How to know if you are Lacking Sleep


One of the things that you must do regularly to be beautiful is having enough sleep during the night. Enough sleep does not mean you are getting it only through quantity but also the quality of that slumber count.


I for one believe that I was getting enough sleep because usually make up for the lost sleep I have on some days I over work. Until I felt sometimes I easily get sick and my eyes diminish in luster. I asked my doctor friend how to determne if I was actually lacking sleep. He said I could identify the shortage through the following signs.


1. You actually need an alarm clock to wake up on the correct time.


2. Its hard to pull you out of bed in the morning.


3. You repeatedly hit the snooze button of the alarm clock to get more sleep.


4. You constantly feel tired, irate, and stressed during weekdays


5. Its hard to concentrate and remember things


6. Having a hard time being creative, analyze things, and solve problems


7. Falling asleep while watching the tube


8. Falling asleep while in meetings, lectures, or in a warm room.


9. Feeling asleep after meals or after gulping a small amount of alcohol


10. Actually falling asleep after dinner


11. You doze off five minutes after hitting bed


12. Drowsy when driving


13. Sleeping extra hours on weekends


14. Needing naps during the day


15. Having dark circles around the eyes like a racoon.


The doctor told me if I am experiencing at least 3 of this symptoms I actually lack proper rest and sleep. He said that I must rest completely and never neglect that. If you compromise this very important thing it might affect not only your beauty for having dull skin and tired eyes but your general health. Sleep is the only way your body recuperate from all the stress it encountered during the day. Some disease are actually incurred for having lack of rest.


So from now on I will use the checklist above to see if I need a dose of ZZZZZSSSSS and improve my beauty and overall health altogether.


Sporting a Flat Stomach by Equalizing Body Mass


One of the body part that I have trouble eliminating is my gut. Their are a lot of techniques on how to make it small in the shortest time possible from diet to some sort of creams that would make you perspire or spike your metabolism to increase your burn rate. The solutions are many and sometimes I could hardly implement all of them in my routine.


My gym instructor told me that their are actually exercises that could help and minimize the appearance of your beer belly but it would require to target specific body part for maximum result .


He specifically told me that the main problem why our stomach stand out compared to our other body part is that it require no effort to maintain its volume and we dont exert effort to even out the imbalance. One sure fire way to make it less prominent is make our shoulder and back more voluminous.


Shoulder and back are the muscle group closest to the gut and if they are miniscule in size all the more our bodies would look like walking pear's. The best way to create an illussion of a coke bottle figure even if our tummy is big is to increase the mass of both shoulders and back so to create a balance in their appearance making the tummy less obvious.


Another body part that my gym instructor advice to improve is my hamstring. These specific muscle support our body when we are standing. If they are weak we tend to slump thus in effect give the chance for our love handles or tummy to protrude. If we strengthen these muscles to support our overweight midsection we will lessen the chance for it to sag.


It would be silly of course if you just have your back, shoulders, and hamstrings improve while your other body parts look punny. These muscle improvement is advisable if you want to minimize the appearance of your tummy as soon as possible when your method is exercise. Over the course of time when you achieve the look you must target other body parts for growth like your arms and exercise that actually minimize the stomach. It would help of course to incorporate the tummy exercises while having these back, shoulder, and hamstring exercise for maximum effect.


The best way to get the most effective exercises for back, shoulder and hamstring is to ask your gym instructor for a program that would improve first those body parts while your other muscles grow at a close pace.

The Beauty of Juicing



"Bottoms up." This is my catch phrase before during my high school times when I frequently juice my veggies and my fruits so I could extract most of the nutrients. I have these big white juicer that I bought. I tried to juice all sorts of fruits and vegetables and I drink them individually.

I heard that Juicing help me get the most of the nutrients I want because minus the fiber the juice contains all the nutrient and it is easily absorbed by my system. It is also a good way to compliment a healthy diet and it will eliminate the tedious munching. A one day detox of fruits of vegetables guarantees health benefits like smooth skin and a boost in your immune system over long term practice. You just have to plan it for a day and make sure you are not doing anything tiring.

The only downside is when you are juicing these vegetables most of them dont taste good thats why children hate them on their plate. I tried drinking bittergourd (ampalaya) and white radish. The bittergourd is known to cure a lot of ailment including diabetes, it felt like after I gulped the first sip it numbed my tounge of taste because it is so bitter. Although its the case I simply drink it since I know it would be good for my over all health.


The real challenge though is drinking the white radish vegetable. They said that drinking it would eliminate most bacteria including worms in your system. Though that alone sounds encouraging, when I drink the glass it felt like I gulped down a bottle of muriatic acid. Their are times I actually spit the juice because of the taste. It felt like I am drinking a polyjuice potion in the book Harry Potter where Hermione actually dropped the bottle containing the potion due to the disgusting taste.

The only solution I come up with is mixing it with fruits. Yes it is possible that you can mix both vegetable and fruits to counteract that yucky taste of vegetables. Vegetables are more dense with nutrients compared to fruits, but on the brighter side fruits are more tarty and palatable compared to vegetables.

To sum it up to benefit mostly from juicing and if you would want to gain the most benefits in juicing, try to combine delicious fruits with gruesome tasting vegetables. This way you could have the best of both worlds with fruits and veggies, and get that beauty with no hassle from juicing like shiny hair, sparkling eyes, and so on so fort.


How to feel Happy and look Beautiful at the same time (Part 2)


Here is the second installment of these blog about how to be feel Happy and Look Beautiful at the same time. The following are the second part of the list I enumerated on activities and lifestyle at triggers Happiness and Beauty.

6. Lot of Sleep - Sleep is one of the things in life that is free yet it is a luxury for some. Lack of it do make us irritable and creates mood swings. According to some psychologist and therapist beside the fact it makes us tired it lessen the smile factor in our face. The best amount of sleep at least is six hours a night. If we get to be rested enough the lesser the chances we feel bad and our mind is clarified enabling us to feel good. Lots of sleep also brings benefit like better skin and better body function that in turn contributes to overall wellness and beauty.

7. Moderate alcohol consumption - These activity is a no brainer for everybody. We all know that over consumption of alcohol adversely affects our mood for a number of days due to hangovers. Beside the fact its bad for the kidneys and distorts our brain funtion these side effects brings down our smile-o-meter a lot because of the heavy effects. Too much alcohol also dehydrates our skin due to water loss. Alcohol initially works as a stimulant at first but ends up as a depressant after too much consumption.

8. Take L-Tyrosine - Base on a study by the U.S. Army the best benefit of consuming it is it lessens depression and wards of stress. A chemical reaction that a have a good side effect to our hormones. These amino acid is abundant in most poultry like chicken and turkey. Poultry as we know it is low in fat as a protein source which is good in maintaining a svelt figure to look good.

9. Dressing Sexy - On studies made by famous researchers M Lewinsohn and M. Graf, the idea of being perceived as sexy or beautiful by others makes us feel good and positive all day long. So by all means make yourself look good and even sexy. Wear somethig that flatters you and put a bit more effort to enhance those looks. The study also points out to give back a compliment when you saw somebody with the same aura and it adds to your smile-o-meter when you make somebody feel good as well. Confidence in yourself is a big source of happiness together with beauty.

These is the complete list of activities that makes you Happy and look Beautiful at the same time. I hope you implement most of them. Did you know that Most people who are happy most of the time tends to age Slower compared to their friends who frowns a lot. All the more reason not to frown ehehehe and have a positive perspective about everything..
Source : Better than Chocolate by Siimon Reynolds

How to feel Happy and look Beautiful at the same time (Part 1)


There are many ways a person could feel happy about his life. Usually happiness is a state of mind but their are a lot of techniques on how a person could be really happy about himself. Some people find happiness in achieving life goals, relationship, new property and the list goes on.


But dont you know that certain activities that you do to make you beautiful actually makes you happy at the same time. Though it happens by accident or for some unknown reason this activities will really help put a smile on your face. As we know it people who smile a lot looks much younger than people who grudge 24/7. ehehehhe. The following are the list of things that could make you happy and beautiful at the same time.


1. Exercise - The work out that we indulge release the tension and stress we feel. Also the biochemistry of our body produce feel good or happy hormones known as endorphins which in turn makes us high during the work out. The benefit of having better skin, losing fat, better muscle tone as an added effect to exercising will really boost our self esteem which in turn would put an inch to our smile.


