Be Your #BestBeautiful Every Single Day

May 9, 2015 by

How many selfies have you posted in your social media accounts? I bet you’ve long lost count.  Admit it, we all love to show off our best pictures.  Now, government IDs are an entirely different story. More likely than not, you only whip them out when absolutely necessary. I have yet to meet someone who brags about her picture in a government ID.

I’m inclined to believe that these government offices have a conspiracy to take our pictures at absolutely the worst angles.  They seem to have this built-in sensor that detects our most awkward facial expressions and snap a picture just at that very moment. 😛 Don’t you just wish they have BeautyFace or Photoshop to edit those awkward pictures?

We can’t do anything about how they take our pictures but what we can do is not settle for anything less than beautiful.  A little preparation goes a long way.  No, you don’t need to get your hair and makeup professionally done before heading to LTO.  Neither would you need to slather on a whole makeup kit worth of products on your face.

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Watch the women in this video http://goo.gl/5ueYId and find out how they did not settle for anything less than their best beautiful.

You, too, deserve to be your #BestBeautiful every day – even for an ID photo!  Let’s not settle for the ordinary and be our best beautiful always.  Share us your thoughts by using hashtag the #BestBeautiful!

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Just what I need to get ready for my Driver’s License 🙂

Filed Under: Beauty on A Budget, Mom's Corner, Products We Love Tagged With: ,

When Acne Isn’t Acne

October 21, 2014 by

For the most part of the year, I’ve been battling with breakouts (and breakdowns) which I thought were due to hormonal imbalance (which I also thought were causing my emotional breakdowns :P) Last Sunday, I finally found time to see a dermatologist. This was something I was considering for a while now, but if it wasn’t for a friend of mine recommending I should take the steps by looking into sites such as columbiadermsc.com, I didn’t actually think this would happen. I’ve thought about it so much, but I’m glad I finally decided to take my skincare game even more seriously. Lo and behold, I found out that I’ve been using the wrong skin care products on my face! AND I also learned that the acne I thought I had was not acne at all! With this being said, if you do suffer from acne, if you choose to buy cbd oil online or make a change to your skincare routine in anyway, being consistent is key.

I really should have seen a dermatologist sooner and not experimented with just about all the skincare products I could afford. Apparently, my self-diagnosis was just a big misdiagnosis. It was already too late before I was told that you can actually consult an online dermatologist if you are unsure regarding the health of your skin. I now wish I had done something before it was too late, but here we are.

Since I thought I had hormonal acne, I bought a tea tree cleanser which can help control my breakouts. However, the doctor told me that tea tree oil was doing more damage than good on my skin (good thing I hadn’t had time to buy that new BB with tea tree oil I wanted to try). She told me that salicyclic acid wasn’t a friend to my skin and I should avoid products that contain it. It also turns out that I shouldn’t even be using moisturizers on my face. I was already producing more than enough sebum to keep it moisturized naturally. So what was causing the breakouts? Dermatitis.

‘Tis a Thing Called DERMATITIS

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Perioral Dermatitis and Seborrheic Dermatitis to be exact. This caught me again in surprise as I’ve always associated seborrheic dermatitis with dandruff which I didn’t have – or so I thought. I didn’t have those white flaky stuff we usually associate with “dandruff”. Well, there’s another myth debunked!

Seborrheic Dermatitis isn’t just dandruff. It can occur not just on the scalp but on other parts of the body that tend to be oily such as creases of the nose, around the lips, behind the ears, outer ear, and the chest. Have you heard of cradle cap in infants? That’s seborrheic dermatitis too. Though she cannot pinpoint the exact triggers, it may be caused by stress, changes in the weather, excessive sebum production, or infrequent shampoos. The dermatologist said that this form of dermatitis is chronic (meaning I have it for life, huhuhuhu) but can be managed with proper skin care and healthy diet.

As for the other –itis, it resembles acne but it isn’t. Perioral dermatitis is characterized by acne-like bumps around the mouth, on the chin, in the folds around the nose, under the eyes, and on the forehead. It’s on the T-zone which is why I thought it was hormonal acne. According to the dermatologist my seborrheic dermatitis could be the man cause for this. It is also aggravated by toothpaste dripping on my chin. Yah, I’m a child like that – letting toothpaste froth drip down my chin while I’m brushing my teeth. 😛 My using heavy skin creams and sunscreen makes it even worse – which is why I’m staying away from moisturizers for now.

New Skin Care Regimen

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For the next week, I’m on Tetralysal (lymecycline) and Hydrocortisone+Erythromycin cream. No more tea tree oil cleanser also. I’m back to using Cetaphil for keeps. Cetaphil and Physiogel are the only cleansers the dermatologist recommends. She also recommended that I change my shampoo to Head & Shoulders or Gard. I’m to also use a ketoconazole shampoo once a week. It has only been a couple of days since I’ve changed my regimen and followed the prescription yet my skin’s already visibly cleared a bit. Hopefully, all the redness will be gone before Saturday.

