Celeteque Clarifying Shampoo Review and a Really Off-Putting Salon Agent

My sister bought two bottles of Celeteque Clarifying Shampoos after her coworkers raved that it had effectively addressed their hair fall problem. One of them even gifted a bottle to another coworker who easily became a convert.

Of Wanting to Escape and Club Balai Isabel Body Lotion

They say that the best time to book/go to resorts in Luzon would be November because by then the rainy season would almost have been over (except for the Bicol region, Palawan and Mindoro. Mom's from Bicol and she'd always tell us that it's usually rainy in her hometown by the end of the year. Also, storms normally traverse the southern part of the country come the last quarter.) and it's not yet tourist peak season. Rates are more affordable, not much people.

But then November and December are months when work peaks. Add preparations for the holidays and I'm very much swimming, no, drowning in too much to do when I would much rather want to be swimming in not chlorinated water. Chances are higher that I will drown in caffeine trying to keep awake with just five-hour-sleep-utmost-a-day which I suspect I will be having until the year ends, than I will go out of town this coming long weekend. By the time I'm able to lift my head from under tons of papers, wrappers and otherwise, it would be too cold to soak in anywhere else other than a hot water-filled bathtub.

What am I doing writing this when I have my hands full you ask? Weeelll, I did say in my "about me-ow" page this blog is my form of escape.

Reflecting on / Over Angel's Breath Perfumes and How to Spot Fakes in the Update

Here's the scene.

Bali Alus Traditional Spa Essential Scrub with VCO in Jasmine

We've been having hot, at times humid days this past couple of weeks. Not that I'm complaining. We live in a flood-prone area so I'd take it. Although I would be much happier if it's a bit cooler. Wouldn't mind light rains too.

That said, I've been on a tropical floral scent binge lately, fitting of said weather. Jasmine, sampaguita and ylang-ylang scents remind me of church stops when we go on local trips, flower garlands strung during summer and relaxing spas and massages I've had. In my bathroom right now is a body scrub from Bali Alus, an Indonesian skincare brand.

Glamworks Addicted to You Fragrance Mist

I am a sucker for sales. I stock up when there's a price off and Glamworks Fragrance Mists were BOGO at Watsons, less than P200 for 150 ml. Wouldn't make much of a dent in my wallet so I gave its Addicted To You variant, yes there are other variants, a shot. Sister would later tell me that Glamworks Fragrance Mists have been BOGO since last year. :/

This Body Wash Smells Like Pantene Damage Repair Conditioner

Clean and simple. If it is then this post would just be on Instagram or Twitter.

Enchanteur Perfumed Talc in Alluring Review and Thoughts on Talcum Powders

When we were kids, mom would dust our backs with baby powder after bath to keep us feeling fresh and lessen the chance of getting prickly heat. Talc after all absorbs sweat and prevents friction. Years later, we still use talcum powder, sometimes as face powder, more often during summer. Oblivious to the possible dangers posed by inhaling it, until recently.

It started after I've read from the papers that a certain talcum powder maker was and is being sued by ovarian cancer patients who used the product on their genital area. When I first heard about this, I was actually surprised that some people practice this. I mean, is it safe to be putting stuff into/near your orifices unless they are meant to be put there?

But then I have not been entirely cautious as well. I so enjoy sniffing bottles of fragrant anything. Well, apparently there are cases of people with pulmonary problems caused by cosmetic talc inhalation. So unlike before, I'm now extra careful, especially with perfumed talc. A hard thing to do when one is as fragrant as this one. Enchanteur Alluring Perfumed Talc 's scent is a combination of rose, iris and vanilla so say its website. I don't get the vanilla much but the delicate aroma of florals is there. I can still smell it on my arms even as I perspire.

Lactacyd Daily Feminine Wash Variants and Partial Review

Since it's almost summer, there's going to be that overwhelming need to make an effort to keep clean and feel cool and fresh. And so why not take advantage of all those products in the market that can help make summer much more bearable?

For one, there are now feminine washes that promise other things like lightening (in time for bikini season) aside from the usual odor protection and relief from sticky feels.

Herbs and Beauty Shampoo with Rose and Chamomile Calming Essence Review

Some time ago, after a nasty argument with a (ping) CSR over their system malfunctioning/getting hacked thus putting me and my family at risk and gleaning through our conversation that they have little love for people who join their online club/group and that they do not care at all about what you think about their products, given that they have no regard for reviews (I am beginning to suspect that their replies on their fb pages are canned), I felt like flushing all the (ping) products we have in the house in the toilet. Didn't go through with it. Used them to clean the toilet instead. To think their products were house staples. Well not anymore.

