Category Archives: beauty & wellness

Mix and Match

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Posted by leyn on February 26, 2010 – 7:00 pm
Filed under beauty & wellness, women's clothing

Sosyalera,

Hi, hope everything’s well with you. I’ve started browsing your site a week ago and now I can proudly say that am a BIG Fan of yours just like the others. I found your advices and opinions very useful to your readers which inspired me to write also some of my concerns regarding my so-called-fashion-and-everything. haha.

ganto po kase, i’m working as a secretary in one of the prestigious universities here in manila i’m 22, standing 5′6″, fair skin and medium built. My problem is not that malala. meron lang kasing mga tao na pumupuna sa daily outfit ko. (BTW wala kaming uniform.) I’ve been working for three years of having no permanent outfit so mejo mahirap nuh? sinasabi nila na maganda daw ako magdala ng damit and kahit anu daw isuot ko bagay. on my part, its flattering and at the same time. nakaka ilang or nakaka pressure in a way na hindi ko na alam kung isusuot ko pa ba yun ulit dahil sa napansin na nila? waaa I hope am making sense here. pasensya naman if am not much into proper construction of words. haha my bad. so yun nga. anu kaya dapat kong gawin para hindi masyadong halatado yun pag ulit ko ng tops aside from pairing it with different types of bottoms such as jeans, leggings or skirt. problem number 2. lulubus lubusin ko na to Ms Leyn :D I’ve mentioned earlier na medium built ako & proportioned naman po yun figure ko. the problem is yun braso ko. feeling ko, anlaki nya :( yun na lagi kong pinoproblema kaya as in super seldom nako mag sleeveless :( feeling ko, am carrying a pair of troso, pwera exaggeration pero yun talaga feeling ko. huhu. nu kaya pede kong gawin para mapaliit yun braso ko. hope you have some idea.

lastly, yun hair ko :(   I got my hair done for 2 weeks from now. maiksi sya but its layered. nakakainis lang, kase merun syang sariling mundo.. pumupunta kung saan nya gusto. haha. nu ba dapat kong iapply para maging manageable yun maliit kong buhok?

ayun. am hoping for your response even if this letter of mine is quite senseless. nyahaha. any advice will be highly appreciated :)

CONGRATS PALA FOR THIS GREAT SITE AND MORE POWER :)

lovelovelove

Thea

Dear Thea,

Hey there, thanks for discovering my blog. Frankly, your issues are quite vague so I’ll just post the ABCs and I hope they will help you a bit.

First, about the mixing and matching of clothes. I get that you might be on a budget but you shouldn’t just focus on your clothes. Make sure you also have enough pairs of shoes, bags and accessories. Also, next time you shop, pick simple clothes without too many prints so you can match them up easily.

Try wearing blazers or cardigans. Though you may feel uncomfortable because it’s summer and if you’re working in non-airconditioned rooms. But if you’re willing to wear blazers, tiis-ganda nalang. Hehe.

Honestly, it won’t be a problem if you don’t put too much pressure on yourself. I actually understand your sentiments because I also had that “image” where co-workers keep on commending my fashion taste so it urged me to buy more clothes just to maintain my fashionista status. Ayun, naubos pera ko. Lol. So instead of spending too much on garbs, I thought of different styles for my hair and collected accessories. Don’t feel restless because it’s okay to repeat clothes. Everyone does that.

Second, about the fatty arms. You’re still lucky because of your tall height. I know a lot can relate with this but fatty arms are more noticeable when you’re shorter. Fashion-wise, you can still wear sleeveless tops but pick styles with ruffles and butterfly sleeves to camouflage your arms. According to my gym-instructor friend, the only way to make your arms smaller is through dieting. Working out those arms won’t totally reduce the fat but will develop muscles.

Lastly, about the hair. Mentioning that your hair isn’t manageable, I assume that your hair is from medium to coarse thick type. I already had a blog post about the same problem that you can check. To summarize it, here are your options plus their pros and cons:

  • Undergo a relax treatment –long term but costly depending on the salon
  • Apply conditioner daily then iron your hair –may dry your strands
  • Apply hair mousse – feels sticky and strong hold

Remember that not all hairstyle may fit us. Shorter hair won’t be high maintenance for girls with fine/thin strands of hair. So as of now, the best way is to have the treatment or have patience ironing and applying hair mousse.

