Not So Beautiful...

Rating: 2/5

The Face Shop's Beautiful Jeong Yeon Cleansing Foam was actually a gift from a friend who went to Korea. I tried this because Koreans have such lovely skin and I was wondering if this facial wash would do me good. Hmm... I think my face became a bit dry but ironically, I also had big pimples, read: acne! *eep!* I panicked and so I switched back to Shiseido The Skincare Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam. I was able to avert the growth of some acne but there is one that survived and now looks more like a giant mole mocking me every time I look in the mirror.

The scent is overpowering as well. If you like the scent I suppose you would like it. I am really not into facial wash and other facial products with overpowering scents but I like Lush *wahaha!* Go figure! I am a very confused person...

The packaging is very simple and practical, this comes in a big size so it will last a really long time. Mine will last longer than intended... I think I can use it as a body wash and a hand soap since it smells nice.

In fairness, I really have been staying awake far too long, of course this could be the reason too but as my sister argued, this is not the first time I have lost sleep but this is the first time in a really long time that I have had a geyser on my face. *eek!*

This is all... I am not discouraging you from trying this, all I am saying is that this is not for me. :)

Ox na Ox

Rating: 4/5

I have been using Strivectin Anti-Oxidant for a month now. It is supposed to get rid of radicals and soften lines on the face. I think it really softens the lines. I really enjoy using this. I do not know though if I really need it yet and if I will buy another tube if I empty the tube since there is something that I am really itching to try. This has a very subtle scent, it is immediately absorbed, easy to apply and does not have harsh reaction with my Olay Regenerist night and day cream. It is also very economical because a little goes a long way. After applying this the skin feels velvety smooth and so it's easier to apply the moisturizer.

Hmm... while I am writing this, I am beginning to ponder whether I can really live without this tube or not... hehe...

I have not been getting much sleep lately and so my eyebags are sooh dark again! I am now trying out Shiseido BioPerformance for the undereyes again hoping that it can do wonders for me. Today is the first day I am trying it. I am using it with StriVectin SD for the eyes.

Under Cover

Rating: 3/5

I bought MAC Select Cover-Up to cover up my under eyes. I was thrilled at first but I found that the make-up tends to crack after a while. Aside from this, I am not sure if I got the right shade. I am really not good at finding the right shade for me. Also, I think this was not enough to cover up my under eyes. I have not used this for a really long time, I cannot even recall why I just gave up on using it. I guess I was worried about tugging too much on my under eye. That, and I have started using the Strivectin SD for the under eye. I have blogged about that here. This product can act as a part concealer as well. Not a full coverage but I guess I did not want to combine them.

This fetches for less than 1000 Php. It's pretty reasonable for a concealer I think.



Rating: 3/5

I actually have a Shiseido Compact Concealer. I think this is a really cute and handy compact for those who can blend make-up. I am an ignoramus at blending things so I was not able to really use this much. I tried but I just could not really blend it properly. On most days my under eye was too bright. Not really the kind of look I was going for. *haha* I just had to stop using this product altogether. This fetches for more than 2K I think. It comes with a brush and a really pretty compact. :)

Concealing Lust

I was reading the paper from yesterday ( I know I did not have time to read it until now, give me a break. :) ) and saw these two new products that I am dying to give a try. I have had been having problems with dark under eyes since forever and I have been on the lookout for good concealers. I have tried YSL Touche Eclat and I think it is good but the consistency is not that smooth and I am afraid I will have to tug on my under eye skin a lot. I also have a MAC concealer from the tube that I believe I have blogged about before. My problem is that this does not blend well on my skin and it cracks after a while. There are two new products:



The MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer is water resistant and they say this would work for scars, redness, uneven skin tone and under eyes. I am drawn to it too... They say it looks like it's not even there and that it does not crack. Since this is MAC i bet this is priced reasonably too. It sells for 16.50 USD on the net so maybe it's less than 1K here. :)

I got this video from YouTube, it's a demo on how to use the MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer.



Another product is La Mer's Radiant Concealer. They say this is lightweight and the consistency is very easy to apply so this does not require you to tug too hard on your under eye skin. This adds natural brightness to the under eye. Since this is La Mer, I am anticipating that this would cost more. This retails for 65 USD on the net. I figure this would cost around 5K here. Luxury tax tends to really get the price really high. Boo. I wonder though if they have shades for the Asian skin.

21 Day Challenge Completed

I was able to finish my 21-day treatment on Advanced Night Recovery Complex and I have gotten compliments on my skin and how I looked like I was blooming. :) Ms skin is not in tiptop shape because i have not been getting enough sleep so you can just imagine how hard ANR works.

I am really a big fan. I know it's expensive but so far I have used my ANR bottle that costs 5,500Php for two 21-day cycles already and I still have some left. I am hoping it will give me another 21-day treatment. It is about the same price as a facial treatment except this one gives more dramatic results. It is unbelievable! I cannot use this again until after six months.

Now, I am wondering if I should use my Olay mask or if I should use Kiehl's overnight biological peel next.

I am still relishing my nice skin thanks to ANR. :)

The Sexy Chef

I have thought of doing something like this before but they thought of this first since they have been doing this since 2005. They deliver healthy food! I am talking about The Sexy Chef. They have Fit Meals and South Beach Diet Premier. I am not a fan of the South Beach Diet, I have never tried this. I have tried the five-day diet and the fat burning soup diets though. I could handle the icky food, I could not handle the preparation of the food. It's such a hassle. I was able to lose a lot of weight through these diets though. The Sexy Chef makes going on a diet easier because they deliver. I have not tried their services but I think it's worth a try. Who knows, maybe someday I will. The South Beach Diet Premier is 875Php per day so it's a bit expensive but the Fit Meals is 140Php per meal.

I do not know if I will ever be able to commit to a strict diet ever but I sure am doing some workout now and I can see its effects. It's taking a while but it feels good so I do not see myself stopping any time soon. It feels great to fit into my clothes again with less bulges. Emphasis on the word less *haha*!

Shining, Shimmering Splendid!

Rating: 5/5
I went to Shoe Salon earlier and I just realized that I really like the FitFlop Electra on my feet! :) I will get it soon, maybe next, next month. I just bought a new pair of shoes! ;) I cannot be spending too much! My sister is scolding me already!

I finally, finally got myself a new gloss. L'oreal has discontinued my fave shade of GlamShine but I think I like the new one that I got. It's paler but still gives me the nice shine and the formula is still very light. The shade is 6H. I love it and I am wearing it now! :) I love how it is light and how easy it is to apply. They have made the wand of the applicator longer than the previous version so it's easier to use. I am not a fan of the smell though. Wish they could add some flavor to it or something. :) GlamShine sells for 675 Php. I got mine at SM.

Brow, Brow, Brow your Boat...

Rating: 5/5
I was also able to drop by MAC at Marionaud and I got myself a MAC Brow Set (brow gel) in clear. This should keep my eyebrows in line. ;) I hate it that it keeps on falling! I mean the way they really are is not very flattering for my eyes so I have to brush them up every once in a while. I am not the type of girl who checks on how she looks all the time so I need them to just stay after I brush them up. So far, I am very happy with MAC brow set. It has been hours since I have applied the Brow Set and my eyebrows have not budged, my forehead is not itching and most importantly, I feel very comfortable. MAC Brow Set sells for 875 Php at Marionaud.

