For fine fair skin, try Neutrogena's Fine Fairness line!

Attended a lovely lunch thrown by Neutrogena recently. The skincare brand trusted by a lot of Hollywood celebrities is introducing their latest whitening line this month. And I really need this! Pregnancy has darkened certain body parts and I no likey darkey parts so as soon as I'm done with the pregnancy, I'm using Neutrogena's Fine Fairness range.

Actually, Robert Kwon, Johnson's & Johnson's regional director for professional marketing in Asia Pacific, assured me that the range is safe for pregnant women. And I believe him but I saw that retinol is one of the active ingredients, and pregnant women are usually advised to stay away from Vitamin A. But as soon as I give birth, I'm definitely using these products.

Need to buy Anthology flats!

So I'm pregnant. So my feet are bigger now. So I can't wear any of my heels, which comprise most of my shoe collection. So I'm down to three pairs of sandals. And so my feet are now exposed to the elements and are drying up like raisins in the hot sun. And since I can't reach my feet anymore because of a big tummy in the way, I can't apply lotion and so my feet are horrendous.

You know what this means? Time to buy new flats!

It amazes me that I've been going around shoe stores for a few weeks now and I still haven't found flats that I like. I like them plain, no-nonsense and simple. Yup, I can go crazy with my heels but flats, I like them really simple.  They look more elegant that way.

Then I remembered Anthology! Here are my faves:

Mad Men's January Jones and La Mer join forces for cleaner, safer seas

Today is World Oceans Day. And if you haven't cared for the plight of our oceans, now is the time to sit up and be alarmed. In the wake of the ongoing massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, we just can't pretend anymore that our oceans are huge and will be okay on their own. We need to do some cleaning up, we need to change what we use and what we eat, and we need to start saving the sea and the life in it.

Courtesy of The Huffington Post.

For more photos of the world's worst oil spill, click here.

For five years now, beauty brand La Mer has made it their mission to help save the oceans. La Mer, which means "the sea" in French, partnered with Oceana, an organization that advocates ocean awareness; its campaigns are comprehensive--from promoting habitat protection and pollution control to responsible fishing and safe seafood practices.

Over the years, La Mer has donated over half a million dollars to Oceana. Most recently, La Mer donated $200,000 to the group. Considering that the famous Creme de la Mer's ingredients are from the sea--sea kelp, for example--it's only fitting that the luxurious miracle cream is giving back to its main source of income! So for this cause, La Mer came out with a special 100ml jar of their famous cream--a jar as blue as the sea.

Hollywood actress January Jones, also known as the steely housewife of Mad Men, is the spokesperson of Oceana. As you read this, January is in Belize for a deep-sea dive to highlight the beauty and plight of the Belize Barrier Reef. She's also been actively involved in promoting a cleaner and safer environment for marine life, like sharks, which January is especially fond of.

Here's a video of January's dive:

Celebrate World Oceans Day with January Jones from Oceana on Vimeo.


The world needs our help, people! Please do your part in saving the environment!
*interview courtesy of La Mer

Kenneth Cole's comfy new shoes for the working woman

My feet have gone a size bigger a couple of weeks ago. I didn't want to believe it because I have almost 3 dozen shoes that I love and I really don't want to let go of them. A lot of moms tell me that since I didn't get fat, my feet will go back to their usual size after I give birth so I'm hoping that really happens. In case it doesn't, Kenneth Cole New York comes to the rescue.

Revlon's ColorBurst lipsticks are really bursts of color!

I got a bag bursting with these tubes of lippies but I'm not a lipstick person (I like tinted balm) so I gave them all away. My staff was beyond delighted.

Then I saw some reviews on other beauty blogs (this one by Shen's Addiction is the best!) and I almost wailed in regret for not keeping even one tube! These colors are amazing...

Ferragamo launches Incanto Bloom

Just recently, Salvatore Ferragamo launched its latest fragrance here in Manila: the Incanto Bloom. It's a fruity floral eau de toilette of freesia, tea roses, grapefruit flowers and champaca flowers with musk and cashmere wood.

The perfume bottle reminds me of those delicate Japanese prints. Oh, and the bottle cap is the iconic Ferragamo Vara bow.

LUSH's Helen Ambrosen shares homemade recipes for beautiful skin and hair!

Helen Ambrosen is LUSH's co-founder and product inventor. She shares with Beauty For A Living why she thinks the best beauty solutions are not on store shelves but in your kitchen!

What are some of the must-have ingredients you need?
Beautiful vegetable oils--like olive and almond--are something you must have. Fine sea salt is always very useful; use this on your body or on feet. 
Other good things to have are fine oatmeal, ground almonds and honey. With these staple ingredients, you can then make a lot of different things: a lovely face mask, salts for your bath. [You can] tie some oats and almonds in muslin, float in the bath water, squeeze out and pat on your skin.  Honey dabbed onto spots [acts as an antiseptic].


What are the cost benefits?
The staple ingredients are not expensive. Remember to only use what you need, use it up and don't waste it. 

How did you come up with recipes that apply from head to toe?
At LUSH, we use these materials all the time, so it’s not difficult to work out how to use them at home.  But LUSH is a little bit like a fine restaurant, you can do it at home if you like, but you can also come to LUSH and let us do it for you!