2. Low insulin diet - usually we consume a lot of white foods like flour, rice, pasta, and a lot of sugar that yoyo's our sugar level which in turn contributes greatly to our mood swings. A diet known as the Zone diet helps stabilize our sugar level and mood by teaching us to eat fruit every four hours and to incorporate vegetable with every serving of meat and fish that we eat. The result is proper weight loss and significant increase in energy level which in turn contributes to happiness.


3. Discipline - As we know it over indulgence to a lot of stuff like vices (e.g. smoking, drinking, eating, sex) is very taxing on our health. It degenerates the state of our mind, body, and soul. Practicing control over those habits that you over indulge will help you feel better. Control over our habits in a way contributes to happiness which in turns out to be a source of accomplishment. Too much vices also ruins our health that ruins our beauty altogether


4. More Fish more Fun - According to Andrew Stoll from Harvard Medical School a diet high in omega 3 coming from fishes reduces depression. This diet have been study and proves to be effective. The big reason I can come up is fish is low fat and doesnt contribute much fat. Fat in bad form when added to our body ruins our mood especially when its dangling as a love handle on our midsection.


5. Yoga & Tai Chi - this two major form of stretching exercise bank on the theory that our body have this meridians which are rivers of energy that flow in our body. If that flow get slackened it dampens our mood which in turn make us feel bad. Indulging in this two major exercise contributes in releasing or maintaining the good flow of meridians in our body. But if its not possible 10 to 20 minutes stretching activity a day will suffice to get those meridians to circulate and put a smile in our face. Regular stretching however also add to flexibility of our body during exercise that prevents injury.


These are just some of the things that you can do to be Happy and Beautiful. Watch out for the part 2 for the complete list. For the mean time stay Beautiful and be Happy :p ehehehe




Source : BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE (by Siimon Reynolds)

How to improve your looks even if your not good looking enough


Their comes a time when all of my hopes to feel good about myself regarding on the way I look was really out. I have done a lot of stuff to make myself beautiful and, I keep thinking that I have tried everything and yet their is no difference, I still feel the same and no confidence was gained. Despite the many efforts I dont think its not paying enough on what I am giving out. I was about to give up my journey to beauty then I was confronted by one of my beautiful friends and he give me an advice on how get back on my feet. The advice was really stern but direct to the point.


He told me that in order to be beautiful you must accept whatever you are right now. Its the first thing that you must digest. If you lack height you can never change that. If you come from a family of receding hairline its totally unchangeable. Their is no shortcut, no magic wand to change anything at all. I am beginning to feel disheartened because it seems like no matter what I do I am heading for a dead end.


But the next thing he told me really give me inspiration. He told me that why not bank on your assets. Or if their is none why not enhance whatever you got. I ask him to explain further to give me enlightenment on what I must to do achieve whatever he is advising. He told me that not all of us are born as prince charming or a person that could launch a thousand ship, but we could improve ourselves to the next level.


One key to feeling good is banking on what you got. He told me as an example if I have good skin why not flaunt it more. Reveal more flesh or improve the state of my skin to a higher level that it supersede all other things that is flawed in my body. Whatever your asset is like good eyes, beautiful hair, candle like finger nails ( the list goes one) they are the first things you must flaunt and improve. Now this dont exactly mean you should neglect other aspect of your body but what he is trying to say is that let that one good asset be the highlight of your looks. If you got big muscular arms by all means wear a tight fitting shirt or if you got long clear bright eyes highlight them with a good combination of eye make up. Let people have something to look at you then after that target the next best thing about you


If you feel that you have no asset whatsoever in your body then the next best thing to do is make one or better yet improve your worst liability. My friend told me that if you cant find anything to appreciate on yourself then improve something or somepart of your body. If you think that your hair is your most gruesome liability that it detracts everyone else then by all means concentrate all your energy in improving it. Treat it weekly to treatments like hot oils or find that perfect hair do so it will compliment the shape of your head. Let it improve to the point it is no longer problem for you. Then improve the next thing you hate about your body. Its like turning your liability into an asset. Of course their are unchangeable things in our body but we could always find other things to improve


The focal point of his advise is that never grudge on things that you cannot change. Nobody is created as a total loss and their is always room for improvement on everything else including your body. Give people a reason to compliment you, and from that starting point everything else will follow. A thousand mile journey start from a single step. My friend sounded more like an Accountant slash Life Coach when he told me this things but they all make perfect sense to me and it make me feel good about my endeavors on beauty even if they take so long to reach fruition. But nonetheless I feel good about it and it give all the reason to continue with this odyssey

Top Foods for Gymgoers


On my frequent visit at the gym I often feel hungry after the workout. Sometimes even before the workout I already feel the lack of energy and I wonder what could be the perfect food that could compliment my weightloss plan. While I was resting at one of the sofas at the lounge I see gym buffs and aerobics fanatics pass me by carrying small pouch bags and eat their food beside me. I was thinking of something fancy was inside the brown bags and I was shock to find out their meal plan is so simple I could also do it. I made a list of the most common food I see these health conscious people are consuming and it is enumerated below.

1. Banana - yes I do see a lot of them and they eat it two pieces each session. The best reason I could only think of beside from the high nutritional content and fiber is its rich in potassium. Potassium is perfect when having exercise because it alleviate muscle spasms and cramps.. I guess this will be a regular food for me as well.

2. Sweet potatoes - these food I see baked or boiled in small tupperware. Often they are boiled and sliced in circles. The body builders told me its one of the best sources of carb because it helps in the nitrogen retention inside human muscle that aids in natural muscle building. It is also high nutritionl contents and fiber that is good for the digestive system. Perfect for moving those junk inside for a more flatter abs.


3. Tuna - these food seem to be a staple in every gym fanatic. Tuna is a fish low in fat and high in omega 3 content. Gym goers often buy the water packed tuna for maximum benefit. You wont really need the extra vegetable oil in your body. Omega 3 is known to aid in metabolism thus boosting your weightloss endeavors.


4. Chicken breast - Both guys and girls at the gym indulge with these high protein and low fat food. Of course they all remove the skin where all the fat are and eat it boiled or broiled. People at the gym eat it for more protein source aside from the tuna for more variety. Sick people are give chicken soup to make them feel better. They said their are enzymes that only chicken contain that can open the taste buds so that sick people can enjoy them. Of course you dont have to be sick to consume them but it could also be the reason why consuming these low fat protein by healthy person makes them more perky or enthusiastic to workout. Chicken is also packed with a lot of nutrient beside from having high protein.


5. Whey Protein - Most gyms have refreshment stand that serve whey protein with fruit or soya milks in shake. Sometimes they also put a cup of yogurt for more digestion benefit. People at the gym cant seem to get enough protein. They told me that whey protein as an additional source helps in boosting metabolism. Protein is harder to burn compared to fat. Whey protein is easily absorbed by the body when working out which becomes muscle food in the process. If you gain more muscle when working out it will help your body to burn more calories even when you are not working out.

These are the food are foods most gym goers consume whenever I see them at the lounge. Of course they may have other food on the list and also some supplements but I am sure these gym foods that I enumerated will always be included in their shopping list.











My one day wellness Program


It was a hectic week for me during the last summer. I hardly go out with friends and didnt get to go out much. Their are a lot of things to do and my day off at work is usually weekdays. I was getting burned out since my friends are not available to talk to on weekdays since they have work the following day. I decided to give my self a one day break that would relax my body entirely.


I wake up tuesday morning and I prepared myself a nice bowl of oatmeal filled with fruits. I choose to put slices of a whole banana and a small box of raisin over a big bowl of cooked oatmeal. Right after that I drink a big glass of non fat milk to prepare myself for the things I am about to indulge for the rest of the day.


I went straight ahead to a dentist have a propylaxis or teeth cleaning. Its been awhile since I have it. I would really want to feel good inside out so I think my mouth is one of things that should benefit from this endeavor. The procedure lasted for a hour.


After the dentist I went to the nearest badminton center in my area and played for an hour together with my buddy. I sweat generously and I feel wonderful about it cause I think I lost a lot of toxins in my body and it made me feel light inside out.


The next destination I have is the spa in alabang town center. I enjoyed a nice honeybody polish scrub with some light massage. The body scrub made my dull skin glow. The body scrub includes a procedure where I must be in a steam room for 30 minutes, a 30 minute massage, and healthy scrubbing of honey with salt. It removed most of my dead skin cells and right after that I thought I dont want to step out the spa hahaha. But the day must go on to the other treatments


I stop by to have a grub at subway sandwiches at the food court at alabang town center. I bought a sandwich filled with a lot of greens and lean turkey. I told the person preparing the sandwich to hold the mayo and put some olive oil in it to aid in my metabolism. I ordered a big bottle of buko juice also so that it would clean my kidney.

