Category: Beauty

Last month, luck stroke me as I’ve won a Hey Sugar! gift certificate for eyebrow threading worth PhP 130 from Genzel’s giveaway. Yay! 🙂 I had been wanting to try this salon’s service since I first saw their branch in Lucky Chinatown Mall. But since my brows are still groomed fine by Browhaus recently, I thought it was more proper to have my sister, who had “virgin eyebrows,” make use of the GC instead. Moreover, I thought it would be nice for her to go for it last Friday—a day just before her graduation rites at PICC’s plenary hall. The outcome? Her face looked brighter and updated in no more than 15 minutes.

Eyebrow Threading at Hey Sugar! Waxing Salon (Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo)

I presented the gift certificate to the receptionist upon walking in. She examined it, asked where I got it from, noted the details and called the staff to prepare for the threading service. Before entering the room, we appreciated the cute and elegant-looking atmosphere and took photos. I loved the candy colors everywhere from sunny yellows, mint, sugar pastels and touches of baby pink. The displays provided an atmosphere of girly glam, making the ambiance even more adorable.

My sister was quite nervous and in full anticipation of what she would feel during the procedure. We just kept on encouraging her, saying it won’t be an unbearable torture for sure. If I could handle the pain, then she can, too. The beautician was easy-going and fun to talk to, helping her ease her worries down.

We observed that the beautician first applied baby powder to absorb oil around the hair follicles that may cause the hairs to slip from the thread as it will be pulled. No other chemical was added so there’s no conflict or reaction to the skin. Then, she gently twisted the piece of cotton thread back and forth along the skin, creating beautifully groomed left and right brows with enhanced definition and fabulous shape.

The procedure was done very quickly. There was still the inevitable tingling sensation kind of pain that was felt in the threading session but it was okay. To minimize skin irritation, the beautician advised to not get the eyebrows in touch with water for the next six hours and not to put on beauty products in the next 24 hours. The redness caused by threading was gone after 20-30 minutes.

And now the young girl has transitioned to become a woman! The results are neat, symmetrical eyebrows. It’s great that her eyebrows didn’t look way too thin because my sister has naturally thick brows like that. We liked the straight shape/no much dramatic arch that was made (trend inspiration from Koreans).

Wrap Up

Having groomed brows definitely gave my sister more confidence to sashay across the graduation stage the next day with her head held high. 😛

Eyebrow threading at Hey Sugar! Waxing Salon went well. The thread used was sanitary and it was thrown away after use. What’s also good is that Hey Sugar! prices are generally more affordable than competitors’ prices. See below:

Fully Filipino-owned, Hey Sugar! Waxing Salon is a sister company of Vivere Salon and Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa. It now has several branches in the Philippines: The District in Imus, Festival Mall, SM Sta. Rosa, SM Clark, and here in Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo, Manila. Until October 31, 2014, you may surrender your shaver/razor or most recent waxing receipt from a competitor and get 20% discount on any hot wax service.

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At the end of a hectic work week, wouldn’t you want to wind down and relax in a quiet spot, enjoying the serenity as time goes by? Borne out of such belief, mom and I went to Princess Hazel Salon & Spa along Quezon Avenue last Saturday for a mother and daughter bonding time to flee away from reality.

Review of Princess Hazel Salon & Spa (Pacific Century Tower, Quezon Avenue)

Ambiance: ★★★★★

Juxtaposed against the bustling streets of Quezon City along Quezon Avenue, this beauty center has an ambiance that makes up for an immediate chance in mood as you step through its door. The details and props in display renders you to slow down and take a second look. Accessories for a darling princess and everything for a girly girl are all arranged neatly on shelves by the entrance.

Past the reception area, gold and purple chairs and stacks of branded nail polish colors welcome customers abound. These are definitely more than what I expected to find in a normal salon. Walking further, we found a vanity dresser with lights and the chandelier catching our attention spot on. I like to have this room in our home! Princess Hazel Salon & Spa is very clean, comfortable and stylish.

Service: ★★★★★

We came by reservation as Princess Hazel Salon & Spa prefers it that way rather than walk-ins. Especially during weekends, they have a long list of customers whose names are already listed as expected to come by. Walk-in customers are often advised to visit on another day if there’s no open slot.

I stated my name and we were led to the area specific to where the services would be done: hair spa for me and manicure + pedicure for my mom. The ends of my hair are dry, but I don’t want to have my hair cut anytime soon. Hair spa must be the perfect treatment to have better nutrition and smoothness to the hair. As much as it improves blood circulation, hair spa is also a good instant remedy to remove mental stress and worldly tensions. Hair results to be delivered beautifully without tangles.

