Vanilla & Co. Bath/Body Products

I've heard good reviews about Filipino brand Vanilla & Co. (myvanillagirl.com), a self-proclaimed Beauty Bakery, so, I just had to get my hands (and nose) on their delicious smelling products.  When I've learned that their products are mostly organic without harmful chemicals, I'm officially  sold.  Their products are also affordable.

For my first purchase, I got Vanilla & Co. Pure Shea & Cocoa Whipped Buttercream Scrub in Chocolate and Hazelnut scent (P199),  Witch Hazel Beauty Tonic (P199), Chocolate Oil (P199), Strawberry & Green Tea Hair and Body Mist (P199), and Watermelon Hair and Body Mist (P199).

The classic pin-up pics are so cute . . .

The body scrub has a nutty choco scent -as a chocolate lover, this is quite a treat.  It's gentle enough for all skin types.  It's a mild scrub, makes your skin a little softer.  I like it, but, for a more thorough scrub, I still prefer St. Yves Apricot Scrub as it makes my skin super soft and smooth after every use.  St. Yves has an unpleasant smell, so, if you just need a mild, fun, and yummy scrub, use Vanilla & Co.  Pure Shea & Cocoa Whipped Buttercream Scrub.  They come in so many delightful flavor scents that you'd have a tough time choosing just one: Vanilla Paradise, Mango Cream Pie, Strawberry & Green Tea, Frappuccino, Milk Almond with Honey, Olives and Vanilla, Fresh Vanilla Milk, Glazed Donut, etc. Your bathroom will definitely smell like a bakery.  They also have these scents in their Vanilla & Co.  Extra Moisturizing Body Wash and in their Pure Shea and Cocoa Whipped Buttercream.

The Moisturizing Hair and Body Mist smells a bit off for me as a body mist/cologne (maybe, it's the alcohol and aloe vera combination).  I tried this on a dry bad hair day, it made my hair soft and manageable.  I like it for my hair and the smell is fine as a hair product.

I really like the Witch Hazel Beauty Tonic.  Spray it on your face and it's an instant refresher with a nice clean scent (also enhances your mood).  It's also good for your skin as the principle ingredients are witch hazel water, lemon, and tea tree extract.

The Chocolate Oil (also known as cocoa butter) could replace your body lotion.  Has a lingering choco nutty scent, you're gonna smell like a walking chocolate bar!  Yum! You'll have to stay away from your dogs if they wanna lick you (like mine does) as cocoa/chocolate is poison to dogs.  Vanilla & Co.  Chocolate Oil  is  very moisturizing, emollient, and can also be used for body massages.  Cocoa butter has so many wonderful effects on skin (it heals a lot of skin problems), but, is comedogenic (pore-clogging), therefore, use sparingly and don't use it on your face.

                              

Ellana Mineral Make-up

UPDATE (Nov 2012):  After 3 weeks of using Ellana Mineral Foundation Powder, my skin broke out.  I stopped using moisturizer/creams thinking they could be causing it, but, my skin has not cleared up.  Finally, I stopped using Ellana, and, my skin started to clear up.  Sadly, I can't use Ellana anymore.  I don't know what to do with my 1 year supply of mineral powder I bought at crossings, hu hu.  I loved it, but, not good for my skin.  Weird, because, it's supposed to have no harmful stuff as compared to most make-up, yet, I'm back to using Max Factor liquid foundation which I have used for a long long time and never irritated my sensitive skin.  Anyway, I guess, it's the risk of using smaller-scale make-up lines without extensive research/tests on hundreds of human faces as compared to make-up giants.  Those who continue to use this make-up are lucky because it really looks good on your face, with a wonderful finish.  I envy you guys!

CAUTION:  Mineral Make-up in Powder form is not advisable for people with asthma and silica allergies.  Always use Mineral Make-up Powder with caution.  Avoid powder inhalation and contact with eyes.

I tried Mineral Make-up before.  I purchased Maybelline and CoverGirl brands, but, didn't become a fan.  CoverGirl Trublend Minerals have a certain odor that will keep you away.  It also didn't look better on my face than my usual face powder and foundation.  Plus, the hassle of using mineral make-up for a beginner (messy and wasteful application) didn't make it worth my time.

