Lash Wishes and Bareskin Waxing Studio - Cinderella's Newest Best-Kept Secret

I admit being apprehensive about lash extensions. It looks pretty but I always thought it would be uncomfortable and it might be too heavy that opening your eyes would be difficult. Some of my friends said that it can be addicting so I thought that I'd give it a try once.

Lash Wishes, a new designer lash extension studio that opened, invited me to try out their services. I was a bit apprehensive at first but since a friend told me that it will really save time in getting ready, I gave it a go.

Lash Wishes was first established in 2013 and it already has a branch at Mall of Asia. This new branch is located at the heart of one of Makati's biggest shopping districts tucked away at the basement level of Cinderella department store in Glorietta. It's like a secret getaway after a whole day working.

Lash Wishes has a whole lot of choices depending on your preference. You can go natural and just enhance your lashes or go for the whole shebang - long, lush lashes that look like you woke up with sexy smoldering eyes. If you feel a bit festive and crazy, you may add color, feathers, or Swarovski crystals. Lash extensions are great for the busy woman who must go from one place to another and still look wide awake and made up and has very little time for a full makeup routine.  

I got lush lashes, which is around 1000 pieces per eye. I chose them to be arranged where the strands in the middle are thicker than the strands on the edges, giving my eyes a wide-eyed doll-like look. Some opted for cat's eye, which is almost like a sex-kitten cat eye look reminiscent of Bridget Bardot where the outer edges of the lashes create a winged effect.  When I asked what fibers they use, Lash Wishes uses silk fibers instead of human hair, so it's lighter and almost weightless. The procedure takes an hour to do to get the lashes really looking lush and natural. 

So here are my new lash extensions (the exact service I got costs approximately Php 1,200). I really got a lot of good compliments when I posted the results in Instagram. And they are very thick but despite the thickness, it's relatively lighter than expected. Of course, there's still a bit of weight and it took a bit to get used to. But nevertheless, it does look really pretty. It's like wearing eyeliner everyday. Lash Wishes is also the only eyelash extension salon to date that offers Japan's "3D lashes". 

Of course with all lash extensions, there's the upkeep and we can't skip it if we want to maintain our doll-eyed fluttery look. I can't wear mascara or curl my lashes (but really, with lashes like these I wouldn't need to) and I have to be really careful in using eye makeup remover and washing my face. To maintain these lashes, I need to come back ever 1-2 weeks for touch-ups. 

Right next door to Lash Wishes is Bareskin Waxing Studio., an intimate waxing studio that offers waxing services both for men and women at affordable prices.

Living in a tropical country, hemlines are shorter and we have the pleasure of wearing our sundresses and tank tops all-year round. As a makeup artist, I'm very OC and concerned with well-groomed eyebrows. Getting defuzzed down there is also a monthly must-do nowadays. Bareskin Waxing Studio is the go-to place to get your defuzzing done from head to toe for very affordable costs for the very busy woman. Waxing services cost as low as Php 150 (eyebrows or upper lip) and a full Brazilian is Php 850. They offer both hot wax and cold wax, for those who want different options and the services are done in the privacy of their waxing rooms.

There are different waxes for every part of the body. That is the reason why there are different waxes available, because hair thickness is each part is different. There's a different wax for the face and a different wax for underarm, leg, and bikini area.

I got my legs waxed and for my legs, they used vanilla wax. The vanilla wax is applied using a roller, which results in a more even and precise application. 

Aside from removing the unwanted hair, waxing also removes the dead skin cells which dull up the skin. Perfect for a girl who loves wearing shorts a lot. And it's super quick you can get it done fast. Of course, that would depend on your pain tolerance but since this kitty feels no pain, mine went fast.

For those who want to add a bit of bedazzling spice in their life, Bareskin Waxing Studio also offers vajazzling. If you don't know what vajazzling is, it was first made famous by Jennifer Love Hewitt. Now we don't have to go all the way to a posh waxing salon in the States since vajazzling is now available in our shores.  

Happy bloggers after their treatments.

One of the post-waxing cares we were taught was to exfoliate 48 hours after the procedure to prevent unwanted ingrown hairs. I'd like to thank Bareskin Waxing Studio for the yummy-smelling strawberry scrub I can use. :) Actually, I used it already and it smells like those yummy strawberry wafer sticks that kinda felt good enough to eat. It also feels very gentle on the body instead of stingy and scratchy.

For those who want to know more, log on to www.facebook.com/lashwishes and www.facebook.com/bareskinwaxingstudio for more information, promos, and updates. You may also check out @lashwishes and @bareskinwaxingstudio in Instagram as well. 

My Own Lash-Perming Experience

I was invited to try Nail To Toe's lash perming service last Friday. It was one of their new roster of services offered along with their winner mani-pedis and thai massages. I've never had my lashes permed or had extensions done. I opted for the former rather than the latter since I tend to be quite OC with makeup removal and going OD with eye makeup remover on myself could dislodge the extensions. I've heard about eyelash perming from my friends who swear that it really made a lot of difference. I've heard good reviews and bad reviews too depending on where they went, so I was pretty nervous with my own experience. Lash perming is similar to head hair perming, so lashes stay curled for a longer period of time, which gives our curlers a rest.

When I arrived, I lay comfortably on the bed. Prior to that, the therapist asked me if I had any makeup on. I told her I came prepared with clean skin and only eye cream on my eyes (before lash perming, it's strongly advised to arrive with no makeup on, as in zilch, most especially eye makeup, waterproof mascara, mascara, eyeliner included). Still, my lids were cleansed so they're 100% clean.