The staff first washed my hair then applied the L’Oreal hair spa cream. She massaged my scalp, spread the cream evenly on the hair strands and set the timer to 20 minutes. The product used was enriched with cooling menthol that’s able to free the scalp as well from impurities like sweat, sebum and dandruff. While waiting, I received a nice back massage to soothe my uber tired and stiff muscles. It was relaxing! 🙂 When time was up, the staff rinsed my hair and used a hair dryer to get my hair dry fast. It was another good experience overall.

Mom was also satisfied with the ORLY Green Apple (her favorite color) she selected. Her fingernails and toenails are now clean and pretty. What’s noteworthy about Princess Hazel Salon and Spa’s nail polish service is that there’s no added cost if customers choose high-quality nail polishes like those of O.P.I., Zoya, Orly, and Essie.

Princess Hazel Salon & Spa also offers waxing, body scrubs, eyelash alterations, massage, facial, hair and make-up, Brazilian Blowouts, D2 Treatments, Nou Nou Treatments, hair rebonding and radio frequency for body contouring.

Price for Value: ★★★★☆

Considering the service and ambiance at Princess Hazel Salon & Spa, prices are at par with the value. This is a one-stop center to visit if you want to have a super-chic, collaborative experience. I’m thrilled to pass by another day after receiving the “loyalty card” they gave me before we left. Customers here get to have a point or a stamp in a card. Points or stamps are earned per visit and a certain accumulation will grant a certain service for free. Here’s the price list:

In addition, Princess Hazel Salon & Spa has daily discounts from Monday to Friday this September. Everything is 50% off during Mondays; 40% off, Tuesdays; 30% off, Wednesdays; 20% off, Thursdays; and 10% off, Fridays, according to the staff.

As I browsed through their Facebook page, I learned that they offer different promos every month, so make yourself a favor and visit their Facebook page or call them up to take advantage of ongoing deals. 😛

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I’m not a celebrity but receiving over 650 likes for a picture I posted on Instagram recently made me feel like one—even just for a day. 😛 It was a selfie photo of me lying on a dentist-like chair in Browhaus, Lucky Chinatown Mall, while the beauty attendant was fixing my brows for the final look. In this post, let me share about my Browgraphy experience at Browhaus Manila. Will I come back for another session? Do I recommend it? You will know later.

Browhaus Brow Construction: Browgraphy

Prior to having the procedure done, my eyebrows were not really too crazy or unruly. My mom volunteers every so often to shave them for neat arches, like a gardener clipping a topiary, because I can’t do it by myself. Lately though, I felt like wanting to update my eyebrows’ shape and color (to match my hair color). In my world, this task is nebulous—something that should be left to the experts to be safe.

I chose Browhaus Manila to take care of my brows as they are known as the “global authority in hair removal” and they take business seriously. Browhaus operates in several branches in the Philippines for six years now, and they offer the expertise to transform a person’s look by grooming their brows.

Besides Philippines and Singapore (their base), they also have expanded to branches in London, New York, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Thailand. Their aestheticians in Manila are trained in Singapore in two to six months before they are considered qualified. With all these reasons, it didn’t take long for me to be convinced to try at least one of their services.

Browhaus promotes the Brow Resurrection (PhP 38,000) most, claiming that this will make a renewed set of defined and beautiful eyebrows to one who doesn’t have full brows and also improve anyone’s unkempt pair almost magically. More than Brow Resurrection, Browgraphy (PhP 1,298) took my attention because it’s way cheaper and looked less painful.

Browgraphy is a combined service consisting of shaping the eyebrows (via threading and tweezing) and color tweaking. Basically, it’s a duo which works to rework the brows to perfection.

For threading, I have learned that Browhaus uses a fine cotton thread that’s meant for the skin. Typical eyebrow threading doesn’t traumatize the skin the way waxing does. It removes stray hair strands in a row resulting in a clean and natural-looking brow line. Thus, for people who have sensitive skin like me and those disenchanted with waxing, this specialty process is a better option.

My Browgraphy Experience at Browhaus (Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo)

I made a reservation a day before for the Browgraphy service. The receptionist asked if I have had my eyebrows dyed and experienced threading before, to which I replied no’s to both. I don’t know if saying yes would make any difference to the steps and formula they will apply. Moving on…

I was led to a reclining chair and the beautician started studying my eyebrows. She asked me to choose among dark brown, medium brown and light brown for the brow color tweak. Lighter brows have a softening effect, while darker brows sharpen features and add definition. I went for the medium brown.

She applied the vegetable-based dye which contained light chemicals (not the same as the one we use to color our hair). The skin around the eye area is more sensitive, and this house product is intended for coloring the eyebrows. It made me look like the female version of Mr. Clean minus the mustache! See?

After 15 minutes, the beautician checked if the “medium brown” color I chose had already taken effect. By that time, I felt a bit of tingling sensation, but it was tolerable. I looked to the mirror and thought that my brows were not still brown enough to call it “medium brown.” We allowed another five minutes to pass until she removed the dye.

