This Just In: Scents and Stuff

Here's another segment at She Goes Thrifty! Ladies and gents, please welcome This Just In!

So it's pretty self-explanatory, but if you're too tired to figure it out, This Just In will feature new things, may it be given to me as a gift, as a means of self-gratification, as a sponsored something (a girl can dream, okay?), or as an item sent in for review, regardless of the purpose, I will share with you some of the novelty in my ever-changing supply of "stuff."

Two packages arrived at my mom's office's doorstep today! The first is from Ate Shiela, a dear relative of ours and Rania's mom! You know Rania, the pretty little kiddo you've probably seen in my previous posts (if you've been hanging on to SGT long enough). And the second is from my beloved father. Thank you for the presents! It will take me forever to use these all up and another forever for me to smell horrendous, thanks to these bottles of olfactory goodness! 

Yay for loot! :D

Some lip balms and a pot of lavender salve (I only see rose salve here in the Philippines).

Bath and Body Works Body Sprays <3

Aaaand some Victoria's Secret too!

Want a spritz? ;)

Love,

SGT <3

SGT Goes to Bonifacio Global City

So, as the title suggests, I was in Bonifacio Global City... High Street to be exact. It's my third time in that area. I wasn't really a big fan of the place and I don't exactly frequent BGC for a number of reasons. First, is it just me or is it too far from the "center" of Metro Manila. (Maybe it's just me, but when a place is not along EDSA, it's already far. LOL!) Second, we find the traffic and road systems there too confusing. :( Third, uhhh, I was just not fond of the place. But everything seemed to change today! I saw a big portion of BGC when I rode the shuttle bus from Ayala going there. I saw how developed it is already and how clean the entire place is! No wonder people rave about it!

Anyway, I was there for a good reason. I was scheduled for an interview. Still not telling where and for what company. The interview went well, I think. I left the building in high spirits. :) All I know is I did everything I could to impress the [insert swear word here] out of them. ;) Hehe.

I was with my graduation seat-mate, Kym, as she had a separate interview in Market! Market! We decided to meet up before our interviews and reconvene afterwards. We ran into each other in Fully Booked, where we scoured the sale racks and drooled over the wall-to-wall shelves of literature. It was like letting a kid loose in a candy store... except we were suffering from budgetary dehydration -- this is just my obnoxious way of saying that I can't afford to buy a lot of things at the moment! Soon. Mark my words. I will have more than enough to drown the socks off my brain in literature, soon. 

These shots were taken in my mom's office in Ortigas, BTW.

After Fully Booked, we decided to check out EchoStore in Serendra (which is just across the street!). I wanted to see if they carried Ilog Maria soaps and other products which I have been dying to try. I don't know what it is but recently, I developed an affinity and fondness for locally-produced organic products. I'm a proud advocate of anything PH-made! And organic products are really great investments. There are no cruel chemicals present. They might be a tad bit pricier but you're paying for your health and well-being in the long run, so yeah, count me in! I know I'm not supposed to spend so much, but I've just been dying to get my hands on these goodies that I can't pass up the chance to grab 'em!

EchoStore is truly eco-friendly! No plastics allowed. ;)

Lavender and Honey soap (left)

Bamboo-charcoal soap (right)

A few more vanity shots. :3

Really digging these arm candies from Landmark!
Plus they matched my outfit perfectly!

When dressing up for an interview, keep it classy. It's always better to be clad in formal clothes (even if the  vibe in the office is casual). You'd always want to put your best foot forward and it shows on your choice of clothing and makeup. As for the makeup, I suggest you keep it simple. Avoid going for the smokey eye and intense red lipstick. I chose a golden-pink hue for my base and a golden-brown for my crease. Added a flick of black liquid eyeliner, a light brush of pink blush, and a mauvey-pink lip. You'd want your achievements to stand out, not your glaring red lips or your intense smokey-eye. ;) Just a few tips.

Also, pack a pair of slippers like the one I had below. It's really hard to rely on heels, especially if you're not used to wearing them. You might end up with blisters (like I did, thanks unused heels!) and since it's already raining cats and dogs everywhere, a pair of slippers or sandals might just be your best bet if you want to avoid looking like a mad woman slipping and tripping all over. Oh, and bring an umbrella ALWAYS! You never know how the weather's gonna get!

I put these on as soon as my interview was over. My feet were getting battered from the yellow heels I was wearing. :( Commuting is always a big obstacle when dressing up! Please pardon the madungis feet. I've been walking in mud and puddles all day. :|

Oh, I also received my package from Human Nature today! I ordered a second bottle of their AMAZING Sunflower Seed Beauty Oil and their Colored Lip Balm (in Island Kiss)

Almost there!

Ta-daaaaaaaaah!

