Tuesday, April 19, 2016

If you are to rule over your own planet, how will it be like?

I faced this thought-provoking question as I received an invite to The Body Shop's event last week. It got me quite curious since they didn't reveal what they'll be launching. I had so many answers in mind, and so many questions as well.

Brace yourselves for a long photo-heavy post, as I share with you what's new and what's up with The Body Shop!
 

Each one of us certainly wants to have a better world, but how do we actually define better? Is it a cleaner world, a peaceful city, or greener surrounding?

The Body Shop has always been famous for being a cruelty-free brand with their mantra Beauty with Heart. They are the pioneer of using Community Fair Trade ingredients in each of their products, which are directly obtained from poor farmers and not middlemen suppliers.

It was my first time to go to Le Petit Souffle at Century City Mall, and I loved how the place is like lush and tranquil garden. Food was awesome and so photogenic, too, so they deserve a separate food post. :) 
 

The Body Shop has always believed that business can be a force for good and change. The new Commitment, entitled Enrich Not Exploit, embraces the bold ethical principles from which The Body Shop was built. The Body Shop is celebrating their 40th anniversary this May, and they've set a significant goal to be the world’s most ethical and truly sustainable global business.
 

Enrich our People
  • Double our Community Trade programme from 19 to 40 ingredients and help enrich communities that produce them
  • Help 40,000 economically vulnerable people access work around the world
  • Engage 8 million people in our Enrich Not Exploit Commitment mission, creating our biggest campaign ever
  • Invest 250,000 hours of our skills and know-how to enrich the biodiversity of our local communities
Enrich our Products 
  • Ensure 100% of our natural ingredients are traceable and sustainably sourced, protecting 10,000 hectares of forest and other habitat
  • Reduce year on year the environmental footprint of all our product categories
  • Publish our use of ingredients of natural origin, ingredients from green chemistry, and the biodegradability and water footprint of our products
  • Develop an innovation pipeline that delivers pioneering cosmetic ingredients from biodiversity hotspots and which helps to enrich these areas
Enrich our Planet
  • Build Bio-Bridges, protecting and regenerating 75 million square metres of habitat helping communities to live more sustainably
  • Reduce the environmental footprint of our stores every time we refurbish or redesign them
  • Develop and deliver three new sustainable packaging innovations
  • Ensure that 70% of our total product packaging does not contain fossil fuels
  • Power 100% of our stores with renewable or carbon balanced energy
  • Reduce by 10% the energy use of all our stores every year

One of their initiatives I admire was them making use of air pollution and turning them into plastic packaging for their body butters. It almost sounds too good to be true, but they've done it! Instead of creating more plastic waste, they've turned waste into something good.

In line with how they want to brighten up your day and add to the peacefulness of the night in your world, The Body Shop has also launched two new skincare lines.
 
Drops of Life

The Body Shop is proud to have a "no retouch policy" in their ads, so what you see is what you really get. To help us achieve the #NoFilter beauty, it all starts with beautiful and healthy skin. The NEW Drops of Light Pure Healthy Brightening Range makes use of red algae extract to brighten up your skin. Their 5-in-1 formula improves healthy brightness, translucency, evens skin tone, minimizes the appearance of pores, and leaves skin feeling smooth and supple.
 
Drops of Light Foam Wash 125ml (P895)
Cleanse and clarify your complexion morning and night with this rich, creamy foam wash.
 
Drops of Light Pure Translucency Essence Lotion 160ml (P1,295)
Hydrate and enhance translucency morning and night. The first essential step after cleansing, this refreshing gel‑to‑water texture boosts hydration and activates skin for the next step of your skincare regime.

 
Drops of Light Pure Healthy Brightening Serum 30ml (P1,895)
Replenish and illuminate skin with this lightweight, fast‑absorbing, non‑sticky serum. It glides effortlessly to deliver efficient brightening whilst leaving skin feeling instantly supple and hydrated. After 4 weeks skin imperfections and yellowness are reduced, pores look minimised and skin looks brighter and more translucent. 

