I first "discovered" this product in my Mom's bathroom. When I visit her every weekend, I had no choice but to use the shampoo/conditioner that she uses, which is how I got to try this. Verdict? I absolutely love it! I've been using it for a month now and my hair definitely looks healthier, softer, with less hairfall. Moms know best, in the end.

What I adore about the product

• Keeps my hair soft and moisturized. I don't use conditioner anymore.
• Safe for colored hair
• Smells nice
• Has a creamy texture. I don't need much to get a good lather.

Does a 50% or 70% sale sign get your heart rate up? If the answer is yes, you need to visit Robinson's Starmills in Pampanga. The mall claims to have the biggest collection of outlet stores in one roof, with big brands like Levi's, Mango, Plains & Prints, and Havaianas on a year-round major sale. If you're intimidated about going to Pampanga, don't worry, Starmills is just along NLEX and only an hour away from Manila. You can't miss the big mall complex along the road.

photo credit

So, I'm sure you're wondering about the great finds in Starmills. I took a ton of photos to show you, plus price information as I remember them. Overall, I think that if you like buying from the brands mentioned here, a trip out of town is worth it. Just one downside - the sale items are from last season's stock and could even be older than a year. There are also limited sizes available. Well, they're on sale for a reason.

I don't know much about American Rag as a brand, but what they sell in their outlet store are mostly basics like tees and jeans. They have a few unique items, too. They also carry some Terranova and Calliope clothes.

Cute, staple miniskirts for only P400

A khaki beaded jacket. P1,200 if I remember correctly

A couple of readers have asked me about the stuff I keep in my bag and makeup kit. I was at first hesitant to answer because - and this may come as a surprise - I don't bring a makeup kit! The things I bring outside are usually just the basics. I don't like being bothered to re-apply makeup (unless it's lipstick) so I make sure that I only wear reliable and long-lasting ones before I leave.

On a normal day, this is what I have in my bag!

A light, compact umbrella. I don't leave home without this! I don't like getting caught in a sudden downpour and then scurrying like an insect for cover. Everyone should bring an umbrella all the time.

Keys. Very mundane. The key chain is from Havaianas, I got a lot of this stuff a few months back. I just gave them away.

Faux ostrich wallet from Bijoux. This wallet is huuuge! I think it qualifies as a clutch already. Aside from money, it carries receipts, IDs, ATM cards, gift certificates plus other random junk I feel I shouldn't lose. In other words, it's full of junk lol.

32 gig iPod Touch. A good chunk of my life is spent on the Internet, which is why this gadget is indispensable to me. I use this for surfing the net, checking my five mail inboxes, Twittering, media stuff, games, chatting, setting up schedules and notes etc. WiFi isn't usually a problem because there's a lot of places to get it free from!

Are you a certified camera whore? Do you take pics of yourself in so many angles while trying to find the perfect lighting conditions? If so, you may need the Revlon Photo Ready Powder to help you along.

Light/medium looks dark in the pan, but applies light

This face powder promises to give your face a flawless finish under any light. Does it? The answer is yes, surprisingly. I've mentioned before that I'm not a huge believer when it comes to products that promise superlative results. The Photo Ready, however, delivers - with a few caveats.

What I like about this product

• As promised, I get a flawless, even finish. This doesn't have much coverage, since it's designed to be a finishing slash anti-shine powder so it is best used on top of concealer and foundation. The end result is a matte face with a slight glow. Let me show you:

Dim indoor lighting

I'm lucky to currently live in a place where there's a lot of trees, plants, and space. I used to live in Makati, up until a couple of months ago when I moved into this condo at The Fort. Makati is pulsing with energy and the gears of business, but it's also cramped and almost entirely built out of concrete. The Fort, on the other hand, has a more leisurely feel to it, with an equal mix of greenery and cement. At first I didn't like it here, but I got used to it and now I can't think of living anywhere else!

Anyways. Nature is a good thing to have around us, but unless you're living or working near it, you'll be hard-pressed to commune with it. That is, until Rexona came up with a simple idea of bringing nature to you via the Internet.

Just this week the brand launched Nurture Nature, a Facebook app where you can watch a live garden in real time grow by giving commands to the cute gardeners. It's in line with their latest product called Rexona Naturals Antiperspirants, a supposedly more natural way to take care of your 'pits. It has sunflower seed oil and should not block your pores, thus allowing your skin breathe. I haven't used the products yet because quite frankly I don't need or use antiperspirants (I'm not a sweaty person), but I'll review when I get around to it!

In the meantime, check out the Rexona Facebook app. It's a stress-buster while you remotely take care of all those plants, but aside from that, you can get to ogle the gwapo and super hyper gardeners!

I don't know who this guy is, but damn does he move around a lot!

This is perhaps my bestest ever purchase ever! Yesterday I went to Robinson's Starmills in Pampanga on a shopping tour. Did you know that there's a lot of outlet stores in that mall which sell really cheap branded stuff? There are tons of amazing finds in that place (magic words: Mango Outlet)! But I'm getting ahead of myself. I will write about the trip in more detail soon.

