Four ways to get pretty—fast

At Dashing Diva: Let the expert nail technicians do all the work for you.

But don’t forget to tip well!

THESE DAYS, I LOOK MORE like a harassed P.A. for Piolo Pascual rather than the glamazon from my Cosmo yesteryears. I walk into establishments barefaced, eyebrows beyond bushy. So it’s not a surprise that I’ve gotten sub-par treatment and bare-bones customer service in places that happen to be worth going back to, whether or not the front desk people are chirpy.

I’ve also been met with skeptical stares and suspicious glances whenever I politely ask for materials or brochures for my articles. But at the same time, I try not to take it personally, because in the past, I’ve heard of unscrupulous scammers going around town pretending to be magazine editors, trying to score free treatments and beauty services.

That said, if you expect excellent service in most establishments here or abroad, you have to make a bit of effort to look presentable. I’m not saying you should be decked to the nines in full makeup and designer digs, but resist the urge to leave the house without doing a quick once-over in front of the mirror.

Since in real life, I’m as lazy as the next girl trying to make the train or beating a tight deadline, here are tips to get pretty, easy—minus the hassle and time-consuming production of being an actual celebrity (like Piolo Pascual).

Declutter your closet

If you edit your clothes in such a way that you only keep those that are presentable or that fit, and definitely not drab, the easier dressing up would be and the less likely you’d be spotted wearing the granny-panty equivalent of a rundown ensemble.

When you open your closet, assess what you see: Are there mostly shades of gray? Is it looking colorful in there? Whatever your style, the easiest way to organize clothing is to group them by color and kind.

All floral tops and dresses on one side, black outfits on another, jeans at the bottom, and so forth. My fashion shortcuts come in the form of mostly white tops and vibrant florals when it’s sunny and warm, and a palette of grays and blacks (with a flash of fuchsia) on cold New York months.

Get a mani-pedi

While begging the ladies at Beauty Bar to let me take photos of Dashing Diva—perhaps the best nail spa in town—I caught a glimpse of the beautiful Marilen Faustino-Montenegro, in the midst of a seriously envy-enducing mani-pedi session.

I’m taking her cue ASAP by scheduling my own Spoiled Diva Manicure/Pedicure Combo (P875, 45 minutes up). The point here is, next to your face (and smile), your hands and feet are the first people see, and sometimes scrutinize. So create a visual advantage by keeping your tips and toes neatly groomed, and the rest should be easy.

Keep your face clean

If the thought of makeup in hot weather makes you cringe, the best thing to do is use a SPF moisturizer after washing, and go bare and natural for the day.

Avoid the sallow-looking tendencies of unmade-up skin by having regular deep-cleansing sessions with a facialist. I have long touted the benefits of a Dermalogica facial (at Essenses Aesthetics, Rustan’s Makati, with tel. no. 812-5099) to keep one’s face naturally glowing and buttery-smooth.

For harassed complexions, try the hour-long Anti-stress Multivitamin Power Treatment (P1,850). If blackheads and excess oil are a problem, sign up for the Cooling Facial for Congested Skin (P995, 45 minutes).

Log in salon time

Even the laziest of ladies make that necessary trip to the salon. Where else can you go for a haircut, have your eyebrows waxed or threaded, have tresses tinted and deep-conditioned, get a head and shoulder massage, and so much more?

The Franck Provost Studio at The Fort where French stylist, Laurent Hebert,
takes care of your tresses with trademark Parisian flair.

When you attend to these seemingly minute things on a monthly basis, you’ll notice how little you have to do in the morning to get ready and out the door. And these days, there’s no excuse not to visit a bustling beauty hub, no matter how pressed for time you are or how hectic things may be at the office (for the true workaholic, many salons now have free WiFi).

My next stop is the Franck Provost Studio at The Fort (tel. no. 401-6870, 586-9569) for a much-needed hair and beauty session. The latest addition to the Franck Provost family features French stylist Laurent Hebert, who infuses lackluster locks with a dose of Parisian elegance, giving sluggish girls like you and me one trés chic reason to get up-and-going.

Mariel Chua is former beauty editor of Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, and Ok! Magazine Philippines. Visit her blog at http://NyMinuteNow.com.

Images courtesy of www.beautyhavenbelfast.com (Dermalogica), SSI (Dashing Diva).
Original Inquirer article link here.