The Golden Sampaguita

Hey, I'd like to ask you a favor. :)

2011-09-21T01:32:00.002+08:00

I feel sorry for having abandoned this blog, but, things happen. :)

I'm no longer a stay-at-home-mom, I'm now a work-from-home-mom! Hehe. I run a site called the Filipina Makeup and Beauty Blog - http://ph.makeupandbeauty.com/ - and would like to ask for your support (again), simply by visiting the site. It's still new (and needs a few tweaks), and I'm trying to get it into circulation.

If you'd like to get paid for contributing reviews and articles, do check out the Jobs section of the site.

Good vibes to all. I still read pretty much the blogs on my follow list. Please, pretty please, add my new blog to yours. Ayun lang, hingi lang ng konting suporta. :)

Twig and Leaf Botanicals Herbal Teas

2011-02-23T16:00:00.005+08:00

Drinking coffee for me used to be like pressing my on switch in the morning. I'm just not a morning person. I loved Starbucks, sugar-free, instant coffee, whatever. I drank it twice or thrice a day until my stomach started hurting and I remembered I was actually hyperacidic. Ahh! So I've stopped drinking it entirely, as well as other beverages that contain a lot of caffeine.

I began to become interested in tea. Okay, I admit, I used to think tea was for sissies. Haha. But I very much wanted something warm and invigorating to drink during mornings. I didn't get the ones at the supermarket because I think most of them contain caffeine as well. I searched for herbal teas on Etsy and stumbled upon Twig and Leaf Botanicals.

I included a sample of their Calm herbal tea in my first order and ended up going back to purchase a full size jar (price is just $9.50) of it. The Calm tea is caffeine-free and claims to calm nerves down. Each ingredient serves a purpose: chamomile to aid sleeping, peppermint to treat headaches, linden leaves are supposed to help with insomnia and fatigue, skullcap can ease irritability, and st. john's wort is used to treat depression.

Seriously when I tried the sample, I was like, I'm probably not going to feel any of the supposed benefits, though I hope I will anyway. I mean, it's just tea, not a pill. But you know what? It actually does make me feel better each time I drink it. I only use it when needed. Only when I'm feeling real blue and so stressed I'm gritting my teeth. I don't start feeling euphoric when I drink it or anything, just...notably calmer. It's a really cool tea and it's lovely to have around.

They had a great sale on black friday and I ordered a set of five herbal tea samples (price is $19). I got the Adapt, Wellness, Focus, and Restore teas, as well as the Herbal Coffee.

The little jars are adorable. They have chalkboard labels so that you can label them whatever you like when you reuse the jars. The chalkboard labels can also be washed off with hot water. As for the teas, I disliked the sourness in the Wellness tea, and the three others taste just about the same, but they all taste clear and delicate. I really like drinking them every morning because they're nice to sip and often ease budding headaches.

The Herbal Coffee, I've really enjoyed. This is free of caffeine as well and didn't trigger my hyperacidity at all. It definitely tastes different, but delicious. Twig and Leaf Botanicals describes the taste to resemble a medium-dark roast coffee, and that's just about right. It is so good to drink while eating chocolate and other chocolate-flavored things. I wasn't so used to the taste at first, but I ended up loving it. I've been drinking it every morning and have finished up my sample. I'll be buying a huge jar soon!

Twig and Leaf Botanicals has super customerb service too. The owner, Kelly Beth, was really quick and helpful with her responses about the products to me who's quite new to herbal teas and using herbs in general. Little extras (always delightful) were included in my orders too and personal thank-you notes. They were packaged very thoughtfully, and carefully so that the glass jars wouldn't get damaged.

A little downside is that since the glass jars are heavier and bulkier, shipping them costs are a bit higher, especially internationally. But I use a trusted courier that lets me ship to a US address, and though the items take a while to get here, she charges by piece and not by weight. So there's sort of a flat rate and transit takes a long time, but I don't mind this since I end up paying much less for shipping.

Me ♥ this shop and the teas are like little luxuries for me. Highly recommended!

For Valentine's

2011-02-11T09:30:00.001+08:00

Making wish lists cheers me up, even more now that I'm supposed to be on a low-buy. Sooo many things I want, oh yes.
This list is short, but definitely sweet.

