My Hair Makeover at Regine's Salon, Makati branch

Hello dear readers. It has been a long while since my last post. Got myself busy with a lot of things and I seriously neglected my colored hair making it dry and dull. Another thing, I don't like my latest haircut that much so I tie it up as much as I could despite the short length. Anyway, I then decided that it's high time to pamper my hair again and change my dull look into something different. I searched the net for salon reviews with regard to haircolor and haircut and I came across this: REGINE'S SALON at the Link. The reviews look good enough to convince me to drop by after office for a haircut. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take pictures of how my hair looked before the haircut. So let me just share with you what were done after.

After the haircut, the highlighting procedure was started by Marlon, the hairstylist.

It really takes a professional to do the procedure with ease.

Partially finished foiled highlights

After applying highlights and foil, Marlon also applied the same base color to my uncolored roots and covered everything with a saran wrap.

They were able to convince me to take the promo package of haircut+haircolor+hairspa. However, I wasn't able to take a picture of the hairspa procedure which was like applying conditioner with a massage and eventually rinsing it after just a few minutes.

After about an hour or less.....

View from my right

Back View

View from my left

From left to right: Sheryl, the bubbly and accommodating receptionist, Marlon, my hairstylist, and his assistant.

As for my hair type, I have fine hair that becomes limp as it grows so I always request a haircut with volume. Fortunately, Marlon was able to deliver what I asked of him. I even showed him pictures of short bobcuts that I want to achieve. Secondly, for the highlights, I asked him to make it subtle for just a 3D effect. So far, I think I got my money's worth this time. Thanks Regine's!

Bubble Hair Dye Review: Lolane Z Cool in Cutie Mint

     Do you love changing your hair color but couldn't afford to go to expensive salons in a regular basis? Now you can do it yourself with Bubble Hair Colors/ Color Foams. Innovation has introduced to us this type of hair dye which makes color application a breeze. Traditionally, hair dyes come in cream or powder form and should be applied from hair roots to tips and section by section to achieve an even color. It's really hard to do it alone so a lot of us has to go to a professional to have it done. Good thing that bubble color foams are out in the market and there are so many brands and colors to choose from. 

     Here is my review on one of the brands that I've tried recently, Lolane Z Cool Bubble Color Foam.

I bought this for Php 400 at Watsons since there is a Php 50 discount

Just follow the instructions written on the box since the leaflet enclosed is in Thai.

This is the color developer and you would replace the cap with the pump after mixing it with the activator

This is the activator bottle. Pour the contents in the developer bottle.

How it looks after applying the Bubble Color Foam on my short hair.

Result: Seen on the left side is the color of my hair before application and on the right is the color of my hair post application.

Verdict:

    I really like the color shown on the box but I did not achieve the color as I expected. The smell is also strong and pungent. After a week, I noticed that color starts to fade despite using color care shampoos. So all in all, I will not repurchase.


Disclaimer: This review is based on my experience and not a paid one. I bought the products with my own money and tried each product for at least a month before making a review. Everybodys skin is different. There are products that I love which might not work for some. Just take it with a grain of salt. To each his own.

Haircut at Ricky Reyes (Market, Market)

It's already summer and I can feel the scorching heat of the sun everytime I go out. Anyway, I had my  short hair trimmed two weeks ago by Chris of Ricky Reyes, Market, Market. I'll share with you my before and after photos and if you like it, then you'll know where to go and whom to look for.

This was cut in January in an inverted bob by the same hairstylist. However, I really have an ugly hairline at the nape so I have to have it trimmed every 3 weeks.

This is my haircut now. I don't really know exactly what this style is called. I just told him to trim my hair and I want to grow it out just like before.

I love that it's a wash and wear hairstyle and how it gives my hair its much needed volume. I will wait for a few weeks again before I go back for another trim. I will keep coming back until I reach my desired hair length. I paid Php 200 for this haircut and it's not bad considering how much I paid for other known salons that only gave me bad hair days. 

