Beautynomics - The Economics of Vanity

Beautynomics With a New, PINK HOME=)

2006-06-28T15:09:00.000+08:00

Yes, all my makeup tips, skin care regimen urgings, solutions to acne or attaining market equilibrium is now housed under a cute, pink , layout, found at

http://beautynomics.com

To my dear loyal readers , please do take time to update your links with my new
site location. To my first time readers, link me!! :) Click that site and surf away ! :)

Whew. I spent like eternity , and sleepless nights * of course, I have tons of water supply to depuff my eyes * just to finish that! So...enjoy enjoy! :)

Love lots, in the name of vanity and efficiency,
Juliet
=)

Mineral Makeup Madness

2006-06-04T21:44:00.000+08:00

My Mineral Makeup Madness

As a followup on my entry on Mineral Makeup, I really found Mineral Makeup such a great thing because it gives the maximum satisfaction to everyone who uses it - it's pure, it doesn't harm the skin, and no preservatives, additives, and artificial coloring. It's inorganic so bacteria won't breed in it, and it lasts for a very very long time. Lastly, it's inexpensive.

In my personal experience, this has been the best kind of makeup I've ever used. I'm in love. Now, there's no looking back. =) This is gonna be with me for the rest of my life! =)

With the inspired, and enlightened me, I opened up a Mineral Resource Blog. Feel free to check the articles, for I am for an all-out campaign of Mineral Makeup! =)

Love, Juliet

Splurge VS Save!

2006-06-01T23:02:00.000+08:00

SPLURGE VS. SAVE!!!

With the lean times that are ahead of us, we need to get all our money's worth. Inflation rates...fluctuating markets...lower purchasing powers. I didn't just tell you to lower the standards of the beauty products that you are using! I'm just trying to point out that, there are actually products in the market that are actually good, and with a good price too. Sometimes they are even good enough to compete, or even perform just like their high-end counterparts. One can achieve maximum satisfaction with a low budget, if only he/she can have a keen eye for detail in cosmetics / body care :) So , here are my picks, and I hope it does help you have more moolah saved for the rainy days!:)

SPLURGE : T. Le Clerc Loose Powder
SAVE : Palladio Loose Powder
Both use rice powder, a very fine, and non comedogenic ingredient.

SPLURGE : Tweezerman Slanted Tip Tweezers
SAVE : Revlon Slanted Tip Tweezers
Idea : they both work great! :)

SPLURGE : Shu Uemura Eyeshadows
SAVE : NYX Eyeshadows
Why comparable? They're both highly pigmented , stays long on the lids, and have vibrant shades! :)

SPLURGE : Clarins Shimmer Veil
SAVE : ELF Shimmering Facial Whip
Idea? They both function nicely. ELF actually gives the skin a very luminous glow! :)

Well, there ya go! :) Til next time! :)

2006-05-13T09:37:00.000+08:00

Home Microdermabrasion Vs. Clinic Microdermabrasion :
Perfect Substitutes?

I've always wanted smooth, and flawless skin. Thank GOD for modern technology that they can do that to my face in a heartbeat - but with a certain price tag.

What is Microdermabrasion?
Microdermabrasion is kinda "polishing" your skin - scrubs off old skin cells, to facilitate new and healthy skin cells to grow. It gives you an instant glow, too! Say goodbye to that awful layer of old and dull skin that makes you look old, and say hello to younger skin, tighter pores, and a more refined complexion! Well, that's basically the aim of microdermabrasion.

And why micro? It's a less scarier predecessor of the surgical procedure called dermabrasion. My dermatologist described it as "bloody" since you'd be all wounded as a tool scrapes of layers off your face ( this is usually done for really depressed scars! ). It made me twinge since I'm petrified of blood. Microdermabrasion is a less scarier one since it doesn't hurt, it doesn't involve any blood, and the recovery time is only 24 hours!

Professional Vs. At Home Microdermabrasion

Professional microdermabrasion are performed by dermatologists - they use a tool that looks like a "blowtorch", and just polishes away the surface of the skin, gently. Dead skin cells are scraped off, without pain, and the result is instant smooth, glowing and finer skin. Most treatments cost around $28.00 up to $100.00 ( depends on the clinic ), and it's more of a hassle to go to your derma every few weeks to have it done. You should be very patient to come back every few weeks until you get the result you desired ( many say that upon their 3rd or 4th visit, their pores are so much finer, and skin is healthier ), and get it maintained every month.

Some people are far too busy to have themselves go to a dermatologist - professionals and students on the go, and would rather do DIY treatments. So, cosmetic companies have come up with at-home microdermabrasion kits that promise to deliver the same results as clinic microdermabrasion. It is more inexpensive, and you can certainly do it at the comforts of your own homes, for a few minutes! :)

There are good microdermabrasion kits available in the market. My recommendation list includes three, namely :

www.ImageShack.us" />

Estee Lauder Idealist Micro Deep Thermal Refinisher

Mary Kay TimeWise Microdermabrasion Kit

Nu Skin Polishing Peel ( Skin Refinisher )

( In fairness, all three have received good rave reviews! So it's up to you to choose. The most affordable I think, is the Nu Skin Polishing Peel, but everyone's crazy about Mary Kay! So it must be good :) )

THE VERDICT
I have tried at-home microdermabrasion and clinic microdermabrasion. My comparison? There was more dead skin cells removed via clinic microdermabrasion that at-home microdermabrasion. It doesn't mean that at-home microdermabrasion kits are useless. They are to be used when you're too busy to give you a quick fix , and a quick glow on your face, but you still have to find time to have it done at the clinic if you seek a more visible result. But some people find at-home microdermabrasion procedures enough already. Maybe my skin's too complex. Oh well. :)

ECONOMICS IN IT? OF COURSE!!!
Economic theory learned? There are two choices, which bring similar results, but priced differently. It would be better if the more reasonably priced one would deliver exactly the same results as the more expensive one, but in this case, it is just a close substitute. In the absence of time, or accessibility to the more expensive but more effective procedure, a substitute would suffice. There ya go! :P

For a formal lesson, from www.economicswebinstitute.org, here's a rundown of the theories. Try to keep it within the beautynomics concept - microdermabrasion, and even beyond! :)

Substitution with respect to needs
"Goods are said to be substitutes if they serve to the same purposes, if they are equivalent in functional terms, if they satisfy the same need(s).
Imperfect substitution occurs when two goods, while satisfycing the same main need, score differently on quality and features (e.g. a Jaguar and a Mini are substitutes since they both carry people from one place to another, but on several characteristics they are different - as for comfort, prestige, etc.). Product differentiation is here fundamental.

Substitution in terms of time
"Two consumption goods can compete on the limited time the consumer has. A holiday destination competes on another one not only because both are satisficing the same need but also because one cannot be in two places at the same time. Similarly, holiday destionations compete with house duties in week-ends, although most of people prefer the former to the latter."

There is also another kind of substitution, and that is income substitution. It depends on the purchasing power of the consumer. The higher his income, the less he needs to substitute.:)

Til then! tata! Leave your comments! :)

2006-05-05T19:26:00.000+08:00

Beautifyng Oneself Results in Revenues!

Unbelievable? You have to believe me! You'll learn why as you keep reading *wink*

So, I believe, there is some business sense reading and writing my Beautynomics blog, when I read somewhere, acclaimed Economist Hal Varian's article ( his textbook way back in college was fulla math! ) for the New York Times ( I read via my Manila Bulletin Saturday Edition ), that beautiful women, and handsome men, get paid higher than those of mediocre looks. Sounds unfair? Well it isn't really.

Remember what employers look for their potential employees, their trainees and managers-to-be? Aside from an impressive resume full of straight A's, tons of recommendations from college professors, and gazillions of org activities spearheaded, they also want CONFIDENCE in their potential employee. People who look good, and know it, tend to act more confident than those who are insecure. They tend to know what they're doing, and they know that they can charm their clients as well as impress them with their skills as well. Nothing beats a goodlooking manager oozing with confidence and sex appeal. So goodlooking people get those high-paid jobs! =)

So is it the end for the mediocre caste in the beauty world? Certainly NOT. This is where I come to the rescue! Remember what century, and decade we live in? Within this time, I am most happy to be born and living! This is the age wherein modern technology can do ANYTHING! =) Including transforming a plain jane into a vavavoom vamp! :)

The solution? Investment in the following :

1. Skin Care - keep skin clear with your skin care regimen! Go for waterbased products :) Nothing beats healthy and glowing skin. That's where it all starts! Investing in skincare also provides long term results such as retarding the pace of aging in your skin. :)

The VMV Hypoallergenics Id Skin Care line does not only help you keep a clear face, it also keeps your skin young for it has anti-aging properties as well.

2. Makeup! - The transformation begins here! As I said, makeup can make or break a person. If you choose the right products, and apply the right way, rest assured that you can gain your self confidence just by applying makeup. Most makeup today don't look noticeable anymore. They are so fine that they provide flawless finishes that mimicks your skin. So you look like you have naturally great skin, with rosy cheeks! :) How's that? :)

Invest in Mineral Makeup - they don't hurt and wouldn't harm your skin a bit since they're so

pure! =) My suggestion's this really cool Bare Escentuals Starter set - it has foundation, mineral veil ( finishing powder/mineral ), warmth ( an allover face color ) + Rever Upper ( primer/ vitamins for the skin, and 3 brushes. For $60, this is a great investment! ). There are also other less expensive brands available, but this is so far the one most visible in the market.=)

for those in the Philippines, HongKong, Singapore, or anywhere without this, I have

an Asian distributor, please do contact her via her site, BareBeauty

Well, what are you waiting for ! You oughta start taking care of your skin and scouting for good makeup products. These are great investments that can give you a good future, as well as oozing confidence! They're both good for you :)

2006-05-03T21:30:00.000+08:00

Mineral Makeup - What Women Demand! =)

Women have always wanted these qualities in makeup. I think that this was just wishful thinking way back, say 5-10 years ago. Or if it was created for a long time already, it certainly hasn't tapped too much of the market. Thank God for modern technology and the wonders of advertising, the miracle product has reached my ears. I'm a convert.

Well, going back to the word "qualities" of a makeup that women would want, I could enumerate these :

1. Hypoallergenic and great for sensitive skin
2. Would not aggravate acne and rosacea
3. Makeup so clean that you can even sleep on it.
4. Noncomedogenic - would not cause you breakouts whatsoever
5. Helps you achieve the natural look - your skin looking flawless as if there is no trace of
makeup, but there really is! =)
6. Could heal your skin! =)

Well, who wouldn't want this? Scrap conventional foundations and go MINERAL! =) Yes, Mineral Makeup! They're so hot right now, specially in the United States since they're made of pure, inorganic minerals, that wouldn't hurt your skin a bit. They're made of really fine minerals that could help you achieve that flawless look, for a fraction of the price since they're made of pure minerals, not just pure advertising!