I hope you won’t get frustrated with my honest response. Haha. But I believe you can handle your look naman knowing that your officemates are noticing your sense of style. Anyhow, thanks for liking my blog. ;)

Good luck!

Love lots,

Leyn

Hair Care Conditioner

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Posted by leyn on November 18, 2009 – 4:26 pm
Filed under beauty & wellness

hi Leyn,

I just came across your site while googling. Naghahanap kasi ako ng okay na conditioner for a daily commuter like me. I ride the tricycle, fx and jeep everyday kasi going to work. Ung fx ok lang kasi aircon pero ung tric & jeepney ride nag aamoy usok ung hair ko.  =(  I tried ung hair refresher sa Bench but I didn’t like the smell e. Gusto ko ung long lasting scent na conditioner na medyo fruity ang smell. Can u recommend anything? Thanks2x!

Cheppy

Dear Cheppy,

I asked some reliable people about conditioners to at least attest with the products that will be mentioned. You might have already tried a lot of the common grocery brands like Palmolive, Rejoice, Sunsilk etc so I’ll no longer mention them one by one. The citrusy scent that you want to achieve will also come from the shampoo you use. Anyway, here are some conditioner brands you might want to try:

Pantene Glossy Shine

Talking about the common grocery brands, if you want a low maintenance and easy to find product, Pantene Glossy Conditioner is suggested.

The Body Shop Honey Moisturising Conditioner

A rich and deeply moisturising conditioner that helps put softness and shine back into dry, tired or damaged hair, leaving it feeling soft and more manageable. With regular use, it will help improve the condition of the hair.

Kiehl’s Olive Oil Nourising Conditioner

With Avocado Oil, Lemon Extract, and Olive Fruit Oil specially formulated for dehydrated, damaged hair.

St. Ives, Swiss Formula, Extra Shine Rasberry & Jojoba Conditioner

St. Ives combines raspberry extracts and vitamin rich jojoba in formulas for shinier healthier-looking hair. It will leave your hair feeling revitalized and full of shine.

Currently, I’m using Alberto VO5 Herbal Escapes Pomegranate & Grapeseed (citrusy) and Dove Moisturising Conditioner (musky) because these are the only available conditioners at home. I’m contented with their long-lasting scent and how they soften my hair so personally speaking, I also recommend these. But take in mind that just like lotions/soaps, shampoos and conditioners also have different effects on different hair types so you have to know the brand that suits you. :)

Love Lots,

Leyn

To Dye For

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Posted by leyn on October 28, 2009 – 5:11 pm
Filed under beauty & wellness

Hello Leyn,

Sana pansinin nyo po email ko. May balde ka ba? Isa kasi ako sa mga umaapaw mong fans. Hahaha, ang korni. I know. Pero seriously, fan mo na ako.

Hindi ako sure kung may na-receive ka ng sulat tulad sa problema ko. I have a natural long straight black hair BEFORE (tama ba order ng adjectives ko?). Last summer, napag-tripan namin ng sister ko na lagyan ng highlights ang buhok ko. Kulay Grape Red. At oo nga, nagsisisisi na ako. Kasi po nagmukhang dry na dry ang buhok ko. At nagsimula na akong mag-hairfall.

Last week, pumunta ako ng salon para magpa-Relax and Hot Oil. Kaso, ang sabi sa akin. Hindi raw pwede sa buhok ko kasi may highlights at masusunog raw. Napraning naman ako. So sabi niya, magpapa HairSpa nalang raw ako. So ayun, nag pa HairSpa ako. Alam nyo po ba anong nangyari? WALA. Medyo feeling ko bumagsak konte buhok ko. Pero feeling ko lang yun eh. Wala parin eh, Dry pa rin tignan at may falling hair pa rin.

Ano bang treatment pwede nyong irerecommend sa akin? Okay lang po ba na magpapakulay ako uli ng buhok, pero Black na sunod? Bahala na maubos allowance ko. Help, bago ako makalbo. Maraming Salamat.

Umaapaw,
Raiza

Dear Raiza,

I LOL-ed at the balde thing… and actually at the whole letter. You seem tensed.

Honestly, I dyed my hair red before and I also thought that was the worst thing I did to my hair. Especially when my friends started telling me na mukha akong manok. Haha. How rude.