Do you  like it? Let me know what you think!

Food Supplement Review: Healthy Options Biotin 5,000mcg

I used to have long hair with curls. But I grew tired of maintaining my locks because if I don't, they will really become frizzy and dry. So I decided to cut my hair short. I love my hairstyle now but I'm beginning to miss wearing my hair in a ponytail. My hair grows pretty fast but I want it to grow faster and healthier. One time, while I was surfing the net, I came across a blog mentioning "Biotin, the hair vitamin" along with the wonders that it does to her hair. So I purchased Biotin from my trusted health store, Healthy Options, and here is my review:

I bought this for Php 595 at Healthy Options Megamall

Description: Biotin, a B vitamin long used to aid in metabolism and support healthy hair, skin, and nails, has recently been discovered to be beneficial for blood glucose already within normal range. Recent research has shown that biotin, when used in high doses, such as the amount found in Biotin 5,000mcg, can help promote glucose uptake in muscle tissue. It can also help to potentiate the glucose supportingproperties of the mineral chromium picolinate.

Supplement Facts:

Serving Size: One capsule

Amount Per Serving: 5,000mcg, 1667% Daily Value

Other Ingredients: Cellulose, capsule (vegetable source), magnesium stearate (vegetable source),

silicon dioxide.

Suggested Use: Take one capsule daily with food.

CONTAINS NO artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives; no wheat, gluten, milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, crustacean shellfish or fish. Suitable for vegans.

It looks exactly like Glutathione capsules and is very easy to swallow .

It gave me a painful cystic pimple on the chin after three days. In this picture, I already stopped taking it and has applied Centella gel so it's already healing.

VERDICT: I will not be purchasing again. Despite its health benefits, it gave me a nasty cystic pimple on the chin after three days of taking it. It also made my skin and hair oilier than usual. It's definitely not for me. 

Disclaimer: I'm not discouraging everyone from taking this. What doesn't work for me may work for others. I am known to be sensitive to almost 75% of skin care products and medications so a lot of products that are getting so many raves from so many users just don't work for me.

                              

Avon Skin So Soft Fast Hydration Body Gel Lotion

   Healthy skin is well moisturized skin. Our skin actively works to help balance moisture by using its own natural moisturizing factors and by preventing too much water from evaporating. But in a hot and humid country such as ours, applying body creams and lotions can be quite uncomfortable, especially when mixed with dirt, dust, and sweat, thereby leaving a greasy feeling at the end of the day. Summer is just around the corner so my search for the lightest, non-greasy lotion has begun.

   I have oily skin on my face but my body skin tends to be dry and sensitive. I've been trying out different brands of body lotions which serve different purposes because I am hard to please when it comes to skin care products partly due to my skin type. As much as possible, I want my skin to feel taut and very clean after bath especially when I have to go out of the house. I only apply cream-based lotions at night after bath so it would be well-absorbed and would not give me that icky feeling. I am a fan of gel lotions but unfortunately, only a few known brands have them and at expensive prices. Anyway, I happened to pass by an Avon outlet in Market, Market and as I was browsing through their product displays, a teal-colored bottle caught my attention and to my surprise, it was a Body Gel Lotion! I sniffed it and since I love the refreshing scent, I immediately purchased one for an unbelievable price of Php 119!

I started using this last February 15 and I'm in love! 

It's easily absorbed and leaves a silky smooth finish.

What I Like:

• The packaging is simple and spill-free.
• It is very affordable and being an Avon member, I get to enjoy a discount on top of the promo price!
• The scent reminds me of Bath and Body Work's Cucumber and Melon Body Spray.
• It leaves a cool, minty feeling upon application.
• It is easily absorbed and leaves a subtle,refreshing scent. 
• It makes my skin smooth and silky.
• It's like applying water on my skin, lightweight and non-greasy.

What I Don't Like:

• It has no SPF, but it's not a big deal for me.