Next, she showed me a piece of paper with illustrations of shapes of eyebrows and asked me to choose one. I was clueless and needed some help as well with the selection. In the end, her recommendation was what I regarded as best advice: fourth row, last column.

She proceeded to shape my tinted eyebrows by threading the immediate area, quickly removing the fine hairs. For remaining hair which could not be removed by the thread, tweezers were used; and finally, scissors to trim individual hairs.

The last steps of my Browgraphy treatment were the application of soothing cream to minimize redness and avoid irritation and the filling up of my brows with brown powder. I was advised not to wash my eyebrows water for the next five hours.

So, how was it?

Of hair removal techniques, many believe that threading causes the least discomfort, if any discomfort at all. Eyebrow threading by Browhaus was not painless, but it was quick and straightforward. It actually felt like tiny rubber bands snapping my skin one after another. I said ouch a couple of times and almost jumped off the seat. The staff said it’s normal for me to feel that way since it was my first time. 😯

I’m just glad I’ve survived the 30-minute treatment without shedding tears to look more fashionable. 😛 The result was satisfying but not drastic as I expected. Anyway, it’s the little things that add up. This is the finished #nofilter look:

Browhaus provided me with a survey sheet which asks customers to rate the elements of the service they rendered and the totality of experience with them from 1-5. Three questions were open-ended. I didn’t have enough time to write my answers on paper since I was rushing to attend a family gathering. I wrote my blog’s URL for them to check and see my answers. And here they are, as follows:

Q & A

Will I come back for another session? I most probably would not want to come back for another Browgraphy session again. This is because I don’t think that there’s high value for money. The two-in-one solution of coloring and threading my brows does not seem worth the price of PhP 1298 to pay, given that the color is expected to last for two to four weeks only. I can go to other salons to groom my eyebrows and achieve a good brow balance via threading at a much cheaper rate.

Do I recommend it? Yes, I recommend this treatment, especially if you do not know how to shape your eyebrows on your own and you want to dye your brows with maximum comfort and safety for your skin. Having a well-maintained eyebrows can make you look younger by brightening and increasing the intensity of your eyes. Browhaus professionals are nice and you will feel rest assured that they will take care of your brow woes the right way the first time and every time.

What improvements do I suggest to Browhaus? Browhaus Manila has a modern studio that welcomes customers with a friendly and clean environment. They have proper threading furniture and sanitized tools. They follow a standard process that’s aligned with their base in Singapore. They are the experts in styling and grooming the eyebrows. Hence, I can’t anymore think of any improvement with regard to their work and performance.

But if I were to suggest an “outside of the box” improvement, I’d like to propose something related to innovation. 🙂 I would like them to have an optional personalized service of taking a before-photo of the customer, uploading it to the computer, running a system which can analyze based on the facial shape, skin color, hair color and the rest of facial features and then generating a suggested outcome of the eyebrows automatically.

In addition, it will be good if there is also the facility to allow the user to manually mix and match eyebrow shapes, colors, thickness and styles for them to see how the result would look like. This will give better appreciation and excitement in looking forward to the result.

If these can be part of the free consultation service of Browhaus, then I think they can gain more power in turning prospects or leads to actual customers. To extend the plan for improvement further, Browhaus can also develop the application and allow everyone access it via web and/or mobile apps anytime and anywhere! 😛

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Other branches:

• Browhaus Greenbelt 5
  4F Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center Makati City | (02) 501.3998
• Browhaus Serendra
  2F The Piazza at Serendra, Bonifacio Global City | (02) 901 0597
• Browhaus Abreeza
  3F Abreeza Corporate Center, JP Laurel, ajada, Davao City | (02) 82 285 7270

The secret is out: Celebrities Carlos Agassi, Mark Striegl, Ann Mateo and Gloc-9 are named the official brand ambassadors for trusted underwear brand Guitar Underwear. They just inked a contract with the company, committed to be walking and breathing representatives of a number of its lines, starting from its simple “de hilo” series, innerwear shirts, outerwear shirts and sandos to modern basic briefs, panties and boxer shorts—all made with the highest quality 100% cotton fabrics.

Introduction of New Clothing Ambassadors of Trusted Underwear Brand Guitar

Definitely a sense of joy and honor came to me last week when I received an invite to attend the Guitar Underwear Press Conference dated today, August 23, 2014 at The Bar, Tomas Morato, Quezon City (formerly Wil’s Event Place).

If you’re not aware, Guitar Underwear is a brand that started since 1960 and now is a household name in the Philippines. I’ve blogged about it before and you may feel free to read more about the company and their offerings here. 😛 Moving on, in this article, let me share about the interesting backgrounds of the newest Guitar Underwear endorsers who all have dynamic and fun personalities.

