Smile and be Beautiful

People smile for a lot of reason. Some of them maybe smiling because of a positive event in their lives or a simple gesture to return the favor to someone who just gave it to them. But whatever the purpose is their are actually three kind of smile in which you could actually project to be deemed beautiful and picturesque at the same time. I have the enumerated the famous one's and these smiles are not really categorized according to gender but to the loveliness you would illuminate for yourself if you could show them sincerely and of course with a complete set of teeth and smooth lips.

Smile # 1 Monalisa


Of course her smile is the most classic and timeless of all and some people even think that she is not actually smiling but grimacing from pain. But regardless on what she is actually feeling, if you could project this smile so simple yet beautiful its better to do it all the time to save you the wrinkles from frowning.

Smile # 2 Beauty Queen Smile


Now this is the smile we usually see on yearbooks . Its a smile that shows confidence with eyes that flash with sincerity. The aura of positivity and brightness is present. If you want a smile that draws attention then you must learn to practice this.

Smile # 3 Cheerleader Smile

Now this smile is trying to say that you are vibrant and brimming with life. It also inspire confidence like the beauty queen smile but its a bit more candid than the second one. For those moments you feel like smiling and you want to show the world that you know what funny really means this is the way to show it.

Of course we dont want to inspire stereotypes on how people should smile but these types of smiles are the popular picks. You could just pick any of the smile and project it depending on your mood. But if you have a signature smile that launch a thousand ship already then by all means practice. After all these three kind's of smiles that I just pointed out could be an additional arsenal for your bag of tricks for beauty. Just remember to keep your pearly whites shiny and those puckers soft and moist to boot. :)

To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar

While I was scanning my favorite cd rack I came across this old funny movie called “To Wong Foo, thanks for everything Julie Newmar. This comedy is the story of three Drag Queens namely Vida Boheme, Noxeema Jackson, and Chichi Rodriguez. Their story started when Vida and Noxeema win the Drag Queen title in New York and decided to take a young prodigy Chichi who was down and out of her luck to the Drag Queen of America Pageant. All sort of misadventures and Glamour was encountered by the trio as they start their cross country tour to Lala Land California where the contest would be held.

Then it cross my mind and wonder why do this Drag Queens although eccentric and beautiful at the same time get to attract peoples attention. What are their fine attributes that make them click which maybe useful in achieving beauty.

As we know it Drag Queens put lavish make up and clothings with statement for the purpose of entertaining people through satirical expression of culture that trend towards glamor and extravagant fashion and make up. With the obvious intention also to flaunt its hard not to get notice by the public and be viewed as beautiful. But the movie about Drag Queens teach us lessons which I believed will make a person really beautiful inside out . The following are the enumeration and my personal interpretation of what they mean.

Lesson #1 LET GOOD THOUGHTS BE YOUR SWORD AND SHIELD

In the movie Vida and Noxeema teach their prodigy Chichi to think good thoughts while she recite a prayer for help in achieving real beauty. In reality and true enough to my observation most beautiful people I know who has a claim to fame for being a bitch or an a**hole don’t look beautiful in the long run when you get to know them. Beauty is good but we need also the right attitude to handle it. No amount of make up can cover up for a bad reputation. So I say beauty is good to boot with a beautiful mind.

Lesson #2 IGNORE ADVERSITY

In the movie Vida and Noxeema try to stop Chichi from entering a hotel from fear of prejudice, which in the later part of the movie makes Vida commend Chichi for being bold and smart in handling the situation. In applying Lesson #2, for me I think Ignoring Adversity is more on not comparing yourself with people who look better than you or who think less of you. Of course these people will tend to dampen your spirit which is not very good to begin any endeavor of changing yourself. Beauty is different for every individual and as they say it “Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder”. So if you want to feel beautiful you have to feel good about yourself and if find yourself comparing it to others think of beauty as Diamonds. For like Diamonds , no two Diamonds are alike.