So since I am staying away from (ping) products forever, I've been on an adventure to try other products in the market.

Herbs and Beauty Shampoo is a little known shampoo brand from Personal Collection, a direct selling company. It's not readily available in physical stores. I have a feeling though that this is where we are heading now. Due to traffic, people are finding it more convenient to buy stuff online, from neighborhood stores, people they know who also sell stuff or from people who visit their office or house.

What's Inside the Cream Silk Transformation Boxes?

You know something is afoot when you see beauty products being sold at almost half price at the drugstore you frequent. Especially if said product is from Unilever. They've done it before with Pond's products. I hoarded that time, enticed by the price off and fearful at the same time that the products I've been using would be discontinued or the new formulations would not agree with my skin. It was the middle of 2017 when I stocked up on Cream Silk Daily Treatment Conditioners as they were being sold at P75 off.

Daiso Rich Coenzyme Q10 Moisture Lotion Review

Those looking for a review of Daiso Rich Coenzyme Q10 Moisture Lotion, here's one I have written years prior but has not had screen time because of things.

Daiso Rich Coenzyme Q10 Moisture Lotion is a moisture lotion with Coenzyme Q10. I got it to go with the other anti-aging skincare products I have been using because I have seen a couple of drugstore products that have Coenzyme Q10 as their key ingredient. Like the Nivea Visage Antiwrinkle Q10 plus line. Other ingredients in the lotion are water, butylene glycol, glycerin, dipropylene glycol, peg-60 hydrogenated castor oil, ubiquinone (this is the conezyme Q10), phellodendron amurense bark extract, citric acid, sodium citrate, disodium edta, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, ethylparaben.

Avon Kate's World Pretty Magical and Pretty Rockin Body Spritzes Review

Although generally I am into citrus scents, I do believe life is too short to live for just a signature fragrance. I tend to switch fragrances depending on where I am going, the season and if it's night or day. I find Fragrantica a very useful guide in determining whether the scent I have is better for cold or warm weather. See, some scents can be suffocating or do not linger as much if used when the temperature is all wrong.

Since it's the brrr months, I'm now using the last few mls of Avon Kate's World Body Spritzes which have been with me for a couple of years now. Sugary, creamy Pretty Magical and Pretty Rockin smell strong initially, taper off then barely there by the time I take my mid-morning/post dinner snack.

Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotions

In the tropics, mosquitoes are a year round nuisance. While they multiple fast during the rainy season because of stagnant water everywhere, there seems to be a lot of them invading homes during summer. I guess it's partly because they wouldn't have trouble evading raindrops while flying. Also, mosquitoes tend to zero on sweaty people and of course summer = sweat. I've also noticed that there tends to be more mosquitoes in an area where there's construction work.

Generally, it's the itchy discomfort of mosquito bites which would make me slather on insect repellent lotion. But then there are the other much more frightening diseases that should make one more vigilant against mosquitoes: Japanese encephalitis (which was in the local evening news recently due to several cases being reported in Region III), dengue, malaria to name some.

Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotions repel day and night mosquitoes. They're hypoallergenic. Another plus point is that they provide 99.9% antibacterial protection the same number of hours they shield you from mosquitoes.

Johnson's pH 5.5 Body Washes Review

Spot.ph say it's a tita thing but really who doesn't enjoy a nice bath?

I don't feel like a tita but I am literally one since I have nephews and a niece. Still, I am part of that group that hangs on to stuff that may be deemed for the younger set. I'm not letting go of my stationeries. Same with some skincare/bath products.

We often equate Johnson's and Johnson's or Johnson's products with babies but some of their products also work well for us older folks. My mom uses Johnson's Baby Shampoo, the yellow one, for cleaning her eye lashes as recommended by her doctor. My sister likes their baby powders. Me, I'm for their body washes and lotions.

For years now, I have been using Johnsons's pH 5.5 Body Washes on and off: Johnson's pH 5.5 Nourishing Body Wash with Honey, Johnson's pH 5.5 Nourishing Body Wash with Almond Oil and Johnson's pH 5.5 2 in 1 Body Wash with Moisturizers.

