Even if I have my swear-by favorite can't live without products, I also am in the lookout for new makeup and beauty discoveries to try out. I'm also lucky to be in a job where I get introduced to the latest beauty products in the market and get first dibs on them.
As the year ends, let me round up with my favorite 2015 beauty discoveries. 1. NARS All-Day Luminous Weightless Foundation
I was on the NARS store in BHS Central to try out this lipstick that looked so gorgeous on Caitlin Jenner but my eyes turned to the foundation. This foundation is very potent and is almost like second skin, but better. It also feels very weightless without the drying or cracking look. 2. Urban Decay Naked Smokey Palette
Don't let the word "smokey" scare you. It can do neutral to a dramatic dark iconic UD Smokey eye. Aside from the palette of pigmented colors, it comes with a brush and tutorials for varioud looks. Feel free to experiment with your own color combo or go online for makeup tutorials by makeup gurus.
3. Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets
One cotton sheet can remove very heavy makeup, waterproof mascara and smokey makeup included leaving your skin feel soft instead of greasy. Do this when makeup has been sitting too long in your face already and you're stuck in traffic or have no access to a sink or your favorite makeup remover. If you still want that squeaky clean feeling, follow up with a spritz of facial spray (like Evian) and towel or tisue off.
Waterproof mascara is awesome, but sometimes, too much of it can be harsh for my lashes. For everyday, I swear by this mascara since it gives my lashes the definition it needs yet it's so easy to remove. It also contains anti-microbial properties which protects our eyes from harmful bacteria. 5. L'Oreal Colour Riche Nail Polish in Lush Flush.
A photo posted by Bambi De la Cruz 🐱🐯 (@bambikitty) on
This polish was in our December BDJ Box Elite and it is a nice festive red that's also classic and flattering for all skintones. I tried it for my pedicure and the result is a nice red that made my feet look cleaner.
Since these months are my crunchtime months with the numerous events left and right, I'm in cramming mode for my Christmas shopping, actually for family and close friends. Even if I'm cramming mode, I try not to give very "general" or "a basta meron maibigay" gifts. I also try to make sure that the person I can give the gift to would like the gift, and it's something that she or he can actually use.
I have a lot of friends addicted to fitness and most of my solid core group of friends come from this group. Whenever we talk about what we would love to receive for Christmas or our birthdays, rest assured it's something we use to work a sweat or help recover after. When we get something related to our passion, we get all squeally and giggly.
I got inspired with Kate's post on gift ideas so I thought I'd post mine as well, being inspired by my fellow fitness enthusiasts. Here are examples of what to give your fitness buff friend or if you pulled out the name of your fitness enthusiast officemate in your Secret Santa, here's what to give:
Sportswear
This is by far a favorite in every list. It might as well be an article on its own.
Trust me, even if we already have a closet full of sports attire, we could never have enough. We're practically addicted to sportswear or for teachers like me, we call it our office uniforms. Give a sports bra or leggings or if you're feeling generous, an entire set to your friend and trust me, it will be in the next gym OOTD.
My Pole teacher, Kayleen doing a handspring wearing Perfect Form sports bra and leggings
Perfect Form Sportswear is a local sportswear brand whose products are at par with most of the high-end brands at a fraction of the cost. Bras start at Php780 and leggings Php 900.
Triumph recently launched a line of sports bras that give you the support you need, whatever your physical activity is while keeping quality and comfort in mind. Check out their collection at Zalora.
stretching my shoulders and chest in antigravity yoga wearing Pink Salmon sports bra
Pink Salmon clothing is another local sportswear brand that I discovered online that is now making waves in bazaars. They have a lot of cute matching bras, shorts, tops, and leggings to complete your overall look.
A photo posted by Jade Activewear (@jadeactivewear) on
If you have a sporty friend geeked out with the upcoming Star Wars film, give her a pair of Jade Activewear leggings or this cute R2D2 tank top she can wear in her next gym session or maybe during the premier of the movie. Oh, they have matching saber wrist wraps too to protect the wrists. They also have a lot of prints such as superhero, mermaid, Disney, tattoo, Harry Potter, etc.
