What Should I Eat to Get Beautiful Skin?

What we put inside our body affects the outside. This is why a lot of people are careful with what they eat. I don't follow a strict diet. I'm pretty happy with myself. I'm not perfect but I'm happy. I eat what I want but I am mindful of the dishes I cook and the food I eat. In general, I am not a huge junk food eater. I do get the occasional craving for chips and sweets but after that, I can do without them for a long time.

I am getting older and now I am more careful with my food choices. Aging is becoming a concern and so I want to help my body delay the signs of aging with these foods.

Salmon and Tuna

Salmon is a bit expensive here but I found a brand that sells frozen ones at a more affordable price. So, salmon has become a regular in our weekly menu. Salmon is an oily fish and you can get biotin from it. Biotin is a B-vitamin that produces fatty acids and metabolizes amino acids. It prevents your skin from becoming scaly. Tuna is another good source of biotin.

10-minute salmon dinner

Aside from biotin, tuna also has selenium which preserves elastin, a protein that keeps your skin smooth and tight. It is also believed to protect you against damaging UV rays. Half a cup per day of this canned fish can help. Be sure to choose the low sodium version. If you're pregnant, please ask your doctor first before consuming fish.

Cheesy Tuna Pasta

Sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach

These vegetables are rich in vitamin A. They enhance skin color and appearance. Eating a produce-rich diet also keeps your cells and skin hydrated. Sweet potatoes contain vitamin C and the body needs it to produce collagen. The more collagen you have, the less creased your skin looks. In a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, volunteers who consumed about 4 mg of vitamin C (or half a small sweet potato) daily for three years reduced the appearance of wrinkles by 11%. Natural botox, anyone?

Spinach has folate that helps repair and maintain DNA. They help bolster the cells' ability to renew themselves. This reduces the likelihood of cancer-cell growth. Aside from protecting you against cancer, spinach has water in it that penetrates cell membranes resulting to plumper and less wrinkled skin. 

Spinach and olive rice

Spinach is quite expensive here but I think I need to 'invest' in it. 

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are popular in Filipino cuisine. We use them with garlic and onions as a base for many dishes. When you cook tomatoes before eating them, you get a good boost of lycopene, a phytochemical that makes tomatoes red and helps eliminate skin-aging free radicals caused by UV rays. Just half a cup of cooked tomatoes or pasta sauce has 16 mg of lycopene. A good dose of tomatoes and some sunscreen will protect your skin. 

Chicken Tomato Stars Soup

Almonds 

We love nuts and almonds are one of our top choices. Almonds are packed with vitamin E and helps maintain the skin healthy. Vitamin E may also protect the skin from sun damage but of course, almonds are not a replacement for sunscreen so you still need your regular dose of SPF. 

Sunflower seeds

My son loves snacking on sunflower seeds. I'm not a huge fan. I prefer pumpkin seeds but seeing as these tiny seeds are an excellent source of vitamin E, I think I need to start snacking with my son. Aside from sun protection, vitamin E also protects the skin from damage caused by free radicals in both the environment and in the body. Excessive free radicals can harm body and skin cells.

Chocolate-covered sunflower seeds (maybe this will make me eat them)

Brown rice

I tried brown rice once before and I'd have to say that I didn't like it. Being used to white rice, it's really hard to make a transition. I know it's better than white so I've been looking around for good recipes that feature brown rice. It's worth a second shot. Brown rice lowers the glycemic index so you get lesser inflammation and acne flair-ups. I will be cooking some brown rice next week and will be featuring it in my food blog. 

Orange juice

A lot of people say that juice is actually harmful to the body as they are mainly composed of sugars. We like homemade fresh fruit shakes. I know that orange juice is good to increase the body's sugar level as it is advised for diabetics when they need a sugar boost. I also drink a glass of OJ when I feel dizzy when my sugar is low. But, did you know that OJ is also a good antioxidant that protects the skin and other cells from damage from free radicals? OJ is packed with vitamin C that also helps create collagen, your body's main structural protein. 

There you go! I think I know what you're going to put in your grocery cart the next time you go shopping. I know mine will include all of the above. Happy eating and enjoy your beautiful skin!

Feel free to Pin the photo below in your board for future reference. You can also share it with your friends.

How to Get a Natural Look for Summer

The natural look evokes freshness and youth, something that we all want to feel in the summer time. The natural look flatters women of all ages.You don't need to apply a ton of products and makeup. Just find the right ones that complement your natural skin tone to show off your clear, luminous face.

I know it's a bit early for most of my international readers for a summer post but here in Manila, the heat has started and sometimes it already feels like summer so I thought I'd write this post to get you ladies ready.

Start with a clean and clear slate

I already discussed this with you in my last post. If you want to get a clear face, check this out. 

Use a good primer

This one from L'Oreal hides the pores to create a flawless look. If you have good skin, you can get away with just this product. 

For the eyes, I like the Too Faced Lemon Drop. You can wear it as is or under eye shadow.

Foundation

Like I said, if you already have good skin, you can skip foundation. If you really must, find a light foundation that matches your skin tone. I really like True Match from L'Oreal. It's affordable and matches my skin tone perfectly after it oxidizes. If you are acidic like me, be sure to tell the sales attendant so that she can give you the right shade. 

Brows

You want natural looking brows for summer. I recommend this brow kit from Laura Mercier to fill in sparse areas of your brows. You can also just use this pen from K-Palette. Don't forget to brush your brows with a spoolie to keep them groomed. 

Eye shadow

You can skip the eye shadow but if you really must, choose a natural shade. One or two shades will do. Of course, nothing beats the NAKED palette from Urban Decay when it comes to the natural look. 

As for the mascara, it is entirely up to you. I usually skip mascara as I am allergic to it. So, that decision is yours.

