Last Wednesday I finally went for the recommendation of my cousin’s girlfriend and dyed my hair dark ash blonde, which is a cooler brown with a lesser  tendency to go brassy or orange, there still is a bit of warmth because of my natural hair but I’m glad my hair is no longer reddish brown.

People kept asking me since about August last year why I wasn’t recoloring my hair promptly, which I had first colored in April.  The regrowth at the roots had begun to show, although subtle coz my natural hair is super dark brown it was obvious coz I had golden highlights. This was my hair BEFORE I ever had it colored.

Ay, sorry…sumobra yung drag ko sa BEFORE timeline LOL. Well, the answer to why I delayed recoloring is I was still suffering from drastic hairfall, an overspill reaction after resigning from my hectic job last, last year. I had it before I colored it and it still wouldnt let up. After using a revitalizing serum for bout a month which has lessened my hairfall (yes, review soon) I started saving photos of Asian girls with ash blonde hair to show the hairstylist what I wanted to achieve.

Right now I’m also deciding whether I should return in a week to add tonal highlights (not streaks…or strips). I found this lovely random photo of an Asian girl who had lighter ash blonde tones added to her dark ash blonde hair.

Uber lovely however, I dont think I’ll ever go this light with my highlights, coz my skin is not as fair. What do you think, should I go for tonal highlights or leave it as is? By the way, sorry I can’t disclose who did my hair, it was a friend’s tip and she made me promise not to announce it to everyone since his talent was her “find” hehe, all I’ll say is the stylist is new, young, and very good at what he does and it isn’t a super high end salon. I’m a promise keeper so this is all I can share, I’m very happy with the results.

Putting up photos of my cat, Cloud, always seems to put people in a good mood.  I have a new one today.  A few weeks back she was chewing on my hand.  I thought I’d get creative with it.

If you want to see Cloud in action, here’s a short video of her.  If you film her for too long she gets prickly, as most celebrities tend to when running from the paparazzi.

All of you got it correct this time, GASP.  The correct answer to the question which side I was wearing BB Cream on in this giveaway was:

LEFT

I wish I could make you all win but sorry, I still had to pick out two (2) random winners from all the correct answers.  So without further adieu congratulations to:

1. Nicayh

2. Mel

CONGRATULATIONS!  Please be sure to email or message me right away and I’ll give you instructions on how to claim your prizes Everyone keep your eyes peeled and keep reading for more delightful beauty features and fun-filled giveaways to brighten your day.  Love you!

TERMS AND CONDITIONS of the Giveaway were:

• Entry open to Metro Manila residents only.
• Two winners will be picked randomly from correct answers
• Blessmybag.com and Neutrogena are the sole promoters of this giveaway
• Competition closes tonight at 23:00/11pm
• Winner will be notified within the week before the next Pop Guess giveaway
• Prizes are for claiming from the Neutrogena Headquarters, location will be disclosed to the winners.

Apparently, I missed out on the hype 8 months prior.  This was a Metro-wide phenomenon as far as I know.  Several beauty bloggers went a bit crazy over the discovery, after the Watson’s Beauty Lab event last year, that this Php199.00 Watsons Pure Beauty Treatment Conditioner was a great  department store dupe for Shiseido’s Tsubaki Damage Care Conditioner, I’m presuming they meant that one based on research.  Then to the dismay of the Conditioner’s hugely excited fanbase due to the spread of the hype the Pure Beauty hair care range sold out and it disappeared from shelves completely for several months.  Watsons did not replenish its stock of the line, until suddenly 3 days ago, my friend Kira of kira-ramirez.com made a discovery at Mall of Asia, Pure Beauty Hair Care had silently returned.  She was so happy she bought 3 bottles on the spot (ooh, a happy camper!), and ahem, a day later I did, too.  I got one bottle for mom and two for me .

