An Addiction to Remember...

Finally, I was able to get my grubby hands on some NYX round lipsticks. I immediately grabbed the chance to purchase when sis Sol of digitaltraincase announced via her blog that she has some NYX items for sale. I've heard so many good things about these babies, and being the "inggitera" that I am (LOL), I decided to give them a try as well.

• Very creamy texture. I actually dropped Indian Pink and created a small mess on our floor,and when I scooped it up with my finger, I was welcomed with,well, a very creamy mess.But of course, upon application, I also felt the creamy texture that comes with every swipe.
  
• Pigmentation is very,very good. I am very delighted with the fact that with every swipe that I make,it makes the colors even more vibrant and lively.
• It glides smoothly across my lips,even without lip balm underneath.
• For Php 160, you cant go wrong with it.
• Wide selection of colors available thru their website.

• These babies are rare gems; Generally,they are not available locally. You cant find these in our malls. I was only lucky when I saw that announcement from Sol's blog.
  
• Lasting power is just so-so. But again, with the price that you pay for it, I guess that's okay.

I am very much anxious to try out other colors! But I guess it'll have to wait for now,since I have my baby's baptism coming up in a month's time, and finances will be a bit tight for me since I'm still on maternity leave.

Wanna have this very elegant looking necklace? You can get this for free by joining the contest HERE.

I have seen numerous reviews from fellow bloggers about these masks. I think I've seen these before at Landmark Makati, but never paid any attention to it until I saw reviews from Pinay bloggers. So far I have only seen good reviews about it, and I can't wait to get my hands on them! Unfortunately, when I dropped by Megamall 2-3 weeks ago, I couldnt find the masks! Huhuhu, but anyway, I googled them up and found out that they do come in several yummy and irresistable flavors.. I just hope that they stock up on these here in Manila.

Here is the actual site: Montagne Jeunesse Masks


And some of the to-die-for flavors are (pics and descriptions courtesy of Montagne Jeunesse's official website):

	Chocolate Mud Masque Chocolate, yes, it’s chocolate. A guilt free treat! This masque offers a feast of creamy delights – it’s outrageous! This deep cleansing masque helps unblock pores, moisturises and heals for skin that glows with health. It smells incredible – imagine these – Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter – creamy heaven. Enjoy! Gluten Free No Added Parabens

--NEW-- White Chocolate Masque Deep Cleanse with our new Whitening Masque as part of your regime for a radiant, glowing complexion. Smells so yum please don't be tempted to eat! Allow the Cocoa Butter, rich Cream and moisturising Jojoba to leave your skin deep cleansed & as smooth as the softest cream. Try this ultra deep cleansing choccie treat for a WOW facial experience. Gluten Free Dairy Free No Added Parabens KEY INGREDIENTS Cocoa Butter - Extracted from the seeds of the cocoa plant. A rich emollient used for its moisturizing and soothing properties. Jojoba Oil - Fights fine lines and skin roughness. It can eliminate blemishes and protect skin cells. Dead Sea Salt - Heals & softens skin for a healthier complexion.

--NEW-- Strawberry Soufflé Masque Cleanse with our new Strawberry Soufflé Masque as part of your regime for a purified, toned smooth complexion. Loaded with natural goodness which leaves skin hydrated & refreshed allow your skin to breathe with soothing Aloe Vera & calming Vanilla. Experience the sensation of sheer Strawberry delight and enjoy deep cleansed, healthier skin. Gluten Free No Added Parabens KEY INGREDIENTS Strawberry - Rich in Vitamins C, K, B5 & B6 – an antioxidant queen! Aloe Vera - Soothes, detoxifies, cleanses and moisturises leaving skin fresh and silky smooth. Vanilla - Calming & Comforting.

