Steal This From: The Kids

With my son's second birthday just around the corner it's easy for me to lapse into memory lane: when I first brought him home, his first bath, his first bout of allergies and how I panicked when I saw them. I must have googled "baby, rash, products" to death till I had at least a full list of hypoallergenic items that had high ratings and good reviews. I guess this is what started the oc fact checking, but I'm happier now that I buy products that have pre-approved results. The point is, a lot of child-friendly products are milder versions of adult-friendly products. Really good if you have extra sensitive or picky skin like I do. The products displayed above are personally loved by Lucas, and me!

Pick of the Week: Coppola's Keratin Treatment Products

So I got a haircut yesterday at my favorite snipping place, and guess what my stylist had to say? DAMAGE, DRYNESS, DISASTER! Well, maybe not in those words, but she kept tsking as she brushed through my mane of tangled hair. Now that I think about it actually, she would occasionally stop and mutter "dry, dry,  dry" - an ominous sign that meant expensive treatments were coming my way. After figuring out that it was the hugely publicized Sunsilk Smooth and Manageable shampoo that was creating havoc (oily roots, dry ends) on my hair, I decided to chuck it out and go for broke with a new brand. 


After exhaustive online research I settled on two very eligible hair products, Coppola's Keratin Complex shampoo and its promising Vanilla Bean deep conditioner. Lucky little me managed to find this brand here locally at the Greenbelt Piandre salon, and this is what I have to say about it:


Wowza! Every day can be a Brazilian blow-dry day!!! More after the jump!

Isabella Tolentino

Bella, 19.

literature student/ enthusiastic taste-tester/ adventurer

To see some great finds, read on after the jump!

Chanel Winter '10: A Soho Story

Press Release:

To celebrate the reopening of the CHANEL Boutique in SoHo, CHANEL Global Creative Director of Makeup Peter Philips has created a limited edition collection that echoes the spirit of SoHo. “For me, SoHo is a place where Bohemian ideals meet the toughness of the city… I love the tension and energy this creates.” says Peter Philips.

The SOHO STORY Collection is a study in extreme contrasts, partnering feminine pinks and roses with strong, industrial metallics. From pretty cheekbones to anthracite nails, tender creams and flashes of metal simultaneously reflect and contradict each other. “I had a specific girl in mind who is both hard and soft. A girl who discovers a new city, a new life.” adds Peter Philips. “This is a very special kind of New York woman. She is innocent, but she has a steely determination that fuels the city.”

To view more pics of the collection, check it out after the jump!

MAC Winter '10: A Tartan Tale

Here's a little teaser of the MAC winter collection, to be released around late October / early November! I for one love the packaging! I think it's definitely a sweet new concept. I'll be posting more about it soon!

Squeal some more after the jump!

Carmela Villegas

Carms, 25.

parisienne/ pinoy at heart/ 

hopelessly romantic/future patisserie owner/ 

julien's love/ shoe and bag fanatic

For a really simple, classic routine, read on after the jump!

Marie Martelino Lon

Marie, 24.

"I am a film production student at USC's specialty Cinematic Arts school funded by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.

I am a guitarist for a hip-hop group."

For some really awesome hair products and some tips, read on after the jump!

Brows & Lashes: Will we ever be able to have it all?

Every time I'm in the drugstore for little errands, the L'Oreal counter catches my eye with its big blue Renewal Lash Serum poster. It makes me think of this never ending struggle to enhance what we have, which is a more pocket-friendly alternative to permanent enhancements (collagen lip injections, brow implants etc) - but these products are coming up so fast in the beauty market that it's hard to keep up with what actually works. I've heard many women complain about the sparseness of their brows, and the stubby length or their lashes - I thought brow kits and gels would cut it, and there's always the glorious invention of the Fiberwig mascara and the Shu Uemura lash curler (best tool in the world), but it doesn't seem like it's ENOUGH. 


First things first. TRY EVERYTHING you can before going for a permanent fix.

Try it for the weekend: Go Organic

My favorite thing about Sundays is the Legazpi Organic Market. I'm there every week since I live so close to it, so you could probably run into me somewhere between ten and eleven am. Not only does it have yummy food (amazing homemade jams, enormous ensaymadas, honey and other really incredible things) but it's got quite it's fair share of locally made organic products. And you know, products and I go hand in hand, no matter where I find them. Let me walk you through some of my favorite vendors.


Z.E.N. (Zestful, Energetic, Natural) Organic Personal Care Products:
Now when you enter the market through the parking lot, this is the first stall to catch your eye. Well, if you're looking past the gigantic Himalayan salt rocks (which are also quite rad). The Z.E.N. booth is like a buffet for product junkies because it's got everything you need and quite possibly more. The baskets of soap that are lined up in front of the tables are hard to miss, people are constantly squatting around the area grabbing at hundreds of multi-flavored/colored/functional bars of glycerin and vco. I personally love the Cinnamon soap, because it smells divine (cinnamon turns your senses on full force, really helpful on a monday morning), the Barako Coffee scrub (prevents cellulite!!!), the Palawan Kelp scrub (SLIMMING!!!) and their gugo bark shampoo (which my dad swears by). Try not to use up all your money in the first five minutes at the market or you'll be sorry (but thrilled, secretly).


Indigo Baby:
Well! I have a lot to say about these products (whose part-owner I just featured a week ago, Monica Eleazar-Manzano), probably because I have a two year old son who is incredibly enticing to mosquitoes and just about any other bite-crazy creature (his father). The Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me insect repellent is genius because: a) it really does work, b) it doesn't smell like other organic repellents (most of the ones I've tried before this one had a super strong citronella smell) c) the whole family is obsessed with it and d) it's chemical free which is really important for little ones. And when Lucas was very young he used to scratch his face a lot, which is how the Jar of Hope first-aid gel came in super handy. I myself use it when I have headaches, I sort of just rub it right into my temples and wait for the cool feeling to take over.


Milea Bath and Body Wellness Essentials (All Organics):
I am OC about my skincare regimen, and there is always one particular ingredient that I'm after - Guava. It was introduced to me a couple of years ago by the mom of one of my friends and I've been using it ever since. Since I moved back to Manila it's been much easier for me to find, and this particular brand of Guava soap is amazing. Also, I use their Rosehip Cream compulsively, but on my hands as opposed to my face.


Sakto:
Probably the best packaging and most unique formulations I have seen for eco-sustainable products EVER. This is the kind of store that will sweep you off your feet because you will feel like you NEED everything. For your body, for your home (herbal laundry detergent!). I have spent a decent amount of time standing in front of this stall simply staring (at the risk of weirding out the very cool people who run it). I swear by their Skin Disorder Manager soap which has chamomile and calendula for my little bouts of skin issues. Good luck trying to pick just a few items!


Human Heart Nature:
Talk about brand loyalty. I literally have everything from this line of products. I've been hooked from day one. With proceeds going to Gandang Kalikasan and outstanding ethical principles behind the brand, it's hard not to go crazy at the Human Heart Nature stall. People have been so crazy for it that it's now in Rustan's supermarket - making it readily available to the maddening crowd. However, I still like trawling through the market to peek at the small but varied collection at the Legazpi booth. You may have heard about their super fantastic Tomato and Lemongrass toner, or even their Moringa facewash - and yes, it's all true. These products work like their more expensive department store counterparts but without the dryness and harsh stinging of chemicals. My picks are any of the toners, the guava and aloe vera face wash, and the handy dandy sanitizers.


So next time you're sitting around on a Sunday wondering what to do - you know where you should be! Happy weekend!