So what's perming without rollers right? Of course, they didn't use the pink perming rods for me here. For lashes, we had sticks that look like cut-up barbecue sticks to serve as our lash "rollers" These were (temporarily) glued on the lid and our lashes were formed so they follow the form of the rollers. Don't worry, the glue came off without harming my eyes or lashes.

First up, my lashes were permed with a cold wave lotion. My eyes were closed most of the time here though, so I'll be describing based on the answers I got. The perming lotion used is similar to the one used for hair (I would joke that it's like Pagoda Cold Wave Lotion, only not that strong) and it was applied using a cotton bud on my lashes and then the lashes were moulded to the rollers so that they're shaped according to the curl. My lids were covered in plastic and the lotion was left for a good 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, the wrap was peeled off and neutralizer was applied on my lashes. Neutralizer, from the very word, neutralizes the pH balance of the solution and also locks the curl so the curl stays longer. It was then left for a while as I had my brows shaped while waiting. After that, the solution was rinsed off with lukewarm water on a cotton bud. The rollers were removed and my lids and lashes were cleaned of any glue residue.

Pre-perming, this is how my lashes looked:Without anything, they're stickstraight and practically invisible. However, after the curl, here's what I got:
This is without mascara, but my eyes were relatively more open. My therapist told me it's okay to wet my lashes tonight and even apply mascara, but I thought I'd leave my lashes for a while. I like how my lashes look like they've been curled well by a good lash curler. The curl is graceful and I get that perfect curve instead of the annoying check-shape.

Procedures like this usually last for 3 months. It's a relatively painless procedure. There's a very faint chemical smell though, due to the chemicals used, but no big deal. Lash perming at Nail to Toe usually costs Php350. The threading is a separate service though, for a very affordable price. The location is very convenient for me, since I live quite near the place. For a first-timer, they were able to orient me well, especially since it involves chemicals being applied on my lashes.

MAC Prep+Prime Lash

Okay I finally gave in and purchased a lash primer. I know, I have never owned one since I thought I could just do with the regular mascara but hey... I could not resist because it was MAC and after I used it on counter... I loved it so much and I'm so obsessed with having bulked-up lashes. I needed a mascara base for my Lancome Colour Virtuose Mascara, which I've been using for quite a while but it didn't seem to make any difference in my lashes, if you notice in some of my FOTDs, where I use Lancome, so I purchased my own MAC Prep+Prime Lash tube.


Retail price: Php 800.00 at all MAC outlets

Slick Black Tube. :) I could be having hard time rumaging for it though in my makeup kit since it looks similar to my other tubes.


The wand tip is interesting, though... aesthetically speaking... I dunno, I just find the brush/wand shape cute:


Hey look... Spirals!

Like all lash primers, this is applied to the lashes before mascara and sort of "bulks up" and lengthens my lashes. When I applied it, I could see that it coats the strands and there are white fibers sticking to the ends of my lashes, sort of like "extending it". For personal use, you can apply this directly. For clients, a mascara brush may be needed.

So here are my curled lashes before applying primer:

There's makeup already here, so my eyes do not look too nonexistent or dead yet my lashes are almost invisible even if they have been previously curled. I have thick lashes but they're not that long. boo. :(

So anyway, with primer+mascara (I used Lancome Colour Virtuose mascara here. On its own, the effect is subtle, not bulking level, at least that's my experience) But with Prep+Prime:

Hello Lashes! No post-processing done here. I think this one made my regular mascara stick more and I like the extra lengthening effect. I have no problem with my lashes bulking up with more volume but with length, I need extra help. Plus this primer's lighter and much more comfortable than sporting false eyelashes again. I don't go for eyelash extensions since I like to play with my lashes a lot, and I don't want the comittment of too much touch-ups. There are other alternative lash primers too, but since I've already tried and tested MAC's, I went and got out this one and I'm sharing my opinion. Plus, it's a relatively cheap mascara base as compared to other bases.

If you're asking, can it be used for Back-2-MAC? yes it could. along with the brush cleanser bottle. I just need 3 more and I could score myself a free lipstick! Horray!

How To Clean Your Shu Uemura Lashes

(photocredits)

The question is probably asked among the many girls who own a pair of Shu Uemura False Eyelashes but never got to wear them. For one thing, these lashes are very expensive and throwing away a pair after one use is just heartbreaking (My heart is just breaking just as I type that). Actually, aside from the fact that they cost a lot, they can be reused and in fact, they last quite long provided you take care of them.



When I attended the Shu Uemura event last Wednesday, I had a chance to talk to Ms. Michelle Fernandez, product manager of Shu Uemura cosmetics here in the Philippines. Michelle is definitely loyal to the brand, and her favorites are also my favorites (Hello Face Architect Foundation, Eyelash Curler, and Cleansing Oil). She even was amused as to how I told her my addiction the the Eyelash Curler. I noticed she also sported the lashes (just the half-ones) and they really looked good on her, very natural in terms of length and it accented her eyes. Then, I asked her how are these lashes supposed to be maintained, since I also have a pair myself, a gift from a friend, but I haven't really gotten to using them as false lashes have a short lifespan on me.



"They really last provided you take good care of them," states Michelle. "After you take them off [carefully, of course! - BCD], remove the adhesive residue and use cleansing oil to clean the lash band." Then, wipe the excess oil carefully. If you're a neat freak, you can spray a bit of water and wipe it off. Never immerse them in water. Plus, keep the cases because you put them back there once they're dry.

Pretty easy and low-maintenance. Now I wish I could go try on my pair of lashes, provided that I have the right opportunity now. :) Hope this helps my Shu Uemura lash fan friends out there!