CARLOS AGASSI – ACTOR/MODEL/TV HOST

Amir Carlos Damaso Vahidi Agassi, of Iranian and Filipino descent, is not entirely new to the Guitar Underwear family as he has been a model and ambassador of the brand for the last consecutive eight years. Still, his pretty face fitted with a jovial smile has not waned. His fit body and bubbly character are also two of his most charming distinctions. Carlos has made his name in showbiz as an actor, host and rapper and was chosen by Guitar because he strives to be the best in what he does, and this is what exactly the company also strives for.

MARK STRIEGL – MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTER

For a change, Guitar was looking for someone who has a sporty appeal to be one of its brands ambassadors, and this next guy has perfectly fitted the description. Mark “Mugen” Martinez Striegl is a half-Filipino, half-American mixed martial arts fighter living in Baguio City, Philippines. He was born and raised in Tokyo, and this was where he embraced the sport which now has become his life. He is still active in MMA competitions, so you gotta watch out for his fights!

ANN MATEO – MODEL / INTERNET ICON

Online singing sensation Ann Mateo has also caught the eye of Guitar because of her beautiful face and wonderful talent. She’s been featured recently on Vogue Italia and was the May 2014 cover of MUSE magazine. She’s currently one of the hosts of PTV4’s Upload TV every Tuesday 8-9pm. If you think she’s familiar, then you might have watched one of her videos on YouTube and Flippish.com featuring song covers and her talent with musical instruments.

Her video hits surge up within short periods of time. This resulted to her becoming an in-demand artist performing on the FaceTime: The SM Cyberzone Mall Tour and various big local events like HIN2 at the World Trade Center. With her exceptional beauty and hundreds of thousands of followers and fans, she is also a sought-after product endorser appearing on several print-ads of high end products.

GLOC-9 – RAPPER/SONGWRITER

Among the four of them, Gloc-9 is the most serious “poker-faced” ambassador, or at least that’s what I thought. It was only one time when I caught him smiling and putting on a happy face, so I was glad I was there and took the shot. 🙂 Probably he keeps a serious countenance to retain his outward appeal as a rapper slash hip-hop artist. I don’t hate him for that. This guy rocks!

Aristotle Pollisco, or better known by his stage name Gloc-9, writes songs for the country and sings for social justice. He was chosen for this endorsement because of his relation to music and patriotism. He is seen to represent Guitar as a genuine Filipino brand, simple yet with international appeal.

More pictures… 🙂

Wrap Up

Now celebrating its golden year, Guitar aims to create a distinct lifestyle with the help of their new star ambassadors. With their new campaign seen around the metro on billboards and advertising channels, Guitar Underwear definitely is a brand to provide Filipinos both comfort and style for the next 50 more years. Do check out its items in department stores nationwide! View more pictures taken in the event here.

Guitar – Household Brand for Basic Shirts to Comfort Underwear
WEBSITE: www.guitar1960.com.ph
E-MAIL: guitarcorp_1960@yahoo.com
FB: Guitar Underwear since 1960
INSTAGRAM: @guitarunderwear1960 #guitarunderwear
YOUTUBE: GuitarUnderwear1960

When it comes to beauty, I think it’s safe to assume that we fall firmly in the camp of “one style does not fit all.” After all, a fiery makeup consisting of vibrant-colored cheek stain and a bold, red lipstick could look great on your friend but may make you look like a walking tomato—and vice versa. That’s why I love it when we’re given lots of choices to match up our personal style and call it entirely our own. And we have to put hand and foot care including nail polishes on the list. In this post, let me share how I got pampered at Make Me Blush Nail Spa and Beauty Lounge (Hemady Square, Quezon City) yesterday. 🙂

In a perfect world, most women prefer getting pedicures and manicures with nail polish every two weeks. Why two weeks? I guess it’s usually within this time frame when nails begin to chip off. In real life situations though, most of us end up stretching it. I’d cite my own life story as instance. 🙂

My visit to nail spa centers and beauty lounge at most happens once in a quarter of a year. For the rest of the time, I just do the same-old DIY manicure and pedicure at home, entering the danger of achieving what I refer to as the “Jurassic Park” status. 😯

As compared to fingernails, my toe nails are more resilient because they don’t get as much exposure and use. Still, the skin on the toes build up and thicken over time (also, think painful ingrown toenails). Hence, not properly taking good care of them is not the best idea, especially if toes are cooped up in closed-toe shoes (and that’s exactly one of the reasons why I dislike wearing closed-toe shoes).