TALC, move over! No one would want to use you on someone's face. It's not only comedogenic, it also gives of a cakey look. MICA is the new IT mineral. It's way finer, that would help achieve a flawless smooth no makeup look, plus it doesnt clog up your pores. Most mineral makeup are in powder form ( not actually powder, more on loose minerals ), so they're kinda messy, but you'll certainly have fun playing with them! Love kabuki brushes for this! =)

I mean, like WOW! =) I think everyone should try Mineral Makeup. No more worries about skin breakout out from make up, no more unbreathable makeup. Pure makeup is here to stay! Check out various brands :

1. ) Bare Escentuals/ i.d. Bare Minerals ( the frontrunner since it earned its stall space @ Sephora )
2. ) Pure Luxe Cosmetics
3. ) Jane Iredale Minerals
4. ) Aromaleigh
5. ) Alpha Skin Care
6. ) YoungBlood Minerals

and many many more! Some Mineral makeup are only sold at websites, so check them out! If you could make your mineral makeup, so much the better!

So , our dream makeup, is not a myth anymore. It well exists, and are waiting for your purchase!!!=) And moreso, PERFECTION is at our hands' reach! ( wallet haha ). Perfect skin can be well achieved with mineral makeup. Trust me. =)

2006-04-20T21:10:00.000+08:00

Beautynomics Awake From Her Blissful Sleep / Headline : Third World Economies Responsible for Our Oily/Dirty Skin!

Yes, its me again! =) After serene, quiet nights of reading Harry Potter 3 to 6, undergoing a no-joke water therapy for nourishment ( try it ! it's really good, less headaches! ), and actually sleeping before 12 midnight, I am back, all fresh, and feeling good about myself. The Holy Week actually gave me time to give myself a well-deserved break though it still wasn't enough! haha :)

Anyway, a friend of mine has just come from Hong Kong, and commented that her makeup stayed on all day, despite of her oily skin condition ( as she said ). The air was just so clean there! Some economic underlying? Of course there is some Economics behind that! Let's see...

(Stretches her arms, and is ready to write! hehe )

First world economies have the best technologies given their high GDPs/GNPs. They have actually passed through, and graduated the stage wherein only the income of the economy was top priority. Aside from the income that they obviously have already, their citizens have more time to spend time on themselves, thus taking up Liberal Arts courses such as writing, education, history, etc. I mean, in this country ( a third world one ), taking up such is economical suicide and living a plebeian's life - totally sacrificial. In the progressive first world economies - it is a luxury - for their minds. Okay, so now we're with progressive individuals...they're actually minding themselves already, and of course, what do they mind, as well?

THE ENVIRONMENT.

With the thinking that human life is most important of all, and with money to spend, those progressive economies adapt environment-friendly technologies, which are indeed more expensive than conventional ones that emit smoke, and pollution. Sometimes, their technologies become less efficient because of the cost of producing from an environment-friendly plant, they do their dirt someplace else...and you can guess where.

THE THIRD WORLD ECONOMIES.
Yes, and third world economies, are called Pollution Havens. Some of the foreign plants here ( manufacturing ) have conventional technologies that still emit pollution. And of course, the third world's budget for technology, given their small income and purchasing power, only goes for the conventional ones, that emit pollution!

So there ya go, that's why pollution is everywhere. That's why you see a dark cloud of pollution surrounding the metropolis as you drive away from the city. Even cars here are pollution emitters. Totally merciless for our skin!

So as my best bud flies to Canada, all her blemishes ( if she has them ) would slowly vanish, and when I next see her, I'd definitely see rosy cheeks! She's saved herself from the pollution! Sigh, fresh air, fresh air.

So again, it answers my question WHY my skin oils every 5 minutes. Why my makeup doesn't last all day, why I have to spend tons of money for skin care. It's not just me ( I admit, it CAN be me, but not JUST me! ), the economy's actually conspiring to damage my skin! (hahaha no offense! this is just a fun post )

Lesson learned? People from the third world oughta invest heavily on skin care, so at the end of the day, you can ALL scrub off the dirt off your ( or rather our ) faces ! :)

Another step, for clearer skin, is cleaning the house. ( Boy, I bet your moms would be happy when you read this! ) :)

The Economy Must Pay for Our Blotting Papers! hehehe :)

Notice : this is just a vain shout out! no offense intended! =)

I dont wanna get those " the economy needs to improve, and blotting papers arent their priority toodles! well, some benefactor just give us some supply!! whee! :)

Anyway, tata for now, until the next post!

2006-03-22T17:06:00.000+08:00

Beautynomics in its Beauty Sleep

I've been under so much stress lately that I have seen myself age in a matter of days! So I'm trying to de-stress, and get off from anything electronic, like TV's, Computers, and just snuggling up with a book before bedtime, like the old times.

So bear with me! I'm on my beauty-sleep, and will post again soon :)

2006-03-07T18:33:00.000+08:00

Summer Essentials for Efficient Functioning of Your Beautiful Self

This summer season, certain products really fly off the shelves. It's called, seasonal demand. Unlike Christmas where almost every product in the market ( since everything can be considered gifts ) are almost sold out, selected items only apply this summer season - the relevant products to protect us from the sun, and at the same time, help us make the most out of the wonderful gorgeous sunny season.

Yes, the sun is making its way into the limelight again, slowly giving us the boost of sunshine that we deserve, lifting our moods, but sometimes, giving us too much "glares" and leaves us burned.

Here is my must-haves for summer to be able to stay beautiful, and impossibly gorgeous, under the sun :)

SKIN
SPF : Nothing beats SPF. It protects our precious skin from the harmful rays of the sun. It's totally cool to be tanned, but never cool to get burned. Remember, the ozone layer's in grave danger right now, and we might want to live longer by staying away from the number one possible cause of skin cancer. Live long, because you're beautiful! =)

Shiseido's got the best sunblock for the face. It's light, and it doesnt clog your delicate pores!

COOLING FACE WASH : I'm a huge fan of minty things. With the icky days ahead, when all you can feel is your skin sticking just, everywhere, your skin deserves to relax, and feel some freshness, and relief, by a truly cooling facial wash. Hmm...wonderful! =)

Biore Cool -

my teenage whim! It really, really refreshes the skin after or, in between an icky, icky day! :)

THIS SUMMER SEASON, SAY NO TO :
ALCOHOL-BASED TONERS. They will definitely burn your skin, don't you want to become a barbeque stick? Tender on the inside (yes, inner skin hurts too ) , but definitely charcoaley-burnt on the outside ( looking this way definitely HURTS TOO! ).
Remember what happens when alcohol reacts with anything really warm? It ignites fire! The same will happen to your skin if you try to do that. I had a bad experience with that during my ignorant years - I was in swimming team, and after swimming, I yearned to get rid of all the dirt from my face from the pool, so I used an alcohol based toner since I believed alcohol really cleans. Ouch, the effect was horrible. My skin reddened, peeled, and felt awful. So don't ever do this.

BODY

Lotion - Keep your skin hydrated this summer season! Although it feels icky when you apply this in the morning, try to apply it in the evening, to nourish your skin! :)

Kose Junkisui White Lift Serum

A cooling, watery skin hydrator! :) Smells like mint! :) Also firms the skin:)

SPF - Body-SPFs are great , because they help you sport a tan, but protect you from the bad effects of staying long under the sun. There are also cool self-tanners there that you can pull off this really sexy tanned looked without trying too hard to get a tan from the sun. The sun isn't the only source of beautiful tans, y'know :) Science, is just, wonderful :)

Hawaiian Tropic products are proven to have great sunblock/suntan lotions!

Sport a flawless, airbrushed tan with ModelCo airbrush in a can

SUN RELIEF SPRAYS
Soothe your skin with the best products in the market that gives comfort to your burned skin, if damage has been done :)

Clarins After Sun Soothing Gel
Best for tender, burnt skin. Soothes those pains away like a cool breeze :)

COOLING BODY WASH
Ah....there goes my favorite again! After a long icky icky day of work, or play, don't forget to take a shower! Grab the most minty-flavored body wash that you can get and bathe in utter luxury! I found this really neat body wash that just does the trick! I step out of a shower with a minty aura! :)

Kose Junkisui Pure Body Wash

Ahh...is it evident? I am addicted to Kose Junkisui. I step out of the shower, with a minty minty aura! I love, taking a shower after an exhausting day at work. :)

HAIR
As the cliche goes, our hair is our ONLY crowning glory that we can ever have. Believe it or not, it protects us from the sun, too! So, let's give our hair some tender lovin` and protection!

Kerastase Soleil Set ( perfect for colored, and sun-drenched hair )

Includes : Bain Apres Soleil *repairing hair bath*, Voile Protecteur ( a leave-in light fluid for protection against the sun ), Serum Apres Soleil ( serum with Vitamin E to help nourish hair )

Gelee Fraiche or Creme Richesse ( any of the two )

This is one cool masque. Intensely conditions the hair that is sun-damaged. I've been using this lately, in fact, everyday, and I love how it makes my hair really soft and smooth! :)

Hair Care Tips :
- For chemically treated hair, this is danger season for you ladies and gentlemen. Be it coloured , rebonded, permed, or whatsoever chemical treatment undergone. The sun, certainly reacts with chemicals in your hair, and makes it even drier, or more damaged. The quick fix to this, is getting some amount of SPF ( well, you can get them in your lotion, or gel, gel would be better ), put it in a sprayer, and dilute in very clean water, then spritz to your hair. Voila! instant hair-SPF

Try Bobby Brown's Leave In Hair Conditioner with SPF! :)

- Dry hair certainly gets the most damage this season. Dry hair becomes drier with the intense heat! Please do not, forget to moisturize your hair, doubly! Make it thrice a week hotoil! hehe :) I mean home-hotoil! :)

Garnier Fructis 3-Minute Masque

We all need masques! Try this! :) Oooh.I wish we had them here!!!

- This sizzling summer season, steer away from styling products. They're mostly alcohol based. Refer to my previous mention on alcohol based toners. The effect would be on your hair!

COLOR

1. Don't forget! Even makeup, has SPF!!! Go get these foundations/powders and lippies with SPF! :)

Bare Escentuals Mineral Foundation with SPF 15

I'm too smitten about this new discovery of mine - mineral makeup that glides to the skin perfectly, and flawlessly! I'll tell you more about it, next time! ( this is WORTH one entry! )

MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner with SPF 15

Love your lips , moisturize, & protect them with lovely shades, too!

MAC is the best, in terms of producing lip products, for me.

2. Get that fabulous glow on the beach, or just walk around like a sun goddess. The bronzer, is the "it" makeup piece, this season! :)

Nothing Beats the Body Shop's wide range of bronzers! :) This one's a favorite:)

So, really, don't fail to enjoy your summer season, arming yourself not only with protection and glamour ( thanks to me, ), but with a great smile as well! :) Summer memories are mostly cherished for the sun shine with our happy smiles :)

2006-03-05T19:36:00.000+08:00

Prelude : I've been gone for like, a week! I think I was just totally jinxed last week, and voila! I'm here again! :)

Why Economic Models Don't Work, While Other Beauty Regimens Don't, Too.

While I was in college, studying, and religiously applying makeup to impress my crush ( hehehe ), Economics was such a fascinating thing to study about. There were models that promised to alleviate property, some mathematical models that explained how investments can generate employment, and the most exciting thing that I have ever learned - that taxes, actually improve the economy - physically ( roads, infrastructure ), and "spiritually" - improving human life condition ( alleviating poverty, more funds for education, etc. ). But I don't see it that much. Super, duper weird. Let's just try to point out the reasons, WHY.

