japanese woman reveals there’s a lot more involved than just having good genes. Basic skin care for our neighbors in the north, Yuko Oka says, involves several steps. The soap-and-water regimen just wouldn’t do.

The first part involves ridding the face of all surface dirt, makeup and sebum (oil). Some serious cleansing to eliminate deep-seated dirt that can clog the pores and dull the complexion follows. Then there’s exfoliating, toning and moisturizing.

“I know it seems a lot of work, but this is the way it’s been for generations,” explains Oka, a woman in her 20s who can very well be the poster girl of this age-old regimen with her bright, clear complexion.Oka is also a planner for Awake, a Japanese prestige skin care and makeup brand. Her job, she says, involves studying and setting trends for skin care.

Skin hydration

On her recent visit to the Philippines, Oka introduced Awake’s new skin care series that adapts the Japanese’s ancient routine to modern times.Available in October at Rustan’s, the Sign Revolution line is specifically intended for women aged 30 and above, women whose skin is beginning to show the ravages of lifestyle stresses and severe environment.

Part of Awake’s high-end Platinum series, Sign Revolution uses plant-derived ingredients that are all intended to deliver skin hydration.

Awake, a brand owned by the Kosé cosmetics corporation, likens skin aging to the growth rings of a tree trunk. It says a young tree has thick rings that thin as it ages. A period of drought can be especially harsh on a tree so that, on a dry year, its ring can be particularly thin. - Cheche Moral

Relax the SPA Way

☻Do morning stretches after your shower. Warm muscles are more supple, so you’ll get the most from the stretch.

☻Run hot water over three small and two large stones until lukewarm (30 to 45 seconds). Lie down; place a small stone between your eyebrows (an acupressure spot that aids relaxation ) and below each eye. Hold a large one in each upturned palm, another relaxation-associated area. Breathe deeply.

☻Sleep aid: In bed, tense each muscles separately from calves up to shoulders. Accentuating the tautness of your muscles helps you to luxuriate in their relaxation. – Erin Bried