Beauty: Do-It-Yourself Olive Oil for Hair Care

Olive Oil is obtained from the Olive trees. Olive Oil is widely known being used in cooking since it is healthy and cholesterol-free. However, the vain spirit in me live up again, so I researched on the other uses of olive oil.

Applying olive oil on hair has many benefits. One is deep conditioning which is a must in hair care. Its lightweight formula is great to not weigh down the hair after use. Emollients can penetrate in  the hair better than the others and Olive oil is one of the top emollients. Also if you are experiencing dry scalp, olive oil is highly recommended since it has this anti-inflammatory properties to achieve healthy scalp. So, olive oil is not only for dry hair, it is also for dry scalp that causes dandruff. Vitamin E content of the Olive oil is also good for hair growth.

With so many types of Olive oil in the market, I chose the extra virgin one. Extra virgin Olive oil means oil is being extracted from the original fruit without applying synthetic treatment. Extra Virgin Oil has also been categorized as best/highest quality of Olive Oil in the market. So why not get the best one right?

So back to the DIY (Do-It-Yourself), using Olive Oil as hair conditioner is as easy as 1, 2, 3.  And who would ever think that the solution for your hair dilemma can be found at your own kitchen?

How do I apply this? Well this will vary on your own preference but for me, I just leave it in my hair overnight. Yes overnight! Simply put an ample amount on your palm, rub it and massage it on your hair and on the hair strands.Use comb to scatter the oil evenly on your hair strands. Leave it overnight and wash your hair in the morning with shampoo and conditioner. You will notice how your hair has become more manageable, soft and shiny. I do this twice to thrice a week depending on your preference. But since my hair is kinda dry caused by hair rebonding and hair coloring, I prefer using olive oil twice to thrice a week.

The bottle in the picture only costs me Php 100-130. Affordable it is. Splurging yourself in a salon is not bad though but saving some bucks is good right? So I am recommending Olive Oil as part of your hair care ladies. Try this out!

That would be all ladies till next DIY and natural beauty discoveries :-)


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FOOD: Marriot Hotel Buffet

Here's a quick post on food. A Christmas Party event held at Marriot Hotel, near the Resort World Manila last December. And a food blogger in me had to get the shot!

Marriot Hotel, being a five-star hotel offers a wide range of food, mouthwatering and really good food.

 Dessert Galore!

 Strawberry Tart, Brownies, Chocolate Mousse etc.

 Yumyum! Seafood Galore

Shrimp, Salmon, Dory all cooked with different twist!

  A Tasteful Plate! Yum!

 Mashed Potato, Beef .

 Drooling..

Dessert again!

Forgot to include the mobile bar in the event. Unlimited drink. Hooray to that! One of which is my favorite is the white wine. Overall, with the food I can give Marriot buffet 8 out of 10. Kudos to the food, the appetizers ad the unlimited drinks. 

Till next food post my readers! Happy tummy :-)

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Beauty: Do-It-Yourself Whitening Extract/Solution

Living in the Philippines has its own perks, you can enjoy the beach all year long since we are composed of 7,107 islands. We are bestowed with the blessings of natural resources one of which are our trees that bear fruits that is highly world class. That's why we make the most out of the fruit, may it be in the kitchen, as a medicine,and as part of the beauty routine.

Calamansi is a citrus fruit which is associated with Mandarin orange or sweet orange. Its alkalinity properties can be used for whitening or bleaching purposes. Thus some of the bleaching soap or beauty soap being sold in the market has "calamansi extract" added on its content. Even there is such a thing as calamansi soap now in the market.

Enough of a very long introduction about the calamansi fruit.:-) Well, here's the thing. I usually post about makeups, drugstore products that are available in the market. However, I realized that maybe I should post about using natural products? Why not right ?  So I have come out with this very first post on using Calamansi extract for vain ladies out there!

Oh my dilemma was, I used this super commercially endorsed deodorant for a couple of weeks and I started to notice how it changes the color of my armpit. So my very kikay (vain) mother recommended calamansi extract which she used in her teenage years. All i need was to cut the calamansi fruit into half, get the extract and put it evenly on my armpit.
I do this drastically everyday before I take a bath. I let is stay for 5 minutes then I bathe after.

Note: No intention of creating negative feed backs on the whitening products in the market since I haven't use them (those for armpit.

So for recap. Here is the step by step procedure on how to use calamansi solution for whitening.

1. Cut the calamansi fruit into half.
2. Get the extract.
3. Put evenly on your darkened areas.
4. Let is stay for 5 minutes before you rinse that off.
5. Do this everyday before you bathe.


