Effortlessly glamorous

Author: Boy Abunda
Column: Directline

Helen Mirren, voted last year by People Magazine as one of the world's 100 Most Beautiful People says on staying sexy at 62, "Number one, I have never smoked. When you are young, you seem indestructible. As you get older, you realize how much it's helping you. I've never done anything to excess, really. " Aside from Helen Mirren those who landed in the People Magazine list include Kate Hudson, Scarlet Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, Jennifer Garner, Katherine Heigl, Jennifer Lopez, Salma Hayek, Reese Witherspoon, Drew Barrymore, among others.

What could be the secret of their beauty? Still from People Magazine, Hudson says, "I don't even remember the last time I got a manicure. I even got to the point where I started waxing my own legs because I don't have the time. I'd rather be home with Ryder (Kate's son) sitting there waxing my legs. I haven't gotten a facial in a million years. I don't do those kinds of things. And when I do, I always think, 'I should do this more often. "

"Some people are effortlessly glamorous and sexy," says Witherspoon. "I just wear a lot of sunscreen. That's it. Nothing more. I'm just lucky my grandma gave me great skin. "

Barrymore says her basic beauty routine is washing her face at night. "I always wash my face at night. I'm a face-washing obsessive-compulsive. I'm of a one-track mind to have clear skin. It makes me feel good. " She also loves being natural and is happy being photographed without makeup.

Are Mirren, Drew, Reese and Hudson aware that there is papaya soap that helps maintain clear, silky smooth beautiful skin? There are hundreds of different brands of papaya soap in the market and they all promise to have whitening and smoothing effect to the skin. Thanks to papain an important element found in papaya that is known for its cleansing, moisturizing, exfoliating and whitening effect on the skin.

And if you are not in the habit of going to the derma for your skin care, try Ysabella Botanica Papaya Soap. "Ysabella Botanica Papaya Soap is carefully hand-made and contains pure papaya and lavender extract in vegetable soap base," says Roberto Nazal, CEO of Ysabella Manufacturing and Trading, Inc.

"Too much of the extracts can irritate and harm the skin," stresses Nazal, adding that it is the balance of its ingredients that makes Ysabella Botanica Papaya Soap effective in whitening and smoothening the skin.

More benefits from Ysabella are made possible by other natural ingredients. Lavender is commonly used to give that distinct scent. However, its aroma also has a soothing and relaxing effect. Vegetable soap base, specifically coconut oil helps make the skin softer and smoother. Some studies show that papaya extract and lavender also have antibacterial properties. Nazal further adds that this soap has antioxidant effects.

Ysabella is also handmade. Nazal emphasizes that with a handmade soap, "There is more lather and more moisturizing effect. " Ysabella Botanica Papaya Soap is well formulated and dermatologically tested to suit all skin types, including sensitive skin. "You can use it every day," he adds.

Ysabella Botanica Papaya Soap is available in all leading supermarkets, groceries, drug stores, and department stores nationwide.

Stories in pictures

As part of the University of the Philippines' centennial celebration, SMART partners with the UP Diliman College of Mass Communication to launch the UPiktyuran Na! with SMARTT: UP Centennial SMART MMS Photo Competition. All UP students, alumni, faculty and employees are invited to share their own stories about their experiences in the university by capturing special moments with their camera phones and sending their pictures via the very easy and affordable SMART MMS Service.

Send in photos that contain elements that symbolize the University of the Philippines. The Top 10 outstanding photos win a SMART Bro Prepaid broadband kit bundled with an ultra-portable Asus eeePC laptop each.

Activating your SMART MMS Service takes no more than just a few seconds. Activate MMS by texting SET to 211. When you receive the configuration settings, choose to "Save All" to save the settings on your phone.

After activating your MMS Service, you can now enter the UPiktyuran Na! contest. Register for free by texting UP REG to 5355. Start sending your MMS photo entries by simply creating an MMS message. Type UP