ITH her beauty-princess features and toothpaste ad smile, young actress Karel Marquez is not easy to hate; in fact, it would be far easier to like her.

That says a lot. After all, this is the same girl who's bravely taken on a kontrabida role, that of the sheepish but intrinsically scheming Penelope in Berks.

As Penelope, she will stop at nothing to steal Javi's (John Prats) heart by getting Gwyneth (Heart Evangelista) out of his way. Must be enough reason to have the whole archipelago hate her. But no. Her eyes alone are enough to cause anyone who sees her to fall in love.

"I like my eyes. A lot of people say that they're expressive.. .daw!" Karel says when asked what her best feature is. And who is her beauty icon? "Donita Rose. I love the fact that everything about her is real, nothing manufactured. "

With that in check, Karel, could only have the simplest vanity regimen up her sleeve: simple enough for her sensitive skin, yet deadly enough for pimples and other teen-skin impurities. "Just wash your face at least twice a day: when you wake up and before going to sleep. If you have to wear makeup, never sleep with it. Wash it."

With just a peek of Karel's mini tote, you'd know that it doesn't take much to get those chubby, chinito boys-her personal boyfriend material preference-drooling. Evidence number one, a wide-tooth paddle brush, which she laughingly waves just like a magic wand while chanting, "I'll die even with the slightest fly-away!"

Next, a mobile phone equipped with a high-pixel camera. "I use it like a mirror. When I'm at school or on a shoot, 1 take a picture of myself so that I'll know if it's time for a touch-up."

For a naturally plump and pinkish pout, a little bit of gloss on the lips. "Lipstick makes me look older, so I opt for lip gloss since it's much yummier and gives a better, natural look!" L;1scly, to look fresh and clean, "I just put on loose powder before going our and I'm set."

Her most important beauty secret, however, isn't something that can be bought. "My best beauty advice: Be natural! 1 believe beauty comes our naturally, and there's no way to bring it out than through happiness.' - -