That would all for now ladies! More natural/organic beauty discoveries soon!







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Beauty: Urban Decay Naked Palette 2 | Neutral Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay Naked Palette 2

The most coveted neutral palette that was raved by beauty bloggers, makeup enthusiasts and vain at heart.

Naked Palette 2, is the next line up after the Naked Palette 1.This eyeshadow consists of neutral colors which are easy to play with your eyes. Perfect for those who love natural looking makeup, not over the top colors. It comes with a gloss, which I was not able to post in here. I had once an eye on this during its first release, however the price was too steep and I rethink about buying it. Fortunately there was a beauty bazaar and I bought this half the price! 

The palette consists of 12 shades which are in the shade of brown, black and gray. Great for that soft smokey eye looks that actress Mila Kunis is sporting a lot these days. You can have a brown smokey eye look at work or create that sultry seductive smokey eyes on special occasions. You can never go wrong with just a swipe of a brown eyeshadow on your eyelids for that natural looking eye look.

 (From Urban Decay site)

The most anticipated sequel of the decade! Our new palette is meticulously packed with 12 Taupe + Greige Neutrals.

The most anticipated sequel of the decade. Naked2 has 12 pigment-rich, taupe and greige neutral eyeshadows. Our palette proves once again, neutral is anything but boring, (and is downright sexy when worn Naked). Feast your eyes on our shades ranging from pale to deep, matte to sparkly. This collection lets you achieve lots of neutral looks, smoky dramatic eyes, and everything in between. Let's just say there's a whole new way to get Naked!

The case has an art-school inspired look with hinged lid – taupe metal with embossed chocolate brown artwork. It's smooth, modern and cool to the touch – a real tactile experience. Plus, our palette also features a travel-size Lip Junkie Lipgloss in Naked, AND a double-ended, cruelty-free Good Karma Shadow/Crease Brush (available only in this palette). Any self-respecting makeup lover will have to have both palettes to get their complete neutral fix!

Fill Weight: Eyeshadow: 12 x 1.3g e 12 x 0.05 US oz, Lip Junkie: 3.23ml e 0.11 US fl oz

 Top View of Naked 2

 Side View of Naked 2

 Metallic Casing

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT NAKED 2 PALETTE?

• it has shades that is suitable for everyday wear
• the colors are pigmented
• very versatile

WHAT I HATE ABOUT NAKED 2 PALETTE?

• kinda bulky on your makeup bag
• pricey
• some of the matte shades are almost the same with one another
• doesn't stay long on my eye lids so better use an eye primer

For me, you can check out other neutral palettes in the market such as those from Bobbi Brown, Maybelline and Laura Mercier which are nice too! This palette has only been used once when I had a wedding to attend. Other than that, I always use my MAC Faux Gold on my eye lids which I had reviewed on this link: 
 http://lovingvanity.blogspot.com/2012/07/beauty-mac-semi-precious-collection.html
Thanks for dropping by ladies! Till our next beauty session!

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Beauty: MAC Brave Lipstick, A Nude Shade

MAC Brave Lipstick, is a Satin Finish Lipstick from MAC, which a blue tone pink. It is sheen and can be a versatile if you put a thick layer on it on your lips. Having bought a lot of loud colored lipsticks, I was really in the hunt for the nude lipstick perfect for the smokey eyes. I have tried the blankety, angel and peachstock on me but none of them suit my skin tone (I'm NC 30 by the way). I looked pale/corpse on those shades so it was really a jackpot when I finally see the perfect nude lipstick for me!

Introducing the MAC Brave Lipstick. I was never aware that there's this shade of lipstick that suits me well. I had the pink nouveau, nicki, party parrot and all of them were on a pink shade. And this is the only nude lipstick I have on my makeup kit!  I use this when it do not want to look so party-like and this has been my go-to lipstick shade when I want to look more natural. My Lips But Better (MLBB) shade I suppose!

In every MAC Tube comes with the code (A52 in the picture) which happens to be the manufacturing date of the lipstick so you can check if your lipstick has finally reached its expiration. You can check further on the internet for the meaning of such code. Lipsticks, as what I have read on the internet, will lasts for 2 years. So better always check this label (manufacturing date) to avoid using expired lipsticks. Yayks!

 

MAC Brave on my lips

 Swatch of the MAC Brave Lipstick on my hand

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT MAC BRAVE LIPSTICK?

• It is not pale on the lips
• It has a hint of color that looks natural on your lips
• It is not drying
• MLBB (My lips but better)

WHAT I HATE ABOUT  MAC BRAVE LIPSTICK?