Tonight, my sister asked me why I put on make-up. This is hardly every true now since I have not applied make-up for months already. I only apply gloss during special events now. I told her, when you grow older, like in two terms (because she is about to graduate) you will understand. :) Make-up makes me feel pretty and confident and that's all the reason I need. I told her.

I thought it was a nice question though. It made me think. ;)

I had fun shopping with my sister. :) I love hanging out with her!

FitFlops Part II

Hey!

I posted here many months ago about my FitFlop Walkstar II in white purchase. I still love them to death and I practically wear them everyday whenever I can get away with it. I am planning to buy Electra in brown which I think is uber chic! Even Daphne Osena has a pair of Electra! :)




I have seen on their site that there are new designs to choose from. I am not sure if our climate will permit us to wear Gogh II but I kind of like it. I hope they come up with more designs suited for work! :)



FitFlops are available at The Shoe Salon, Res Toe Run and Kickers!

21 Day Challenge

I have started using my Estee Lauder Advanced Night Recovery Concentrate. This is to be used for 21 straight days. I am trying to find out if this alone will give me good skin or if I need to get a series of facials to get it. This time around, I am using Olay Regenerist as moisturizer, no adverse reactions so far so maybe they are compatible. Last time, I used Estee Lauder's HydraComplete. I do not think this moisturizer is good enough for me though...

I will update you. Tried it last night, today, my skin is brighter. Hmm... We'll see what will happen in the next few days! :)

Still have not gone back to Bioessence. :) Very bad.

iBrows

I think I did a pretty okay job on my eyebrows. I have no doubt that the pros at Propaganda would have done a better job but at least I did not have to go out into the rain. i learned that it's okay to pluck from the upper part of the eyebrow. I read it from one of the websites I have visited. Also the pencil can guide you in creating the arc. It should be 45 degrees with respect to your nose. I have learned that if I tug gently, it does not hurt as much but after all the plucking my head will ache. :) Remember to not wet your face after and always check your brows from a distance because you do not want to overpluck (I am coining the term :) ).

I need to comb my eyebrows up because their normal direction is down which ruins the shape of my brows. Which reminds me there used to be an eyebrow gel from Bench that I used to use. I should check out other brands. I stopped using this product because after a while it turns into something like dried glue on your brows and lashes if you put on too much. I will let you know if I find a good one. :) Laura Mercier, Shu Uemura and MAC has an eyebrow gel. I will see which one I will buy. :)

The wedding was great.It was typhoon free and I fit into my pink dress and my shoes matched my dress perfectly. I have to remember to always moisturize though because my skin is definitely parched. It's good I have with me still Kiehl's Creme of the Crop. I should really use that regularly. I am also back to Dove moisturizing bar so hopefully my skin will be able to recover.

I have not gone to Bioessence again, I know I should go back because I should have gone back weeks ago. I also need to get the result of my breast ultrasound from my checkup of a week ago. Make sure that you not only check on what's outside, check what's inside too and I am not just talking about your soul. A few months ago, the doctor discovered that I have a triple cluster cyst in my right breast. The last time the surgeon looked at it, he said he does not think it's malignant but he decided to let me get an ultrasound just to be sure. I hope to go there this week. Also, I have an up and coming third shot for the anti-cervical cancer vaccine of GSK. I have to check the date of that too. :)

All for now!

Have a great new week!

To Tweeze

But I am not going to Makati.

The rain is beginning to fall and it scares me that it is soh humid outside. I just went to the bank to deposit some checks that are about to get stale and really it felt like I was in a sauna. My skin (right after I took a bath) started feeling sticky *eww*. It is that humid!

When it is humid, rain is sure to follow. I hope that everyone will be able to take cover as this Pepeng or Parma typhoon is said to be really strong. I am still hoping that it will change its course though.

In the meantime, I will tweeze my eyebrows on my own.

To Tweeze or Not To Tweeze

I do not know about you but I have not been gifted with perfect brows. I inherited my dad's brows and while they are thick and I do not have reasons to get them tattooed, they are rather bushy and well, they do not follow one direction. They pretty much reflect how I am.

I have tried plucking. This made me cry. Just to give you an idea, up until I was 24, my eyebrows remained untouched by tweezers or blade or thread. You can just imagine how long my visit at Propaganda took when they plucked my eyebrows. I highly recommend this place because for one, they pluck. Secondly, they do such a good job too. I plan to pay them a visit today if time will allow me so I can have my eyebrows fixed. *imagines excruciating pain!* I have a wedding to go to tomorrow. I plan to get pedi and mani too... Hmm... wonder how and when I will do that.

I have also tried threading at Franck Provost and well, that did not turn out well. I think the shape of my eyebrows is too hard to shape. So no more threading for me from now on. I think I will go to Makati today. Hmm... wonder if my will power can get me there and if the rains will not be too hard. Of course I can just opt to pluck them on my own. Maybe I will just do that. That is after all, more convenient for me.

The prices vary but if I remember correctly I paid 500 Php at Propaganda. This has been a while though. As in a long, long while. :)

Vita- Means

I have been posting about creams and save for the Pomegranate supplements from Murad I have not posted about other supplements. I think at a time when it is humid and then raining cats and dogs, the best way to keep yourself pretty is to get as much Vitamin C as you can. Started taking Berocca during the H1N1 scare but I have decided to continue taking it. I feel more energetic when I take it. You see it's a multivitamin supplement. It's not just Vitamin C. It has B1, B6, B12 that should keep your brain active. It also has Calcium, something I have to really start taking at my age. :)

I am not sure if this Vitamin is making me fat but I am not making any plans of stopping. :)

It's easy to use, just drop the tablet in a glass of water and wait until the tablet dissolves. The drink is a bit fizzy (which I do no particularly like because I do not drink carbonated drinks) but you will get used to it.

Let's Help

They always say beauty is just skin deep. I think we can stop worrying about creams today and help out. :)

I Dream of Jean-ie

I know I normally just blog about beauty products but I thought today I will make an exception. I just fell in love last night... with jeans!

It has been a while since I have found jeans that I love. I liked Lulu Castanette for a while but the brand died a natural death and now I do not see them anywhere. Since then, I have not found the pair of Jeans that I can really love. I tried Grab but the fit is not too great.

Last night, I tried on a pair of Gap and the fit was great and it felt great on my skin too! Also, they have varying lengths! Yay!!! I do not have to force myself into jeans that are a mile longer than my legs!

Lovett! Lovett! Lovett!!!

Twisted!!!

Everyday, I find my hands smelling like Christmas, thanks to the Bath and Body Works Deep Cleansing Handwash that I got from Market,Market called Twisted Peppermint. I love the feeling of being able to smell Christmas in it. I bought it because of the H1N1 scare and my hands were becoming really dry.

Try it for yourself. Who says you have to wait for Christmas to smell Christmas?!