After my lunch I went to a skin clinic and have a collagen facial. I preferably asked for collagen facial over the other treatments because since I am exposed to a lot of free radicals (e.g. sun exposure, pollution) everyday it damage my skin structure. Collagen is the substance responsible for maintaining it firm so I think its best to put collagen over stressed skin. I also told the facialist to put an extra eye treatment that would help lessen the appearance of my dark circles. She put a cream on my eye and covered with a piece of cloth for about 30 minutes so I can sleep.



Before going to my next beauty stop I went to the food court and bought a fruit shake made of watermelon, strawberry, and kiwi. This three is not only refreshing on a hot summer day but loaded also with nutrients that is perfect for your skin.


I went to the parlor to have a hot oil treatment. I have these dandruff problem so I asked them to give me a hot oil treatment that would target my scalp specifically. The staff massaged my head together with the treatment. By far its the most relaxing treatment cause my stress point is concentrated on my head. They steam my hair so the hot oil mixture would blend well with my hair and scalp. While having a hot oil treatment I also indulge with a foot spa and a manicure. The foot spa with massage and reflexology almost made me fall sleep completely.


After the treatments I have a light dinner with a big bowl of salad, a delicious soup, and big glass of fruit juice. I went to the movies after that and watch a comedy flick with my buddy. The day was so relaxing and I could see glow radiating from the inside out. If only everyday could be spent relaxing and chilling ahhaah but that is wishfull thinking.


My buddy and I went home early to sleep. I drank another glass of milk before retiring and put some night cream on my face. I sleep like a log the whole night. The day I went to the office after my one whole day of wellness my officemate asked me their is something diffirent about me. I was thinking of repeating it next week but then again I have to schedule it because of my hectic schedule arghhhhhh!!!!!




Strawberry the Skin Food



One of my most favorite fruit is strawberry. A fruit that grows on small shrubs on cold temperature climate. I like the hint of sweetness that it give and most of all its great to mix with most food like, shakes, salads, and chocolate fondues. When you purchase them on the produce section of the supermaret make sure you get the one that is the most freshest and mold free. This fruit is highly perishable and can last only for a few days in the fridge, having one of them contaminated with molds will damage the other fruits.

Thankfully this food is also one of those great food that can contribute greatly to your beauty and well being. Its high vitamin c content can help greatly in protecting the colagen and elasin structure of your skin making it more firm and lowering the risk of having bruises. It also helps to fight the side effects of pollution which is great because this fruit is handy you can snack it anywhere. Strawberries are known to have high amounts of ellagic acid, an acid that fights hydrocarbons derive from smoking which in turn damage our skin and lungs in the process



Just make sure you wash this fruit whenever you serve it so you wont consume the pesticides and dirt that comes along when it is harvested. Its most healthy when you serve it together with probiotic yoghurt and along with fruit salad served with grape vinaigrette. A dark chocolate fondue will be ok as well for those nights you want to get cozy and healthy with your partner. If ever these fruit is not in season healthy alternatives for it is raspberries, blueberries, oranges, and kiwi fruit.




How to make your Gym workout effective

I always go to the gym before and enjoyed every moment that I was their. Of course my objective was to gain some muscle and becoming more fit but it turns out I havent gain much of a mass although I have lose some weight in the process.

I repeatedly do the same mistakes that didnt make my workout worthwhile. Few month of going their didnt produce the muscle I desired plus its getting more tedious going back their due to lack of inspiration. The following are common mistakes I have observed on why most workouts is not effective in getting the result I want to achieve.

1. Sliming down by too much weight lifting - Most guys I know want to look macho pronto. Their objective is to have a lean muscular body as soon as possible but the method they do is wrong. They only get stocky and beefy but not lean and muscular which is the objective they want. Most of them put too much weight that they can hardly make a lift which is crucial for fat burning. We need to have 15 reps done in good form and done 2 to three sets per exercise. But if we are lifting to much weight we will only bulk up and we wont be able to lift much because its so heavy and its hard to reach the 15th count more so repeat the process.

2. Obsessing on your body at the gym - most of us think that achieving the body that we want at the gym is the end all of fitness. We spend a lot of time at the gym thinking we are in the perfect fit by working out a lot. The truth is to achieve complete body form you must have variety in your work out and get some exercise outside the gym. Yes doing the treadmill is fine and will cause you to sweat a lot but joining a marathon is so much better since their is more fresh air and a real terrain adds more value to the running. My point is dont limit yourself in just working out in the gym. Try to find other exercise outside the gym (e.g. sports) that will enhance your performance and body form. Remember we are also trying to avoid in making your workout becoming tedious in the process.

3. Dont rest too much between sets - We do know that rest is necessary between reps to catch your breath and recover your strength. But too much rest between reps will eliminate the benefit since you will recover too much. We are trying to shock your muscles so they would use more muscle fibers in your next rep. On top of that too much rest will somehow lessen the momentum of the exercise causing you to slack in the process. The best resting time between reps is a one minute or less.

4. Dont be in the rut of the same old exercise routine - When we go to the gym we must sweat out a lot and feel motivated all the time. But if for the past 4 or 6 weeks and your exercise routine is still the same you wont get any progress of developing any muscle at all. You must change your exercise routine every four weeks when your muscle finds it easy to do it. It maybe great to work out but we are not just maintaining your body to stay fit we also want it to change to the next level to get inspired and keep exercising.

5. Do stretching exercises - most guys I know just do minimal stretching before working out because they are too eager to lift weights. The end result is they compromise their flexibility and sometimes they also gain some injury during the work out. Stretching is necessary in a workout to warm up and relax your muscle at the same time. So dont skip stretching because its vital in any work out regimen. It might discourage you to lift weights if you damage your body in the process

These are just some of the things you must do to make your work out effective. In the future I will post more stuff in making your Gym workout really work for you. :)

How to Eat Healthy at the Movies


One of my frequent hobby whenever I am alone is going to the movies even if I have to watch the movie over again. I love the feeling of sitting in a big room and watching the big screen. It is simply invigorating and enjoyable for me. Of course one of the perks in going to the movie house is the buttload of snacks available around. Most of them of course is junk food. Gorging on junk food is a sure complimentary habit when watching your favorite movies at cinemas. Unfortunately junk food is not good for our body and it ruins our beauty as well.


I look around to see if their are any healthy choices that I could eat to avoid the regular fat and calorie overload associated with impulsive snacking. The following are the list I come up with as healthy and low calorie.


1. Popcorn - Alright! Its an unavoidable snack and its the most aromatic. Its scent fills the lobby of the cinemas and its hard not to eat it. Just make sure that when you eat this empty calorie snack you choose to have the one without butter and flavor. Just plain iodized salt will do and for heavens sake buy the smallest bag and dont consume everything. Consume only to satisfy your cravings and throw it away after eating two handful at most. If you are going with someone at the movie eat only a handful and let your companion finish the small bag. If you can resist this so much the better.

2. Nuts - Their are a lot of nuts for sale at movie concessionaires. They are the better option compared to the popcorn. Just make sure its unsalted and eat only a small bag.

3. Juices - Their are also a lot of juices available near the cinemas. Avoid the one filled with sugar and just flavorings. I've have seen juices that are for sale with pulp bits or coconut juice with the meat on. They are the better choice because they have some fiber.

4. Fruit shakes - so far this is the most healthiest choice of them all because they are freshly blended with the fiber and the sugar is less. Their are fruit shakes stands at the mall that only put small amount of syrup and the rest is just ice and fruit. Some have whey protein scoops as an option to add to the shake. Go for this snack for it is both vitamin packed and good for the muscles.

5. Ice cream - get the yoghurt versions of ice cream with pro biotics (good for digestion). I have also seen some ice cream at the cinemas with low fat so you better look for them, of course sugar is another issue but at least you already lessen the chance of getting more fat. Ice cream is not that healthy as a choice so make sure that you have this as a treat or really occassional.

6. If you looked high and low and found out that their is no such thing as healthy at the cinema food booth by all means bring your own healthy snack like fruits, sandwiches, and water. This will save you from a lot of things like money, fat, cholestrol, and guilt of consuming high fat foods.