Are you having problems with your skin too? Please do see a dermatologist ASAP. You won’t want to waste your money on skin care products that aren’t really suited for your skin.

Filed Under: Beauty on A Budget, Health, Mom's Corner Tagged With:

Lightening Skin Care for Frugal Moms

October 10, 2014 by

Twenty-pounds ago, when all I really cared about was me, myself, and I, not a month passed without an appointment with my dermatologist and a trip to the salon and spa, using products similar to mesoestetic skin care to help keep my skin light and supple. Now with two little kids and a house to take care of, I don’t have the time to have that monthly trip to the dermatologist and the salon. And getting quality skin care products went from the monthly thing to a special treat.

That’s not an excuse to neglect proper skin care though. Fortunately, I’ve found some good skin care products that help keep my skin healthy and fair. All for a good price!

Whitening Body Scrubs

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It may not be as relaxing as being scrubbed by a spa attendant, but the few minutes I’m able to spend exfoliating all over is good enough to relax and rejuvenate me. Among the scrubs I’ve tried, the Sutla Vanilla Yogurt Whitening Scrub and Asian Secrets Lulur Indonesian Whitening Body Scrub are my absolute faves. The Vanilla Yogurt Scrub had me smitten at first whiff – I absolutely love its scent! I find the exfoliating beads too rough though so I only use it on my body and not my face. The Asian Secrets Lulur Scrub, on the other hand, has fine lulur beads that gently exfoliates and removes dead skin cells. This one I use on my face once in a while.

Budget-wise, these two fit right in! A 400g pouch of Sutla Vanilla Yogurt whitening Scrub and a 250g tub of Asian Secrets can be found in groceries, department stores, and almost everywhere else for a good price.

Sutla Green Papaya with Milk

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Although not as fair as Lucy Torres, my skin’s on the fair side too. I’m already quite happy with my skin color but am prone to skin pigmentation so I still use soap with lightening properties. The Sutla Green Papaya with Milk is my current favorite. It contains green papain and milk extracts that gently exfoliates my skin and sloughs away dead skin cells. This herbal soap is cold processed making it much gentler on the skin than hot processed ones. Another plus factor is the vitamin A and vitamin D infused in the soap.

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Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel SPF30

This has no lightening properties but is something I can’t live without. I mean, what’s fair skin if it’s dry, right? Of all the moisturizers I’ve tried, this is the only one that doesn’t feel heavy and doesn’t turn my face into a greasy mess after a couple of hours. The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel has a progressive release system for long lasting hydration. Moreover, it has SPF30. <3 It's a bit on the pricey side though for a 40ml bottle - but you do get your money's worth.

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Belo Essentials Whitening Anti-Perspirant Deodorant

 

Dark underarms is a bane of Pinays. I bet that 1 out of 2 Pinays have to take extra measures to prevent chicken skin and pigmentation in their pits. Sadly, I’m among the unlucky half. I’ve found an ally in Belo Essentials Whitening Anti-Perspirant Deodorant. It promises to effectively whiten underarms in 7 days but I didn’t really notice any significant change in mine when I first started using this. Nevertheless, I’ve continued using it because it’s alcohol-free and lives up to the 24-hr protection claim.

Priva Intimate Wash

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It’s no secret that most women are so concerned about how they look that even the body parts shielded from public view are given much importance. Oh yes, we all want to look and smell good down there too! I’ve shun away from feminine washes before as they were too harsh on my intimate area. It used to be just plain ol’ Dove soap and clean water for me. Although it provides gentle cleansing, it just wasn’t enough to make me feel confidently clean down there. Which is why I’m sooooo glad that there are now washes that are pH-balanced and gentle on the skin.

I’ve recently tried Priva Intimate Washes and have not had any adverse reactions to either variants – no stinging, no rashes, no irritations. Yey!!! for that. The Priva Skin Lightening and Cooling Intimate Wash has glutathione and natural strawberry extracts (strawberry! hmmmm…) that help lighten skin. The other variant, Priva Skin Firming and Cooling Intimate Wash, contains Witch Hazel extracts, collagen and Kwao Krua extracts that help improve skin elasticity and firmness and help retain moisture. I use both variants alternately. Both variants contain RevitaCool which leaves you cool and refreshed after every wash. A Priva Intimate Wash can be included in your monthly grocery list without putting any dent on your budget. Oh, but it could put a dent in the bedframe *wink*.

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Those are my current fave lightening skin care products. Are you using any of them, too? What products are currently part of your skin care routine?

 

Filed Under: Beauty on A Budget, for DAD & MOM, Mom's Corner, Products We Love

Red Hot Sale Finds for Fashionista Moms

August 8, 2014 by

Hooray!!!  We’re finally seeing more of Mr. Sun after more than a week of intermittent rain showers!  Here’s something else to brighten your days the entire rainy month of August – the Robinsons Red Hot Sale!