Lesson #3 ABIDE BY THE RULES OF LOVE

In the movie Chichi was commended by his mentors for letting go of his Country Boy love Bobby Ray to give way for a girl Bobby Lee. She did it because she don’t want to mislead Bobby Ray who believes he is a girl. I have to say that Chichi did it to feel good about herself by being selfless and unselfish. You wont feel beautiful at all if you mislead somebody or cheat someone intentionally. Think about the constant conscience encounter. If you don’t feel good about yourself , you cant begin to beautiful. In relation to lesson number #1 true beauty is made from inside and out.

Lesson #4 LARGER THAN LIFE IS JUST THE RIGHT SIZE

In the end of the movie Chichi was crowned as the Drag Queen of America from the numerous tips that Vida and Noxeema gave her on their way to Hollywood. A lot of people do do take care of themselves in terms of clothings and hygiene. But lesson #4 is telling us to be a little different from the regulars or try not to be like the rest of the flock. Every body else seems to follow a certain fashion or beauty trend. Why not try taking your beauty to the next level or try to deviate a little from the norm so you could stand out from the rest by putting a little extra. If every body else wears a red bangle why not wear a red bangle mixed with other colors that way you will be a tod different. For guys if you notice there are very few men out their with big guns so why not pump up your arms and feel the difference.

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 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

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.

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.

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 :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrpHbTZ_jL8

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)

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

The serious case of the False Eyelashes

It was one of those afternoons when I usually meet up with my close friends and have chit chat with them over trivial stuff's and ask about the latest updates about their lives. I met with my bestfriend Santi (not real name) a 57 year old kikay woman who likes to indulge in parlor services and visit it like a second home.

We met at Jolibee pacita regarding our sideline about events organizing for the Rotary Club and start discussing of what must be done to expedite things needed to be accomplished. As I was listening to what she was telling me about the overpriced talent fee for our charity work I cant help but notice her eyelashes. I noticed that she doesnt have eyelashes in the middle of her eyelids. All of her eyelashes are concentrated on the corners of her eye and in the middle portion its non existent at all.

At first I was curious about it and start thinking could this be the latest fashion craze about eyelashes. Because I remember back in the 80's there was a fad in hair style where all the hair is concentrated only on the middle of the head and the sides are shaved like MR. T on the tv show THE A TEAM. But this nagging voice in my head couldnt stop and forced my mouth to ask the question " What happened to your eyelashes my friend? "

My friend Santi replied to me saying it was the parlor's fault. They use an old adhesive to attach her false eyelashes. What happened was her eyelashes become clumped and started sticking to one another. Instead giving the dramatic effect of a peacock they got intertwined to one another and whats worse they started pointing downward instead of the usual upward stroked look. The beautician probably is a novice and have some of the adhesive mixed with the lashes. Instead of going to the parlor my friend started plucking her eyelashes until all that is left are the one's on the side of her eyes because its too painful to pull out.

My friend complained also that instead of the regular human hair they use synthetic false eyelashes making everything much worse than it should be. I couldn't help but chuckle because it look so ridiculous. She told me that she would go back to the parlor and have them fixed the problem. I told her to run back to the parlor cause she look like the hairless wonder and everybody might give her a second look not because of awe.

After that fiasco with the parlor she always ask to the beautician to show her the materials being use for her eyelashes from the adhesive to the false eyelashes to ensure that she wont be the victim of the same predicament the 2nd time around.

Dear Readers

Sorry for the lack of updates to this blog. Rest assured, more content will be added to this as soon as more free time is made available to the writers. Thank you.

Surviving Gym Boredom To Stay Fit

During my younger years, I was so overweight that I can hardly run together with my friends. I was weighing 165 lbs at 5’6 . Its so embarrassing that one time I accidentally tripped on the floor because I lost balance while dancing in a disco club. Thank goodness we went to that bar on a Tuesday night with my bestfriends and the crowd is scarce.

I used that moment as a catalyst to fire my desire to shed some pounds off my body. The next thing I knew - I’m signing up for a club membership at our local community gym.

