Happy Holidays!

A BLESSED HOLIDAY SEASON TO ALL! ! !

Lots of Love,
Seppie

The Battle Against Stretch marks

Being pregnant brings out the best in a woman. It also causes a lot of changes within a woman's body, and one thing that's dreaded during the second and third trimester is the development of stretchmarks. What are stretch marks? Read on to find out.


From Wikipedia:

Stretch marks, or striae, are a form of scarring on the skin with an off-color hue. They are caused by tearing of the dermis, and over time can diminish but not disappear completely.

They first appear as reddish or purple lines, but tend to gradually fade to a lighter range. The affected areas appear empty and are soft to the touch.^[2]

Stretch marks occur in the dermis, the resilient middle layer that helps the skin retain its shape. No stretch marks will form as long as there is support within the dermis. Stretching plays more of a role in where the marks occur and in what direction they run. Stretching alone is not the cause.^[3]

Stretch marks can appear anywhere on the body, but are most likely to appear in places where larger amounts of fat are stored. Most common places are the abdomen (especially near the belly-button), breasts, upper arms, underarms, thighs (both inner and outer), hips, and buttocks. They pose no health risk in and of themselves, and do not compromise the body's ability to function normally and repair itself.^[4]

Unfortunately,for some women, developing stretch marks during pregnancy is unavoidable. This makes a woman feel insecure about herself. I am also a part of the unfortunate ones who developed stretch marks at an early stage. Lucky for me, I have internet access which allows me to surf and look for possible solutions to this dreaded skin condition. And here is what I found out so far:

From iloveindia.com:

• One of the simplest, yet effective home remedies for stretch marks would be to apply lavender oil on the marks, three times a day.
• Another home remedy would be to apply Aloe Vera gel on the marks. They would initially, lighten and finally, remove the marks from the body.
• Prepare a mixture by adding seven drops of lavender oil and a few drops of chamomile oil to an ounce of carrier oil (avocado, sweet almond or jojoba oil). Use it to massage the affected area.
• Includes lots of green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, liver and dairy products in your diet.
• Consume seeds and nuts that contain zinc. They will prove effective in removing stretch marks.
• In a blender, mix ½ cup olive oil, ¼ cup Aloe vera gel, liquid from 6 Vitamin E capsules and liquid from 4 Vitamin A capsules. Store it in a container and place it in the refrigerator. Apply this mixture wherever stretch marks appear.
• Aroma oil is beneficial in treating stretch marks problem. Apply some of this oil on the stretch marks and massage well.
• Rub the affected area with apricot scrub. This is likely to remove the stretch marks gradually.
• Cocoa butter is beneficial in treating stretch marks. Apply it two times a day, in the morning as well as in the evening, over the affected area. This would help remove the marks.

I also browsed thru an online store called Storeeland, and found out that they sell pure rosehip and emu oils which may also help in lightening/fading stretchmarks.

Rosehip oil is relatively unknown in the UK but already word is spreading as people discover its impressive skincare benefits.

Pure Rosehip oil contains natural tretinoin, a derivative of Vitamin A, and is proven to delay the effects of skin aging. It aids cell regeneration and boosts levels of collagen and elastin to create smoother, firmer skin.
Rosehip oil can also be used to strengthen weak fingernails and thin or damaged hair. It has proved useful in reducing and elimating the effects of:

• Scarring
• Stretch marks
• Effects of psoriasis
• Effects of eczema
• Lumps from scarring
• Hyper-pigmentation
• Dermatitis
• Over-exposure to the sun
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Skin burns

* from http://www.mariposa-alternative-bodycare.co.uk/index1.html


So there. I hope I was able to provide you with helpful info. And btw, sorry for missing out on blogging lately, I became very busy at work due to year end issues. =)

Lumiere Prebuy: Looking for interested "poolers" ... LOL

Hi! Im looking for 5 or 6 more people who would want to pool orders with me at Lumiere's Prebuy. Just in case that you're not yet aware of it, Lumiere is coming up with these fabulous brushes at super affordable prices. The only flaw with this very tempting offer is the hefty shipping price tag, which is at $25.00 (around Php 1,250.00), which is the reason why I'm looking for interested "poolers". Shipping will be divided among the poolers, based on the number of brushes that was ordered (just to be fair to those who will get 1 or 2 brushes only).


If you haven't seen the brushes yet, or you just can't decide on which brush to get, you may check out Aileen's review or you may visit Lumiere's Prebuy Section.


Deadline is set for December 1st, and if you're interested to join this pool, kindly shoot me an email with your orders at september.cruz@live.com


Happy weekend ladies! ^_^

Lumiere Prebuy Season is Here Again!

Here is another chance to own Lumiere brushes without the hefty price tags!

Please click on this link for more info:

LUMIERE PREBUY

Undecided....

Who said that a preggy woman couldn't have these?

88 piece earth color palette - reminds me of CS 88 Warm Palette (are they the same?!)

72 piece Neutral Palette - perfect for bridal and everyday makeup

Photos courtesy of Dollface Cosmetics


Which is better? I'm planning to get myself one on the next payday. Help me decide. ^_^

Mini blog sale

Hi! Im having a mini blog sale. These are excess items that I got from my most recent ELF haul.

ELF Studio Complexion Brush - SOLD

Brand new,still in its original packaging

Asking price: Php 250.00

ELF Studio Eyeliner and Shadow stick

Swatched once, still in its original box

Asking price: Php 150.00

ELF Mineral Lipstick in Nicely Nude

brand new,still in its original box

Asking price: Php 200.00

I will accept Gcash and BPI bank deposit payments. Shipping will commence via Air21 or Xend Express. For inquiries, you may send me text me at 0917-5190904.

Ive been MIA... and some big news

The title says it all... I missed blogging, but then, work is just getting crazy nowadays, so there.

I am also into Facebook. Yep, Im addicted to Restaurant City and Cafe World. :p

Anyway, for the biggest news of the year: I am close to 2 months pregnant. But lucky me because I dont have those weird morning sickness moments and late night cravings. Well, it's too early to tell. I'm gonna have another check up with my OB gyne on Saturday. I hope there's nothing wrong and that my baby is fine. :)

The idea of being a mother excites and scares me at the same time. Honestly, I had my mind set that I wont have a kid until the age of 30 (boo!) but then, this blessing came along, and although I may not have been prepared for it, I will make sure that this kid gets all the love that I could offer to him/her.

Marriage? We decided not to get married.... yet. I have to focus on being a mother first, before I can be a wife to him. The parents respected our decision, which is a very good thing, because we need all the moral support that we could get at this point.

So there. I'll do my haul posts in a while, but for now, let us welcome the latest addition to my addiction... my baby. =)