I don’t want to bother with a lot of makeup when I’m on vacation abroad. I don’t want to find myself running to a drugstore to buy a razor to tame my brows.

Before going off on a trip, I find it useful to invest in a few services with results that last for at least a month.

My first stop is always Benefit Cosmetics’ Brow Bar. I book an appointment with former national brow artist Celina Fernandez who gives me perfect arches.

You can also easily avail of it at any of the Benefit boutiques in the metro. Each branch has brow experts on duty who will map your ideal brow shape, wax your brows, and teach you how you can groom them with a line of products, including my favorite, 24-Hour Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel.

The brow waxing is virtually painless, lasts for a month, and eases your brow routine, no matter how thin or thick your brows may be.

Eyelashes

My next stop: eyelashes. I’ve been a fan of New Lounge since last year. The salon specializes in lash extensions without the irritation, heaviness and other horror stories I’d heard—like losing your real lashes as the extensions fall off.

I like how New Lounge staff asks you what effect you wish to achieve with your lash extensions: Do you want something doll-like and prominent, or something a bit more subtle?

All you have to do is relax your eyes closed for two hours, so you can have long lashes that don’t need mascara or a curler. The extensions last for three weeks with extra care and have you looking made up even if you’re barefaced.

Recently, New Lounge introduced innovations like Brace Lashes, which help your natural lashes grow upward, and the Mobile Brow Bar if you want to avail of services in your own home, saving you from a long drive or commute.

 

Pearly whites

The Smile Bar is a new discovery that I recommend as a necessary stop, if you want some semipermanent but noninvasive cosmetic teeth improvement. A painless teeth-whitening service helps teeth return to their natural whiteness.

I’ve tried The Smile Bar’s Triple Whitening service twice in the past three months. The results are instant. All I did was relax in an egg chair to my favorite online entertainment for around 90 minutes to get whiter teeth. I felt a bit of a tingling sensation, which is easily remedied by the vitamin E swabs the attendant provides.

On the scale of teeth whiteness, I jumped two shades lighter on both occasions and didn’t receive any flak from my dentist about it when I visited him.

For sustained results, the Swedish brand Brilliant Smile has two kinds of toothpaste and a mouthwash for teeth whitening and strengthening, so you can get the most out of your session at The Smile Bar.

Finally, there is Strip Manila. For years, I’ve found its service unmatched by others that I’ve also tried.

Perhaps I’m just the type who doesn’t find any trouble with its hot wax method. In 30 minutes, it can get rid of unwanted hair from your legs, armpits and bikini area, so you don’t have to bother with any other hair removal product for at least a month.

The place feels exclusive, comfortable, and the staff makes it known how it follows high standards when it comes to sanitation.

With my New Lounge lashes and Benefit brows, I can just throw on some lipstick, flash a bright smile and wear whatever I want. I’m good to go.—CONTRIBUTED