The Thing About Whitening: Tips for Better and Fairer Skin

(pic from zsgod.com)

I was born white. I grew up white and I still am white. With a yellow undertone, that is. The Chinese got through my bloodstream and inserted some fried rice, perhaps. Joking. Yes, I have Chinese blood. Anyway, I'm generally white/fair, and, needless to say, several girls envy this skin tone. In this article, I'm going to teach you how to have it, keep it and maximize it.

Although I naturally have fair skin, I still need "maintenance" so it can look its best. I steer clear from whitening superpowers like Glutathione and Kojic Acid but I still dabble in some whitening products because fair skin is only beautiful when it looks as natural and as healthy as it should be. So here are my tips:

Care for Rebonded Hair

Even if I have learned to love my natural wavy hair, I also fell into the trap named “The Rebond Fad”. For a time, it was super cool to have pin straight, manageable hair, that salons that offered it sold appointments like sex in a red light district. Last week, I talked about care for permed hair. Because I’m a fickle, fad-prone gal, I also had my hair rebonded before that. Anyway..

I got my first rebond through a home service salon professional. It was really good. Cost me around P1500 only, with cellophane treatment. After that, I had a follow –up sesh a year later through a salon, but because I’m a meticulous prick, I bought the medicine myself. It cost me only P360 to buy the medicine from HBC, and I paid the salon P500 for the labor, and they also gave a discounted cellophane treatment (P250). Not bad, right?

Although those who worked on my hair were professionals, I had to learn the best hair care routines for rebonded hair by myself. Today, I am sharing them to you:

1. Immediate Post-Rebond Care – Follow what the salon pro told you. They’re not rocket science. Do not wash your hair until the 3^rd day after your rebonding treatment, lie with your hair hoisted up, and don’t tie it up. On the 3^rd day, shampoo briefly (just to clean your scalp) but put a huge dose of conditioner. Applying a protective treatment (like L’Oreal Total Repair 5) helps too.

2. Tame Frizz – Avoid frizz by conditioning everyday, shampooing every other day, and have a weekly intensive conditioning treatment. Also, avoid warm, humid areas  and set your hair everyday if you can. I recommend using a light hair serum.

3. Use Appropriate Products – There are products that are meant to enhance curls, manage hair loss, avoid dandruff, and yes, to keep hair straight. These are now very common, even for very commercial brands like Sunsilk, Rejoice, Cream Silk, Dove, etc. So you really have no excuse not to use them. They are designed to enhance straight hair, tame frizz and prolong your hair’s rebonded state.

4. Keep it Straight –  If you want your straight hair, you should really arrange your lifestyle to accommodate straight hair. Avoid tying your hair in a ponytail, tight bun and don’t use products that defy its straight nature.

5. Wet Right, Dry Right – Washing your hair is a very crucial part in its maintenance. We already told you about the proper frequency of shampooing and conditioning so you need to know how to wash it right. To wet right, use cold water all the time. Rinse away from your face and avoid “crumpling” it as you rinse and squeeze the water out. When you dry it, place your hair in between your palms and run down with the towel so your hair can still dry in its straight place.

Here are other rebonded hair pics:

Does it feel like a lot of work? It is, actually. That’s why I switched to permed hair after 2 years. But hey, if it really looks good on you, you know it’s worth every ounce of effort. <3

Godiva for White Skin that Lasts (Read on to Score Giveaways!)

AT LAST, WHITE SKIN THAT LASTS!

Introducing the NEW Godiva Natural Skincare

The problem with most whitening products is that it doesn't last long. Once you stop using it, you're back to your normal skin color. Well, that's not the case anymore. Not with the new Godiva Natural Skincare that is.

Back with a better formula, a new packaging and with more promising results, Godiva Natural Skincare range uses the proven power of licorice in effectively and safely whitening the skin. Extracted from one of nature's most effective skin whiteners - licorice root extract - Godiva gives you white skin that truly lasts.