This is the food list I can come up with that is healthy and low calorie when eating at cinemas. Just remember you are their to enjoy the movie and not to add fat at your belly, so snack healthy and munch low calorie food as much as possible.

Ms. Corazon Aquino the icon of Democracy & Colon Cancer

Today is the day that we bid farewell to our beloved former President Ms. Corazon Aquino. Thousands of Filipinos went to the funeral of this revered woman and all of them also was part of the convoy that will bring her body to her final resting place at Manila Memorial Park.

She was known as an Icon for Democracy for she is the only known leader who lead a most peaceful People Power Revolution. Her term of six years after being elected as President is a legacy we cannot forget.

It saddens me to find out that this strong woman of faith and belief in ideals have been diagnosed with illness of Colon Cancer back in March 24 2008 by her doctors which led to her death on August 1, 2009. Her strong determination to survive despite doctors analysis that she have only 3 months help in extending her life together with the chemotheraphy treatments.


I dont know exactly what is the medical history of their family but I found out that their are several preventive measures one can do to avoid untimely deaths due to cancer. The following are the tips I have gathered and I hope it will be useful for you.

1. Take barley juice - this food is known to be the most highest in antioxidants according to the ORAC test and was mentioned in the bible more than 50 times as a staple food. A recent study shown here in the Philippines a woman who have leukemia with 75000 cancer cells took this as a supplement for two weeks in juice form and reduce her cancer cells in half. I am pretty sure it could help a lot in avoiding most Cancers.

2. See a Doctor for regular check ups - usually colon cancers early stages are loss of appetite, cramping, and bloody stools. Its best that you visit your doctor regarding your health condition because some cancers can still be cured at their early stages. If your age is 50 above you must see a doctor more frequent because this is the age people are most prone to get it

3. Lose those love handles - according to recent studies men are more prone to women to colon cancer specially those who have apple shape bodies. Obesity is link to a lot of cancers this is due to the high amount of fat and cholesterol we intake. A balance diet rich in fiber is recommended if we are to avoid this dreadful disease and fiber also aids in digestion. Fat and cholesterol is a magnet to most disease and ailments.

4. Exercise much - most of us tends to become couch potatoes as we grow older. The result is that we have a sluggish metabolish and most of the waste that our body accumulate hardly leave our body. In our digestive system the colon stores all the food we digested until they are ready for release. Exercise can aid in getting your body to move those unwanted waste to your rectum preventing the waste in staying long in the colon and have the toxins absorbed by your body. Exercise cut your risk by 40% in getting colon cancer.

5. Know your family's medical history - check your ancestors or immediate relative if somebody have been diagnosed with colon cancer or any other cancer. Some cancers are hereditary. So its best to find out if your family have it and see a doctor immediately for more preventive measures.

6. Dont smoke or avoid it - inhaled tobacco smoke are carried through your body all the way to the colon and gets stored their. I can only imagine the danger it can bring to passive non smokers. According to doctor it cuts your risk of developing it by 12% if you avoid this habit. Much worse if you have some polyps in your colon it can make them cancerous at some point due to the smoke.

7. Avoid Radiation - radiation can contribute to developing cancers in you body. A 1,000 millisieverts (scientific equivalent of radiation units) can cause cancer to develope. In everyday life you get radiation but make sure its in safe levels. So as much as possible avoid getting too much radiation to avoid certain cancers from developing

Whew! This is the list that we must follow to at least avoid having colon cancer. Its still the rule of the thumb that a Prevention is far better than Cure. I hope that everybody follow the simple steps. Nobody can be Beautiful if they are Sick.

Here is the link to the video of the song Magkaisa which the famous song back in 1986 for People Power Revolution when our beloved former President Corazon Aquino rose to power and brings us back the gift of Democracy. We will surely miss you Madam.

Getting Healthy and Beautiful with ORAC

While munching the piece of fruit that I am eating I was thinking how much nutrition was I getting. Of course the fibre do its magic by helping in my digestion and all but what about the nutritional contents. Fruits and vegetables that we eat have different nutrient level but which is the most beneficial to consume on a regular basis to get the most and contribute to better health and beauty?

I came across with this findings about the anti oxidant level a food can provide to person. Its this research called ORAC (Oxygen Radical Aborbance Capacity) which measures the level of anti oxidant a food possess. Anti oxidants fights free radicals which we get on a daily basis from exposure to all stressfull factors like the sun, pollution, and even exercise. The list goes on from where to get free radicals. Too much free radicals contributes in developing cancers and disease that can naturally occur in the body.

To get the most nutrition according to the scientist who conducted the ORAC research we must have 3000 to 5000 ORAC units on a daily basis to create an impact on our plasma and tissue antioxidant capacity. Sadly we do not consume enough and at best we get only a dose of 1200 units a day by consuming 3 fruits and vegetables a day. Its even sadder because I rarely see people consume a lot of fruits and vegetables.

The following is the table I have come up with the fruits and vegetables with the highest ORAC value that could possibly help us pick the produce with better value.

FOOD and ORAC VALUE

Barley 1275
Dark Chocolate 656
Prunes 289
Raisins 142
Blueberries 120
Blackberries 102
Kale 89
Dark Honey 82
Strawberries 70
Alfalfa 49
Brocolli 45
Beets 42
Orange 38
Grape 37

To get the ORAC units from the list just multiply the ORAC value by 10. Grapes have 37 ORAC value times 10 it is equivalent to 370 ORAC units. This ORAC values shown above is equivalent to a serving of the fruit and vegetable.

The test conducted to measure the Orac Value of this Fruits and Vegetable also states that consuming regularly foods with high Orac Value slows down the process of agingboth the brain and the body. Which is why it could really help also in maintaining Beauty in a longer term

Ramping up your daily consumption of fruits and vegetable by eating 5 to 9 servings specially the ones with high ORAC value will contribute greatly to reducing the chances of you developing age old diseases. Just make sure you eat a variety of the fruits and vegetables from the list I enumerated because diffirent antioxidants and nurients contributes differently to the body. The key is always variety.

Skin Type Questionnaire (Pigmented Vs Non-Pigmented)

Its been awhile since a posted about this article . Anyways this article is a continuation of my previous articles on how to determine your skin type. But we have to determine first your skin category before we can know what is your skin type. This is the third installment of this article.

We will determine if your skin produce melanin a lot. Although melanin is the contributing factor for your skin color its not without benefits. It helps to protect the skin from sunburn so those people with less is more prone to skin cancers. The questionnaire below will determine if your skin actively produce this pigment.

1. Your pimple or ingrown hair once healed produce a dark spot:

a. Didnt happen
b. At some occassion
c. Happens a lot
d. Happens all the time
e. I never have pimples or ingrown hairs.

2. How long does a brown mark stays in your skin after being cut?

a. I dont get one
b. 7 days
c. 14 days or more
d. Months

3. Do you acquire dark spot when your pregnant or taking birth control pills?

a. Never
b. Just one
c. Maybe two or more
d. I lost count
e. Count me out I am male or I am unsure what dark spots are

4. Do you recognize any dark spot or pactches in your upper lip or cheeks, or do you have them before?

a. None
b. Not really certain I have them
c. I do have them but beyond notice
d. I have them and friends notice it

5. Your dark spots fluorish or gets worse under the sun

a. Dont have any
b. Never notice
c. It have a little effect
d. It aggravates my dark spots
e. I always have sunscreen or rarely goes under the sun ( answer is d if you wear
protection to avoid the effects of the sun)

6. Did you ever have melasma or dark patches on your face?

a. Never
b. A one time thing then it disappear
c. Yup
d. Yup, worse case ever
e. Uncertain

7. Do you have freckles on your skin?

a. None
b. quite a few but not more than 6
c. I could count 6 to 15
d. Oh my gosh I lost count

8. What is the reaction of your skin after being exposed to sun after a few months

a. I get sun burns
b. A sunburn then later it darkens
c. It darkens my skin
d. I hardly notice my skin is naturally dark

9. What is the result of almost week long of sun exposure to your skin?

a. Sunburn & blister nothing more
b. It darkens my skin a bit
c. Darkens my skin a lot
d. Dark is my natural color

10. Does the sun contribute to freckles in your skin?

a. Never happen
b. Its an annual happening I do get a few yearly
c. I always spawn a few regularly
d. Never notice I have dark complexion
e. I dont go in the sun

11. Do your parents have freckles? If only one has freckles answer the question relating to the parent who have freckles?

a. Nope
b. Quite a few
c. A lot on the face
d. A lot all over the body
e. Not certain neither of them have it

12. What is your hair color (the one you are born with)

a. Blond
b. Brown
c. Black
d. Red

13. Does your relatives have melanoma?

a. None
b. One
c. We have two or more
d. It runs in the blood
e. Not sure

14. Add 5 points to the score below if you gain dark spots on skin that is exposed to the sun.

Score for the test above is as follow

A = 1 point, B = 2 points, C = 3 points, D = 4 points, and E = 2.5 points

Tally your score and see the results below

A total score of 29-57 means you are Pigmented Skin
A total score of 13-28 means you are Non Pigmented

We are almost near to the end of the skin categorizing questionnaires only one more to go then we will find out what is your skin type. Stay glued to my blogs and you will see soon enough what skin type do you belong and know how to treat it right.