I just had the luxury of time to visit Make Me Blush Nail Spa and Beauty Lounge along E. Rodriguez in Quezon City. This place has enough arsenal of trendy beauty products plus a bit of classic ones, as arms to services they provide: Hand and Foot Care, Paraffin, Reflexology, Waxing Threading, Manicures and Pedicures, Eyelash Curling and Ironing, Hair Spa Treatment, and Hair Styling.

I checked Make Me Blush’s operation hours on their Facebook page and learned that they’re open Mondays to Sundays from 10AM to 8PM. Because I wasn’t familiar with the area, I left home early and arrived at 9:30AM. The staff gave me a warm welcome with friendly smiles. They were still cleaning and preparing the setting while anticipating customers in the reception.

Make Me Blush opened on Chinese Near Year 2014 and it’s thoughtfully maintained every day. The decorations are comforting and eye-candy, with colors that bring out the girly fashionista in you. The rooms for massage, waxing threading, hair styling and treatment and nail spa are uniquely designed and separated, to give a sense of intimacy and privacy while the customer takes her time to nurture her inner self.

Massage services: Back Massage (PhP 180/30 minutes, PhP 350/60 minutes), Full Body Massage (PhP 380/1 hour), Foot Reflexology (PhP 200/30 minutes, PhP 350/60 minutes)

Waxing threading services: Eyebrow (PhP 230), Underarms (PhP 350), Upper Lip or Chin (PhP 230), Face (PhP 450), Full Arms (PhP 500), Half Arms (PhP 320), Full Legs (PhP 750), Half Legs (PhP 500), Stomach/ Back/ Chest (PhP 600)

Paraffin: Hand (PhP 350), Foot (PhP 450), Hand and Foot (PhP 750)

Hair services: Shampoo and Blowdry (PhP 250), Set Curling/Iron (PhP 430), Color Treatment (PhP 1000/Short, PhP 1500/Medium, PhP 25000/Long), Hair Spa Treatment (PhP 780), Hair and Make-up (PhP 2200/Traditional, PhP 2800/Airbrush)

Eyelash services: Eyelash Extension (PhP 800), Eyelash Perm (PhP 350)

Manicure: Plain/Basic (PhP 160), French Manicure (PhP 200), Spa Manicure (PhP 350), Polish Change (PhP 100), Manicure and Hand Paraffin (PhP 490)

Pedicure: Plain/Basic (PhP 180), French Pedicure (PhP 260), Spa Pedicure (PhP 450), Polish Change (PhP 100), Pedicure and Foot Paraffin (PhP 590), Foot Spa (PhP 300)

I received the “Love Me or Leave Me” special-offer package. It consisted of manicure, pedicure, and 30-minute foot spa at PhP 590. Before getting the procedure done, the staff asked me if I want anything to drink. Choices were iced tea, hot tea and coffee. I chose coffee and thanked her profusely. It wasn’t’ a damn-good drink but something that kept my hunger at bay during the two-hour nail spa service.

The leg/foot massage as part of the foot spa was calming and the exfoliation was gentle and good to boot. The staff asked me several times if I was okay with the pressure and the temperature of water. Clearly, she was concerned about the state and feeling of customers. I saw this as a sign of commitment to doing a nice job even in the absence of the owner. Both the manicure and pedicure were decadent in the most wonderful way possible!

From Make Me Blush Nail Spa’s massive selection of nail polish colors and brands, I picked the Essie Bikini So Teeny for my fingernails. Essie Bikini So Teeny is a soft delicate periwinkle color that’s so lovely. The formula though is quite thin and the manicurist had to apply three coats after the base coat to get the color opaque. And the result (without the top coat):

For my toenails, I opted for the beige and pink OPIs. The beige OPI polish is, I think, part of the Ballet Soft Shades Collection which had a jelly finish. I love that it has this nice flesh tone that’s almost translucent. The pastel/bubble-gum pink OPI polish was applied as an “accent color” for my fourth toenail. I just had it following the pedicurist’s suggestion. Part of the Nicki Minaj collection, this color appeared to be incredibly sweet, one that has a strong presence on my nails.

Wrap Up

In sum, Make Me Blush Nail Spa and Beauty Lounge in Hemady Square is definitely a place where you can relax and get a beauty fix, while spending some “me” time in your rest day. It can easily become your regular nail spot. The ladies did a good job and customer service was great. One thing I liked most was that they were nice and not too chatty, because talking or hearing other people talk loudly is last on my agenda.

Bottom line, Make Me Blush is a gem. This is a nail spa that you can trust, given the following: great ambiance and upkeep, flexible in booking appointments, accommodating staff, and fair prices. For people who follow a regular mani-pedi routine, having the service at Make Me Blush will be worth a try! You definitely get what you pay for, plus the confidence that they stand behind their work and want you to be happy (showing interest in making customers feel important). I recommend Make Me Blush and will be back for a girls’ day. 😀

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As if we needed any more reason to love shopping and enjoy strolling in the malls these days, MarQuee Mall at A. Gueco Avenue in Angeles City, Pampanga presents itself as another elegant, exciting and vibrant retail center where you can spend just about the entire day shopping, dining, relaxing and simply having fun while bonding with your family, friends or yourself.