Unfortunately, the best way you can do is wait for the new hair to grow. That simple. This may sound useless but it’s better than coloring your hair again. If you dye it with black, the chemicals will just make your strands brittle and prone to split ends. Most hair salons do a strand test before they proceed with a treatment. Even the salon you visited suggested not to color your hair first, right? So you can’t easily undergo another hair therapy. Of course you can cheat and buy an instant color dye but it’s up to you if you’d take the risk. Most likely, you will experience dry locks if you do so. Magiging parang buhok ng manika, something like that.

As of now, stick on oil-based products. This is an effective tip that’s why the salon suggested a hair spa. Honestly, hair spa won’t have an effect that much because it’s just like expensive hot oil. Sosyal lang ang tawag… “spa”. The smoothness will stay for a couple of days only. Spend on black conditioners for the meantime. Once you feel like the new hair is growing already, then trim the ends and have a cellophane treatment. Cellophane will make your hair shinier and you’d be able to pick a shade of color. Its color substance is washable unlike the permanent dye.

As I’ve mentioned, use conditioner because it will help to moisten your hair but it will not totally treat the damaged parts. So please have patience and wait for the new batch of strands. Another mistake can make it worse so be careful this time. I’ve experimented on my hair a lot of times and waiting it to grow back is the best solution everytime I mess up.

Good luck, I know the feeling. :|

Love Lots,

Leyn

Layered Hairstyle

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Posted by leyn on October 21, 2009 – 9:42 pm
Filed under beauty & wellness

Hey Leyn,

Hey Hey! Anyway I’ve been checking out the net for some great hairstyle/hairdo for my medium length hair but still I can’t find anything that fits my personality and maybe my face shape. So yeah, I decided to consult you :] oh wait ako pala si trisha. So eto i have a round face, black colored layered hair with a slightly side swept bangs so anong babagay na hairstyle sa akin kung saan pwede ko syang i-use everytime I go to school or even everytime I go to the mall with my college friends. hoping that you’ll reply to my message :]

More power! and thank you

trish

Dear trish,

Sorry for the late reply. (O diba, parang text lang). As what you’ve said, you can’t decide for a hairstyle that defines your personality. Well I have no idea what type of chic are you – you may be a rocker, girly or a stylish one who loves wearing hair accessories. Hairstyle sometimes doesn’t just depend on your face shape or features. Your hair line is one factor. Bangs cut is recommended for girls with high hairline that’s why the look isn’t appropriate for everyone. There are times we may notice that “this” style appears good on a celebrity then if we copy the hairdo, it just doesn’t look right on us.

I cannot directly suggest the BEST fashion for the crowning glory, so everything is still up to you. Basing on your description, I can picture that your hair is like this:

I also maintain a layered hairdo with side bangs because it fits any season. But if you’re willing to experiment, consider a makeover with these styles:

You can try full bangs if you have a high hairline. Full bangs looks good on girls with smaller face and will make you look younger.

This hairdo is perfect for those who have fine strands of hair. It’s low maintenance and appropriate for a modern gal. Just like Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl Season 2. However, if you have coarse or thick type of hair, you need a relax treatment to keep the ends straight. (So that doesn’t make it low maintenance after all. Lol.)

Practice your styling skills and buy yourself a curler. You need to torture your hair a bit when unexpected parties call. Add volume using hair mousse. If you get used to it, you can do this in a matter of 10 minutes.

For accessories, you can wear headbands but I suggest that you stick with the darker shades. Head accessories with black, silver and gray stones are the latest trend. Mahirap nga lang humanap so this will challenge your shopping expertise.

Just remember that no matter what hairdo you’ve got, it all fails if you don’t keep it clean, frizz-free and shiny. :)

Love Lots,

Leyn

Short Do

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Posted by leyn on September 3, 2009 – 4:33 pm
Filed under beauty & wellness

Hi Leyn! =)

Ayan, sa wakas, nagkaroon na rin ako ng chance na magemail sayo sa Dear Sosyalera blog mo. Kasali ako sa mga dumarami mo pang fans na naaaliw at nage-enjoy magbasa ng blog(s) mo. Oo, fan ako. :D Hehe. Anyways, may problema kasi ako. Kakapagupit ko lang kasi ng buhok. (see attached picture) And this time I decided na magpagupit ng as in maiksi. Naiinggit kasi ako sa buhok ni Nina. Haha! Last time ata na ganito kaiksi ang buhok ko eh nuong college ako. Since then, pinahaba ko na ang buhok ko.

