Living a Sugar Free Sweet Life

While at the ladies room in Sm Megamall the other night, I noticed small and long patches at the base of my neck. I'm not sure if it's an-an (tinea flava) or another fungal skin infection but I know deep inside that it's not just a normal case of skin discoloration. The patches are not itchy though. An-an or not, I'm treating it now with an over the counter anti-fungal cream just to be sure.

It's humiliating, I know. I'd prefer to have adult acne over an-an, if you ask me. I think the sponge I use for applying foundation may be the culprit. I wash it with soap and water after every use but there was a time when I washed it at night and I dried the sponge inside the bathroom with the windows closed. A perfect breeding ground for fungi, I know. I hope the patches go away soon.

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This is what I have been putting on my face after washing and toning it at night. I noticed that my skin is more supple and smoother to the touch in the morning upon using it. I believe it's because of it's royal jelly and aloe vera content. Recently, I also discovered that I cannot only use it as a facial night cream but also a a special moisturizer for my feet! Yup, it does the same wonders just as putting petroleum jelly and wearing socks at night for smoother soles. I didn't even wear socks and my feet were smoother than usual the next day.

Other than its huge moisturizing benefits, what urged me to buy this product (and other Human Nature products for that matter) is the advocacy behind it. All of the company's beauty products use all-natural ingredients grown by Filipino farmers and are later on packed by underprivileged residents of Gawad Kalinga sites. In doing so, I do not only keep myself pretty but I also help create jobs for fellow Filipinos.

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I saw small pimples on my boy's nose yesterday and I suspect that it's from the make-up that I used on him during his performance. It's just cake foundation and blush on, by the way. He uses a milk based liquid soap on his face and it has worked for him until yesterday. Any other mild facial wash suggestions?

I did some research and I found out about pronexin. Although the site says it's 100% chemical-free, I'm still not sure about using it on my son's face. I'd appreciate your feedbacks!

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Yep, the itchy rashes are back again! :(

What's worse is that the rashes now appeared on the fold between my upper and lower arms. It gets so itchy especially when I get sweaty from all this heat. I just clean and moisturize it as often as I need to. And I also put on some ice when the itchiness becomes too much to bear. Wish it would start raining soon so that the days will be cooler.

Then again, I am still thankful that rashes did not appear on my face. At least, I would not need to see a dermatologist to remove acne scars. Having acne would be my worst nightmare.

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I usually go to a waxing salon to have my underarm waxed but I saw this when I passed by Watson's beauty store during the weekend. I was apprehensive to buy it at first but I thought that I should give it a try. Besides, Epilin Hair Remover only cost me Php 89.75 which is way cheaper than going to my suking waxing salon.

I had the small pan set up on top of my oil burner. In a matter of minutes, the beeswax melted into the consistency that I need. Using the popsicle stick, I carefully applied the wax into my skin. Since I'm already used to getting waxed, the warmth of the wax had not been a problem. After the wax had cooled, I carefully stripped it off my skin and voila!

I never thought that it would be that easy! Do I recommend DIY waxing to everyone? Hmmm... I'm not a first time user although it's my first time to have doing it myself. I think first time users should first try it out in a salon just to get used to the heat and the tolerable pain of pulling the hairs off the skin. For those who want to try Epilin, just be careful to not burn yourself and peel the skin off. Contrary to what others do, I don't pull the wax off quickly because I can't take the risk of having wounds.

I'm a fan of DIY treatments. It's affordable and convenient. I'm gonna share my latest DIY acne treatments soon.

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I've been suffering from skin rashes since the day we arrived from Bohol. At first, I thought that it was only because of the sudden change of weather. It was raining in Bohol when we left and 'twas so hot in Manila when we arrived. Rashes started appearing on my forearms after a day. Now, even my legs have them. I am able to resist scratching them if I can but I'm sure I'm scratching when I'm asleep. I'm careful not to have blisters and scars, though. That would be a big problem for a diabetic like me.