Sportswear is a must-have favorite stocking stuffer right? Yoga mats and Yoga Towels
I chose to become a yoga teacher because I thought yoga is the perfect balance to a very active fitness level plus it's a smart and safe way to work with your body at any age. For your friend who practices yoga, check out the yoga mats and towels at Equanimity Manila. The yoga mats are light enough for the yogi who commutes while giving the cushioning he or she needs.
Class Cards
Even though we have our own personal workouts, we also want to try other forms of exercises. Check out yoga studios for their Christmas packages or gyms for trial coupons. If you have a friend wanting to try out aerial fitness, Polecats Manila is selling Unlimited Beginners Pole Class Card for Php1000.
Mason Jars
snack on the go - peach-mango parfat in a mason jar
Instead of the usual coffee mug, why not give a mason jar? It doesn't cost much plus it's super useful for smoothies, infused water, overnight oats, granola parfaits, and on-the-go salads. The wide-mouthed jar is perfect for oats and parfaits.
Don't say no to food! Check out holiday starter kits and gift packs from The Sexy Chef. Instead of sugary and fatty pastries, why not try their desserts and snacks that are great as gifts? For as low as Php400, you can get a box of very healthy brownies that taste just as good as the sinful counterpart. I'm a fan of the cookbooks (I have both in fact). It zeroes in on very easy recipes with ingredients that are locally available. A bar of dark chocolate can be good as a giveaway actually. Check out Echostore for locally-made dark chocolate that can be used as a snack or a healthy drink to warm your bellies. You may also visit weekend markets like the Salcedo Market or The Organic Market at Burgos Park for local and organic healthy food finds that are great to give as gifts. Sports Soap
Another cheap gift idea is the Sports Bar soap from GiGa that's feels good on the skin after a sweat session in the gym. It also controls perspiration, deodorizes, and cools the body down with its super yummy scent. It's pole-dance approved too! Notebooks
I found this at our pole dance classes group page and I couldn't stop oohing and ahh-ing. :) This can be used to write down the lesson plan (for teachers/coaches) or your own personal practice or lesson review. Do you have a friend going to aerial teacher training next year? Then this is a perfect gift. And yes, you got it right the illustration is very aerial inspired with aerialists being portrayed as pretty mermaids and happy beings because we are like that. All artworks are done by Jodi Anne Lorenzo and you can find more of her works in her Facebook page.
Hope this helps your next Christmas shopping. Till next time!
Giving your nails a rest day from wearing polish? Be confident to go bare and have your nails looking pretty and healthy sans colorful nail paint.
Use gloves to protect your hands
We can't scrimp on housework, we all know that. However, exposure to detergents can be harsh for our hands and nails. When scrubbing bathroom floors or washing dishes, slap on a pair of rubber gloves to protect the hands from harsh detergents and cleaning agents. You can also use laundry detergent or dishwashing liquid with moisturizing properties.
Have hand cream ready
In your purse, car, or near your kitchen sink. As you massage hand cream on your hands, don't forget to rub your cuticles too with hand and nail cream.
Buff your nails once a month
Aqua Minerals Nail Kit can be used on days when you have no time to get your nails professionally done. The buffer leaves your nails shiny even days after treatment while the hand cream cares for your hardworking hands leaving it with a nice, elegant scent.
Buffing removes rough ridges and leaves your nails smooth and shiny even without clear nail polish. Do this once a month for beautiful nails. I'm using Aqua Minerals nail kit which includes a nail file, nail buffer, cuticle oil, and hand cream to give my nails some TLC when I have no time to go to the salon. The buffer also leaves my nails shiny even days after my DIY home treatment. By the way, don't do this too often as too much buffing can weaken the nails.
Don't cut your cuticles or pull hangnails.
Telenovela queen Thalia said in her book Belleza that cuticles are like weeds. When you cut them, they just grow back. Apply cuticle remover gel instead to dissolve cuticles and push them back with a metal stick soaked with cotton. I also use Cure gel to remove dry skin and cuticles. I can't say enough about pulling hangnails. They're painful and leave you with a bleeding, painful wound.
Consider vegan or toluene-free formulas
I love dark polish, yet I know they leave my nails with a stain. I try alternating my polish with light and dark polish and when I still want to go dark, I use a vegan formula such as Zoya polish, which is gentler for my nails.
