Beauty Con 2024

So happy I was able to attend the Day 2 of Beauty Con 2024 as a side trip from my official business/ work-related travel. I used my Watsons Card to register. Although I can only attend the morning activities because my flight back to Davao is in the afternoon, I was still so fortunate to see Catriona Gray and Gabby Garcia in person.

There were a lot of beauty, skincare, haircare products, fragrances for men and women, and of course freebies too! I arrived early so I got a tote bag and some items from Issy. There were a lot of feeebies from other brands too, so I joined the crowd in filling in of registration forms, and lining up to get the freebies.

I want to see my favorite celebrities and beauty vloggers but their schedule is on Day 4. I think this will be one of my annual activities to look forward to, so I will save starting today.

Congratulations to the organizers of Beauty Con 2024. See you again soon, hopefully! Hope to see Jelly Eugenio, Marj Maroket, Heart Evangelista and other beauty bloggers next time.

The New and Improved Aqua Beauty Salon Centre

Aqua is known for being one of the best in terms of nail and hair care. Recently, they opened another branch in Tagum City where they offer not just hair and nail services but also skin care services! Yes, they have the modern equipment for facial, diamond peel, acne solutions, wrinkle minimizer, warts removal, underarm care and many others.

Actually, it was my first time to visit Aqua during the opening day. I really did not try any service in Aqua Gaisano Mall because I thought they are expensive. But I tell you, every service you avail is really your money’s worth.

Did you know that all the furniture in the new branch is from Korea? Indeed, the owner, Mr. Daniel Bong, is a Korean who married a Filipina from Panabo City, Ms. Marie Bong. In Korea, he studied hair care and even finished a higher degree which made him an excellent hairdresser. He trained his staff very well just like what he learned in Korea. With the kind of services they are offering, this makes Aqua frequently visited by customers and the main reason why they opened another branch is to accommodate the growing number.

Since they want to offer the best to customers, they added the skin care services so that it will be like a one-stop shop. Customers will no longer transfer to another establishment for facial services.

As a newbie, I tried the MC 2 treatment. I forgot to ask what MC means but the treatment is for making your scalp healthy. Healthy scalp means healthy hair. I tell you, I felt sleepy during the treatment because the staff massaged my scalp so nicely that I want to sleep. After applying all the products, she also massaged my scalp with the rotating machine that felt so good. The products, mostly from Mielle Professional, felt minty that I was so relaxed and calmed.

MC 2 can be a regular treatment especially if you have persistent dandruff, falling hair or just unhealthy scalp. I also let my daughter tried this because of her dandruff due to allergies. She also liked it.

Just recently, I tried their hair color services and I also loved it. Mielle Professional products was used and my color was Rose Violet, though not really that visible in the photo. It suited me and my skin tone. I think I will be a regular customer of Aqua.

The new branch of Aqua Beauty Salon Centre is located at the Ground Floor, Punzalan Building, Bonifacio-Mabini Streets, just infront of the Freedom Park.

For complete services, you can message their Facebook page. Visit now and regain the vibrance and health of your hair.

Better Skin, High Confidence in Beautéderm

I think people, especially women who have skin problems have heard of Beautéderm. Why? Because it made a loud noise in the internet on how it changed the skin and added more confidence to those who struggled with pimples and acne before. Also, with their famous celebrity endorsers, it sure made the news reached to a lot of ears.

Of course, I tried it and surprisingly, it made a big change on my face. My face peeled, peeled big! At first, I was kinda scared because it darkened and peeled big time. I was tempted to stop but I gave it a month. If there will be no change, then I will stop. Yes, I felt the sting of the Papain soap and toner sometimes. But in less than a month, I saw the change: smoother skin and less visible pores.

I bought the Travel Set as a start until I bought the regular set. Now,I  bought other products like facial wash, mask, glycolic toner and under eye cream. Their effects will be posted individually, I hope, if laziness will not strike me.

I am happy with the results of Beautéderm products and will surely continue to use these.

For orders, please do visit Beautéderm page or message them for stores or resellers nearest you. You can also order through me, or just message me for any questions or concerns.

NOTE: I have not changed the products on the body since BN Whitening Products still work best for my body. I still use BN products such as extreme whitening lotion, extreme whitening cream, underarm solution, extreme whitening soap, ultra white lotion and milk crub. I am still an avid BN products user for my body.