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On one of my very rare mom-me-time, I was able to go to Robinsons Galleria on the first weekend of the Red Hot Sale. I was able to check out furniture, kids’ apparel, jewelry, eyeglasses, clothes, and shoes. Here’s a rundown of some shops I checked out and my fab finds:

Freeway/Ensemble

This goes first on my list since this was where I got my best (read: most budget-friendly) finds.  See the bolero with a design by Vicente Manansala on it? Would you believe that I got it for only P99.50?! It was further marked down from its tag price of P199.  Such a steal, really!  Even if you’re on a tight budget, you could still update your wardrobe with blouses that go as low as P 199.50 and dresses at P599.

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Unica Hija

Though not all items are on sale, you’ll still be able to find stylish blouses at 50% off.  Blouses on sale range from P 395 to P 595. I also saw several slacks on sale one of which I really wanted to try on but was short on time.  I hope it’ll still be there when I go back next weekend. It’s not often you get a good pair of slacks for only 500 pesos.

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Karimadon

In need of more dresses?  Check out their sale rack.  The blue shift dress with matching bolero is not at only P599 – down by more than 50% from its original price of P1999.  If you have a little more extra shopping money, you may want to grab one of their latest designs as well.  🙂  And speaking of design, Karimadon also has an ongoing contest where you can stand to win up to P10,000 and to see your design in Karimadon’s Holiday Collection.  Check out www.facebook.com/karimadon/fashion for more details.

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ResToeRun

P500 for comfy colourful Marie Claire wedges!!! Need I say more?  I’m sure that’ll have you running to ResToeRun already. Stocks are limited so better run fast.  I would have grabbed a couple of pairs but they, unfortunately, did not have them in size 5 (boo-hoo).  Also on sale are Salvatos foldable flip flops which now cost only P300. In case you get caught in a heavy downpour, having a pair of these would save your precious stilettos.

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I was also able to check out Chez Le Furne, Sarabia Optical, OshKosh B’Gosh, Mothercare, and Toys ‘R Us. If I hadn’t promised hubby and the kids a movie treat that afternoon, I’d have probably scoured every shop in the mall. J Visit Tottering Mama again next week to see what I fab sale items I found from those stores.

I’m pretty sure you’re also now excited to check out what’s on Red Hot Sale.  Before you head to your fave Robinson Mall, add more mileage to your shopping fund by joining Robinsons contest on Instagram.  It’s a simple share and tag contest that might score you some GCs.  (link to instagram) After shopping, drop by the Robinsons Red Hot Sale booth for a chance to win a bottle of hand soap or goodies from URC.

Don’t let the rainy season dampen your spirit.  Check out the Robinsons Red Hot Sale to look fabulously hot despite the gloomy weather.  🙂

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The Robinsons Red Hot Sale runs from August 1 to 31 in the following participating malls:

  • Robinsons Galleria
  • Robinsons Place Manila
  • Robinsons Magnolia
  • Forum Robinsons
  • Robinsons Metro East
  • Robinsons Place Malolos
  • Robinsons Starmills
  • Robinsons Angeles
  • Robinsons Place Pangasinan
  • Robinsons Place Santiago
  • Robinsons Ilocos
  • Robinsons Cainta
  • Robinsons Place Imus
  • Robinsons Place Dasmarinas
  • Robinsons Place Lipa
  • Robinsons Town Mall Los Banos
  • Robinsons Place Palawan
  • Robinsons Fuente
  • Robinsons Place Bacolod
  • Robinsons Place Dumaguete
  • Robinsons Place Iloilo
  • Robinsons Place Roxas
  • Robinsons Place Gensan
  • Robinsons Place Butuan
  • Robinsons Supermarket Pulilan
  • Robinsons Supermarket Cabanatuan

Don’t wanna miss out on big sales and exciting promos? Follow Robinsons Malls at

facebook.com/RobinsonsMalls
twitter.com/RobinsonsMalls
instagram.com/RobinsonsMallsofficial

Filed Under: Beauty on A Budget, Events, for DAD & MOM, Products We Love

Hot Summer SALE at Robinsons Malls!

March 11, 2014 by

Hot! Hot! Hot!  Summer hasn’t officially started yet but we can already feel the temperature rising.  Don’t be caught looking like a sweltering pig in the warm summer heat.  Take advantage of Robinsons Malls’ HOT SUMMER SALE this weekend, MARCH 14 – 16,  and grab your summer essentials.  Get up to 70% off!  That means more savings for your summer getaway.  Mark your calendars – sale starts on March 14 (til midnight in some malls)!

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Filed Under: Beauty on A Budget, Mom's Corner Tagged With: ,
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