( Source : The Skin Type Solution by Dr. Leslie Baumann printed 2005)

Keep Young and Beautiful by Annie Lennox


The other day I was watching youtube and came across this video that my friend Cris recommended. I got curious with this video of her song titled Keep Young and Beautiful and decided to watch it and read the lyrics. I even look at google to read the lyrics thoroughly. I posted it below for every body to catch up with what I've found out and enjoyed



Keep Young And Beautiful lyrics



What's cute about little cutie

It's her beauty, not brains

Old father time will never harm you

If your charm still remains

After you grow old, baby

You dont have to be a cold baby

Keep young and beautiful

It's your duty to be beautiful

Keep young and beautiful

If you want to be loved

Dont fail to do your stuff

With a little powder and a puff

Keep young and beautiful if you want to be loved

If you're wise exercise all the fat off

Take it off, off of here, off of there

When you'er seen anywhere

With you hat off

Wear a marcel wave in your hair

Take care of all those charms

And you'll always be in someone's arms

Keep young and beautiful

If you want to be loved

If you're wise exercise all the fat off

Take it off, off of here, off of there

When you'er seen anywhere

With you hat off

Wear a marcel wave in your hair

Keep young and beautiful

It's your duty to be beautiful

Keep young and beautiful

If you want to be loved

Keep young and beautiful

If you want to be loved

Boopie doo, ah



The song simply amazed me because it teaches us to be beautiful for a purpose. It teaches us to be beautiful to gain attraction and love in the process. Well beauty have always been associated with wellness and health since having it does require to be a stiff advocate. The song is so candid and blatant at the same time for me since it also suggest to maintain beauty and love will also remain. For some instances as we know it, some couples lost their passion for each other and eventually look for another partner because one of them became lousy or losyang in the process. This song simply emphasized on beauty as a cementing factor for relationship. Well I do believe the song for some guys go out of their way their leave their partners for a more beautiful girl to flirt, and some old women vie for younger guys for their stamina and physique. Of course the brains is not a considered factor but the mere company of a lovely creature simply supersede all other factors for consideration.


Beauty is indeed a powerful tool one must possess for health and relationship sake. But any ways we shouldnt fret about it since everyone can achieve it with a little bit of exercise and dedication coupled with a few make up here and there as our Diva Annie Lenox have suggested.

Here is the link to the youtube for more inspiration to be beautiful :)



Healthy Jambalaya

One of the major carbohydrates we Filipino's often consume is rice. Its our most eaten carbohydrate and second to that we consume mostly bread and rarely we eat legumes or fruits as a primary source of energy. The sad thing about it is that we consume only white rice which is reduced of nutritional content because it is too polished to improve the taste. I have posted blog a month ago about the health benefits of brown rice and why should we eat it despite the fact that its more pricey and less palatable because of its texture.

Just recently I have experimented this recipe that I got from a Food Magazine. Its called a Jambalaya. My friend Don Don who likes to cook a lot approves to give it a try since he is the one who have a fondness for cooking. Although we thought it may not turn out as delicious as its white rice countepart version but nevertheless its more healthy.

The following is the recipe I have followed :

Healthy Jambalaya

Ingredients:

2 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cups of cooked ham
1 medium onion sliced and quartered
1/2 cup chopped bell peppers. Any color combinatin will do
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
2 1/2 cups water
1 cup Brown rice uncooked
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dried leaf thyme
1/8 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1 pound peeled, cleaned, and cooked shrimp

Procedure

1. Heat the oil in medium heat over a large deep skillet.

2. Put the ham and cook it till slightly brown, then saute in onions, bell pepper and garlic ; cook them till tender

3. Put the tomatoes and tomato paste, water, rice, bay leaf, salt, thyme and cayenne pepper. Stir to mix the ingredients well till its boiling. Then reduce from medium heat to low. Cover the skillet and simmer it for 30 minutes. Stirring the food from time to time.

4. Put the shrimp and mix it in. Simmer for a few more minutes to let the shrimp flavor to sink and enhance the flavor.

After cooking it. It the turns out delicious despite the husky texture of the brown rice. I would recommend this recipe to my friends who wants to maintain a healthy body. The good thing about jambalaya is it contains a lot of tomato which is a rich source of lycopene and the shrimp content makes it great because of its high selenium, zinc, and protein content. The lycopene, selenium, zinc, and protein makes its perfect enough to be a skin food and the rich vitamin B complex content of brown rice makes up for a healthy nervous system.


(recipe source : SL Agritech Corporation)

Skin Type Questionnaire ( Sensitive Vs. Resistant )

This is the second part on determining your skin Category for my blog for the 16 types of skin. In this blog you will find out if you have Sensitive or Resistant to skin. It will determine if you have the probability to have pimples or reactions to certain stimuli. Again its crucial to answer it in all honesty so we could determine skin type do you belong on the 16 skin types.

1. Do you have red bumps on your face

a. Didn't happen
b. Sometimes
c. a monthly occurrence
d. you have one weekly

2. Skin care products which includes regular make up and cleaning products ( e.g. cleansers) can cause allergic reactions that leads to itching or create pimples.

a. Didn't happen
b. Sometimes
c. Regularly
d. Never use these products

3. Do you have acne or rosacea?

a. Never
b. My colleagues said I have it
c. Yup
d. A worst case of it
e. Uncertain

4. Do you get rashes when not wearing a 24 carat gold jewelry with your skin?

a. Unlikely
b. Sometimes
c. Regularly
d. Always
e. Unsure

5. You are allergic and feels itchy using sunscreens

a. Unlikely
b. Sometimes
c. Regularly
d. Always
e. Not a fan of Sunscreen

6. Do you have atopic dermatitis, eczema, or contact dermatitis?

a. Nope
b. Colleagues said I have it
c. Yup
d. A severe case
e. Unaware

7. Do you get rashes when wearing rings?

a. Unlikely
b. Sometimes
c. Regularly
d. Always
e. Dont like using rings

8. Fragrant bubble bath, massage oil or body lotions makes your skin itchy or feel dry

a. Unlikely
b. Sometimes
c. Regularly
d. Always
e. Never use these products

9. Do generic soaps from establishments like hotels pose as a problem when you use them?

a. Yup
b. Not really
c. It is a problem for me, makes me itchy
d. Wont use it cause I have a problem using them before
e. Havent tested because I have my own set of toiletries

10. Do you have a family history of eczema, atopic dermatitis, asthma or allergies?

a. None
b. Just one relative
c. A few relatives
d. Most of my relatives have them
e. Never checked them

11. What happens when you use scented laundry detergents?

a. Nothing
b. My skin feels dry
c. My skin feels itchy
d. I develop rashes that itchy
d Never use them

12. Do you develop red face and neck whenever you do light exercises or you are under some sort emotional stress when you are mad?

a. Unlikely
b. On some occassion
c. Regularly
d. A natural occurrence

13. Does your skin turn red after consuming alcoholic beverages?

a. Unlikely
b. On some occassion
c. Regularly
d. A natural occurrence
e. Dont drink alcohol

14. Does your skin turn red after consuming spicy foods or beverages?

a. Unlikely
b. On some occassion
c. Regularly
d. A natural occurrene
e. Dont eat spicy foods

15. Do you have visible broken blood vessels on your face?

a. Never have them
b. I counted 3 so far
c. I have somewhat four to 6 of them in my face
d. More than 6

16. In photo's do you look reddish?

a. Never noticed it
b. On some occassion
c. Regularly I am reddish on photo's
d. A natural occurrence

17. People are mistaken that you have sunburns even if you never been under the sun.

a. No one thinks that way about my skin
b. On rare occassion
c. Some people do and some people don't
d. No one believe I am not sunburned

18. Does your skin turn red or swells whenever you use cosmetics or whenever you use skin care products

a. Nothing happens
b. On some occassion it does
c. Regularly I have that but no always
d. I never use them because its a natural reaction of my skin

Scores for the result of the test is as follows

You get 1 point for all a answers, 2 point for all b answers, 3 points for c answers, 4 points for all d answer, and for all those e answers you get a 2.5.