 
Drops of Light Pure Healthy Brightening Day Cream 50ml (P1,595)
Nourish skin with this highly moisturising day cream. Its silky texture melts onto your skin and is clinically proven to significantly reduce the number, size and intensity of dark spots while delivering 24H hydration. Instantly skin texture is smoother, softer and re‑plumped with moisture. After 4 weeks skin is brighter, looks healthier, more even toned and clarified.

 
The star product for this range is the Drops of Light Pure Healthy Brightening Serum, which is a lightweight yet potent skin brightening serum. It reminds me so much of Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution. I can't wait to review this one!

Tip: If you want to score a bottle of this serum for free, take the challenge and get a chance to be one of the top 3 scorers to bring home the NEW Drops of Light Pure Healthy Brightening Serum! To join, click this link: https://dropsoflight-runner.com. The contest ends on April 30, 2016.
 
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Oils of Life
 
In an ideal world, we'd all get 8 solid hours of sleep per night, but with so much things to do, that seems like a dream in itself. I've heard of Korean sleeping packs before, which are somewhat like no-rinse face masks that you'd apply before you sleep so you'd wake up with a healthy glow. The Body Shop was quick to catch up with their newest product from the Oils of Life range.
 
Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Sleeping Cream (P1,795)
A night time cream to deeply nourish, visibly revitalize and intensely firm while you sleep. We searched the world and selected 3 Precious Seed Oils known for their revitalizing and repairing properties. By infusing them with 7 Powerful Essential Oils into a refreshing yet cushiony cream, we've created an Intensely Revitalizing Sleeping Cream that replenishes like a dream (almost).

A pea-sized amount is more than enough to cover your entire face (and neck even). This one is made of oil, but it comes in an almost gel-cream texture that spreads like butter on your face. It smells really divine and relaxing. I'd say, it's a spa-in-a-jar for your face! Because of its rich texture, this works best for those with dry skin.
 
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Before the program started, I roamed around the venue and spotted these new face masks. My oily skin loved the Mineral & Ginger Warming Massage Clay Mask most. It's so soothing! Since it warms up the skin, I could imagine my pores opening up as the clay absorbs all the oil and impurities. Love!
 

After The Body Shop Brow & Liner Kit's reign, here comes the new 2-in-1 Brow Definer. It's a double-ended brow pencil with a natural brown shade on one end, and a highlighter on the other end. The highlighter enhances the brow bone, and it reminds me of Benefit's High Brow. Only this could be the more useful and practical thing to get, since it's 2-in-1. The cap comes with a brow brush, too!
 

During the program, I learned that there are 1.4 billion people who are still living in darkness, with no access to basic neccesities such as electricity and light. The Body Shop shared with us SALt's cause of bringing light to our less fortunate brothers and sisters by using their innovative saltwater lamps that require no fuel. Let's support movements like this! Imagine, a single saltwater lamp can illuminate a household for years. This can also help the little children to study and attend to their homework for a brighter future.
  

We were also given a chance to create our own ecosystem! It was fun, and I wished I had brought along tiny humans (like those little Polly Pocket dolls) to put inside.

To answer the question, if I were to rule over my own planet, I'd preserve as much greenery as I can. I'd love for it to be a garden of all sorts - filled with flowers and fruits. I'd create a very efficent road system, so there won't be a need for automobile transportation. I'll also harness the natural power of nature, solar, wind, and water alike. Lastly, anyone caught littering or polluting nature's beauty will be expelled to outer space. Haha! :P
 
Hello, Doly! :D
 
Afternoons spent with The Body Shop are always insightful and fun learning experiences. This is one of the few brands I'd brave the afternoon heat and traffic for.

Facebook: The Body Shop, Philippines
IG: @thebodyshopph

Love,
Helen

Let's keep in touch!
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Thursday, April 14, 2016

Hillside Cafe & Juice Bar

I've wanted to try juicing for the longest time. Not for weight loss, but for the health benefits associated with it. One thing I plan to buy before the year ends is a high-end slow juicer for my family's benefit (and probably for a side-business). #goals LOL! Admit it, those kind of juicers are expensive! For now, I'll try out different establishments that serve healthy food and drinks, starting with Hillside Cafe & Juice Bar in Quezon City. 