The Secrets are Here for Frizz Free Hair

pic from self.com

It's been a year since I've had my last permanent hair change. From 2008-2011, I had my hair rebonded (2x) and permed (2x). Sometimes I just wanted to feel like I was worthy of high-maintenance hair and that I needed it in my Events and PR job (which entails a lot of public events, obviously). Just last year, when I finally had enough of these treatments, I switched to taking care of my hair instead and improve its natural wavy state. A few Victoria's Secret Fashion Show reruns, Cosmopolitan covers and makeup brochures, I was convinced. My wavy hair is actually beautiful.

Beauty Events: GODIVA Launch in Davao City

GODIVA, a well known brand of whitening products, will have their official Davao launch this coming February 2, 2013 at the SM City Davao Annex. 

Although Godiva products have been on our stores' shelves for quite sometime, they still felt that now is a good time to formally introduce themselves to the market. This is true especially now, when more and more people (not just women!) are concerned about whitening.

Godiva boasts of having one of nature's best ingredients for whitening: licorice. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is originally used as a sweetening agent. However, this wonder plant had more to offer. 

Way back 3000BC, licorice roots were also known for their medicinal properties. Lately, it was discovered that licorice roots also had the most potent, naturally-derived whitening ingredient. Since then, it was used for several whitening products, although only sparingly because of its premium price. 

Godiva takes on licorice, nature's best kept whitening, and wraps it up with the best formula, a new packaging and more promising results. Godiva Natural Skincare range uses the proven power of licorice in effectively and safely whitening the skin, whitening that truly lasts.

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I'll be giving away GODIVA gift sets real soon! Stay tuned and keep visiting YOUR GORGEOUS LIFE :)

K

Product Review: Camay Body Wash / Shower Gel

I always have a lot of stuff in my bathroom. Somehow the new products just keep intriguing  me and I end up buying them anyway. So here's another that-body-wash-wasn't-supposed-to-be-there story.

A few days ago, I was doing some grocery shopping at Robinsons Abreeza. Then I chanced upon a "stray" bottle of  Camay shower gel by the counter. I remembered watching Camay Youtube commercials and I was curious to try it. What's more, a 100ml bottle even cost only P62.90. That's a FIFTH of the price of the body wash that I currently use (and love to death), Marks and Spencer's China Blue. And this is weird, you know, because I only use body wash sparingly. I only use body wash whenever I want to take a short bath--it lathers quickly--or whenever I want a night to turn out extra special. You know what I mean. *wink*

Okay, let's go back to Camay's shower gel. I bought it and when I got home, I actually forgot about it. I guess it died while it sat under the mounds of biscuits and apples that I bought. (This is weirder: I don't actually empty the grocery cellophane out. I only take what I need and keep the rest in an airtight container.) I gave Camay's body wash a try this morning and my, I was surprised. The label promised that I would smell like a bed of French roses, and that after using the product, I would have"tempting skin". By the time I stepped out of the shower, I instantly fell in love with how I smelled. Camay truly kept their promise.

 

As for its physics, the gel lathered quickly, it also rinses quickly, the bottle comes in an easy press mechanism and the actual gel is in a translucent velvet red color. So sexy, if you ask me.

Years ago, I heard my mom rave about Camay. And yes, they were known for their really fragrant soaps. It felt good that until today, they still keep that reputation up, and they also kept the prices low. Truly a steal at any given day! Try it!

Really Getting to Know BB Creams

My personal BB Cream stash: Maybelline, San-san and French brand Le Cbet

I am a loyal user of BB Cream. I got introduced to it mid-2009 and I have been hooked ever since. It really has made my skin better and I am sharing my awesome experience with you here.

There are still a lot of girls who are curious about this so I'm giving the lowdown on BB Creams here. Moreover, I would also like to endorse some brands that I personally tried (out of curiosity) and how they fared in the skin care arena.

First things first: WHAT ARE BB CREAMS?