One of the most fun, and idealistic textbooks to read, are books in Economics. We were made to solve alot of problems, both mathematically, and logically. Economics is almost perfect since Mathematics is a vital part of Economics - and Mathematics is one of the most beautiful things ever created - it IS exact science. Everything that can be translated into Mathematics can be solved. Therefore, with Economics, every problem in the economy can be solved by Economic models with Math. Right? Wrong? Both are to be considered.

Right , in the sense that yes, everything that has math in it can be solved, and can be implemented with perfection, but there's one point wrong there. In Economics classes, we were taught the term "ceteris paribus". This intimidating-sounding term ( that is not too intimidating really, so please keep on reading) means "holding all things constant". For Economic models to work, we must "fix" it at a situation that everything is OKAY. No corruption, no political instability, no non-mathematical disturbances, or to be honest, no human frailty. We fix it at the assumption that all humans are rational, and they're all good and nice, with the hopes of improving their welfare as well as the nation's :)

Case and point? Economics, and economic theories WORK only in our dreams. Upon waking up, it's all but a dream, a nice dream.

Okay, then. I have to refute my statement again. Here's my corrected statement. Economic theories WORK on Economies that don't have the following - CORRUPTION, AND POLITICAL INSTABILITY.

They're definitely grave hindrances for Macroeconomic models to work ( I'm talking about a larger scale of Economics here- the more complex Macroeconomics. Microeconomics is definitely all in our daily lives ). No matter how you try to increase your taxes to redistribute wealth in this country, if the affluent part of the economy gets away with tax evasion, and the more less fortunate has no choice but to pay taxes ( taxes, are everywhere. Jollibee, McDonalds... ), then it doesn't make sense again. If alot of taxes are collected, there might be a great hope for a better future - but if they just fall into the pockets of the greedy, then again, the main goal of taxes prove to be a failure. So there, this country is so tired of paying taxes and getting nothing out of it. Taxes have never been seen so negatively than this country ( which is my perception ).

In a clean Economy - well, let's define "clean" - no corruption, or the most minimal one and no political instability, results are more visible. Taxes, of course, are taken with less hostile acceptance, and you can see why - their children have access to free education, there is unemployment benefits thanks to the government, and so forth. That's so great, right? I wish some people would just quit being obsessed over money - or EARN their own money the dignified way, as I may say.

So, is there any sense that Filipinos study Economics? Definitely. Microeconomics - for them to make the most out of their purchasing, and business decisions, and Macroeconomics- to be more aware why we are like this, and realize, that somehow, there is still hope.

BEAUTYNOMICS-WISE, Why do some Beauty Regimens don't work? There are key behaviors with human beings that hinder efficient beauty regimens - the "L" words - LAZINESS, LIFESTYLE, and LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.

LAZINESS
Skipping your beauty regimen, just because you're so sleepy already? Forgot to remove your makeup before sleeping? Skipped your daily moisturizer since you hate that sticky feeling? How about your weekly mud pack? Goodness gracious. You don't know what you are missing. And you complain why your beauty regimen doesn't work? It's a religion, for goodness' sake. ( haha don't take me seriously, you have to apply and do it "religiously!" ). Skin needs to be really clean and given necessary treatment before bed. Skin needs to be prepped well before starting the day. Skin needs to be cleansed off all the dirt accumulated at the end of the day. Skin needs to "drink" water - hydrated. So there ya go, please please, don't put your skin care regimen into second priority, unless you're willing to sport a zit, or dull skin on chosen days.

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
I don't seek to insult anyone, but believe me, one shouldn't always depend on TV commercials, and try everything that are in TV commercials with their false promises. Those products are backed up with a marketing plan - and a huge budget on advertisments to lure consumers to try them , is one of them. I mean, anything to lure people to them. But the thing is, they don't really give the effects as promised, since not all people are well-suited for those kinds of products. I can't dictate what products YOU should buy since we don't have the same skin * well, I can always suggest..check out previous, and future posts! * , but I can tell you what NOT to buy :

- for powders, avoid TALC. TALC might be found in body powders ( for babies ), but it actually makes skin break out and is comedogenic ( can clog pores ) for the face. Settle for either rice starch, or mica, which are non-comedogenic and WAY finer in texture. Your skin's gonna be safe, and would not look cakey at all :)
- avoid comedogenic ingredients. Believe it or not, there are some makeup in the market that just makes you break out. Always check the "ingredients" used in manufacturing the makeup. Whenever I see any freaky looking word like oil, I freak out.

Other BAD BAD ingredients are mineral oil, sodium lauryl sulfate ( can cause some irritation ), and parabens ( anything with the suffix paraben, it's kind of a preservative, but can damage skin in the long run )

For a list of safe cosmetics, check it out here

LIFESTYLE
No matter how hard you try washing your skin, and applying products, they're no use if you don't get help from within. Within your body, that is. The glow that a healthy body possesses cannot, ever, outshine the artificial glow given by makeup.

Some tips :
- One great secret on how to make skin glow, from within, is drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day. Your skin would certainly break out or look really tired without water.
- Sleeping early , also, helps your skin get the rest that it needs, and be really fresh the next day
- Fresh fruits and vegetables can also help your skin look fresh, and glowing. Green, leafy vegetables, are the way to go!
- Exercise can improve not only your body ( say sexy! ), but also promote better blood circulation - it rids you off your old cells, turns over new ones, and will reveal really healthy skin. Sweat, also makes us get rid of all our body impurities . :)

This just goes to show that skin care products and makeup take care of the job skin-deep. Internal beauty regimens, like adapting a great lifestyle would also help, and reveal a more beautiful you!

2006-03-01T09:00:00.000+08:00

NOTICE

Ack!!! I've been itching to write something substantial in my blog, but my biggest hindrance - I have no strength anymore! hahaha :) My secretary left for Dubai, Saudi, or some middle eastern country to work (YES! Brain-drain. The Philippines, in no time, will be a whole lot short of skilled, and talented labor! Wah...) , and left me loadsful of work, with a new secretary that doesn't know a thing that I have to teach her everything! I had to battle with my undereye circles by applying eyecream everyday, and loose powder to make my skin a little bit less stressed- not to mention my moisturizing lipstick to hide my pale valor. With this, concealer is the bestfriend I can ever have ( for my undereyes ). I'm halfway on my draft for my next entry, and I hope you watch out for it!

Just a thought - in lieu of my next entry - is there any sense that Filipinos study Economics? :)

Tata, I can hear my boss screaming!

2006-02-24T16:15:00.000+08:00

Beautynomics Prom Special Part Two
The Beautynomist as Prom-sitter

PROM PROM PROM PROM PROM. Well, it was just one of those nights that I could never forget. Since my school was coed, we didn't have really dates that we chose ( teachers assigned our dates, with ratio 2 or 3:1 in favor of the boys ), so it was more of a fun night with my best buddies. I just had a blast preparing for it, and attending it, that I just couldn't let go of the wonderful experience - hence, extending my help to my younger sister, who was just always dependent on me for beauty advice ( Can't blame her, she always gets the best results! ). Of course, as my dearest sister, I had to make sure she looked like a goddess, not some godmother or granny, or any prom girl disaster slash nightmare. I just had to made sure no one insulted my sister ( or else, I would have stabbed her with my lethal lipstick..whapak! ) , for that matter, so it was a must for me to pick the right dress, pick the right accessories, and pick the right look :)

Anyways, back to the story. Whatever happened after our fun makeup session?

Well, we went straight to the hotel suite. I asked them to change, so that I can do my "finishing touches". I brought along with me my "emergency makeup bag", and laid them out on the table ( Oh boy, were they surprised! Hahaha )

Wow. Their looks are complete. Makeup + Face Makeup. Well, not quite. NOT QUITE!

I got my brush and went to work. First, I applied finishing powder to their faces. Now, after makeup ( foundation+blush+lippies ), it is a MUST to apply finishing powder sheerly to your face ( include the lips ) to be able to "set" the makeup - keep them into place, and prevent "melting" or fading prematurely. It gives your full makeup a whole lot longer lasting power. So people of the world, please include the term "finishing powder" to your makeup list, and "finishing" to your makeup routine :) Transluscent powders would do great in this.

After that, it still wasn't quite finished. With the perfect faces, the upper chest ( or the visible flesh area ) must look really smooth, and clean. Prior to their makeup session, I already asked them to take a shower, and use an exfoliating product for the body - to reveal new, and glowing skin. To further enhance the bare skin, I applied bronze shimmers. Now , they are officially princesses.

Pretty women, yeah, yeah yeah :P

After some spritzes of fragrance ( I recommend EDT or EDP for a night-long alluring scent) , Tadah, tadah, and mega tadah! I love my girls! Very cooperative girls. They entrusted their whole selves to me, and of course, they weren't disappointed!

Gooferoo!

The purse. Must haves? I suggested these.

PROM PURSE MUST-HAVES

The staples - A small pack of facial tissues , mobile phone, and some money

Blotting paper -for oily skinned gals. There's a huge difference of a tolerably oily face ( some glow, but not too oily. This happens a lot. ) , and a face too shiny that resembles a sun's glare - very hurtful to the eyes. )

Lipgloss - goodness, people, we're eating dinner! The glossies will definitely go away, so there is a definite need for retouch.

Bloom Lipgloss Mini's - they fit into your tiny purse! Couldn't find a picture, but they do have a smaller one @ the Beauty Bar!

And If your purse can handle it - a small compact of pressed powder. Retouch!

It was still early, so we went crashing to other hotel suites while I was having fun taking pictures. ( I look young, so I don't have trouble blending in..kidding! I wish. ). Some girls were still having their makeup done, and some girls were being cam-whores that we had so much fun in our photoshoot! ( me = frustrated photographer ) I loved the bathtub scene. Hahaha

The Bathtub Scene! Do you know..where you're going to?

The supermodel-pout! hahahaha :)

I was almost about to leave, and meet my friends at Glorietta for makeup shopping and dinner, but I was having too much fun socializing with the girls , I felt like I was one of them! ( teenagers very excited about the day. Well, my sister claims that I was the more excited one than her, or even half of her batch! Haha =) )

Left : Ladies in full bloom. Sigh. Right : Sigh again, the glow of youth! =)

One observation. Just to teach these pretty teens to better prepare for prom, or whatsoever occasion in the future! The biggest culprit for ruining something beautiful - back pimples. Back pimple scars. Wah!!!!

Want to sport that sexy-back look? A sexy back is one of the most alluring sights ever created. I swear, a sexy back works wonders for any girl! =) Baby girls, after high school, you're free to wear anything you want! Some would go daring, some would go skimpy, but do it right! With a flawless back! :P

I know it's a natural thing to have pimples every now and then, but back pimples should be erased off your back whenever you want to sport a backless, tube, or any outfit that would bare your back. Don't even think that your hair can cover it. When you try to flirt around and flip your hair, you're dead!

So, my biggest advice to those who have back pimples/ pimple scars, try to get rid of them! Mostly, they come from sweat. Sometimes, they come from your shampoo as well.

