Facial Care Centre is now open in Eastwood!

I've heard a lot of good things about Facial Care Center, most especially from my good friend Phoebe, who confessed getting addicted to their services like her Mother Goose.  So when I was invited and given a chance to give them a try at their newly opened branch in Eastwood, I immediately said Yes!

I was greeted with a warm welcome by NJ Torres, PR Manager and Bea Chua, PR Associate for MFBI Group of Companies.   After a few minutes of chit chat, it was then my turn for a consultation with their in-house consultant, Ms. Aivee Crawley.  She checked on my skin and seeing that I am breaking out that time, she suggested the Purifying Indulgence that consists of Facial Treatment with Collagen and Advanced Lasertone.  

I was then escorted to a private treatment room which I prefer whenever I go for facial treatments.  I was also told that this Eastwood branch even has a couples room! 

a personalized bath robe for yours truly:

the room is cozy and clean:

check out the view:

and just because I want to camwhore with my new robe:

 

 the room has this Call button just beside the bed in case you want to call for assistance. pretty neat, huh!

meet my therapist, Nette.

And there's Nette preparing the Repechage stuff while I continue to camwhore, LOL!

She started cleansing my face to remove my makeup and other facial dirt:

After rinsing and toning, she then applied the scrub:

She then gave me the most relaxing and soothing facial massage I've ever experienced after.  I almost fell asleep with all those gentle strokes on my face.

(yes, I was breaking out terribly then...)

time for some steam:

and some pricking to get those nasty whiteheads and blackheads off my face:

after:

red all over, as expected.  but it's just normal in my case, so no worries!  definitely not my therapist's fault!

time for the Advanced Lasertone!

I was told that this would help soothe and heal those marks caused by pricking.  It also stimulates collagen and elastin production, to help diminish fine lines and wrinkles.

and lastly, the collagen mask:

I was then left for 30 minutes with the mask on.  It was too relaxing that I fell asleep.


and then,

BOOH!

still red, but face now unclogged from all that deep-seated dirt

And after almost two hours, I got back in the reception area to meet Phoebe and Trixie for some food:

fruit bouquet that's too cute to eat:

Trixie, Phoebe and Me with the beautiful PR people of Facial Care Center

Now I understand why Phoebe and her mom loves Facial Care Center.  It aint cheap, she says but it's definitely worth it.  And looking at her and her mom, I totally agree!

Visit their Eastwood Branch at:

 30F Unit C MDC Building, 

E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue corner Eastwood Avenue

Bagumbayan Quezon City

Dial 892-SKIN (7546) to book a free consultation.

WATSONS Switch and Save

what's my one-stop shop when it comes to fulfilling my kikay cravings?  

WATSONS!  

It's where I  get my personal care essentials and some of my staple beauty products. I realized a few years back that I've been spending a lot on things that I use everyday: bathroom and facial tissues, bath essentials and personal hygiene stuff.  Of course, I can choose to buy cheaper ones, but I don't like scrimping on quality too.  Good thing there are Watson Label products that are of good quality, more affordable and even at par with their expensive brand counterparts. And the best thing? Watson labels are imported and are usually in BOGOs, bundled in 3s (like my HG facial tissues, yay!) or discounted.

With their retail shopping strategy, called Switch and Save, you can save by buying products with the Watsons label so you can spend more on things you love.  I used to buy facial tissues from a known brand that costs Php70-80 a box only to buy another box again in less than a week!  So computing that, say 80 for a box multiply by 4, it's Php320 a month for just a box of facial tissues.  I tried other brands but the sheets are just so thin that I had no other choice but to go back to the expensive brand.  But after trying out Watsons tissues,  I am never going to look back.

Four of Manila's well-known personalities are also avid Watsons shoppers.  Like me, they believe that why spend a lot on your basic needs when there's Watsons that can give you real value for your money.

Tessa Prieto-Valdes

Divine Lee

Patty Laurel

Victor Basa




Here are some affordable, quality Watson labels which can give you a bang for your buck:

I love their shower gels, tissues, liquid hand soaps and even their toothbrush!  I've also tried their Hair Treatment lately and it's just WOW.  Now I know there's something I could alternate my high-priced hair treatment with. So yeah, I am definitely saving a few bucks so I can buy more makeup!

^_^

Here are a few pics during the Watsons Switch & Save event at Borough in Podium:

Patty Laurel, Victor Basa and Tessa Prieto-Valdes telling their stories how they get to save by buying Watsons Labels.