Speaking of, I cannot wait for this Christmas! :)

De-Lux

Lux has not made an appearance here in the Phililppines for a loong time but not in other countries.

Some years ago, I have purchased Lux with Collagen in Thailand. I do not think this is available here in the Philippines but I still have some boxes in storage so I decided to use one of the bars. I love the smell and the shape as it is shaped differently for massage purposes. I do not know if collagen had to do with my arms slimming down or if it had anything to do with me having dinner earlier now and being able to run more regularly... Anyway, using this soap made my skin really dry. As such, I have decided not to use the soaps anymore. Such a waste, I lugged them all the way to Pinas from Thailand before. Oh well... I am not sure if this soap will have the same effect on you as one of my colleagues loves this soap so much, she asked me to buy so many of them while we were in Thailand. :) As for me, I'm de-luxing. :)

I do not really experiment much with soap because I really like Dove. Sometimes though, my curiosity gets the best of me and I try new things that only end up disappointing me. :) More on soaps later on... Forgot to write about soaps when in fact I have tried so many. Most of them from Lush. I mean if you're going to experiment why not go for products that are organic and au natural. I also have tried soaps from Ilog Maria. More on that next time.

This is it for now. Gosh, I love blogging on Mac *haha*. I just really had to say that no? It's just so different. I have to go back to my experiments though... my Vaio is dying. Experiment has been running on it overnight and it is still not done. I better get this Mac to do some too.

Ciao!

Wart-cha-macall-it

I have been very busy the past few days cramming in between my PhD and other things. I know... excuses again right? I was even supposed to go to France but I had to pass up because processing all the requirements was just too stressful already. In between all the work I was able to finally rid myself of fugly stuff on my body. As embarrassing as it may be... warts. I have been very embarrassed to actually get some help but I have noticed that it has been getting worse so last week I went to Bioessence and had them removed.

The first step was getting diagnosis. The doctor checks your face, neck, chest and back for warts and then she refers you to a technician who will then apply topical anesthesia to the affected areas. You then wait for the topic ointment to work (my wait was about an hour or so). After the long wait, the technician will return with a device that will burn the wart. During this process, it will not hurt if the anesthesia was properly applied. Do not expect that this will be the case on all warts because it's not, definitely there will be cases where you will pain a tolerable amount of pain (at least in my case). After all warts have been burned, you would look a bit like a chicken pox victim. They will then give you post wart ointment that you will apply twice a day and an anti-wart soap that you have to leave on for two minutes. After three to four days, the scabs (that look like black moles) will fall off. In my case some are still on me and it has been six days but am not panicking... yet.

It was a bit costly but after all this time, I am only happy I do not have to worry about them anymore. They accept cards at Bioessence so this makes paying them convenient. The staff was very professional and I did not feel embarrassed at all.

I hope this will help those who are worried about these warts. You do not have to feel embarrassed at all nor should you suffer from humiliation as well because you can get rid of them and it does not even hurt that much. :)

I normally blog using my beloved Vaio but tonight, I am happy to say that I am using my brand new MacBook Pro that I got for a project I am doing! :) *woot*

Infrared Sauna

Whenever I go to The Spa, I end up enjoying the Sauna more than the massage. I do not like people kneading too hard on my muscles but I do appreciate how my body feels like right after a good sweat in the Sauna. My problem though with saunas is that you cannot stay far too long in the room. They say it is bad for the heart and personally, my head begins to hurt after a while. So what I do instead is to get a cold shower and then back to the sauna I go. Apparently, there is another way that will allow one to stay longer in a sauna. If we use an Infrared Sauna, it will heat up our bodies faster at 120 degrees compared to the 180 degrees needed in regular saunas. Not so hot for the heart and brain but the heat gets absorbed by the body, thus making you break into sweat sooner than regular saunas.

There are two kinds of saunas and by far infrared saunas that are carbon-based is good. The ceramic types tend to produce less heat. You might ask what the benefits are of saunas. For one, it can rid you of toxins, make you lose weight, lower blood pressure among many others. All this talk about saunas, makes me want to go to the nearest spa!!! Some people who can afford it actually have personal saunas at home. I want! :)

She - sei - Do It!

I just realized that I have not posted about my most favorite facial wash in the whole wide world *gasp*!I know during my adolescent years a.k.a. oily face years I was using Shiseido Pureness Gentle Cleansing Foam (which I have reviewed here) but during my twenties I have been using Shiseido The Skincare's Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam. When you buy, you have to be very specific with the sales associate because there was this one time when I asked my husband to buy for me and I told him the name of the product, he was given the Shiseido The Skincare's Purifying Cleansing Foam (I have reviewed this too!) instead. Most of the time my preferred facial wash is not in stock and the associates insist that they are one and the same. They are not. The Purifying Cleansing Foam has beads the Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam does not! I love how this Foaming Wash locks in moisture on one's face. I also love the scent of this foaming wash but most importantly, I love how it feels on my skin when I lather up.

The packaging is very light and so it's easy to pack and never spills. Trust me, I always pack this along wherever I go.

Poor Pores...

Rating: 1/5

I have always been obsessed with making my pore size look smaller. Fact is, there is no way to make it smaller than it already was when you were born but... if your pores are harboring dirt and grime then they may look bigger and darker than they are. When I heard about Shiseido's Pureness line's Pore Minimizer Cooling Essence I thought it was the miracle that my brother and I were looking for. Not.

It did nothing for our skin. I am a Shiseido fan but this product did absolutely nothing. We never got to finish the tube because it does not work.

You might tell me, I did not use the Pore Purifying Warming Scrub that's why it did not work. Not. We bought the two tubes and much to our dismay, they were both useless. It did not even feel warm on my skin. I really think both products did a lousy job. Its only saving grace (not really enough to save it ) is its smell. It smells nice.

If you want an effective way to reduce the size of pores use the Estee Lauder Idealist line. I guarantee you that it will work because it worked for me. I mean really, the result was fantastic. I used it months before my wedding day and everyone (while I was using the line) complimented me about how nice my skin was. :)

Isn't it Dove-ly!

Rating: 5/5

I am really obsessing with with hands lately, thanks to the H1N1 scare. I always have an alcohol bottle in my bag, something that I did not do pre-H1N1. The virus has changed my lifestyle really, from the way I pop Berocca everyday to the alcohol I apply on my hands more than what is normal. In fact my hands are beginning to dry! I hate how it does that to my hands.

So the other day, while I was in a department store, I realized I should look for a hand lotion. I have brought to school my nice smelling Burberry Weekend lotion but it does not do much for my hands. Hands need more moisture than the rest of our body. As I looked around, I found out that Dove (my favorite brand of soap that I have reviewed here too) now has a Beauty Hand Cream. I use a pea size amount on my hands and it goes a long way. My hands have greatly improved after I have started applying it since three days ago! The scent is also subtle and nice. The packaging is very light and small so you can carry it in your purse. Each tube is 75 mL and fetches for 127Php give or take, am not sure how much it is sold in other department stores but am pretty sure this is cheaper than Kiehl's. :)

Now I have on my table a bottle of alcohol and my Dove Beauty Hand Cream to keep my hands clean and soft. :)

Going to the Market! Market!