My enthusiasm is so overwhelming I went straight to the cardio machines after I enrolled. I tried everything from the treadmill to the strair climbers and sweat till I dropped. My overeager attitude lasted for 2 weeks till I find everything tedious.

Ahhhhhh!!!!! I hit the common boredom most gym goers experience.

I stopped going to the gym for 3 days, then like a recurring nightmare I remembered that dreadful night at the club. I went back to the gym and look around for other means to loosen my gut.

I passed by the aerobics room and looked at the class schedule. To my amazement there are like 10 different classes of dancing and group exercise and that's not even including the stretching classes.

For a month I tried all those classes, sometimes I even did two consecutive classes so I can sweat like loco. I was so happy that I immediately lost 10 lbs in 6 weeks. I did the aerobics thing on a daily basis and tried all the variety of exercises the gym has to offer.

Ten weeks later I lost a total of 16 pounds and I'm so happy that I'm no longer experiencing shortness of breath and my skin is getting that clear healthy natural glow. Without boasting I lost all those pounds without even trying to diet.

Then boredom start knocking on my door once more.

Hmmmm, I got to find a way to sustain my figure. So once again I started my usual field trip around the gym hoping to meet inspiration once more. Then there it is the bulletin board.

They have a list of these Sports Group inviting new members. I joined the Badminton Club, Wushu Class, and the Synchronized Swimming (kidding - hahahaha). There is still a host of other sports I haven't enrolled yet but I'm saving them for last or to be more honest until I get bored again.

I lost a lot of weight after my sports addiction and gained friends. These same friends helped me along the way to keep my momentum. They have given me advise on what other things to enjoy going to the gym to stay fit.

Surviving gym boredom is not easy and I have to say it requires diversity in the activities you do there.

As much as possible enjoy the process so it would look like a recreational activity rather than a chore. Stay out in a rut routine because before you know it you might find yourself going back to your old habits of a sedentary life and the occasional falling flat on your face.

How to Become Gorgeous with Stress

There comes a point in my life that I have personal problems - love, family and other similar circumstances that could affect my emotions. I have tried different methods to forget them or dislodge that bad feeling.

These are the moments when I am in A State of Depression or Stress. As a result I have developed certain practices that one way or another seem to do a little bit more harm than good. Though its not easy to stop wallowing in self pity I would like to suggest to include a Beauty Habit with the following situations so you wont come out totally defeated once you realize that LIFE GOES ON and what a mess you have made of your self.

Situation # 1 - Sulking ( or staying a prisoner of your own home )
Yes this is very common to most people who refuse to face the reality of the situation. Most of us would rather lock themselves up in the house, watch television and sleep all day long.

Remember your problems wont go away unless you accept their existence and decide you want to be a hermit for sometime. Ok, so you beg to differ and say "it's really not that easy to move on." Alright, but I do suggest to take this as an opportunity for you to go into a state of Metamorphosis.

While sulking you tend to stay in the house and sleep a lot. While hibernating, I suggest that you slather a lot of beauty creams into your face both night time and day time and clean it religiously until you fall asleep again. So every time that you wake up you are pretty sure there is one thing in your life that is clearing up - which is your Face.

Situation # 2 - Lack of Appetite
There is also the tendency for you not to eat much. People completely disregard their meals and just stare blankly at nothing. That won't help either. So if it's hard for you to eat solid food cause its a bit tedious for the moment - ask the househelp to blend fruits and vegetables and go on a detox diet.

Yes, just one glass of a concentrated all natural drink would do the trick three times a day. A Detox Diet would be perfect during occasions when all you want to do is stare blankly at the wall or at the stars recalling all COULD'VE BEENS or WHAT IF'S.

By the moment you decided that there is no turning back time, you will discover that time indeed have turn back a little bit. A liquid detox diet of fruit, vegetables, and tea can bring a wonderful healthy glow even if it's just 3 days of fasting. But I don't encourage you to go back staring blankly hoping that you can get a bit prettier by doing so.

