Cheapest pimple remedy: aspirin

Nowadays, you can easily buy acne treatment pens. You just apply them on the affected part and wait until they swell down. However, for some, buying a pimple control pen may not be that practical, especially when you rarely use it. Good thing there’s the good ole ASPIRIN.

Yes, aspirin. The ones you buy from the pharmacy to relieve pains and inflammation. It is made from acetylsalicylic acid,  similar chemical compound to that of salicylic acid - an effective anti-acne substance.

Salicylic acid is a substance obtained from the bark of a willow tree and is best known as a main ingredient for anti-acne products because it helps slough off dead skin, unclogging pores and neutralizing bacteria.

What magalog?

I was in Strip It salon having my nails done when I discovered Depot Fashion, a catalog-magazine that features clothes, accessories, and shoes of local shops and boutiques.

Dubbed the “magalog” (magazine-catalogue), Depot Fashion saves all fashionistas from hopping from one mall to another with its directory list and price-tagged items, letting you browse the latest fashion finds without hitting the road and breaking a sweat. It can save you a good deal of money too because you can plan or canvass good investment pieces.

I love the section Ambushed, which contains great inside information on the cheapest stores in the metro and around the world. In this column, spotted recessionistas in Manila also share their favorite bargain finds, which range from Php 100-500! You’ll see that every stylista do visit ukayans!

Fashion 101

Fashionistas on the go. Who are they and where can they be found? Best place to look? The mirror. Us girls, want to look good not just for our boyfriends, crush or the guy in the office you've been eyeing for the last one and a half year, but mainly for ourselves. It cannot be denied that to feel good is to look good. A good pair of sandals can give us a boost of confidence like a warm up speech from a friend. If you like unique heels, designer Stuart Weitzman shows a lot footwear designs from your daily walk to the park to an evening affair. He also uses different materials from cork to wallpaper!

Pics from bluefly.com

Gypsy top over faded jeans, your favorite 4th grade shirt and slip-ons- fashion for me is being able to wear anything and still look and feel good. The main key to Fashion is knowing what works for your body type, skin tone and the season or occasion. Think: classic. It works anywhere, anytime. Think of solid colors, monocromatic, pearls, and ribbons. You can check online stores with designers such as Michael Kors. Who’s not familiar with Michael Kors? From dresses, tops, skirts and pants to bags, bracelets, necklaces and earrings to glasses and hats – his designs scream luxury and class.

  

Beach Essentials

Bullets of sweat racing down your forehead and back, the urge to eat iced drinks and food, and the perpetual need to fan yourself are the top indications of SUMMER. And where do we usually find people in this season? Beaches and resorts.

Girls start to panic. Summer is the season of bikinis, tan lines, and get aways. In short, summer fun.

During this season, I make it a point to have at least one summer get-away with my girlfriends. A summer get-away should be well planned, but sometimes spontaneous is better.

May it be planned or a spur of the moment thing, a girl should always be ready...

Eyeglasses as fashion statement

Stop complaining about having to wear eyeglasses! With the beautiful eyewear available today, glasses can be a great fashion asset. However, it takes time and patience to choose the right frame for you.

I bought a Tommy Hilfiger frame for myself last year and it took me hours and a couple of shops to find the right frame at the right price. Mine cost me almost P3000 and that was on a sale. 

Normally, branded eyewear costs P5000 and up. Watch out for clearance sales and you can get these for half the price or less. There are a couple of months a year that optical shops sell their “old stock” for new season frames. I actually bought mine at Executive Optical (frames are cheaper here as opposed to the other high end shops). I also buy my disposable contact lenses there (only P200).

Know which belt suits your body type

Belts add texture, color, and polish to an outfit. If chosen wisely, they can also minimize figure flaws, four of which are shown below:

Short waisted: match your belt to your shirt color. It gives the illusion of greater space between the shoulder and the waist. Avoid wide, fancy belts.

Long waisted: Choose a wider belt in the same color as your skirt or pants. This creates an illusion of greater space in the lower part of your body.

Big hips: Never buckle your belt too tightly. A tiny, pushed-in waist will only make your hips look bigger.

