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Adventures in Beautyland: My Amazing Aveeno Trip to the Independent Spirit Awards



This weekend, courtesy of Aveeno, I got the chance to go to the Independent Spirit Awards, get access to some serious after parties and learn all about the new products Aveeno has been working oh-so-hard on.

I'm now an Aveeno brand ambassador, which means I'll be up-to-date on all Aveeno product launches, can get direct answers to your burning questions (Is their shea butter source sustainable? Yes it is!) and probably hook you up along the way.

(The flourless cake that was part of our lunch. It was amazing!)

But back to my weekend. It started with a lovely day of pampering at the beyond beautiful Exhale Spa at the Miramar Hotel. Myself and the other brand ambassadors were treated like queens while receiving Aveeno-based treatments.
(Anne Houseman and I after our facials.)



(Anne  getting an gorgeous blowout.)

Celeb stylist, Patrick Melville, helped to direct the stylists, giving them "hairspiration" for our fancy-pants dinner that night. Later in the afternoon, makeup artists put the finishing touches on all of us, before we headed back to the hotel to change.

 

Unfortunately, this weekend was almost as cold in L.A. as it has been in Baltimore. I wouldn't have minded, but I didn't truly heed the weather.com warnings. Shutters on the Beach, our hotel, was possibly the loveliest hotel in which I have ever had the pleasure of staying. Two things are worth noting at this point in my story:

I got lost finding my hotel room after I swore up and down to the front desk I could handle it. I had to call someone to come find me and show me the way. I can't be the first one. You had to take a specific elevator to the third floor, walk down a hall, outside (in the rain), take another elevator to the second floor, walk around a corner, go outside again and use a secret password to find the elusive room 242. The best/worst part? I almost got lost several other times. It's what happens when you don't instinctively know left from right.


 
(This is half of my bathroom. You could almost miss the whale in the room if you don't look carefully enough.)

There was a whale in my (beautiful, if you aren't afraid of them) bathtub. It looked friendly, but I am quite certain it was mocking me. I'm not sure why whales/sharks/alligators keep me away from
bathtubs, pools and lakes, but not the ocean. But they do. Along with never having a cup of coffee or smoking a cigarette, I haven't willingly taken a bath since I was old enough to say no.

 

Read up on my ridiculous and completely real phobia here.

But I digress. After throwing my luggage everywhere, I met up with all 25+ ladies in the lobby ,where I just missed Goldie Hawn.We then boarded our official bus and headed off for dinner. By dessert, I had been up for almost 23 hours and Amber  (Beauty Junkies Unite) and I lead an accidental revolution to go back to the hotel and go to sleep. Yes, I was almost too tired to eat my dessert (all of which I kept calling a churro, despite it being cake, sorbet and a cannoli. I blame exhaustion.)

 

Finally back at the hotel, I climbed into the world's tallest (there is a stool in the closet, just in case you needed a boost) and most comfortable bed. It was a wonderful ending to the beginning of a whirlwind weekend.

Soon, I'll have all of the details from the Independent Spirit Awards (where I added myself to the press section of the red carpet and then passed for ISA staff and got the inside deets). I got loads of pics, and a chance to tell some of my favorites that I loved their performances. I hung with Leonard Maltin and some paparazzi guy who didn't know Ewan McGregor from Jesse Eisenberg. Afterwards, Anne from Beauty Expose and I tried to hone in on some serious award show swag, took some terrible photos for Loxy and became besties with one of the Award winners. If you're curious, there are some pics on the right hand side of the blog - check them out. Some celebs were so incredibly kind it was beautiful. And some were slightly tool-ish.I'll give you all of the details shortly. I just need to catch my breath, unpack, go through hundreds of photos and sort it all out. I have so many things to share, including some amazing new products you need to know about!

This trip was paid for by Aveeno, as I am now proudly a brand ambassador. All opinions are my own. See my disclosure for full details.

 Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2011, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

HAIRY SITUATIONS: INGROWN HAIRS

Whether you are just shaving your face or your entire body, chances are at one time or another, you have experienced the nasty affects of an ingrown hair.  Unattractive, and often painful, ingrown hairs are tricky to get rid of....but there are steps you can take to prevent them in the first place!

Ingrown hairs are caused by skin cells forming over the follicle after the hair has been shaved, causing the hair to grow back under the skin, trapping the hair and other bacteria under the surface of the skin, resulting in painful red bumps.  The only cure for an ingrown hair is to fish it out with a surgical blade or sharp pin.

You can reduce the occurrence of these pesky blemishes by taking a few steps during your shaving routine.

STEP 1:  EXFOLIATE before you shave with a coarse scrub (sugar or salt) or a loofah.  This sloughs away dead skin cells allowing for a smoother, more comfortable shave.

LEAF & RUSHER Rapid Resurface

$50 - Leaf & Rusher www.leafandrusher.com

STEP 2:  PREP with a shaving cream that uses calming ingredients such as aloe, chamomile, and licorice extracts.

KORRES Absinthe Shave Cream

$22 - Korres www.korres.com

STEP 3:  SHAVE using a high quality, sharp razor.  If you have especially coarse hair, or tend to get a lot of ingrown hairs, shave with the grain.  The resulting shave won't be silky smooth, but it will leave the edge of the hairs above the surface of the skin, preventing skin growth over the follicle.

STEP 4: TONE using an anti-bacterial toner including witch hazel and salicylic acid.  Apply to area with a cotton ball or cotton pad and allow to air dry.

MENSCIENCE Post-Shave Repair
This one is especially great because it sprays directly on the area.  No cotton required!

$28 - Menscience www.menscience.com

STEP 5: TREAT the area with a soothing aftershave balm, which will calm irritation and act as an anti-inflammatory for the follicles that have just been opened up.

WHISH BODY Flawless Ingrown Hair Serum

$22.50 Whish Body www.whishbody.com

You are going to want to repeat steps 4 and 5 twice a day for the next 3 days or so, to ensure that you are preventing skin growth over the hair follicles.  If you shave every day, then you are going to want to do steps 2-5 daily, and reserve exfoliating to 1-2 times per week.

Catching Up With the Gang at Crisostomo

Happy Sunday everyone! I'm sharing one of my fondest moments during the first quarter of 2011... hanging out with my college classmates in PT at Crisostomo Restaurant!

We loved how we sort of had the place to ourselves --- well at least that area immediately outside the resto since we had friends who smoked their guts out.

My PT classmates @ Crisostomo Restaurant in Libis, QC, Jan 2011


Some of the food we ordered

The interior and lighting were posh enough to exude an inviting ambiance for couples or groups of friends. It could, however, ward off potential Crisostomo customers who may conclude that the food may be priced sky-high.


We opted for Filipino food because of our balikbayan classmates. They've been in the U.S. for quite some time and are dying to gobble up as much Filipino food as they can. The resto's menu was packed with amusing dish names, reminiscent of Noli and El Fili, that kept us entertained (Adobo Damaso kept us roaring with laughter! Care to take a bite off Padre Damaso's fats?)


Ensaladang Erehe (leafy veggies w/ tomatoes,
chopped green mangoes, onions and shrimp paste)


Adobo Rice

A party of Pinoy sauces (drooling over bagoong/shrimp paste)

A big platter of grilled stuff --- stuffed squid, milkfish belly,
and some other fish I can't name + chicken and pork bbq


Overall, the food was okay but I wouldn't spend that much on something that my mom can cook as good at home. Service was good, but not exemplary (perhaps because we ate outside?). It's more for balikbayans, and if you want to impress foreigner friends. 

Crisostomo is a fine resto to go to but there are other Filipino restos that offer fairly-priced Pinoy dishes you can enjoy!
............................................................