Last Sunday was my third time to visit MarQuee Mall. My last two visits were merely stopovers from our trip to Manila-Olongapo and didn’t last long. This time around, together with blogger friends, I had the chance to explore the entire mall in seven hours. Whoa! Seven freaking hours? Don’t rush to think that this duration was long! 😀 Considering the wide variety of activities and things you can see and do inside, seven hours is not really enough.

By emphasizing convenience and entertainment, MarQuee Mall welcomes people in its festive marketplace. Gone are the days where malls house only retail shops and restaurants. To be exact, there are also spots allocated for games and events as well.

Joy Race: My Shopping Experience at MarQuee Mall in Pampanga

After having lunch at Apag Marangle (click here to read my food review), we discussed how we would go about the MarQuee Mall Joy Race. The objective of the joy race is to experience shopping at MarQuee Mall in Pampanga and spend PhP 5,000 in three hours using an electronic gift certificate (EGC) to transact purchases inside the mall.

As much as possible, we must be able to capture something worthy and not seen in Manila. With the limited time given, I felt panicky and overwhelmed with budgeting given the plenty of stores to enter and items to choose from. At the onset, we planned to move as a group, but it was not long when we split our ways to cover and “conquer” more stores that pertain particularly to our own interests. Shopping time started at about 2:30PM and ended at 5:30PM.

First stop was Aldo. OMG, the Aldo in MarQuee Mall is a sale shop. The promos were too tempting: “Buy 1, Take 1,” prices of shoes from PhP 5000 go down to PhP 1500, PhP 1200 and PhP 800, and prices of accessories dropped to up to 70% off. 😀

I bought one gold-plated necklace for a lucky reader. 🙂 (See giveaway details below.)

We went through the fancy aisles one by one, happy to walk into several stalls with the SALE sign displayed—in celebration of the recent Independence Day. Apparently, MarQuee Mall had its four-day sale in the weekend (June 12-15, 2014). Now, prices are back to normal, and we’re just lucky to have availed of some great items at a huge discount. Whew! The MarQuee Mall’s Joy Race was truly fun and pleasurable as it was pressuring. I swear my arms are still aching after carrying all the shopping bags… not that I’m complaining. 😛

MarQuee Mall Beauty and Fashion Haul

Here, ladies and gentlemen, are my purchases: (1) Shower Gels (PhP 237 each) from The Body Shop; (2) Black and White Handbag (PhP 1699.50) from Charles and Keith; (3) Black and Gold Gladiator Sandals (PhP 999.50) from Charles and Keith; (4) L’Oreal Color Riche Anti-Aging Serum True Red Lipstick (PhP 625) from Metro Department Store; (5) Lavender Skirt (PhP 380) from Cache Cache; (6) Mint Skort (PhP 380) from Cache Cache; (7) Beauty Set (Shower Gel, Body Scrub and Body Lotion) (PhP 179) from Metro Department Store; and (8) Gold-plated Cross Long Necklace (PhP 199) from ALDO Sale Shop.

PROMOTION PRIZES: I will be giving away these items: Shower Gels from The Body Shop, L’Oreal Color Riche Anti-Aging Serum True Red Lipstick, Body Luxurious Beauty Set and the Gold-plated Cross Long Necklace from ALDO Sale Shop.

HOW TO JOIN THE GIVEAWAY AND WIN THE PRIZES: To join, please follow the mechanics on the Rafflecopter below. Note: Accomplish the first five MANDATORY STEPS to count! 🙂 This giveaway is open for all residents of the Philippines. It will run for two weeks: from June 17, 2014 to July 1, 2014. The winner will be contacted via email. If he/she does not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be selected.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Update: Winner is abby_matic!

Style Origin: High Street Fashion Show with Live Performance by Ely Buendia

Our awesome experience at MarQuee Mall did not end after the Joy Race. At 5:30PM, the high street fashion show started in the Activity Center, and it was immediately followed by the live concert performance by Mr. Ely Buendia and his band.

Multiple models in different ages and races went down the catwalk, and we witnessed the collaboration of local and global high-profile brands through the celebration of fashion and style at Style Origin. It was my first time to watch a mall fashion show in front row seat! Excitement filled me in upon seeing people with excellent taste in clothing walking in good posture.

The models’ outfits were put to pristine condition. Hosted by Joey Mead, the event went on smoothly. Cheers from the audience were heard throughout the show, and they were all well deserved.