Jeremy Scott x Longchamp Bones Pliage Bag

Over 9000 lippie, Shiro Cosmeti cs

Ruby Rock Star Soap, Product Body

Rose Splendide Eau de Parfum, Annick Goutal

Charm Luxe Retractable Kabuki, Beauty and Minerals

Dollipop Pressed Eyeshadow, Sugarpill

El Corazon Perfume Oil, The Morbid The Merrier

Asthma Sucks

2011-02-09T02:20:00.001+08:00

I was planning to make another beauty product-related post, but after today's local news, I just didn't feel like like it anymore. Instead I wanted to write about what's been bothering me recently.

What's that in the photo? Well, it's my nebulizer, which looks like some kid threw up Dora The Explorer all over it, along with a huge chunk of Spongebob. Haha. I've been asthmatic since birth. By the time I turned ten years old, I'd been in and out of hospitals much more than your average kid. I'd miss school for weeks. My asthma seemed to improve as I got older, but I'd still get at least one awful attack each year. It's much better now that I'm on maintenance medicine- I haven't had an attack for the last two years. But guess who was diagnosed with asthma just this Monday.

My little girl. :( I can't help but feel betrayed because I breastfed her for nearly two years, to make her strong, hoping so fervently that she wouldn't inherit this from me...which was a 50/50 chance since my husband's side of the family doesn't have it. Only time will tell if it is chronic. I am praying that this is just a one-time thing. According to her pediatrician the asthma was triggered by a cold. She prescribed nebulization for relief and treatment, and gave us homeopathic medicine to help strengthen the lungs.

I got my baby to help me cover the nebulizer with stickers of her fave cartoon at the moment, (and I put a Spongebob phone charm near the mouthpiece, also her favorite), so she'd become familiarized and less afraid of the device. Turned it on so she'd get used to its sound. But she's still scared of having the mouthpiece anywhere near her face. There's a medicine in syrup form that she can take but I prefer to nebulize because it has less side effects (said her pedia) and in my experience it provides quicker, more thorough relief compared to syrup form.

So I called the expert on Caring For Children With Asthma...my dad. He told me to just keep on trying to get my girl to use the nebulizer, because, he said, it's best to be prepared, and that she might really need to use it someday. Sigh. But I know he's right. In the meantime, he told me, I could nebulize my girl while she's asleep. Which was a great idea, one I hadn't thought of. I did that earlier and I feel better knowing that my baby will be breathing and sleeping more comfortably tonight.

I'm going to think positive. And knowing from experience how terrible it is to have to struggle to get air into your lungs during asthma attacks, I promise, like my dad had for me, to have endless patience, attention, understanding, energy, sleepless nights, hugs, smiles, songs to sing, and love for my baby girl.

Leyende Lovin'

2011-02-03T17:00:00.002+08:00

Leyende is a local brand that sells natural bath and body items. It was the first one I ever tried, a couple of years back, and after that I totally got hooked on trying out various body and skincare items with natural and organic ingredients. I liked how Leyende's products were mild to my skin, smelled nice, and had clever names.

Recently I renewed my interest in Leyende. I've been using these items regularly, and will review them (left to right in the photo below):

Clean Slate Multi-Task Cleanser
Beach Bomb Cologne
Out of Sight Moisturizing Eye Cream

Leyende products in their revamped packaging

Clean Slate Multi-Task Cleanser

Clean Slate

Clean Slate is a non-sudsing facial wash that can also be used as a makeup remover and toner. I use it solely as a facial cleanser since I have a separate makeup remover and toner. Also, I think it'd be a bit sticky for a toner. I find using this as a facial cleanser wonderful for my dry, sensitive skin. Some people may not be used to a cleanser that doesn't lather, and feel that it's not actually 'cleaning' their skin, but I find that this cleans my skin quite well, and leaves it soft, not tight and dry.