Situation # 3 - Violent Tendencies
Some of us tend to blame other people or become volatile when dealing with depression. At some point, our anger will cause us to be physical with the people around us. Not a very reasonable style to cope with your the problem.

You will keep people away if you continue doing this. What I suggest is that if you want to lash out all you want - then enroll in a boxing class. Yes, this class allows you to hit a punching bag and at the same time sweat out.

Every time you hit the punching bag you can shout as much as you want and you can hit it without fear of hurting anybody. A great way to release your emotions while getting that endorphins (a feel good hormone produced by exercise). By the time you are over the problem - your body would have evolved to something sexier and your mood is better. Remember to go regularly, regardless of how you're feeling - aggressive or passive.

Situation # 4 - Pigging Out
Other people cope with stress by over indulging with the food they want. Yes, it's better compared to the three other situations mentioned above but you are just putting more calories to your body and in turn, you are putting on weight.

People feel more depressed when they found out that they have grown an additional waist or chin, much worst created canckles (fusion of ankles and calves). Talk about really low self esteem.

Since you can't help eating out I would recommend that you go eating in a Seafood Restaurant. Gorge on white meat like fish because compared to red meats they don't stick around your digestive organs for days causing your tummy to bulge.

To suppress your appetite before pigging out, eat a big helping of fruits and vegetables so you will feel full and lessen your craving of putting in more junk. The great thing about Fruits and Veggies is, YOU CAN EAT ALL YOU WANT AND YOU WONT GET FAT - now where else can you go for a meal like that?

That's it. I hope that you would try this beauty techniques when dealing with your regular stress and depression, and hopefully they may help as well to get your self-esteem back. Sure some of the methods would require a little bit of will power but then again they can help you to get back on your feet.

Red Lips for Dummies or Not

During my teenage days I have discovered that there is more than one way to put a red color to my lips so I can pucker in front of the mirror. Of course their are those conventional ways like the common lipstick, lip shimmer and lip gloss. They have their own purpose and variety.

But during my trials I was able to come across these peculiar methods. Yes, they're unconventional but I can guarantee they can put that red tint in your lips, if that is your main objective. If you're ready to try these techniques, I would recommended this rarely. Maybe so rare that I suggest you try them on the event that you have forgotten to buy your regular lip color from the supermarket or you are so out of budget. This things I believe are readily available around the corner. Hehehehe!(Grins)

Tip #1 Candies or Chewing Gum with Heavy Red Coating

If you would recall during your childhood days, there are those candies and chewing gum that have strong food colors that once you start putting them in your mouth the coating of the candy starts to melt. The red food color start sticking on your tongue after a minute or so they got wet with your saliva. The procedure is simple once the color starts leaving the candy get the candy and starts applying the remaining food color to your lips.

Now this quick fix doesn't have a long staying power on your lips. It may last only for an hour or less, or until your lips run dry and you start licking it with your tongue. So the next time you went to the grocery try to make it a point to go the confectionery section. This is the perfect lip color if you have intentions of snogging or kissing your partner and you want to end up with a fresh breath, and your partner craving more of your lips. :)

Tip# 2 Merthiolate Tincture

Hahaha! Totally out of this world. I've discovered this method through our maid. I always wondered why her lips have a faint red color that doesn't look like lipstick. I accidentally passed by her room one time and saw her applying the tincture directly on her lips.

I asked her does she have a cut or a bruise on her lips cause I know this tincture is used as an antiseptic for wounds. She told me she doesn't have any wounds from her lips but the tincture is perfect on acquiring the red shade she desires and it can last for hours. I have hesitations of recommending this product because it may be toxic once you smack your lips and get to swallow it in the process. But since I have news that our old maid is still alive up until now I assume it may not be that hazardous.

I do suggest this as temporary lipstick if ever you have some cuts on your lips as a result of chapping or too much drying. Or better yet try this only if the situation calls for an instant fix on a much rarer situation than the candy.