Ukay Adventures: Olivarez Plaza, Tagaytay

They say the best ukay places are the ones outside Metro Manila. While this is not entirely true, the odds of finding a good ukay shop (not the ones in open air beside marketplaces) in the province is better. In Cubao you'll find dozens in one street but only one or two will showcase relatively new and stylish clothes.
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I was in Tagaytay for a work-related trip a few days ago. Taal volcano was reportedly grumbling but we were in no hurry to get back to the Metro and instead dropped by one of my favorite ukayans: the ones in Olivarez Plaza, just several steps away from Tagaytay Junction/Rotunda.

It has been a year since I last went there and I was surprised at how quaint and pretty it has become. A lot of flowers were added to the scenery, making the place really chic. However, I noticed that there were fewer ukay stores and more tiangges. Sad.

Nevertheless, the quality of clothes in the ukay stores were still the same. The prices were relatively high because they just got stocked up with new arrivals but I was still able to buy P50 blouses that were almost good as new. I was also able to buy dark denim pants for P150. That one looked like it was worn just once or twice.

Affordable (and painless) Waxing: Strip It Hair Removal Wax

Ever burned by melted hot hair removal wax? How about going to salons twice a month for underarm hair removal? Spent over 500 pesos every month for hair waxing services? Well, if you’ve answered yes to one of these questions, it’s time to change your expensive waxing habit with this one cold wax product that we’ve tried and tested.

The product: Strip It hair removal wax. It’s made from natural ingredients so it’s safe to use. Main ingredients are sugar and honey. It’s 100% Pinoy-made. Oh, and it's painless too!

When you purchase, you get one kit complete with a can of Strip It wax, a wooden spatula, cloth strips, and instructions manual in one small reusable paper bag. The best thing is that it costs only Php 150*. Now, you’ll have more moolah to spend on lots of sleeveless tops and cute skirts :)

*Kits are available in these sizes:

Mini trial kit 100g

Medium kit 200g

Big kit 350g

Choose the right foundation shade for your skin

1. Try shades under a white light. Suggestions: white room with fluorescent lighting, a tiangge during a cloudy day, or your favorite department store.

2. Select at least three shades that matches your real face color.

3. Compare the three shades by lining them on your right or left cheek-jawline area. The one that disappears like you didn’t put it on is your best friend, er, best match.

4. One tip: It would be good to find two shades of foundation – one that matches your real color and one that’s one or two shades darker than your original color. The reason for this is for you to have the right foundation during the summer, after getting your tan. :) You might want to get one that’s two shades darker if you’re planning to stay longer under the sun.

Stay pretty!
- E 

Getting the no makeup makeup look (with mineral foundation)

Light, odor-free and hypoallergenic - these are the reasons why women worldwide love mineral makeup foundation. When applied, mineral makeup doesn’t appear pasty, off-color, or evident on skin, unlike traditional makeup. Plus, it doesn’t have that fishy, fatty smell “old” makeup has. Of course, the same goes for mineral-based eyeshadows and concealers.

What I love most about mineral foundation is that it appears so natural when applied to skin. With the right makeup base or primer, the foundation lasts longer too.

Application

The first step I do when doing my facial makeup is to moisturize with a non-comedogenic moisturizer. Non-comedogenic means it’s free from ingredients that clog the pores and cause breakouts or pimples. I use Celeteque facial moisturizer.

Ukay: An Introduction

Ukay-ukay is an acquired taste. While some find buying second-hand clothes unhygienic or cheap, generations of eclectic fashionistas have since re-packaged it into some kind of fashion haven.

Flea market in Finland (Wikimedia Commons)

“Ukay-ukay” comes from a Cebuano word that means “to look” or to “unearth.” In the northern parts of the Philippines, it goes by the name of “wagwagan.”

Origins

According to theukayqueen.com, it is rumored that ukay originated from the practice of buying (and then selling) extra second-hand garments from humanitarian groups like Salvation Army which were engaged in sending old clothes from the US to aid refugees and calamity victims in countries like the Philippines.