Yesterday, I went to The Fort to get my mom a Mango Bravo Conti's cake. While there, I decided to explore Market!Market! Since the High Street shops were still closed. I came across a PX Store at the ground floor that sold Bath and Body works hand soap and lo and behold they still have the Twisted Peppermint from the Winter Collection. I am a big sucker for the winter collection. This like the candy canes that you can buy from the stores except that it's soap and won't make you fat.

It reminds me of my Christmases from way back! I got it of course, it was priced at 380Php and then I was given the hand soap for 350Php (without haggling!). I did not pay for it right away, I continued to look around and then the shopkeeper said I could have it for 350Php. Next time I would know that I can haggle and I really will. They have not seen the last of me *wahaha*.

BTW, I mentioned before that SM offered some of the Bath and Body Works items, Market!Market! Department Store also offers them and they have a wide array of products to choose from. They sell the PocketBacs for 210Php and the body lotion for almost 500Php if my memory serves me right. They also have Victoria's Secret products but am not a fan because I have only tried their lip gloss and was not impressed.

If you're a fan of either brands, this should be good news because you will not have to pay for shipping fees and you will not have to wait for soh long to get the product that you want! *yey*

PocketBac to the Future

Rating: 4/5

To all those who are fans of Bath and Body Works, some SM department store branches now sell Bath and Body Works products. The hand soap is 350 Php per bottle. Sorry, forgot the price for the other stuff but they have lotion and body splash as well. I did not buy yet though because they did not have the scent that I liked. Still, it's interesting to see them on the shelves of SM! *yey*

Due to the A(H1N1) virus, most of us find ourselves applying alcohol or hand sanitizer more than once a day. I do too. A few weeks ago, before the Flu Scare, I used Bath and Body Works PocketBac Deep Cleansing Hand Gel Sanitizer. I got two bottles from my sister-in-law who got the bottles from her trip to the US. I was able to try Sweet Pea and the Winter Collection's Winter Candy Apple. Just as I have said in my review of the Winter Candy Apple Hand Soap, I love, love, looove the scent of this. The hand sanitizer has the wonderful smell as well. Some people actually think that I splashed on body cologne or something because it does smell good. Some people who are sensitive to smell or do not like layering perfume might not appreciate this though.

Sweet Pea on the other hand is exactly what its name suggests, sweet. I find that the fragrance is too sweet, however, the sanitizer is firt and foremost functional so who am I to not use it.

There are other scents available to suit your liking and if you are not a fan of scented hand sanitizers, they also come in unscented form. I have not seen this in the shelves of SM but I am sure you can find a lot of retailers on Multiply.

I like the packaging becaust it's small and will fit any purse. However, because the packaging is too small, they can only pack so much sanitizing liquid. This is why nowadays, I just use my good old plain alcohol.

Regardless of how we keep our hands clean, let's be vigilant to keep diseases at bay. :)

Cherry Lips

Rating: 5/5

While I was in Athens,Greece, I discovered a line of natural cosmetics that I liked called Korres Natural Products. I bought a lip gloss from them and I totally loved the scent and the way it felt on my lips. I am very picky with lip glosses because I do not want very thick formulas as they tend to irritate my sensitive lips *feeling!*! Seriously though, I do get rashes.

I like the simple packaging that their products came in because they are light and easy to carry. The box was so cute too as it had a picture of a cherry, I am a sucker for cherry things. The tint has a cherry flavor and while I normally opt for unscented things, I love the scent of this gloss!

The drawback as in any lip gloss is that it does not last as long as you want it to. But then again, it's a lip gloss so let's cut it some slack.

Unfortunately their products are not yet available in the Philippines. If I get to go to France this September I will look for their line there. Unfortunately for me, Euros just went up to 69 to a Peso. *boo!*

You can read more about Korres Natural Products here.

The Face Shop Nailed It!

Rating: 5/5
Last Sunday my husband and I had some of my husband's relatives over because he wanted to show off our newly renovated kitchen. During the day, his aunt started fixing her nails. Seeing she did not have a bottle of polish, I offered some of mine. I mentioned last time that I got fixated with The Face Shop's nail polish shades and I got myself two that I think are my staples. For my hands, I use the pink shade that I have reviewed before in this blog and for my toes I use another shade because for some reason, my feet are darker than my hands. I use a brown shade for my toes. I loove this shade because even if the polish gets chipped, it is not obvious. In fact I get to wear it for weeks! I know, am such a sloth, I do not even bother to use acetone. I do not like acetone because I have this gnawing feeling that it damages my nails.

My aunt-in-law and mother-in-law loved the shade BR801! They used the shade for their hands though. I have not tried it on my hands because I love the pink shade and it really makes the diamond on my ring finger stand out more. :)

To achieve the lasting gloss on your nails make sure you use a top coat. The Face Shop's version is very easy to apply and quick to dry. I know because I can be the most impatient person. The nail polish is also easy to apply, I know because I am not at all skilled in nail polish application. Though I am beginning to learn that one must use very light strokes to achieve good application.

What I would really like to rave about these bottles of nail polish is that, they are still so easy to apply, did not dry at all after more than eight months in storage! I used to have other brands and they dry up after a few months in storage! These bottles fetch for less than a hundred bucks too, so I think they are really worth every centavo!

Revitalash Lust

RevitaLash is a product from the US that had the Hollywood celebs including Oprah, raving about it because according to them it can make your eye lashes longer and thicker. For those who have considered eye lash extensions like me, this is a wonderful alternative. I used to want eye lash extensions but I soon realized that sooner or later they will come off along with the real ones. The last thing I want is to be void of eye lashes! *faints* So when I read about this, I could not help but be excited about this product. It sells for 150$ a pop in the US.

I just might get on the bandwagon. I have been thinking about this for a while now and last week I finally inquired. I found out the product if more pricey here than in the States and I knew then and there that I had to give this more thought. I have not stopped thinking about this product and I find myself wanting this more and more.

I wonder if I should give in to my lust for Revitalash...

I think I need help. :)

Regenerist

Rating: 3/5
I have purchased (finally!) the Olay Regenerist moisturizers. They come in two varieties the day cream and the night cream. The day cream has SPF 15 while the night cream is supposed to have more active ingredients. The containers are very similar but the creams differ in color. The night cream is light purple while the day cream is light pink (or something to that effect). You can buy each tub for 999 Php.

The containers are in gray, they're heavy so not really nice if you are traveling but it's nice to look at. It has a feel of luxury to it. I just do not like the idea that you have to dip your finger in the tub. I think it's not hygienic.

I have been using them for three weeks because I ran out of my Dramatically Different Clinique moisturizer and I have been dying to know what this line has to offer. I used to use Olay Total Effects with SPF 15 before I shifted to Estee Lauder HydraComplete. In fact the only memory I have of why I shifted is because I wanted to use all Estee before the wedding. I also remember that my face used to get oily with Olay. I still think that Olay is too rich for my skin because I have some little bumps on my skin (I get these when my gunk is too rich, this happens to my lips too!). The only reason why I am still using this is because I think it is making my skin firmer and tighter.