Hooray! :D

It's been a long and very fruitful day! Despite the gray cloud that's been looming over Metro Manila, there just isn't no raining on my parade. Keep the good vibes rolling, universe! :)

Love,

SGT <3

Freebie Happy!

Recently, I won a gift pack from Human Nature from the "Read the Label Challenge". I had just claimed my prize yesterday and I'm excited to share it with you.

It comes in a cute lime green pouch.

I can't complain. A prize is still a prize. Plus, these are amazing!

First up, a Tutti Frutti Lip Balm. I already have like a bajillion lip balms already so I'm giving this one to my cousin. But I love the scent, it smells like Juicy Fruit, yes, the bubblegum! Like its peppermint variant, which I already have, it's mild and sheer.

If you're a fan of using feminine wash, I recommend getting this one. It smells phenomenal! Floral and very cheerful! Your lady parts will rejoice! Plus it's chemical-free. Just the care your sensitive skin down there needs. ;)

Sorry if you can't see the consistency of the feminine wash that well. It's clear, not too runny, and lathers well. 

OH MY GOODNESS. I've never had a lotion I liked more than this one. I'm usually a body butter gal but this one takes the cake. It smells heavenly (think bubblegum and passion fruit)

It has a milky, creamy-smooth consistency. It feels like satin on your skin, provides just the right amount of moisture and it won't leave a greasy feel afterwards.  You're sure to hook a cutie this Valentine's Day with this baby on you. ;)

 I'm so happy with these cute freebies I got. This is why I love Human Nature. No matter the size of their products, they always make sure to deliver and deliver well to their promise. Looking forward to more free loot!

Love,

SGT <3

Lip-locked

I have been an avid user of lip balms for as long as I can remember. It probably started when I was in high school, when all the girls got conscious of how they looked but were not quite allowed to wear makeup and sky-high heels yet... so I chose lip balm as my weapon of mass destruction instead.

Over the years, I have grown and loved a lot of brands and tried out pretty much everything there is when it comes to what brands of lip balms are available. These are some of my tried-and-tested brands... (click photos for sources of images)

Forgot how much this costs but I've tried the cherry and mint flavors. Absolute classics. Has low SPF.

This has got to be one of my absolute faves. It's medicated, so it's sure to treat even the worst chapped lips ever (which I often times have. And putting it on is like kissing ice or mint... or minty ice. Very cool. I think this costs around Php 90 in any drugstore. Another perk is that is has SPF for your lips. It goes on clear so you might want to use a lip stain or a separate lip stick if you want a little color.

I LOVE BURT'S BEES! I used to own a watermelon shade of this shimmer lip balm (well it's more a shimmer lip thing than it is a lip balm, but it does not dry my lips at all and it packs on that glitter that no girl can ever resist!). It's pretty expensive though, as it costs around Php 300 or more for one tube. They also have the original or plain kinds of lip balms available. Oh, and this one's organic too. If you have sensitive skin, the splurge might just be worth it.

The Body Shop's Born Lippy in Pink Guava. This is my third pot, if I'm not mistaken. It tastes really yummy and it will bring back moisture to your cracked lips. I'm quite concerned about its container though, since you're gonna have to use your fingers for applying this, bacterial contamination is very much a possibility. Make sure to clean your hands first before digging in, okay? Oh, and a pot costs Php 250.

This is my first ever pot of the famous Born Lippy. It's in cherry and it smells A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. You might not be able to resist a chance to pucker up with this baby on your lips. It's lightly tinted. Same price.  I also bought a limited edition lippy a long time ago, it was for AIDS Awareness I think, kind of a fund-raising activity for the Body Shop. They release limited edition products every now and then so keep your eyes peeled for those.

Then, there's Human Nature's lip balm in Peppermint. I was disappointed with this product. It doesn't deliver much moisture and healing to my chapped lips as I expected (as with the success stories of my previous purchases in lip balms and Human  Nature products in general), but at Php 70, I would be better off sloughing on Chapstick. The cool feeling evaporates quickly and my lips become dry after such a short while. I have to say, this would have to be my least favorite.

And last, but certainly not the least, my current lip-locking partner (as if I have any), Carmex in Strawberry. I chanced upon this at PCX in Alabang Town Center. Got it for a little less than Php90. This baby really surprised me. It sent moisture on my lips into overdrive, and it hasn't disappointed me yet. It tastes yummy but it's really mentholated at the same time. However, my only critique is that when you apply this, it leaves a greasy or slimy feel to your lips, not very ideal for when putting on lip stick or lip gloss after. But using in on its own is probably when it works best. Love, love, love this! <3

And that is all for today's rundown on my favorite lip balms. What's yours? :)

Love,

SGT <3