The upside of Mineral Make-up (as they say, if a good brand) is that it's sooo soft, light, smooth, and feels good on your skin plus it's easy to remove.  A good facial wash is enough.  Mineral Make-up is best applied using a good brush (like kabuki brushes) and you really need to blend well or your face will look uneven and you'll have excessive amount on your face.  For 1st time users this is the drag part as you might give up before you learn the proper technique.  Always start dipping your brush with a very small amount, tap excess, dust the brush on your face, then, work it in circular motion (buff your skin).  Practice, until, you get the hang of it.  Some also use the wet application technique.

Recently, I gave mineral make-up another try.  This time seeking local brands that already have a following.  I chose Ellana (ellanaminerals.com) for my first test.  I took a leap of faith and got their Mineral Foundation in Cafe Breve (P300/4g), Mineral Foundation in Chai Tea Latte (P100/1g), Mineral Foundation in Hazelnut (P100/1g), Primer/HD finishing powder (P100/1g),  Pink Flamingo Shimmer Finishing Powder (P100/1g), Blush Mineral Powder in Crush (P100/1g), and Baby Buki Brush (P300) at Crossings Trinoma.  Ellana Mineral Make-up doesn't have a strong smell/odor (yey!). 

You can purchase online or at Crossings Trinoma.

Ellana Mineral Foundation Powder:
1g of powder        P100
4g of powder        P300
6g of powder        P420

Ellana Mineral Foundation in Chai Tea Latte, Ellana primer/HD Finishing Powder in 
White Chocolate, Pink Flamingo Shimmer Finishing Powder, and Ellana Baby Buki Brush

I love their primer/HD finishing powder (P100/1g).  A cheap alternative to Make-up For Ever HD loose powder.  For those who never tried HD powder, it's the unbelievably softest, silkiest powder you'll ever touch.  It's pure white in color, but, when properly applied (tiny amount) disappears in your skin.  It helps make your skin feel softer and look more even.  It's a great primer or finishing powder.   Just be careful using it as a finishing powder as too much can make you look ghostly white in pictures taken by a flash camera (check out celeb victims of HD powder, hehe).  To be safe, I only use it as a primer.  I use a tiny brush, small powder puff, or my fingers to apply it  (1g pot of primer could last more than a month of daily use).

4g Ellana Mineral Foundation in Cafe Breve, P300.

4g lasts a long time, as you only need a small amount per application

The Mineral Foundation is very pigmented, a small amount gives good coverage.  It feels light on your face, lovely smooth.  When I sweat, glow a little, wipe . . .  face still looks okay.  For light to moderate sweating, it could last about 4 hours before needing touch-ups.  Or top it off with finishing powder for longer staying power.  Cafe Breve matches my fair skin well, but, I mix it with Chai Tea Latte, since, I don't like putting make-up on my neck (will try French Vanilla next time).  My trick is to use a shade that doesn't make my face tone too fair for my neck color.  Don't you just find it weird to see ladies with light color faces atop different shade necks?  So, I, usually pick light to natural shades than fair.  I've noticed though that the mineral foundation looks very nice on my neck as well.   The blush blends well with the foundation.  The Finishing Powder in Pumpkin Pie Latte is a favorite.  You can also use it on its own like a face powder.  For daily wear, the finishing powder is perfect for those not really into foundations and full-face make-up. 

I tried mixing the cafe breve and chai tea latte mineral foundation with pumpkin pie and pink flamingo finishing powder in my store-bought powder container  - I'm kind of experimenting with colors and coverage plus I like to do 2-step applications only (primer plus a little mineral foundation or face powder).   I like the end product   :P 

Ellana Mineral Make-up is really good,  they also chart their colors making it easy to find shades that suit customers   :)

Online Shopping Sites

I've never been a fan of online shopping (note, past tense), since, I'm a very meticulous buyer, a bit OC, haha.  But, as I keep seeing this ZALORA.COM.PH popping up everywhere, I finally clicked tab.  This 2012, I am officially an online shopper! Yey!

Some Verified Online Shopping Sites for Filipino buyers:

1)  zalora.com.ph
For Men/Women/Kids/Babies/Pets: apparel, accessories, beauty, health, household items, etc.
*Free Delivery/Shipping for P1,000 and above.  30-Day Return/Exchange.

