Category Archives: beauty & wellness

Underarm Whitening

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Posted by leyn on June 11, 2010 – 12:00 am
Filed under beauty & wellness

Dear sosyalera,

Good day! Reading your blog is very entertaining. Natatawa ako at the same time very useful ang mga tips and advices mo sa mga readers. I tried searching your blog if may advice ka with regards to whitening the underarms but I got zero results. Truth is I love dancing kaya lang dahil sa dark underarms ko… I shyed away. It is frustrating dahil hindi naman nagwowork yung mga whitening cream na nilalagay ko. I was hoping na sana mabigyan mo ako ng advice tungkol dito. Thank you for reading.

-tin-

Dear -tin-,

Hey there. Thank you if you find my blog entertaining. I always try to be spontaneous and serious but I end up making fun of myself. Lol. Anyway, you’re the first one who asked this kind of concern so you cannot find any inquiry about UA whitening.

Honestly, I don’t have the perfect underarms. Syempre may lines but I’m quite lucky they’re not dark. Lines and bumpy hair follicles are normal unless your skin is really perfect or “polished”. If your underarms have mild lines then whitening creams / deodorants will work. But if the darks spots are obvious then you should undergo underarm whitening treatment. Unfortunately, derma treatment is the most effective and fastest way of lightening dark armpits. Do not believe in the promises of whitening creams because it’s better to undergo skin bleaching to make sure the dark outer skin peels.

As you’ve mentioned, you’ve been using whitening creams. Have you tried using peeling solution instead? (For example Kate Jones underarms peeling solution for 400php.) But please do a research before trying products without consulting a derma, ok? I don’t want to recommend brands I haven’t tried before.

That’s it, to sum it up, do not depend on creams and try an advanced treatment instead. It may be more expensive but the effect is long-lasting. At least you’ll have more confidence especially on doing things that you love. But for the meantime, just be choosy with the clothes you wear while you decide for the right solution.

Cheers!

Love Lots,

Leyn

Anti Acne

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Posted by leyn on April 27, 2010 – 12:00 am
Filed under beauty & wellness, brands

greetings sosyalera,

this is my first time to e-mail coz like your other first time blog reader, i just came across your page and didn’t even realize na nabasa ko na pala lahat ng post mo. hehe. u really give good pieces of advice and is very credible about it. keep it up.

i just e-mailed you coz i wanna seek your advice as well. i just wanna ask for any opinion or recommendation regarding face moisturizer, products that heals acne and removes pimple scar.

i am really having a hard time kasi i’ve tried a lot na.. pero wala pa ko makita na something that suits me. i’ve used one product from L’oreal as a moisturizer. kaso pansin ko na hindi na nagheal ung existing pimple ko at dumami pa. i don’t know if i really have sensitive skin. pero ang alam ko lang hindi lahat ng products na ginamit ko kasundo ko. sana may mai-recommend ka. sana ung not so expensive and ung para sa sensitive skin na din and sana personally recommended mo. if ever na ur using one.

wanna hear from u soon. thanks.

kate

Dear kate,

Hello there first time blog reader, sana there will still be 2nd, 3rd and nth time. Thanks for reading sosyalera. :) Anyway,

When I was in high school, I had lots of pimples and my parents told me that it’s because of genes. My mom also had pimples when she was young. I tried going to a dermatologist but I stopped because each session was very expensive back then. So I used different products to improve my acne and like you, I failed. Lol. Some products really smoothen my skin but the effect was temporary. So after many product attempts, I ignored my acne and poof! I had clearer skin. By now I already passed the period where my face will suffer the genes curse because my face got clearer after college.

But for the sake of temporary solution, I’ll attest to some products that have good remarks and proven effective.

First, take vitamins that can improve your skin – Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Grapeseed Extract or Anti-oxidants. Taking care of your skin really does start from within and don’t just rely on external products. As for myself, I’m taking Nutrilite Bio-C Plus for my Vit C supplement. Cosmo Skin GSE is also a good grapeseed source. I know some people who have been taking pills who got rid of their pimples but once they stop the regimen, acne breakouts occur. So it’s up to you if you want to take the risk of taking pills.

Next is to have a product that can heal pimples like salicylic acid. I prefer using Clean & Clear Acne Spot Treatment instead of Panoxyl (Benzoyl Peroxide) because Panoxyl can heal pimples but leaves dark spots afterwards.

Use soaps that have micro peeling effect with organic ingredients. Soaps can remove pimple scars but it takes time to see the result. Papaya and Calamansi soaps are actually effective and safer than chemical based brands. Based from my experience, I also tried L’oreal Facial Wash and it didn’t work for me.

As you’ve mentioned, you’re using a moisturizer but this product won’t heal pimples. It’s better if you stick with anti-acne products first and use a moisturizer for maintenance. Before, I tried a cheap product with Licorice called Godiva and I can say that it whitened my scars a bit. I saw the results after a month. I stopped using the product since I no longer need it. Hehe.

But the most effective brand I tried was Obagi. Especially the Exfoderm that smoothens rough skin due to pimples. As of now, a set of Obagi Toner, Obagi Facial wash and Obagi Exfoderm costs about 10,700 pesos. 4,500 pesos for the Exfoderm alone. Pricey, but it’s all worth it.

For treatment, diamond peel is effective but rather expensive. It’s because you’ll need to undergo a couple of sessions. Once in a while, have a facial in a professional derm clinic to make sure you’re getting the right treatment.

I would just like to stress out that brands may be effective depending on your skin so it’s still a matter of trial and error. That’s why I just mentioned the ingredients that I believe helped me in improving my skin. Still, the best way to know how you can treat your acne is consult a dermatologist.

That’s it! Have a nice day!

Love Lots,

Leyn

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