Beauty Review: Kimiko Sheer Lip Tint & Plumper

There's a certain hard candy in the Philippines whose name escapes me but which was incredibly popular when I was a young 'un because of the deep, scarlet-red color it would leave on your lips. (And your tongue and teeth and anywhere else you let it land.) Basically, it was a little girl's lipstick and gloss; combined with the cheap price and cloyingly sweet, slightly medicinal flavor of the candy itself, it was a big hit among my set.

Not that Kimiko Beauty's Sheer Tint and Lip Plumper is anything like that. For one thing, the shade I'm trying -- Sweet Plum -- is a gorgeous and flattering color on my summer-tanned skin. No wagon-red swipes across my lips or anywhere else around my mouth, thank you very much. And for another, this comes in handy-dandy packaging, like Avon's Mark line, with the lip plumper occupying one end of the container and the tint occupying the other. Easy to toss into your makeup kit, and easy to pull out for quick touch-ups.

No, this reminds me of that forgotten sweet because it has that same scent reminiscent of cherry-flavored candies. You pull out the wand, apply it to your lips, and voila! It takes me back to summer afternoons hanging around Greenbelt Mall in Makati, Metro Manila, before it became the sprawling complex it is today.

This is the good stuff: fresh and glossy but not slick, deeply hydrating for even the driest mouth, and good for your lips, what with the collagen in the plumper, and pomegranate and berry extracts that not only provide that color boost but also give you the added benefit of antioxidant protection.

But most of all, it's just fun. Definitely give this one a try, and see if it doesn't take you back to the halcyon days of your youth.

Note: When applying, don't do as I do and layer on the plumper first. No, the tint goes first, and then the plumper after you've allowed the tint to dry for a minute or so. Stays put and gives you an even color.

Price: $37 for a 0.43 fl-oz double-sided tube. Available on their Web site.

Belo Medical Clinic visit, Obagi and hydroquinone

I am far from having a flawless face. I've been faithfully applying sunscreen every day of my life since my early 20's, but for various genetic and hormonal reasons, I've had long, painful bouts of acne since that time as well. (And no, the two are not connected.) There was a period of a few years in the late '90s when my face was calm, but it was mostly because of the birth control pill I was taking at the time.

Anyway, I have some minor acne scarring on my face as well as a few small moles called seborrheic keratosis. Depending on the weather and time of day, my face can be oily or combination. Otherwise, my skin texture is fairly good, sometimes even quite smooth.

While I was in the Philippines a few weeks ago, I made an appointment at the Belo Medical Clinic near Makati Medical Center. The clinic has a national reputation, as it treats quite a few celebrities, so I at least knew that I wasn't going to some neighborhood doctor with questionable credentials and experience. It wasn't cheap, but it's much cheaper than what it would cost here: the office visit was about P450, or US$10. Not bad, eh?

I ended up doing a glycolic acid facial and microdermabrasion. The doctor also recommended that I try Fraxel, a type of laser treatment that targets microscopic areas of the skin (hence the term fractional laser, or Fraxel). I was wary at first, as it involved not only a topical anaesthetic to be applied an hour before the actual procedure, but also a sedative that the attendant said might compromise my thinking post-op. Uhm. No.

I ultimately chose to cancel the treatment and get my money back after my husband sent me some research indicating that it's not the magic bullet the dermatologist at the clinic claimed it was. Also, according to the good doc, ideally I should have had 4 separate treatments to remove the scars from my face, but not only did I not have the time (treatments are generally spaced 2 weeks apart, and I had only two weeks total in the country), I also didn't want to spend the money. (Each treatment was going to be about P17,000, or US$350, which is half of what it costs in the U.S. but still pretty spendy.)

I would advise anyone considering Fraxel to engage in due diligence and research the procedure carefully. It's not for everyone, and the risks can be difficult to reverse. It can definitely improve your appearance, but I'm an advocate of always knowing what you're getting into before forking over your hard-earned money.

The facial and microdermabrasion were wunnnnnerful, though. I had two sessions of each, spaced a week apart, and they left my skin positively glowing and clean. Not a blackhead or whitehead in sight. Yes, the facial was painful at times (extractions are never fun, and I had plenty of work for the aesthetician), but so worth the effort. If I lived in Manila I'd probably do it at least once a month. And they weren't that expensive, either: I think the two treatments together were about US$70, with no tip required. (It is a medical clinic, after all.) I was a little apprehensive about the microdermabrasion, as I wasn't sure if it was going to be painful or not, but it really was a bit like a wand with a sponge at the end gliding across my face. I slathered on tons of sunblock after each treatment, as I was heading out into an afternoon sun each time and didn't want my "new" face to start hyperpigmenting. The effects lasted for days, and I loved the feel of my skin. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a facial deep cleansing.

Lastly, I also bought a way-too-expensive "trial" kit of Obagi skincare products that the doctor suggested I try. I don't even want to say how much it cost, but I don't think it's worth it. The kit had a cleanser, toner, retinol treatment, eye cream, sunscreen, lightening cream, and a few other things I can't remember. Most of it consisted of Obagi products while the rest were Belo brand. I know lots of women swear by the stuff, but I just can't imagine spending hundreds of dollars every month on it, when surely there are equally good products for a fraction of the cost? So I can't really review it here, as I never did give it a good trial. Again, a lot of women love the line, but I would caution anyone who is considering going on the regimen to do so only under the supervision of their dermatologist.

By the way, note that one of the products in the Obagi line has hydroquinone, a well-known skin lightener. For more information on this potent ingredient, here's an article from Brownskin.net, a Web site devoted to skin concerns of women of color, created by Dr. Susan C. Taylor, a Philadelphia-based dermatologist. She also wrote a new book called Brown Skin: Dr. Susan Taylor's Prescription for Flawless Skin, Hair and Nails, which I'll review in the coming weeks.

Glorietta Mall bombing

The tragic bombing of Glorietta mall gives me great pause, and not merely because I was just there a few weeks ago and am only too aware of how crowded, how popular the area is for Manilenos and visitors alike on any given day, whether it's Friday afternoon or first thing Monday morning.

I pray for all the victims and their families and hope that those who survive remain hopeful and optimistic about the future. That they don't give up on our country and its people, that peace is always possible, and that life is and will always be beautiful. It's bad enough that Filipinos are killing each other on the streets every day, that the indifferent rich ignore the plight of their poorer neighbors, erecting physical and social walls between them so that they don't have to face the agony of the poor soul's wretched life. But to deliberately, so violently attack them, to hide behind the protection of a mask or a faceless group, smacks of cowardice and inhumanity.

I hope that Filipinos will move on, beyond this tragedy, and while honoring the dead and never forgetting their individual stories, they remember their own dreams for themselves, their families and their country, and continue to fight to fulfill them.