Without a long break, Ely Buendia (lead vocalist of the popular Pinoy rock band Eraserheads) made a quick entrance to the stage. I’m not a big fan but I also was captivated with his music, surprisingly. 😛

Cocktail foods were provided just in time to quench my hunger. Yay!

They were decent, small portions of deliciousness. Plus, they were nicely presented on platters and cute boxes. Mostly an utter downfall: the more fattening these foods are, the more people like them! On some days, these are treated as snacks. But on that night, I called it dinner. 😆

Good luck to all those who will join my giveaway! Thanks for reading till the end of this post! Have you visited MarQuee Mall lately? Which are your favorite stores/restaurants? Come on, feel free to comment down below and share your thoughts. 🙂

By the way, thanks, Aldous, for the invite! 😀

Simple lifestyle, basic comfort and class. These are three words that can generally describe GUITAR underwears. Guitar is a brand that started in 1960 and has penetrated the market with its “de hilo cotton” (finest cotton) material products. This line features commodities that have been a basic household thing found in every Filipino home.

As they go along their way, GUITAR wants to be widely known for its quality and affordability. In contour with their goals of branding, they have found an endorser and a friend in CARLOS AMIR AGASSI, MIKE TAN AND GLOC-9, their product media carrier, showcasing their talents, charm and great body.

In these modern times, GUITAR tends to have a re-modified product lines from basic shirts to basic underwear. They now have a variety of underwear from children to adults, men and women of all ages. As they celebrate their golden years, they are apt to a next level: a brand widely known all over the archipelago, for all eras; a product that is proudly Pinoy and at par with the foreign brands but yet affordable for all PESO earners in town and found in all leading department stores here and abroad. GUITAR sees itself to be a household basic for another 50 golden years providing comfort and style for all ages in all walks of life. 🙂

Product Lines

DE HILO SERIES – High quality of yarn is used to produce this superior quality of fabric that makes the De Hilo Series stand out. It allows the skin to breathe, thereby giving maximum coolness and total comfort. Perfect for inner wear and sleepwear.

800 SERIES – This new line of products is designed for the hip and new generation because it has streamlined sides to give a better fit to the body. It embodies the active lifestyle of the youth for that trendy look. Made of cotton mixed with spandex, the 800 series’ material gives a better outer look.

UNDERWEAR SERIES – The brief/panty series are made with 100% combed cotton with superior quality. These items surely make your money worth every centavo. They are designed for comfort and trend matching today’s athletic, hip and casual Filipinos.

About Guitar

Guitar is the brand that is synonymous with quality. Established in 1960 by the late Mr. Choa Bengtong, this tradition has been passed on to the new generation who incorporates the strict adherence to quality while injecting vibrant and innovative ideas to their product lines.

What began as a small business venture became one of the most enduring products still preferred even by second and third generation whose father wore this brand of shirts. The company’s classic t-shirt is still the favorite casual and is considered as a must-wear for all generations popularized by Hollywood legends during the 1950’s. It transcended its status from a mere undergarment to a necessity like denim jeans which is being paired with almost anything. It now has expanded the lines from inner wear shirts to outerwear shirts and sandos and modern basic briefs and boxer shorts.

Guitar’s mission is to create a distinct lifestyle through superior quality and product at par with global standards. It is also committed to achieve excellence in marketing, advertising and product innovation by continuously improving its core business functions. It aims to further develop and be more progressive in its value of customer’s service, social responsibility and fair business ethics in all aspect of operation.

Guitar aims to become a domestic leader in Philippine textile industry. It aims to achieve customer satisfaction through high quality garments, fast and accurate deliveries with competitive cost and excellence in service. It also aims to make guitar a house hold name that will be recognized for generations and will instill a sense of price and inspiration to the Filipino people.

Endorsers

GLOC-9 – RAPPER/SONGWRITER

Aristotle Pollisco, better known by his stage name Gloc-9, is a popular Awit Award-winning Filipino rapper. He write songs for the country and sings for social justice. His fast-flowing vocal style has made him one of the most successful hip-hop artists in the Philippines.

He was described by fellow Filipino rapper Francis Magalona as “a blacksmith of words and letters, and a true Filipino poet.” He was chosen for this endorsement because of his relation to music and patriotism. Some of his fames rap songs were “Lando,” “Upuan,” “Walang Natira,” “Hari ng Tondo,” “Sirena” and “Dapat Tama” (GMA Network Campaign for Election 2013).

MIKE TAN – ACTOR/MODEL

Jan Michael Tan is the Ultimate Male Survivor in GMA 7’s Starstruck batch 2. He is often seen in the network’s primetime teleseryes like “Legacy” and “Faithfully.” He is also a regular cast of Party Pilipinas every Sunday. For movies, he had “Love Struck”, “Batanes,” “Manay po” and “Manay Po Overload.”