One product. VMV Id Soap ( found at leading department stores nationwide..) . Price? Rock bottom. Effect? A flawless back minus the pimples ( thanks to the salicylic acid, it zaps the zits ), and no traces that you ever had a history of back zits ( thanks to the buffing effect ). Although, if your zits are still fresh, and painful, try to rub the soap with your hands first, then just gently apply the lather to your back. Too much exfoliating can make the zits worse. It's way better than using a concealer. Other alternatives, any product with salicylic acid on it. Applying a thin layer of panoxyl on your zits after shower ( a thin layer, too much will burn your skin ) can also be alright. Oh, right, Acne Aid's okay too ( it's a bar of soap ).

Other preparations a month before the prom , beauty- wise, are as follows :

1. Have a home-hotoil treatment or deep conditioning treatment for your hair twice a week for a month. ( would only cost you at least 300 pesos a tub of Alberto Culver Avocado Wax , or if you prefer, a pricier yet nicer one, Kerastase Masquintense )
2. Try to whiten your underarms! Wash all your deodorant residues every night, before you sleep. Tawas can actually help, and calamansi ( applied to underarms with a cotton )
3. Staying away from fatty foods, eating fresh fruits and veggies, and sleeping early, for bright eyes, and glowing skin. Like I did with ampalaya. Gosh, it was a huge sacrifice for me!
4. A few days before, have a pedicure and manicure. You don't want your nails to be all red on prom night, right?

Anyway, I left the hotel a happy, and proud sister. I just experienced a gazillion utils ( meaning utils can't even measure it since it's too much ), as my heart was overflowing with joy that my sister was indeed blossoming into a beautiful lady.

It was ladies' night after all! :P

Did I behave just like a beautynomist ( in other words, ME?) Definitely. Economists love efficiency - I sure was one efficient prom-sitter there! I did make sure that everything was perfect for my girls. I made them reach their highest satisfaction ( with their great looks ) at the least cost possible, without compromising quality. And, I was a public good! ( meaning : everyone benefitted from me, while I gave away my service for free. ) I was the photographer for my sister and friends, as well as the emergency makeup fixer! So there you go, mission accomplished :P

High school rocks!

( My supply and demand installments are way delayed! Watch out for it. I have another special for next week, too! Stay tuned =) )

2006-02-19T23:25:00.000+08:00

Beautynomics Prom Special, Part 1 - Makeup

Prom, in a girl's perspective, must be one of the highlights and memorable events in her teenage life. It's all about over-preparing, dressing up really pretty in elegant formal wear, dancing the perfect night away, with a date, or with friends. It's all about being a princess for a night. I remember how I ate ampalaya for a month just to clear up my skin in time for my prom ( I succeeded hehe ), and how I scouted for really good makeup artists to have my makeup done.

If you ask me if I remember my classmates' gowns during our prom, I say I don't. If you ask me who did their makeup, I can answer that. I think I've memorized their looks for the night with their corresponding makeup artists/salons. hehe :) (sheesh, it's still crystal clear to me, and it was 5-6 years ago already. )

My sister asked for my help for her prom because she thought I was the best person to help her out ( hehe it was an obvious choice ). So I did my job, and scouted for a really good salon that can offer really good hair and makeup, without the steep price tag. Her classmates were in budget, and were not willing to splurge too much, since their gowns were already expensive enough. Yeowch, I can feel their wallets in pain. The makeup artist that did such a good job on me during my prom quit his job already, so I couldn't find him. So I tried to recall my past prom which made-up look I loved. And I booked a month in advance, with Watercolors Salon.

Watercolors Salon is situated in the vicinity of West Avenue ( near Tomas Morato area ). You turn left to Zamboanga Street, and find signages leading to the salon. Upon arriving there, we were pleasantly astonished to walk into a pleasant-looking salon - a spa-like entrance, with welcoming sounds of water coming from the fountain (very therapeutic). Upon entering the salon itself, we were graced with a very spacious ambience that you could walk around inside the salon.

Such a relaxing ambience! Spacious workspace!

As my three girls ( yes, I was tasked to take care of three girls - my cousin, my sister, and their good friend ), sat down, I watched their artists do the work. Proprietor/Creative Director Val dela Fuente, and Senior Artist Ghie worked their magic on my girls - making use of the impressive array of colors in their palettes (woah, they really have ALOT! I was swooning at their collection ) to transform my girls from simple schoolgirls to breathtaking beauties within one and a half hour. I The guy who fixed their hair wasn't bad either! He was super great with his job. Waves were so in, so I asked the hair stylist to style their hair with various kinds of waves. :)

Watercolors staff doing their magic!

My beautiful girls! =) I'm so proud it's making me cry! But I have mascara on..hold it!

Good thing we were first to arrive, because in the middle of our makeup session, other clients started walking in, as they just waited for us to finish, and others transferred into another room for other services.

While my girls were having their makeup done, I was also busy checking the place. At the counter, I swooned with their array of makeup for sale, and also really nice makeup brushes! Watercolors prides itself for having its own line/brand of makeup - lipsticks manufactured in Germany, while powders and eye shadows made in New York. They carry the professional line of ArtDeco makeup brushes - I love them! I was almost tempted to buy a 6-pc. brush set with an attractive pouch, but they didn't accept credit cards!! ( that was a sign for me not to overindulge ).

Swoonlicious palettes....wishing I could take me home all of these..:P

My girls were very happy with their hair, and makeup! I could see it in their faces, and of course, smiles! ( their puckers were applied with very unique, yet very attractive lip colors! ) And my wallet was happy too. For such great service, and impressive hair and makeup service, plus relaxing ambience, the Creative Director only charges 950 php ( $ 18 ), and Senior Artist 850 php ( $ 16 )! It was almost unheard for such reasonable rate to exist . I know another salon which charges the same, but the girls come out more hideous! ( Sorry ) I usually don't trust salons who charge this price so friendly - some might use sub-standard makeup, some might not even be skilled enough to do it well. But this? This is heaven-sent! Overall, we found a rare gem in Watercolors - great , great service, with a really reasonable rate! :)

With the Watercolors staff ( left - right ) : Creative Director Val, Senior Artist Ghie, and the guy in blue, the ever kalog hairstylist ( didn't get your name! Dang..)

Makeup, as I always say, can make, or break a person. It can transform a frog into a princess, and a princess into a frog. There's no such thing as looking better without makeup. It's how the makeup is done. Kevyn Aucoin,the acclaimed makeup artist, in his book, even transformed a man, into a woman through makeup.( I hardly distinguished it ). So it's very crucial, in preparing for a prom, to find the best makeup artist you can afford. It's up to you if the price is too steep, or just worth it. After all, people have different opinions of whether the price is too much, or not.

P.S. They also have another branch, located in Shangri-La Mall :)

To inquire about their services, here are the contact details for Watercolors Salon :

Main Branch :

25 Zamboanga St., West Ave., QC Tel. No. : 376-4323

Shangrila Plaza Branch:

406 Shangri-La Plaza, EDSA cor. Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City Tel. No. : 633-0670

Technorati tags : '>Watercolors, '>makeup,'> salon, '>prom, '>beauty

2006-02-16T18:28:00.000+08:00

Skin Care Regimen-O-Mania

To follow up on my previous entry , fearlessly preaching how big a mistake it is to miss out a religious skin care regimen, here's some tips on how to keep skin clean, and clear ( I am not promoting that brand! hmph ! :) )

Here's the beautynomist's prescription :

AM BEAUTY REGIMEN

* Wake up. Rise and Shine!
* Take a bath, a luke-warm shower, perhaps
* After your shower, your skin's pores are open, so it's the perfect time to wash your face.
* Grab your favorite skin cleanser. Get a pea-sized, or the amount that you would need, and start massaging your face with it in a circular motion. Not too long. 25 seconds?
* Rinse with lukewarm water
* PAT ( do not RUB ) your face with a towel
* Get a cotton ball, put some toner in it.
* Gently, gently rub the cotton ball in your face in a circular motion, upward-outward motion. You can see, traces of dirt will be seen on your cotton balls. The toner just did the more intensive cleansing- the insides of pores.
* Now, your pores are cleaned, refined, and closed.
* Grab your favorite moisturizer with SPF. Apply to skin, gently massage in circular motion.
* You're ready to go! Apply makeup, or go on without it ! :)

Your Momma's Best Kept Secret! :) Olay is acclaimed to be one of the best moisturizers, ever!

LUNCH BREAK EFFORT

Try The Body Shop's Vitamin C Facial Spritz

* Skin gets either really dry, or oily. Get your moisture mist! Evian? Nu Skin? Anything to refresh the skin! Spray, spray, and refresh yourself! :) Get some blotting papers and let the oil settle there, not on your skin. Don't touch your face with your hands! They're probably dirty.

GOING HOME ROUTINE

* Probably, dirt has accumulated in your skin. It is most important to get rid of it. Don't let dirt stay in your skin for long. It does horrible things like breeding a zit, or worse, a milia ( the toothpaste-like-one ) You can do your cleanse-tone-moisturize routine, with moisture mist as moisturizer since you're going to moisturize later before sleeping, anyway.

BEFORE-BEDTIME REGIMEN

This is the ONLY exfoliating scrub I know that's not abrasive on the skin.
Nu Skin Exfoliating Scrub, Gentle. Spherical-beads-galore! :)

* Do the cleanse-tone-and moisturize routine. But twice or thrice a week ( note : don't do this consecutively ), exfoliate. This buffs off your dead skin cells that you have accumulated ( we all have this ) , and gives you a whole new layer of fresh, glowing skin. After cleansing, do this. The buffing feeling is great, but don't overdo it. Keep it brief, say, 20 seconds again? Overdoing this can stimulate oil glands to produce more oil, so don't don't don't overdo! If you have pimples, isolate those spots and exfoliate around that area, don't massage it with the clear-skinned parts. It spreads the germs. With moisturizing, perhaps you have a night cream - something heavier, that can revitalize, and repair your skin. Opt for something repairing and moisturizing for the night, and something light and with protection during the day.

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil is so hot right now. Has variants for various skin types! :)

Treatment
* If you have pimples, apply blemish gel on the pimple, with a light coating. Can be used in the morning, or in the evening.

The perfect assassin , with no traces, of blemishes and pimples!
Lancome Spot Controle

Other tips, that just popped outta my mind :

* Soaps are a no-no. No matter how they claim to thoroughly clean the body, remember, your body skin is way thicker than your facial skin! The face is very delicate - using soaps would strip the skin of moisture. Don't you feel that your skin's so tight when you use soap? That's a bad sign. Facial skin, needs moisture. Without it, facial skin would be dry, even dry and oily at the same time for oily-skinned people ( that's the yuckiest feeling in the world ), and it would earn the least-coveted wrinkles in no time.

* Keep your skin from a very safe distance from anything scratchy, abrasive, and scalding. These kind of things can really cause your skin to be really red. It HURTs the skin. So, if choosing an exfoliating creme for the face, make sure you choose non-abrasive ones that don't scratch the skin. Spherical-shaped beads would be great.

* SPF is crucial ANYWHERE. Inside the office, inside your classroom, and even inside your room. EVEN in front of your pc! All those lights, really damage the skin. Protect yourself!