I can't be sure if it helps to clear pimples, since I'm also acne-prone, but I can say that it hasn't made my acne either worse or better. This product is an old favorite of mine, used regularly years ago pre-pregnancy, and which I started using again when I recently changed my skincare routine. I've been using it for about 3 weeks now. It has a rich, sweet smell, good enough to eat, which I really enjoy in the shower. It's also available unscented which can be requested via their website.

It's P350 for a 100ml tube, which, compared to other local natural skincare brands seems a bit steep, but I find that it's worth the price.

Beach Bomb Cologne

Beach Bomb, 50ml

A unisex, vegan product. The bottle is pretty big, and actually seems a steal at the price of P450, for the huge amount. It's a cologne so it's not supposed to last long- on me it lasts 2 hours tops, which I don't mind...there's plenty to re-spray.

Sniffing it from the bottle, I though I'd find it overpowering, because what I smelled was primarily jasmine, which (despite my blog's Jasmine Sambac-inspired name) I tend to run away from in our tropical climate. But I haven't been afraid to use this in our cooler weather which I wish would last until June or even later. On the skin it is much softer, subtler, rounded with a clean note that makes it feel refreshing and warm. It's basically a soft, lightly soapy jasmine that feels cozy to wear in cold weather. I like spraying this when I'm shivering in air-conditioned places, it instantly makes me feel warmer, although, despite the product's name, I can't say the scent particularly reminds me of the beach

Out of Sight Moisturizing Eye Cream

Out of Sight

Brief product description:

Mango and shea butters provide instant moisture for that fresh-as-a-daisy look while cucumber extract refreshes skin around eye area for a firmer appearance.

Out of Sight Eye Cream

Now this one I've been using for nearly 6 months now. It's a huge, 15g jar which I hope I can finish by the time it's been a year since I opened it, since that's its shelf life. As stated, it gives a fresher look to my eye area after use, but that's pretty much it. I haven't noticed my skin getting firmer, or anything else. It feels light, but moisturizing on my skin, and is great to use on hot, humid days, and before applying undereye concealer.

In colder weather, and for dryer, more mature eye areas, I'd recommend using a richer, more moisturizing eye cream. The area around my eyes is very dry and dark, and I am looking for a heavier eye cream to use at night. It's fine for use during daytime and is okay at the price of P350, since it's a huge amount for eye cream, but I would not buy this product again, and would try out other eye creams instead.

Leyende products info (ingredients) are posted on their website, where you can also buy the items. It's a good thing too that their products are now available at brick and mortar stores and malls since they've gotten more popular. That way I can sniff at them first and get to them more quickly.

3 Sanrio Fragrances From Demeter

2011-01-29T12:18:00.004+08:00

From the Demeter Fragrance Library - Little Twin Stars, My Melody, Hello Kitty.

Tell me these aren't cute!

I'm often drawn to whimsical, strange objects, but I'm a sucker for cute things too. And these characters just happen to be straight out my childhood. For my first order from Demeter Fragrances, I included these which are the fragrances from the first Sanrio Collection (there's been a second collection released since).

A bit of info on The Demeter Fragrance Library, in case you're not familiar with them: they have an awesome scent selection. They're based in New York, and their line is made up of many 'everyday scents'. Examples: Chocolate Chip Cookies, Honey, Incense, Paperback, Paint, and Play-Doh! Yup, Play-Doh. And I'd love to smell them all.

Here are the first three I started with:

Little Twin Stars - Kiki and Lala, the Little Twin Stars, were born on the Star of Compassion. Ever since they arrived on earth, the Little Twin Stars have been spreading happiness to everyone they meet. Our interpretation of the Little Twin Stars is a fragrance of exotic and unusual citrus fruits, creating a light, bright scent that reflects both their origin and mission.

My Melody - Inspired by the smell most associated with My Melody, almond pound cake, we made a mouth-watering scent with almond and vanilla, perfectly balanced so it is neither too sweet nor too strong. A guaranteed smile in every bottle.

Hello Kitty - The most iconic of the Sanrio characters, the initial Collection would not be complete without Hello Kitty. We were inspired by what Hello Kitty enjoys doing most: eating a slice of Mama's apple pie! And we discovered apples play other special roles in Hello Kitty’s world. She is as tall as 5 apples and weighs the same as 3 apples. So we made Hello Kitty’s signature scent a collection of different kinds of apples: red, green and yellow. The result is a freshly picked apple scent with fabulous depth and just a hint of complexity.