Eat better
Just like your skin, your overall health will show as well with how your nails look. Add healthy and nail-strengthening food to your diet. Also, you may take supplements for healthy nails.
Get nail-whitening treatments
There are add-on nail treatments to whiten nails. Add this to your next polish-free hand and nail pampering session to remove yellowing from dark polish stains.
Resting your nails from nail polish and nail art is actually a step in taking care of your nails, so I hope you like these prettifying tips in making your nails presentation-worthy during its rest day.
One of the most popular planners here in the Philippines is the Belle De Jour Power Planner, which has a very good following among many women and has created a community for 10 years. It is more than just a planner with a pretty cover. Through the years, it has evolved into organizing not just your day-to-day activities but also helping you become a better you. I'm also glad to have been writing for their website in sharing my tips in beauty, fitness, and health.
So here's an overview of the 2016 Belle De Jour Power Planner.
The first few pages start you on a good note... by allowing you to give yourself a general sketch your plan for the year. Remember when New Year's Resolutions were part of someone's practice at the start of the year? This one is something like it but a little more fun and less imposing. It lets you write out your goals - personal, health, finance, career, etc. and probably a fun dream you would like to do, like probably climbing a mountain or conquering a fear. Understandably, the goals may be subject to change. It's okay, I don't judge. It happens to me too.
The Happiness list what you need to look at when you're feeling down, because as the page says, "Being clear about what makes you happy is the first step to being happy."
Just like the ornaments called dreamcatchers, which filter out bad dreams and only allow good thoughts to enter our mind, the dream board does something like it. This whole blank space is to be filled with photos, doodles, sketches, designs, words, and cutouts that give you inspiration, drive, and hope. It may be something like a photo of the designer bag you've been saving up for, or a destination you would want to go to. It may be your dream house, or maybe something simple like a dish you really loved and would want to master. Basically, it's your good vibes page.
Inasmuch as we all love shopping and pampering ourselves, we also have to be reminded to be responsible of our money, and our planner helps us budget our hard-earned money and keeps track of how much we're spending, helping us save for our future.
This for me is a very important feature, the menstrual tracker. Keeping track of your monthly period isn't just avoiding the unnecessary dyahe stain by being prepared. Your period in fact, is a measurement of your overall health. My doctor asks me when there's something wrong with me how my period is. And I even get this with Western medicine. The doctor who did my annual physical exam asked me about my period, not my blood pressure, not my diet, and not my medical history. The menstrual tracker keeps track of your flow, if it's regular and if there are months when you skip or there are months that they are happening more frequent, and if you need to see a doctor.
The planner itself is full of inspiration - from the colorful designs, to the quotable quotes, and even added bonus are the tips we get every month as well as words of encouragement. It helps you take care of yourself in every single way.
The booklet full of awesome coupons from partner brands. Of course we have to treat ourselves to awesome things, right?
These are just some of the features I'll be excited to use once 2016 rolls in. Hopefully, this will get me inspired. Maybe that would be the time I get my handspring or unassisted headstand right. This is practically good vibes in a book, and if you have a really good friend or relative who would need some good vibes, this is the perfect gift.
We're all obsessed with getting the perfect, slim, chiseled face shape. That's why we have the magical powers of contouring in the first place, where we take that extra step of shading and highlighting so we could achieve the supermodel cheekbones and slimmer face. Others have gone to the extreme of going under the knife to taper off a few angles and achieve the perfect V-shape face, a trend among Asians. As us Asians have naturally round face shapes, this makes us look more youthful yet it can add the illusion of extra pounds in photos or can appear flat.
Without the extra step of makeup contouring and the layers of makeup sitting on your face or spending extra on a good cosmetic surgeon, the illusion of a slimmer face can be achieved through the new hairstyle trend called the V-Look, developed by L'Oreal Professionel.
This look takes inspiration from K-Pop stars, and is described as flattering in all angles and makes use of face-framing bangs, a bit of volume on the top and a few layers to get the ideal shape to flatter your own features. Aside from the perfect cut for your face shape and hair texture, hair color would be taken into consideration to give you the color that would flatter your skin tone and enhance it, no makeup necessary, sort of like, I woke-up-naturally-looking-like-this look. A pretty, fluffy-messy look that's low-maintenance. This look may also create a lot of volume, especially if your hair is fine, saving blow-drying time wrestling with your hair dryer and round brush.