I will be posting more feedback once I notice more changes. BTW, I still use my Shiseido SPF 50 on top of the SPF 15 because I am paranoid. :) I also find the scent too overpowering.

Balm, Balm, Balm

Rating: 5/5
I have been given a Murad Soothing Lip Therapy tube last Christmas for some services I have availed of in Murad. I just started using it last month and I must say, I am loving it. I like it better than Kiehl's granted that Kiehl's has SPF 15 and Murad does not.

I am not using the balm religiously but when I do get cracked, dry lips, I apply this tube of yellow gunk and voila, the following day, my lips are unbelievably smooth again! It's like magic. I like the formula because it's light. My lips get rashes. Yes. I know, I am weird like that but this formula does not cause me to rash so it's good enough for those who have sensitve puckers! Yey!

It does not have a scent and you can layer on top of it lipstick because when you put it on it's like a clear gloss.

The packaging is light and when you press it, it dispenses just the right amount! I am in love with a balm yet again! It's perfect for our rainy season when we tend to get cracked lips!

Pharmacy At Hand, Online

There is an online pharmacy in UK that actually delivers to your doorstep! How grand is that?! No more waiting in line and no need to feel embarassed about whatever it is you're purchasing, absolute confidentiality!

The name of the pharmacy is Pharmacy At Hand and it offers products from medicine to cosmetics! Of course you had to know that this is where everything on this blog is going! Anything about beauty gunk! *snickers* Anyway, they also feature products from the Vichy Laboratories. This brand has been making waves in the US and has been featured by big magazine names. I have not tried their product yet but they are offering a wide variety of products like make-up, cleansers and toners and special foundation for those who have flaws that they need to hide!

I am not very fond of concealers because often, you cannot find the exact match for your skin tone. I am also not very good at blending make-up. Vichy offers a product called Dermablend which can last for eight hours and can hide flaws as extreme as burns and as minor as freckles! This has a matte finish and is easy to apply. You can buy this online thorugh Pharmacy At Hand so you need not fall in line to get your refill. Of course for first timers, I would suggest you purchase this at a store so you can try the colors.

Another product of Vichy Laboratories are the usual line of make-up, cleansers and toners. The nice thing about their make-up is that they provide corrective formulae in the make-up. They have anti-wrinkle foundation, anti-imperfection and other things that promise so much more than just adding color to your face. I would love to try these products in the future so I can review them here. :) Imagine putting on make-up and making your face look great!

I Hate Bags!

Rating: 5/5
I love my bags but I just hate, hate eye bags especially when they are so dark! Last Christmas, I blogged about the loot I got from a LuxAsia sale. I was able to sequester a package of three Strivectin products, an anti-oxidant, Strivectin SD and Strivectin SD for the eye orbital area. I have not tried the other two but I have tried (without the right patch test mind you, a four year old has more E.Q. than I do) Strivectin SD for the eye orbital area.

I have been using the product for a month now and my husband noticed that my undereyes are not as dark anymore. I have noticed this too. He was even asking me yesterday what my secret was. I told him to go visit my blog to find out *snickers*. I have stopped using Clinique for the eyes and just used Strivectin for the last four weeks. I can say that it reduced the puffiness of my eyes and it did lighten the color of my undereyes. It did not however, (I think) soften the lines. I do not have very recognizable lines but if I look closely in the mirror, I do. They're from smiling too much. Some people do not smile too much because they do not want lines on their faces, I do not get that hehe....

I would want to get another tube of Strivectin definitely because I really do think it works. I still have a lot of this gunk because it is a concentrated formula, you just have to use it sparingly. Like a small dot per undereye. I will be on the look out for another LuxAsia sale though, I will let you know if there is one.

The packaging is a fuss free simple plastic tube. I like that when you press it, it does not dispense so much. There is no scent which I love because I do not like layering different scents on my skin. :)

Candy Bubbles

Rating: 5/5

I have reviewed Creamy Candy Bubble Bar of Lush before but I got to use it last night and I cannot help but rant(am so used to ranting hehe) rave about it. :)

I got to try the Creamy Candy Bubble Bar last night and I used up an entire bar. It was unnecessary because really a bar is too much!!! I had mountains of bubbles overflowing from the tub. The water needs to be moving though to create more bubbles. If you are just using ordinary faucet it might be difficult to create bubbles, you must use another tool, say a movable shower head.

The water smelled really fine and the suds are just soh fine and relaxing. It feels like the bubbles are massaging your body. Soh much better than a massage I have to say. :) My husband loved the bubbles too!

There are other bubble bars available at Lush but this one is my favorite! I have another bar that I got, it's glittery and it's red! :)

I cannot wait to use it. I might this Saturday! :)

Honey Bubbles

Rating: 4/5

Ilog Maria is a bee farm in Silang, Cavite. You can see a sign leading towards it at Aguinaldo Hi-way on your left if you are going to Tagaytay. You need to travel a bit from the Hi-way because they're a bit far from the main road.

When you get to the farm, you will see honey products in abundance! They also used to sell very sweet mangoes. I have tried their lip balm and I loved it, so did my ex-boyfriend (now my husband). I have reviewed their lip balm already so I will be reviewing their shampoo instead.

The shampoo suds are nowhere near the ordinary shampoos because there is always none however, I love how it feels on my scalp because there is peppermint. This can wake you up in the sleepiest of days. You should add calamansi too to condition your hair. The shampoo tends to not make your hair soft but your hair will feel squeaky clean after. I tend to use up so much of this because there are no suds so I keep on putting more and more on my hair.

I do not recommend this to be used everyday but I think it will be great to use once in a while to remove shampoo and other hair product residue. :)The shampoo is also to promote hair growth. I do not know if I did grow more hair because I have thick curly hair hehe... Hard to tell if I grew more hair. :) It sells for 154Php on their website. It should be cheaper from the bee farm.

To all Ilog Maria fans, I just found out that R.O.X. at the Fort offers Ilog Maria products. Of course they're way more expensive but I think it's the easiest way to acquire them. You may also order online from their website.

No Good Block

No not sunblock, site blocks.

I have not been able to blog because blogger.com was blocked from our office. After five requests, they have unblocked blogger.com *yehey*! And soh, am back! :)

I am happy to share that my skin is back to normal. In fact, I just had a Vitamin C facial at Murad just the other day and I was just told that my skin was a bit dry but apart from that there is nothing wrong with it.

The facial technician gave me a massage and my shoulder really hurt as she gave me a massage. She said it was because I am soh stressed. She thinks it's also the reason why my skin and even my lips (in spite, tons of water intake) are dry.

I love the smell of Murad facial during and after. :)

I think it's really a good deal to buy so many at once because you get to have a good price, it's almost less than 1K per facial.

I decided to give my husband one of my facials and eye treatments and he enjoyed it. I am not sure if his skin had adverse reactions yet but this morning, his skin had some pimples. I will check again later and update you. :) Next time, I have to ask the Murad people as to what type of treatment they gave him.