All three Johnson's body washes have a pH of 5.5, the same pH of healthy skin. According to a diagram at the back of the Johnson's pH 5.5 Nourishing Body Washes bottles, normal soap has a pH of 10, soap with moisturizers pH 7.3 while normal shower gels pH 7.3. Pure water has a neutral pH, 7. From what I've gathered  from this post by Women's Health Magazine, our skin has a pH of 5.5 and it is generally best to get skin care products which has this pH to keep the skin's pH level at 5.5. Skincare products with too high or too low pH affect our skin's pH level, causing skin irritations. Too high is too drying, resulting in wrinkles. Too low and you get oily skin.

Green Cross Hand Sanitizers: Total Defense Antibacterial Sanitizer/Hand Spray and Sanitizing Gel

In the Philippines, although classes start in some schools and universities in January and August, the school year usually starts in June. In some schools, students, mostly those in elementary levels, are required or encouraged to have a hygiene kit. You know, for them to be able to observe proper hygiene, for emergencies (usually the bathroom kind) and to prepare them for when they grow up and the hygiene kits evolve into kikay/grooming kits. Hygiene kits usually include toothbrush, toothpaste, alcohol or hand sanitizer/alcogel, soap, comb, tissues, face towel and extra clothing. 

Green Cross may be well known for its alcohols but for years now they have been carrying sanitizing gels and antibacterial sanitizers/hand sprays.

While most alcohol ingredients are just water, alcohol (ethyl or isopropyl, 70% or 40%), sometimes fragrance and rarely a moisturizing component, most hand sanitizers contain the last two plus other ingredients to keep their form and for additional benefits. This is the reason why they cost more. Hand sanitizers are not simply alcohol.

Daiso ER White Medicated Cosmo Whitening Milk (Emulsion) and Essence Review

When I went off the grid about two years prior, a lot of stuff I have written for the blog didn't get posted. I decided to post this review since I have been seeing Daiso ER White Medicated Cosmo products being sold online.

Years ago whilst in SG, I ran out of facial care products and since I happened to be at Daiso IMM then, I decided to get some there instead of Watsons / Guardian. Before anyone freaks out about the thought of using a dollar store product on one's face, I have used a couple of Daiso products over the years and haven't had a problem with them. Also,  I trust Singapore to be stringent in regulating cosmetic products. Also, this is Daiso, not some store selling counterfeits. It was a good time to try facial care products I haven't tried before.

Body in Bloom Gift Sets: Shower Gel, Hand Soap, Hand Cream, Lotion and Body Scrub Review

Body in Bloom Cupcake Treats in Sweet Strawberry
Body in Bloom Blueberry Cheesecake
Body in Bloom Ice Cream Treats in Vanilla Sorbet

Body in Bloom products are available at Watson's and at the beauty section of SM department store.

The Body in Bloom gift sets are made up of shower gel, body scrub, body lotion, hand soap and hand cream.The containers are held in place in the box by adhesives, the mouths of the bottles sealed with foil. The tubs have foil over them but are not sealed. Ingredients as well as blurbs at the back of the box for an item in each set are identical except for the coloring agents and the scent.

Watsons / SM Store Beauty Section Gift Sets on Sale and Cosmetofood Wash and Lotion Review

Those gift sets being sold at Watsons and the beauty section of SM department stores last Christmas? Are now being sold by as much as 70% off. Heard about it from the Beautyjunkee. So of course off we went to track those down.

Thanks to her we managed to score the following gift sets at 50% off.

Cosmetofood Wash and Lotion in Hawaiian Orchid, Lemon Verbena and Japanese Cherry

Kao Feather Nature Plus Shampoos Review

Over the years, a lot of mainstream shampoos just disappeared from the local market. Rave kept my hair in place (it was like it has spray net or something) but also gave me dandruff. Clairol Herbal Essences smelled so divine and tamed my hair. You can still find them in a few supermarkets, only in the imported section. Then there were Kao Feather Shampoos which I couldn't recall much of, except the name.

Apparently Kao Feather Shampoos are still around, only in other countries. Brother and sissy-in-law sent a couple along with other stuff in their last balikbayan box from Singapore. They live in Australia now.

Feather Nature Plus Shampoos and Conditioners, claim their labels, are with 100% natural ingredients, supplement hair and nourish scalp for healthy and beautiful hair from the inside.

Looking for Caronia Nail Polishes Diva, Peach Blossom and Chinese Rose Frost

These are among those which I will be looking for at the nearby mall tomorrow where it's day three of its bi-annual three day sale: