Cathy Doll Ready 2 White One Day Whitener Body Cleanser [Spoiler: IT WORKS!]

Cathy Doll Ready 2 White One Day Whitener Body Cleanser has a big claim of whitening your skin just after 1 bath. At first, I was skeptical. How can a body wash work like that? I've seen lotions that could, but not for something that's washed off after a few minutes. Hence, it took me months (and a couple of shower gel empties from other brands) before I gave this one a try. I didn't have huge expectations, but I was curious at the same time.

The result is something you have to see! :o

Cathy Doll Ready 2 White One Day Whitener Body Cleanser

It comes with a plastic seal on the pump plus a Karmart sticker for authenticity. (Because you'll never know, everything is being copied/counterfeited nowadays, no matter how affordable a product is.)

 

Whitening | Brightening | Moisturizing | Pore-Tightening
 

This body wash contains milk protein, Vitamin C, and Arbutin. Milk protein is known to nourish and even exfoliate the skin, while Vitamin C and Arbutin brightens the skin. It also contains Vitamin E and moisturizers to serve as an in-shower lotion. (You'll see later.) It has a lovely floral scent that lingers long after you bathe.

You can use it with a bath lily/sponge or just your hands. Usually, I'd go for the bath lily to make most of the body wash as it suds up better that way. However, for this particular body wash, I'd advise using your hands to spread it all over your body, then use a bath lily/sponge afterwards to remove it (since it's harder to remove vs. normal body wash). But if you don't have a bath lily, no problem as well.

Ingredients:
 

The illustration is funny but unbelievable. You can't transform from brown to white in just one wash, but this can help your skin turn one shade lighter. Effect is temporary though, as it wears off gradually during the day.

 

It has a liquidy texture that looks translucent and shimmery. Don't worry, it's not glittery. When I use this with a bath lily, it foams up and works like a regular body wash. However, magic happens when you use your hands. (It's just that you'll have to use more product than usual. But if your end goal is whitening, it won't matter if you're using more since you'll be getting real results.)

 

Before
 

During
 

Once you rub/massage the body wash onto your skin by hand, it turns from translucent to a milky white lotion-like formula. It doesn't foam up, but it coats your skin with a natural white layer. It looks more natural compared to instant white lotions, as you will have to wash it off. There won't be any chalky or uneven white residue. Because of its texture, it doubles as a lotion. This body wash cleanses my skin, leaves it soft and moisturized, and makes it look brighter with just one use! (My dry legs can afford to skip lotion whenever I use this one!)

After: Brighter skin!

Guys, these are raw photos. I just had to add the words "Before" and "After". I left the body wash on my left arm for around 3 minutes and got that result. You can now toss aside your whitening soaps. LOL :D This isn't a sponsored/paid post. I received 2 bottles of this body wash during the launch, and I shared one with my best friend. Cathy Doll didn't ask me to do this feature, nor am I paid to do this. I'm just really amazed, hence the review. :D

Price: P349/450ml

Available at Cathy Doll stalls/kiosks nationwide

I can't believe how this one is so effective but so affordable. But I guess that's what you get with Cathy Doll. :)

Facebook: Cathy Doll Philippines

IG: @cathydollphils 

Love,

Helen

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Daphne goes to Ballet Manila!

When I was a kid, I never liked dancing and P.E. I could even remember vividly how our P.E. classes were like: Because of my surname Blas, I was always Girl #1 in class so I was in front of the line all the time. We had to memorize exercise moves our teacher demoed. As much as I wanted to excel, I had no mind/body coordination, and I couldn't copy the moves of my classmates because I was the one in front. Until now, it's traumatic for me - just like math. HAHAHA!

Anyway, I have a pretty niece who I'm pretty sure didn't get her dancing bones from her Blas aunties. She LOVES dancing and performing in front of an audience. She would get excited for school performances. :o When Krissy invited her to join Ballet Manila's class for kids, she was excited for days! :D

Disclaimer: Hindi pa ako mommy blogger, guys. I'm a cool tita. Haha!

Finally, the day has arrived. I told her mommy and daddy that the invite stated simple exercise attire will do, but when you're a parent, you will buy an entire OOTD for this momentous event. She will be having a class with Prima Ballerina, Ms. Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, after all! :D This was Daphne - even before her first ballet lesson. I strongly believe she got her arte moves from her doting aunties. LOL

The event was scheduled at 10:30 and we live very near Fisher Mall, but she kept on insisting we leave home early so she won't be late for class.

The Lisa Macuja School of Ballet Manila is the only ballet school in the Philippines with direct links to the Russian Ballet Academy of St. Petersburg, Russia. Ballet enthusiasts often praise the school for staying true to the principles of the art form and for teaching the rigorous Vaganova Academy method of dancing, which is widely accepted as the highest standard of style when it comes to classical ballet.

The school’s faculty is made up of accomplished Vaganova style-trained classical dancers who are highly considered as some of the best in the country, including Jonathan Janolo, Sofia Sangco-Peralta, Gerardo Francisco, Eileen Lopez, Czarina Villegas, and of course, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and Osias Barroso, who is the school’s Co-Director.

Our not so little ballerina! (Spot her 1 day old photo here.)

 

Pretty books about Ms. Lisa's very inspiring life so far story

Ballet Manila's studio

The floor is specially made for ballet dancers with layers of wood and rubber so it's more gentle on the joints.

 

All ready for class! :D

 

Ms. Lisa was gentle yet firm with the kids. She gave out instructions that can be easily understood by little ones. "Do you want to be a donut or a princess?" :D Donuts are those who slouch, while princesses are those who sit up straight. I also learned that day that Ballet originated from Italy, and in the past, only royal princesses could learn this dance.

Daphne

By the wall: I'm a stage tita! I had to document everything. Daphne's Auntie Reina came to watch her dance, too. (Thanks, Daddy Ryan for allowing Daphne to join!)

 

She was definitely enjoying herself. Look at that high kick/skip. :D

Classes for the little ones are available daily at The Lisa Macuja School of Ballet Manila in Fisher Mall.

• Creative Movement for Toddlers (2-3 years old)
• Our toddlers at the playful age of 2 to 3 have a lot of energy and imagination. Our classes will build on these unique qualities of our students in order to engage them in activity that will make them more spatially and kinesthetically aware of their bodies. Connections with music, rhythm, identifying direction and the imaginative work with fabrics, props & musical instruments to enhance learning and make the classes fun and engaging. This class is also a great way to warm up for Baby Ballerina classes
• Baby Ballerina (3-5 years old)
• Even at this young age, a Baby Ballerina student is already taught posture and stance. Placement is normally taught first with floor activities where the child is encouraged to have a straight back by executing leg and arm movements while sitting or lying down on the floor. Basic dance steps in the center include such movements as walking, running, skipping, marching and hopping. An awareness about direction, formations and rhythm is begun. Working with props, fabric, musical instruments is also employed to make the classes fun and engaging.
• Twinkle Toes (5-6 years old)
• Students learn proper ballet technique specially geared for their developing motor skills and coordination, rhythm and musicality, with an added emphasis on learning basic dance vocabulary, nutrition and reading pointers. Young students also work with fabrics, props & musical instruments to enhance learning and make the classes fun and engaging. Proper dance vocabulary is used in these classes and the student is encouraged to become a more serious ballet student. Combinations on the floor, at the barre and center work are clearly tackled as separate class activities.

This can help my niece improve her balance, motor skills, and body coordination. I believe this is an amazing way to teach kids the discipline of this dance. It can teach them grace and perseverance.

The higher levels are the following:

• Level 1B-Beginner and Level 1A-Advanced (for ages 6-9)
• Level 2B-Beginner and Level 2B-Advanced (for 10-12 years old)
• Level 3B-Intermediate (for boys and girls aged 12-16 with previous ballet training and intermediate pointe work)
• Level 3-A Advanced (for 14 years old and above)

Note to self: Enrolling my future baby girl here! Quite late for myself, but I can always do Adult Ballet Fitness - perfect for those with zero background in ballet and wish to learn it for fitness’ sake or those who had ballet training in the past and wish to take it up again.

Cuteness overload class picture!

 

Ms. Lisa & Daphne (who didn't want to remove her ballerina attire even until the evening)

 

Kiddie loot! :D

My niece wasn't aware of the concept of loot bags yet during blogger events, so she said she got a bag of candies as a prize for being very good. Totoo naman eh! Haha! SO CUTE. I hope she doesn't think candies are available after every class. :p

 

Auntie Reina, Teacher Lisa, Auntie Helen, and Daphne

 

If you have a baby girl or niece, you know what to do! This is the proof of how fun ballet class was. The kids couldn't stop smiling and laughing even when they're tired. :)

The Lisa Macuja School of Ballet Manila
Address: 4F, Fisher Mall, Quezon Avenue, Quezon City (Near Expo Hall)
Website: www.balletmanila.com.ph
Telephone numbers: 400-0292 and 525-5967
Email: info@balletmanila.com.ph
Facebook: Ballet Manila
Twitter: @BalletManila
Instagram: @BalletManila

Love,
Helen

PS. Can't get over this cute event. My ballet hangover has gotten me so excited for Ballet Manila’s The Swan, The Fairy, & The Princess at the Aliw Theater on October 14 & 15 at 8:00PM and October 16 at 3:00PM. For a limited time, tickets are available at 50% off. Visit www.ticketworld.com.ph and use the promo code: SFP50.

Let me know if you'll be watching, okay? :D

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Skinfood Black Sugar Mask

I love Korean skincare, but I rarely get to try Skinfood products because they're overpriced here in the Philippines! While their stores here are perpetually on sale, they're still more expensive vs. getting them straight from Korea - particularly from Althea, where my sister and I love getting our Korean skincare fix. (This is not a sponsored post.) :)

Today's review is about one of Skinfood's Black Sugar Mask. I'm used to sheet masks, so whenever I get to try another type I get excited! This one's a hot item of Skinfood, and though there are countless reviews already, I'll share mine as well.