Crisostomo Restaurant
2/F Eastwood Mall Veranda, 
Libis Quezon City
Need the MENU?
(02) 710-1693
Crisostomo, Turn of the Century Filipino Cuisine


Veranda dining area @ Crisostomo 


BeautyLand Tour from the Independent Spirit Awards!

Before you read about the best news and reviews from the web, please check out my Independent Spirit Updates that will start tomorrow around noon (pst). You'll be able to check out the behind the scenes action at the ISA's from the pictures on the right side of this blog. Also, be sure to follow me @Gouldylox on Twitter for news from the awards.

How did I get here? I'm learning some amazing things about Aveeno and they are kind enough to let me go to the awards. I'm hoping to get the chance to ask some of my favorite celebs a few questions. Anything you would like me to ask? Leave me a comment and I'll see what I can do!


Ready to watch the Academy Awards? Who doesn't love to watch the stars - and their fashion and beauty selections for the evening? We had some ideas this week to make you Oscar-ready.

Tim Quinn, Giorgio Armani makeup artist to the stars (we're sure he will be helping the Armani favorites get ready for the red carpet this weekend), talked to Kari about finding the right foundation. You can learn from him at Fab over Forty.

Rouge Bunny Rouge is a niche European brand that has been getting a lot of online buzz and a cult of fans. Learn more from Gaia at The Non-Blonde.

The new NARS Illuminators shades are also getting a lot of blogger attention. Check out Amy's impressions at Café Makeup.

Jo Malone has launched a new line of Tea Fragrance Blends, and Sabrina tried them all. Head over to The Beauty Look Book to find out which one(s) might be right for you.

Charlestongirl got a preview of La Prairie's summer makeup collection at a Neiman Marcus party. Check out Best Things in Beauty to see what's coming.

Ever heard of Dermae skin care? Jane can give you the 411 at Daly Beauty.


Bare Escentuals has introduced Buxom Smoky Eye Sticks. Jennifer had the scoop at BeautyXposé. Is there one in your future?

Are you starting to look pasty, winter white? Laurie has been loving L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Towelettes. Want to learn more? Head over to Product Girl.

Do we need a bottom lash mascara? Debbie gave us her opinion of the new Clinique mascara at DivaDebbi.

Kelly has a new obsession. Find out at Gouldylox Reviews how Konad made her wild and crazy!

Let us know what you think about the red carpet! We'll be chatting next week.




Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2011, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

GOTTAHAVEIT: ESTEE LAUDER PURE COLOR LONG LASTING LIPSTICK

You hear it all the time: 8 hour, 12 hour, 24 hours lip color, and yes, they all sound so tantalizing, but what makes one lip color last all day, while others fade out, end up on teeth, or worse, get smeared on your face?  Well, the usual rule is, the more moisturizing a lip color is, the less time it will stay on, and the dryer, the longer lasting.  Well, with this brand new (It's not even in stores yet!  Launches February 28th!) lip color from visionary ESTEE LAUDER creative director Tom Pecheux, you can have the best of both worlds: a long-wear lip color that hydrates lips and feels great! Available in 34 colors to suit your every mood!




$24 - Estee Lauder www.esteelauder.com

Urban Decay Supercurl Curling Mascara Actually Works.


 

I am rushing around like a mad person today on my way to L.A. But before I left, I wanted to share this amazing mascara find! Since my lashes are so much longer, they now react differently to different mascaras.


 My once stubby lashes are now long - and straight. To play them up, I was looking for something to bring the curl.

I found it in Urban Decay's Supercurl Curling Mascara.


 

This mascara doesn't make my lashes crunchy, is super shiny and makes my lashes curl! I had already packed my lash curler and decided to give this mascara a real trial to see if the polymers could bring the curling action.

Here are my lashes are the beginning of the morning, without using a curler.



Here they are at the end of the day, never having touched a lash curler!




Well done, UD! I am not having clumping issues and have been layering this mascara with my Fiberwig with no issues.

 

Just be sure to clean off the brush slightly before using the wand. I'm really very happy with this mascara's performance!

