Terracotta tendencies

Let’s face it. Fake is a four-letter word. Fake boobs, fake friends, fake handbags – they all scream phony. If you’re looking to pull off a scam, may I suggest that the only faux way to go is by way of bronzers. Indisputably better for you than the real thing, bronzing cosmetics keep you healthy and glowing and keeps negativity at bay. The sun’s harmful UV rays have a naughty reputation and cause blisters, hyper-pigmentation, wrinkles, dehydration and potential melanomas. Fake bake and you are still in the same predicament. For someone as washed out as I am (think Casper, the friendly ghost), I’ve been on the hunt for the best way to look sun-kissed without any repercussions.

With summer virtually in its prime, looking pasty is just not pretty. A simple swipe of a brush can deliver an instant flush that showcases healthy and natural looks. The latest bronzing line from Guerlain can help you achieve just that. The reworked Terracotta collection features terrific products that have ladies looking like they’ve just stepped off the sultry shores of Ibiza. A long-standing pioneer in the bronzing arena, the Terracotta powder is a classic and international best-seller which has been seriously revamped. A mosaic that combines five shades of powder, including a complexion highlighter, is housed in a swanky compact that can transform any white chick into a tantalizing tart. Two palettes are available, one aimed for porcelain skin with undertones of pink and one geared for darker skin, heightened by warm tinges of orange. When applied with the new Terrracotta brush, which resembles something out of a Moroccan mystery, focus on sweeping the silky powder across the areas of the face and body which normally get exposed to the most sun. My summer secret is out and my most valuable tools are from Guerlain.

Naturally, everyone looks good with a tan. The whites of our eyes and our teeth seem brighter and anything we don looks fantastic. Faces are gleaming and sexy. We can’t neglect the lips, which should radiate high-definition shine. A wipe of the wand instantly makes lips sparkle, so always be armed with the Terracotta Gloss and Shine Moisturizing Balm. These delightful, intense glosses melt like balms due to the wild mango butter and cotton extracts, so your lips look supple and moisturized without feeling overly sticky. It’s hard to exude sexiness when your lips are stuck together. Subtle lips call for more dramatic eyes which can be achieved by applying the loose powder Kohl around the rims of the eye with a wet brush. Inspired by traditional Kohl of the Orient, this powder eyeliner comes in the most seductive packaging I’ve seen in a while. The packaging and product delivers captivating, sensual eyes that add that extra je ne sais quoi to your sexy tanned look.

Highlight your features with a quick dab of the limited-edition Terracotta Pearly Brush. Containing metallic reflectors, this super cute iridescent loose powder is incorporated into a brush that goes on like magic and instantly transforms a tanned visage into a more radiant one. Not overlooking the body, the Terracotta Bronzing Spray is instant bronze in a bottle. Its light texture gets absorbed by the skin instantly so that it dries without staining clothes and appears just like the real thing but can be washed off at the end of the day. You can be a bronzed beauty in no time!

Underneath the façade, the foundation needs to be primed before any painting can be done. Guerlain’s Orchidee Imperiale Cream is the latest luxury cream on the market and was formulated to target anti-aging factors by reproducing the functional properties of the orchid flower for the skin. Orchids have the ability to grow and thrive despite many hardships and embody eternal youth and beauty. This mother of all creams performs like a top-notch dermatologist/savior, permitting skin cells to regenerate and protecting the cell membrane, making skin appear younger and more supple. It combats dehydration, pigmentation, stimulates collagen and elasticity and distributes moisture more effectively. Wowza. It’s like those three-in-one coffee packets. You’d think it’d be this massive procedure to get all that done but this magic cream is fresh, light and satin soft and naturally smells of orchids accentuated by rose petal, aniseed, bourbon geranium, cedar and vanilla.

So you look wonderful and now you have to smell the part, too. Guerlain’s Lovely Cherry Blossom completes the bill. Created to celebrate the arrival of spring with the budding of cherry blossoms in Japan, the scent was formulated in homage to the blossoming beauty of women. At first whiff, it smells deliciously of bergamot and green tea and after a second or two, an aroma of jasmine, lilac and red berries emits beautifully. Slightly powdery, it’s highly shimmery. It contains gold sparkles that dispense extra pizzazz to dazzle and delight. With your appearance all done up, I say fake it till you make it. And there’s no doubt Guerlain can deliver.

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Guerlain’s spanking new Terracotta Collection is available at Rustan’s Makati.

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Comments? E-mail me at jcantonio@gmail.com.