Look good even after shedding tears

MANILA, Philippines – I am absolutely terrible at goodbyes. At times, I manage a chirpy “Bye! See you soon!” and a nondescript wave, but more often than not, I go full-on drama queen a la Sharon Cuneta in the ’80s (short of crying in the shower and sliding to the ground, sobbing).

I could recall times when I drove in the rain, vision blurred due to tears; or reeled over a breakup, eyes bloodshot. Whatever the reason, it’s safe to say that nobody looks good after a sob session.

And speaking of breakups and goodbyes, it saddens me that the April issues were the last for Seventeen and Marie Claire Philippines. These I consider among the best written and edited reads in the country, staffed by incredibly talented teams I have had the pleasure of working with in the past.

But alas, everyone must move on. So while we reluctantly say our goodbyes and wipe the tears, here are some beauty strategies to keep the drama on the down-low, and somehow look like a ray of sunshine despite having bawled buckets.

1. Shower your woes away. The folks at Johnson’s know a thing or two about not aggravating babies’ tear ducts during a bath. And if you’ve just cried like a child and finally managed to get out of bed, employ the ingenious no-more-tears formula of a baby wash to instantly freshen up.

2. Always carry eye drops in your purse. Not only does a tiny trusty bottle of Visine (or Eye-Mo) “get the red out” in a flash, it helps relieve itchy eyes and cleanse the area, especially if you’re prone to scratching and touching your eyes—which is what you do when you weep. (So pack the Kleenex as well.)

3. Blot foundation on the right places. Perhaps the only great thing about having cried your heart out is that you no longer need blush for a come-hither flush. The downside is, your whole face is this cranberry shade. Tone down the redness by dabbing face base under your eyes, T-zone, and a tiny bit on the cheeks. Be sure to blend well to even-out all traces of blotchiness.

4. Employ eye-opening makeup. It’s hard to tell when the next batch of tears will come up in a volatile situation. The best way to look presentable without risking runny mascara and smudged eyeliner in the event of round two is to pick waterproof formulas—or to skip them altogether. Instead, curl lashes and apply sparkly eye shadow up to the crease. Groom brows with a little gel, and swipe on bright lipstick to offset the somber eye makeup.

5. Streamline your tresses. Depressing times call for drastic hair measures. There are two ways to liven up a sad face via hairdo: One is to head to the salon and ask for a straightforward bob. This entails chopping off all the dangling strands that tend to get in the way and stick to your face when tear-stricken. A less abrupt face-brightener is a ponytail worn high and tight. This gently tugs the hairline, creating a mini-facelift that also forces one to walk headstrong.

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

(Image courtesy of Courtesy of Babycenter.com.sg. Original Inquirer article link here.)