I bought this. Urban Decay does not test on animals.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2011, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

TARGETING: EXCESS DRYNESS OR OIL

Whether you suffer from dry, flaky skin or oily, acne prone skin...both are influenced by relatively the same thing: a pH imbalance in the skin.  Those of you familiar with chemistry know that pH stands for potential for hydrogen and is measured on a scale from 0-14 with zero being highly acidic (battery acid) and 14 being highly basic (cleaning products) with water being at 7 (neautral).  Unlike common perceptions, you do not want a neautral pH on your skin surface, which functions optimally at a slightly acidic level (5.5).  Having more alkaline skin can result in dryness oiliness, premature aging, sun damage, and a multitude of other issues.

The human body tends to right itself on its own to correct these imbalances, however, there is no reason why we can't take steps to correct these imbalances with an effective toner.  Stay away from alcohol-based toners which dry out skin and strip the natural protective barrier, but instead choose a soothing, repairing toner such as:

ELEMIS Soothing Apricot Toner
Great for sensitive or dry skin.

$33 - Elemis www.timetospa.com

Pretty Model Slimming Capsules Review Part 1

It's been a little over a month since I've been taking Pretty Model Slimming Capsules. I initially planned to write a review after the 3rd month, but I feel that I'm already seeing plausible (and non-pleasing ones) results that I decided to share my thoughts on this product.

Pretty Model Slimming Capsules, 450mg each pill, taken 2x/day


These pills are designed for weight loss, skin whitening, and reduction of unsightly fats in the arms, legs, abs and buttocks. Only a week after taking these pills, I was already astounded at what the bathroom scale reading gave me! These dirt-cheap pills are surprisingly effective.

Product Info:
Pretty Model Slimming Capsules' main components are: glossy ganoderma, Chinese watermelon peel, ginseng, lotus leaf, aweto and chitosan

Product claims that it...
  • Improves skin quality and diminishes acne
  • Reduces fat accumulation at waist, abdomen, arm and thigh
  • Does not result to diarrhea, anorexia, and rebound side-effects
  • Is suited for those who repeatedly fail in fat reduction
  • Eliminates toxin accumulation, preventing fecal impaction (coprostasis) 
  • Is suited for those who want to reduce fat 13 kilograms in a month 
  • Provides physical sculpting in common problem areas. It softens the waist, flattens abs, firms up butt, slenders arms, thighs and calves

Pretty model slimming capsules are appetite suppressants to be taken twice a day, 30 minutes after breakfast and lunch/dinner. Each capsule contains 450mg of potent slimming ingredients.

This weight loss supplement is PROHIBITED to children, pregnant women, and those suffering from serious health conditions (the pamphlet did not categorize 'serious').

Impression
I lost 7lbs after a week. It effectively worked as an appetite suppressant since my usual strong food cravings significantly nosedived to zero. Perhaps too effective that I was only eating ONE decent meal a day during that week! In trying to address this, I reduced dosage to 1x a day, 30mins after lunch and got 'healthier' results.

Pretty Model Slimming Capsules are sold in boxes containing 2 pouches, containing 1 blister pack each

Pretty Model Slimming pills gave me this frequent dry, metallic taste in my mouth. This could be the reason why it suddenly became a challenge for me to want to gobble up anything.

Taking into account this weight loss supplement's claims, the only thing I can vouch for is its ability to rapidly let you lose WEIGHT (not necessarily fat). It was also good that I drank ample amounts of water during the day (due to the the dry, metallic taste side effect) because I used to not meet the 8-glasses-of-water-a-day rule.

Other Side Effects
Apart from dry mouth and the lingering metallic taste, I also experienced:
  • moderate headaches that lasted minutes (days 1-4)
  • extreme mood swings (days 2-7)
  • lightheadedness (days 1-4)
Other users of the pretty model slimming capsule have also reported breast pain, difficulty in breathing and sleep problems. Some attribute the difficulty in breathing to chitosan, one of the main ingredients. The BF, who's extremely allergic to seafoods, takes these pills too but never reported any allergic reactions.