* It is important to know what skin type you are to know what products would suit you. For normal skinned people, they can use almost anything "normal". For oily skinned people, they need oil-free products, water based products are more desirable. For dry-skinned people, they should stay away from alcohol-based toners, and use moisturizing cleansers.

* For oily-skinned people, resist the urge to wash your face everytime you feel oil in your face! Too much washing can stimulate your oil glands to produce more, hence, making your skin a whole lot oilier. Doesn't help. Stick to blotting paper, or a clean towel :)

* This ideal skin care regimen must be twinned with keeping yourself healthy - drinking your daily dose of multivitamins, Vitamin C ( an antioxidant ), drinking at least 8 glasses of water, eating fresh fruits and veggies ( I'm thinking of my Ceasar Salad again...wah..) , and sleeping at least 8 hours a day. I almost forgot to mention this, thanks to Kars!

Kiehl's , coming soon in the Philippines! =)
This moisturizer is oil-free, non-greasy, and suited for all skin types :)

What's your skin care regimen? what products do you swear with? Tell me! Click comments, and type away! I'd love to hear from you :)

* lots of tips, in my succeeding entries! :)

Technorati Tags :skincare,regimen ,beauty ,kiehls,olay
nu skin,lancome,beauty products,
spf

2006-02-15T18:53:00.000+08:00

Scarcity of Beautiful Faces, and Opportunity Cost of Skin Maintenance

One of the jargons, that I happen to absorb quite well during my first few days as an Economics student were the terms, "scarcity", and "opportunity cost". They're one of the few basic terms taught to Economics students before things get harder. hehe :) They might sound simple, at first, but there are some important ideas presented by these two terms.

Scarcity, in layman's term , is the lack of something. In this world of ours, no matter how boundless the resources are, face it, our resources are most limited. For people like us, we don't have all the time in the world, all the money , and all the talents and skills. For bigger societies, countries, and companies, they have limited resources as well - their factors of production - manpower, capital ( money, or land ), and technology. No wonder hyperbolic and fantasy films ( Richie Rich...Princess Diaries ) always earn - men have always wanted to get everything he needs. That's okay , as one of my professors told me, the world can provide every person's needs. The worst part is, men, by nature, have always wanted to fulfill their wants, as much as possible. Want is such a strong term, because it is synonymous of the word, "whim". The world, is not enough ( yes, this was a James Bond movie. That's how strong my point is. hahaha:) ) for even one person's wants.

So to sum up, scarcity arises with the problem of this world, having limited resources, with man's unlimited wants!!! With scarcity, say, we lack money, we are faced with a tough decision - where to spend our money with. 2 Maybelline Eye shadow trios, or 1 Shu Uemura Eyeshadow? With scarcity in terms of time, we are faced with another tough decision. Sleep 20 minutes earlier, or spend the twenty minutes giving yourself a home facial? For the cosmetics companies - allot budget for technological research ( to make the products better ) , or just do away with huge budget promotional ads? ( I say, don't cheat on us! We want good products! and good ads :P )

On the other hand, opportunity costs, is another term for foregone costs. Costs might be numerical in value, or something not numerical as well. It is the cost that arises when you give up something to get something else. Given that we have scarce resources, sometimes we have to choose, and there are alternatives presented to us. Choosing one alternative, would cost us the value of the other alternative that we didn't choose. Too much to read? Read on, I'm about to drive to my point in my beautynomics paragraphs just below this.

In this world, I believe, there is a scarcity of beautiful faces. I do not intend to insult people that they are not beautiful. Beauty, I agree, is in the eyes of the beholder. Beauty is relative. I don't care that much for shapes of noses, skin color, irregularly shaped body parts. Goodness, they're God's gifts. There must be reasons enough why you are like that. Remember, society dictates what beautiful should be like. If society can do that, I can also dictate what beauty should be like, for myself. For me, beauty ( let's peg it at face-value ) is having a well-maintained face. A clear one.

Some people don't value skin care as much as I do. Having a bad experience with it, in my teenage years, I think I'm one of those people whose efforts were the most to keep myself looking good - zapping blemishes, redness, and aiming for a glowing, fresh skin. I mean, even if I don't look good in the eyes of others, they sure wouldn't complain about my skin, my hair, or my what. For me, a well-maintained face is beautiful already.

Again, some people don't value skin care as much as I do. They're fine with occasional pimples, or permanent pimples, blotchiness , and protruding whiteheads * wahh...nightmare *. I mean honestly, can you live with that? Whenever someone looks at you, they STARE at your one , throbbing, red spot in your skin. One lone zit takes all the attention away from your radiant personality. One sole bumpy bumpy zit causes you to be discriminated. It takes it all away from you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's how unfair life is. So, convinced? You need to be! ( I am the brainwasher..haha kidding )

The world needs a fresh supply of clean, and clear faces. The major scarcity that people face as hindrance to have clear faces, is TIME. People, refuse to allocate some of their TIME to properly have a routine of cleansing ( exfoliating 2-3 x a week) , toning, and moisturizing ( and treating ). Believe me, investing 20 minutes of your time everyday ( 10 min morning, 10 min before bedtime ), and you're a step closer to clear skin! Why?

Cleanse - Cleans your skin, gets rid of the oil and dirt accumulated in your skin
Exfoliate - Sloughs off dead skin cells. We accumulate dead skin cells everyday that causes our skin to look dull, lifeless, and with no glow. Boring skin. Exfoliate! It gives you glowing skin =)
Tone - Not everything washed with the cleanser is removed. Toning cleanses your pores, restores your skin's PH balance, and refines, and tightens your pores. Open pores attract more dirt, ya know.
Moisturize - skin , without water is like lips without lipbalm. Moisturizer makes your skin look more supple,soft, smooth, and younger.
Treat - kills, and even prevents zits! ( Blemish-control )

It's actually a winner! But still, other people still prefer studying, or watching tv, or even, sleeping than doing the skin care regimen. There comes the opportunity cost. When you forego doing your routine for sleeping earlier, you just lost your opportunity for great skin.
Do we have a cost attached to it? YES, definitely. You run the risk of accumulating more germs in your skin , hence a zit ( pimple ) in the next few days. You earn a zit, you lose ALOT in your self confidence. You hide in your room, you couldn't even walk with your head up high. So, was that something valuable that you just forewent? Definitely, YES. You might get eight hours of sleep, for goodness sake, but you sleep with your skin dirty. Doesn't make sense.

I say, the Opportunity Cost of a skin care routine is sky-rockety-high! The costs associated with NOT availing a skin care regimen, is SUPER HIGH (*alarming tone.hehe I'm DEAD SERIOUS! ). So don't ever, ever exchange this regimen, or twenty minutes of your day for something else! Goodness, it's ONLY twenty minutes, it can work wonders on your well-maintained skin. It can gain you friends, earn you compliments, and turn some heads! But foregoing this opportunity of having great skin, is deadly. Just think of the consequences of having bad skin. Physical ( swollen , burned, or whatever bad! ), Emotional ( bubhye, self confidence ), Financial ( a trip to the derma again?)

Twenty minutes of skin care a day, keeps the dermatologist away! :)
(I just copied Yakult, and the doctor )

Up next, my supply and demand series!=) Watch out for it :)

Technorati Tags : '>opportunity costs, '>skincare, '>cleanse, '>tone , '>moisturize, '>scarcity, '>beautiful faces

2006-02-14T22:15:00.000+08:00

A Love Story

Here's my love story. I know nobody's going to read this since it's Valentine's day, everyone is out with their loved ones, and I'm one of those people left in the city who is still busy staring, and typing on the computer screen as if it was a normal day. But that doesn't mean I don't have a love story to tell.....

Love at first sight....
When I was very young, I would gaze adoringly and wondrously at the breathtaking models in commercial ads. I wanted to be like them- very fresh, beautiful, and head-turners. I was so addicted to watching commercial ads with beautiful girls, as they apply face powder , boys go chasing them. It was love for me.

Forbidden Love...
That was when I was aged eleven. I would always bug my yaya to buy me the face powders featured in TV ads, and give some of my allowance to her to buy that during her day-off. My mom absolutely forbid me to wear those products because I was too young to do so. Whenever my mom wasn't around, I would sneak into her vanity mirror, apply the face powder I just bought, use some of her lipstick, eyeshadows, and blush-on, and smile at myself. Pretty, pretty. I bet boys would like me. I just wore the model's powder! =)

Sometimes the youth, are reckless. Too much innocence, disillusioned by a disappointing awakening.... Mistaking true love for something too good to be true...
Instead of being more beautiful, I was in for a horrible realization. Those products made my skin breakout, as early as age thirteen. Short on budget, I was, I bought skin care products available at groceries, said to be for baby-skin, and used them during highschool. It didn't get well. I was freaking out , for during my age of puberty, my age of "self-consciousness", I was pimplish, my skin was horrible, a boy I actually liked, told my friend that he identified me as the girl with the pimples.

Desolation. Feeling lost, disillusioned love creates more confusion within thyself. Looking for solace, looking for more love.
My desperation caused me to be more confused. I was seeking for something to hold on to, something to cure my dreaded skin problem that I caused. I switched from brands to brands, wasting alot of money. My skin was the "immune" type - products work for a week or so, then after that, results stop from coming. It was heartbreaking. I had nowhere to go, nowhere to run to.

Then on an unexpected moment, the one for you arrives...
I stumbled on a brand that was not only expensive, it was VERY expensive for me. As a student, I had limited budget..but I took the risk. Bugged mom that it might be my saving grace, so she nicely gave me some money to buy a set. To my glee, it was a miracle. Pimples started clearing up, my skin started to get really smooth and flawless, I was glowing...

Sometimes, people are too blind to see that love is in front of them, that leads them to go astray...
With my stubborn attitude, I stumbled on another brand - which claimed it was better. Despite my friend's warning that I had to stick to what was working for me , I stopped my skin care, and switched to this. It started alright, but as other skin care brands did to me, it didn't last...I deserted this brand, and looked for other brands that would help me. I found a brand that was actually good enough for my skin, and used it for years, even though it didn't give the amazing effect that I experienced in my past, favorite brand.

Love has its way of conspiring with the Universe to bring back those who are meant to be together...
After college, I had a good job ( hello, my dad as my boss? cool! ) , and of course, I started to have funds of my own. When I noticed that my toner was in shortage, I saw this old catalogue of my favorite skin care brand that I deserted four years ago. Why not give it a try? I gave in, invested my cash again for that, and the rest, is history...

The pain and the hurt can go away, but it will be scarred in the heart for a lifetime...
Despite my finding "the one", it was still visible and evident that I suffered from my past brands - some little scars, discolorations, etc. Some will eventually fade away, some won't. Thank God for dermabrasion, laser surgery, and diamond peeling, they can go away!

Once you've found the one, don't ever let go...
I found out that the effects of that certain skin care brand was still great on my skin. It
brought back the glow in my face, made my skin a whole lot clearer, and with my new beginning again, I shall never exchange my favorite skin care for another, no matter how much promises they give to me. I'd be a total fool, if I do so.

