Crowning Glory

I don't remember how long I've been unkind to my hair. I have sort of like a wavy/ curly and frizzy hair so I've tried rebonding it several times. I like light colors on my hair and I've started dying it ever since highschool. Just last year, I had my hair dyed for like 3 times and then had it highlighted before the year ended- which was a HUGE mistake by the way. It was my first time to have highlights and OMG it completely ruined my hair. Its like it just gave up on me completely. It was so dry and just soooo coarse. :(

I had this done when I went home for my 2-month vacay last year

On top of all the chemical treatments, I also liked to curl my hair a lot, and then flat iron it sometimes- depends on my mood and what I was wearing. LOL. I was really really completely careless. If it could cry- well it probably wouldn't because its so dry, no tears are gonna come outta there. Haha.

I did stop having it rebonded or straightened permanently because about a couple of years ago, I learned to love my natural wavy hair. I thought it was part of "personality" and that wavy hair is sexy if you just know how to style it.

But anyway, it was too late.. I did go on hot oil treatments once in a while but not religiously so that really didn't change anything. All I could do was dream about having healthy, shiny hair.

It was only about several months ago when I decided to just put an end to the torture I was putting my hair through and actually make an effort in trying to take care of it. I haven't dyed my hair since January this year so what I have on now is my natural hair color. I'm probably the last girl on Earth to find out about this but apparently, you're supposed to put like a serum/ cream, whatever on your hair before you expose it to heat such as- flat irons, curling irons, blow dryer. Just like how you have to put Sunblock on your face everyday. So if you haven't been doing this, well that makes the two of us and we should really start making it a habit if we want healthy hair :)

My Mom got these hair products for me (picture above and below) and I could swear on the amazing things that coconut oil can do to your hair. I've been using these (pic below) since last month and I could already feel that my hair has become smoother and I miraculously have no more split ends. Of course I had it trimmed before, but I usually would have split ends like after 3 weeks. That was how bad my hair was/ how cruel I was to my hair. :( If you do a research on coconut oil and how it works for your hair, what it basically does is it makes it smoother, conditions your scalp and of course it restores the moisture to dry and damaged hair.

I leave this on my hair overnight, every night.. You guys should try it. Its amazing :)

I use this before I blow dry/ curl my hair.

I don't really use the flat iron anymore except if I have to tame my side bangs but most of the time I just airdry or blow dry my hair.

For this product, I only got to use this 1 week straight and in my case, it didn't do much.. Compared to when I used the coconut oil, I noticed positive results at least a week after I used it. But I can't say this product isn't effective. Maybe it just takes a longer time before you can see results.

I had my hair cut short about two weeks ago and wasn't really satisfied because I still had some damaged hair left (from when I had it highlighted). I would get really annoyed because I could still feel the dry hair and sometimes it would get all tangled up. So earlier today, I got another haircut and this time I had all the dry and coarse hair chopped off.

Feel free to compare pics of my hair then and now. You'll notice that its really more "shinier" now.

Now the rest is all up to me. I have to really make it up to my hair this time. My Mom also advised me to take Vitamin B12 and of course eat a healthy diet because apparently, stress and diet and the meds you take can also greatly affect your hair/ hair growth.

I'm actually contemplating on whether I should grow my hair back or I should keep it short for a while.. What do you guys think?? I'd really like to hear what you have to say. :)

And if you have any hair care regimens to share, just leave a comment! :)

Venomous Villains Grand Launching

I don't know any girl who didn't grow up watching timeless Disney classics, singing along to the songs and not wanting to watch it all over again. So when I heard about the MAC and Disney collaboration, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the FIERCE shades they came up with. The Disney characters in this collection include Cruella De Vil (101 Dalmatians), Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty), Evil Queen (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), and Dr. Facilier (The Princess and The Frog).

Here are pictures of when I went to their Grand Launching last Saturday (Oct. 16) at MAC, Makati.

For this collection, MAC based the colors on the original Disney character sketches and even took ideas from the character's attitude, skin tone and clothing!

I may have expressed a lot of hate towards these villains but after seeing the swatches, I instantly fell in love with them!

I went to the Launch with my bff and helped her look for a nice shade of lipstick that she can use everyday. Thankfully, we had MAC Makeup Artist, Ms. Ish Sison to help us out. She picked out colors that were suitable for an "effortless everyday makeup" look. So if you're having a hard time or not sure of what product would suit your needs and your skin tone, don't hesitate to ask for help from the very friendly and helpful makeup artists @ MAC. :)

The Launch included 2 makeup presentations wherein they used products from the Cruella De Vil and Dr. Facilier Collection.

Prepped and Primed

The first presentation was done by the Resident Trainer, Owen Sarmiento.

I just have to mention that the models were styled by Alyanna Martinez. It was my first time to see her in person and OMG she is sooooo pretty!!! I would've taken a picture of her but... I was too shy to ask. Lol.

Y'all know how much I LOVE shoes. I just had to take a picture. Haha!!

I also thought these were pretty cool :)

Finished product

The second presentation was done by Mikee Raymundo, Product Specialist and Senior Makeup Artist @ MAC.

Nicely done! :)

Perfecto 

Owen & Mikee

With Ish Sison

I just had to have my picture taken wearing the badass Cruella costume. HAHAHA!

Lipsticks for BFF.

MAC Lipstick in Cosmo; MAC Pro Long Wear in Unlimited

I didn't know that you could already start purchasing the products even before the Launch started at 2:00 PM, so when I got there at 1:30, almost everything was SOLD OUT. :(
I did manage to snag these lip glasses from the Evil Queen and Maleficent Collection.

Packaging

Hot House

Revenge Is Sweet

I really wanted to buy the Toxic Tale lipstick and the Bite Of An Apple blush but both were sold out already. :( Thank goodness there will be another launch next weekend at another MAC branch so expect me to be there extra early. :P

All in all, I'd say that the lipsticks from this collection are a MUST-HAVE especially for MAC fanatics. I'm really not sure why they picked Dr. Facilier to be part of this collection though and the only thing I can think of is maybe of his skin tone.

My highly recommended products from this collection are:
1. MALEFICENT Collection:
-Violetta Lipstick
-Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo
-Nail Lacquer in all of the colors available :)
2. EVIL QUEEN Collection:
-Toxic Tale lipstick
-Bite Of An Apple powder blush
-Oh So Fair beauty powder
3. CRUELLA DE VIL Collection:
-Innocence, Beware! lipstick
4. DR. FACILIER Collection:
- French Quarter greasepaint stick
- Slick Black greasepaint stick
- Brash & Bold pigment

**SPECIAL THANKS to all the makeup artists and event coordinators at the Grand Launch for being very accommodating and for letting me take pictures! Till next collection! :)

Well I hope you guys enjoyed going through this post! Will post another one next weekend when I get my Toxic Tale :)

Sun Valley, Antipolo

Our friends brought my parents and I to Sun Valley, Antipolo earlier today so we could all chill and relax during their last day in the Philippines.

Dad waving to the camera

I could stay here all day with a good book.

Beautiful view

Golf course

The place was really relaxing, the surrounding easy on the eyes and the pool was clean and warm. I really wanted to stay longer but it was a hot and sunny afternoon-- I didn't wanna have a sunburn. Hehe.

Waiting, anticipating..

This was a photo I took from the 11th floor of our condo unit in Quezon City.
Zee usually gets off from school at 5:00 PM and sometimes when I get bored, I patiently wait for his car to drive by from the ground floor to the parking lot. This is what I always see out the window, while waiting.. :D