Review: Leyende Organic Products

Several months ago, I bought some products from Leyende and promised to write a review after I tried them. Although I wanted to make sure that I used them long enough before giving a non-biased opinion, this is quite a long-overdue post. Some readers have been asking for my verdict on their products, so here goes:

Being an organics junkie, Leyende was among the first local organics manufacturers that I ordered from. Their atttractive website layout and cute packaging lured me into buying. The humorous names of their product arrays likewise grabbed my attention.  The idea of paying through paypal made deciding to buy online a lot easier, although I ended up paying through gcash because at that time, they were having problems with their paypal account. I got 4 products that were neatly packed using environmentally-friendly materials.

1. Place In The Sun Face Sunblock SPF 30

Ingredients:

deionized aqua, infusion of rosemary and calendula (marigold), organic shea butter, organic sweet almond oil, virgin coconut oil, tinosorb, vit. E, vit. C, vit. B3, organic calendula & aloe extract, grapeseed extract

Strong Points:

This has got to be one of the best sunblocks I used. They say regular application of sunblock is one big favor you can do for your skin, but I say that using an organic variety is one of the healthiest investments you can ever make. There are no harmful preservatives to worry about  and  its lightweight creamy consistency makes it easy to apply to the skin.  It is quickly absorbed, with no sticky or greasy feel afterwards, and it doesn't cause breakouts, either. This odorless sunblock is a winner for  for people with sensitive skin and those who dislike annoying scents in cosmetics. The SPF 30 affords enough protection when you're going out.

Weak Points:

The price- it sells for Php400 or US $15 (for international customers) per 50ml tube. Not bad for its quality, organic nature, and the fact that it will last you for a long time, but somehow its cost makes me wish that Human Heart Nature (a local organic brand  known for its affordable prices) will have its own line of sunblock.

2. Kiss Kiss Balm



Ingredients:

grade a beeswax from ethical apiaries, organic calendula extract, organic sunflower oil, natural plant coloring: alkanet root, spirulina, orris root

Strong Points:

Their highly-emolient formulation of lip balm is one of my best defenses against dry lips. I think the pink variant I got is Froyo, which has the scent of berry yoghurt .  I can't say it has solved my perennial problem of dry,cracking lips but it does help lessen the problem. If you have issues with petroleum-based lip products, this will be your ally, because this works just as well, minus the petroleum. It can also act as moisturizer for cuticles, as well as a skin-protecting balm for burns and cuts.  Despite that it has 7 been months after I opened it, and  considering that it doesn't contain preservatives found in non-organic lip products, it is still intact with no signs of deterioration- .  A Php200 15 g jar will sure go a long, long way.

Weak Points:

It has quite a perfumy -lip balm smell that I find weird- it's like dabbing berry perfume on my lips. The breakable jar will not be convenient to carry around your purse, so most likely it will stay home and be part of your morning rituals instead of being a handy beauty arsenal brought everywhere. It has a glossy finish which is ok with women, but men with chapped lips will not like this for a remedy, unless they want their shiny puckers to announce to the world that they're wearing lip balm .

3. Face Canvas

Ingredients:

organic sweet almond oil, ylang-ylang infusion, organic mango butter, grade a beeswax, deionized water, virgin coconut oil, soy lecithin, organic carrot extract, vit. e., organic vanilla oil

Among the 4 Leyende products I bought, this was the first to go, not only because it was just  a mini 10g jar preparation, but because I always looked forward to applying this primer on my face. The milky-cocoa  scent is addicting, it's like feeding your skin with a yummy champorado (chocolate porridge). It's supposed to have mango butter but I don't know why it smells more chocolatey than mango-floatey to me. It's an organic alternative to silicone-based makeup primers  that aims to provide a smooth base and to control the oiliness of the face. Being a walking oil mine,  it helped my makeup last longer, its oil control is ok,  but not on a rave-worthy level. I think I paid more attention to its scent than its oil-control properties. I liked topping it off with my favorite mineral makeup powder and I can go to work reveling in the lightness and smoothness of my skin, as if I had no makeup on. The hydrating property and creamy consistency of this primer needs no addition of a moisturizer to your regimen, as this acts as a moisturizer and primer in one. This usually comes in 60g jar that costs Php450 or $15, which is reasonable enough for me.

