Tea Tree Oil - Pimple Control

Okay, so I tried making a tutorial video for y'all. Please be gentle. Ha ha! It's my first one and it's not exactly of the best quality since I used my phone for recording and I'm not exactly Quentin Tarantino, so please bear with me.

Anyway, I noticed that my pimples are starting to manifest since my period is just around the corner. I know some of you can relate to such a crappy PMS moment. Others have regular or for the luckier ones, very rare episodes. In any case, this video will (hopefully) help you get rid of those zits fast sans the harmful chemicals and the hefty price tag.

I give you, Tea Tree Oil! It has soooo many benefits and pimple-control is only one of them. You can also use it for dandruff, wounds, etc. Just Google its uses and you're set. Anyway, this video probably says it all.

Products Used:

Zen Zest Tea Tree Oil (Php 150/15mL bottle)

Human Nature Organic Aloe Vera and Guava Facial Wash

Pond's Acne Expert Pore Conditioning Toner

Cotton bud

Steps:

1. Cleanse your face with a facial wash that is especially for pimple control or for troubled skin.

2. Toner is optional at this point.

3. Put a few drops of the tea tree oil on the swab and dab away.

Sorry if the video's too short or too quick. I'm really camera-shy. Heehee. Anyway, tea tree oil really helps get rid of those nasty pimples before they even start wrecking havoc on your precious face. Remember, don't go poppin' them 'cause it will only make things worse. Just dab on tea tree oil and keep your face clean at all times. Here's to a more flawless you! :)

Love,

SGT <3

SMthin' Like That

I've been trying to run away from my computer, so much so that I had to find an excuse to get out of the house. Since I seemed to have another boring day at home on my to-do list, I figured, why not run a few errands and check out The Body Shop's 60-Minute Sale, and enjoy myself at the mall while I'm there.

First things, first, I had my picture taken for my visa application. Then, I ran to The Body Shop downstairs to check out what the sale was all about. Unfortunately, photos were not allowed to be taken inside the store and I wasn't able to buy anything because I was too pissed that I can't shoot pictures to share with you all.  *insert sad face here*

Afterwards, I headed off to Etude House to cool off and to scour their racks for a solution to my pimples and for things to pack for Myanmar. I ended up buying their Lemon Tea Cleansing Foam (I already tried their Aloe Vera variant and I loved it!), which  according to the friendly saleslady, is very good for my combination skin as it is most effective in keeping the shine at bay. Given the humid weather in Myanmar, an oil-control cleanser that's gentle enough for everyday use is just about what I need.

I also jumped for joy when I got hold of their Styling Eyeliner in 01 (Black), a retractable liner that's perfect for tight-lining and filling in those hard-to-reach corners. It's definitely a steal at Php 128 (~ $3), don't you think? (I'll write separate entries for today's purchases later on.)

After a long while at Etude House, Chammy (my friend) met up with me. We had lunch at Pizza Hut (bye, bye, diet!)

What's for lunch: two solo-sized pizzas, a plate of Ceasar's salad, a bowl of cream of mushroom soup
(sans the croutons; I hate croutons!), a plate of carbonara, and two iced teas. Carbo-loading, definitely!

We sure did not waste time to burn what we just consumed. After I claimed my passport-sized portraits, we headed off to the bank so Chammy can do her thing and I slid off to the bookstore next door (I swear, I can live inside a library and/or a bookstore happily). Got myself a Vapur foldable water container in pink and a pink case for my makeup brushes.

We decided to meet up at the department store where nothing much really happened. We just looked around, hoping to spot a good bargain and take home new things to call ours... only we both were in a tight financial situation. It's fun to window-shop, nevertheless. I was looking for the perfect red lipstick. Chammy suggested I try out Maybelline. I was never a big fan of lipsticks, especially red ones , but with the workplace situation rearing its head in the horizon, I may have to adjust my preferences in order to "grow up" and try new things. After spotting the perfect shade, I was told that they had no more stocks of that particular hue. I was devastated. And to think that its price had been slashed down from Php 299 to Php 249! Good thing, Watsons had one last tube of the Maybelline Color Sensational Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Summer Sunset! I did not hesitate and grabbed the sole tube on the shelf. It's a really deep red. I love that it's not too bright and perky, just the right shade to suit my skin color and personal preference. (I'll write a separate entry for this one too!)

That's me wearing the Maybelline lipstick in Summer Sunset. Bagay ba? :)
I have always been scared of donning red lipstick.
It's like I never had the guts to wear this truly outstanding and second-look-worthy color. 

After a long day of walking around and window-shopping, Chammy and I decided to rest and have a snack at Dunkin' Donuts, where she ate a pizza pocket (from a stall somewhere), a bavarian-filled donut (another flavor I cannot seem to agree with), and iced coffee; while I had a medium cup of Summer smoothie (forgot the flavor combination) from Fruitas.

So happy togetheeerrrr!

There's just never a dull moment with these two-peas-in-a-pod!