I was recently disappointed with Zalora, free shipping is now for orders worth P1,000 and above.  It took too long for my 2 orders to arrive and I wasn't even informed beforehand that some were out of stock. 

2)  Human Nature at humanheartnature.com/buy/
Bath/Body/Beauty products.  Filipino-made/brand.
Standard delivery/shipping fee. 


3)  Vanilla & Co.  at  myvanillagirl.com
Bath/Body/Beauty/Scent products.  Filipino-made/brand.
Standard delivery/shipping fee. 

4)  Ellana  at  ellanaminerals.com 
Filipino brand Mineral Make-up.
They give away free samples to match your skin tone.
Standard delivery/shipping fee.

5)  V&M Naturals/Pureglow  at  http://venusandmars08.multiply.com
Filipino brand Mineral Make-up.
Standard delivery/shipping fee.


6)  martina-martina.com
Accessories for Women. Filipino brand.
*Free Delivery/Shipping.

7)  Le Kersen  at  lekersen.multiply.com
Accessories for Women. Filipino brand.
Standard Delivery/Shipping.

8)  chickflickcollection.multiply.com
Apparel/Shoes/Accessories. Filipino brand.
Standard Delivery/Shipping.

* Online Shopping Tip: Always use Paypal or Bank Deposit for payments to give you more protection from scam/bogus sellers.  Register your Credit Cards to Paypal (for safe transactions, you don't have to keep giving your credit card details online).  Avoid using Western Union and Gcash payments.

Bath & Body Works Sweet Pea and Orange Sapphire

 Found these 2 at my mom's dresser and I only like one of them.  Bath & Body Works Sweet Pea Body Lotion and Orange Sapphire Triple Moisture Cream are nice moisturizing body lotions. 

Sweet Pea smells so nice and sweet (it's a fan favorite), Orange Sapphire smells fine, but, not one that you'd like to keep buying.  I love orange/citrus scents, but, this one wasn't able to bring out the freshness and zest of orange.  It's kind of blah, orange

Sweet Pea is the one that you'd like to buy again!

Victoria's Secret Love Spell and Beauty Rush Cupquake

Recently, I was gifted with Victoria's Secret Love Spell and Beauty Rush Cupquake Body Drink Lotion (both US made).

VS mists/perfumes (as with all others) are quite irritating to the nose when you spritz them, but, once they settle, they smell wonderful.  Love Spell (cherry blossom & peach) is nice enough, but, I won't be raving about this scent. 

On the other hand, VS Beauty Rush Cupquake is so delectable.  It really does smell like a cupcake treat, so yummy and the scent lingers on your skin.  Smell won't give you a headache.  Though, I've heard this cupcake flavor lotion goes bad after 8 months or so (use it within that period).  Nice moisturizing lotion.  You'll want to rub it on your skin again and again.  Love it!

Cupquake - purple color tube

Pop Culture Books/Novels

I've been a book lover since the day my sibling started bringing home DC & Marvel comics, books, and novels when we were kids. 

In college, I fell in love with classic books and suspense novels, but, I won't be talking about that.  It's all about pop culture books tonight, no matter how weird I think and feel they are becoming.  Gone are the days when Sweet Valley, Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew ruled most high schoolers . . .

The Harry Potter series came out in the late 90s.  My cousin who's in high school at the time excitedly told me about this young wizard and his magical world full of  stuff  beyond  kids' dreams are made of.  I had no intentions of reading, but, one record boring evening, I dived my nose into the 1st book.  After the 1st chapter, harry got me hook, line and sinker.  I wasn't able to stop (and sleep) until, I've read every word conjuring this fantasy realm.  Delighted to say, I've read all 7 books, watched all the movies, and I've enjoyed them stupendously.  I'll never forget the day (back in college) we watched the first movie installment, everyone in the movie theater sat in breathless anticipation as we prepare ourselves for a magical journey.  And, no, I've never thought of these books as written by a devil incarnate as many controversies parched the woman behind the books.  

