For my makeup finale, I use Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Illuminating Veil in Nude Glow.

I’ve tried a few finishing powders but this one tops them all. It has micro shimmers that add a natural glow to my skin. I usually apply it on the apple of my cheeks, but there are days that I want that full-glow effect so I apply it all over my face. I always end my makeup routine with this to have a dewy, soft-focus finish.

Its talc-free, mineral-based formula makes it breathable and safer to use. Just make sure to clean the brush every after use to eliminate bacteria build-up. I recommend this for ladies with dry and dull skin or uneven skin tone.

• With Mica and Silica minerals to provide a smooth, “second skin” feel and finish
• Extremely lightweight and sheer
• With Vitamins A and E plus natural anti-oxidants to help protect and condition the skin
• Comes with an easy flow-through brush which automatically delivers just the right amount of powder

Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Illuminating Veil comes in Nude Glow, Peachy Glow, and Warming Glow variants. Tameraonline.com is the pioneer make-up shopping online in the Philippines carrying numerous brands such as: MAC, Nars, Physicians Formula, Smashbox, Benefit, etc.

 
 
Now on its fifth year, the free cervical cancer screening program of the Department of Health (DOH) in partnership with MSD and medical societies namely the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS), the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of the Philippines (SGOP), and the Philippine Society for Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy (PSCPC) during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month will now enable patients to get screened, be diagnosed and get treated in the same hospital.

 
 
May 2012 Cervical Cancer Screening:

• Women aged 30 to 49 years old may avail of free screenings at DOH-retained hospitals nationwide. For the list of DOH-retained hospitals, go to http://www2.doh.gov.ph/doh_retained_hospital.htm.
• For the whole month of May, the screenings will be offered to the public in DOH-retained hospitals every Wednesday in Metro Manila, every Friday in Luzon, every Tuesday in Visayas and every Thursday in Mindanao.
• Three (3) cryotherapy machines which are used to freeze and destroy abnormal tissues in the cervix are set for turnover to three DOH Medical Centers through a grant from UNFPA: Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital and Cotabato Regional Hospital.
• Women who are screened and found positive for cervical abnormalities can now be treated immediately in those 3 hospitals with cryotherapy machines without delay or hassle of visiting another hospital with technology to remove suspicious lesions.

Twelve (12) women die of cervical cancer everyday. Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus or HPV. Routine screening through a pap smear is an effective way of helping prevent cervical cancer. A cheaper yet effective alternative is getting screened through visual inspection with acetic acid or vinegar to detect possible precancerous lesions.

 
 
For the list of DOH-retained hospitals, go to http://www2.doh.gov.ph/doh_retained_hospital.htm.
For more information on cervical cancer and other HPV diseases, visit www.helpfightHPV.com

 
 
 
According to Rachel Bilson’s dermatologist, Dr. Debra Jaliman, everyone should wear sunscreen to protect skin all the time. She said that the American Academy of Dermatology recommends SPF 30 for all skin colors and it’s also important to look for sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB rays.

Sun exposure is a major cause of skin imperfections: darkening, brown spots, uneven skin tone and premature aging. Now, UV protection enters a new era with Loreal’s UV Perfect skin care line.
 
 

Active Ingredients:

• The high photo stability of the patented Mexoryl SX/XL filtering system protects skin for 12 hours against UVA/UVB, thus preventing brown spots, skin darkening and pre-mature ageing.
• Enriched in Detoxyl (anti-pollution active ingredient) to inhibit pollutants fixation on the skin.
• With Anti-Oxydant Complex and Activa-Cell to shield cells’ DNA, elastic and collagen fibers against free radicals.

 
Skin Benefits:

• Protective formula with SPF 50+.
• Skin is less dull, looks fairer and younger.
• Blemishes including pores are visibly reduced.
• Wrinkles and fine lines are less visible.
• Dark spots are visibly faded out.
• Skin tone looks more uniform and natural.
• Skin feels comfortable. Matte finish, non-greasy and non-sticky.
• Skin is hydrated all day long for a plumpy smoother skin.

UV Perfect Transparent Skin
This untinted UV protector is great for indoor use. UV rays penetrates through windows and glass panels. And even if you stay inside your house or in an office cubicle all day, you sometimes go out for breaks. Dr. Jaliman added that “sun damage is cumulative, so even five minutes per day in the sun adds to broken blood vessels, brown spots and wrinkles.”

