Unwanted Hair? ---"Strip It"!!

“Pretty is something you're born with. But beautiful, that's an equal opportunity adjective.”
-Anonymous

I ordered a trial pack of Strip it from Arlette and I just finished using it :D I can't believe how well the product works! I'm a first time user of cold wax, and I never imagined it would be as effective as warm wax!

I am used to just going to a salon to get the whole thing done. Some salon waxing services include P150 for underarm, P250 for the forearms, and P500 for the entire leg and etc... Well, a bit of waxing is probably the only vanity I indulge in even before. I tried doing the DIY Home sugaring myself, but more often than not I scald myself that I cry and yelp in pain. No matter what I do, I end up having irritated arms due to the hot wax.

I discovered STRIP IT and decided to order it 2 days ago, and today the package came in via Air21:

Trial Pack arrived! P160 for the Trial pack, added P15 for extra strip cloths (I knew I was gonna need it), and P106 for shipping! Just P281 for the whole thing.

150 grams of cold sugar wax right here! It's heavy for its size. Very compact. The cover is also sealed tight with that protective strip of clear plastic.


Setting up the items needed... Very sparse but it gets the job done! The instruction sheet is very well thought out. There are special tips there for the best waxing method. I'm so relieved I ordered another pack of sheets! There are only 5 strips that come with the trial pack. Added P15.00 to get a longer sheet that I can customize according to the size I want.


I cleaned my arms and made sure it was super duper dry... Added a little bit of baby powder to be sure. It won't work unless it can cling to the hair. I applied wax to my forearm and pressed lightly the strips. Then... I PULLED! *WOAH!* NO PAIN!!! YAY!!! XD

You can see the difference! The results are the same as when I go to the salon to get it done! All the hair's gone from that other side. The way the wax grips is so amazing, and not much redness and irritation, too! At first you may think it's hard to spread the wax, but it's like that for this reason!For a trial pack, that's surprising. I have a little more left over, so I'm thinking how to maximize it to depilate both of my lower legs.

I did it in under 30 minutes too! :D It's a great product! 10 snaps in a circle!

Tagged by JBreezy! Five Things that Make Me Happy

My first tag ever from Joanna <3

Five Things that Make Me Happy

1. Books

The acquisition, and the reading of books makes me infinitely happy on so many levels. I feel so giddy at the mere thought of scouring book stores and book sales. I feel a jolt of devious pleasure when I buy books for so much less than their value, as it feels like I've just unearthed a diamond in the rough that's overlooked by everyone. I am at my happiest when I'm reading. I am always very eager to read about adventures, complex stories on seemingly mundane things, romances in classic novels, other culture, sub cultures, and so much more.

2. Being with Family / Friends

Even if the whole world turns on me, I feel like I can always find support in my family and those I consider my true friends. My family may not be the most perfect, but really, who has a perfect family nowadays? But they are always there to back me up and protect me, and those I consider my true friends accept me for who I am, and all that I will be. The protection and acceptance are something very crucial that I can't do without in life, especially when it's from people that matter to me. Spending time with them is always a welcome treat!

3. Doing new stuff that challenge me

I love learning new stuff, even from the most 'simple', like learning how to sew a purse, playing the piano (which I'm learning now! hehe), and to the most daring like going ziplining and flying from one cliff to another with just cable wires (which I have already done! I want to try it again!), or going to the beach and diving from a platform or just anything that gets my heart pumping is what I love most. Just because I love reading and lounging around doesn't mean I'm a boring person. I'm trying to come out of my shell and do my best in learning about skin care and cosmetics, too. It looks real easy, but woaaaaah! Man, is it super hard! There's a lot I have to learn!

4. Traveling! Traveling! Traveling!

If there's one thing sure about the future, it is travel. I will not NOT TRAVEL! I love learning about languages and culture, and I feel that there are a lot of things I have yet to discover. I'm going to use my career and my degree to the fullest, and in the future will have work where I write AND travel at the same time. A wonderful friend of mine has suggested that we save up for a special trip together, we're planning to backpack across Southeast Asia, which in my opinion, is the most electrifying plan she's ever come up with. I can't stress enough how I WANT IT BAD. I need to get out, see the world! What better way to start than a full Asian continent of culture and languages!

