How to Curl your hair using a straightener

JML Hair Straightener/Curler Php 1,400

I impulsed shop one day and bought a new hair ceramic flat iron, to curl my hair! Don't you just love it when department stores have demo units and they can actually show you how to do it? The saleslady curled my hair with just a flip or two, I tried it myself and got it done after some time.

The Best How To Video on curling hair with straightener:



Last night, I pulled out my unit from my drawer and tried to make curls. But oh no, looks like I forgot to do it. I did my sister's hair but with my hair - I lose hand and eye coordination. I didn't want my Php 1,400 to go to waste so I immediately researched on YouTube on how to curl hair using a straightener. There were lots of vids but this one saved my life.

If I have time, I'll video myself working the flat iron. And now I can't stop watching How To videos on YouTube! :) Do you have other techniques with your hair straightener?

No to oily skin this Christmas!

Unless you plan to guide Santa's sleigh with oily skin, there's no better time to primp and prettify with a clear skin than this season.

While most people look forward to the change in temperature, women should know that the cold weather increases one’s chances of having oily skin. This is why it is important to use products that help manage oil production and prevent shiny, blemished faces in pictures of all the yuletide gatherings.



So how does the cool weather cause oily and blemished skin? The cool, crisp, dry air dries up the skin. When this happens, the oil glands naturally overcompensate for the dryness and produce more oil. According to dermatologists, excessive oil production and abnormal shedding of dead skin cells can clog pores and cause bacteria to proliferate, thereby causing acne breakouts. So one must first keep oil under control in order to prevent and control acne.

Luckily, Clean & Clear makes available two special product bundles to keep the skin from breaking out and help girls achieve fair and radiant skin, without the excess oil, this holiday season.

Enjoy pimple- and oil-free skin with the help of Clean & Clear’s Pimple Clearing Kit. This kit consists of one CLEAN & CLEAR® Active Clear™ Pimple Clearing Cleanser (50g) that helps clear pimples while at the same time, gently soothes irritated skin. What’s more, it comes with the CLEAN & CLEAR® Oil Control Film at 50% off! The all-time favorite oil blotter instantly removes excess oil and shine from the face. It can be used anytime, anywhere throughout the day as it doesn’t smudge make-up.

Those who suffer from acne breakouts due to oily skin are also likely to have dull, lifeless skin. Bring back your skin’s naturally clear, fair glow with Clean & Clear’s Clear Fair Glow Kit, which contains one CLEAN & CLEAR® Clear Fairness Cleanser (100g) and CLEAN & CLEAR® Oil Control Film at half-price. The Clear Fairness Cleanser has a unique whitening Vitamin C Beads Formula that effectively lightens skin, making it fair and radiant. Its oil-free and non-drying formulation makes it ideal for everyday use.

Keep the effects of the cold season at bay with these special product bundles from Clean & Clear, which will keep your skin clear, glowing and oil-free throughout the holidays. The Pimple Clearing Kit and the Clear Fair Glow Kit are available in all supermarkets, drugstores and department stores, for P133.50 and P186.50, respectively. Promo will run until December 31, 2009.

Be Instantly Blooming with Fruit Shakes

A new beauty trick because not everyone is born perfect. Yesterday, my skin was still recovering from breakouts because of an allergy to makeup. Remembering how eating fresh fruits on an empty stomach make my skin look better and more glowing, I decided to grab a fruit shake inside the mall.

I totally forgot to check out if my trick worked but during an event, around three people told me how my face look fresh and radiant. As Borat would say, my fruit shake skin trick was a great success. I guess the cold temperature instantly refreshes one's body and all the fibers and fruit nutrients are instantly absorbed.

So the next time you are feeling not-so perfect, grab a fruit shake and gulp away.

How to Fight Against Wrinkles

Wrinkles could be excused as "aging gracefully" but, when it makes you look like a bulldog - how could you say it's graceful? Beauty Einsteins have solutions for preventing and treating wrinkles, choose what's right for you.

