And now, a personalized beauty program

Want to look 10 pounds thinner without going on a starvation diet? Or 10 years younger without going under the scalpel?

Makeup is not hard to do – and dressing for success is not a futile exercise – with a personalized beauty program that BeautiControl, an American company with a 20-year beauty history, is bringing to the Philippines via Tupperware Corporation.

Women have Earl Silas Tupper (yes, there’s such a person) to thank for inventing the very first Tupperware bowl in 1946 – bowling ’em over with one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century – and helping them sort out and organize their homes as well as their lives. Thanks to him, too, women have more reasons to party.

"Every two-and-a-half seconds, there’s a Tupperware party somewhere in the world," says Corito Singson, who herself rose from dealer to become the first woman president and managing director of Tupperware Philippines, Inc. "Tupperware’s very large sales force, counting 100,000 dealers, is predominantly women. We have a Tupperware culture that’s not just a great earning opportunity but also a gathering of people who have fun and who develop lasting relationships. And when women party, they talk about dressing for success. They have developed that confidence and they want to improve their image. BeautiControl is a premier image company founded by husband-and-wife team Richard and Jinger Heath. As Tupperware, which carries products for the home and lifestyle, celebrates its 35 anniversary this month, it is establishing a personal beauty and image division which will carry beauty and skincare products, fashion trends, personality analyses, everything about the person. So now, there’s a complete balance – everything for the home and everything for the person – as Tupperware continues its mission of making a mark in the quality of life of the Filipino at home and as a person."

It’s really a match made in heaven. Beauti Control, one of the fastest growing companies in the US, became a subsidiary of Tupperware Corporation, a $1 billion multinational in more than 100 countries, in October 2000. "Richard and Jinger Heath will continue to run BeautiControl like they have these past 20 years," Corito explains.

The Philippines is only the second market for BeautiControl products and services outside the US (the other being Mexico where BeautiControl was launched only last June) and the first in Asia-Pacific.

"Initially, we’re bringing in the skin maintenance products and makeup line like lipstick, pressed powder and eye shadow," Corito enumerates. "BeautiControl’s price range is comparable to Max Factor’s and L’Oreal’s. More, it has all-natural ingredients (the lipsticks have healing properties) and they’re not tested on animals."

Corito points out with a trace of pride: "BeautiControl is unique because of its concern for beauty from head to toe. It’s not just cosmetics or skincare; it’s so many other things. It’s the total image, like the best color of clothes or cut that will suit you."

Other companies don’t have the image services, according to Angela Irma Palencia, VP-marketing. "BeautiControl has its patented Skin Sensors to help your BeautiControl consultant customize a skincare regimen to meet your skin’s – from very dry to very oily – specific needs. Based on the results of the Skin Condition Analysis and your answers to the Skin Condition Questionnaire, the consultant will then recommend the products tailor-made for you. You can’t go wrong with this because everything is scientifically proven. No guesswork here."

Says BeautiControl’s skincare customizer: "Every skin type requires daily maintenance, repair and prevention. That means Skinlogics products, a Regeneration product, an eye creme and Cell Block-C product(s).

Image is everything, and BeautiControl offers the following exclusive image tools:

• Color books (cool or warm) with samples of your best wardrobe colors, plus wardrobe tips so you can shop smart.

• Personal Image Profile, an easy-to-use questionnaire to analyze body type, facial shape, color season and makeup/fashion personality, then provide ideas for best clothing styles, hairstyles, makeup and accessories.

• Makeup/Fashion Personality Guides on how to put together a harmonious style, with tips to fit your style preferences.

BeautiControl has color-coded its cosmetics according to warm and cool color seasons. For cool, choose from positively pink, perpetual plum, never ending red, forever fuchsia, and gogo grape. For warm, there are persistent peach and cinnamon stick. For all-weather wear, there’s stuck on sienna.

When Makeup Can Unmake A Woman

Says your BeautiControl consultant: "Misapplying makeup gives you a harsh, unnatural look and makes you look older. Blending is the key." Here are some common makeup mistakes:

• Foundation that’s too dark

• Unblended blush

• Obvious eye shadow

• Lip liner darker than your lip color

The beauty of it all is, your BeautiControl consultant can even create your own Personal Image Profile, so you’ll have just the tools you need to put your best foot forward or, according to Jinger Heath, put together your best image – down pat, "right down to the shape of your earrings and the color of your eyeglass frames."

Are you classic like Catherine Zeta Jones, dramatic like Madonna or Jennifer Lopez, romantic like Julia Roberts or natural like Meg Ryan or Gwyneth Paltrow?

BeautiControl has put together a wardrobe of colors to suit your personality. If you have a predominance of golden undertones in your skin, you’re a member of the warm family of colors. If you have a predominance of blue undertones in your skin, you’re a cool person. Certainly, these color books (complete with swatches) will come in handy next time you shop for clothes.

A Few Words About Wardrobe

Here are some smart wardrobe tips from BeautiControl experts:

• Get the right fit. Make sure your clothes have a comfortable, proper fit. When trying them on, try sitting, stretching in them to ensure they are comfortable. Avoid clothes that are:

• Too short

• Too tight

• Too revealing

• Too sheer

• Dark colors slim and elongate your figure. Bright, light colors enlarge.

• If you want to look taller, wear one color from head to toe.

• Don’t overlook the importance of tailoring. An untailored outfit can make you look heavier and unsophisticated. Tailor your clothes to:

• Look 10 pounds thinner instantly.

• Look polished and more sophisticated.

• Make your outfit look more expensive.

• Give you an instant style update.

• When buying basic wardrobe items such as suits, skirts, blouses, slacks and jackets, focus on solid colors from your swatch card. Neutral colors such as cream, beige and golden shades of brown are easy to mix and match and never go out of style.

• Feel free to add touches of cool color as accents for accessories, skirts and slacks – anything not worn close to the face. Cool colors have blue undertones such as navy, purple and white. Warm colors have golden undertones such as orange, yellow, gold, rust and olive green.

• For the business environment, less is best. A good rule of thumb to follow is one ring per hand and one necklace. Avoid distracting bracelets or earrings. If in doubt, don’t!

• When choosing a print, a few cool colors are okay, as long as they don’t dominate.

• Remember to balance stronger clothing colors with stronger makeup colors. On the other hand, softer clothing colors call for softer makeup colors.

• Your neutral colors are always best for shoes and handbags – they’ll go with everything.

• Wear patent-leather or white shoes in the summer months only. Bone or taupe shoes are perfectly acceptable year-round.

• Don’t wear shoes that are a lighter color than the predominant color in your outfit.

• Gold or silver jewelry can be worn by anyone as long as you are wearing your correct makeup and wardrobe colors.

• Choose darker-colored skins and leather belts in the colder months. In the hotter months, try fun straw, silver concho and chain belts. And look for leather belts in lighter, brighter colors.

Color, indeed, makes all the difference. Colors can add color to your life. By wearing your best makeup and wardrobe colors, says your BeautiControl image maker, "your skin looks healthier, your eyes clearer, your teeth whiter; your best features stand out, you downplay any flaws; you create an illusion of perfect proportion; you can even look 10 pounds thinner; you look younger; and you get more compliments."

Co-founder and chairman of BeautiControl, Jinger Heath is also founder of WHO (Women Helping Others). Jinger finds beauty in helping other people. Beauty inside out – now, that’s real beauty.

Here at home, Tupperware has its Give a Child a Chance program to help handicapped children and street children as well as scholarships for teachers and children of policemen. "We’re a company who knows how to give back to the country and community where we operate," Corito beams. "Our mission is to help improve lives especially in these hard times."

Let’s party!