5. Chocolates

I'm a chocoholic. Anything chocolate, I eat and drink! I once almost licked a chocolate lipbalm, ewww! I always immediately love people who bring me chocolates. My sister once brought me a gourmet box of Queen Alice chocolates from Ginza. I love Hersheys, Mars, Snickers, Meiji, Lotte, Van Houten, Cadburry, and so on and so forth! There's nothing I wouldn't do for chocolates (well, except eat cocroaches!) and my most sweetest dream is getting to sample all the chocolates in the freaking world!!

See the Difference: Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream

I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That's deep enough. What do you want—an adorable pancreas?
- Jean Kerr

I am super in love with this BB Cream! I believe I've found my perfect brand! Look and see the huge difference my face went through with just a tiny sample pack.

USING NORMAL ROOM LIGHTING:

Problem Skin: Bumpy, generally non-smooth, huge pores, off-tone

Applied a dash of Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream (comes in one shade only), and spread all over the face

Instantly my skin becomes even, lesser apparent pores, smooth-looking and smooth-feeling, gives off a non-cakey look, which is important in a bb cream, and has a very natural, dewy finish!

Added a teeny tiny bit of loose face powder to lessen the shine (My face is oily), and took the photo under bright morning lights near my window!

Oh my gosh, I look kind of pretty already HAHAHA!

Lots of Giveaway By Lovely Bloggers!

Blush Me Two Times Baby's Giveaway

Rules:
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It's that easy! Head off to Linea's Blog for more details!

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Kamyarakay's 1st Giveaway

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Deadline: 11th of August 8pm. Visit Kamyarakay Now!

My Trial Packs Have Arrived

"No! No! When a woman isn't beautiful, people tell her. "You have lovely eyes, you have lovely hair..."
- Sonya, "Uncle Vanya" by Anton Chekov

Click for FULL VIEW.

I'll be trying out these starting tomorrow! They're so cute! I also received sample freebies from the the very nice seller: Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint, Lioele Trouble Hunter Duo, and the two Etude House nail polish in Pink & Black.

This made my day :)

Aveeno For Sale + Bookwishlist

So my sister just got back from Cebu and she hands me over TWO Aveeno Positively Radiant Facial Cleansers she bought at a mall for PHP 500+ each. Having this surplus makes me want to sell it to someone. I mean, I love, love, love Aveeno. It's such an awesome skin care line. My sister's freaking dermatologist USES this, so that must count at least. Everyone I know has their own Aveeno everything already and are crazy about it. But whatever shall I do with TWO of the same bottle of cleanser?! I currently use another brand of cleanser and it's lasted me for 4 months already and there's still a lot left. My Aveeno cleanser will probably last me 6-7 months! LOL! I'm selling this and if anybody wants it, I can give it to you for PHP 500 and FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the Philippines.

If you don't know yet, Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleanser is Oil-Free, Hypoallergenic, Soap-Free, Fragrance-Free, Non-comedogenic. It is... Love.


If you buy this item from me, you will also be helping me SO MUCH. I need the money to buy a book on my wishlist: An Assembly Such as This, A Novel by Pamela Aidan. I've always loved the book but it's too expensive for me (National Bookstore Price: PHP 500). Getting this would be an awesome addition to my collection centering on Jane Austen. I only have Duty and Desire, so if you would just please please please please please buy the Aveeno, hence giving me the opportunity to buy this book, I will love you forever and ever and ever and ever and ever. And that's a lot.

Healthy Food Choices

"If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want."

- Elbert Hubbard

Health and beauty almost always go hand in hand. Eating right is always paired with any beauty regiment you can find. It's not enough that you're taking care of your skin from the outside. Our diet affects not only what's inside the body, but it reflects on our physical appearance especially on our skin, eyes, hair and even on your nails.

I always force myself to go eat well because I'm a bad eater. I love love love junkfood and fatty food rich in bad cholesterol, high sodium, loaded with sugar and the like. I'm a huge carnivore, too! So much that I don't even LIKE vegetables. I abhor the icky slimy ones the most. I can only swallow corn, soft potatoes, finely chopped carrots, and some stray malunggay in my tinola. Hehe. I eat meat for breakfast, lunch, dinner. My snacks, well, are plain horrible too. I know that. But I can't stop munching happily on Lays, piattos, chippy, cornix, cream-o, moby, richie, gahhh~ I even love those little bags that you can get for 1-peso! But inside, I really am worried about the consequences of my bad eating habits.

I just discovered the magic of granola bars! So each week I buy a different box of granola and has done so for 3 weeks already. I finished my last bar yesterday and I would like to share what I discovered!