Weak Points:

This is obviously something I really loved, so I can't think of any of its downside, except maybe that its scent can make you hungry.

4. Clean Slate

Ingredients:

grade a royal jelly, honey, beeswax, goat or soy milk, organic pineapple extract, ylang-ylang infusion, oat extract, a-tocopherol (vitamin E), grapeseed extract, organic coconut extract

Like the Face Canvas, the Clean Slate has a delicious scent that has the tendency to get you hungry. This vanilla- scented skin treat  multi-tasks as a facial wash, makeup remover and toner.   The royal jelly base allows thorough cleansing without drying, the pineapple extract acts as a toner, while the wild Philippine Ylang-Ylang infusion contains anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.  The skin looks and feels clean after using this as a facial wash, although I'm not used to non-sudsy facial cleansers.  As a makeup remover, it can be likened be Pond's cold cream, but I still turn to my regular makeup removers for hard to erase eye makeups.

Weak Points:

It feels slippery on the skin even after rinsing, but is solved after patting the skin off gently with a towel. I used a product very similar to this one before which was given as a freebie by Luminare and was sold at a much cheaper price (less than Php 100 for a 50ml bottle). It got me wondering if the ingredients are the same coz the Php 350 /$12 price of a 100ml Clean Slate tube makes me want to ask Luminare for a truckload of that freebie. But then again, Leyende products are packaged differently. The brand has a classy appeal  and takes conscious efforts in ensuring the quality of their products. And did I mention that they had excellent customer service and quick shipping?

Leyende organic skin care products are available online at http://www.leyende.com/.

Getting In Shape For Your Wedding Day

MUA n Scrubs Note: The following article is a guest post by Sasha Britton on interval training as an effective way for a sexier you on your wedding day.

The time between your engagement and wedding are no doubt a whirlwind of planning, and even having a lot of help from other people still leaves most brides-to-be wishing to add more hours to the day. In addition to the many appointments, there is still gym time to be logged, and unfortunately for many of us, this may get pushed down the list. Whether you work with a trainer or on your own, there's always the need to get more results in less time. Lately, experts have been reminding us about interval training, which gives the busiest among us hope for even better gym pay off. Although fitness advice seems to change all the time, serious athletes and Olympians have been doing interval training for decades, and seeing about twice the results of a regular cardio workout. It's beginning to come into the spotlight again, with people having less and less time to fit a traditional workout into their day. An article on NY Times online says experts believe adding interval training just a few days a week will show great improvements in fat burning and endurance as opposed to a long continuous cardio workout. These studies have been done with young adults (in varying degrees of physical fitness) using stationary bikes and treadmills. The results showed that all subjects saw about a 36% increase in fat burned in a short interval training session as opposed to longer moderate cardio session.

Experts believe results like these can be duplicated on various pieces of fitness equipment and outdoor activities. While there isn’t an exact plan to stick to, you could cut your hour or so moderate session to 25 minutes, consisting of 4minute bursts with 3 minutes of recovery in between. It could also be 1 minute bursts with 3 minutes recovery. What's important is that you experience intense times of working at about 85% capacity, and then moderate to light exertion to get the heart rate almost back down to normal before starting the cycle again.

The fat burning and cardiovascular results are shown to be evident in just a few weeks, so even if you are in the final wedding countdown, you could surely benefit from the boost switching to intervals would provide. Remember that it's important to warm up beforehand, and that while you should feel breathless, you don’t want to work your self to exhaustion. Those of you who work out on your own or have home gyms can consult a doctor or trainer for further advice and recommendations that are personalized to your fitness level, schedule, and goals.