Availability
Pretty Model Slimming Pills are available through local resellers in multiply.com, ebay.ph and sulit.com. Price ranges from P180-450/box. These are sold in sets of 20 capsules per box. 

Pretty Model Slimming Pills ranges from P180 to P450 per 20 caps
10 capsules per blister pack

I've bought from two online shops but I got a better deal with my present supplier, beautyandwellnessshop, who sells authentic products at P180/box (minimum of 5 boxes). And since she caters to meeting up, I have zero transpo/shipping costs.

Authenticity
There've been rumors that there are circulating boxes that are fakes. Fake ones are said to not have the holographic marking on the box. Also, make sure that your box contains: (1) a pamphlet (in Chinese and English), (2) 2 plastic pouches containing blister pack each, and (3) 20 pearl-like capsules.

Authentic Pretty Model Slimming Capsules box
Surface when struck by light + box has a textured feel




Part 2
To prevent this review in becoming such a drag (look how lengthy it's become! *rolls eyes*), I'll be writing about this weight loss supplement at another time. There's still a lot you should know about.

I'm such a bad writer for being unable to write concisely. And since I can hardly address that problem (reviewing in an epic way), allow me to section this fitness review, so please stay tuned for the installment on Pretty Model Slimming Capsules! :)


I Am Obsessed with Konad.


I haven't written about my newest obsession, Konad Nail Stamping Art. I am so late to the game it shows my lameness when it comes to nail trends. It may also highlight that my cuticles constantly look like a lawnmower ate them, not pretty like nail bloggers' nails look. However, since people are stopping me everywhere asking to see my nails, I figured it may be worth sharing for some other Konad newbies.


Konad is the company who makes this nail stamping system and it's kind of like saying Kleenex. (Other companies make the nail stamping plates, but everyone just basically calls it Konad.) It's really, really easy and there are a million tutorials online that will do a better job than I can possibly do, so check them out on YouTube. I really like these.

Here is a short version of how it works.

Create a design in your mind by picking out colors and stamps that you want to use.

(This was my plan.)

Get all of your supplies out, as you will have to work fast once you get started. This includes, but not limited to:

Nail polish remover

Several paper towels

A scraper (I have found that my Crown Rewards Hallmark card works best. It's just the right amount of bendy. I have experimented with different cards as scrapers in only the way an obsessed person can.)

A Konad Stamper


Nail polish

Design plates

Cotton Buds

Once you've gotten your kit together and laid out, start by using a base coat of polish on your nude nails. Then polish your nails with the primary polish color.


Then take your design plate, put a bit of polish on it, use the card to scrap off the excess, and press down fairly hard with the stamper.



Then apply the stamp to your finger with a rolling motion.

Wipe off the stamp and the stamper with a polish remover soaked cotton bud.

Do each nail.


Then let the polish dry thoroughly and use a top coat.

This is so much fun, I am obsessed.

I've also been really, really annoying to my much more in-the-know-than-me pal in the Netherlands, Martje. (Please check out her blog!) Between her help and YouTube, here are some tips I've amassed.


  1. Press down hard with the stamper when you are picking up the stamp.
  2. Always roll the design over your nail, don't stamp it.
  3. If the stamp isn't picking up, try diluting the polish a teensy bit with polish thinner.
  4. Check your stamp before stamping to make sure you shouldn't remove extra bits with a remover soaked cotton bud.
  5. Put a clear coat over the base color so if you mess up, you can remove the design without messing up the base color.
  6. You don't need Konad polishes exclusively for stamping. You just need opaque polishes.
  7. Don't use the metal scraper that comes in the kit. You'll scratch the plates.

I am obsessed with this. Have you tried it yet? Where is your favorite place to purchase supplies? What plate can you not live without? Tell me all about it, please!

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2011, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.