"Vitamin E for the Skin?"

"AskMeWhats" as I call this blog, get a lot of queries from readers daily.  I don't mind though, I actually love interacting with readers sharing my thoughts and ideas at the same time, learning a lot from them as well. 

Daily questions and topics were thrown at me even about TVCs!  (TV Commercials).  I got a couple of reader questions asking me if I've tried the new Myra Facial Moisturizer and Hand and Body Lotion because it was endorsed by none other than FHM's Sexiest Woman Ms. Angel Locsin.  I had to search for the commercial on YouTube to watch the said commercial.  Click HERE to watch and click photo below to enlarge.

 **photo taken from website

The well-directed commercial was said to be shot at "The Lakeshore" Mexico, Pampanga - a nice province several hours away from Manila.  The scene wherein actor Mr. Luis Manzano sighs on missing Angel's "healthy, beautiful, youthful-looking skin" is a smart idea!   Can't blame him, her skin is absolutely gorgeous in this commercial!  The direction of this commercial is a very clever as the two endorsers, who used to be "real-life-couple", yearns for each other and coming to terms with the break-up.  (Nikki on gossip mode) *laughs*

Myra has a famous tag line: "Discover Youthful Beauty, inside and out, only with Myra".  You know how yours truly believe in inner beauty.  However, let's face the fact that the environment around us is harsh to our skin, thus outer beauty needs to be taken care off!  By the way, do you still remember Ms. Judy Ann Santos' commercial on Myra400E?

 **photo taken from website

I guess the company has this big campaign on Youthful Beauty IN and OUT.  Inner beauty with Myra400E and Outer beauty with Myra Facial Moisturizer and Hand and Body Lotion.  Am I smart for figuring this out?  I'm not, I just read it somewhere!  *hahaha*

I haven't tried Myra but I'm not foreign on the said Vitamin.  Let me share something...

**photo from source

Years ago, I love working out.  Working out for me is doing 1.5 hours  aerobics  exercise plus an hour of weight training five times a week.  I guess that's where all my energy came from. I was on the roll!  My gym instructor once came up to  me  and advised me to take Vitamin E supplement.  I did  my research and I followed his advise after learning that Vitamin E is vital to protect our cell membranes keeping them healthy.  To make it simpler, Vitamin E can actually help preserve red blood cells in the body.  Higher red blood cell count means more energy and stamina for us to keep on working out thus making us look and feel healthy and young!

With the said benefit I am not surprised when Vitamin E are added to skin care products like lotions and creams because the said ingredient was said to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles thus a good source of anti-aging because of its antioxidant activity!

To answer my reader query.  No, I have not tried the Myra skincare line.  However, it does not hurt to give it a try as early as NOW! 
 

Anyone who have tried the new Myra Facial Moisturizers and Myra Hand and Body Lotion?
Would you care to share to us your experience?
Let's help out our readers!  Thanks in advance!

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

Weekend Food Tripping at: Nomnomnom Happy Food

(Thanks to Greca's camera for some of the photos)

Happy Sunday friends!  How's weekend treating you?  Mine has been a relaxing one so far.  I had my hair treatment and pedicure, manicure yesterday!  Will definitely report about it soon as I had good experiences on both!

I had a lovely food tripping too!  It was rainy but still, with good company and great food?  What more can we ask for?  It was my first time to dine in this restaurant, the name itself sounds yummy! 

Nomnomnom

Just by the name of this restaurant, I can see myself chowing down on food with this huge NOM NOM NOM sound!  Just like a Japanese Anime!  It was raining when we went to this place!  The place was packed and we had to wait for our tables.  The place is non-air conditioned!  Not sure about their function room though.  This place is small and fits approximately 50 people.  If it's not raining, there are tables and chairs outside the restaurant and you can definitely dine in outside. 

We ordered a pitcher of Iced Tea 

Php120.00 (approx $2.60)

We ordered the regular iced tea which tastes like most iced teas available in most restaurants.  They also offer flavored iced tea though.  Will definitely give the flavored iced tea a try as I will definitely come back!

Lime Chicken with Alfredo Sauce

Php160.00 (approx $3.48)

A good portion of chicken breast marinated with lime and rosemary, drizzled with Alfredo Sauce.  Served withh buttered beans and rice!

Olio and Aglio Pasta

 Php160.00 (approx $3.50)

Chili and garlic pasta with grilled shrimp!  If you're allergic to shrimps like myself, you can order the Chili and Garlic Pasta without Shrimp for Php140.00 (approx $3.00)

Veggie Meat Curry

Php130.00 (approx $2.83)

Curried Veggie Meat with Potatoes and Carrots over a buttered rice crater

Talong and Lasting Love Pizza Log

Php220.00 (approx $4.78)

Grilled eggplant with Kesong Puti on Tomato Sauce.

Very crunchy and worth to share!

Enchilada

Php160.00 (approx $3.48)

They call this the Mexican version of Lasagna.  Made with corned tortilla filled with loads of kangkong and cream cheese.  Serving is quite huge so great for sharing!

The Good Sisig

Php95.00 (approx $2.00)

Instead of the usual fattening ingredients of Sisig, this one is good for the heart.  Fried tofu with green chili and onions served on top rice.  Yummy! 

Nomnomnom

1 Tomas Morato cor. E. Rodriguez Ave. 

Besides Shell Gas Station

Open from 12nn-1am, Tuesdays to Sundays

Service is a bit slow as they cook your order from scratch.  So better dine in here with great friends and companion!  The food is worth the wait and price is definitely not bad!

Note from author: I actually tried their pizza too!  Tastes fabulous!  Will include the photo here as soon as I got it from a friend's camera! :)

Enjoy weekend food tripping!
Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

AMW Reads: For the Month of July

Time flew by like a flash and I can't believe July is almost over!  Here's my share of favorite reads for the month of July!  This month's edition is more of, "Nikki is lemming for..." edition.  These beauties posted a couple of stuffs on their blog that stirs up my interest!  Gosh, computer screen shopping time!

Would you believe that Maybelline Volum' Express Cat Eyes Mascara comes in special edition tube?  To all Hello Kitty lovers out there, or even myself who likes HK but not that much.  I am really looking into purchasing this cute tube as I told PB of My Women Stuff how it'll be a nice conversation starter especially for makeup artists like myself!

I have used I Nuovi makeup when I was sent for reviews.  The brand is really nice and I love their products thus I repurchased on my last Hong Kong visit.  After reading I Nuovi Illumina Skin Illuminating Pre-Makeup Base from Connie of Skin Deco, I seriously noted it down on my organizer's "to buy" list just in case....just in case I'll travel to a country that sells I Nuovi cosmetics!

A dear friend Jenn of Lipglosseater is known to be the "Asian Site" to go to for the most recent MAC Collections.  She swatches them and its definitely "window shopping" online!  I don't follow MAC Collections but there's a post on MAC In the Groove Collection Review + Swatches wherein she showed her newly purchased Well Prepared Kit.  I have to get one!!!

Another "must have" for AMW.  Xin of Pretty Beautiful talks about her new organizer she got from her dear friend.  When I saw the photo?  I was salivating like crazy because my old "organizer" needs to be thrown out and I definitely need a new one!  Want to know how it looks like?  Click  Double as Bag Organizer - Roo Avion De Papier.

And my "want" never ends.  Well this time, it's a "need", need this for my makeup clients.  Syen of So Loverly posted her new finds from Daiso.  I call it her Eureka Moment as she found inexpensive oil blotters housed in a very cute packaging (my kind of stuffs).  Head on to Review: Daiso Blotters and holler if we have it down here locally!  I will hoard, don't stop me please!

And let's talk about another base!  Yani of Red Luscious Lips shares her wonderful find when she blogged about Just Trying: Lancome BB Base.  I've seen her photo after using the Lancome’s UV Expert GN-Shield High Potency Active Protection BB Base, I want to head on to Lancome right now and check it out if its available locally!

Happy Reading!
Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

Tip for the Day: Foundation Application for Mature Skin

"How do you apply foundation for mature skin?""What must be done to prevent foundation from sitting on wrinkles?"
"I tried applying makeup on my grandmother but her skin got really dry, help!"

You probably think I don't read your queries.  You want to know the truth?  I do, I take your queries seriously!  It's just that, I'm a "One Woman Show" here so it takes forever and 100 days for me to answer queries!  *laughs* Seriously, I take all queries in mind and before I give advises or share my thoughts, I want to make sure it's tried and tested!

One of the most difficult make-up application for me is "Foundation Application for Mature Skin".  When I was studying makeup in school, I have several models right in front of me and I've practiced and done so many looks but none on mature models!  I got my share of mature clients AFTER makeup class!  And I learn so many things the hard way!

Here's a sample photo of a typical "mature skinned".  In fairness to my client, she is already more than 90 years old and her skin is obviously "well taken care of" during her younger years.  Her family requested for a very simple and natural looking make-up.  Definitely not "mask-looking" and does not feel heavy on skin.  

I tried researching about foundation application for "mature skin" but found there aren't a lot of articles out there!  So here's my simple, straightforward, "in your face" tips that I learn base on experience!

1. Avoid shimmery foundation as this will highlight the wrinkles 
2. If possible, moisturize the skin with a moisturizer prior to makeup application.
3. Use a primer that helps moisturize and fill in fine lines and wrinkles prior to foundation application.
4. Choose a foundation that targets on dry skin (as most mature skin is very dry). In addition, you can mix your foundation with moisturizer to lessen the "heavy" feel of foundation.  
5. I've found out that applying using a brush in a "stippling" motion is best for mature skin.  This method lessens the look of fine lines and wrinkles.  If you prefer using a sponge, wet your sponge then apply foundation with moisturizer in a "patting" motion.  
6. Conceal dark spots if necessary.  You can either use a separate concealer or use the same foundation with moisturizer and build up coverage on the areas needed.
   
7. Set foundation using a big face brush.  Try to stay away from "oil control" powder as it can enhance dryness and lines.

Extra tip from AMW: Do not expect lines and wrinkles to disappear!  It won't happen! :D It's makeup!  Not magic!  *laughs*

With those tips above, I was able to achieve this before and after shot

(Note to client: Thank you for the trust!)

To my readers who patiently wait for this, thank you and I hope this helps!
Feel free to click comment and ask if you have any follow-up questions!
Have a wonderful weekend!

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: Olay Body

I have been a soap user for almost all of my life!  Most bar soaps I've used strips off the natural oil from my skin thus my skin condition is dry and flaky.  Finding the right soap bar is difficult, though I prefer using them especially when I'm' on a rush!

Recently, I got Olay Bars from Olay Philippines and Yehey!  I was a bit hesitant as I've seen and used so many bar soaps in the past that has "moisturizing" written all over but none of them actually work!  But a test is a test, they smell too good to resist anyways!  I can always depend on my trustee Neutrogena Body Oil after shower.

Olay Body says ---

3 Variants:

OLAY Age Defying Bar. Each bar is formulated with creamy, OLAY lather.

OLAY Fresh Reviving. It goes beyond cleansing, delivering OLAY deep moisturizers to the skin while helping to wash away dry surface cells. So after you dry off, all that's left is skin that feels clean and revived.   

OLAY Ultra Moisture is specially formulated with creamy, OLAY lather and Shea Butter. It goes beyond cleansing, delivering OLAY deep moisturizers to the skin while helping to wash away dry surface cells. So after you dry off, all that's left is skin that feels clean and petal soft.

AMW says (for Ultra Moisture and Age Defying)---

Pros

• scent is really good and addictive, not too strong
• skin feels smooth and moisturized
• can actually survive without body lotion
• does not melt quickly, one 120g bar soap lasts for almost a month (daily use)
• body feels clean without dryness
• texture is really smooth
• inexpensive

Cons

• none at the moment

Overall

I've finished up the Age Defying and Ultra Moisture variant and both did not fail me. I will actually start using the Fresh Reviving variant tomorrow.  What I like about the Olay soaps is that they don't melt fast as compared to other moisturizing soaps and they are very smooth on skin.  Texture feels like butter and it does makes my skin soft to touch even without body oil or lotion.

Of course at this early stage, the Age Defying can't be seen instantly, as the effect of most products come in long term.  But I have a positive feeling with this :D

Tips

• if your skin is super dry or gets exposed to air conditioner the whole day, always follow up with your favorite body lotion 
• do not forget to use sunscreen to protect your skin
• use a soap dish and make sure to keep it dry AT ALL TIMES to prevent soap bars from melting fast
• alternate all 3 variants so you won't feel bored with the scent of your body soap
• if you plan to use this for your face:  test it on one cheek only to see if you are allergic to this, sensitive skin can be allergic to the fragrance of the soap
• you can store the soap bars in your dresser for your clothes to smell clean and  good!

Will I repurchase?
Yes!

Where to purchase and how much?
At leading department stores and groceries for Php45.00 (approx $1.00) for 120g bar.

After finishing the 3 variants from Olay, I actually have other bar soaps to try and finish up!
But this product did not fail!
Have you tried this bar soap?  Like it?  Hate it?

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!