The funny story behind Kira’s announcement is when we were together with other bloggers at an event a few days ago they all began talking about the awesome Conditioner that was. The conditioner is known for containing Camellia Seed Oil from Japan.  However, to make it clear the conditioner is NOT from Watsons Japan, it is made in Korea.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH IT:  The Pure Beauty Treatment conditioner is great also because although it isn’t an organic product it is Paraben-Free and SLS free (although the Pure Beauty shampoo in the silver bottle does contain SLS).  This is a white, smooth fluffy cream, which is your typical conditioner texture, and it smooths over the hair really quickly.  It’s got quite a silky kind of slip as you work it through your strands, if you call that “working” at all.  It’s not quite as hydrating and curl defining as the Davines Love Smoothing Conditioner which is still at the top of my Conditioner list (although I can’t purchase), but this Pure Beauty one definitely gives your hair that silky smooth shine and some definition.  The smell is a powdery, warm, slightly musky type.  I actually prefer brighter fresher scents when it comes to bath and body but I still consider it a pleasant scent.  It doesn’t give tons lot of volume and bounce but it doesn’t make my hair limp at all.  Overall I think this would be an EXCELLENT shampoo for girls with straight hair and wavy hair, for girls with extremely curly hair you may want to use a more hydrating shampoo before using this.

It was a consensus of yearning and in my case a protest of the hype that I missed out on.  I kept repeating myself “Isn’t there any chance they’ll bring it back?” and Kira shrugged her shoulders but said “Sana, I really wish they would.  When you go to Singapore, Julia, kukulitin kita, baka you can get for me…”.  Happy for my blogger friends and for myself that our conversation about it was heard out in the universe  and we were blessed as a result with the return of this well-loved product.  Who says God doesn’t listen in on girl talk?   I told Kira “Hey, maybe we should gather again and start talking about phased out products,” LOL.

Hold it, I’m here to announce the winner for the Nationwide Twitter Giveaway! Stating the obvious, I just need this image in for a proper thumbnail and shout out…

…and the Nationwide Twitter giveaway winner is…

Meggide de Ocampo aka @eiigem3

Congratulations!  Please email me your shipping info ASAP at probinsiyana@gmail.com, I’ll be tweeting you as well.  To all those who joined, I’ll still be having lots of giveaways coming up soon, keep reading and thanks for joining!

On March 11, 2012 it will have been one year since Japan wept as one because of the destructive tsunami that followed the 9.0 Tohoko Earthquake.  It was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded to hit Japan.  Miyagi, Sendai was the only place in Japan I went to as a student ambassador, I lived with them, I had a Miyagi shirt with me and we caught fish in nets along the same coast if I’m not mistaken that nearly swallowed the entire city.  It gripped my heart to see these people suffer while knowing also that I am part of them since I have a Japanese great grandmother.

“Even when a flower falls, we love it.  That is the heart of a Japanese person.”

UK Film Director, Lucy Walker put out a tender short film in the few months that followed the disaster, she instead chose to craft a film that focused on highlighting Japan’s resilient beauty amidst tragedy. Mom was trying to share this with me via email and I kept receiving it while on the go in my phone inbox but overlooking it.  I know now why she kept urging me to watch it. Pull your tissue box near you and watch this short but relevant and hopeful film which I embedded below, The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossoms.  The film is now a 2012 Academy Award nominee for Documentary (short subject).

No, this is NOT for your minibar *yanks it back, strokes bottle*.  My mother brought two bottles of this crystal clear, French liquid home from Hong Kong.  She and I have never heard of it until someone insisted Mom find some and bring it home.  That someone is Gary Valenciano’s wife, my Ninang because she claims it’s really the best all around remedy (probably second to squalene in her book).  The wonderful thing about traditional vintage remedies is more often than not they’re brewed from the most effective natural ingredients and are therefore deemed to be more “harmonious” with the ailing body.  It’s no doubt that the Chinese herald their own Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa Sore Throat Syrup, which today rakes in heaping annual sales totaling about US$45 Million dollars.  From the West, the French have their own, this, a curious but potent, clear liquid by Ricqles prepared from peppermint leaves with a hard-to-remember full French title, Alcool de Menthe de Ricqles, more commonly known as Ricqles Peppermint Cure.  It’s such a novelty thing that I hold and behold it the way Alice does the Drink Me bottle.

“The manufacturer is so dedicated to peppermint that they control the entire process, from growing to processing to packaging. Several drops into a teaspoon with sugar calms almost any stomach ache.  It is an excellent flavoring agent in cooking. I also carry it while traveling; a few drops into a glass of tap water makes a nice ‘eau de nuit’. This has been a staple in our home for over twenty years.” - David R. Good, reviewer on Amazon.com

Ricqles is a brand established in 1838.  Peppermint Cure is said to relieve a number of common bodily afflictions from topical to intestinal, and it’s even mentioned as a FLAVORING AGENT in cooking by some reviewer on Amazon, Peppermint Cure is bound to rock my boat (summons imaginary yacht), what with its cute vintage label and all.  We associate the French with wine and liquor so much that by the bottle you think it’s bound to belong in the minibar.  Disclaimer detour, this isn’t a full review.  I’m not sick and don’t have any burns or bites plus this is mom’s unopened bottle, for now let it be a visual “TA-DA!”.