CARLOS AGASSI – ACTOR/MODEL/ TV HOST

Amir Carlos Damaso Vahidi Agassi was born of Iranian and Filipino descent. He is a member of the ABS-CBN Star Magic circle. He made his name as a rapper, TV host and actor. Being part of the male group Hunks, he was able to show his other talent in singing and performing.

Carlos was also once a GUITAR fan wearing these products during childhood, as he can recall for the packaging of an old man playing a small guitar in yellow background, not knowing that one day he’ll be endorsing this brand and will become a valued friend with the entrepreneur and the employees. Seeing them in billboards and posters facilitated the company to achieve their entity of having brand awareness on end users and the media.

Guitar – Household Brand for Basic Shirts to Comfort Underwear
WEBSITE: www.guitar1960.com.ph
E-MAIL: guitarcorp_1960@yahoo.com
FB: Guitar Underwear since 1960
INSTAGRAM: @guitarunderwear1960 #guitarunderwear
YOUTUBE: GuitarUnderwear1960

Not a day goes by when I don’t see people with cool nails. I really want to try the gel nail polish, but at the same time, I feel apprehensive when it would all go to waste once my nails start to chip. With that said, the best I could try is nail art.

It was almost a dream come true when I received the 12 Colors Nail Art Polish Varnish Paints Set from Tmart.com. According to the product description, these beautiful polishes are perfect for creating detailed nail art. This kind of nail polish is suitable for professional nail salons and nail art schools. Whoa, I’m not a professional nail art artist but just someone who is open to try new things.

I followed steps in video tutorials on YouTube, but no matter how clear the instructions were, I still was not able to achieve the perfect stripes, crosses, triangles, polka dots or even the French tip as desired. It was especially hard when using my right hand to apply nail polish on my left hand. After creating smears and smudges, I decided to spend a “little bonding time” with my sister, Leigh. I asked her to apply nail polishes and create nail arts on my nails. In return, I would do the same on her nails, with different designs.

So, are you ready to see the results of our creativity? 😆 Okay, here you go.

1. cat; 2. horizontal stripes; 3. chucks; 4. strawberry; 5. random face; 6. panda;
7. eggplant (our doll named “Talong”); 8. snowy; 9. ladybug; 10. cross

11. duo; 12. xoxo; 13. cursive “L”; 14. banana face; 15. pirate;
16. cat; 17. abstract; 18. cherries; 19. fish bone; 20. squeamish smiley

What do you think? 😛

By the way, we also used our own (personal) nail polishes at home as base coat:

Review of 12 Colors Nail Art Polish Varnish Paints Set from Tmart

The 12 Colors Nail Art Polish Varnish Paints Set, valued at $10.59, includes a glass bottle and a super thin nail art brush, and 12 dazzling colors of shimmering nail polishes (gold, silver, white, black, grey, parrot green, orange, pink, blue, peach, green and baby pink). Net weight per bottle is 10ML and weight is 355g (12.52oz).

Likes
1. These polishes give nails a nice subtle burst of glittery effect.
2. The texture does not make the nail look too plain.
3. Price is affordable, one that won’t break your beauty budget.

Dislikes
1. The nail polishes did not dry up quickly.
2. The nail polishes have a strong smell that nearly made me hurl. They smell like paint and even if already applied on the nail and I already washed my hands with soap, the smell did not come off easily.
3. The application was a bit difficult since the polish comes out thick. Too chunky. Too gloppy. We had to be very, very careful.

Tmart Giveaway

Tmart.com is a legit online shopping site that sells a variety of products including electronics, computer and networking, cameras an photos, apparel, toys, video games, cell phones and many more. Shipping is fast and free internationally. Customer service is good and communication is efficient.

Tmart.com guarantees lowest price, safe shopping and free repair warranty. What’s more, if offers 90-day money back guarantee if the product purchased from the site has any problem. In that case, the customer will get a full refund within 24 hours excluding weekends and holidays after confirmation of the issue.

I’m satisfied with how Tmart shipped the item really fast (like super fast). Plus, shipping is free of charge! So I would like to give everyone the chance to win an item that I like. Hopefully this time, the winner will be pleased with both the product and the service provided by the online shop. The prize for this giveaway is the Women Letter Patter Clutch Bag Messenger Bag Black worth $14.99. It can be used as an exquisite purse or a unique clutch bag to keep your essentials. You can have it for personal use or gift it to a friend.

This giveaway is open for everyone to join worldwide regardless of nationality. It will run for 20 days, from March 24, 2014 to April 13, 2014. The winner will be contacted via email. If he/she does not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be selected.

To join, please follow the mechanics on the Rafflecopter below. Note: Follow ALL MANDATORY STEPS to count! 🙂

a Rafflecopter giveaway