 

Skinfood Black Sugar Mask

When we bought this mask months ago, it was at a special promo deal of around P280 for a limited time period, but upon checkout and payment via credit card, we were charged P330. Tried to email the Althea CS, but it never got resolved. :/ I don't think they'll ever refund it, but at least we got it at almost half the price of its Philippine SRP in stores.

Ingredients:

This mask is very easy to use. After cleansing, just massage an appropriate amount onto your damp face, leave on for around 15 minutes, and wash it off afterwards.

When you open the tub, there's a thin inner cover which protects the product.

I wasn't able to take a photo of it during its untouched state (beauty blogging crime! haha), but it looks like brown sugary jam. It looks a lot lighter in person, just like the swatches below.

I massaged it all over my face and since it's my first time to try a sugar scrub, it felt really gritty against my skin. Remember, your face has to be damp so this scrub would spread easily, and using your ring finger helps as it's has the most gentle pressure. If you find this too abrasive, you can add water or toner while massaging. On my end, I didn't have to do so as there was no irritation during and after scrubbing. 

The scrub has a very pleasant scent. I think it smells citrusy, while my sister said it smells like cola (!). The scrub warmed up my skin a bit to release dirt and oil, so by the time I washed it off, my skin felt baby smooth and balanced. Never dry and tight! It looked fresh and radiant, just like I had a decent amount of rest. Just remember to put on a light moisturizer afterwards to seal the deal. If you want to further pamper your skin, follow with your favorite sheet mask!

My skin felt really soft for up to the next 2 to 3 days, and my makeup adhered better because the canvass was smooth and more even that it ever was. (My lack of exfoliation is one of the culprit why I'm having lackluster skin that's rough to touch sometimes.) I'm adding this to my skincare routine and I'll commit to using this once or twice a week, also as a way of makeup detox to deeply unclog pores and nourish it at the same time.

Price: P330

Available at Althea

Have you tried a sugar mask before? :D

Love,
Helen

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Cathy Doll Speed White CC Powder Pact

I'm not one to bring my entire makeup collection in my everyday kikay kit. I usually have with me a lippie or two and ALWAYS one powder pact. The moment I got the Cathy Doll Speed White CC Powder Pact, I immediately set aside my "just okay" powder and gave this baby a test run. Little did I know, I will be staying for good inside my kikay kit! I've been using this one for months now.

Cathy Doll Speed White CC Powder Pact SPF 40 PA+++ in Natural Beige

Cathy Doll's Speed White CC Powder Pact only comes in 2 shades:

• #21 Light Beige - ideal for fair skin types
• #23 Natural Beige - balances two-tone skin types

I'm guessing I could go for either, but I never look good with the lightest shade of powder, no matter from what brand it may be, hence I went for the second shade. (I think Natural Beige is the safer bet and could work for most skin tones, but those with deeper skin tones might not have a shade match from this line.)

Functions:

 

Ingredients:
 

Photo Credit: Karmart

The lightweight but sturdy plastic packaging comes with a reflective pink lid. It's a joy to see, but a pain to photograph since it reflects everything. Everything written on the lid and back has now been erased, since I bring it with me everywhere.

The powder has a pretty "Cathy Doll" lettering on it, but at first glance I thought it would be dark for my skin.

I appreciate the separate compartment for the sponge, but I prefer to use a compact kabuki brush for retouch versus sponges (which I throw out when they get dirty).

Do not remove the sticker label at the back of the compact, or else the base will reveal air holes which could get your sponge dirty.

In actual, the shade looks a bit darker than this photo, but I'm guessing both shades will have just a little difference when worn. The photos below are raw and unedited, since I have to show the powder's actual effect on bare skin.

 

What I first noticed when I opened this powder was its strong scent (which reminds me of old cake makeups from the past). This one's definitely not expired though; I just don't like the scent. However, the texture more than makes up for the scent. It goes on very smoothly and has a silky feel. It blends well into the skin with very minimal effort.

It has light coverage - it can even out redness, blur my pores, make my dark circles less visible, but it's not enough for obvious zits.

 

It does give me a natural glow though, which is quite a feat since the powder I used before just made my face matte and nothing more. I bring this with me everywhere for retouch, since it helps me look polished instantly and keeps haggardness away. And strangely enough, Panda always compliments me whenever I wear only this powder. (Less is more!) :D

One thing I can't vouch for yet is the "Speed White" effect, whether or not it will lighten your skin with long term use (?), but for the immediate brightening effect, yes it works. Also, this powder is said to look good despite sweating. I've tried it while commuting, and I like how the powder melts onto your skin after a while, so even when I started to sweat a bit the power was still intact. So far, so good! I'm not sure though how it will fare during intense workouts, but I don't advise wearing powder anyway while exercising. Let your skin breathe!

Best part is of course not breaking out from this, despite the fragrance. I like this powder pact and I'll be repurchasing, unless I find something better at an affordable price point.

Price: P399 for 12g

Available at Cathy Doll stalls/kiosks nationwide

Facebook: Cathy Doll Philippines

IG: @cathydollphils

What Cathy Doll products is your favorite? This powder pact is underrated, but it's probably one of my faves among all their items.

Love,

Helen

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