Personally, I like layers to take away the weight from my hair and somehow, for wavy-haired girls like me, layers also enhances my hair's natural texture. I'm not so sure I would try bangs though on me since I don't like hair getting near my eyes when I work out, so my cut always opts for low-maintenance layers to add volume and shape. I'm always open to new color, since I color my hair.
Would you love to try this look for the season? What color would you choose? I would love to hear your thoughts.
At work, we often get served food if our work hours would extend to mealtimes. The food served are very delicious and filling but not exactly the healthiest. These include fast food meals, burgers, pizza, chips, popcorn, cupcakes, and bottles of soda and packets of instant coffee to keep the energy up and running. The classic crew meal is usually fried chicken and rice meal from fast food stalls. Imagine eating this everyday during December wedding season. We may be full but our bodies may not be getting the nutrients they need. Plus, we are exposed to refined sugars, preservatives, cholesterol, and a lot of salt, which are not very good to the body. I noticed that during those times, I would get sick towards the end of the "peak" season because I was not eating good and healthy food then yet I was working extra hard.
I started bringing my own food to shoots and work when I changed my diet after my reset diet. I discovered I felt less bloated and I was able to work properly and still have enough energy after work with no sugar crashes. I also got sick less. Cooking does take time, I admit but I think of cooking as my own "decompression" and therapy. If I know I'll be having work for several days straight, I prepare meals that can be prepared ahead of time and packed ahead and go. You notice that most of my food are recipes from my two The Sexy Chef cookbooks, but I will include also recipes I learned from my friends and online as well.
Here are some healthy baon ideas for work so you get the nutrition you need even if you're not at home. Whether you're a makeup artist like me, an athlete, or work long hours in field or office work, you may find ways on how to eat healthy as well.
Pasta and Noodles
My go-to meals are always pasta because they are easy to make and I could just throw almost anything in. For shoots or wedding gigs, I would prefer oil-based sauces instead of cream or tomato, which can spoil easily. I use whole wheat pasta instead of white pasta to make it healthier. I do a basic aglio olio base with red pepper flakes and then add veggies. If my food won't stay in my lunch bag for a long period of time before eating, I can use a light tomato-based pasta sauce. Oh, and if I would use cheese, I include my cheese in a separate container.
Cold soba noodles are very easy to prepare and they require no heat. They contain the goodness of raw vegetables as well. Prepare this the night before and pack this in containers and store in the ref. Before you head off to work, grab a container and go.
Salads
A salad on a hot day is a refreshing. Salads can be tricky since they tend to get soggy, so here's what I do: I prepare the greens ahead of time by washing them, draining them, then cut into bite-sized pieces and storing them in airtight containers in the ref. I make crabstick mango salad, which is the perfect baon for shoots. I just keep the dressing in a separate container and just pour it over my salad when I'm ready to eat. Another salad that's great is massaged kale salad. There are a lot of recipes that can be found online for this and this is a salad that can keep long without getting too soggy. Kale also loaded with antioxidants and vitamin C, which can prevent you from certain diseases.
Overnight Oats
I'm one person who never misses a proper breakfast. If my shoot is early and I have no time to actually sit down and eat breakfast and wash the dishes, I make overnight oats and store this in a mason jar. I can also make a yogurt parfait from Greek yogurt, bananas, honey, and homemade granola.
Smoothies
Another grab-and-go breakfast idea is a green smoothie, which can be a meal in itself. I can even have this in the car in sips while driving to work. A perfect breakfast smoothie is one I found from The Sexy Chef, which makes use of banana, apple, plain yogurt, coconut water, coconut sugar, rolled oats, spinach, and romaine lettuce. I top this with chia seeds and I'm good to go.