Sasha is a writer with the outreach team at Gym Source. Before startingthere, she wrote about fashion and beauty, which often included bridal topics. She now enjoys a more fitness-minded focus, while touching on her previous topical knowledge whenever possible.

If you're interested in becoming a guest author at this blog, please leave a message using the contact form above.. thanks.
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Up Close and Personal with Nicole Floirendo

I notice people sneaking into my blog after googling her name. When my friends ask about the pretty young model gracing the featured contents of this site’s home page and my portfolio pages, I’m almost certain it’s Nicole they’re talking about. Wherever she goes, she’s bound to capture attention without asking for it. For someone as gorgeous as Nicole Marie Floirendo, it’s a given. But don’t be fooled into thinking that beauty is all there is to her. When God showered the world with blessings, it seems that this 5’6” tall lass brought out a huge bucket to catch her share.

Nicole, or Nikki to her family and friends, is the epitome of beauty, brains, and talent. Her reticent nature and patrician features could mistake her for a snob. Truth is, she’s just a shy, sweet girl who warms up when in the company of good friends. An incoming sophomore of BS Psychology at a prestigious university here in Cagayan de Oro, she’s bent on becoming a doctor someday. She admits science wasn’t her strongest area in high school but she believes in turning weaknesses into strengths. She confronts fears by facing them  instead of showing signs of intimidation. At 17, she has a couple of goals which she plans to achieve through hell or high waters.

The Living Doll

Nicole started modeling at the age of 12 when her uncle who works in the marketing department of SM and is presently her manager, invited Nicole to join one of the mall’s runway events. Since then, designers and photographers took notice of her exceptional model profile and considered her a favorite during fashion shows and photo shoots. I got to doll her up the first time in 2008, in a shoot which was held in the city’s public wet market, contrasting glamour from the market life. Guards were hired to protect her and 2 other models from getting mobbed by the adoring crowd.

Asked if she intends to take modeling to a higher level by going to Manila, she asserts that she has to finish schooling first. As advised by her parents, she only accepts gigs that don’t come in conflict with her studies. However, if offers (preferably international stints) come in that are too good to pass up, she’s open to options, which are after all doors which could open opportunities for traveling. Visiting different places and learning diverse cultures happen to be in her itinerary when she finishes college.

Presently, she wants to enjoy modeling as a pastime, along with the perks that come with it.She considers having more friends as the most fun part of being a model. She thinks Victoria Secret models, especially Alessandra Ambrosio, are cool, pointing out the grace and effortless poise of Alessandra when doing the catwalk.

On Fashion and Style

In contrast to the extravagant clothes that she always wear during shoots, Nicole prefers a comfy get up when she hangs out with friends. She has a thing for colored plain tees matched with jeans or shorts and flipflops.

The Soprano Within

Hearing her belt out the high notes will surely bring you goose bumps. Her ethereal beauty is perfectly matched with an angelic voice. She dabbles into theatre arts, which started from choral singing. She was a shy kid who never sang in public til high school.

She remembers getting shaky when she first auditioned for the school choir- an image far fetched from the confident aura of Nicole essaying the role of Helen Chao in her school’s production of the Flower Drum Song.

Her confidence soared when her teachers started assigning solo parts for stage plays and other school activities. Now without qualms, she sings at parties for friends, leaving the guests awestruck each time.

She has fallen in love with music, that given the choice between modeling and singing, she’d stick it out with singing which gives her the better outlet for self-expression and stress-relief. Aside from Lea Salonga, she looks up to Sarah Brightman, whose voice, according to Nicole, is inspiring and breathtaking.

Beauty Regimen

Nicole has a flawless complexion needing very little foundation when I did her makeup. Does she have a secret for maintaining it? She shares that besides the basics of washing the face, she doesn’t put a lot of product on her skin. However, she doesn’t skip the part of putting sunblock when going out.