Add plus 5 points to your score if you are diagnosed by your dermatologist to have acne, rosacea, contact dermatitis, or eczema.

If your points range between 34 - 72 you are indeed sensitive skin
If your points fall between 30 - 33 you are somehow sensitive
If your points fall between 25 - 29 you are somehow resistant
All score falling under 24 and below means you are resistant

Just follow my blog about this skin categories and you will find out what skin type do you belong from the 16 skin types. From these we will see the proper way to treat your skin on a personal level.

( Source : The Skin Type Solution by Dr. Leslie Baumann printed 2005)

How to sleep better for beauty and health sakes

With the job that I have working as a call center agent at night, having a peaceful sleep during the day is really a hard thing to achieve for me. Living in an extended family house together with a lot of househelp because we have our printing factory beside our house makes it more worst with the noise pollution. I always go to work half rested and not refreshed. Its both the effect of having a bad environment and bad time of sleeping. I have come up a list of solutions to get a proper shut eye be it day or night. The list is as follows.

1. Have a regular time for sleeping - your body clock plays an important role in falling asleep. I found out that even if I only have 4 hours of sleep my body wakes up at the same time of the day. So to get proper rest and to cope up with your body always make sure that you sleep at the same time of the day or night that covers enough hours for your body to recuperate.

2. Put heavy curtains and maintain a cool room - although it may sound as luxury an airconditioned room with heavy drapes or curtains seem functional for me to block of the noise coming from the outside and the airconditioned room sets the mood as the same as night time. If not possible just make sure you sleep in the most quite room in the house that is well ventilated.

3. Never eat an hour before sleeping - a rule of thumb not to disrupt your stomach that will keep you awake while digesting the most recently ingested food. Dont eat a full meal before going to bed as much as possible eat a light meal with milk which help induce sleep. Drink a big full warm glass of milk it will speed up your shut eye or a cup of warm valerian tea to calm your nerves. Valerian tea is known as a tranquilizer and sleep aid for more than a 1000 years in England. Its effects is comparable with Valium

4. Never put the television in the room - or for that matter dont put any hobby or interesting activity that might rouse your interest not to go to sleep immediately while inside your room.

5. Have some light exercise - do some stretching before sleeping to relax you more and prepare you for resting. The only intense exercise allowable before sleeping though is SEX. hahaah yess its a perk to have it before sleeping with your partner or anybody who could provide it safely for you. It is known to burn 200 calories and its the only known exercise safe enough after a heart surgery.

This are the things I have adopted to get a proper shut eye and recover all the lost beauty from being awake at night Of course you could amplify it by putting some night cream on your face and never sleep on a dirty body to maintain supple skin.

Watermelon Nails


I was visiting the modeling agency where I work the other day. We have our usual weekly sessions with our boss regarding the latest updates on our gigs. One of the things I noticed is the color of the nails of our teenage models that is kind of flashy and cute. I was wondering what sort of design is it and then I figure out its a watermelon.

The design really is cute specially if you are planning to be trendy and stylish with a certain unique flare. I ask the girls if they have it done in a parlor or a nail salon, and they told me they did themselves and all it really require is a set of diffirent nail colors and some styling equipment.

I got the list of mateials you will need if ever you want to try the cute design for yourself at home. The following are the things you will have to prepare. You could go for any brand as long that it suits your preference or budget for that matter.

1 top coat or a nail strengthener
1 soda pink nail polish
1 pearly white nail polish
1 light green glow nail polish
1 emerald green nail polish
1 black nail polish
1 old eyeliner brush
1 toothpick

The link for the tutorial on how to do it step by step using the materials I enumerated above is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8GYiObImkI&feature=popular .

Just remember if you are going to wear this design you are not wearing it in a formal business meeting because it looks kinda informal. Of course it would be better to have this design to boot with a red dress or any casual or trendy clothing. Most nail spa's or nail salon I know can do this design too, so if you rather have a professinal do it for you that is an option as well.

Skin Type Questionnaire (Oily Vs. Dry)

In my previous blog I have promise to post the 16 skin types but before that you must answer this 4 part questionnaire formulated by Dr. Baumann for you to better understand the category of your skin. Just be sure you answer it in full honesty to ensure you get the correct skin category. This will determine greatly on which of the 16 skin types you actually belong and it will help you treat and care for it.

As a teaser though the skin types are actually a mixture of several skin conditions so you must determine what are the categories you are in to know exactly how to make it beautiful.

1. After washing your face don't put any other products on it. Observe it under the mirror on a bright room. How does forehead and cheeks look like after two hours.

a. Rough
b. Tight
c. Hydrated no light reflecting
d. Shiny reflecting the bright light

2. In pictures, do you look shiny:

a. It didnt happen to me
b. Ok on some occasion
c. Regularly I do
d. Always

3. After putting on foundation for three hours with no powder how does your make up looks like

a. cakey with wrinkles
b. Smooth
c. Shiny
d. Streaked and shiny
e. I do not wear facial foundations

4. If you are in a low-humidity area wearing neither moisturizer or sunscreen how does your facial skin react.

a. Feels dry
b. Feels tight
c. Normal
d. Didn't feel the need for moisturizer
e. No Idea

5. Count the number of large pores you have the size of pin's end. How many can you see?

a. Dont exist at all
b. Some visibile at T-zone
c. Abundant
d. I lost count of the numbers

6. How do you describe your facial skin :

a. Dry
b. Normal
c. Combination
d. Oily

7. When you use soap that suds, bubbles, and foams vigorously, your facial skin:

a. Dry (this is your answer if you don't use soap because dryness is a side effect)
b. Feels like its dry but no signs of cracking
c. Just normal
d. Seems shiny


8. When not wearing moisturizer on your face , Does it feel tight?

a. All the time
b. On some occasion
c. Rarely
d. Not at all

9. Do you have blackheads or whiteheads?

a. Non existent on your face
b. Hardly have them
c. A few at times exist
d. Yes Plenty

10. Are you oily on the T-Zone?

a. Not a all
b. Sometimes
c. Frequent
d. Always

11. Two to three hours after putting on moisturizer your cheeks looks like?

a. Roughness abound
b. Smooth
c. Slightly shiny
d. Shiny and slick

Scores are as follow

a answer = 1 point
b answer = 2 points
c answer = 3 points
d answer = 4 points

Count your points and see what category do you belong below?

Total points ranging from 34 to 44 equates to very oily skin
Total points ranging from 27 to 33 equates to slightly oily skin
Total points ranging from 17 to 26 equates to slightly dry skin
Total points ranging from 11 to 16 equates to dry skin

After trying the questionnaire myself, the score equals slightly oily skin. Hmmm but that alone wont guarantee that I should start using oily skin products. In my next blog watch out for the next questionnaire about sub category of skin type, we will determine if your skin is sensitive or resistant, so stay glued.

(Source: The Skin Type Solution, a book by Dr. Leslie Baumann M.D.)

Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain


This day was supposed to be my first post about the sixteen skin types but I was having a problem with my computer lately and lost the data. But I promise to post it anytime this week.
Anyways let me share you this beauty product that I swear I have used and was satisfied with the results. Its The Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain. Its a dual cosmetic that acts as a semi lipstick and a blush on. This is so handy for people like us who are on the go and saves a lot of space and money.
If you plan to never put a heavy lipstick but just want a tint of red on your lips then this is for you. It will put a faint color of red on your lips and then you could just top it with your regular lip balm or lip gloss to add some shimmer then instant simple lipstick.
Another purpose of this product is if you want a blush on that stays long like 8 hours. I swear this product stays like forever unless you plan to stay out and sweat generously from a sports activity it will fade from your skin. You just have to apply a generous amount on your cheeks until the desired blush is achieved then top it with our regular face powder to eliminate the shine on your face.
This product cost around P700.00 at the store but it will save you from buying lipstick and blush on. It will give you that simple posh look. It comes with two shade bronze glimmer and rose pink. You can choose from the two shades whichever match your skin tone best. It contains Panthenol and Glycerin, two ingredients that contributes well to hydration which is great since lips dont have sweat glands to moisten it.