Rice and Quinoa meals
Nothing is as comforting as a rice and ulam meal. I prepeare this when I have a bit more time (and if I wake early enough). I usually combine quinoa with a good lean protein with some veggies on the side. If I have no quinoa as of the moment, I susbtitute with black rice or brown rice, which are nutritious. Here are some ideas I made:
teriyaki salmon with steamed broccoli and spinach served with black rice
quinoa with mushroom gyoza (store-bought) and teriyaki salmon
healthified Arroz A La Cubana from the Sexy Chef. Prepare the meat and brown rice pilaf ahead of time and just boil the egg (remove the egg white) and fry the saba in VCO the day itself.
Dessert
We all want something sweet. yet we want to keep our waistlines in check. Make small cups of chia pudding to go with your food or bake some whole meal banana cupcakes. A small cup of yogurt parfait can also be made into a dessert, like this mango matcha yogurt I made from Greek Yogurt, Matcha Powder, Mangoes, chia seeds, and organic honey.
If you have no time to cook...
If you have that day when you're pressed for time to prepare a meal for that day, here are some places where you can buy food for yourself if you want to eat healthy still. If you're used to eating healthy, you can apply the same principles as well when you eat out in choosing the food that you eat in a restaurant.
Salad Bars like Juju Eats and Salad Stop can give you access to yummy and filling salads and wraps you can have to go. Check out also their desserts and cold pressed juices.
Weekend markets like the Salcedo Saturday Market and Legazspi Sunday Market also have stalls which have healthy and delicious food. If you might be working on a Sunday in Makati, you may stop over as well at the Legazpi Sunday Market to check out the healthy raw vegan desserts by Dahon Kusina. They also have healthy vegan meals and snacks that are just as flavorful. I had a chance to have a shoot one Sunday at the Legazpi Village area so I stopped by Dahon Kusina to grab a dessert to go with my baon.
Dessert to go with my food: Homemade Vegetarian JapChae with Choco Hazelnut Pie from Dahon Kusina
Food delivery services are in nowadays, especially for busy people on-the-go. They cater to your specific dietary needs (vegan, vegetarian, ovo-lacto, pescetarian, paleo, etc) and design a food plan that you would love and deliver your meals right at your doorstep. One of our sponsors at our BDJBox Makeup Parties, V Kitchen, provides yummy and healthy vegetarian and vegan selections that do not scrimp on flavor and nutrition value without breaking the bank.
Healthy food provided by V Kitchen in our BDJBox Makeup Party Last August. Check them out in Facebook and Instagram
I'm glad that there are so many ways to get the right nutrition nowadays, from cooking your own meals to food delivery services, to alternative healthy takeout places. With today's busy schedule, there's so much more reason to eat healthy so our body gets the proper nutrition to be able to work properly. Try switching your diet for a few days and see the energy difference. You may notice that you would get sick less and you save yourself the trip to the doctor or expensive medicines and the hassle of getting sick. I admit that cooking and eating healthily takes a lot more effort than just grabbing a burger meal from the fast food joint a few cartwheels away from your office door. However, your health is the best gift you can give to yourself and your loved ones, and just as you work hard, give yourself the proper tools to be able to do so. :) Have fun eating healthy!
So I had a wonderful Saturday last week or I should say CAT-urday because I got to spend the afternoon with kitties and cat parents and cat lovers as I attended Fancy Feast's Cat Crafternoon. This one has been my fourth time attending it and I love attending these events because it gives me time to bond with other cat people and learn better ways to take care of my furbabies.
For the past events that I have attended, I usually don't bring my cats. This time, I brought Burt, who loves Fancy Feast and would be much more well-adjusted and more social. My baby Burtie behaved so well and seems like he enjoyed the attention he got too.
I realize today that Burt is a big cat. Well, I guess it's all the love too we give him. I love the Japanese-style tea party setting where we sit on the floor with cushy throw pillows and get served tea and food. I probably wolfed down my food so I wasn't able to take photos.
The furbabies also got their food, Fancy Feast of course.
We were taught this time how to make accessories for our furbabies. The Toms would be dapper with bowties while the lovely queens would have rosettes.
We used a no-sew technique using craft glue. You can also sew them too, since it's more durable that way. It's also a great way to recycle fabric scraps. The bow is attached to their collar using a garter. This one's for Burt. I'm making one for Candy when I get home. I put the bowtie on Burtie and he seems to like it though. My baby was so behaved the entire time, which gave me all the opportunity in the world for cuddles and hugs.