I went on a lunch date with my long lost friend La Reina, and she initially suggested a healthy restaurant somewhere near Eastwood. I suddenly remembered Hillside being nearer to our location, and so we went there instead. She loves plants and gardening, so we were quite amazed upon entering the place, because just beside the restaurant is a store where you can buy plants, seeds, and everything you need for gardening.

Inside the restaurant, they had different juice bottles on display, but the weather was so hot so we opted for a smoothie instead.

Hillside Greens Premium Smoothie (P195)
spinach + moringa + mango + banana + chia seeds + coconut meat + coconut water

We had a very difficult time ordering drinks because their menu had a whole page dedicated to beverages. We ended up splitting a tall glass of Hillside Greens smoothie. I hardly felt that I was drinking vegetables because the mango and banana had a natural sweetness that's just right. It's good and refreshing!

Oat and Rye Crusted Smoked Labahita (P495)
with mussel emulsion, organic baby arugula relish and aglio olio pasta

This pasta dish came in a huge serving that's good for sharing! The pasta and sauce were good, but we found the breading of the fish quite thick versus the meat inside. It's a flavorful, aromatic, smoked dish, but I think it would be better should there be more fish meat and less breading considering its price.

Baked Salmon (P325)
topped with caesar dressing served with brown rice and side salad

Between the two dishes we tried, I liked this one more. The salmon they used is fresh and was baked just right, though cheese would have been an added lovely touch. It's a no-nonsense healthy but delicious and filling dish that I'd order again on my next visit. (Speaking of, I'll bring my Panda with me here next time so I could sneakily add healthy food and veggies into his diet. Hihi)

Menu:



Hillside Cafe & Juice Bar
Address: 57 Mother Ignacia Street, Quezon City, Philippines 1103
Store hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:30-21:00
Contact no.: (02)3741117

Love,
Helen

Let's keep in touch!

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Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lip Color in Vibrant Violet

When I read Michelle's non-biased review about this particular lippie from Maybelline, I was so torn! I like it, but I've never sported purple lips. I know I like strong shades of lippies, but mostly only in red shades. After a few days of hesitation (just because it's violet), I gave it to temptation, because it suddenly went on sale! :D


For the longest time, I already knew Maybelline made good lipsticks (and mascaras). It used to be the only brand I'd buy way back in college. The Creamy Matte Lip Color range has created a buzz because it's made of mattifying cream pure pigments, which gives the impression of being matte and non-drying at the same time.


To easily identify the Creamy Matte range, they all come with a matte brownish casing which neither looks cheap nor expensive.


All the "press release" photos you see online are quite misleading. It comes out as a violet with cool blue undertone even on Maybelline's own site, but in person it's a lot warmer and "friendlier".

Swatches:
 
1 swipe | 3 swipes


Application is a breeze. It glides on like butter without tugging my lips, but also stays on for a long time as a matte lipstick should. (I'd dare say, my lips even feel better when I have this on compared to when it's bare. And to think that this is a matte lipstick!) There's absolutely no need for any lip balm prior to application. It's long-wearing as it could last me more than half a day before retouch. It doesn't easily come off when you drink or snack, but it does come off when you eat oily food. Because of its creamy feel, it doesn't have a bone dry matte finish. It has a velvety feel, almost satin-like finish less the sheen. It's very pigmented, and the color payoff is solid and lovely.

Vibrant Violet is a bright purple shade with a warm pinkish undertone. On me, it looks like a blend of purple and pink. I did intend to wear this during events, but I was able to pull this off even at school (when I had an event afterwards). This one also leaves a hint of pinkish stain on the lips as it wears off or when you wipe it off at the end of the day.


Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase. It's worth it! If you're itching to try a violet lipstick or a matte lipstick in general but don't want to shell out big bucks for it, give Maybelline's Creamy Mattes a try. The shade Touch of Spice (a mauvey nude one) is perennially out of stock! My sister and I had been trying to purchase it for months but it's not available anywhere. At P299 a pop, it is a steal for a lipstick with such good color payoff and quality.

Have you tried any shade from Maybelline's Color Sensational Lip Color range? Which one is your favorite?

Love,
Helen

Let's keep in touch! 

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