Nature's Path Organic Chewy Granola Bars with Dark Chocolate Chips (PHP 200/ Robinsons Grocery)
This is the first one that I bought and I must say that even tasting granola bars for the first time, it is absolutely delectable. This 6-piece pack is perfect for a chocolate addict like me. The granola both tastes wonderful and earthy and smells like sweet honey; it's very chewy and I love it! I want more!



I also really love this sample pack of Nature's Path EnviroKidz Orgainc Crispy Rice in Fruity Burst because it is fruity. Hmm, how to describe the flavor: It's like you’re eating honeyed rice crispies with tiny Fruitella chewy candies inside!



Quaker Oats Quaker Chewy Chocolate Granola with Smores (PHP 190 / SM Grocery)
I can't believe this isn't junk food! Haha! This 10-piece pack is an awesome treat for those who like chocolate and smores. Even the smell of the granola is testament to its yummy sweetness; I love crunching on the chips and the smores. Compared to the Nature's Path Granola, this is more brittle, and it's thinner but longer.




Health Valley Organic Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars (PHP 180 / Healthy Options)
Healthy Granola, check. Honey coating, check. Chocolate chips inside, check, Chocolate drizzle, check. Chocolate chip toppings, check!
Oh Yeahhhh! What I love most about this 5-piece pack is that it is absolutely DELICIOUSSSSSSSSS!

THE ONE-GIRL JURY PROCLAIMS:

Health Valley Organic Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars is the WINNER!

Let's Eat Healthy! -Aicha


P.S. I have 2 new granola bars to taste! YAAAAAAAAAY!



Nature Valley Chewy Trail Mix Fruit and Nut
(P22 Per Bar / Robinsons)



Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars Oats n Honey
(P 22 Per Bar / Robinsons)

Meet My New Shampoo

"...You try to improve yourself at the start of each new day; of course, you achieve quite a lot in the course of time. Anyone can do this, it costs nothing and is certainly very helpful. Whoever doesn't know it must learn and find by experience that a quiet conscience makes one strong."

- Anne Frank

Yesterday was a leisurely Sunday as any. I woke up and lounged around the house--- though most of my morning I was rooted in my bed, reading The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. I've just started reading this morning and I couldn't put the book down, even to get some of my favorite biscuits to munch on. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great read about mystery, fantasy, and a good bit of literature. The very first sentence of the novel captured me. I was delightfully floored.

In the afternoon, I went to the mall to see Blood: The Last Vampire. The movie was lame. Too much talking which made it kind of draggy. The CG rendering of splattered blood looked so fake that it ended up like red mud/thick grease.

After that I hit the department stores because I ran out of shampoo that morning. I was using Vaseline shampoo because it makes my hair smell like it's very clean even when I'm sticky and sweating all over; and it's the cheapest, too. Last week I was thinking to myself of buying a new brand, preferably something that's higher in quality. I decided between L'Oréal Vive Pro Smooth Intense Care and Herbal Essences Dangerously Straight - Pin Straight. I'll try several shampoos out to see what's best for my hair :) I bought the Herbal Essences first because the bottle is so cute!



Isn't it so adorable? It looks like some twisty candy thing. This 355 ml costs just around PHP170 or approximately $4. Maybe I'll post a small review if the product is worth it.

See you!

Amanda's Summer Giveaway

Because Amanda is feeling a lot generous from the summer (and from getting a lot of giveaways herself) she's hosting her very own Summer Giveaway for her dear followers. Simply follow the rules of the contest and get a chance to win her loot bag.

Bad Mood - Good Mood

"It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else's eyes."
-Sally Field

MY BAD MOOD FRIDAY NIGHT:
My friends are turning a critical eye at my recently-developed taste for cosmetics. They say it's so unlike me to dabble at these things. I can't blame them, though, I mean, I would have the confused and surprised reaction too if any of my dorky, silly friends suddenly wanted to do a spree to shop for high-end clothes and shoes. That's not what's putting me in a bad mood, but the fact that some entity at the back of my mind echoes things. Nagging me, and making me feel discouraged overall.

But I go back to this blog, read my quotes, read all your blogs... and all that makes me feel better and I am reassured again that I have all the right in the world to do whatever I want!

MY GOOD MOOD SATURDAY MORNING:
I ordered not ONE, BUT TWO trial packs from E-Bay this morning. My first order was a Lioele Basic Skin Care sample pack, and the other is a Skinfood Cactus BB Cream Sample set.