My favorite out of the three is Little Twin Stars. It's a simple, refreshing citrus scent. It's tart and citrusy, and just perfect for days when it's so hot and humid that I can't bear to wear any scent but still want to smell good. To me it's simple, cheery, and bright, much like Kiki and Lala! It also smells like something a child could wear. Actually all three of these fragrances do. And I often wear them when I'm running errands with my kid.

My Melody is foody and slightly sweet, though contrary to the description, I don't smell any almond in this. Vanilla, yes, but mixed with something sugary and fruity. What it reminds me of every time I wear it is a fruit, which over here we call aratilis. Haha! I used to pick those from trees when I was a kid. I can't really relate this fragrance to My Melody, but I like it a lot because it smells like aratilis and it often gets me in a good mood.

Hello Kitty was the one I was most excited about because I used to adore and own everything Hello Kitty. But it was a disappointment. It does not smell like apples, but like a poor synthetic imitation of the scent of apples. It also smells very much like a particular Herbal Essences shampoo that I used regularly at one time.

One thing to note though, about these three fragrances, is that their scents are very fleeting. I enjoy the scents momentarily when I apply them, but after that, well, they're pretty much gone. I've tried a few other Demeter colognes which last much longer, so I think the longevity varies per scent.

Choosing which scents to order from Demeter was fun, and I'd like to do it all over again. I'm able to sample a handful of scents and but not spend a huge amount by ordering them in half ounce splash bottles, which are $6 each. They do ship internationally via UPS, but I knew that could get pretty expensive, so I used a special courier that let me ship to an address in the US, which then forwarded my order to Manila.

Demeter has since come out with another Sanrio collection that features a fragrance inspired by the scent of a Sanrio store- 'a combination of Japanese fruit flavored gum and scented erasers'. Ooh yes, one bottle please!

Madame Scodioli's Euphorium and Drabardi

2011-01-26T10:00:00.010+08:00

Found on my favorite online shopping haunt, Etsy. If you are wondering what these are, they're solid perfumes. Madame Scodioli is the name of the etsy shop (actually, it's Scodioli Creative, but that's the Madame on the tins!), and Euphorium and Drabardi are the two scents I picked.

Scodioli Creative Solid Perfumes & business cards. Sorry for the extra large photos!

I love anything old carnivale, I do. After seeing these beautiful little tins of solid perfume with the bearded lady on them, I just had to order!

Drabardi, Euphorium

I remember that my order was processed quickly, and that correspondence with them was friendly and prompt. When I received the products, they looked just as lovely in person as they did online. And I was surprised by how huge the tins seemed, and they were full to the brim too. They are listed as approximately 1 oz.

I also liked that the ingredients and primary perfume notes are listed at the back of each tin.

The tin opened

Regarding the texture, I found it to be harder than the other solid perfumes I have which are in tubes. The surface is a bit hard, and to get a decent amount, I have to rub my finger around a bunch of times. Though I wish the product were somewhat softer, I don't mind this very much. Especially since with the Euphorium scent, I only need a small amount.

Scent descriptions:

Euphorium: Almond, Milk + Honey

The Madame believes there is nothing sexier and more indulgent than the scent of almond coupled with milk and a touch of honey. A truly romantic and decadent blend.

This opens to a very sweet cherry and almond. It is almost too sweet for me at first, but it does mellow down to honeyed almonds, after the sharp cherry note dissipates. After about 15 or 20 minutes it becomes a soft, slightly powdery, milky almond.

I like this and have been enjoying it in the cooler weather we're having. It smells warm and comforting in the cold. It's not even too sweet. It smells good and I like to use it whether out shopping or at home reading a book. I swipe from the tin only a few times, otherwise I get too much and find it a bit strong, which is kind of surprising for a solid perfume. What's not surprising though is like all solid perfumes it doesn't last long- an hour, two at most. But if I put some on my hair, it lingers much longer.

Drabardi: Bergamot + Coriander

Bergamot and coriander combine for a clean and herbal fragrance, developed by Madame Scodioli at the request of the troupe’s lovely fortune teller.

