The look and scent of summer

The sun rises earlier and sets later, the humidity is high and one could swear that if you try hard enough you can inhale the sweet scent of the ocean, vacations are coming up right and left, and everywhere you look you see throngs of students doing absolutely nothing!

Yup, gone are the days of breezy Christmas evenings with stylish sweaters and jackets and even the rosy-cheeked happiness of Valentine’s Day is all but a memory in the face of everyone’s favorite holiday – summer vacation! Even after having been out of school for almost a decade now, I like to kid myself into believing I still have a summer vacation (which my folks would probably correct by saying my whole life’s a vacation!) by planning trips to my favorite beloved beaches and, of course, achieving that perfect tan!

Over the last 20-or-so odd years of my life, I’ve always tried to achieve the ever-unattainable golden Greek goddess color I envy. Even when all Filipinos wanted to be white or fair I was out roasting my pale skin under the sun hoping to emerge like a baked Brazilian babe who has nothing better to do than lounge around the beach all day. Alas, more often than not my tanning mission has turned into an homage to red lobster or a glimpse into my possible future as a member of the African-American Society. For some reason I just couldn’t get it right. Either I would be so red I could barely move or so dark I could barely be seen.

After many a failed attempt and the worry of turning to a possible alligator in the future from all the sun damage, I think I may have finally found the perfect combination – as cliché as it sounds simple once again proves to work best as I found that well-known sun care line Hawaiian Tropic coupled with beautiful Boracay sun can turn into the sweetest golden tan of the islands. As their catch phrase goes – Hawaiian Tropic is for that "deepest, darkest, tan of the islands." They certainly weren’t kidding! At the recently concluded Boracay Bound 6, Hawaiian Tropic provided all the sun worshippers with all the products they needed!

As for me, to aid me in my tan-quest I loved slathering on Hawaiian Tropics Dark Tanning Oil. This famous blend of natural moisturizing ingredients and that delectable coconut smell that automatically transports you to the beach is waterproof and contains vitamins A, C, and E to help prevent signs of photo aging. Application is all that stands between you and a naturally beautiful tan. Of course, to be safe constant re-application is suggested as well. As for my face, I’ve been loving the Hawaiian Tropic’s Ozone Oil Free Sunblock Stick in SPF 50! This incredible little stick is non-greasy and non-comedogenic and is gentle enough for the face but strong enough to fend off all unwanted UV rays. And it’s easy as heck to apply, just swipe and massage as needed. I loved how quickly it absorbed into my skin and how light the protection felt, not at all sticky and heavy. And that’s not even the tip of the iceberg. Hawaiian Tropic has an unlimited amount of products suitable to every sun-loving beach bunny’s needs – strong waterproof sunblock, sport sunblock, tan amplifiers, protective lip balms, and even incredible after sun moisturizers like the one I loved Aloe - After Sun Moisturizer Forever Tan, which helps you keep your tan longer!

And when you’ve finished achieving that perfect sun-kissed glow and you’re all showered up and sporting your favorite summer chic ready to hit the bars or D’Mall, Lacoste has got the sweetest summer scents to complete your beach babe look. With their booth right beside Hawaiian Tropics, I took a breather from all the Bora Bound games to smell the latest offering from Lacoste perfumes.

Touch of Sun for women is a wonderful, light, sweet scent that’s perfect for those long summer days and nights. The notes in this fragrance are meant to represent the zest of youth, vitality, and femininity. You’ll instantly clamp onto the fruity smell of grapefruit mixed with bergamot and a bit of jasmine and peony. Afterwards though you’ll catch the deeper scents of sandalwood. It’s sweet, long-lasting, and intoxicating but not overpowering and heavy.

Cool Play is Lacoste’s offering for men. An equally light and wearable scent, this cologne can be described as fresh with a hint of floral spiciness. Based around gin and tonic, this masculine woody fragrance is cool, fresh, and soothing. And, if I may say so, is pleasing to the ladies!

So either nab that perfect scent or grab that elusive perfect tan, there are indeed many ways to enjoy summer. Make the most of those bright sunny days and indulge in anything that makes you happy!