The Different Skin Type (Introduction)

One of the things that I have in constant struggle during my teenager years is my skin. Although pimples are not a regular resident at my face I do have warts and some skin discoloration as a main stay so I frequently freak out because those stuffs can only be cured by a professional dermatologist via special treatment. From time to time my skin have reacted differently on the climate. During cold windy days my hands are chapping and dry, and during the hot days it frequently oily. I would have to say its reacting to rejuvenate itself from different climatic conditions but I am not sure what kind of skin type I possess.

Their is the common knowledge that their are only four skin type which is oily, dry, sensitive, and normal. I have come up with this book from a famous dermatologist Ms. Leslie Baumann and found out that their are actually sixteen skin types. All skin types should be treated specially and specifically dependent on the type otherwise all your efforts would be in vain to beautify it.

In my succeeding weekly articles I will divulge all this skin types and the treatments that you will need to take care of your skin. Also I will post some questionnaires here so you may know what are things you must take note so you will know what skin type you are in to give your skin the right attention.

This coming sunday I will post the first skin type so their will be something for you to keep glued on this series of articles on skin categorizing.

My tip for the day though is keep eating fresh vegetables and fruits on a daily basis and avoid red meat. My friend who got a serious case of acne said that for two months he avoided that meat and consume a lot of greens. He regulate his carb intake to only organic and the result did astonish him. Eight weeks later there is less outbreaks and lesser pimples too and he did gain more suppleness. He swear to me that this diet help him regarding his skin predicament and would recommend it to be followed as daily routine for everybody.

how to freshen up your looks when going on vacation

One of my auntie who is frequently stressed because of financial problems and other stuff recently told me her secret for beauty and longevity. My auntie frequently visits my uncle abroad in the Palau Islands. She usually stays their for a month or two so that my uncle wont get homesick so much. I notice that everytime she goes back my auntie looks like 5 years younger and her skin is supple. She has this fresh aura despite the problems that she has. I asked her what is she doin their on the islands that freshen her up.

One of the thing she usually do a lot since she doesnt get do a lot of activity is sleep a lot and sleep early. She told me she sleep most of the time in the afternoon while waiting for her husband and during the night she sleeps as early as 10pm since the only thing around them are crickets and trees. Everybody knows that sleep is indeed rejuvenating for all individuals and the fact that she getting it a lot and on good quality that contributes much to her looking young.

Every morning my auntie and uncle goes for a morning jog for about an hour together with their other friends as a exercise and recreational activity as well. This is one of the bonding moments that she has with her amigas. They usually do some calisthenics and tai chi for more flexibility. Their is no denying exercise release a feel good hormone called endorphins to make one feel good about themselves which improves the aura and over all well being of an individual.

My auntie also regularly shop for fresh veggies and fruits and steam them. Since my uncle is always on the go and he is also suffering from a heart ailment my auntie usually prepare healthy meals. Vegetables and fruits that are prepared as simple as possible gets to retain most of their nutrient. My auntie gets the full benefits of her food since steaming dont remove much of the nutritional content of food.

The climate in the Palau Islands is also cold and their are a lot of trees that contributes to the good climate. It rains everyday specially during the afternoon. Since the area is pollution free my auntie gets to inhale only fresh air the whole time. We all know that Pollution contributes also to the premature aging of people and adds to the regular stress they are suffering.

One last thing she secretly told me and I hope she wont kill me for divulging it is that she regularly have sex with my uncle. Not for being pervert and all but since they are the only two people in the house with no one to disturb them they get to engage a lot of it. Sex is known to boost an individuals blood circulation and regularity will aid you calorie loss as well a feel good mood which greatly release stress and immensely improve once's aura.

My auntie visit's my uncle twice a year everytime she gets stressed from all the problems with her household in the Philippines. And everytime she did that she came back as if she is a totally new person. So for you gals out their I would recommend to copy this system and its a proven technique to beautify and rejuvenate while having a vacation. Have fun ehhehehe

Healthy Fruity Bloody Mary

This is a personal recipe I concocted while at home. I was shopping at Rustan Makati and pass over the fruit stand saw all my favorite fruits which are hard to find as well. I grab a basket put all rare fruits I could pick. This juice that I specially brewed (speaking like a witch) is designed specifically to purify the body but accidentally would do great wonders fo the skin as well. The following are the ingredients


Ingredients :


150 grams watermelon

150 grams strawberries

100 grams raspberries

6 pieces of cherries


Procedure :

Drop all the ingredients in a blender with 2 to 3 pieces of ice cubes or depending on how evaporated you want the juice to be. Top with whole strawberries or cherries if desired and drink right away.

The ingredients of this healthy drink composed of fruits good for the skin like watermelon which is perfect on hydrating the skin and its packed with beta carotene and vitamin c. The strawberries and rasberries are known to be high in anti-oxidants that fights free radicals in your body. Its high in potassium, lycopene, and zinc which are great in purifying your system. So everytime you and your friends have a get together instead of the real bloody mary try to replace it with this mix blend of red fruits for a change. Its definitely free of hang over and you will wake up the next morning with a healthy glow.

How to eat healthy at Convenience Store

I am regular night owl who have a hard time sleeping at night due to my current job as a call center agent. During my day off I found myself bummed with nothing to do so I go out to eat and see what are the usual stores open. Of course in my area the Jolibbee food chain is 24 hours but I already had enough of it because everywhere I go their food chains are like mushrooms. Another option near to me is the carinderia like the tapsihan but I'm not really hungry for rice. So the last resort for me are the convenience stores.

We have 2 convenience store located in our area. The first one is Mini Stop and anoter one is seven eleven. Both serve meals like microwave dinners and sandwiches of all varieties. Since I am in for a quick bite I look at the choices available for me at the stands and the following are the best choices I can come up with.

1 Dark chocolate - Yes oh yes it might be too indulgent but dark chocolates are good choices for a snack. They are known to be anti-oxidants and contains ingredients that makes you feel good all over. I advise however that consume this item at moderation. If you are going to buy them like in bar form eat only 1/4 of the bar because we dont want any sugar rush or calorie surge to add up to your belly.

2. Water - Their are diffirent kinds of water available here you just have to pick the one that suits you like mineral, purified, alkaline, and all the other assortments. Some even have the one with vitamin's. But off of course to make it really simple and calorie free choose plain water because it would aid you in hydration and keeping your skin supple.

3. Cavendish Bananas - Most chain of seven eleven do serve this fruit. Their are no doubt about the health benefits of this fruit are as follows a. its good after exercise and b. good source of fibre. Bananas by the way are good source of fibre to keep your weight at bay so its best to buy 2 pieces when you are at the store.

4. Yogurt - This dairy product which is rich in bacteria good for digestion comes in various fruit flavor and sometimes in juice form. Most of them are zero fat so definitely your cart must contain this when you go shopping at night for a snack.

5. Prepacked Fruits - On the refrigerator isle you could also see a lot of prepacked fruits like dole apples and some fruit cocktails served in small cups. The juice of the fruit cocktail is laden with sugar so dont consume that when you buy this product.

6. Milk - if you are not lactose intolerant its best also to buy this item. Make sure that you buy the low fat or non fat version. Milk is rumored to increase your metabolism on regular consumption because it contains a good amount of protein. Protein do increase metabolism even at rest phase and it consume more calories when you digest them so its a lot of help to keep your weight down.

7. Hotdogs - All right I can see that their are a lot of eyebrows saying on protest against this food. Although hotdogs are not really a good choice for a snack, convenience store's do steam this food when they cook it. Steaming is the most healthy choice for cooking food. Although hotdogs are not really healthy at least the method of cooking is ok. Its a good way to satiate a craving for meat minus the other calories derive from frying.

The items I enumerated above are just few of the choices you could buy at convenient stores but I guarantee you they are the most healthy stuff you could buy their. Its best to eat healthy stuff during the night when your metabolism is low and your digestion is not at it peak performance. So the next time your tummy grumbles and request for a grub go out and get your snack or dinner at convenience store with this shopping list. Hehehe

How to make the most of using Sauna or Steam Room

One of the things I frequently do when I go to the gym is indulge in this perk of an exclusive gym. I go to the Steam Bath which is located near the showers together with the Sauna. I like the feeling of steam being sprayed over my body because it gives that instant moisture that my drench skin have been wanting after the exercise at the gym. It kinda open my pore to sweat out and at the same time release the toxins accumulated under neath it. It has the same effect as the Sauna although its just pure heat and the sweat alone is pushing all the impurities out of your pores.

