ANGELS ON BARESKIN FACIAL CLEANSER BY LUSH. It’s tons of fun to exfoliate the skin on your body, especially elbows, knees and heels because you get to scrub away as much as you like, but when it comes to the fragile skin on your face, the problem is to find something that’s gentle and still manages to help clean out the pores. Angels on Bareskin is perfect because all you do is pull out a tiny piece and mix it with water to make a paste which you smooth over your face to gently cleanse and exfoliate. It also contains rose for softness and lavender to control the skin’s natural oils. (Angels on Bareskin, P425 for 100grams at all Lush shops)

BAUSCH & LOMB COMPUTER EYE DROPS. Millions of people suffer from eye stress due to computer work — and that number is rising by a million a year. Why? All those hours you spend at the computer are straining your eyes, creating a condition known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Since the computer is part of your work — and part of your life — the best option is to learn how to help your eyes.

Computer images are created from thousands of tiny dots — so there is no distinct image for your eye to actually focus on. You have to focus and refocus to keep the images sharp — and after two hours you end up with the same kind of repetitive stress in your eye muscles that the keyboard causes in your wrists.

The symptoms are dry, red, irritated eyes; headaches; back and neck aches; and trouble focusing. Lots of people don’t even know they have CVS. But now that you know what to look for, you can guard against it. Recommended to me by Dr. Bingo Borja, a wonderful opthamologist, Computer Eye Drops relieves dry eyes instantly by moisturizing and soothing the eye.

If you set a timer for 30-45 minutes when you start working, you’ll know when to stop, put one or two drops in both eyes, and then stand up and stretch, walk around a bit, make a cup of tea. Spend at least five minutes away from the monitor. Then sit down and set the timer again. Your eyes will thank you! (Bausch & Lomb Computer Eye Drops, P357.00 Mercury Drug)

MANICURE & FOOTSPA AT THE NAIL BAR. Aside from the obvious aesthetic benefits of getting a manicure, you should also be aware of all what doubtfully trained manicurists can do to damage your hands - filing back and forth, cutting the cuticle, using nail polish remover and then not rinsing the nails and fingers, etc. If you’re going to get it done, for Heaven’s sake have it done properly! The hands down best place to get your nails done is at Nail Bar, where the staff are trained to avoid infection and nurture the nails rather than merely hide them under pretty polish.

What really sets them apart is their location inside Rustan’s Essences. It is an oasis in the middle of a shopping haven, the perfect spot to take a breather and relax after a marathon shopping spree or fun window shopping. Despite its small size, it provides a cozy relaxation hideaway to re-energize and beautify fashionistas on the go. And as a partnership with Rustan’s, Nail Bar purely uses products that are available in Rustan’s which gives customers a chance to try out the products that are being sold in the store.

Their "Couture" and "Ready-to-Wear" treatments are basically carefully applied manicure and pedicures with long massages. The difference is Couture has a 20-minute massage and uses more upscale products such as Chanel polish and comes with an Essie Exfoliating Scrub. Ready to Wear P250, Pedicure P390, Couture Manicure P490, Pedicure P800. (Nail Bar is at Essenses, Ground Floor, Glorietta 4.)

JIM BRICKMAN AND CHRISTOPHER PEACOCK INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC. Because I teach yoga and also because I spend several hours daily on the computer, I need lots of good, preferably instrumental music. Much as I’d like to simplify my life and buy them all here, the selection is sparse so I’ve been making do with music purchased online or abroad. However, there have been a few quality finds that are available locally, two artists I find you can rarely go wrong with are Jim Brickman and Christopher Peacock, both pianists but with somewhat different styles.

I first heard Jim Brickman’s music on a Windham Hill sampler many years ago and fell in love immediately. At only 19, he was hired by Jim Henson to write songs for Sesame Street. He’s 46 now but still as youthful and idealistic in his music. Brickman is more alternative, very tranquil yet spirited, music that in his own words, "soothe the spirit and nurture the soul".