We also learned about basic first aid and cat grooming via Dr. Racky Velasquez of Mt. Sinai Vet Clinic. Dr. Racky also treated Burt before, when I had to bring him to the clinic when he was feeling lethargic.
I learned how to check for ear mites and clean cat's ears the right way as well as trim their nails. I give my cats a bath monthly (weekly or twice a month during summer or hot months) and I got good tips on how it would be a better experience for them.
Burt found a friend in Riley, who's the daughter of my pole friend Kiara.
He also seemed to be in deep conversation with this kitty.
We met this handsome cat named Boris, who's the furbaby of Candy's Tita Karen.
Cuddling up with mommy the whole time. Burt is such a sweet baby cat.
We also went home with Fancy Feast goodies and treats, which he would gladly share with his Kuya Candy
This was an awesome time to socialize Burt more and also get to know other cat people and share our stories. Learning to make cat furniture and cat toys would also save me money from buying expensive toys and also up my craft skills. I'm super happy I got invited to this Cat Crafternoon and I'm super looking forward to more Cat Crafternoons with my furbabies. Hopefully, next time I get to bring Candy too and have more of my cat mom friends join.
I'm a lipstick and brow product junkie. Even without a full face of makeup - brows, lipstick, and a bit of powder on the T-zone is my super quick go-to look when I need to look more human without going over-the-top. I'm always on the lookout for nice brow products and I collect lipsticks of almost every color. I've lost count of how many lipsticks I own, both for personal and gig use.
I'm afraid of wearing nude lipsticks on their own because I always thought I'd look dead. If I do wear nude lipstick, it;s usually with a very heavy or dramatic smokey eye or cat eye. Fortunately, nude lipstick doesn't necessarily mean looking dead. There are also nude lippies which give a nice and clean look to the face, or a my-lips-but-better natural look. No need for heavy smokey eyes for some. They look great just like that or with help of eyeliner and mascara, just for more definition.
Some of my favorite nudes
1. NYX soft matte lip creme in Abu Dhabi
I discovered this a couple of months ago when my friend Jinky and I were shopping for makeup at SM. This pretty nude shade looked great on me and the brown isn't too muddy.
wearing Abu Dhabi during a cat cafe visit
The liquid dries matte and doesn't budge or feather too much. Also, it's quite blendable with other lipliner colors.
2. Happy Skin Shut Up & Kiss Me Moisturizing Matte Lippie in Too Cool
This is a limited edition lipstick that is actually a collaboration between the brand and Preview magazine for Preview's 20th anniversary. Such a pretty color that's not drying and also it's super pigmented. It may be pale and almost skin tone on swatch, but I actually like wearing it with just me defining my brows and powder on my T-zone.
3. MAC lipstick in Hug Me
This is one of MAC's lustre finishes that I like. Hug Me is an awesome sheer shade that photographs well in beauty shoots. I use this for ladies who are scared of a bit of color on their lips. In shoots, I layer this with a neutral mauve lipstick for a nice, natural my-lips-but-better look.
4. Revlon Lipstick in Pink Cognito
I got this in our August BDJ Elite Box along with an array of other Revlon goodies. Glides like butter and gives a nice rosey shine without looking too psychedelic. Use this on your own or as a gloss. There's a bit of reflective particles and for some who would want more coverage, I suggest using a lipliner for this.
5. MAC Lipstick in Blankety
This is pale as pale as can be, almost white on swatch. I know others can wear this on their own and it looks fine on them. Since this is a super pale lipstick in a nice creme finish, I go heavy on my eye makeup wearing this, so the look isn't too lost and I don't look like I need a blood transfusion. I also wear this with lipliner since it's not too pigmented like Too Cool. But it's a really pretty shade if you're going for the 60s sex kitten look or Victoria's Secret smokey-eyed model.
6. Fashion 21 lipstick in Ginger
Fantastic color payoff without sacrificing moisture quality. It looks great on my lips with a hint of coral and neutral brown. I used to be scared of browns because I thought it makes me look muddy but it actually worked on me. Also, it's super cheap. I can take this to travels as well, since it's such a nice warm neutral color to wear for everyday. I should steer this from higher temperatures though because it's prone to melting. Or maybe, I can depot this to a lip palette.
