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.

Eat Your Way to Healthier Hair

(pic from healthcare365days.com)

You learned from grade school that all parts of your body are interconnected. You also learned from grade school that you are what you eat. When you combine these two foundations of your learning, you’ll deduce the idea that your diet essentially affects other parts of your body. It’s no surprise that what you eat affects your physique and looks. However, one of the most neglected facts about your diet is how it affects your hair. It is because of excessive hair care products on the market that people already forget the importance of supporting your hair with vitamins and nutrients essential for its condition.

You’d never realize this, up until reading this article, that natural antioxidants do wonders for your hair. Vitamins A, C and E are natural antioxidants that do not only support your daily bodily functions, but also great looking hair. Vitamin A and E are natural scalp-maintenance vitamins which in effect enhance the beauty of your hair. Vitamin A aids in the production of sebum in the scalp which is the natural oil that your hair needs in order to keep it looking naturally great. Vitamin E on the other hand helps scalp circulation for a healthier scalp which allows it for more conducive hair growth. Vitamin C, on the other hand, aids in the growth of naturally strong and thick strands of hair.

There are also nutrients that can aid you with your current hair problems. Biotin is a nutrient that you can get from protein-rich food which aids in the production of protein and keratin. If you supply enough of the recommended amount on a daily basis, this helps you in preventing hair loss and your hair from turning gray. The same effect can be reached with Vitamin B5 & B12. On the other hand, Inositol is a nutrient that you hair needs in order to maintain hair follicles in the best condition that they can be. The reason behind this is that this nutrients aids with hair growth on a cellular level for better-looking, and better-growing hair.

Lastly, maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eating well, exercising daily, getting the right amount of fluids and sleep in your system can induce the best conditions for hair growth. Not only are you more oxygenated by doing all those things, it helps your system process all the vitamins and nutrients that it can. In the process, you hair also gets the best treatment it can get in the most efficient and effective way possible.

Bloom Facial and Spa Opens 2nd Branch in Davao

Bloom Proprietress Golda cuts the ribbon with DOT Regional Director Art Boncato and Former Councilor Mabel Sunga Acosta.

With 7 years and counting, Bloom Facial and Spa remains at the top tier of the fastest-rising, homegrown brands in facial, slimming and spa services here in Davao city. Their pilot branch, located at Iron Horse, Rizal street, Davao city, started out with only a few services but now they’re on to 30!

Just last April 9, 2012, Bloom Facial and Spa conquered another business milestone by opening their second branch in the city. It is located at Jetti Business Center, Lanang, Davao city, across the new SM Mall. They offer the same line of services as their main branch except for the Radio Frequency (RF) and the Cavitation slimming treatments, with the machines still on their way from overseas.

The proprietress, Ms. Golda Divinagracia, said that she finally decided to open a branch up North because she has one loyal customer who told her that the commute was quite a hassle (she lives somewhere in the Lanang-Sasa area). This customer also promised to bring all her amigas there if the plan actually came to fruition. Ms. Golda thought about this and scouted for places near her salon in the same area. Luckily, there was an open spot just a few meters away from the salon and she decided to open the spa there. Being a self-confessed metikulosa, she admits that the most challenging part of her opening her 2^nd branch is the fact that she has to do everything alone---from the machine orders, handpicking of the furniture pieces and the determination of the opening event menu.

Ms. Golda is one of the most renowned names in the field of beauty and wellness here in Davao city. In fact, she is constantly being invited to deliver inspirational messages for the youth and is a mainstay judge in a couple of pageants. Her faith for this industry is high and that’s what’s keeping her inspired in delivering the best facial, slimming and spa services at the best prices possible, to keep Davao city look “as blooming as possible”.

Bloom Facial and Spa is looking at more business expansion for the rest of the year. More power to Bloom and to you, Miss Golda!

The newly opened Bloom Facial and Spa branch is located at Jetti Business Center, Lanang, Davao city, across SM Lanang.The opening event was organized by PREP (PR, Events and Promotions).

Hair Care Tip: Care for Your Permed Hair

After the perming process, wait for at least 72 hours before you wash your hair. This is to ensure that the medicine used for your hair will have enough time to work its wonders before getting interrupted by shampoo.

NEVER EVER comb your curls. After washing your hair, just pat it dry and then let it air dry. Style it later using your fingers when it's totally dry. You will lose your curls sooner if you keep on combing your hair.

Use extra moisturizing/ conditioning products for your hair. If you ask me, I heart L'oreal's Re-nutrition range. Moreover, if you find curl enhancing products on the store, buy them and use them instead of the generic ones. I used L'oreal Re-nutrition for my hair before I found Suave's Curl Enhancing conditioner on the Gaisano mall's grocery store. I still use a L'oreal shampoo, though. :)

After shampooing and conditioning, squeeze the water out and towel dry your curls softly. Work upwards by "crumpling" your curls using the towel so you're sure they're dried at the right direction. Avoid rubbing the towel all over your scalp and hair as this disrupts the arrangement of your curls.

Usually, permed hair ends up drier than usual. (Or versus rebonded hair.) Make up for it by indulging in a weekly deep conditioning/ repair treatment. I am currently loving Watsons Hair Spa and L'oreal's Total Repair 5 treatment mask. This must be done regularly to maintain shine and manageability.