The end! hehe =)

Postface : Grabe, I just got home, my mom sure wasn't kidding when she said that Valentines Day equates to heavy traffic. I was swarmed with work, again, and it was my sister's "fitting-the-promdress-day. " I must say her dress was gorgeous! Of course, she's gorgeous - being a svelte beauty graced with height ( unlike me ), her Louis-Vuitton inspired dress looked qualified to walk the red carpet in the Oscars! hehe :) It's another entry! :) Anyway, I drowned in my Crunch chocolates - the only thing I have in the fridge. I swear, I'm never buying Ferreros for myself anymore. This entry is in the spirit of Valentine's day. I am not alone, I have my skin care with me, loving me, and taking care of me =)

Extra Notes : HELP! Who's an expert of RSS/Atom, whatever you call that? mine's pretty f*cked up! And meta-tags, whatever you call that, too! Help, help, help :) Help me reach my message across my targetted audience! hehe =)

2006-02-13T18:05:00.000+08:00

Full Coverage....

Saturday night was a blast. Attending a lovely wedding of my friend's brother, sisterhood bonding with my coolest college girlfriends - it was one precious night. Everyone was so dressed up, in full makeup - Oh, how I love the sight of beautiful people. Gorgeous women flaunting their curves in their gowns, and dashing men in their best barong. ( or only haha )

I was dropped off after work ( yes, I was plagued with work last Saturday ) at Katherine's house, and to my glee, I was an hour early. Looking at her face without any makeup on, I so wanted to do her a makeover - I want to do everyone makeovers. When she saw the vanity kit I brought - and I laid them out in her vanity table, she got all confused - I think it was way too much! hehe :)

Our full coverage makeup was summed up as follows :

1. Makeup Base - We used tinted moisturizer as our makeup base. The beauty of tinted moisturizers, is that it makes your skin look very evenly colored, gives your skin a very healthy glow, and if you're lucky with a good brand, gives you a very flawless look. It works wonders!

2. Concealer - Used my concealer to conceal my undereye circles! Get one shade lighter than your skin tone. The trick is pat lightly under the eyes. Too much would make you look like a ghost. hehe :)

3. Foundation - I used my reliable wet/dry pressed powder and applied my foundation using a sponge spritzed with Moisture Mist ( never use tap water...Evian can suffice ). Katherine used her Clinique Foundation in powder form.
* tip : skip foundations, or any powder for that matter, which contains talc. It looks cakey on the skin! Settle for mica, or rice starch. :)

3. Brow/ Eye Makeup - We applied some color to our brows to give it more shape. Used brow brush + dark brown brow powder to do that. Now comes the fun part -the eyes! I was in a very adventurous mood with Katherine's eyes. Being a gorgeous chinita that she is, and wearing something earth-tone, I mixed hues of brown on her eyes. A wash of light matte brown on the whole eyelid, a glimmery blue-brown shade on the crease, some other deep hue of brown to mix with the gimmery blue-brown for more drama, and a shimmery yellow-bronze on the browbone for highlight. I was actually very surprised with what I have done to her eyes - I did a great job! ( Yes, I can be the next Kevin Aucoin! , kidding ) . I actually realized, effective today, that really, my powers only work for the good of others! I wasn't really thrilled with my eye makeup - purplish something. Next time, I'm buying a vanity mirror that I can magnify anything, to help me with my eye makeup!

4. Blush -We're gals who have oil glands that have a mind of their own, like rebels in highschool ( in short, oileeeee ) so we used powder blushes. I used my ever reliable NARS Orgasm - a peachy-pink shade that is said to be the most flattering shade for anyone ( universal shade, as they say ). I liked the effect on me! Katherine used her Shiseido blush- I actually liked it! It was very baby pink-ish with shimmers in it , and I can't find it anywhere online! Maybe it was a limited edition product. I can't even read what it was because the label was all in Japanese
. So much for my potential fairy look.

5. Lipgloss - With the wedding reception to be long, and will involve eating, we needed something that would stay on our lips. I used a lipliner to make my lips naturally colored, then applied Lancome Juicy Crayon ( 02? It's red ). To coat it all up, I used something I just purchased...L'Oreal Glam Shine Sorbet in Strawberry. It has a luscious look to it since it's very glossy...and pink. Katherine used her reliable Clinique lipstick - I didn't get the shade, but it was glossy nude. Very sexy.

6. Over-all finishing - Some people just finish their makeup after the last swipe of lip product. I beg to disagree. Makeup has to be set, no matter what, to stay put for the night. I introduced Katherine to my ever-favorite finishing powder. Finishing powder actually sets your makeup, refines your makeup ( because some foundations aren't perfect. they tend to cake. ( mine doesnt!! but I'm segurista ) It makes your skin look so luminous and perfect like a porcelain doll. Well, just something close to that. We used a huge powder brush for that, tapped some powder to the lid ( the container ), swirled the powder brush to get the finishing powder, and tapped to set aside the excess amount. ( I got this technique from Bare Escentuals. They teach women to do this with their product ). The brush strokes have to be up- down since facial hair grows downwards. ( You can't defy it, or else, it gets more visible ).

Tadah, we're done! I must say we experienced maximum utility, or satisfaction with the way we looked that night. We headed to the hotel, and met up with other girl-friends. We also saw some girls all dressed up - there was a prom! Ohh...I feel like a young girl again. :) It just seemed like it was yesterday that I dressed up for my prom - dyed my hair black to look like Snow White ( hehe, I try! ), and put on my princess-like purple gown to enjoy the night away on my Senior year. Now, it's my younger sis, who's 4 years younger than me, that will be having her prom next week. .... I'm also excited for her! :)

Anyway, when the night was over, we just crashed to Starbucks, near our old school, for drinks. Like old friends, old classmates, we chatted the night away like college students...like we used to do.

I love my friends that I can retouch their makeup whenever they want! =)

2006-02-13T10:20:00.000+08:00

Economics in the Name of Vanity

If I were a professor ( which I've always dreamed about, but I really do hate math, Economics tamed my "hate" for it, but just a little bit ), I would be scolded for a very bad lesson plan. Jumping from one topic to another without even introducing my theme. Well, it's time. ( sounds serious..! )

What actually is Economics? Economics is such a HUGE term that there are tons of definitions for it. In my college ( and I think, most colleges ), there are Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Economics. Economics can be found in two buildings as well - that's how complicated it is. I chose the Science, silly me, so I had to face more more math. But I almost got dumbstruck when my classmate taking B. Arts of Economics had shown me his book on Structural Economics. It was a total nightmare. My bronzer didn't do justice to my sudden pale valor as I read the highly mathematical book. I appreciated my Forecasting class right then and there.

Economics comes from the greek word oikos ( house ) and nomos ( rule ). It's actually summed up as the "management of your household". The most basic definition of Economics , is the study ( or the science ) of the decisions/choices of individuals to meet their needs and wants given scarce resources.

Scarce resources. Everything in this world is limited. Food. Land. Money. Even Makeup. Look at the Nars counters. They're empty, and people still want more blushes. Actually, if everyone satisfies all their needs, I think we can share a very nice world, but man by nature, is insatiable - the more he/she gets the more he/she wants. Even the woman with the most number of lipglosses in the world ( The Guiness World book holder, who are you ? ) would still want more. So it gets more complicated.

Now, the main goal of Economics is equilibrium. Equilibrium is perfection for economists. Supply is equal to demand. Some other terms that economists like are maximization , and optimization. I know it sounds complicated, but finish my blog entry!!!!

In my beautynomics theory, everything I mentioned above is all relevant in the name of vanity. Yes, makeup counters, skin care and even haircare ( FINE! LET'S CALL IT HEALTH AND BEAUTY ). Health and Beauty counters are overflowing with products, but our wallets aren't overflowing with money. We are restrained by our budget. Therefore, our money, is considered a scarce resource. Given that we have a budget, we must make wise decisions on what to buy, in order to be totally satisfied to the nth power with the products we just bought, given our budget.

I'm not the type to buy too much cosmetics that their shelf lives might be due already and I haven't touched half of them. As a beautynomist, I believe it is wasting. Economists hate wasting resources. We believe in efficiency ( two words to understand that : NO WASTE. ). I want an efficient-working vanity kit - gives me good results, but also, no waste. Everything should be at least 3/4 used or even finished before their shelf lives are due. Vanity is not all about splurging too much. It's not a suicide on the part of your cute wallets, it's simply knowing what to buy , given your budget. If you don't have budget, you still can't buy low-performing products that can actually kill your skin, there are natural ways of fixing your skin! ( that's another topic )

Ten blushes can be optimal ( budget reaches the maximum satisfaction ) and efficient for an actress who wears makeup everyday , but for a normal student who doesn't wear much, one can do ( of course, we can talk about WHICH ONE blush can be all it. ).

Equilibrium. I believe that too! My supply of skin care, must be equal to my demand for skin care. Can you imagine stocking up skin care? I can't! I hate stocking up. I want fresh fresh products. Beauty products have life spans too , you know. I actually buy a new set of skin care a week before they run out. Optimality. I want to reach my highest satisfaction ( delirious, delirious happiness ) given the budget I have for my makeup. So that's why I'm always coming up for better funds for makeup since I know I won't be satisfied if I have a lower budget. Makeup is actually a crucial product - it can make, or break your skin, permanently. Why? some ingredients of bad makeup brands actually can cause your skin to breakout, or worse..dig up holes in your skin.

Is vanity nonsense? NO!!! ( whatta violent reaction ).

Do we NEED a clear face? YES, we do. We NEED to feel good about ourselves, we NEED to have a good reason to live. So therefore, we NEED to allocate some of our budget to making ourselves look good. Do we NEED to look like Kate Hudson? Don't be silly ! That's a WANT, we just NEED to look good, bring out the best in ourselves. Imagine if you change the word NEED in this paragraph to WANT. It doesn't make any sense.

I need you , like water, like breath, like rain....

So to sum it all up, I just defended by vanity campaign again. haha :)

I shall be jumping to another topic, again, in my next entry, now that I've proven a point. :P

2006-02-11T09:22:00.000+08:00

STRESS...

I woke up today with the feeling of stress. Nothing ever compares to the irritating and defeating feeling that you get from a late night's sleep and stress. God help my body, my soul, and my undereye circles. Today, I'd be attending a wedding ( my schoolmate slash close friend's bro ), and as my bestfriend Angel jokingly tells me, I need an hour prep- time to finish all my "ceremonies" - picking out a dress, showering, and of course, the greatest of them all - applying makeup and fixing my hair. Some people might think it's absurd, some people might prefer sporting a no-makeup look, but I am no way of getting there looking as if I didn't exert any effort in looking good for a wedding. It's a rude thing to go underdressed, like I hate seeing people wearing jeans, attending a wedding reception ( blame it on my Max Factor employee aunt who always told me that ). As if I'm the one who's getting married! hehe :)

I'm gonna be in full coverage today ( my face, I can't be full-coverage-clothed. That's boring! )

With my current stressed state, my mind is blank. I've prepared entries which are very informative ( economics and beauty-wise ) but are lengthy - I doubt anyone would read them by the weekend. So if anyone has any trouble with economic terms, type in your comment, and let's see what I can do to make it easier :)

Anyway, back to my preparations.