I originally didn't intend to buy because I didn't need anything as of the moment - I'm stocked! But when I saw these shoes at a crazy cheap price, I just have to have them. They're not elaborate or wildly trendy at the moment, but I love the classic simplicity plus the fact that they make my feet look sexy. These are shoes I can wear forever with anything!

Gratuitous shoe photos shall follow lol.

It was one of those small, intimate events. I wouldn't even call it an event - it's more like a leisurely lunch with friends just talking about their lives. I really enjoy these types of product introduction more than the big, glitzy ones because I feel that the people behind the brand are more interested in bloggers and blogging, rather than just a quick way to get the word out about their products.

It started unconventionally. Beauty and fashion bloggers were greeted by this:

Glue, scissors, magazines, and cute scrapbooking materials

Goodness, I haven't touched glue in months. This is exactly my kind of thing, so I went on to work on the order of the day: to make a mood/inspiration board about what I believe in.

Et voila!

I believe, first and foremost, in beauty. I believe that every woman has it but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't work on it! My style is very girly so I'm all about florals, ruffles and frills, lace, occasional bright pops of color, and lots of subtle details. I love feeling like a woman and I love being well-groomed. So how does Levi's fit in all of this? 

If you've been to Watsons lately, you've probably seen these uber cheap brushes branded as "Marionnaud". Yes, the logo is even similar to Marionnaud as in the luxury beauty store at the Mall of Asia. I remember Marionnaud (the store) used to sell really expensive brushes at P1,000 to P2,000 per piece but I don't think they're the same as the Watsons Marionnaud brushes. I don't know what's the deal with that, but I was lured in by the cheap prices and good reviews I've read online.

I got the angled blush brush for only P167. So how is it?

What I like about it

• Soft and dense
• Didn't shed when I washed it
• No smell
• Fits my face well and the angle is really good for quick contouring.
• Doesn't feel or look cheap. The brush handle feels sturdy.

When I got sick, I ran out of my fave RDL Placenta soap. Of course I couldn't leave my bed, so I decided to just not be picky and use whatever cleanser is in the bathroom. Well, it so happened to be Pond's.

The one I'm using right now is Pond's Perfect Care (the one with the bright green cap). I really didn't like it at first. In fact, I severely disliked it! My face would get bumpy and lose its glow, so I'd keep on stopping after one or two times (which explains why it's in the bathroom shelf). When I used this for a prolonged period last week - completely out of necessity - I broke out along my jaw. But things ironed out eventually after around the 4th consecutive use, and now this facial wash and I are inseparable. I'm well enough to shop now, but I don't think I will be buying placenta soap soon.

I like that my face is smoother and clearer. In fact right now I'm at the office and I just have BB cream and mineral translucent powder on - no need for a concealer or skin-enhancing foundation. Since I've been sick, I've stopped my skincare regimen and only used this cleanser. Yeah, I was too pukey to be vain last week. Good thing the adventure turned out fine.

Wow, that week was harrowing. For most of it, I suffered a 38 to 39 degree fever, vomited, lost consciousness etc etc. Well I'm not too excited to remember that. Suffice it to say that I am feeling a lot better now. I am only just taking anti-nausea pills and antibiotics now. Thank you to all who wished me well - you can't believe how you helped. Thanks especially to Marco who never left my side and took very good care of me.  

So where were we? Ahh, the The United Colors of Benetton fragrances! Here's what happened during the launch, in a nutshell:

photo from Alex for thePOC

Gorgeous models

Got their shirts spray-painted on

Something called "Ultra Color Rich Mega Impact" can really set high expectations. The promise of Avon is that this line of lipsticks can give our lips high-def drama, with pinks pinker and reds redder compared to their other lipstick lines. Well, that's a fair enough claim, but I would have loved to get my hands on their older collections to see if there really is a difference. 

L-R: Pink Pop, Fuchsia Fun, Kicked Up Coral, Really Rosy, Brilliant Berry, Rockin' Red

In any case, I've been using these lippies for a week now and found them really good. However, they are not as pigmented as their name would suggest. I initially thought they'd be similar to Revlon Colorburst, NYX Round Lipsticks, and NYX Lips. No, this particular line may have meant differently when they went under the name "ultra color rich" and "mega impact".

These lipsticks have a brilliant, glossy finish that I haven't come across yet. I think they're on a class of their own - the finish isn't satiny, plasticky like lip gloss, or creamy. I'd call it lustrous. There are 11 shades available in the Philippines, from nude to daring red.

What I love about this product

• The texture is very creamy, which means that it glides on easily. It's very moisturizing - I don't even use balm underneath.
• I would agree that the colors are high-impact in the sense that they do stand out when they're worn. They tend to draw in light to my face!
• Wears comfortably. It doesn't feel heavy on the lips.

Binky Burrow is a brand that sells t-shirts and lifestyle products that are all about cute bunnies. Each bunny has a personality which may just match yours. They sent me a couple of shirts from their summer line, the ones with the Bunny In A Tea Cup and Rawr designs. Take a look!

My favorite out of the two shirts is this one. I'm not a huge fan of bunnies but I do love it when one of them terrorizes an entire city, lol. The fabric used is really soft, plus I like the distressed cotton they used for this particular design. The shirts are affordable at only P380 (plus shipping if you order online).