This indulgence however can have its effects maximize. The following are the steps.

1. Do bring slippers inside the steam room or sauna - as a habit I love walking on foot inside the house so I implement the same at the sauna or the steam room. In return the bacteria breeding at the floor have an easy access to my foot. A week later my foot started having warts and athletes foot. I found out from my friend who have encountered the same problems that these germs breed on humid and wet areas.

2. Always wear towels when sitting at sauna or steam room - its the same effect as not wearing slippers. My friend told me he got a ringworm right at corners of his Butt ahahah just because he dared wearing his t-back at the sauna room. So for your butt cheeks sake always wear those towels just to be sure those bacteria wont have direct contact to your skin.

3. Do bring a Body Scrub - since your skin are soft due to the sweating it is best to scrub it to slough away all the dead skin cells to let new skin show. What better way to have this is to use a Body Scrub like Body's Shops Sea Salt Scrub. I frequently used the product while im scrubbing my skin. They always smell nice after the scrubbing and leaves my skin more radiant. Salt by the way is a disinfectant. Which could be perfect also for your skin after accumulating some germs.

4. Apply hot oil treatments inside the Sauna or Steam - to save you time going to the parlor and have a hot oil treatment you could also do it inside the Steam or Sauna room. Apply a hot oil treatment like a cream and let all the natural oils sink in your scalp for maximum benefits. Of course the result wont be at par as having the treatment at the parlor but im pretty sure regularity of the habit would bring the same effect.

5. Do not go to the Sauna or Steam room more than twice a week - Although this treatment is not forbidden for us compared to some people with asthma or heart ailments , in all things it must be done with moderation. Our constant tendency when we go to the steam room is rub our skin. Rubbing it do slough away the dead cells but doing it more often than we should darkens the skin. The dermatologist I consulted said frequent rubbing do stimulate growth of skin cells but at a fast rate that would darken it instead.

6. Stay inside at most 15 minutes - this treatment do make you sweat a lot but too much sweating will cause dehydration so I would advise you to limit yourself for a 15 minute treatment then if you want some more drink some water then indulge again. Do put intervals to avoid too much water loss which may eliminate the health benefit altogether.

This are the things I usually do whenever I go inside a steam room or a Sauna. Most of my friends follow the same as a rule of thumb. Sauna and Steam rooms will leave you fresh and will aid your metabolism for further fat loss. Always do the things I enumerated above to further enhance your beauty and eliminate the disadvantages of going inside the Sauna or Steam Room.

How to lighten those deep dark circles under your eyes

One of problems due to the night job I have right now is the dark circles I have under my eyes. Its not really a pretty site cause it makes me look like a racoon. Other sources of this predicament is allergies, constant eye rubbing, and smoking. Which I get a lot also because I'm always surrounded by people who smokes a lot.

My guy boss who look so fabulous advice me to take vitamin k internally as a part of my regular diet and as a supplement to speed up the process. He told me that vitamin K helps in the proper blood circulation in those dark areas of my eyes. He advised me to eat a lot of cruciferous veggies like spinach and brocolli and also some berries like strawberries for they are known to have high content of the nutrient.

I went to Rustan department store and I found a wide array of eye creams that contains vitamin K. I bought the one with retinol in it because according to the sales lady it gives result much faster. True enough when I tried the product I could see visible results after 3 weeks. I guess this would be a regular regimen of mine. I usually applied it at night even though I am at work. And applied a little bit of it during the day.

The next step I took is go to the nearest health store to buy a big bottle of Vitamin K. I made sure it is a full months supply for me like 30 pieces so I wont run out of the stuff. According to my boss a safe dosage would be 75 to 80 mg for males and 55 to 65 for females. I took the supplement after meals.

Lastly my boss recommended to get a lot of sleep because no matter I how I treat my dark eye circles it wont get any better unless I attack the source of the problem. I kinda wonder how do I do that when I work in the night. My boss told me that to get a good rest during the day is make sure that I wear eye mask while sleeping so that I wont be able to see too much light. True enough I dose off more peacefully and faster. I also put some heavy curtains at my window cause it kinda block of the noise coming from the outside I put two slices of cucumber on top of my eyes to relax it further.

After a month of sleeping a lot, taking vitamin k, and eating a lot of the veggies my dark circles have diminish together with the eye puffiness. Give it 2 more months and it is guaranteed to disapper completely according to my Boss. For the meantime while you still have those racoon eyes it would help a lot to put concealer or some other form of make up to hide those unsightly dark circles.

Whats inside the Bag of a Professional Model

One of the sidelines I've been doing aside from my regular 8 to 5 job is a booker for a Modeling Agency. I usually work side by side with them and get to observe their habits specially when they are having their photo shoots. Usually my boss would apply something to their face or to their teeth before the shoot to make them more gorgeous but its another story when you look into their bags. Really these pips have an assortment of beauty arsenal to enhance their looks further . They are not really brand conscious but they usually buy stuffs that works for them or cosmetics they are not allergic. I come up with a few of the stuff that are usually at their bags and the following are the frequent items I get to see.


1. Perfume or cologne - I always see this people spray these stuff to smell good. Most of the time they have perfume's or cologne that they find fragrant, but some spray cologne that have a signature on the scent like some expensive brands. It adds to their allure and confidence to smell good to feel good. Not all models have cars and the toll of commuting is absorbing the aroma of the nearby environment. So for us regular pips it will help us also to feel good about ourselves by doing the same. Spray perfume that would that would make us more pleasing to others. Nobody wants a stinker around them.

2. Hand sanitizer - Most models I know keep this product intact at the corners of their bag. They are gaga over cleanliness and health so they always apply it to prevent germs and bacteria to breed at their hands which is the only body part that gets to touch every opening in their body (e.g. mouth, eyes) that acts as doorway for disease. Its a preventive measure for them to avoid common illnesses like flu or colds that could aggravate to something else. Clearly nobody looks good if they are sickly.

3. Healthy Snacks - Most models I know specially the guys are health conscious. Models frequent the gym often and they are always on the go. They keep a healthy snack handy in case they get hungry to keep their metabolism up. They know for a fact that frequent small meals will boost their metabolism to keep them slim and still constantly watching their calorie intake. Models usually keep a piece of fruit in their bag or a whole wheat sandwich packed with veggies and meat like tuna. Chocolates are one of their indulgence but they usually bring like 5 small pieces handy to give them a feel good mood and reduce cravings.

4. Make up - These is the most regular resident of their bag. Usually they have foundations and other assortments for a re touch of their make up every few hours. Guy models do have make up but they keep it on a minimum. Some guy models usually have simple skin tone foundation and apply it sporadically and a clear lip balm. They always buy make up that are close to their skin tone so that they would look fresh and flawless naturally.

5. Tissue - A clear must have for them is a pack or two of tissue for cleaning their face & for wiping sweat and dirt that accumulated at any body part. For people who wants to be constantly fresh tissue is the perfect aid for cleaning up.

6. Hair styling products and Tools - Beside their face models usually fix their hair all the time. Their bag contains hair wax or gel to keep their locks in place or if they are the rapunzel time you could see a brush or a medical comb to stroke their mane. most of them have a healthy hair strand so its easy to manage their hair because its well maintained. They also bring caps to cover their hair from wind damage or some pony tails or hair clips to keep it in place.

7. Shades or Eyeglasses - Models keep a good pair of eyeglasses in their bags to protect their eyes from dirt and the harmful rays of the sun. Its not really good practice for them to squint and let their eyes be exposed to the sun. Its like an open invitation for crows feet and sundamage if they dont bring eyeglasses handy. Their eyes wont look great or expressive in front of the camera if they look tired or lined with wrinkles

8. Sunblock or SPF lotion - Skin is the largest organ exposed to models. And since most skin ageing are also a result of frequent sun exposure models have a face cream and a sunblock handy to prevent their skin from wrinkling and having sunburn due to over exposure from the sun rays if they choose to travel or commute.

The above list are the common stuff Models bring or put in their bags. Of course they might forget an item or two but these stuff are the regular things you would see. So if you are planning to be the BATMAN of the modeling world your utility belt should mostly compose of the items listed above. Their could be some deviation on the list but I assure you it would containt most of the things I enumerated above