“Use as an essential antiseptic for preventing risk of infection in minor cuts, scrapes, insect bites. Also recommended as an all season remedy for everything from indigestion, bad breath, the blues, headache to cold/flu. With a natural peppermint scent that vanishes instead of turning musty, this French made product epitomizes a clean and gentle preparation.” – etamhoa.com

What to do with it ? Oh, what to do!  Reviews and descriptions of this online call it nearly everything short of water poured from the Holy Grail.  It’s even recommended for burns, cuts, bites and for annoying but well-meaning people with bad breath (shocked face)…how big can a little product like this get?  I wonder if it’ll shrink a zit.  The box, by the way, certainly screams Doraemon don’t you think?  By the soundz of it I’m waiting for the box to morph into him.

If it removes my makeup, Heavens be praised I’m sold.  On Amazon this costs about US$10.00, from online Asian retailers I’ve seen this priced for as low as US$8.00.  I’m guessing it would be easy to find this in traditional medicine pharmacies throughout Asia that import European products, but most probably not here in the Philippines, best bets would be Hong Kong or Singapore.  This officially qualifies as a lovely addition to my upcoming Ultimate Girls’ Apocalypse Kit simply because it does so much so you can’t be without it.

Okay, I know sorry this is 4 days late, been pretty busy kasi.  In order for 2 lovely ladies/thoughtful men to win a Neutrogena BB Cream by tonight all you have to do is first take a look at this photo.  Please excuse the “bagong ligo-ness” and remember this giveaway is only open to residents of Metro Manila.

HOW TO JOIN

Tell me according to the LEFT or RIGHT indicators on the photo which side I’m wearing Neutrogena BB Cream on by leaving a comment below this post saying “LEFT” or “RIGHT”.  Please make sure you identify yourself with an email address when entering your answer in a comment.  I will choose two winners at random after 11pm tonight  from the batch of correct answers.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

• Entry open to Metro Manila residents only.
• Two winners will be picked randomly from correct answers
• Blessmybag.com and Neutrogena are the sole promoters of this competition
• Competition closes tonight at 23:00/11pm
• Winner will be notified within the week before the next Pop Guess giveaway
• Prizes are to be claimed from the Neutrogena Headquarters, location will be disclosed to the winners.

I took a photo around two or three days ago of the view outside our dining room window, we don’t live in Metro Manila.  It helped me envision exactly how I had begun to feel the moment February crept in.  On Valentine’s Day, I made sure I was home, away from everyone, and safe from the view of every cut-out red heart strung up in the city.  I wasn’t brave enough, not yet anyway.

I’m never particularly cynical about anything.  I’m not corny like that.  I’m a hopeful romantic who’s never hopeless but last year I didn’t make it through an almost 3-year relationship…my choice.  The separation hurt indescribably, but I put on a pretty good act to make sure no one worried bout me, and before this being an emotional idiot I thought I wouldn’t recover if this ever happened to me again.  I’ve moved forward in my life to say the least because that’s all I should say.  God is mysterious and beautiful like this though, because at the very least over Christmas we patched up and are somewhat civil now even in the bittersweet aftermath of a relationship fallout.

Still from Dear John

At this point in reading my mom is going to ask “Yes, but why were you fasting…”.  I fasted for nearly two days, being hyperacidic it could not be a complete fast, I took 1 soup per day, water, and an occasional cracker or piece of toasted bread.  In the beginning I thought I’d do the fasting for a specific cause to make myself spiritually charitable on VeeDay.  In the end I became self-absorbed (as usual) I fasted for hope,  I fasted for peace,  and I fasted for courage for myself, all of which I felt I did not have much of on Valentine’s Day…which I feel is why sometimes I’ve got such a short rope for other people because I don’t possess enough of all three.  So of course to fight off cynicism bout myself I denied myself consumption, but of course got my hair cut and recolored, then prayed internally to get my heart and spirit back on the right track.