 
 
UV Perfect Even Complexion
The UV protector with a slight apricot peach tint which results in a uniform, even, and radiant complexion ready for makeup application.
 
 
UV Perfect BB Max
For maximum coverage, care, and protection, this Loreal BB cream is for you! Enriched with the breakthrough Color Equalizer Technology, an innovative pigments complex that desaturates skin discolorations – yellowish, brown and reddish. The formula instantly covers and corrects skin imperfections and brightens skin complexion.

UV PERFECT Even Complexion and Transparent Skin, are both priced at P545. UV PERFECT BB MAX is priced at PhP 595.

ghd (good hair day), the world’s leading luxury haircare brand for over a decade, now brings its first salon strength hairdryer for a gorgeous salon blow dry, everyday – ghd Air.

Say goodbye to bad hair days! The new ghd hair dryer is designed and developed in conjunction with professional styling experts. ghd CEO Paul Stoneham says: ‘We’re extremely proud to be launching ghd air, especially in our 10th anniversary year. An incredible amount of research, development and testing has gone into producing such a high caliber, salon strength hairdryer. ghd air will leave consumers literally blown away”. Its powerful motor and advanced ionic technology delivers fast drying and styling, resulting to reduced frizz, soft and silky hair in no time.

If you’re spending too much money and time regularly going to salons for a blow dry, this is the perfect companion your hair can ever have. Whether you’re looking for quick, sleek, smooth results or fabulous, impactful volume, ghd air puts the salon power in your hands.

ghd air Features:

• Concentrator nozzles
• Professional strength 2,100 Watt AC motor at 240v
• Advanced ionic technology
• Variable power & temperature controls, including cool shot
• Ergonomic design for right & left handed users
• 3m power cable

From last year’s Snow White to ghd’s latest campaign for ghd air, The Little Mermaid, Katy Perry surely depicts every girl’s fairytale dream. She was photographed under the Brooklyn Bridge, her hair is beautifully styled using the new ghd air professional hairdryer.

Last Sunday I baked some egg and bacon muffins for my family. It’s a Martha Stewart recipe called Father’s  Day Breakfast. I baked a second set that night for my bffs and I’m quite happy with the positive feedback. This easy-to-make breakfast combo is great for breakfast and brunch.
 
 

• 3 tbsp butter, melted
• 6 slices white or wheat sandwich bread
• 6 bacon slices
• 6 small or medium-sized eggs
• salt and pepper to taste
• dried basil herbs (optional)

Baking Tools:

• Pastry brush
• Standard muffin baking cups/muffin pans/muffin tins
• 4 or 5 inch round cookie cutter
• Rolling pin

 
Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Lightly butter 6 standard muffin cups using a pastry brush. Flatten bread slices slightly with a rolling pin. Make 6 rounds with a cookie cutter. Slice each round in half, then press 2 halves into each muffin cup, overlapping slightly and making sure bread comes up to the edge of cup. Use extra bread to patch any gaps. Brush bread with remaining butter.
3. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat for 4 minutes or until almost crisp (it will continue to cook in the oven.) Lay 1 bacon slice in each bread cup and crack an egg over each. Season with salt, pepper, and basil herbs.
4. Bake until egg whites are just set or toasts turn brownish, 10 to 20 minutes.
5. Run a small knife around cups to loosen toasts. Serve immediately.

Tips from my baking experience

You have to flatten each bread slice evenly, press it down securely into each muffin cup (to make more space), and make sure it comes up to the edge of the cup so the egg won’t overflow.

I don’t have a cookie cutter so I used a jar lid.

Use fresh eggs to prevent runny yolks and place bacon slices properly so they won’t break the yolks.

You may use uncured bacon slices straight from the meat shop if you’re on a budget but if you want more flavor, choose cured bacon in packs.

Poultry and basil go well together so I suggest you keep a bottle in your kitchen. Next time I’ll try the ham and cheese version.

I turned 26 yesterday and hubby bought me a Classic Chocolate Cake with macarons on top from Tous Les Jours.

Launched in 1996, Tous Les Jours is a Korean bakery cafe which opened its doors here in the Philippines late last year. “Tous Les Jours” is a French word which means “everyday“. They regularly serve freshly-baked French-Asian goodies and delectable cakes.