The day na nagpagupit ako, gustong-gusto ko ung itsura ng buhok ko. Mega style kasi nung naggupit. Naisip ko, mas madaling i-manage ang short hair. Wash & wear lang. Here comes the problem – naisip ko lang kasi. Few days after kong magpagupit, ayan na, nagsisimula nang magkaroon ng sariling buhay ang buhok ko. Hindi ko na malaman kung panong style ang gagawin. Buhaghag (tama ba term) kasi ung buhok ko eh. Manipis na buhaghag. I’ve stried styling it on my own pero failure. Siguro kasi, di naman talaga ako sanay magayos ng buhok. Hehe.

So Leyn, pwede ka bang magrecommend ng kung pano pwedeng ayos ng short hair? Saka hair products na pwedeng gamitin. Nagpunta na kasi ako sa mall, eh sa dami ng products, di ko alam kung alin ang bibilhin. Ayoko namang magtry lang ng kung ano, kasi sayang sa pera, tas baka masira pa lalo ung buhok ko. Ayoko rin namang bumili ng sarili kong salon para lang laging maging maganda ang ayos ng buhok ko. Haha. Pero sana ganun ako kayaman. LOL.

Thanks for reading my email & more power to Sosyalera. =)

– Karmi

Dear Karmi,

I hope by the time I post my answer, sana hindi pa mahaba ang buhok mo. Haha. Anyway, I’m not a Pro when it comes to hair styling and maintenance, but since I’m still updated with hair vanity, I can just attest to some methods I’ve tried before.

It’s natural that our hair looks at its best after going through a salon haircut. Of course, our stylists won’t leave it unpleasant but its maintenance is all up to you. Some people effortlessly fix their hair because their hair type is ‘fine’. Unlike with some people who have the ‘coarse’ type, which needs the aid of hair styling products just to achieve a desired form.

Treatment

I really want to try a short hairdo but unfortunately, my hair type isn’t that manageable (medium thick type). So I need to maintain it long to avoid fly-away ends and the weight will drag it down. With your case, I’m not sure what hair type you have but a salon treatment will help. Try a Relax Hair Treatment AFTER a Hair Strand Test and if not qualified, just pamper yourself with any Oil-based hair treatment.

And because I know you’re not here in the Philippines, here are some products available everywhere.

Products

  1. Schwarzkopf Essensity Clarifying Shampoo and
  2. Schwarzkopf Essensity Richesse Masque – If you want something organic, try this Schwarzkopf set.
  3. Kérastase Nutritive Sublimateur Jour – Applied as an afterbath conditioner w/o rinse. Just dry your hair with it to achieve a smooth and silky effect.
  4. Kérastase Nutritive Nacre Nutri-Sculpt - Shine enhancing treatment wax
  5. Loreal Elseve Smooth-Intense Daily Rinse Out Treatment - Used as a regular conditioner after shampoo.
  6. Loreal Elvive Night Serum – Leave on product for overnight use. Treatment for frizz and rough feel texture.
  7. Thinning Scissors – Ask a friend to trim your layered-bob cut hair using these scissors. Also great for trimming bangs.
  8. Shower Comb - To avoid split ends due to hair drying, it’s better to use big combs to untangle hair strands.
  9. Rat Tail Comb - Best for styling especially after applying wax or hair spray.

Accessories

If you’re kikay enough, then I believe you can wear hair accessories if you want (para hindi masyadong mag-concentrate ang tingin ng iba sa nagulong buhok mo. Haha.) For casual wear, thin headbands are my bet.


One trick is to dry your hair after shower. Don’t just leave it wet and let it dry while you go to school or work. You just have to take note that this routine is prone to split ends. Basing on my habit, I let my hair dry with an electric fan instead of hair blower. A stylist once advised me to face against the fan while drying. This is to avoid fly away ends and the hair’s form will go inwards.

The illustration sucks, pero parang ganyan. Haha.

For me, I can’t think of any style for short hair but let it down. Simple but sexy. You may have acquired a perfect hairdo from the best salon but what matters is how you keep the style. Not everyone is blessed with perfect-shining smooth strands and we have to deal with it. Each of us has to know what brands get along with our hair. Try reading online product reviews so you can also check what’s within your budget. I may suggest some products I’ve used before but these might not flatter your scalp. Just like soaps and skin creams, it’s a process of trial and error. :)

I didn’t include your picture here para naman sa privacy. Haha. Thanks mimay!

Love Lots,

Leyn