The best part yet: FREE SHIPPING!! and I get 2 ETUDE HOUSE NAIL POLISH FREEBIES!! So generous! It's my second time ordering from Ebay, my first one was when I bought a Forgotten Realms book (haha-GEEK!) "Starless Night" by R.A. Salvatore

When I receive the pack next week I'm going to post a review for each one. Hopefully it's all good for me!

Have a happy weekend now, you hear! :)

Blissfully Enamored's Giveaway

Blissfully Enamored's Giveaway Sponsored by Ribbons and Lace:

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Join in the fun and stand a chance to win a Feathered Headband! Click here.

Skin Care Wishlist

“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
-George Bernard Shaw

I've gone through countless of beauty blogs in one day that even my work has suffered. I love going through other people's posts, reviews, updates and FOTD, which means Face of the Day! FOTDs are my new favorite things ever. I love looking at these lovely ladies and learning a lot of things from them! It's astounding how make-up can really highlight and add definition to the best things on your face and conceal the bad ones, eh?

There are about 20 new skincare brands I got to know and 50 more different cosmetics I never even thought existed. One reason is that I wasn't particularly focusing on skin care and cosmetics before and, two, those products I've seen aren't even available here from where I am.

I have a few things that I've added to my wishlist. For the first time it's not books, cardigans, or sneakers. I have few skin care products that I really wish I can try, please allow me to share these with you.

____Aicha's Skin Care Wishlist_____

Biore Blemish Fighting Cleanser

According to a post in Reviewstream.com it is a great cleanser for the face, as it targets the pores to clean them out and fight against blemishes. What's curious about it is that it's called an Ice Cleanser, maybe it's feels cool to the touch I think. I think this is cool, in another sense of the word. The main reason that propelled me into putting this to my wishlist is that Biore got good reviews from RiceBunny or MichellePhan, a cosmetics/skincare reviewer I really admire. She liked Biore because their line is really good for oily skin.




Neutrogena Invigorating Dual Action Toner
Reviews from TotalBeauty.com reports the effectiveness of Neutrogena toner in leaving your face much cleaner by taking the gunk out of your pores especially when you've put a lot of make-up on. And it's not called Dual Action for just one thing: it also helps in tightening the pores.
A reviewer mentioned that it has a strong but clean scent and it dries quickly on the face. Somebody also mentioned about a tingly feeling. LOL TINGLY?! What's that about? :D




Aveeno Positively Radiant with SPF 15
Aveeno has been plugged countless of times by beauty blogs I frequent that I'm thinking to myself that this must be a staple for all skin care enthusiasts out there. Aveeno Positively Radiant with SPF 15 is a cute little thing! I'm more drawn to it than ever after reading a review from AssociatedContent about good things from this product. Aveeno is pretty to look at, with thick cream and a simple but pleasant smell about it. It's oil-free (yay), and both hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. It contains soy in it, too, as it is the main ingredient in their Total Soy Complex that promises to solve problems of blotchy or uneven skin tone.

I don't think I'll find this around town very soon, but I am crossing my fingers for it. I can't order online because I am paranoid and it would cost me too much, as I'm only a blasted supplementary holder of a wretched credit card! Oh well, I can still dream and blog about it!

JBreezy Baby Giveaways

JBreezy Baby's Giveaway Contest!

Joining is as Easy as Pie:

- COMMENT

- FOLLOW
- EMAIL
- POST

Deadline is AUGUST 12, 2009 @ 11:59 PM CT. She's generous enough to include us Non-US residents in her contests as she mails internationally, too. Click on the banner to join!

I'm such a newbie at this, but I really hope I have a chance to win :)

Etude House Nail Polish

Aaaa, aren't they so cute?! :) If anyone's reading this, please post your own "cutest nailpolish" find, so I can gawk at them too!

You can click on the pics for a larger view. The Photos are taken from from NailPolish Forum

Confessions of A Beauty Addict Giveaway

Confessions of A Beauty Addict Giveaway
(The simplest contest ever or what?)

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3 lucky winners will win the 1ST, 2ND and 3RD cool pizes. Contest closes on the 31st July 2009 at 6pm GMT. CLICK TO JOIN IN THE FUN! Good Luck To Us All !

The Pressed Powder Adventures!

"Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong."
- Peter Mcintyre

So today I went to a department store and stealthily went to the skincare/cosmetics isle. I was going to buy a face powder because I want to upgrade from using Johnson&Johnson's Baby Powder (I've heard that talc is very bad for you) to use on my ever-shiny face.