2006-02-09T11:06:00.000+08:00

GDP, GNP , and my VMV

One of the more confusing terms for basic Economics students and even non-economics students are the terms, GDP and GNP. Luckily, we're so based in the ever-creative country called the Philippines, that the term GDP, is natively defined as, "Gawa ( made ) Dito ( here ) sa Pilipinas ( in the Philippines ). I think that just made it easier for everyone. And another term, GNP- Gawa ( Made ) ng ( by ) Pilipino ( Filipinos )

GDP is all the output of the Philippines. Everything made in the Philippines, even products foreign firms who are based here and manufacture products, their products are considered as our GDP.

GNP is all the income of the citizens of that certain country. Wherever their firms are based, as long as they're citizens, and listed as this certain country's mother office, it's their GNP.

Well, to make it easier for you and for me ( of course, ) I have noted a very signature example of one of the contributors of GNP and GDP in the country, and also , in the beauty industry! ( How can I resist ? *wink* )

One proudly Philippine brand I can boast of is the cosmetics brand VMV Hypoallergenics.

VMV Hypoallergenics is a brand that is proudly Filipino that already made it big internationally. Markets include Hispanic America, and more ( I saw alot of pictures and testimonials of foreigners in their magazines! ) I mean, however could you get away with having the term "hypoallergenic" in your brand? That's almost unheard of. The brand name itself sounds so promising since alot of women ( of course, even men ) are looking for a brand that they wouldn't have the trouble of "trying first" before knowing if they're sensitive or allergic to it, or not. If the brand name is such a gem, why didn't other brands also follow and name their brands " Juliet Hypoallergenics"?

Because the term "hypoallergenic" is such a serious term , and not to be toyed with, you have to pass strict international validation standards to be able to use that term, and VMV passed! ( coolness ) It's the first brand to be validated like such. :)

They take into great consideration the top ten allergens, and PROPERLY LABEL their products with a rating of some sort , which informs the readers if the top ten allergens are absent in this product, or only 9 allergens are not included in the product. As much as possible, their goal is to have a product that would have no allergens at all, but of course it's still a challenge. How convenient can that be for the consumers? VERY! (hehe : ) )

Their products range from skin care ( a dermatologist owns this brand so , I could expect much ) that don't look like the conventional derma-unbranded stuff that I'm not so crazy about, body care, and cosmetics! :) Heck , they even have this really greasless SPF (Armada), which has the highest protection against the harmful rays of the sun! (SPF 70 ). Their cosmetics line is FAB. The face powders don't look cakey on the skin! That's an outrage for a price like that! Even an American drugstore brand ( still not disclosing, email me to know ), sells their foundation @ 800, makes me look like a cornstarch model! ( You know what i mean )

And last but not the least, the pricing. It's very affordable, and yet not cheap ( careful on the term, cheap connotes poor quality, so I hate using this term unless situation calls for it ) I think the foundations costs around 600 bucks, refills a whole lot affordable, Skin Care around a thousand a set ( which is a great buy ! ), etc ( Check the counters, they're at SM, PCX, and at leading department stores! )

One thing more - it's a Filipino brand - so shades are well-suited, primarily, ( did I hear that right? We're in first priority? ) - for US!! Yipeedoodles :)

This brand has performed well here and internationally, that they have an online store already

So, how does VMV contribute to GDP? ( Teacher mode ) . VMV manufactures their products IN the Philippines, so it's considered a contributor of the Gross National Product. Simple as that! :)

So , how about GNP? The owner, is a Filipino citizen. Therefore, VMV contributes to GNP! :)

So what if VMV really hits it so big ( I hope ) and expands and goes to Brazil ? Since the owner is still Filipino, if the products are still manufactured in the Philippines, it's still the Philippines' GDP and the Philippines' GNP.

It only becomes Brazil's GDP if VMV decides to have a laboratory there where they can manufacture cosmetics in Brazil instead of importing from us. :)

This might sound idiotic, but I think I had more fun thinking of VMV's makeup ( Love the foundation )! hahaha :) It's just so fine, I think it's one of the best Filipino brands in the market, if not , the best. :) Sometimes I am afraid to check out other Filipino brands because they're priced so low ( too low ) that I get dubious about its ingredients, if it has too much fillers ( think extenders for cooking ), or it has ingredients that are not so beneficial to the skin ( and of course, I see the faces of the users...it gets me scared :( ) . With VMV, at least it's a dermatologist's brand. :) ( They even have a clinic @ Makati! )
Check it out yourselves! It's perfect for everyone :)

Must- Try Products according to Juliet ( Don't you notice I keep on plugging products within my blog entry that it became so darn incoherent? lets segregate! )

Makeup for the women
They're stackable! Aren't they adorable?

Id Line for the Men
Believe it or not, it also targets chicken skin! Perfect for men who shave :)

- VMV Armada Sport 70 - for the sun-scared people. and skin cancer phobic ones. Also perfect for athletes! :) Waterproof as well :)

- VMV Two Way Foundation ( go get the Illuminants one! it brightens the face ). I swear it doesn't cake on your skin, and it doesnt dry up your wallet as much too!!! Whee, didn't that sound fun? It's not a cheap thrill since it doesn't damage your skin. :)

- VMV Superskin Line- For kiddos below aged twenty ( or if you have a serious problem with pimples , or dry skin ). This line is very affordable! It was one of the products that helped me clear up my skin during my teen years :) You can purchase a starter kit, to test if the product is okay with you. Did you hear that? We have mini's! :)

- VMV Id Line - for men, and women. When you hit the age 20, you have to be conscious about your skin care, and I'm not exaggerating if I tell you to start on your anti-ageing routine! Also perfect for men, who shave. Eliminates chicken skin, and bumps!

- VMV Glykeros Line - the anti-ageing skin care for women aged 40 and above. Many raves about this! :) Lift, Lift up your face!

-VMV Id Soap - This has got to be the most effective product to eliminate back pimples , which only costs 189 pesos . Ain't no buffing soap cool enough ! :P I can swear on this one! I've had three friends who have tried this, two having back pimples, and one, wanting to scrub off her sunburned skin. She told me that the sunburned skin peeled off amazingly after one use, and she was so happy about it! :)

Be a VMV Beauty! ( or Handsome, for that Matter! )

Technorati Tags : '>GNP, '>GDP, '>VMV, '>Glykeros, '>Economics, '>beauty products

2006-02-07T10:25:00.000+08:00

Supply and Demand , and some Niche for Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day Mr. Ferrero! Gimme some love!

With exactly 7 days before the much-awaited special occasion for lovers, I can't help but wonder how much that special day affects ALOT of people.

Mentally - People start to lose focus, start daydreaming of their fantasy dates
Physically - as their souls leave the physical realm, eyes looking at something yet not really looking ( haha)
Physically ( take two ) - People take extra effort to look extra good, start looking at mirrors ( this is my usual routine, but I can't blame others if they dont do that), some girls apply more makeup, some guys actually SHAVE after a Paleozoic era, and some unhygienic people actually hold their annual baths.
Emotionally - You see alot of smiling faces everywhere, smiling at the wall, smiling at the bathroom sink...it's smile season! ( just, please, brush ya teeth!!! )
....It's like...smile, til it hurts - Smile, til you bump into the wall! hahaha :)

Well, that's about it. I'm not here to insult Valentines Day. It's a sweet day! :) It's also a day economists fearlessly forecast some stuffs ( that are bound to happen anyway)

You can see that for that isolated day of the year, demand curve is similar to that of Christmas - the only difference is, ALL items fly off the shelves during Christmas, and for Valentines, selected items only! ( it's like a sale ( without the discounts )! Selected items vs. all items! haha :) ) Selected items are roses, some flowers , chocolates, I-love-ya cards, and..oh gosh, how can I forget? those cute, adorable , huggable stuffed toys!

So that's why they're priced ridiculously high during Valentine's day, and yet people still buy them. The demand shoots wayyy up ( not as high as Christmas', it was very very impressive last year! ). As they say, the higher the demand ( the more people who are willing to buy ) , the higher the price, given a constant supply ( of course, suppliers try their best to produce/manufacture ALOT but they can't accomodate everyone! roses wither too, u know :( ) . People actually are willing to pay THAT high to please their significant others. I guess there are some things that money can't buy...or rather, too expensive to maintain! hahaha:) (Naughty Juliet! Stop the sarcasm.)

That's the majority's part of the story. I mean, I can already hear those swoons coming, those high-pitched exclaims ...ahhh!!! Eternal mushiness!!!

Okay, so to the niche part.

Way back in college ( as if it was a long time ago, I just graduated! yet I've forgotten all about my Mathematical Economics already. hehe ), as Valentines' day drew near , our org was supposed to do a fundraising project. The girl I was partnered with had a boyfriend, and I had none ( I think I was crushing over some nerd in my Business class back then and I think I was competing with him in terms of grades. HAHA how nerdy ). Well, as expected, my girl-partner wanted to sell fresh flowers, and oh-so-adorable bears. Me, I felt...strange! I was single, how am I suppose to survive that day without humiliation that I'm walking alone to class, to my booth, and while waiting for my driver? Somehow I knew there were girls like me too, dreading the awful day that they have to face...ALONE.

So I felt like Zee Savior of those pitiful girls, and thought of an amazing idea for my fund-raiser - kikay stuffs for girls!!!! I mean, who wouldn't want to splurge on oneself for Valentines' day when everyone's giving gifts to each other? I mean, are you just expected to WATCH those couples as they do the PDA, and other girls walk like contestants of Binibining Pilipinas with their bouquet of flowers, to complete it all, they could just wave, and wear a tiara! hehehe :)

So yes, my fundraiser did well, my business partners and I had a blast. We just realized there were alot of girls who wanted to feel accepted, and not really so alone during the Day of Hearts. I mean yeah, we hear them all the time, "Valentines is not just a day for lovers, but also for friends, family, etc. " So how come it is SO darn magnified that Valentines day is PRIMARILY for lovers? Goodness gracious, I need to shop for makeup, my head's boiling hot! hahaha! :)

So for the girls , there is NOTHING, i repeat, NOTHING to be ashamed about being alone on Valentines day. Dress up your prettiest, and come to school / work breathtakingly beautiful. Start feeling better about yourself! Makeup, is definitely an anti-depressant. Well, so much the preacher that I am, if you're still a little bit depressed ( Zee inevitable emozion ), fine, go hide. Steer away from restos, they're fully booked. Steer away from hotel buffets, you'll see couples everywhere! Go and hide in these places :

- the cosmetics counter ( and TRY to love yourself , buy some makeup, sweetie! Let the Makeup Adviser give you some love! )
- the grocery ( cook yourself up a fabulous feast!, i think couples overprocastinate over this, so they probably bought their supplies earlier! )
- your vanity mirror ( open your makeup book and put on some makeup, OF COURSE ON A CLEAN, AND MOISTURIZED FACE, smile at the mirror, and you'll see that someone actuall y smiles back and is happy about how you look )
- the bed. Light some aromatherapy candles, lie down, count lipglosses, este sheep, and have some sweet dreams!