Tonight I might have a Lush bubble bath so I will tell you more about it later on. :)

I have also been doing fun runs lately. I am still at the 5 KM level. Hopefully, I will be able to move on to 10 Km someday. I have lost half an inch around my waist so I think it's good exercise. :)

Not So Complex

Rating: 5/5

I just got back from a workshop in Subic. We stayed at Grande Island which is literally an island. The food was not good at all but I had fun with the towable water rides like the Banana Boat and the Chariot which were included in our package so we did not have to pay. I also got to row a kayak for the first time! *woot* It was soh fun!

I will be posting about this trip in another blog, just wanted to give you an idea what I have been doing *excuses from slacking*.

As always I had my trusty Shiseido SPF 50 for face and body sunblock and Shiseido SPF 50 for the face, I know... It's redundant. But I like the feel of the cream on my face better than the lotion.

My face is already recovering from the torture that was Estee Lauder Soft Clean Facial Wash. I have been using Advanced Night Recovery Complex Estee Lauder and I have gone back to my Dramatically Different Moisturizer of Clinique. I have already used Shiseido Skincare Very Gently Cleansing Foam and I think it's doing the trick. The little pimples are going away and my skin is getting back to normal. Whew!

ANR Complex Estee Lauder is runny and has a funny smell but it works so who cares right? I put it on after cleansing my skin and leave it overnight. If I have time to let it sit and dry, I apply moisturizer before I sleep but if I get too lazy I just let ANR sit.

I recommend this because it's cheaper and if you are not in a rush and are wanting dramatic results in a short amount of time, it is okay. :) Still saving up ANR Concentrate for the future *hehe*. I have some left over from the wedding preparation from last time.

Waxamacallit

Summer is here and while it tends to rain every now and then do not be deceived. Wear sunblock! This is of course coming from a sunblock addict so you can choose to ignore this. :)

Summer is also the time when a lot of people tend to focus on removing stubborn hair. I have reviewed here Veet but it's really not a product that I like. In fact I think I have only used it a couple of times in the past. I was afraid it will burn my skin.

I have tried Sally Hansen's Washable Cold Wax Hair Removal Set as well. It's priced at around 500 Php per decent sized tube that comes with a calming lotion, spatula and roughly 25 cloth strips that are also big enough for the legs. I do not have much hair on my legs and I do not bother taking them out. My concern is the underarm area so I had to cut the sheets into smaller strips. The packaging says you can wash the strips but I am not a washer, am a thrower, nature forgive me. I just do not think it will work by washing. The strips do not look reusable.

Unlike other types of wax, the cold wax need not be melted. It's already in liquid form but to make it thinner you have to put it in warm water. After you warm it, you then apply it and use the cloth strips to take out the hair.

Anyway, The product always works best for me when it is new. I do not know why on the second use it is no longer as effective. I do not know if it's me or the product. You might ask me if I finished my first tube. I did not finish the first tube. It got punctured so I had to throw it out (nature please forgive me again) also the strips got lost for some reason. They got lost because after my second try, I gave up on it and then when I wanted to try again everything was missing. *snicker*

I bought the second tube and the same thing happened, the tube got punctured. It's either I am doing something wrong or their packaging sucks. I followed the instructions to the dot and so I am inclined to think that it's their packaging.

Waxing is a nice way to get rid of hair because hair grows back softer and thinner however, you have to grow them! Really long!!! I cannot do this so I do not use wax these days anymore.

If you can tolerate long hair for a while then waxing is definitely the way to go. I do not find it painful at all, at least for the underarms so if you are feeling dangerous, go and try waxing!

Dry Spell

Rating: 5/5

I never had acne. Mostly, I have little pimples. Very rare do I get a big one and this only happens while I am cramming for a project. However, during my oily teen years, I came across a magic potion for acne: "Salicylic Acid". This is really effective for acne, why you say? Because it literally dries everything up. Do not use this if your skin is not oily otherwise you will end up with a chalkboard for a face.

I have realized after my Soft Clean Estee Lauder facial foam episode that it is a matter of consequence to really know your skin type. If you make a mistake your skin will suffer. I am still in the process of rehabilitating my skin with Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Complex. This is not the concentrate version that I have reviewed in the past. Will let you know if it does something for my face.

Going back, my brother was a fan of this Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash Salicylic Acid product and I have to say, for those times he used it, it did improve his skin taking away the shine and leaving it matte.

It comes in great quantities because the packaging is huge and practical. I like the dispenser concept so you will find it easy to use as you wash your face. Unlike the Soft Clean Estee Lauder. *boo*

For those struggling with oil, good for you because that means you are still young. :) If you want it matte, you can use Neutrogena. It's cheaper than Shiseido Pureness Cleansing Foam. :)

Dove-a-Dub-Dub

Rating: 5/5


I have written so much about soaps but now I realize that I have neglected to write about a soap that I have used for literally, decades now. I am talking about none other than Dove. This choice has been reinforced by my Chemistry teacher who has tested the Ph Level of the soap and found out that it has the PH level nearest to our skin. He also tested other soaps and did not get as favorable a result as in the case of Dove.

I do not use the solid soap if I am traveling or swimming because it can get a bit messy. The soap tends to melt easily compared to other soaps so store the soap in a dry place. When traveling, save yourself from all the soap goo by bringing along the liquid soap. There is also a Dove body wash with beads that you can use for exfoliation. I have tried this and was not so happy with it because there is not as many bubbles and the beads are not as bountiful, I feel they're not even there. :)


Over the years, Dove soap has not failed me and I hope it won't fail you as well. :)

Strip Away

Rating: 5/5


I hope you had a good Holy Week. I did. I got to spend it in my husband's hometown, San Fernando, La Union.

I think today I will talk about pore strips. I have not tried so many actually, I have been buying for the past n years Bench Pore Strips. I think it works. I do not know if it is harming my skin in the process but it does the job.

I do not use pore strips as much anymore. I think after I have been visiting Murad (which I have not done in a while now because I have been very busy) I did not have to use Pore Strips anymore.

They are convenient because you can pack them easily, they're just sheets after all. All you need is a clean damp face and it should work already. :)

If you want a quick blackhead, whitehead fix, go Pore Strips. :)

On an unrelated side note, my Soft Clean Estee Lauder is still giving me pimplets (small pimples). *sigh* I will stop using the facial wash soon... grrr...

Perfectly Clean... not!

Rating: 2/5

Okay, I promised to review the Soft Clean Moisture Rich Cleanser. I love Estee Lauder products, in fact, I am a big fan. Finding out that this facial wash is cheaper by 500 Php than Shiseido Skincare's Gentle Cleansing Foam was very good news to me. It has a luxurious smell and feel and it has a beautiful bottle too.

In spite all the aforementioned "features" I still find this cleanser to be far from perfect. In fact, I would like to go back to Shiseido ASAP. Here are some of the reasons why I feel it's far from perfect:

1. Packaging - I realized that this product was not really properly evaluated in terms of packaging because it does not have a flip-top closure. Instead, you rotate the elegant gold cap so that once you put in one of your palms, you need to use it again to close the cap. Baaahd design.

2. Texture - While you are using it, the texture is creamy and luxurious however, the cream is a tad bit runny so that when you open the cap, a lot of it gets stuck in the cap which I find uneconomical. I have to ask myself if this is indeed cheaper than Shiseido.