(Note: Photos all from Beautéderm Facebook page)

FCO Cosmetics Lipstick Line

I met Fernacia Pabelonia, the owner of FCO Cosmetics, years back. She messaged me in Facebook because she wanted to attend the Victory Tagum Sunday service. Of course, I replied and there started our “friendship”, although it took a long time for her to actually attend the service because of her schedule. Then we finally met once and then I saw in her Facebook post that she moved to Davao for her business.

And her business is the FCO Cosmetics. I was so amazed with this woman that she started her own whitening beauty line: lotion, soap, bleach, toners, underarm products! There were a lot of testimonies of how good the products are! And in addition to that, she launched her own liquid lipsticks!

What is more amazing is that the first time I saw her posts in Facebook for the lipstick swatches, I knew that the product is good. With the help of my former student Kristine Tuba, I ordered two shades to try, and I was not disappointed! Yes indeed, the product is great. It is pigmented, smooth on the lips, dries matte and stays long compared to other local brands of the same price. The price is just P190 each.

I bought the shade Virginia. I kinda like dark and red or its combination because it complements my skin tone. I also bought the shade Gabby, a nude/brownish shade. Although nude is the trend these days, I do not prefer this because it looks so light and makes me look pale.

Overall, the lipsticks are good and I recommend it to those who want to use organic, safe, affordable yet pigmented and long-lasting. This also is a good addition to your collection.

If you are from Tagum City, you can contact Kristine Tuba for your orders, or message Fernacia Pabelonia to know where the nearest store or re-seller in your area. Visit their page, FCO Cosmetics on Facebook to know more about their other products.

Celebrate National Hair Free Day and #SwitchtoHeySugar

You know how they say that women have incredibly high pain thresholds? That’s a fact. Women see past the challenge of childbirth and see the joy in it. They wear high heels willingly, or slip into a pair of Spanx if they must. They even regularly tear hair off their skin as part of their daily grooming routine.

While there’s not much women can do about pinched feet and blisters—waxing doesn’t have to be as painful as you imagine. It’s a matter of knowing where to go and what waxing method to choose.

So in the spirit of this year’s National Hair Free Day, Hey Sugar is letting you in on a secret—sugar waxing is a nearly pain-free way of dealing with unwanted hair.

Take Hey Sugar’s sugaring process for example. Known for only using gentle, all-natural ingredients, Hey Sugar takes you through the process of waxing without causing anxiety, regardless if you’ve been doing this for years or you’re new to the whole thing.

Their method is swift but efficient. It begins by an expert aesthetician pouring the sugar wax on the area, so its rich, delicious warmth soaks into your skin. This allows the mixture to really seep into your pores and get a good grip on hair follicles, straight from the roots, with the added bonus of moisturizing and exfoliating your skin. They work in small, manageable sections and press on the skin gently as they lift the cooled wax, efficiently removing even the shortest hairs from its roots. After that, you emerge from the salon smooth, exfoliated, moisturized, and hair-free.

The experience is a stark difference from DIY creams and at-home waxing kits—which are not only messy, but are as painful as you probably imagine waxing to be.

Leading up to National Hair Free Day, Hey Sugar will also be offering an incredible pampering treat. Visit your nearest Hey Sugar branch on November 27 from 11AM to 3PM and you can indulge in their free eyebrow threading and underarm waxing services.

With that said, do you really have to wonder if you should #SwitchtoHeySugar?

New Beauty Finds: IN2IT Lipstick

I have been reading blog posts these days and I came across beauty blogs that featured IN2IT’s lipstick called Pink Alarm. Since I love everything pink, I read more. I found out that it is of high quality and those who tried find it quiet impressive.

Of course, I want to try it so I hurriedly went to Watsons and bought one. In Tagum City, it is only available in Watsons, either in Gaisano Mall or Robinsons Place. I first tried the shade through the tester and I immediately decided to really buy.

Pink Alarm is a moisture intense lipstick so it is moist and feels so smooth as it glides through my lips. The shade can enhance my face and when I used it just today, some noticed and said that the shade was nice. Bagay sa akin!

Although I noticed that there were stains on my cup when I had my tea, it is okay for me and I will just retouch and make my lips on full color again. It is okay to retouch many times since the lipstick just cost 350 pesos, it is still affordable. And besides, the shade is really nice. From other beauty bloggers, they said that Pink Alarm is an affordable dupe of NARS Schiap. I think I can fool someone that I am big time, that I am wearing NARS!

Since I like IN2IT now because of this, I think I will buy more of their products. I am eyeing the BB Cream. I tried one when I bought the lipstick and I think the shade was perfect for me. The packaging was also cute! Also, I think I will buy another lipstick, the one with nude shade.