This one has been a mainstay in my purse because it's just great for the typical hot days of Manila. A soft, clean, sweetish lemon and bergamot with a hint of tea. A refreshing, but subtle citrus. It lasts shorter than Euphorium- the scent is gone after about 30 minutes. Also unlike Euphorium, I also have to swipe a lot more of it to be able to smell it on myself. But I just keep reapplying because I really like this for hot, muggy days.

Overall I was satisfied with my order and the customer service, and did check out the shop every now and then, but did not purchase again immediately because I was supposed to be (and still am) on a low-buy, and had other perfumes to sample. I purchased these in September 2010 for $6.50 each, and checked on the cologne section of the shop last week to finally place another order, but was dismayed to find that the perfumes are now nearly double the price, at $12 each. Ack. Yes, I'm a bit of a cheapskate. I should've bought more back then!

I do find $12 kind of costly for a solid perfume, simply because solid perfume scents don't last very long. I'd plop down the same amount for a bottle perfume oil because to me, those have better lasting power and sillage. Solids are something I get for fun, for when I don't know which scent to wear or want something very mild and simple, or when I'll be in close contact with my child for most of the day.

That being said, I'd still purchase again from Scodioli Creative, because I find the products to be of quality (and the solid perfumes are huge anyways), and the customer service, professional. I would like to try more of the other scents for the solid perfumes in the future, and maybe a bar of their shaving soap. I'd just have to wait 'til my low-buy policy ends, hehe. I find the shop and products rather charming, so yeah, I'm willing to spend on them.

Alice Blue Candles

2011-01-18T13:59:00.004+08:00

I never really cared about scented candles before, or fragrance oils, and the like. I used to shop a lot for clothes, makeup, skin care, and shoes—and still do—but now that I'm mostly at home looking after my little girl, I find that I really enjoy getting things for our home that make my surroundings more relaxing and comfortable.

Like an Alice Blue candle. I like the pretty blue box, and look at how dainty the candle is.

Alice Blue is a local brand and they have a bunch of scents available. They have candles that come in small sizes (1.75oz, like the one pictured above) and larger ones (6oz). The small votive candles that I got cost P175 each, which initially seemed a bit pricey to me, I mean compared to the cheap scented candles I often see at tiangges. Once I lit the Alice Blue candle though, I found that it was worth it, and that the price is actually reasonable. It smells good, and the scent isn't weak—it can easily fill up our small bathroom, and when I placed one on my dresser, it made my little corner smell lovely, even when it wasn't lit anymore. This candle can burn up to a total of 15 hours. That's pretty good quality compared to cheaper candles I've tried which smell good in the container but hardly emit any scent when they're burning!

Plus their candles are made of soy wax, and therefore produce less soot than regular candles made of paraffin wax, so it's non-toxic to you and to the environment.

I've only tried two of their scents so far (got distracted by some soy wax tarts that I got), but I'm set on getting their Vanilla Sugar and Vanilla Mint candles, because I do love vanilla. I have:

Berry Crumble - a fresh baked berry pie with a dash of vanilla and a brown sugar crumb topping.

Mediterranean Fig - a sweet, fruity fig mixed with green apple, strawberry and melon.

Scent descriptions are from their site. Berry Crumble is fruity, smelling not so much liked a baked good but like lighty sugared berries. It's pleasant and versatile, it's fine in the bathroom and is a perky daytime scent for the bedroom. Mediterranean Fig, despite being composed of three fruits notes, is not overly fruity, but is subtle and sweet. I smell soft, sweet melon and I find it soothing. I like burning this one during bedtime and the flickering light of the candle lulls me to sleep.

Alice Blue has a stall at Glorietta plus a few other malls, and they also have a website through which you can order. I prefer to order online, since I don't live near their locations, and they don't always have all the scents available for the small votive candles at their Glorietta shop. I've emailed them before to inquire about shipping costs, and correspondence was quick, informative, and friendly. One thing that I don't like about ordering through their site is that there's only one way to pay (bank deposit). It'd be great if I could pay by PayPal. Otherwise, my online orders were processed quickly and arrived securely packed.