• It is pricey
• Nothing else

There are some drugstore brand that is affordable. I am honestly eyeing on Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Angel Rose which a pale pink. But if you have budget, why not splurge on this lipstick!

Stay tune for more beauty reviews! Till our next beauty session <#


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Beauty: MAC Stereo Rose 'Mineralize' Skinfinish: Glow on your skin

 MAC Stereo Rose, A luxurious velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish. Smoothes on: adds buffed-up highlights to cheeks, or an overall ultra-deluxe polish to the face.(mac website)

This highlighter/blush has always been a hype in the beauty world. Being a limited edition product by MAC, this has been the one of the most coveted MSF aside from Soft and Gentle. I think, limited edition is a marketing strategy since consumers will more likely to give in with the hype. However, if the product serves well, then a beauty junkee like me will never falter from trying this luxurious dome of beauty.

 If you are a makeup lover like me, you already know that MAC Stereo Rose was launched in the previous MAC Collections and now it has been relaunched in the Apres Chic Collection. The peachy sheen and gold vein on the dome once swirled together creates that beautiful peachy golden color. It can be applied over you favorite blush to have that dewy/glowing skin as what Jennifer Lopez is fond of. Or you can use it alone for that sheer glow on your cheeks.

 MAC Stereo Rose with Box

MAC Stereo Rose content

Due to popular demand, this has been sold out from the MAC Online store and even on local stores. I had myself even confused if I had to get my hands on it or buy my HG Powder, the MSF Natural instead. But the Makeup Artist convinced me to rather get this one since the MSF Natural is available all year long and belongs to the permanent line unlike this one. So she really is a good seller and I got this one! The last one actually in the store!

Here's the swatch of the Highlighter/Blush On.. If you are into coral stuff especially on makeup this is really a nice one to keep on your makeup kit. Because it is mineralized, the product will last a long time. 

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT MAC STEREO ROSE?

• It is peach (my fave color at the moment!)
• It is shimmery
• It is a good highlighter
• The content will last me a long time
• Since it is mineralized, the product itself is safe for sensitive skin
• It stays on your cheeks for 4 hours

WHAT I HATE ABOUT  MAC STEREO ROSE?

• It is pricey, I bought mine at MAC Rustan's for Php1,750 :-(
• The shade is not visible/pigmented for different skin tone
• The packaging is not sturdy. 
• This is overrated

Well, that will be all my inputs. I'm using it everyday and it didn't give me a skin break out. My friends actually noticed how beautiful the product on my cheeks. And because of it, I have my second thoughts of selling it (yes! I really wanted to sell it the first time I used it).

Thanks for reading :-) Till our next beauty session!

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METRO: Luneta Park | Manila: Experience the Philippine History

Rizal Park also known as Luneta Park (lunette) because of its crescent shape, is situated at the heart of the city of Manila. It is adjacent to the walled city known as Intramuros. The Park has been the place for leisure by many Filipinos even before the malls were founded. I still remember during my childhood that me and my family used to visit Luneta Park to bond, unwind and spend some quality time together. Thus it has become one of the major tourist destinations in Manila.


The monument from the picture is the National Hero of the Philippines, Dr. Jose Rizal. Thus the park was renamed as Rizal Park in his honor and the monument became the focal point of the park.

A huge garden where visitors can have a picnic bonding.

A mini lagoon and dancing fountains that fascinates every visitor. Dancing fountains are color coordinated and comes with music every time it performs.

 Kalesa, a horse drawn carriage which is popular in the Philippines during the Spanish era as a form of transportation is also ready to take the park's tourists to a higher level of experiencing Manila. This cinderella-like Kalesa caught my attention, as if it will fly anytime and will then take you to your prince charming :-).

The Kalesa touring around the Luneta Park as if it is in the hunt for a passenger. Definitely a must-try especially for foreigners who are fond of discovering filipino culture.

Lapu Lapu statue or status of Sentinel of Freedom, is also one of tourist attraction here at Luneta Park. The monument is actually a gift from Korea for the filipinos who helped them during the Korean War.  Lapu Lapu is the very first native Filipino who fought against the colonization of the Spaniards.

The statue is really that tall that you can see from a far. Tourists like me can take some pictures with the statue as your background.


Well, that maybe all for now. I know some of the teenagers would instead prefer to visit malls, however, visiting one of the country's heritage place as part of our culture and history must also be considered. From time to time, Luneta Park/ Rizal Park is worth the visit just to reminisce and reflect on the Philippine History.

Come and visit Luneta Park. Its more fun in the Philippines.




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