Yeah, will definitely buy it comes payday.

Korea’s Newest Trend in Beauty and Skin Care Now in Tagum City

Korean cosmetics, supplements and services are readily available in the Philippines be it in the market or online. They are quiet popular these days. Maybe because of the trending Korean drama series or the products are endorsed by big time celebrities. Although Korean products and services are priced higher compared to other local and international brands, most people prefer it because these products deliver an efficient and high quality results. And mind you, we all like Korean celebrities because of their flawless appearance.

In Tagum City, Love and Cherish Beauty Solutions offer a wide variety of Korean beauty and skin care services to achieve “I woke up like this” look in a very affordable price. These include Korean eyebrow embroidery in 6D, 3D and Microblading. They also have Korean BB Glow Treatment, Lip Embroidery, Eyeliner Embroidery and Hairline Embroidery. Promise you, these treatments are all painless! There were a handful of Tagumeños and clients from the surrounding municipalities who availed and experienced these services. They were all satisfied.

Cherish Ramiscal, one of the owners of the Love and Cherish Beauty Solutions, is the one who performs these treatments. She had a series of training overseas under a Korean instructor to master these techniques.

Of course, I was also curious and tried the BB Glow Treatment because honestly, I have not heard of this treatment before. This is the first in Tagum City.

During the session, a vial of BB cream was opened and applied all over my face using a machine with micro needles. Yes, needles, but very small and you cannot feel any pain. It is like massaging your skin during the entire application.

After the session, I instantly saw and felt the fresh glow and radiance in my skin. According to Cherish, if I will have another session after 2 weeks, these glow and freshness will last up to 4 months. Then the next session will be after 2 or 3 months just for maintenance. Other advantages of BB Glow Treatment include skin brightening, skin whitening and wrinkle improvement; pigment contains stem culture ingredients from Niacin polyimide, Albutin, EAA that stimulates skin rejuvenation; all components are made of vegetable elements so it is gentle on skin; and this treatment will not clogged up your pores unlike applying makeup foundation or typical BB creams.

Curious? Want to try it? Just contact Love and Cherish Beauty Solutions thru their Facebook page and book an appointment. Be on the latest trend and try these services now.

My “Personal” Use of Prosource’s Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) Products

When I think about coconuts, I remember the song Da Coconut Nut by Smokey Mountain which was popular in the 90s. Coconut trees are very useful and versatile. The trunk can be used as wood for building houses and making furniture. The leaves can be made into stick brooms and other home decors. The fruit can be made into a lot of products like buko pie, buko juice, coco sugar, coconut oil, coconut husk scrub and may others. The coconut water can be consumed alone or with milk, making it a very refreshing drink.

Coconut business is considered one of the biggest profitable business in the country, as there are a lot of coconut farms nationwide. Because of this too, that a lot of brands are competing in the market. Of all the brands I tried, I was enticed by Prosource‘s Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) products.

Last month, Prosource company was so kind to send me their best-selling products to try. They send me their liquid virgin coconut oil, VCO bar soap and their newest product which is the calming oil. I was so happy to finally try the soap and calming oil!

So how did I use the products?

1. Virgin Coconut Oil in liquid form – I use this product as a weekly hot oil/conditioning treatment for my hair. To make it more convenient to use, I place the bottle in the fridge first, around 10 minutes, to make it semi-solid. Oils tend to solidify when cooled. So when I pour the product out, it will not be that messy because it will not easily slip in my hand. I use ample amount of the semi-solid VCO and apply it in my hair. I leave it more than an hour using a shower cap. I just wash it off with water then let it dry. However, I do this during nighttime only where I know I will not be going out anymore.

I also use this liquid VCO as a makeup remover especially when I wore heavy makeup or during weekends when I want my face to be relaxed and hydrated. I apply it on my face using a cotton ball, wiping all the makeup until everything is removed. After a few minutes where I can feel that my face is already hydrated, I wash it off with a mild soap.

2. Virgin Coconut Oil in bar soap – This soap has a very pleasant smell. I use this three (3) times a week as part of my beauty routine. I had this whitening scrub that I use three times a week also, so before I use it, I wash my body with the VCO soap first. It really made my skin smooth and hydrated even after using the scrub.