Too bad Divine Lee wasn't there. I've been dying to see her in person, because she's just so gorgeous!  And can I just say how slim Tessa looks now?  She looks so full of love and life...such a bubbly personality. 

And here's some pictures of my fellow bloggers who were also able to grace the event:

It was a great time catching up with them, definitely a refreshing break from my crazy corporate schedule. 

So there, my dear readers,  go to your nearest Watsons and let's all Switch & Save!

Kerastase Force Architecte: Hope for my (almost) dying hair!

Five years ago, I used to have really short hair.  I remember a colleague at work telling me that it looks like Rihanna's hair that time. You know, longs bangs and really short at the back.  It might have looked that it's a wash and wear kind of hair...but No. I frequent the salon during those times, getting trims and treatment almost every 2-3wks.  I use a lot of hair products that time and blow dry everyday.  

When I started growing my hair long again, I started not putting too much concern on my hair. Eppp, bad I know!  I thought it's okay since I don't get to use much hair products anymore except for some anti-frizz serum.  I don't blow dry my hair that often anymore since my hair's naturally straight and during good hair days, good brushing can already do the trick.

So yeah, I've been like that with my hair for a long time...not taking too much concern until I attended a Kerastase event weeks ago.

 

  We learned that a lot of women have hair problems.  With all the brushing, coloring, chemical treatments and even tying the hair up in a pony, our hair can suffer from Hair Erosion (weakening of the hair and hair fibers).

Kerastase came up with 4 levels of Hair Erosion:

To put it simply, Levels 1 and 2 can be caused by technical aggressions (too much brushing, blow drying and hair ironing).  While Levels 3 and 4 are caused by checmical aggressions (color, rebonding, perm, etc).

Our hairs were checked by no other than Kerastase Media Advocate, Laura Charlton, to determine what level of hair erosion our hair is at. I was scared, for I already know that beyond that straight, balik-ayos hair, my hair's not really healthy (I've been suffering from TOO MUCH hair loss lately!).

Lo and Behold, I am a Level 4!  (bursts into tears)  

Nikki, Phoebe and Tara are all Level 1...and I'm a Level 4!  Susmio!  Okay fine, I'm not gonna brush my hair anymore and yeah, no more blow drying and most of all, ironing!  I seriously thought of cutting my hair short again.  And maybe, I'll go back to being extra OC when it comes to my hair.

Good thing Kerastase came up with Force Architecte line, which has 3 new products: Bain Force Architecte, Masque Force Architecte and the Fibre Architecte.  These 3 new products belong to the Kerastase Resistance family that already has Bain de Force, Ciment Anti-Usure and Ciment Thermique, and aims tackle hair erosion for those in the level 1 and 2.

Yours truly will  be using the 3 new products, since my hair is apparently on the verge of dying.  LOL!  But yeah, there's still hope...thanks to Force Architecte, my hair's on its way to resurrection!

^_^

Force Architecte

Bain Force Architecte

(Reconstructing Cleanser)

Replenishes and strengthens the hair fibre over time

SRP: Php1485 / 250ml

Masque Force Architecte

(Reconstructing Masque)

Intensely replenishes brittle, damaged hair over time.

SRP: Php2227 / 200ml

Fibre Architecte

(Renovating Dual Serum, Star Product)

Helps to reconstruct the hair fibre, resurfaces the hair and binds split ends leaving hair soft and smooth with a non-greasy feel.  This must-have repairing finisher should be used on either: 1) Hair that is eroded along its entire hair or 2) Healthy hair that has isolated areas of erosion (split ends, breakage points and mid-length from pony tails)

SRP:  Php1860 / 15x2 ml

I've been using these three everyday for 2 wks now, except for the hair masque that I use 3x a week only.  My hair, most especially the ends don't look and feel dry as much as before and most importantly, my hair fall's not as bad as it used to.  

These products really work, and yes, they come in a high price tag.  But what I love about it is that I only need a small amount of product to work with my entire hair, most especially with the Bain Force (shampoo) and Fibre Architecte (serum).  So I'm guessing that the shampoo will last for maybe 2 months while the serum will last longer.  And since they deliver what they promise, these products are really worth it.

Hopefully, with continued use, my hair's gonna be on Level 1 or maybe even on Level 0 soon!

To avail of the new Force Architecte, visit your nearest Kerastase salon.  For more information, visit the official Kerastase website or call the Kerastase hotline (02) 672-7200.