One of the videos I watched to help process was a message by Lisa Bevere, a girl whose rollercoaster life was changed when she met her husband in college, he was a young missionary and she called herself something short of a young mess.  Lisa is funny, spunky, fearless, has one real eye, four Spartan sons, and of course she has her beloved, the tender and righteous John Bevere who helped heal her lactose intolerance on their first date.  This is the first part of a 6 or 7 part message.  I think it was uploaded in the years when YouTube could only receive 5 minute videos, it’s easy to find the next parts.  Lisa Bevere is a Pastor’s wife and strongly advocates self-esteem and Spiritual purity in young women today.  Her stories about her and her husband when they first met are so funny. Her message The Confident Woman Fights Like a Girl is about how women ought to embrace who they are in order to be more powerful and effective in life.

Before I close the day with the “mushy” serious post let’s open the window for fun beauty bits first.  It’s widely known that men rarely give a slew of beauty products to their sweeties on Valentine’s Day. Exclude my Dad on several occasions though, he loves perfume and knows how to pick makeup bases for mom just by remembering her face and pointing out “which one” at the counter.  It’s primarily because lots of men are quite clueless when it comes to beauty and they’d rather not risk wasting money and looking stupid if they purchase the wrong thing.  At most, they’ll lean towards a fragrance she’s mentioned 100 times in her sleep or a bath and body gift set. If my imaginary guy were extra thoughtful he would have scanned my blog weeks in advance, jotted down a list then enlisted my girlfriends to track down the items ergo perfect man. This time though I posted no wishlist in advance, since I have no expectations. I’ve thought up a sort of fantastical gift box, or rather 3 donut boxes (wait for it), the contents of which are obviously fantasy because of the price tags of some items.

1st BOX: 1.  Handwritten long love letter, full of real stuff, not flattery which includes a funny list of stupid one liners  for every item he bought like “Naked 2, babe, was this Eve’s prehistoric makeup”, or “L’oreal Infallible Eyeshadows, uh, these eyeshadows need to know nobody’s perfect.” LOL.  2. NARS Tinted Moisturizer, 3. Benefit They’re Real Mascara, 4. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush “Exposed”, 5. Burt’s Bees Sensitive Eye Cream 6. Becca Luminous Skin Tinted Moisturizer

2nd BOX: 1. Haus of Gloi Valentines 2012 Odette Bubbling Scrub, 2. Sigma Sigmax Synthetic Kabuki Kit, 3. Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation in “Petal”

3rd BOX: 1. Malin + Goetz Mojito Candle (A must-smell in Adora, GB5), 2. Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid foundation, 3. Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette, 4. Le Metier de Beaute Creme Fresh Tint in “Ginger Lily”, 5. TinkerBell so I can fly whenever I feel a happy thought coming on.

OUT OF THE BOX: 1. Ear Cuffs by Anni Jurgenson aka StyleHurricane, 2. L’oreal Infallible Eyeshadows

I thought of doing a “collage” (a cut and paste flat mish mash of photos) but since I miss compositing a lot from my former job as a visual effects artist I thought well why not make it somewhat imperfect but believable?  I gathered several photos from the internet, most from general sites, whatever Google brought up first, and some from a few blogs which I will credit of course at the bottom of the post.  The Krispy Kreme box background are not from a photograph, they’re 3D models rendered as a still.  Then I chopped all elements up, cleaned, erased, and skewed them into proper perspective, adjusted the lighting and color for some to fit the photo. I thought of a funny story to go with it, like my “boyfriend”, “fiancee”, or “husband” teases me that he’d rather stuff me fat with Krispy Kreme donuts on VDay hence presenting me with 3 donut boxes to which I heartily protest but then SURPRISE they open up to reveal every single thing I’m actually eyeing right now, all except my own horse, which wouldn’t fit.  This was fun, twas a lot of “work” but really fun for me, I think I’ll make more of these imaginary hauls .  They’re safer and more practical than real ones .  Happy Vee Day everyone ♥

Photo Sources:

themakeupdivas.com – NARS Tinted moisturizer
thebeautybite.com – Becca Luminous Skin
beautifulmakeupsearch.com – Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow
umapreve.com – Sigmax Brushes
cosmeticintelligence.blogspot.com – Benefit They’re Real Mascara
temptalia.com – Le Metier de Beaute Creme Fresh Tint
stylehurricane.blogspot.com – Earcuffs by Anni Jurgenson
musingsofamuse.com – L’oreal Infallible Eyeshadows
mylipsbutbetter.com – Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush
hausofgloi.com – Haus of Gloi Odette Bubbling Scrub