If you have no one to give to this Valentines day, go shopping for mommy, daddy, siblings, and of course, you! Here's my suggestions for gifts this coming Valentines day! :) ( Uh..I'm turning this into Christmas, but heck, people love gifts anyway )

For the mom :

Bare Escentuals Foundation with SPF 15

It doesn't cling to your wrinkles! It glides, glides, and glides. It takes years off your face with this all-natural mineral makeup. No fillers, just pure minerals that are definitely good for your skin

of course, we can always share! *snicker*

For the dad :

Nu Skin Exfoliant Scrub

Dads hate exfoliating! I mean, MEN! They really need some educating to do about the wonders of exfoliating! They need to slough those dead skin cells off their face. Believe me, it works miracles! They tend to look really fresh, their skin clearer after exfoliating. Nothing beats Nu Skin, with luxurious marine diatoms gently scrubbing off your face without the abrasive ouch. They're spherically-shaped exfoliators! :)

exfoliating is PERFECTLY okay for straight men, okay? :P

For the adorable siblings :
( they're supposed to share everything! )

a set of Lancome Juicy Tubes - they soo look good on the lips! Luscious lips, here we come!!! ( it's not Christmas naman, so I can not splurge too much on em! hehe:) )

these are pefect for teeners who like sheer lippies. They've got some hints of color, though not too much. :)

And last but not the least....
MEEE!!!

MAC Lipglass in Prrrr

Never got over my obsession with the Lychee Luxe ( hot pink never dies! ), but I'm willing to try this one! :)Prr just sounds so sexy, looks so seductive, so here's to the vampilicious me!!! :)It's actually a milky baby pink gloss that goes with any smokey eye makeup! Paris Hilton and I finally have something in common, this lipgloss! ( that was a shallow statement, but I was deeply gratified! haha )

2006-02-06T08:55:00.000+08:00

My Puffy Eyes Started With a Kiss

After taking my morning shower, I glanced myself at the mirror ( of course, my daily routine! ), and got somehow frightened at my slightly puffy eyes, also slightly swollen. I remembered that I just let Sunday(yesterday) pass me by, by beauty sleeping for a good 6 hours from 1 pm to 6pm, instead of going to the mall and picking out my latest experiment on this eye cream to help my bags go away.

I somehow got alarmed at the fact that by just sleeping late, I could get such horrendous effects on my face! Yes, I've been sleeping late for a number of Sunday nights already. Why? Because It Started With a Kiss.

It Started With a Kiss is a Taiwanese Telenovela about a clumsy, not so smart, but very cheerful, infectious, and hopeful girl ( and she's cute, too ), falling in love one way with a very handsome, inherently intelligent, but stiff and mean guy. Alot of spur of the moment innocent kisses that would drive you mad! It's a mixture of comedy, laughter, and drama ( it's hilarious! I swear! ) It's a must-see telenovela for girls who have been swooning and desperately hoping that their I-can't-reach-ya crushes would like them back someday, for this telenovela just hit me so bad that I cried buckets last night when the guy, after 5 long years of the girl's constant trying to win him, finally says I love you to her because the girl wanted to move on already and he couldn't bear it.

"Ariel is an innocent and optimistic girl in highschool. Ever since she saw Joe (for some reason I thought his name was Brian) at the school's welcoming ceremony, she falls for this guy who is known as a genius with an IQ of 200. She has had a crush on Joe for 2 years and finally decides that she wants to let him know in the middle of the school. But he rejects her love letter infront of everyone and she becomes the school joke.

As Ariel moves into her new home with her father, the house collapses after an earthquake. Fortunately, her dad's highschool friend offers his help and invites them to live with him and his family. Ariel never imagined that this uncle is actually Joe's dad! As fate has brought them together, the two of them begin a new life together under the same roof.

Known as Taiwan's number 1 genius, there is almost nothing that can stump Joe. Everything is always within his control. Ariel's appearance is like an out of control tornado, turning his existing lifestyle upside down. But Ariel's naive nature to give it all and just go for it causes Joe to begin thinking about his own life and future. Meanwhile, without him realizing it, he slowly begins to have feelings for Ariel..."
- from AsiaFanatics Forum

I just wish that the schedule wasn't so bad. It started 10 pm and ended 12 midnight. And again, it had reruns on its early episodes which runs from 12 midnight to 1: 30 am! Goodness. I had no choice but to follow and stay awake because its schedule is Taiwan's ( or China's? ) @ CTV Channel 67. Following another time zone is so hard to do!

Upon reflection , I just noticed that the Taiwan telenovelas have decreased, and shrinked from the local TV screens ever since Korean telenovelas started pouring in. I only see Amazing Twins ( I've got a crush on Jimmy Lin since Grade Five..sigh. ) I must say, they're missing alot. There's alot of cool telenovelas, contemporary ones, from Taiwan, that are so hot in Asia right now. There's even the next hottest guy, very much compared to Jerry Yan as of the moment, but I don't find him cute! He's a mix of Robin Padilla and someone. Here's a pic :

I'm still for Joe Cheng of It Started With a Kiss! Totally loving him right now!
He's sooo dreamy ( onscreen, but offscreen, that's another story ) - I'm so for guys who are so smart, articulate, and of course, cute! Here's his picture :

Joe is just someone I want to be with! Wah...If I were to meet him for the first time, I think I would have to book a hair and makeup appointment with makeup genius Lala Flores to make me naturally flawless! ( and it actually costs alot to have a natural look :P )

Here, another lesson in tradeoff : be sure that you know what you're going into!

I traded a good night's sleep and my eyebags for a wonderful show that made me feel so young again ( duh,as if I'm old! Well..) Sometimes one has to set aside her vanity for some emotional entertainment. ( I can temporarily cover my eyes with my lethally creamy concealer, of course )

It just feels good to fall in love! Better watch the first episode at YouTube ( search It Started With a Kiss ) , and see for yourself! :) Grr..the Valentines bug has crawled on me! Nooooooooo.....

Til then pretty people!

2006-02-05T20:48:00.000+08:00

My Greatest Dream as of the Moment...

...TO ATTEND THE NEW YORK FASHION WEEK!!!

Well, it's gonna remain a dream since I'm stuck with work for the rest of the year. Still bargaining with dad if I can go abroad to the trade fair ( tsk, still business ) this coming April.

Anyways, I gotta sleep early. Maybe I'd dream of strutting a sexy pair of Jimmy Choo stilettos with some exotic outfit from Betsey Johnson on the runway in my dreams.

2006-02-05T19:43:00.000+08:00

Insects in my Lipstick...Insects in my Strawberry Milk-O...

After reading about an article about crushed insects being used as dyes ( to be exact, red dye ), I was surprised because I actually didn't feel mortified, disgusted , or whatever. The article is summed up as FDA wanting the food manufacturers or cosmetics manufacturers to properly label their products if they do contain cochineal extract, or carminic acid. The article states that the said extract or food/cosmetic additive triggers allergic reaction from others, and they're really not labelled properly, labelled as "color added".

Imagine, they're in almost everything red! Strawberry ice cream..preserved cherries ( no wonder they're sooo plucking red! A vampy shade for a lipstick..)..uh oh, lipstick? hehe:) Good thing I'm not a vampy-red lipstick user, I'm more of a pink one. But hello? Pink = still from the red family! Geez! But honestly, I didn't screech yuck. Maybe it's because of my roots. Not the roots in my hair, but the roots of my culture! hehe :)

I've been eating alot of exotic foods ever since I was small, so I didn't develop any trauma towards weird-looking foods like bayawak ( a rare kinda lizard ), pork tongue, laman-loob ( intestines ), pork blood ( I so love this! ), frog legs ( super in love with this! ), uh! alot lot more! Exceptions include dog ( I love puppies...sigh, no way for eating dogs, phuleez...), and wormiessss!!!! In other words, being Filipino, I can eat almost anything. Being Chinese as well, I can eat ALMOST anything too!

So, am I bothered by the crushed insect in my blush - on? my lipstick ? Well, those are the only products I can think of that I use which have red...:P Absolutely not! I'm not allergic, but I can't be selfish!!! The essence of the article was for the people who are sensitive to those food additives. I just wish that cosmetics and food companies would actually just give in and follow what would be best for its consumers - after all, they're the market, and the market dictates!!! To add up to that, I also have this hobby of checking the ingredients of cosmetics and food products - I check cosmetics for comedogenic ingredients ( if there are, scrap em! ), well, with food...as long as they're yummy, I won't mind! :)

The essence is simple - I'd put it in my vanity writing style, as, " I could smother that lipstick in my lips as long as I am aware that there's cochineal extract or carminic acid in it! "
For the safety of everyone - it is a must. People deserve honest information.

Another add on : I have actually taken this topic up in my Chemistry class way back in college. Some food colorings ( some colors ) are even cancerous, and banned in other countries! So...I would totally feel betrayed if I get cancer in the future and find out that it came from the junk food that I'm eating.

To the cosmetics company : I won't mind, really, still love ya, but be honest and say it!
Momma wont get mad! hahaha!!! Gotta hand pick and weed out the rotten ones!

To the food manufacturers : I won't mind, too, really, so start changing your labels!!! I still want to live long, ya know!

2006-02-05T00:43:00.001+08:00

My Squeaky Clean Face Thinking About Poverty

It was a Saturday night at home for me - didn't feel like going out with this gloomy atmosphere. Just after I did my night routine - cleanse, exfoliate ( just because it's a Saturday ), tone, treat, and moisturize with my favorite water-based products, I still could not sleep, for I have been thinking about the Wowowee Tragedy. Watching TV awhile ago, it can be seen that alot of people were saddened by what happened. More than saddened. People were in grief. And I could hear the howling winds outside my window empathizing with the miserable outcome of this day.

I read MyePinoy's blog entry about the Wowowee Tragedy and it made me think more. Poverty had long been one of the most pressing problems in this country. In my Economic Development textbook, there were alot of suggestions to alleviate poverty such as free education for the poor to be able to be educated and get jobs in the future, and certainly more support from the government such as housing projects and more. They all seem to easy and nice to the ears, but in reality, the economic formulas that are effective are only confined inside the textbooks. As the economic nerds ( like me ) say it, there are alot of other factors ( non-quantifiable in nature ) that affect the economic equation that causes its collapse.
In real life, economic equations don't necessarily give a great result. Mathematics is an exact science, but being human isn't.

Corruption is one great factor that can hinder any economic equation or economic theory from happening as it is described in text books. For example,the recent fiscal measures (contractionary), dictated higher tax rates @ 12% EVAT. This must make a good impact, although in the long run, but the pressure is on the present administration to show us changes, since they charged a whole lot higher to the citizens of this country. If we don't see good roads, better infrastructures, and better public services ( as a tool for poverty alleviation ), then the EVAT would be assumed to be meaningless and definitely useless - the potential revenue and budget for more productive things to be done for our nation to be shoved deep inside the pockets of our greedy politicians who never thought about anyone else but themselves.

Debt-servicing is one of the burdens that our generation must face ( even if the debts were long long ago...feel sorry for my future kids ), and it's just in perfect timing - when the economy is bad, we put our money in non-interest producing and stagnant activity as debt-servicing. One advantage must be, at least, we're still okay in the eyes of the International scene.)
I wonder if they get to sleep at night with what they're doing. Or they just don't have conscience's.