Best Beauty Tips: How to Have Gorgeous hands

Even if you have a wrinkle-free face and firm skin around your neck, there is another body part that (almost) never lies about our real age: the hands.

You know what they say: that if someone is stressed, overworked or (worse!) poor, one will have ugly, coarse hands. But seriously, you can be all three and still have gorgeous hands! Here are some beauty tips on how I keep mine from telling the truth:

1. If your job/ pastime entails typing for more than 2 hours a day, and with the massive texting that we Filipinos are used to, rest your hands for a little while before you wash them. This is done so that your nerves are more relaxed, so the veins won't be "shocked" by the coolness of water. If you're washing with warm water, then it's fine. 

2. Scrub your hands at least once a week. You have probably heard it from beauty gurus all over the world: always exfoliate. Slough off dead skin by using a body scrub, salt scrub or loofah. Once a week will do. This is done so that the younger, fresher skin underneath will surface more evenly. That way, you'll have smoother hands too!

3. Moisturize EVERYDAY. It is a mortal sin to not moisturize your skin everyday, and an even bigger one to make up excuses for not doing so. Before you head out for school or work, put lotion on them and make sure every millimeter is covered. What's even better, use a protective hand cream. I am currently loving Avon's Silicone Hands Hand Cream. At night, for the time when our skin rejuvenates, boost moisture and softness by using a nighttime hand cream. I use Watson's Overnight Repair Hand Cream. Both hand creams cost less than P200 only. What a steal!

4. Apply it right. When you apply hand cream or lotion to your hands, massage lightly and make sure the entire area is covered. Use a vertical motion when applying to your individual fingers, and stretch your hands to mold them into that coveted candle-like shape. 

Remember those 4 tips and keep in mind that doing those religiously are the ONLY WAYS to rock that manicure right...or enchant whoever it is you wanna hold hands with! :-)

Nail Bar Review: Nail-a-holics

Nail-a-holics SM Branch Rating: 5.5/10

Yesterday, I went on a Sundate with my bessie, Pamela. There are just times when I think that she's all I have in the world. Anyway, it wasn't really one of those days...those days are for breakups and heartaches. That day, we just wanted to catch up on each other's lives.

We went to SM, had a hearty lunch at Piyesta and then walked around SM for a while. We talked about how an Ipad will make our lives complete and how we must have one before our birthdays. In between muted sighs,  I looked down at my feet and saw that they needed serious pampering.

Whenever I needed to be pampered, I always go to upscale spas and salons. I know they're charging me a hefty amount for a service that costs very little...although the value of these services are high. I just want to feel REALLY pampered and luxurious, that's why! :-) So I went to Nail-a-holics and had my first pedicure there.

They had a lovely beach theme that sets your mood to a peaceful, vacation state right after you go inside. There were plush, bright blue seats, and cabanas. Pam found it especially adorable that even though she was just there to accompany me, she ended up getting a manicure herself. 100 points for set-up.

Even though the prices were a little steep (cheapest pedicure is P220), the service wasn't up to par with  my expectations. For one, the nail attendant commented how I should get a leg wax because my skin at my lower leg was stubby. I usually wax, you know, but when I'm in a hurry, of course I'd just shave. I knew she was just trying to sell me another service but she sounded offensive with the tone that she used. Moreover, as Pam and I were talking, she made comments and acted as if she was an actual part of the conversation. Sometimes this is adorable but it just wasn't, for her. Lastly, I didn't want to pay an extra P40 for Orly so when I asked if it was only Orly that we needed to pay the extra P40 for, and they agreed, I picked the non-Orly polish. I mean, I'm going to change the color in a week anyway. Orly or no orly. When I got to the counter, they charged me the extra P40. I asked them why. They said, I picked a "premium polish" anyway. God, if that wasn't deception, what was it? That was the part when I felt a little iffy and so the entire experience was ruined. What's more, they didn't even offer a drink or a magazine. They waited for me to ask them to bring me a magazine...and no, no drinks.

One last thing: I expected them to have a credit/debit card machine since they're in a mall. And most of the treatments cost more than P50 anyway!

Anyway, I had an eyelash perm a few months ago at Nail-a-holics Abreeza and my experience was good. Now I know where to go for my next (pricey) pedicure. IF I ever decide to have one again. I mean, there are other salons that go for just half the price and the service, really good. Examples include Pink and Gold Salon, Hair Zone and Harold's.You can find them at my salon directory. Ta ta! :-)

PS 24 hours after pedicure and the color faded already. Boo.