Verdict:

        I give this a rating of 4.75/5. It is affordable and it works for my skin. I think I have found a HG lotion for me. I will repurchase again after I finish my first bottle. Highly recommended!!

Tony Moly Easy Touch Auto Eyeliner

Thank God it's Friday. Here is another quick review on Tony Moly's eyeliner which I've read in a blog. The review was so convincing that it made me buy one on that same day. There were two shades available, brown and black, but I got the black one because the brown eyeliner has some glitters in it and I was afraid that it might irritate my sensitive eyes.

I bought this at Tony Moly Market,Market for Php 348.00

How to Use: Lift up your eyelid slightly and fill in between eyelashes, as close as possible to the lashline to express more defining eyeline.

Ingredients: 01-Cyclomethicone, Iron oxides (CI 77499), Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Mica, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Polyethylene, Ceresin, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Silica, C12-15 Alkyl Ethylhexanoate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Prurus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil.

I have monolids so you can't see much of the eyeliner when applied on my lashline

What I Like:

• It is affordable and available at all Tony Moly branches nationwide
• It is very pigmented and glides on smoothly on my eyelids
• There is no need to sharpen it since it's automatic
• Doesn't smudge on my oily eyelids, a lot of eyeliners do leave me with panda eyes despite their claim to be waterproof
• Excellent color pay-off
• It is sealed and expiration date is printed on the packaging

What I Don't Like:

• It stings my eyes no matter how little and where I apply it. 

Verdict:

        I give this a rating of 3.5/5. It has almost everything that I'm lookin for an eyeliner but unfortunately, my sensitive eyes react to its ingredients. I just gave mine to my mom and she loves it. 

Milea All Organics Mineral Make-up Powder Blusher

Do you want to have that much coveted naturally glowing skin in an instant? Every fair-skinned lady dislikes a pale, dull-looking skin that will make anyone think that you're sick or stressed out. I, for one, loves to have a rosy white complexion that will require a little to no make-up at all. Blushers are a good choice to achieve a three-dimensional look with less effort. Sad to say, I have an oily and sensitive skin so I have to use something that will not cause breakouts and rashes nor aggravate my oiliness. I have found a few good matches for my skin type but after using them for a while, my skin developed immunity or whatever you call it, causing small zits to form. So, in my quest for a blusher that would do the job that I wanted, I came across Sesou at Market, Market and with much hope that this would work for me, I bought Milea All Organics Mineral Make-up Powder Blusher in Rose.

It comes in only one size (2g) jar for Php 225.00

Description (according to their website):

Imagine a mineral blush so natural that it could easily be mistaken for your own lovely flush. Our Powder Blush is so delicate and lightweight, it allows buildable coverage for truly customisable colour. Soft and silky, shades are available in matte and subtle shimmer finishes to suit every look. Will not cause irritation, great for sensitive and pimple-prone skin.

Shades:

Rose, Peach, Berries, Merlot, Sienna

Ingredients (as stated in my Rose blusher jar):

Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Serecite, Magnesium Stearate, Zinc Oxide

An actual shot of this powder blusher in Rose shade applied on my cheeks

What I Like:

• It is talc and paraben free. I have an allergy to talc so I love this!
• It gives me a natural glow
• Very pigmented. A little amount of powder will already give you the natural glow that you want to achieve
• Perfect for oily skin
• Did not break me out
• Lasts throughout the day, there is no need to re-apply
• A little jar lasts for one to two months with daily application

What I Don't Like:

• Sesou stalls do not carry this anymore. I have to order it online through their website so I have to pay for the shipping fee as well.

Verdict:

        I give this a 4.75/5 because of its availability. But apart from that, I simply love this!! This is my HG powder blusher. I've been using this for two years now and it continues to work well for my complicated skin type.I definitely recommend this. Try it and tell me what you think!


Disclaimer: This review is based on my experience and not a paid one. I bought the products with my own money and tried each product for at least a month before making a review. Everybodys skin is different. There are products that I love which might not work for some. Just take it with a grain of salt. To each his own.