3. Residue - I think that there's much residue left on my face after I have rinsed for several minutes because my face still feels slippery (for the lack of a better term). Maybe because this is designed for dry skin but am always getting told that my skin is dry so I tried this.

4. Effect - My face is nowhere from calm (as it promised), my skin is a bit bumpy. I am thinking maybe my skin is not dry or maybe the facial wash is really no good. If you want to try then please do and then let me know how it goes for you.

5. Fragrance - Hands down, the product really smells good!

Overall, I was disappointed. :(

Am Back!

The Gunkee is back!

Whew! For a while there I did not think I would ever get through March. It has been a hectic two months for me but am back.

My skin is a disaster though. Just this February and March I have been to Bangkok, Dumaguete, Beijing, Phuket and then Bangkok again.Bangkok and Dumaguete burned my skin, Beijing got it dry and Phuket burned it some more. :) And no, I have not taken my Murad Pomegranate supplements faithfully.

I have shifted to Perfectly Clean by Estee Lauder, which I will review soon. I just remembered that I have tried Neutrogena's Salicylic Acid for a while so I will review this too. I have been using a new shower cream of Bath and Body works called Velvet Rose so more on this too.

This is it for now though. :) Sorry, I need to catch my breath first from all the things I had to do. Actually, I still have much to do *hehe*.

See you very soon! :)

Slather Up

Rating: 4/5

I know I have been slacking to the nth degree but I have really been swamped. I have been waking up from nightmares lately and I have reason to believe they were caused by anxiety attacks. I would just like to get through March and I know I will be alright. *sigh*

Okay, I know I said I will go back to patch testing Strivectin but no such luck yet because I am too lazy/busy to do it. Just like I promised myself that I will go back to the gym... well no luck there yet. I guess it's because I should not be relying on luck.

Okay enough of that, I think I want to talk about the Cherry Blossom Bath and Body Works lotion. I have the body wash and I have emptied it already. I use the body wash whenever I have to travel/not sleep in our house so I can really empty a body wash easily. Body washes are convenient when traveling because they are not as messy as soaps.

Anyway, I liked the scent of White Cherry Blossom but have not quite used up the lotion because you usually have to wait for it to dry before you can put on your clothes and since every morning, I have to really move quickly I have no time for that ritual. This is one of my rituals I had to forego after living farther from where I work.

Anyway, I found out that putting on lotion in the evening is not so bad. Maybe not as good as when you do it in the morning but it still serves your skin well. Plus, the scent actually helps me sleep. No, the nightmares have nothing to do with the White Cherry Blossom.

BTW, those who have been wondering where they can get Bath and Body Works products, they have at Greenhills Shopping Center and at the Hobbies Center along Macapagal Road (near NSO, yes I was there because I got my marriage certificate for my passport renewal, good service btw). I recently purchased also a bottle of Winter Candy Apple anti-bacterial soap because it smells sooh goohd!

I got my Winter Candy Apple from Gold Tag Multiply Site . The service was good and I got my product in two days. I just hope next time they can pack more soap in one bag so you get to save on shipping. :)

Beauty Within

Sorry about slacking but I was away for a while because I had to attend a conference in Thailand, an hour from Bangkok. I spent my first three days there and my last three days I spent in Bangkok.

Knowing that I will be exposed to the sun most of the time and knowing that my skin will burn under the sun from walking too much, I brought along my Shiseido SPF 50 PA+++ however, I was to lazy to use some for my body *hehe*. I was assured though in knowing that I took a capsule of Murad's Pomegranate capsule that is supposed to enhance my skin's natural protection. Now whether it did work or not is not very obvious to me yet. One thing is for sure though, I will give it a shot.

After binging before, during and after my Bangkok trip, I think I have to hit the gym again and maybe the pool. Yep, after so many months of abstinence, I think I am hungry for chlorine again...

Hmm... I have to find all my swim gear. :)

Butter Banter

Rating: 2/5

Some time ago while I was still into swimming (too lazy now *hohum*)I tried the Olive Body Butter of The Body Shop. I tried it for a while just to really give it a chance but to no avail. It did not help my dry skin and it did not smell good either. It was just gunk I was putting on my skin after swimming that makes me stink more. Our pool is an indoor one so they use more chlorine, as a result, after taking a bath, you still wreak of the chlorine scent.

I did not throw my tub of gunk though, instead, I used it for my feet! And it worked nicely, it left my feet soft (back then, now I am too lazy to do this too, this and because I have no old socks to ruin *hehe*). All I had to do was to apply lotion and to wear a pair of thick socks and leave them overnight. If you try this, you do not even have to try foot spa anymore.

I actually think that foot spa was bad for me because what you take out of your feet will just grow back and rough skin will replace the once smooth skin. It's our feet's way of coping with the stress it has to face. If you slough it, it will get replaced by thicker skin to protect your feet. *tsk*

So, if you are into lotion for the heck of it, maybe getting a better smelling butter will be great. The Mango butter smells delicious. :)

For now, I think I will stick to Kiehl's as I think this works for me.

Rating: 3/5
You know how certain scents trigger memory?

The Olive Dry Oil Mist of The Body Shop did just that for me. Some of my friends hate the scent but I just love it. I was not able to empty my bottle though because with this oil mist, you really have to wait a while for it to dry otherwise it may just ruin your clothes.

I can't say much about the moisturizing effects because I do not think it did much to moisturize my skin. Then again this was a time when I was swimming three times a day, one hour each.

Still, the scent makes it worth trying. The packaging used to be really nice too so though mine is almost never used (except when I want to massage my skin with warm oil), keep it because the packaging is really nice.

Born Lippy

I have been a fan of lip products for a long time now. One Christmas I was given a Strawberry flavored Born Lippy of The Body Shop. I love the scent and the texture. This is not as heavy as the Vitamin E lip balm that they have. It also comes in a round packaging. I liked the gloss it gave me however, the moisturizing effect lacked and so I did not get addicted to this gloss.

I later discovered Ilog Maria and I have been a convert ever since. Until, it was hard for me to order from Ilog Maria so now I use Kiehl's. I am planning to go back though. :)

If you love the Strawberry scent and your lips are not dry anyway, you might as well try Born Lippy. They have the yummiest smell!!!

Mask the Face

Rating: 4/5
I have not fixed the St. Ives post on the hot oil treatment and I promise to fix that hehe... It is just that I have been very busy with other personal things. Serious personal things that I am not ready to share about yet. I will soon though.

Anyway, I have been trying to post about this for the longest time. I bought my loot from Taipei long before this product came out here in the Philippines. Of course, I could not use it right away because the instructions were in Chinese *wahaha*. It's the Oil of Olay Total Effects Facial Mask. I had to research about it on the Internet and found out I was supposed to wear this for 15 minutes and that I am supposed to use this where there is no "pollution?!". It took a while before I finally used this and it left my skin fairer (which I did not particularly like, remember I am paranoid about getting melanoma from sun exposure!) and it left my skin soft and moisturized. I found out last week from a sales lady that it is better if you will use this consecutively so you can see the effects.

I am not sure if this really is the case since I only use mine when I have the time to just lie down still for 15 minutes, that or whenever I want to scare my husband off. *wahaha!* He kept teasing me about it, he said I would not need a mask for halloween if I were to wear the facial mask.

I still have some masks from my trip to Taipei, not because I do not like this facial mask but because I simply cannot lie down still for 15 minutes. I am that restless!

Come Sale-ing Away

Okay, my last post on the St. Ives' hot oil treatment was not as clear as I intended to be. I guess I was too busy that day. No, I was not drunk. :) That's bad for the skin and mine is bad as it is already *wahaha*!

I am posting today to announce that there's a sale going on all over Rustan's. This time, no need to overpopulate the top floor because the items are all over Rustan's. Their sale is from today 'til the 21st. I was a tad bit disappointed though when I found out Michael Kors and Kate Spade had theirs since January 2 so most of my crushes were gone. Perhaps for my own sake. *grin*

I saw a crushable Kate Spade that was 25% off. I resisted the urge because the discount was a little more than 1000 Php and the size of the bag is not really for me. It had 14K gold coated hardware though. I also did not like the patent leather handle. Anne Klein is also on sale, found a bag that was 6K it was nice but I did not like most of its material. The handles were leather though which was good. Fendi was also on sale, items were 45% off. Ferragamo is also on sale (just 25% off though), Tiffany & Co. is not having a sale though, boo! Once more, this is for the benefit of my savings.

Le Sportsac was on sale and there were bags that were 50 off so I got myself one *sheepish grin*. I mean, I can turn it into a diaper bag later on when I have my baby *wahaha* hubby always falls for this excuse *ssshhhh*. My 13.3" laptop would fit nicely too so that I can bring it and no one has to know it's a laptop.

There are more items on sale so if you want to find out more about the sale, what are you waiting for?

Go to Rustan's! Happy Shopping! :)

Hot Hair

Rating: 4/5

So you do not think that I am all biased with St. Ives, they do have a project that I liked. It's not for the skin mind you but for the hair. As to why I have stopped using this, I really do not know. I guess my mom just stopped buying the stuff and so I stopped using it and forgot to get back to the program when I started earning my own money.

This treatment though requires that you have more time bathing than usual. The nice thing about this is, once more, it's cheap and can be bought from supermarkets. It comes in three tubes per pack and one tube is good for one treatment so after using, you just conveniently toss it out. No need to make sure it's not dripping all over your bathroom.

While using this you will have a nice, relaxing, tingling sensation on your scalp so that you get relaxed while your hair gets treated as well.

Eyes, Eyes Baby

Rating: 2/5

St. Ives products are very attractive because they are cheap and most of the time, when you read the packaging it promises you a lot of things. I do not know if their products worked for you and if it is just my skin that is not cooperating.

I have tried the Cucumber Eye Gel of St. Ives and while it did not give me a break out, it really did not do anything for puffy eyes. It was a bit of a disappointment for me still even though I did not really shell out much. It did give me a soothing, cool feeling around my eyes though, I have to give this product at least that.

I have also tried those filled masks that you put in the ref and you put on top of your eyes, I think this worked better than St. Ives.

I have a friend who bought the same product and ended up using this product as a shower gel *hehe*, at least their products are versatile. *grin*

I still think that the best way to make sure your eyes do not become puffy after crying, do not rub your eyes, just pat your cheeks dry and wash your face after. Puffy eyes in the morning will still be puffy so make sure you get enough sleep if your eyes are always puffy whether you cry or not.

Scrubadabadoo!!!

Rating: 3/5
Since I am into talking about scrubs right now, I might as well talk about another scrub I have tried and did not like unfortunately. I do not recommend this to be applied on your skin although I know quite a few people using this. I think I had a minor breakout when I tried this and so, as a resolution, I am not trying this again... on my face. I used my entire tub on my body instead. *grin*

It's mild enough for sensitive skin on the body so you can do this every other day. It has nice round grains and the smell, though am not a big fan of it is tolerable. This has different beads so you are sure to have different levels of exfoliation.

The nice thing about this is that it is cheap and easy to find. This is available in most drug stores and supermarkets. :) If this works for your face then good for you, if it doesn't you can always use it for your body.

Written on Sandstone

Rating: 4/5
I have confessed my addiction to Lush products before and one of the products that I really loved and benefited from (apart from Dream Cream) is a a yellow soap with a lemon scent that has sand on the other end of the bar. Yes, you heard me right, sand. Not as fine as Bora's, it as fine as ground Graham crackers, it has about the same color too. I am talking about none other than Lush's Sandstone!

The soap doubles as an exfoliator, not for all parts of the body though. This scrub is particularly for your buttocks (for the baby smooth skin :) ), elbows, knees, etc.. I do not want to overload you on personal information but I find that this works. I would like to warn you though, do not overuse the soap as it can dry your skin. If you do, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. It will leave your skin squeaky clean which to me means dry. I really observed how dry my skin felt after consecutive washes. I love, love the lemon scent though *hehe* now I know how plates feel *wide grin*!

As all other Lush soaps, this is sold by the gram and well, it's a bit on the pricey side. Then again, this is not the kind of soap you will use everyday. :)

Just a bit of trivia, in Brazil, women keep their skin soft and smooth by using sand to polish their skin. :)

Scrub-a-Dub-Dub

Rating: 3/5
I have just come from a seminar and it was a bit draining for all of us *hehe*, sometimes I feel it's easier to talk than to listen. I was not born to listen, I fear. As I was zoning out of the seminar, I was wondering what I should review today. I just remembered that I also had a love affair with scrubs, well, it was more of like a fling actually.

One of the scrubs I have tried in the past is The Body Shop Almond Body Scrub. This does not have a delicious smell but it said on the container that it was supposed to be moisturizing. Scrubbing can cause your skin to dry so if your skin is already to dry, stay away first. I got this but later on realized that I should not have. I found out, after I bought it that the ideal grains for a scrub should be round, and this scrub in particular do not have round grains or beads.

I noticed that it dries my skin and I had to be gentle in applying it lest I will hurt my self. I have not finished this scrub to this day. It has been sitting in our bathroom for years now, gathering sedimentary who-knows-what.

The Mango Scrub smells delish and if the grains are round, you might want to try this out.

More scrubs next time. :)

Cheap and Chic Sunblock

Rating: 4/5
The vacation was refreshing and yet tiresome as well... I have been up to so many things *hehe* details here.

Anyhoo, because I have been moving from one place to another, my patch test on the Stri-Vectin was interrupted. I have not resumed again. Boo! I will try to get back to it tonight.

I know I have posted here my most fave brand of sun block Shiseido but before I met Shiseido, I was content with the L'oreal UV Perfect SPF 50 sun block. It is not water proof and so when you sweat it goes with the sweat. The tinted version has a dewy finish so you look a tad bit shiny but I liked the glow it gave me. I do not remember what this smells like so if it did have a scent it would be tolerable. The packaging is light and simple. To dispense, you simply have to push the container.

This sun block is so much cheaper than Shiseido but it lasts only two to three months. I cannot remember how much it was exactly but this was a couple of years ago so it does not matter.