One of my personal favorites is the 2002 album ‘Love Songs and Lullabies’, which contains eight of the piano solos he’s famous for and four vocal tracks, all contemplative and serene. Personally I would prefer all instrumentals but for those who like a little variety, they’re very acceptable, especially "Love Never Fails" and "Beautiful". The album ‘Destiny’ is slightly more pop but just as relaxing and wonderful, "Part of My Heart", "Bitter Sweet" and "Crooked River" are tracks I’ll never get tired of listening to, reminiscent of George Winston - my all-time favorite pianist on the planet - but still fresh and very much his own.

Christopher Peacock on the other hand I discovered while window shopping at a mall. The moment I heard it playing on the store’s speakers I just had to find out what it was, and the sales attendants were nice enough to show me the disc cover and wait patiently while I wrote down the title and the artist. This was a few years ago and I’ve been a Peacock fan ever since. That album was 'Traveler,' and it contains many original Peacock compositions and tracks with intriguing titles like Beneath the Wooded Canopy and The Open Road that definitely don’t disappoint in content. His playing doesn’t demand attention, it’s perfect for listening while working or meditating about your next beach vacation, but when you stop to listen closely, his delivers a masterful performance. This album incorporates Celtic pipes, Peruvian flutes, Latin guitar among other instruments that combine flawlessly with his piano. (Jim Brickman and Christopher Peacock CDs, R460, Music One, Greenbelt 3 and Glorietta 3)

THE FARM AT SAN BENITO. Many people think that to "get away from it all" has to mean at the very least several days. Sometimes this is true, and it can be exactly the glorious break you need to get you back on track with all your good eating habits and just plain healthy living. But what happens when you absolutely CAN’T manage that much time off? Then take a day trip! Somewhere far, somewhere exotic, somewhere hard to reach? Not at all. The Farm at San Benito is only in Lipa City, Batangas and is the perfect retreat to pamper yourself, relax, and have the leisure to quietly think. How often can we manage that here in town?

You can avail of their many Day Tour packages from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. which include a five-course gourmet lunch, guided tour of the resort grounds and use of the facilities. Some of the offerings, depending on the package, are use of the swimming pool, lounges, trail walk, gym, and waterfall pool. Some packages also include a spa treatment like reflexology or a peppermint scrub, 60-minute relaxation massage or Earth facial, and their top of the line Wellness Lifestyle package offers participation in the resort’s Spiritual Development classes and Fitness activities like Yoga, Meditation, Breathing and Walking Exercises, etc. Of course if you can squeeze it in, they have a special five-day health vacation designed to introduce you to a healthier lifestyle and kick start you on a program of weight loss, stress management, cleansing and detoxification. Their chef will even show you how to prepare raw organic vegan meals, which they call Living Food. Packages range from P950 per person to R3500++ . (Reservations and inquiries at their Manila Sales Office 751-3498, 889-0138, 844-9530)

HIGH ANTIOXIDANTS WITH WHITE TEA. Type "White Tea" on Google and you’ll get a huge amount of information on the benefits of this type of tea. A simple version is that white tea is the rarest, most delicate and least processed tea in the world. The leaves are picked before the leaves open fully, and they are still small buds covered in a silvery white hair, which gives it its name.

This tea is known for its mild flavor and natural sweetness. It has even less caffeine than green tea and is prized for its cooling and refreshing character, skin strengthening qualities, and high antioxidant levels (antioxidants are nutrients that protect your body from damage by free radicals). Because of its minimal processing, white tea contains more nutrients than green or black tea and is reportedly one of the best things you can use to retard aging. (White Tea with Honey Lemon, 20 Tea Bags, P126.50, Shopwise)

TEETH WHITENING FOR THE PERFECT SMILE. One of the strongest self-esteem boosts you can give yourself is to be able to present yourself to the world in the best possible light. Without losing 20 pounds or undergoing plastic surgery, the fastest way to do this is by simply whitening your teeth. You’ll smile more confidently -- and often, look more polished, more professional. The Professional Teeth Whitening Center provides dental aesthetic procedures for discolored or stained teeth, called "Perfect Smile" using the latest, safest and least sensitive technology through the use of plasma arc blue light and their center’s special in-house formula.

I’m a total coward when it comes to pain but this procedure doesn’t even need anaesthetia, and has no side effects afterwards. Everything can be done in only one hour, one visit and your teeth are whiter by an average of 10 shades. (Professional Teeth Whitening Center, Medical Plaza Makati, Amorsolo corner Dela Rosa Streets, 892-9058)