	Fruit Smoothie Bursting with healthy goodness, our thick Crushed Raspberry and Mango smoothie delight will leave you with fresher, cleansed and softer skin. Lavishly apply and treat your skin to a pore cleansing, sensational awakening. Recommended for Normal, Dry and T-Zone Skin. Gluten Free No Added Parabens

	Fudge Sauna Cleansing has never been so easy with our gorgeous Self Heating Vanilla Fudge Sauna. Absorb the sweet aroma, sit back and relax as the heavenly formula opens pores and deep cleanses, leaving your skin so clean it glows. Recommended for Normal, Greasy and T-Zone Skin. Gluten Free Nut Derivative Free No Added Parabens

Want these? Check out Watsons and Landmark and see if they have these in stock! Also, if other stores carry this line, kindly leave me a note here on my blog entry.

Hi! I'm currently on maternity leave,waiting for the arrival of my lil bundle of joy. Im expected to give birth soon, and once that happens, I'll let you guys know. :D

I have to tell you that my pregnancy taught me a lot of things, and one of them is using organic products. Lately I have been on an organic products splurge, and one of the organic brands that I'm currently addicted to is By Nature Handmade soaps. The soaps are very skin friendly, and is reasonably priced since the bars are kinda large, they would last you a long time, provided that you follow the instructions given.

I made my purchases thru Ebay and Dianne's site. I ordered Olive Beauty, Cocoa Butter Melt, MilkenHoney, and Icy Choco. Descriptions are from the official By Nature website, but I have added a few things just to let you know on what I personally think about them.

Photos courtesy of By Nature Handmade Soaps website as well.



Olive Beauty - Using this castile soap everyday will keep your skin soft and supple. Olive oil is known to nourish the skin and help it retain its moisture. It also provides protection for all skin types, especially for dry and sensitive skin. This olive oil-enriched bar is so mild that it is safe to use even on infants. Price: P155.00 for a 120-150g bar

What I think about it: This is a very good soap for those who have uber dry skin. It kept my skin moisturized, but still it wasn't enough for my uber uber dry skin. I guess being pregnant made my skin very dry,and with the kind of weather that we have right now, having dry, dehydrated skin can't be avoided. But for those who just wants extra moisture, this is the right bar for you.



Milkenhoney - The perfect soap for those who love anything with milk and honey. The milk makes your skin feel extra soft and supple after every wash, while the honey acts as a natural moisturizer and antibacterial. Price: P95.00/120-150g bar

What I think about it: I love this soap. It cleanses very well without leaving any icky residue behind, and moisturizes at the same time. I use this on my face twice a day for about 2 weeks now, and I havent experienced any nasty breakouts with this soap. Highly recommended.



Icy Choco - For chocolate-mint lovers, enjoy bathing with the stimulating scent of peppermint and the mild exfoliation of cocoa powder. This delicious-looking soap will leave your skin feeling cool and refreshed all over. It also gives out a wonderful lather which is simply a bonus for you! Price: P95.00/120-150g bar

What I think about it: LOVE! This is my favorite among all the bars that I have purchased. The minty feeling is perfect for the scorching hot weather that we have right now, and the scent leaves me and my bathroom smelling good. Even hubby likes it.


Cocoa Butter Melt - Your skin will get all the pampering it needs from the cocoa butter in this soap, with soothing and emollient qualities that will leave your skin all soft and moisturized. Price: P95.00/120-150g bar

What I think about it: I was surprised when I saw that this bar had very small grains in it, since it wasnt a part of the description. But that did not make this a bad soap; Surprisingly, I like this better than Olive Beauty because I just think that my skin loved this soap more than the latter. But it's just my opinion.


Overall, I'm happy with BNHS soaps. Caring for your skin has never been this good. I will definitely repurchase once I've run out of them.


Where to buy: Reseller's Directory

Our orders were shipped out on the 18th of February.. Hopefully it'll arrive in a week's time :)

BTW, sorry for being away for soooo long.... Been feeling tired lately,probably because of work.. But the good news is, I'm having a baby boy! :D Just had my ultrasound this morning. :D


Im one excited mom! :D

(But I also miss my make up days) =(

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. =)