Advice To Aspiring Models

If you wanna follow her path and be a model too, she’s got some advice for you: Nicole encourages you to follow your dreams, but leaves a reminder that you should finish your studies, as she says that “it is the ultimate treasure that can last you a lifetime.”

Photos by Dustein Sibug
Hair and Makeup by: The MUA in Scrubs

Achieving a Flawless Look for Wedding Photos

MUA in Scrubs' note: The following article is a guest post from Ms. Sarah Logan. Just in time for the season of weddings, and in my long absence from this blog due to work stuffs (sorry peeps), she volunteered to share some tips with us on how to look picture perfect on the big day.

Wedding pictures hold some of the happiest memories of a lifetime, so be sure you consider all the angles when preparing to be photographed on the big day.

In the weeks and months leading up to the wedding…

Plan your procedures ahead- it’s easy to get caught up in the craziness of tastings, fittings and appointments and forget to schedule facial treatments until the last minute. Don’t be tempted to get cosmetic lasering or chemical peels within 10 days to a month of the event, depending on the exact type of laser or peel. Even something as simple as a facial should be given a solid week for skin to normalize, especially if any extractions will be performed. Call well ahead of time and discuss this with the technician.

Practice good skin health- stay hydrated and eat healthfully leading up to the event. Don’t try new skincare products, or anything that may irritate your skin. Anticipate your skin’s history, and treat it accordingly depending on changes your skin may experience in the climate or weather that’s expected at the venue.

For the big day…

Start with a good base- be sure that your foundation is the right color and formulation for your skin. You may feel like you should use a heavy cream or stick foundation since you’re being photographed, but heavier formulas will look caked on and are more likely leave a line of demarcation around the neck and hairline that’s tougher to blend away. Just stick with the liquid or powder that works for you, and be sure it’s properly matched to your color. No one wants to look washed out, but it can also age you a bit if your base is too dark for you. Color correcting concealers, like green or yellow for redness, and peach or yellow for undereye circles are a much better choice than simply layering on more makeup. Remember that redness will be easily picked up in photographs so take care to balance that out, and stay away from more pink based foundations.

Avoid the shiny look- glitter will reflect too much on camera, and shouldn’t be worn to a nice event like a wedding anyway. Radiance-enhancing or shimmery foundations make faces look too slick and shiny for photos, so if you must, only keep the sheen on cheekbones and the cupid’s bow for highlighting purposes. Always finish the t-zone with powder, which is especially important to balance any highlighting applied. If you know you’re more oily, pop pressed powder in your bag so that you stay shine free.

The eyes have it- keep in mind that darker eyeshadows and heavy liner make eyes look smaller. A matte or pearl shadow formula will be universally flattering and especially in warm, earthy tones. To keep eyes looking big and bright, highlight the inner corners and brow bone with an off-white, light pink or pale gold shadow or crayon. The older you are, the more important it is to stay fast to the no shimmer rule, as it tends to bring attention to fine lines. Black eyeliner can also look too harsh for older women (same goes for liquid liner) and fair blondes are more suited for eyeliner and mascara in the brown tones. Don’t forget to make sure brows are properly framing the face- everyone looks better and younger with defined brows. Fill the arches with powder or if using a pencil, blend with a brush. Brow color and size are important considerations here, so don’t forget to use a light hand and blend.

Consider your venue and lighting- do take the time to stop and think about if the event/ photos will be taking place indoors or out, and at what time of day. Indoor photos will be taken with flash, so it’s important to use powder to combat shine and to also be sure foundation is matched well. If outdoors, soften makeup a bit as it can easily look too heavy or harsh. Also adjust your makeup look for more formal locations, and later times in the evening. When considering these factors, you will want to use more color and definition over simply adding more makeup.

Keeping these ideas in mind, remember its always most important to look like yourself and feel comfortable on your wedding day. These techniques will help ensure you look flawless both in person and in photographs for years to come.