Tip #3 Toothpaste

Oh yes!! Something that is really present in your household unless your parents are conservative and believe it's still okay to brush your teeth with only salt to disinfect the gums and a dash of baking soda to whiten your teeth. This technique I inherited from one of my teenage friends and swear by its effect but forgot to divulge the side effects.

She told me to apply toothpaste over my lips before I sleep generous amounts of white toothpaste that leave a cold sensation. I must let it stay overnight and remove it only after I wake up in the morning. For vanity's sake I tried it. I was both curious and excited to see the results in the morning so I rush to the bathroom to wash the toothpaste off.

Well! Well! Yes, my lips indeed are pinkish red both upper and lower lips. But wait??!!! What is this stinging sensation. Oh no my lips seem to be slightly burnt. I don't know why did the toothpaste have that effect on my lips. Indeed for 2 to 3 days my lips are red and people are wondering why. And then the side effects.

After those glorious 3 days my lips started chapping and peeling. Argghhh and much worse it blackened a bit more than usual. I can say this procedure is only recommended if you want to go out with red lips during Mondays and Tuesdays and want to stay inside the house from Wednesday up to Sunday due to excessive peeling. Wahhahaha!

There you have it. Red lips wherever and whenever. With or without budget. The decision is up to you. Whatever your choice is, make sure you made it for the right occasion. :)

Coco Milk for Shiny Locks

I remember during the days when I run errands for my Mom we use to make this delicious cassava cake. I go early to the market place and buy the ingredients as early 5:00 am and pick only the best ingredients to make this cake.

We make all varieties of cassava cakes like those with langka, buko and a variety with double icing on the cake. The icing is composed mainly of coconut milk, milk, cheese, and butter. This tedious but lucrative routine made me wonder if there might be something else I can do with the time when I go to the market to make it more worthwhile.

While I was buying for the coconut shaving which I use to make the cakes, one of the lady peddler made a comment with her co-peddler sitting beside her who is incessantly combs her hair.

"Hey you know what I am so amazed by your dark black healthy hair. Despite your age, it doesn't seem to lose its luster."

The lady peddler with the flowing black mane is quick to reply with the flattery and instantly said "Well it's my grandmother's advice to me. If I want to maintain a healthy lock you must constantly wash your hair with coconut milk."

With that reply I instantly asked the lady peddler what are the procedures for these regimen to work. She told me that all I have to do is buy coconut shaving and dilute it with water. Afterwards, squeeze out the milky juice and use it as a pre wash to your hair everytime you take a bath or on a regular interval weekly.

Finally!! something to make my trip to the market worthwhile. I told the coconut peddler to increase the quantity of my purchase and headed home quickly.

Upon arriving home I immediately follow the instructions of the peddler on how to extract the juice and proceed to the bathroom and take a bath to take the sweat out of my body from my market excursion. After washing my hair with coconut milk, I notice something.

ARGGHHH!!!! I smelled like the cassava cake I am cooking. I washed my hair with a very fragrant shampoo but NO! I still smell like the cakes.

And you know what!?! It sticks around like hell, I repeated the process and finally, the coconut scent has diminished. After the shampoo I used a conditioner to further condition my hair and put more perfume.

MOMENT OF TRUTH. I was drying my hair and noticed that my hair is more smooth and soft to the touch. Of course there is that faint scent of the coconut to add to the usual scent of my shampoo. Hmmm, I am really amazed.

I read a book about coconuts and found out that its milk contains Lauric Acid. A component of coconut that is antibacterial and anti-viral. Wow, it's very good for controlling dandruff too!

Recent studies show that compared to other oils used for the hair, coconut oil is more easily absorbed by the hair shaft which acts as a laminating film. With this edge, coconut milk is able to reduce damage to the hair and prevents protein loss. Which explains why the lady peddler had a very healthy hair.

Im so glad I've discovered this beauty secret. Makes me look forward shopping at the market place. Now if there is only a way to avoid the regular smelly alley's. (Hehehe, incessantly complaining still) :D