Natural Prevention:

1. Drinking lots of water while you are young will forever hydrate your skin and prevent wrinkles.

2. Catch yourself whenever your face is frowning, over smiling (like when you are trying to please everybody during a meeting), or when your face is tensed even when you are sleeping. Learn to relax your facial muscles in a snap. This may sound weird but having a blank face when no one is really talking to you is the best way to prevent wrinkles. Purse your lips and relax.

3. Wear sun glasses, could be Chanel or whatever just make sure they have UV protection. This will also prevent you from squinting your eyes when walking under the sun. Read: crow's feet wrinkles beside your eyes.


Keep the number of lines on your face zero

4. Sun block everyday to deflect sun damage to the skin.

Instant fix for wrinkles:

1. Botox - the best beauty invention. Yet, botox injections might make your face look stiff and your immovable eyebrows will give you away. However, if you find an awesomely talented doctor, botox injections can look more natural.

2. Collagen fillers - instantly plump up the deep creases of wrinkles making your skin look young and plump without the lines. These are also injectable and personally, I would prefer this over botox if I grow up a rich and old woman.

Do anti-wrinkle creams work?

Celeteque's Advanced Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer claims to reduce up to 92% of your fine lines in just 6 weeks. After seeing the commercial and meeting the first batch of product testers, I guess it is worth a try for both the young and old.

Product testers said other people like their family and co-workers were the first to notice their younger-looking skin. Effects include fresher and smoother looking skin while one product tester claimed that Celeteque's Advance Anti-Wrinkle moisturizer also removed bumps and white heads off her face.

Sounds good? Celeteque's Advanced Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer is now available for around Php 600. What's great with Celeteque is their water-based fragance-free products that do not harm sensitive skin like mine. This is a variant of their trusty old moisturizer that had a gel-feel but was light as water. Really worth a try.

Tried and Tested: Clarity Aesthetic Centre's Diamond Peel

As my skin is being a drama queen these days, I could not resist but try Clarity Aesthetic Centre's diamond peel. Unlike facials that leave you with scars and lets you walk out of the clinic looking like a monster - diamond peels are a breath of fresh air that leaves your skin powdery smooth and light. Question is, where should you have your diamond peels done?



Diamond peels do not come cheap, in fact they cost at the very least Php 900. Hence, it's a must to make sure you are getting your money's worth. At Clarity Aesthetic Centre, the diamond peel costs Php 1,000. It is advisable to bundle it with a relaxing facial (you can skip the pricking part without argument) that costs Php 500. This is because the facial scrubs your face of dirt, makeup, and other facial gunk on the top most layer of the skin. Once this is done, the diamond peel can better penetrate the skin and reveal a whiter glowing new you.

What we like at Clarity:

1. As soon as I walked in, I was seated down in a comfortable lounge and did not have to wait or fill up so many forms before getting my facial. Within minutes, I was lying down enjoying skin nirvana.

2. All treatments are done in private rooms and one therapist is assigned exclusively to you. Unlike in other facial centers, the steps were done efficiently. The facial steam only lasted 15 minutes and everything was well prepared from the creams to the masks. Both the facial and diamond peel was finished on time. Perfect if you have a boyfriend or driver waiting for you.




3. No pushing of additional services or skin products. Enough said.

4. The diamond peel machine had real diamond chips that lifts off ugly dead skin cells. Downtime is only around 30 minutes.

5. The clinic is ultra-quiet and the only sound you can hear is Norah Jones singing Don't know why I didn't come.


After the Diamond Peel


These are your dead skin cells ma'am

My face was a bit red on different parts for around 5 minutes, after that my skin relaxed and felt super light as if kilograms of dead skin cells have been washed off. If you want to glow like a celebrity, diamond peel can be done on your face twice a month. According to Clarity, most celebrity clients opt for diamond peels and yes, for the whole body. Diamond stars indeed.

Reminders

Do not put on makeup after this treatment as skin is very supple and can easily get clogged. Toners must be avoided for 3 days and other harsh skin products. Personally, I just washed my face with water when I got home.