Great candles and great shop. I love that they are local. I'm inspired to put up my own small business.

Epically Epic Lotion

2011-01-11T01:22:00.009+08:00

I've been using lotion all my life. It's because I was born with a skin condition that makes my skin sensitive and very dry. If I don't apply a gentle, hydrating lotion to it everyday, it becomes an itchy, flaky, painful mess. Before the holidays, the weather turned cooler and the slight change in temperature made my normalized skin act up again, so I was real glad I found Epically Epic's Solid Lotion!

Epically Epic Soap Co. is a shop on Etsy, located at NM, USA. It's become one of my favorite online shops. They sell a variety of soaps, perfumes, lip balms and tints (which I use everyday- more on these perhaps later), and the solid lotions.

Epically Epic's Solid Lotion

The solid lotions are made up of nice butters and oils, and I really can't get enough of them at the moment. They are available in more than a dozen scents, such as Yellow Cake, which is in the photo above.

2oz. solid lotion tins

On the left in the photo above is the slightly used tin of Yellow Cake, and on the right, is the empty container of the I Love Lychee Solid Lotion which was the first solid lotion I ordered from Epically Epic.

It's basically a balm, softer than other body balms I've tried, that if you push your finger down on the surface, it'll sink right to the bottom and leave a nice little hole. I like that it's soft because that makes it easy to get a generous amount on my fingers and I don't have to keep going back.

Clockwise from top: Yellow Cake, Margarita, I Love Lychee, Custom scent in Almond + Vanilla, and Unscented.

After my first purchase, I soon ordered another one, then a set of three. These are heaven-sent for rough, dry spots, like the hands, feet elbows, etc. They are nourishing and truly moisturizing. My skin stays noticeably softer a couple of hours after application. They were also gentle enough not to inflame the spot of eczema I have, though I did order an unscented version for the times my skin gets extra sensitive, and because most of the time I wear perfume and don't want the scents to go against each other.

It applies like an oil once it's spread but doesn't feel heavy for long. It sinks in pretty quick for an emollient product. In the past I've used petroleum jelly, pure glycerine, unrefined shea butter, various lotions, and natural oils, and I find that Epically Epic's lotions work best for very dry areas.

I can't use it as an all-over body lotion though, because this takes longer to spread than typical lotions since it's more emollient. I'd also use up a whole tin in just two weeks if I did that. These are lovely for the hands and I try to apply it after each washing.

There are more than a dozen scents to choose from. Epically Epic also offers custom scents, for which you can choose a single note, or combine as many different scents as you want. I got a custom solid lotion in which I asked for a combination of Almond and Vanilla, and it smells sweet and warm, great for cooler weather. It opens to a clear almond, then dries down to a scent similar to Playdoh, which I'm okay with. The scent still lingers after many hours.

I like the three other scents I have equally. Yellow Cake smells like a delicate, fluffy, yummy lemon chiffon cake. It's not overly sweet, and smells delicious! Margarita I'm saving for when the usual hot weather returns, since the light, fresh, zingy citrus scent will be great for that. I Love Lychee is quite fruity, dewy, fun and girly. I enjoyed using this scent.

The 2oz solid lotions are only $6.50 each, which is a very fair price. They also come in a large 8oz size which I'm itching to get although I haven't used up everything. My mom's already swiped the Margarita one and has asked me to order a sample set for her.

These are one of my best buys online or actually anywhere, and for me and my skin, truly are epic.

Introduction

2011-01-09T01:00:00.000+08:00

I had an itch to write, to share, to blog again but got bogged down by the holidays and getting kinda sick. What to expect from this site? Hmm...appreciation for objects that are unique, whimsy, and quirky. Sharing any good bargains that I come across. Online shopping! Make that Etsy shopping. Lip balms and lotions, since I'm constantly moisturizing my lips and skin. Occasional personal blogs maybe. Books. Favorites. New things tried for this year. Pretty much whatever I feel like writing about.

About me, by the way, I'm 26 years old and I live in Manila, Philippines. I find writing this post awkward! I hope I don't sound too serious. 'Cause I'm not! :)