Aside from washing the rashes with mild soap and putting on anti-itch lotion. I drink lots of liquids to make my skin more supple and less itchy. The hot summer weather is making things worse. Sometimes, I get ice cubes and rub them on my rashes to make the itch go away. We also vacuum our rugs to get rid of the dust and dustmites. I hope the rashes disappear soon. It's becoming bothersome and ugly already.

Hope you can share tips on how to treat these itchy rashes.

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"Wellness is the new beauty." The Medical City believes that beauty is more than just skin deep. Thus, the hospital has provided The Center for Wellness and Aesthetics to provide patients with holistic health services that are personalized, seamless, and guided by evidence-based medicine.

The center can cater to patients who usually go to cosmetology centers to avail of dermatological services and aesthetic surgery. In The Center for Wellness and Aesthetics, patients are assured that their doctors are board certified practitioners in their respective fields. Take for instance, these three doctors of the Center for Wellness and Aesthetics, namely: Dr. Rolando Balburias, Dr. Paul Jesus Montemayor, and Dr. Gerardo Germar.

(L-R) Dr. Rolando Balburias, Dr. Paul Jesus Montemayor, and Dr. Gerardo Germar of the Center for Wellness and Aesthetics.

Dr. Balburias serves as the consultant and director the Center for Wellness and Aesthetics. The good-looking Doc Oyie, as he is fondly called, specializes in Internal Medicine. He was once part of the show RXMEN on QTV Channel 11 which featured young doctors who catered to the medical needs of Filipinos living below poverty line. Meanwhile, Dr. Paul Jesus Montemayor calls himself the "Vein Guy." He specializes in Vascular Surgery and Endovenous Laser and Chemical Ablation. Basically, he is the guy to call when your problem is your varicose veins or spider veins. Lastly, Dr. Gerardo Germar does Aesthetic/Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. He is a member of the elite Philippine College of Surgeons. See that picture below? That's one of the nose implants that Dr. Germar uses on nose jobs.


In line with its mission of providing beauty through holistic health, The Medical City's Center for Wellness and Aesthetics provide the following services to patients:

Adult Wellness. Healthcare services for men and women ages 20-59 years old, with packages that are specially tailored to address an adult's changing health concerns as he/she matures.


Healthy Aging. A team of geriatric specialists offer comprehensive health assessments for seniors aged 60 and above, helping them live a healthy and more satisfying life.


Adolescent Wellness. Packages are specifically aimed at adolescents 10-19 years of age, covering everything from sports training to makeovers.

Fitness and Nutrition. Specialists will help in adjusting diet and fitness regimens to achieve fitness goals.



The VIP hospital suite at the Center for Wellness and Health.
Aesthetic Surgery. Board-certified surgeons provide hospital-based services that are supplemented with rigorous counselling sessions, for a more holistic approach that helps patient feel good emotionally as well as physically.


Aesthetic Dermatology. Expert and board-certified dermatologists offer a comprehensive range of treatments which, complemented with sound health advice, help patients look and feel good. You can be sure that you're getting the best acne treatments from the hospital's most reliable medical practitioners.

Regenerative Medicine. Innovative therapies involve the engineering of living cells, tissues, and organs with the goal of improving the quality of life, preventing disease, and maintaining wellness.

Aesthetic Dentistry. Experts help patients get the teeth they've always wanted for a great smile that builds confidence and positive self image.


Spa Services. Gives patients a full holistic wellness experience that benefits both the mind and body.

For inquiries, you may visit the Center for Wellness and Aesthetics at the 6th floor of the Podium Building of The Medical City, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City or call 635-6789 loc. 6386 or 6492.


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After our Bohol trip in the last week of January, I started experiencing itching on my lower arms. Rashes appeared and I was not able to resist scratching them. I think it's skin asthma and it may be because of the sudden change in temperature. We had rainy days in Bohol and I experienced extreme heat in Manila as soon as we stepped out of the airport.

