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WISE ADVICE

07/04/2009

With the economy dipping low and the environment deteriorating, you just can't afford to take the little things for granted. Read the snippets below that range from your finances, skin protection, to home and office tidy-up tools. They may just be the advice that you need.

Securing your child's education

Citi card helps you with tuition expenses. Until Dec. 31, Citi cardholders can use PayLite for tuition payments with a minimum transaction of P3,000. PayLite is available in three, six, nine, 12, 18, and 24 months installment terms for a low monthly add-on rate of only 0.75 percent per month applicable for all installment terms.

"The rising cost of education makes it more difficult for parents today to cope and we are here to help lighten the load, especially for those with more than one school-age child. By offering promotional rates for PayLite, parents have a more cost-efficient alternative to pay for their child's tuition with flexible payment terms," explained Bea Teh-Tan, Citi's Cards business director.

During the promotion, Citi cardholders can enjoy these longer and lighter payment terms at these participating schools: La Salle Green Hills, Miriam College Foundation, St. Paul College Pasig, University of Asia and the Pacific, University of Santo Tomas, and OB Montessori Center in Greenhills, Sta. Ana and Las Piñas.

For more information, call the 24-Hour CitiPhone at 995-9999 in Metro Manila, 234-9999 in Metro Cebu, or visit www.citibank.com.ph.

What you should know

about sunblocks

Summer or not, sunblocks are essential to skin protection. Designed to ward off harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, sunblocks help prevent premature aging and skin cancer. Skin experts say almost 90 percent of skin cancers are caused by overexposure to UVs. So always make sure you are protected. Here's a quick guide to get the best sun protection.

First, get a sunblock that has SPF 30 or higher. Also, remember to apply sunblock 30 minutes before sun exposure because this provides your skin with enough time to absorb the sunblock's ingredients before hitting the streets. Next, get a sunblock with UVA and UVB protection. UV rays have two types — UVB rays and UVA rays. UVB rays cause sunburns and most types of skin cancers, while UVA rays accelerate premature skin aging.

For complete protection against UVB and UVA rays, try Playtex's Banana Boat Sun Protection in SPF 30 and 50. The Banana Boat Sun Protection lasts longer than ordinary sunscreens. It uses patented patented AvoTriplex Technology to provide protection against sunburn, long-term skin damage and skin-aging. It also contains Aloe Vera that will leave your skin moisturized all day.

It is also important to consider your activity. Your activity will determine the type of sunblock you'll need. Lastly, get your daily dose of vitamin D. Do not overuse sunblocks. Remember that early morning sunlight is the ultimate source for vitamin D, so try to catch some of it when you can.