3. Virgin Coconut Oil Calming Oil – I really do not like liniment oils because they smell bad. The smell sticks to my pillowcase and bed and stay there for a long time. But when I tried the calming oil, it smelled great. I tried it by rubbing a small portion on temples of my head before I went to sleep. When I woke up, I didn’t smell any of it in my pillow or in my bed. The only thing I remember was that the calming oil really made me calm and relax and put me to sleep faster. Amazingly, my husband and daughter also liked it. It is also a good decongestant for clogged nose.

These products are available in leading drugstores and supermarkets nationwide. I can really assure that the products are of high quality and price-worthy. I almost ran out of the VCO liquid for my hair so I will be buying one bottle very soon.

Hair Color and More at Hair Philosophie by Jing Monis

I really wanted to go to a posh salon in Davao City and avail of their services, but hesitations sometimes struck me because one, I do not know the hairstylists and I have trust issues. Two, I have doubts on the products because it might be fake, harmful or too strong, and three, the most important, is the price. Since I am just living in Tagum City, prices are quiet low and I am used to that. So when I plan to have my hair done in Davao City, my basic questions are: Is it affordable? Is it too expensive? Is it value for my money’s worth?

Good thing was that the Davao Bloggers Society members were invited to attend a meet and greet event at Hair Philosophie by Jing Monis, with Jing Monis himself! Of course, we were able to avail services of our choice and we were also given freebies to maintain our hair condition. The products were from Osis and Wella.

I availed the hair cut, full highlights, full hair color and hair treatment during my schedule. Mr. Mario, the senior stylist, was very accommodating and gave advise on what is the best for my hair. Together with Mr. Eric, his junior stylist, they did an amazing job on my hair. The color was toned down and the highlights gave some oomph on my boring and untamed hair.

Hair Philosophie by Jing Monis is a great salon. With my experience, the hair stylists were really good, the products are of the best quality and the price…the price is reasonable.

With my medium-length hair, the prices were: haircut in round layer style – 450 pesos, full highlights in special blonde ash – 2,200 pesos, full hair color in medium blonde cendre copper – 2,400 pesos, and macadamia treatment – 1,500 pesos. Total is 6,550 pesos. Yes, it is expensive but you will not regret it. The products and services were all worth it.

I am very satisfied and will visit Hair Philosophie by Jing Monis again in 2 to 3 months for my maintenance and trim. If you want to visit it too, they are located at the 2^nd Floor, Abreeza Corporate Center, every day during mall hours.

A New Level Of Whitening

Whitening products in all forms are available in the market today – it could be lotion, cream, soap, spray, juice, tablet, capsule, powder, gel and many others! The choice of the user depends on the convenience it can give. While most of us know about the high demand of these products today, many are looking for those that give them the fastest result, if not instant.

The most promising whitening agent is the glutathione. Glutathione (GSH) is an antioxidant made from glycine, glutamic acid and cysteine. While glutathione is prepared like any cosmetic or vitamin product – in a safe, sterile laboratory setting – it is made of all-natural amino acids that occur in nature and are beneficial to our bodies.

Glutathione is commonly taken in pill form, and glutathione pills are hugely successful in Japan, particularly for women that just want to have lighter skin than they were born with without the side effects that some topical treatments have.

Here in Tagum City, Love and Cherish Beauty Solutions offers services that will make you look fairer and more beautiful. Aside from the whitening cosmetics, tablets and capsules sold in their store, they also offer the fastest way to get fairer – gluta push and gluta drip.

Gluta push is glutathione taken via intravenous injection. You will get to choose from a variety of brands available. Of course, choices depend on the clients budget, available time for injection and convenience. Usually, injections are given 2-4 times a week, depending on the brand. But rest assured that all the products are bought from a reliable and authentic supplier.

Gluta drip is the newest and faster way compared to gluta push, if you have the patience. Gluta drip is glutathione taken through intravenous infusion, meaning through a dextrose!  The treatment last for an hour or less, so you will be staying in the store that long. The price is more expensive than gluta push but you can do it once or twice a month only.

No worries because the owners, Lovely and Cherish, are both registered nurses, have practiced in different wards in the hospitals before, and had their IV Therapy licenses. They also orient the clients before they proceed to the treatment.

So far, all the clients were satisfied with the results and more and more are enticed to try these treatments. The best of all is, clients are not afraid of needles anymore because Lovely and Cherish are experts that make everything painless.

For more information, you can visit them at Stall Number 72, Trade Center, Tagum City. Love and Cherish Beauty Solutions is also the authorized distributor of BN Whitening products here in Tagum City. You can visit their Facebook page, BN Whitening Shoppe Tagum for more updates and promos.