Now, two weeks have passed and the days have become really hotter here. I'm starting to scratch my cheeks, too. Although I haven't seen rashes coming out yet, I'm afraid of having them. I haven't had any problems on having acne ever! I've read that sudden changed is temperature can cause acne. That plus the fact that I often sleep late because of my work. Sigh. I think I'd better start researching on a home remedy for acnenow while it's just starting. Do you have any suggestions?

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There’s a new girl turning heads all over town – but for all the wrong reasons. Meet Maria. She’s a fun and bubbly young woman whose sparkling personality is masked by a somber feature – under-eye circles. Maria’s tireless quest to get rid of her uncharacteristic eye bags drives her to try out ridiculous solutions and lands her in hilarious situations. (If only she tried Garnier Eye Roll-on first! She would’ve had brighter eyes without all the hassle.)

See more of her hilarious antics here:

• http://www.rollinbrightness.com/garnier/video_spoonfail.php

• http://www.rollinbrightness.com/garnier/video_eyemaskfail.php

But the laughs don’t end there; everyone can join in on the fun at rollinbrightness.com. You can view examples of serious problems and ridiculous solutions and post your own experience for a chance to win goodies from Garnier. Even better, you can spread the gift of brightness with your friends. Simply click on www.rollinbrightness.com/garnier/share.php to share a coupon for 25% off on the Garnier Eye Roll-On the #1 Eye Care Product in the Philippines. Take care!

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Last December 14, 2009, I was invited to be a part of a group of bloggers who visited Glowcal Manufacturing Corporation's factory here in Cainta. Glowcal is the maker of KSA Magic and other beauty products such as Kojic and Sutla. The event was also an intimate meet-and-greet with KSA Magic's celebrity endorser, Ms. Gladys Reyes.


Ms. Reyes spoke about how KSA Magic products keep her skin smooth and flawless. She's really pretty and flawless, as you can see in the photo above. She's sweet and charming, too.

She and Glowcal Manufacturing Corp. owner, Ms. Elizabeth F. Perez de Tagle, introduced us to the real deal about KSA Magic. KSA Magic soaps are manufactured through the cold process method. Soaps made using the cold process method are better than the commercially-manufactured soaps because they retain the herbal extract oils and glycerin added to it. Glycerin is the ingredient that is vital in keeping moisture in the skin therefore maintaining its softness and suppleness. Plus, cold processed soaps do not need chemicals in order for them to maintain a longer shelf life.




As you can see, KSA Magic is made with all-natural herbal extracts from lemons, calamansi, and coconuts.


Special thanks to Iris of Pinay Ads for inviting us to this event. Please visit the Glowcal corporate website for more information about KSA Magic and business opportunities with Glowcal Manufacturing Corporation's products. You can also read more about the event from these posts:

• 'KSA Magic Skin Care' Unveils New Products
• Discover The Magic of KSA Magic Skin Care
• KSA Magic Products
• Merry Christmas From KSA Magic

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I am glad that I don't. In fact, I didn't have acne problems ever since. I guess it helps that I seldom wear make up. The worst I got to have is a pimple or two when I am ovulating. Acne can be a big problem for diabetics and it's not just for aesthetic reasons that I fear having acne. Having acne means having open wounds and you know how slow it is for my wounds to heal.

What I do to avoid spending hundreds of bucks on an acne treatment session or acne treatment creams is to avoid rupturing the pimple. I don't care if my face looks ugly for weeks with a big pimple on it but I patiently wait for it to dry and peel off by itself. My skin care regimen includes washing my face with a gentle facial foam and water then moisturizing afterwards. My moisturizer is grease-free too because you wouldn't want something oily if you want to avoid having acne. I seldom wear make up and, if I do, I go for the simple look. I just put on liquid eyeliner and mascara on my eyes, tint my lips and cheeks, and loose face powder.

I've read some articles that link acne with Type II diabetes especially when the acne sufferer is beyond 40 years old but this has yet to be proven with scientific research. Diabetic or not, having acne is still a big problem for anyone. I hope you're as lucky as I am.

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