I've been in the skincare area plenty of times, I regularly buy Dove classic beauty bar (loyal user here!), my favorite strawberry shampoo, and to buy my mom a perfume she liked. But this time I have to face up to the cosmetics counter and look for a good pressed powder for my skin type/color.

I know the attitude of the saleswomen there, they're kind of intimidating. Sometimes I think they judge you by the look on your face and the clothes you're wearing if you can afford to pay for the cosmetic products. I can't even touch the testers, because the saleswoman had her sharp eyes on me and deemed my simple white shirt, dark jeans, dirty sneakers and my kindergarten slingbag not classy enough for her products!

So quietly I browse through the pressed powder products and I had a tough time determining if the colors would fit my tone, if it's cakey, or whatever. I was determined to find the right one without having to go to the tester counter.

I was aiming for the Neutrogena pressed powder because it was clean-looking and is curiously rectangular. But I saw the Maybelline line and my attention was caught by their pretty light sea green color. In the end I chose that in Honey, it was pretty cheap too (P299 / $6).

I left the cosmetics counter and headed off to a nearby bookstore, all the while thinking of scary saleswomen and asking myself if there's no more justice left in the world if I should have to dress up prettily just to buy one single thing from the cosmetics counter. Maybe this is just the first time, and my first-time paranoia doesn't really help. I hope I will fare better next time.

photo taken from Glam.com

Skin 79 Super+ BB Cream Mini

Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better.
- Emile Coue

Baby steps, baby steps!

If it’s any consolation, I feel so embarassed writing this. My first face cream! So recently, in my quest to find a good skin care product I want to try, I spent my hard-earned P200 (approx. $4) on Skin 79 Super+ BB Cream miniature bottle I bought from LaCore Salon. I'm trying it out to see if it works for me.

The promise of this BB cream is that its a moisturizer, with healing properties to regenerate dark spots and pimple scars. It has also has a good sun protection, a very high SPF 25 for this tiny bottle. It's really great because it's the healthy alternative to foundation, and it has a brightening effect (though I kind of love my tan skin).

I have some spots on my face that simply must disappear! I hope that this BB Cream does the trick, or at least simply prove that it can do its job to clear my skin. The downside of this is that I think BB Cream is an oil-based product. I have quite an oily skin though because my face always looks shiny and this makes me sad. I think I'll research on products that are best for oily skin.

Aldous Huxley Made Me Beautiful

So now: it has taken me 22 years and a quote from Aldous Huxley to start a new thing for myself. I was just rolling on my bed last night reading "Brave New World" by The Man himself, I got up to Google his wiki page and find some related readings. I stumbled upon this quote in my research:

"There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self." ~Aldous Leonard Huxley

It hit me straight right where it hurts, the confused place where I store my poor self-image, my own criticisms on my appearance and the thoughts that bring me down and lower my drive to want to change myself for the better. I've once thought all my efforts would be futile anyway. Nobody would notice really, or that I think everybody will and laugh at me and my stupid efforts. I don't look good; I'm too fat; I'm too short; My face is too round; My hair is too weird; My legs too short and stumpy; My nose too big; My arms too hairy; my butt non existent; and my chest area is a wall. We are truly our own worse critic.

I didn't get much sleep last night because I was thinking very hard of the things I want to do for myself. I remember an advice given to me long ago by a very good friend of mine, something along the line of how we should never judge ourselves through other people's eyes. She urged me to respect myself in spite of my "supposed physical shortcomings", and to know that there is something in me that's worth showing, and I deserve to feel and do things that make me happy. Now I realize that she's right all along SO COULD SOMEBODY GIVE THAT GIRL A FREAKING MEDAL? I am beginning to accept the truth of the quote, if I am not for myself, who will be?

It's no surprise that the negative things I'm thinking are screwing up my feelings and ideas as well. The negativity always spreads far, and beyond just criticisms of over my physical appearance. It tugs on my confidence in the things I do. Whenever I look at myself and I think I look frumpy, I FEEL frumpy! So I don't go out as much, don't do activities as long as I begin to feel that way. Whenever I think I look dull, I BORE myself to death and I begin to nag at myself about how boring I am, and that I will never be someone interesting. But whenever I think I look cute, I FEEL like the cutest thing in the world and that no one can say "no" to me. My appearance does take a big factor in what I think of myself.

This Late Bloomer will be dedicated to my efforts, great and small, into finding the things that give me a boost of enthusiasm and confidence in my looks. And I will IMPROVE, gosh darn it!!

So thank you, Aldous! I dedicate this first post to you!