Stolen shoooot! :p

... and of course, there's the obligatory outfit post!

Purple top from Encore, Random leggings, TOMS sneakers,
Multi-strand bangle from Thailand, New York & Co. necklace 

What's your favorite bum-day escape? :)

Love,

SGT <3

P.S. All the photos in this entry are owned by She Goes Thrifty. Please ask for my permission when intending to use these photos elsewhere. Thank you. :)

Human Nature Series: Organic Aloe-Guava Facial Wash

Hello, girls! Sorry for taking a two-day hiatus. Had to take care of a few things... but now I'm back! So, shall we continue with our Human Nature series of reviews, yeah?

Today's flavor: aloe and guava... in a facial cleanser, that is. It doesn't matter if you're a hardcore follower of a beauty regimen day in and day out or if you're just looking for the next product to use since you're running low on your chemical-laden, commercial tube of facial wash, then you might want to check this baby out.

As it says on the label, it's organic. Human Nature prides their company on three things: being pro-Philippines, pro-poor, and pro-environment. Using locally-grown organic ingredients (from poor farming communities) is their main advocacy. As a result, their products come at a lower price and you're sure to get all-natural beauty staples.

A 100mL bottle is priced at Php 149.75 (around $4)

Did I mention it has a yummy scent to boot?  It smells so good, you're gonna want to eat it! But please don't. ;)

So this Organic Aloe Vera and Guava Facial Wash can do two things, as you can see in the label. First, it can soften and moisturize your skin, then it can also firm up and tighten your skin. It says that it's also best for oily and acne-prone skin. I actually have combination skin, but this works wonderfully on my oily T-zone area (which is my nose line and my forehead).

The instruction indicates that only a button-sized amount of the product should be used but I use an extra squeeze because just a dot doesn't exactly do much for my face. It has no chemicals which probably explains why it doesn't give much lather (or bubbles) than commercial-brand washes. So yeah, I would recommend that you use a bit more product than instructed, to your discretion, of course.

After use, you will feel a little tightening and firming, but that's your pores closing up. What's even better is that even though this effect is taking place, it doesn't leave your skin dry as a desert. You may want to supplement moisturizer after (as with every cleanser) of course. Subsequently, it will give you an even better canvas for when you put on makeup. If you have oily skin, your pores will spit out less sebum than usual with this wash. On the other hand, I would not recommend this to those who have dry skin. Your pores are rigid as it is, you might want to use more moisturizing washes. Human Nature has them too.

I also noticed that I don't break out as much once I started using this facial wash. (Perhaps my tea tree oil concealer and PanOxyl help too, but more on those later.)

The packaging may look small but I think there's a lot of product in it than you would expect. With its gel formulation, it can take some getting used to, especially to the lack of lather. Plus, it can get a little difficult to squeeze it out onto your palms. Just be patient. Haha. You may also want to consume the entire container within 6 months due to its lack of preservatives (I can hear your face sing hallelujah already!).

If you're looking for a healthier alternative to expensive facial cleansers, this one's a pretty good substitute. It's safe for daily use, again, don't forget to use moisturizer, even at night, and let your skin breathe.

What's your favorite facial wash/cleanser? :)

Love,

SGT <3

Beat the bum days!

I've been stuck at home for the past few weeks. Right now I'm waiting for things to go well so I can leave for Myanmar and work there. So yeah, I've been feeling a little drab since being at home means that I don't get to dress up, put some makeup on, and just have that extra oomph all throughout the day.

And so today I decided to do something about my misery. I prepped my face by cleansing, toning, moisturizing, then I sloughed on some concealer, wildly pink lipstick, and my trusty lip gloss. Check out the merch! (click photos for original sources)

Almost out of facial wash! You won't regret buying this. It really gets your skin clean, won't clog your pores, smells good, and it's downright affordable! (around Php 150 for a tube, Etude House)

I actually use the alcohol-free variant.

I swear by this moisturizer.

Got mine for a little less than Php 500 in Beauty Bar, Mall of Asia. I'm using  the Medium shade. Remember: Pat, don't rub!

This is from Ever Bilena. I love how gutsy its color is and how it doesn't contradict my morena complexion at all. I bet it goes even better on fairer skin! (around Php 150, local supermarkets and drugstores) It's kind of matte so it's best to prime your lips first with lip balm and finish off with lip gloss. ;)

Ooh-lala! I can't get enough of Forever 21 Cosmetics! They're so affordable and so adorable too! Got this one for around Php 150. It glides on like a dream and it's not too sticky, especially for Philippine weather. This is from their earlier batches of products sent here but now there are more shades and flavors to choose from. Go crazy! :)

So there you go. Who would've thought that a little pick-me-up no-makeup budge was what I needed to lift my spirits! And it didn't have to cost me a thousand pesos. I just used whatever I had lying around in my makeup and toiletries kit, and voila! A brand-new-outlook.

What's your favorite pick-me-up activity? :)

Love,

SGT <3