J.K. Rowling has introduced some new words like fondly calling us humans  'muggle'.  Harry Potter's world can make older people feel young again, brimming to the core with unrestrained fantasies that were essential parts of a childhood memory.  Thank you Harry for a marvelous enchantment.

So, where can I buy those every flavor jelly beans and butter beer?  I suddenly crave a goblet of pumpkin juice, does it even taste good?

Then, came the Twilight series which I really can't get myself to like.  Stephanie Meyer can't hold a candle to J.K Rowling's imagination and writing skills that she can't charm young and older generation readers as swiftly as Rowling.  Even The Last Vampire series by Christopher Pike that I was able to read back in high school is way more exciting than Twilight.  It also scares me to death how a book about a teenage girl in love with a vampire (who is the center of her whole universe as if this wonderful world of ours got nothing to offer a teenage girl)  has become such a hit with the young generation.  Bella Swan is hands down the worst heroine a girl could ever emulate.

If you're really into weird unhealthy relationship fetish between vampires-humans-werewolves, then, read the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris wherein HBO's True Blood is loosely based on.  Incontestably better than Twilight with more interesting characters and diverse plot, but, has more mature content (really, anything with vampire-human sex coupling is for the more mature crowd and not for teenagers, Ms. Meyer).  Sookie is at least of legal age with a strong personality compared to the feeble Bella Swan.  And, Sookie (who's got some fairy genes) got no half vamp baby.  The HBO series even feature good actors as opposed to deadpan twilight movie stars.  The first Sookie Stackhouse book came out years before Twilight.

For this kind of genre (I admit, I've read them on my downtime and to keep up with trends), I recommend Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter Series.  A world dominated by archangels/angels with vampires and humans as their subjects.  Archangels and angels running the world, with the stunningly dangerous Archangel named Raphael living in New York City.  Humans who are Guild members are portrayed to be stronger, as the main protagonist Elena Devereaux is a vampire hunter who never bows down to anyone -human, vampire, or angel.  Nalini Singh is an amazing writer and poet.  Her novels are written so elegantly and lusciously that your senses would be captivated as they've never been held before.  The first book  Angel's Blood  caught me by surprise of this author's talent.  The series could be too violent and gruesome for the uninitiated with the supernatural/paranormal world.  I do wonder how they could turn this one into a movie, just the details of how ethereally beautiful (also seductively decadent) the angels and vampires are would be quite impossible to bring to life.

An adult theme book series is so popular this year that it even broke records.  Originally written as a fan-based literature to Twilight. Yep, I'm talking about Fifty Shades of Grey by the saucy E.L. James.  I read it out of curiosity, definitely interesting, but, onerous to read.  Exploring the BDSM lifestyle, giving the inexperience a small peek into the taboo practice.  Besides, how many times have you heard about people needing to sign a contract before engaging into a relationship.  Brow raising right?

I had to skip a couple of pages as the sex is too much for my taste (I think even those Harlequin erotic novels don't have this much).  This is sooo not for teens and tweens!  And, I hate the number of times Anastasia Steele mentioned her 'inner goddess' (so annoying).  This could be perfect for the male audience - there's like sex in every 5 pages and it stars an emotionally blistered uber dominating man.  This book needs more plot and character development.  Though, the plot is quite interesting, it's poorly written.  EL James knows how to concoct a forbidden story and create intriguing characters (who wouldn't be curious about a dashing generous billionaire with a secret life?), but, her writing skills don't deliver.  So much potential, but, promptly wasted.  I've been disappointed many times over the storyline revelation.  I wanted it to be so much more!  It could have been amazing  (despite the touchy subject),  really could have been, if it were written by a skilled  author.  Well, I'm just glad that the series have a sweet ending and Christian Grey (Mr. Fifty Shades himself) turned out to be a kind troubled soul searching for redemption.  The series finale makes up for the loathsome ride (justifying Anastasia's ultimate decision not to run away from fifty),  making it less creepy than any vampire-human relationship.

Hmm . . . the above are all female authors into the supernatural and paranormal romance series . . .

I'm currently reading the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (another female author) after I've enjoyed watching the movie (just like how the movie adaptation of The Lord of the Rings book series by J.R.R. Tolkien compelled me to read the books).  Well, I know that children killing other children is repugnant, but, hey, this is an apocalyptic genre novel.