Article submitted by Sarah Logan on behalf of ASI, which is a beauty school offering aesthetics certification classes and specialized coursework in cosmetic laser training, and microdermabrasion certification .

If you're interested to do a guest post on this site, please send me a message through the contact form above. Thanks!

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Nikka and Jeremy Prenup

Nikka was among my first few models upon my return from Manila after my makeup schooling. At that time, I didn't know where to find local photographers who were willing to do an an X-deal to build my portfolio. I asked Nikka for her suggestion and through text she quickly retorted ,  "Dustein Sibug."  If not for Nikka, until now I would have been struggling to take my own photos to document the make up works that I do. Despite efforts to polish the makeup, there's no way I could come up with pictures as fabulous as the ones in my multiply portfolio without a certified photographer skillfully capturing the beauty I enhanced.

Nikka is getting married soon and she asked me to be her makeup artist. Nikka and Jeremy, her groom-to-be, did a prenup pictorial a few weeks ago with the master photographer, Dustein Sibug. Here are some beautifully taken shots during their engagement shoot. My job prettifying the soon- t0- be bride was a breeze as she was already lovely to start with.

Photos were taken by Dustein Sibug. For more pics, please visit his website at  http://www. dusteinsibug.com

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24 Shimmer Palette Swatches

A brand new 24 Shimmer Palette is currently up for grabs in our Summer Blog Giveaway Promo.In case you haven't joined, please do so before the deadline. To give you an idea of how the colors look like when applied to the skin, I prepared some swatches.

Some shades hardly show up but are buildable. This is not the palette for bold avant garde looks but are muted yet pretty colors for a  more natural look with a pop. My favorites are the blue, teal and green shades. I used this palette for the Geishock shoot, and the pastel shimmery effects suited our cute model.

Summer Blog Giveaway

As promised on the "The Doctor is vaIN" facebook page, more freebies are to be given once the members reach 300. Last weekend, little did I realize that we just hit 300.  It was sooner than I expected. Yipee!!!

As a supporter of your dreams to learn makeup, I'm giving away another addition to your growing stash. The 24 Shimmer Palette consists of 24 pretty shimmery pastel colors that I used in one of my shoots. The shades may not be as pigmented as they look on the palette so forget about this if you're looking for bold colors like those on the 120 palette, which I reviewed before. Instead, these are wearable eyeshadows with the "pop factor" that you'd love putting on yourself or your clients.

Good news!!! This time, there will not only be one but two winners! The grand winner will nab the Brand New In Box 24-shimmer palette while the runner-up will get a set of Human Heart Nature organic goodies. This is my way of thanking you help me reach the 300 mark on "The Doctor is vaIN" facebook page. Please keep inviting friends to our page for more future freebies. :)

There are 2 ways to join:

1. In the comments section below, write your name (nick or alias will do), valid email (will not be shown to the public) and the letter of the answer to the trivia question:

Where did the term MUA In scrubs come from?
a.) From the author's winning entry to Summit Publications' Nokia N76 Promo
b.) From the author's love for scrubbing the floors
c.) The art of scrubbing the face with makeup

or

2. In the facebook page where it says, "Enter your answers here to join the Summer Blog Giveaway Promo," write the letter of answer to the same question mentioned above.

Rules:
1. You are allowed to have one entry via this blog and one entry on the facebook page
2. Contest will run from May 5 to May 18, 2010. Deadline of entries will be on May 18, 2010, 11:59 PM Philippine time
3. Contest is open to Philippine Residents only
4. Only correct answers will qualify for the raffle.
5. It will be randomly determined whether the winner will be chosen from the participants on this blog or contestants from the facebook page, which means you can increase your chances of winning by joining both ways.
6. Entries will be assigned a number and winner will be chosen through random.org
7. After the announcement of winner on May 19, 2010, he/she should contact me through info@vanityclinic.com.
8. Prizes will be sent through Air21.