Clarity Aesthetic Centre is located beside its sister company Healthway that offers multi-specialty medical services in Shangrila Mall. Visit their website and learn more on how they redefine beauty through expert care. Be a fan of their Facebook page and be updated on upcoming promos and free diamond peels!

5 Sure-Fire Beauty Habits to Look Younger

There are hundreds of beauty tips, from the most natural to the unimaginable ones. But, what are the simplest yet sure-fire habits you can follow to make yourself look better and even younger?


Become as blooming as these flowers!

After watching countless health and lifestyle shows daily, (and reading online health journals) Style and Relax pins down the most effective beauty habits ever.

1. Eating 5 Servings of Fruit Daily – not one but five is the magic number when it comes to fruits. They are the most natural yet most effective source of vitamins and minerals. The easiest fruits to grab are bananas, apples, oranges, mangoes, and pineapple. Canned fruits are available in stores for better convenience if you are having a hard time getting fresh produce. However, fresh is always best.

2. Take Vitamin C Supplements – everyday is a stressful day, and each time you get stressed – your body releases Vitamin C to different parts of your body. The more stress you have, the less Vitamin C is retained in your body. Vitamin C is great for the skin, dermatologists always recommend this to me along with Vitamin A. To count, 4 of my total dermatologists have recommend Vitamin C supplements for better skin.

3. Walk, Run, or Jump – anything at all to get your body moving at least 30 minutes a day. Starting an exercise routine is not easy but if it is as simple as taking a stroll or mild jogging in the morning – you are more likely to “just do it”. Observe how your skin glows after a workout session, sweat is the best skin cleanser after all. Not only that but when you set your mind on a goal, you feel better about yourself and people will notice your more positive and young attitude in life.

4. 2.2 Liters of Water a Day – I will write this everyday until all of you drin k the right

amount of water! This is approximately 9 cups of water for women and men must drink 3 liters of water daily. Water is our body’s moisturizer and without it, you cannot flush out toxins that cause aging or deliver the nutrients you get from eating fruits to different parts of the body.

5. Your Lips Give Your Age Away – Fuller and luscious lips mean yummy young! Take care of your lips by putting petroleum jelly on them before going to sleep. During the day, put on a lip balm with sun protection. Drinking enough water also helps keep your lips looking ooh la la ;)

Glutathione? Eat Watermelon!

This week, I received an e-mail about how fruits should be eaten and that is, with an empty stomach. While researching if there is any truth about this, I bumped upon information about watermelons. Who would have known that watermelons pack a great amount of glutathione compared to any other fruits?



Glutathione has gained popularity ever since celebrities started taking them for a clearer and whiter complexion. Today, they are widely available in drugstores but these pills don't come cheap. Glutathione is also available as injectables from dermatologists which costs around Php 2,500 per shot. From the two methods - oral vs. injection, the preferred is injectable glutathione.

However, the BEST and sure way to produce glutathione inside your body naturally is by munching on refreshing watermelons! Not only do watermelons cost cheaper but they also have more benefits that come for free.

No wonder I see Koreans (with super smooth skin) in telenovelas munching on half a watermelon and simply scooping out the fruit with a spoon. Watermelons also contain Alkaline Water which is all the rage these days. Alkaline water removes toxins and acidity from the body. Some say it also reduces food cravings that leads to weight loss.

Aside from glutathione and alkaline water, watermelon is also rich in beta carotene, potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin B. Personally, I am surpised at how much we can get from watermelons as I reckon it is only made up of water. From now on, next to bananas - let's add watermelons in our fruits baskets!

With regards to eating fruits with an empty stomach to reap the benefits of fruits, I personally think this holds true. Read more about it here: Eat fruits on an empty stomach

How to Look Thin Fast

Make jaws drop and be the envy of girls on your next day out. Looking thin is easier than what you think, although it's hard when people deny you of the truth that your tent dress makes you look like a whale. Here are the REAL ways of looking thin, fast.


image from Style.com

1. Gather your hair up - the perfect pony tail can make you look like a runway model. Others may say they rock your curly Goldilocks look but letting your hair down can make your face look bigger. Talk about fashion sabotage! Tightly gather your hair at the back of your head, use a small amount of gel to tame tutchangs and tightly secure it with a black band. Observe how models have their pony tails higher than usual, but don't overdo this. You can position your pony tail just a little above the middle back of your head.

2. Choose a V-Cut Neckline - but be sure it is a narrow V, round necks would make you look rounder but a sharp V-cut would make you look more bony. However, don't overdo the V and show your tatas to the public. The cut should just be above your cleavage for a sophisticated look.

3. Opt for dark colors, BLACK - black is everything, it is the color of fashion. I do not agree on how people assume that all fat persons are jolly. I have been there, and rather than throw a jolly printed happy flowery outfit indeed, grab a monochromatic outfit to make you look more slender and continuous.

4. A little tight can go along way - tights are surprisingly magical, not only in making you look thinner but in making an outfit look bolder. For the purpose of making yourself look thinner, DO NOT get cropped leggings or tights, it is better to get one that runs up to your ankle, or tights that cover the entire feet like a stocking.

5. Wear them high heels - no matter how hard it is to walk on them, yes... Proportions are not only for food but it's also perceived on persons. Heels will obviously make you look longer, your legs longer, and will definitely enhance your proportions.

The Practical Maybelline Makeup Kit

Makeup purchasing mistakes are not cheap and when everyone's tightening belts and purses, a little advice goes along way. Readers, I would like to share the most practical but beautiful makeup kit I've ever assembled.



1. Maybelline Clear Smooth Mineral Powder - I've written about this before here but just to add, this container has been with me for around 5 months! You only need a few dustings for a neat look and one container would last you a very long time unlike pressed powders which could only last you for 2-3 months.

2. Maybelline Clear Smooth Mineral Blush - blends seamlessly with the Maybelline Clear Smooth Mineral Powder. Tap a little amount on the cap and dust on your face lightly with the Kabuki brush (free with the clear smooth minerals). If you look closely, you'll see it has a little bit of shimmer for that natural glow.

3. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara - the best mascara of all time according to makeup artists. If you smudge some on your eyelids, it easily comes off with a swipe of a q-tip. Apply as much as you want and it won't clump your lashes in a weird way. It also easily comes off with our favorite makeup remover, Pond's Cold Cream.

4. M.A.C Eyelash Curler - gets the job of primping those lashes up fast. It has a good grip and the curls last very long, even without mascara.

5. Lucas Papaw Ointment - I use this as a lip balm, thank you to my sister who introduced this to me in Melbourne. If you have a relative down there, ask them to get you a tube which will last you fairly long. Available at pharmacies in Australia.

And these are all you need for a daily "neat" look, except if you are a makeup expert. But for us non-pro's, I think this everyday combo is already a winner.

If you are finishing off your old makeup and want to try something better, then keep the Maybelline combo in mind :)



P.S. Don't forget to add Johnson's Oil Control Film to keep oiliness at bay.

Remove Black and White Heads in 15 minutes!

If you are averse to facials with pricking involved, this one is for you -and your nose. Black and white heads usually crowd up the nose area, giving you a black dirty looking nose. It would range from small to huge ones that you just want to squeeze out but squeezing your own nose to clean it would just aggravate these little devils and turn them into zits or humongous pimples.



Here's the solution: Beauty Credit's Mud Pore Strips. I first heard about Beauty Credit in Badet's blog, where she featured the charcoal version. These are only available at Watson's in SM Mall of Asia but instead of the charcoal pore strips, the sales lady gave me Beauty Credit Mud Nose Pore Cleansing Patch. It's also black so I did not notice the mistake but anyway, it also worked.



The box is written in Korean which I don't understand but from the photos and numbers I deciphered the following steps:

1. Wet your nose, just use your finger and make it moist.
2. Apply the nose pore strip or patch and pat it lightly so it touches your skin. Most of all, so that all those dirt and black heads will be trapped into this sticky patch.
3. Wait for 15 to 20 minutes until the pore strip is dry.
4. Lift the pore strip upwards quickly.

Lo an behold, you'll be amazed at how much dirt and black heads have been collected by the pore strip. Since it's black, you can easily see how much it has collected - eeewww. After trying Beauty Credit's Pore Strip, I felt my nose was a lot cleaner. I could actually see unclogged pores and can imagine my skin breathing free - finally.

The Beauty Credit Mud Pore Patch costs Php 199 (7 pieces). It is located at Beauty Credit's own stall inside Watson's in Mall of Asia. Go to the make up section and you will find it. Good bye blackheads! :)

Do FitFlops Really Work?

Oprah says YES and add to that, beauty queen (goddess) and FitFlop addict Carlene Aguilar also agrees.




At the Fitflop Mallxercise yesterday which was held at the Rockwell Powerplant Mall, I had the chance to try walking and running wearing FitFlops. Along with other ladies, including Carlene Aguilar, who are all eyeing to win the Aurelia Gladiator fitflops - I "mallxercised"and felt how comfortable Fitflops are.


Stand tall like a beauty queen with Fitflops

With Fitflops, I noticed that my posture is different in that I was standing straighter and taller in the correct manner. I also felt my butt cheeks being squeezed with every stride and seriously, I had a warm/burning sensation feeling in both of my legs. It could either be because of the Fitflops or I was just excited ;) Fitflops could really be working!

Interview with Carlene Aguilar


After the scavenger hunt, we were able to talk to Carlene and she says that she wears her FitFlops daily to school. She says that her legs look great even though she has given birth partly because of Fitflops. She owns a black Aurelia Gladiator which she wore that day - she asked her friend to buy it for her after seeing it on the newspaper. She is not an endorser of Fitflops and like everybody, she had to play hard during the scavenger hunt. In the end, she was the fastest contestant and won the Snake Skin Aurelia Gladiator Fitflops. Congratulations! :)




The Fitflops Mallxercise was a great experience with the Fitflops fans. We all went to the Fitflop shop itself after the event to claim our prizes and we had fun choosing colors and designs. I'd like to try and wear Fitflops inside the house to get the best results. But if a beauty queen and an Oprah says Fitflops work, and after trying it out for myself - I conclude that Fitflops do really work!

Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals - Tried and Tested

Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals is now my preferred brand for powder foundation and you must try it! Previously, I was using Maybelline's Angel Fit powder foundation but for some reasons, my shade was not available and I just had to grab a replacement right away. I was not a fan of the Clear Smooth line since I tried their liquid foundation which did not sync the right way with my skin and I also tried their face powder which was not enough to cover the blemishes that I had before. But with the Clear Smooth Minerals product, now I am a believer.

Mineral make up is best for sensitive skin, it is very light weight and is made of pure ingredients free from preservatives, oils, and fragrance. Acne can be caused by make up and using mineral make up can lessen the instances of blemishes, black heads, clogged pores, and pimples. I have tried Bare Essentials mineral make up too but had to stop since it was too expensive for me at around Php 2,000 ++ and it was not available in department stores.

Maybelline's Clear Smooth Minerals is only Php 599 for 8grams, comparing with my Angel Fit foundation - Clear Smooth Minerals contains more powder and you only need a little dusting here and there for a smooth finish. The packaging also comes with a 100% natural Kabuki Brush. It also contains SPF or sun protection formula 25.

Clear Smooth Minerals aka Pure Minerals TVC starring Zhang Ziyi:



Based on my 2 months usage (it's very tipid to use) it is perfect for oily skin, looks great on photos, and has a super natural finish and feel - you yourself will wonder if you really are wearing any make up at all.

It also reads on the packaging that Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals is clinically proven:

- Safe for Sensitive Skin
- 36% Improvement on Skin Radiance
- 16% Improvement on Skin Smoothness
- 35% Improvement on Skin Tone

It's fairly difficult for any lady to find the perfect powder foundation but I highly recommend Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals for its natural smooth and light weight finish plus it's affordability and availability.