SHOPPERS are now being practical with their gift purchases this Christmas. Whereas in the past years it was all about spoiling oneself and indulging our loved ones by buying piles of makeup in multiple colors or fragrances in truckloads, the economic crisis forces shoppers to consider what are most needed and are worthy investments.

For fragrances, consumers now want something they can wear all year ?round. The more frugal majority requests for something suitable for every occasion that can be taken from office to party which smells clean and light enough so that when the weather gets back to being warm, which is nine months a year in the Philippines, the fragrance will not be passé and can be used ?til the bottle runs empty.

Kenzo Les Eaux De Fleur Collection: Three new Limited Edition fragrance waters to choose from which costs P3,300 each and comes in only one size, 50ml. As expected with Japanese fragrances, the scents are so discreet that one has to be really close to smell it on the bearer. Notes are also very simple, two to three at most, that they are suitable even for tweens (age nine to twelve) and early teens.

1. Eau De Fleur de Soie?It?s Silk Blossom with fruity notes. It?s for those who like very light floral scents. It smells very clean and light, like Lily in the Valley-type of scents. It?s the same type as Stella in Two Peony. This, to me, is the most traditional Japanese scent.

2. Eau De Fleur de Magnolia?This is my favorite among the three Kenzo LE Fragrance waters. The notes are Magnolia Blossom with citrus fruits. Very similar to Acca Kappa?s Calycanthus but the magnolia in this has a creamy sweet floral quality like expensive scented European soaps.

Prefer a clean detergent type aroma? Clean Warm Cotton and Classic are the best bets. Soap and water? Try Philosophy?s pure grace and Thierry Mugler?s Cologne.

3. Eau De Fleur de Thé?A blend of Green Tea leaves and musk. I thought this would be my favorite among the Kenzo LE trio as I expected the citrusy green apple scent of the usual green tea fragrances like Elizabeth Arden or L?Occitane, but I was wrong. It literally smells like green tea leaves, limes and musk. Those who love Bulgari?s Au de Blanc White Tea and Bvlgari?s Au The Vert Green Tea unisex fragrances will go crazy over this variant as it is a combination of both, scent-wise. I would safely call this unisex. Great for men who don?t want to smell so woodsy and girls who don?t want fruity or floral types.

Note: Any women who are looking for a light men?s fragrance that is not so blatantly masculine and can classify as unisex so they do not smell like any other girl out there? Hugo Boss Pure has the clean scent of figs and citrus.

Nails

Even owning a nail salon is no guarantee that you can consume the entire bottle of colored nail polish before it dries up. What I find worthy of the investment though are those that prevent the nail polish from chipping, wearing out at the tips, and looking dull for the longest possible time, as if it was professionally or newly applied.

A great base coat protects nails from staining or at least minimizes them, and levels off the naturally uneven surface of the nails by filling out the miniscule gaps, ridges and cracks so nail polish goes on evenly with less chances of chipping off and wearing thin at the tips.

My Picks: Orly Bonder leaves nails with a rubberized finish that the polish adheres to better. It is also a protective barrier for nails.

Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat looks cloudy but transparent. It dries so quickly that you can apply the color right away without it sliding off.

A great top coat is one that dries fast, has maximum gloss and extends the life of your nail polish making it stay perfect for up to seven days on manicures and 20 days for pedicures so it looks like you had it done at the salon.

My picks: Orly Sec N? Dry for P499.75 penetrates and dries all layers of nail polish evenly and dries to a hard protective finish that does not turn yellow.

Revlon Extra Life No Chip Top Coat extends a manicure?s life for up to 10 days without chipping and makes it look really glossy.

Orly?s rubberized trademark caps are a bonus as they make the bottles easier to open due to added grip.

E-mail the author at kinnysalas@yahoo.com.