I’m a fan of their aesthetically pleasing cakes. They are sold in reasonable prices, ranging from PhP 500 to PhP 1,000. My brother’s girlfriend ordered a Strawberry Inspiration Cake for their anniversary and I simply fell in love with it. Read my post Everyday TLJ.

Rose Inspiration Fresh Cream Cake

My cousin’s boyfriend surprised her on Valentine’s Day with this rose-inspired strawberry cream cake. A cake this lovely deserves a celebration.

Berry Berry Light Cheese Cake

Yogurt cream topped with strawberry/blueberry powder filled with strawberries! I would have picked the purple blueberry variant but it was out of stock!

Heart Cake

Say sorry to your sweetie with this heart-inspired cake. Apology accepted!

Cutie Bear

Cute bear cake made with 100% Belgian chocolate!

Visit Tous Les Jours at SM North Edsa The Block and SM Southmall Food Strip.

Photo Credits to Tous Les Jours Philippines

Photo credit: urinaryinfectioncure.com

UTI has been affecting my health and lifestyle for a couple of years now so I’m sharing a few insights on how to deal with it, from diet to hygiene. However, I have to remind you that the tips below are only “suggestions” and that you still have to consult your physician especially if you’re pregnant.

UTI is more common in women than men. According to http://www.medicinenet.com, a urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection caused by pathogenic organisms (for example, bacteria, fungi, or parasites) in any of the structures that comprise the urinary tract - kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. UTIs can cause problems that range from dysuria (pain and/or burning when urinating) to organ damage and even death.

Symptoms (If you experience symptoms 1-3, read the Natural Remedies section; 4-7, go to the doctor immediately)

• Painful urination or “balisawsaw”
• Foul smelling urine and/or vaginal discharge
• Cloudy urine
• Blood in the urine
• Flank pain (left or right lower back pain, kidney area)
• Lower abdominal pain
• Fever

Meet my new bff, Benefit Lyin’ Eyes Concealer. Mom sort of “tossed” this thing to me a few weeks ago. What destiny.

Benefit Lyin’ Eyes Brush-On Concealer decently covers up dark circles and brightens up the eye area. It has a sheer coverage (more natural-looking) and I don’t need to do touch-ups during the day. It hides the shadows perfectly but does not cover the darkness completely. I’ll leave that stuff to a more hard-working concealer.

The liquid has a creamy consistency and it blends well with my skin tone. To use, you have to turn-click the bottom part. One to three turns/clicks are enough. Don’t get clicker happy though or you’ll end up having too much.

Concealer Tips:

• Make sure the concealer matches your complexion.
• Apply moisturizer before applying concealer.
• Dab gently using your fourth finger.
• Don’t tug on the skin around the eyes. It will result to more wrinkles.
• Sheer concealers give a more natural look.
• Apply sparingly. It shouldn’t be cakey or thick.
• To set your concealer, lightly brush over with a sheer translucent powder.

Awake and fresh-looking eyes in an instant. (No face powder yet)

With concealer                                  No concealer

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf comes to One Archer’s Place

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf have opened its doors to coffee lovers in One Archer’s Place on Fidel Reyes St. near De La Salle University (DLSU). The new branch will serve as a haven for fans as well as coffee and tea aficionados of all sorts.

In line with its debut, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf branch in One Archer’s Place will be holding a special promotion that will coincide with DLSU’s 100^th year celebration. From January 30 – February 5, 2012, customers can come to the store from 12:30 to 1:30 in the afternoon and CBTL will be serving everyone their full selection of internationally-acclaimed signature blends for only P100.

“Manila is a good market for us,” shares Walden Chu, President of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. “A place that’s right in the center of a burgeoning coffee culture in the country, this new branch will not only compliment the busy lifestyle of people in the area, it will also make it easier for more to enjoy the specialty drinks that our brand is known for.”

Last year, it was the special Red Velvet Mini-Cake for Valentine’s.

Bo’s Coffee also have a sweet treat for us this year – the Strawberry Cheesecake Freeze. Flavors of cheesecake, graham crackers and strawberry are blended together to make a cool drink perfect for this season of hearts. Cheesecake lovers will be thrilled too!

Share this yummy drink with a loved one. It’s available nationwide, in tall sizes, for the whole Valentine’s season starting Feb. 1, 2012.