Here's a picture of my permed hair 6 months after going through the process:

Here's another one, a year after the treatment:

See how proper care pays off? :-)

Best Beauty Tips: Exfoliate Your Lips

(photo by teamsugar.com)

Like your scalp, as long as something is classified as skin, it will eventually shed off because skin renews every 30 days. (Approximately, the skin is composed of 30 superposed cell layers.) This means that a new batch of cells are produced by your basal layer each day and the entire epidermis is REMOVED after 30 days.Like your scalp, your lips are considered "skin" too that is why you need to exfoliate it to keep it looking vibrant.

When you are about to end brushing your teeth, lightly brush your lips to get rid of dead skin cells. Do this at least once a day and you will have smooth, exfoliated lips all the time! Also, finish off with a great moisturizer/ balm like Nivea, Burt's Bees, Chapstick, Blistex or Body shop. Now when you wear your rock shiny lip gloss your lips will surely look oomph-mazing! :-)

Keep visiting Your Gorgeous Life for more best beauty tips! Thank you and don't forget to pass on this gorgeous information to all your friends! :-)

The Greatest Myth About Hair Care

(photo from mobikorner.com)

The funniest statement you’d hear from different shampoo commercials has to be “keeping your hair healthy”. Obviously, these are classic tricks AKA "best beauty tips" in the marketing book to keep you wanting more of their products without even considering if these are practical or not. Furthermore, even if they are practical, you need to ask yourself if these products are really valuable given that they are just hair care products. Not that your hair is not important to look out for, but these are clear indicators that these capitalist companies are just trying to pull your leg with all the promises that they are making. Although this is nothing new for you, let’s try and debunk the biggest secret that these commercials don’t tell you.

The greatest myth about hair care is the concept of “healthy” hair. There is no such thing. When you say healthy, it comes from a status of a living organism that naturally keeps its balance in a manner that is fit for its needs. Hair is clearly not one of those. It is made of protein and keratin. It does not have blood, nor veins, or a heart that you need to keep “healthy”. This provocative word is just a clincher for advertisers to catch your attention without even making you consider if what their saying is true. Given that, hair can more appropriately be termed “well-maintained”, rather than liking its condition to a living creature. So the mindset you need to create now is how to maintain it better, just like your car or bike!

Since we’ve established that your hair is not a poodle on your head that you need to feed, the next question is, “What’s the best way to maintain it?” There are simple gestures like after when you take a shower which can do wonders for your hair. Since your mindset now is to have the best maintained hair there is, damage-control is always the best form of maintaining it rather than actual repair. One of the common mistakes that people do to their hair is shock it with a hot shower. This plus the steam kills off the natural oil in your hair which makes it frizzy and dry. Lukewarm water will always be the best for it.

Furthermore, it’s always better to pat your hair dry and avoid hair products with harsh chemicals. Some people know of the healthy hair myth too much. They’ve even come to a point of not taking care of their hair, at all! Instead of even trying, they blow dry their hair outright everyday and dap on hair products full of chemicals. You’re not technically “harming” your hair because it doesn’t have feelings, but you’re certainly wrecking it!

Beauty Tips: Make the Most Out of Your Anti Aging Creams

(pic from http://www.boomerslife.org/anti_aging_cream.gif)

We cannot deny that aside from weight loss and love, we also have our share of battles against aging. We were bombarded with thoughts and ideals about aging; and how it is such a negative thing. It’s more than just a media hype, after all. It’s the fact that when we age, we are reminded, unconsciously, that our time in this world is already limited. So, at the very least, we invest in anti wrinkle creams. If we do cannot beat aging, at least we look like we’re not having such a hard time fighting the battle.

Choose Specifically for Your Type

In the anti aging skin care bible, there are probably a lot of kinds of anti aging creams because we have different types of skin also. There are ones which are made for dry, moderate, and oily skin. There are others which are made for Asian skin, and others for the Caucasians. There are also creams which have age markers, like for the 20s, 30s and 40s. Make the most out of your money by picking just the right cream for your skin type. They are especially formulated to answer your skin problems so they’re best for you. Trust them, they probably endured years of studies to perfect each formula.

Store Properly

One very critical part of taking care of your skin is also taking care of your beauty booties. Just think of it this way: it took you quite some time to land on the perfect skin care products and the perfect skin care routine. Don’t sabotage it by ruining the composition of your magic potions. Store them in a place where it’s not too hot nor too cold. Especially avoid exposure from direct sunlight and/ or heat. For safety purposes, keep them away from children’s reach and ensure that they are labeled properly.

Apply Liberally

Don’t scrimp on your battle. Be sure that as you apply your anti aging creams in your skin—especially your face—be sure to apply liberally. Get every square millimeter covered. This is especially important if it’s a night cream because sleep time is the only time when our skin gets to breathe, rest and rejuvenate. Our cells will need this time to regenerate and to repair themselves. This is the best time to load on your armor, hence, your power youth creams. If you try to scrimp on it and just apply a thin film, the effectivity will lessen and it will be to no avail. For best results, really apply liberally. That instruction on the label is not just a tool to keep you buying more creams. It works better if you apply liberally. Really.

Those are the things to remember if you want to make the most out of your anti wrinkle creams. They are investments after all. When you look back at the mirror and you like what you see, it’s all going to be worth it. Trust me. :)

Friends, Welcome to Your Gorgeous Life!

I've been writing for more than a decade. I've been blogging for a little less than that. But I've been gorgeous forever. Just kidding. Haha!

I just realized that beauty is and has always been at the top tiers of my priority list so alongside writing and getting it on with social media, I've decided to finally start a beauty blog. Enjoy pretties! :-)