Concealers and Sun Powder

If you are not using foundation, cover up dark areas and blemishes with a good concealer and corrector. I am a huge fan of Bobbi Brown Correctors. As for the concealer, try this one from Benefit. 

Get a huge brush and apply some sun powder all over your face and neck. I like this one from Laneige. 

Blush

For summer, I usually reach out for tints and my favorite tints are from Benefit. This one is Cha Chat Tint that gives me a nice mango hue on my cheeks. Dab some powder blush like this one from the MAC Wonder Woman collection over it and your cheek tint will not move. 

Highlight

Since it's summer, you want to highlight those gorgeous cheekbones. I recommend these products - one,  the Clinique Chubby Stick Highlighter; two, Benefit Girl Meets Pearl; three, Guerlain Meteorites. 

Lips

A lot of you may not be comfortable with just a nude lip. I know I am. Aside from the color, I also need some hydration on my lips. I like these products.

Clinique Chubby Sticks will allow you to skip the lip balm, same with L'Oreal's Glossy Balm. I need my Ocean Potion, especially in the summer, to avoid lip sores. The Himalaya Herbals Lip Balm does wonders to my dry lips. 

You can also use a nude lipstick or choose a color that blends well with your natural lip tone. This Fairy Touch from L'Oreal is a good match for me. 

Mist

Before you go, spritz some mist on like this one from The Body Shop (but this one is a bit oily) or this one from Vichy which is very refreshing. You can also just use Evian. My son and I love the one from Vichy. I always carry it with me wherever we go. 

Now you are ready to conquer your summer adventures! 

Feel free to Pin this to your board for reference or share it with your friends. 

How Do I Get a Clear Face?

Is a question that I've been asked several times over the years by clients and friends. Not to brag, but many professional MUAs are impressed by the quality of my skin even at my age. I was not immune to the occasional acne when I was a teenager. I didn't have a solid skin care regimen until I was in my 20's. I guess it's a combination of genes, good research. good products and luck that got me this far. But, you don't have to rely on luck to get a clear face. Today, I will share with you some tips to get a clean, clear, beautiful face.

Cleanse, Tone, Moisturize

I cannot emphasize this enough! I am still surprised that many of my clients don't do any of these steps. I usually ask a client about their skin care routine before I start working on their face and many (about 98%) say that they don't do anything, just shower in the morning then go. Some use body soap on their face while some use a facial wash.

You need to find a good cleanser that will get rid of all dirt in your face. Next, you need a toner to get rid of the deep-seated dirt that the cleanser was not able to get. After that moisturize. You need a moisturizer that is compatible with your skin type. Are you normal, dry, oily or combination?

Go to a Clinique counter for a free skin consultation. Mention me, LadyE, if you are going to Clinique Shangri-La (look for Ms. Bhaby), North Edsa (look for Jonel), SM Aura (look for Ms. Malou) or Trinoma (look for Ms. Elsa).

You can do these 3 steps twice a day. If you need to wash your face more than that, find a very gentle facial wash. Washing your face often can lead to dry skin and you don't want that.

I like Clinique's 3-Step Routine

And another thing. If you have oily skin, you still need to moisturize to balance out your skin. If you don't moisturize, your skin will produce more oil. Find a moisturizer for oily skin.

Serums

Now this step is all completely up to you. There are many serums in the market that target specific problems such as dark spots, acne spots, aging, lines, etc. You can skip this step or find a product that will help you deal with a problem area. Most experts recommend serums to your routine. I am eyeing the serums from Clinique.

Sunscreen

Premature aging is caused by sun exposure. Use sunscreen that has at least SPF 30 to protect your face, neck and hands.

My current sunscreens

Scrubs

There are many facial scrubs in the market. I have very sensitive skin so I prefer one that has small beads that 'pop' or dissolve quickly upon contact. Scrub your face gently. I like these ones as well as the one from Olay.

The best facial scrub ever!

This is a good, affordable facial scrub

You can also use a cleanser such as Clarisonic or the Clinique Sonic Cleansing Brush.

Masks

I was fortunate enough to attend a workshop by NARS International MUA Michael Hans, a few year back. He stressed that we all need to use masks at least twice a week. Masks range from super affordable to super expensive. The Korean brands have been getting a lot of raves. I, personally, have used the ones from The Face Shop, Innisfree and Etude House and they are all wonderful.

Choose one that targets your specific concerns

You can also try a homemade mask of equal parts raw honey and freshly squeezed lemon juice. For PH readers, try calamansi for a cheaper alternative. Calamansi is also known for its whitening properties. Watch out for allergies, though! If you feel some tingling or itching, get rid of the mask pronto!



Hydrate and Diet

Probably the simplest secret to clear skin is water. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Download an app to track your water intake or jot it down in your planner. You can also make a spreadsheet, print it and put it up on the fridge so that you will see it every time you reach for something. Check it every time you down a glass of water.

Another thing that plays an important role to beautifying not only your face but your whole body is having a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables. There are many fruits and vegetables that are good for the skin such as blueberries (very high in antioxidants), tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, grapes, strawberries, etc.

Vitamins are also a key element to staying healthy and beautiful. If you have special needs, talk to your doctor first before embarking on a specific diet and ask them for the right vitamins for you.

Exercise

When we exercise, we sweat out the toxins from our body. The more you exercise, the cleaner you will feel. Don't you just feel so clean and so good after a good workout and shower?

Remove Makeup

Don't sleep with your makeup on. Sure, there are makeup products out there that claim that you will have better skin if you sleep with their makeup on. I, personally, don't believe this. Makeup can clog your pores. You want your pores to breathe while you sleep. You want your cells and your body to repair itself while you sleep so you need to give them their 'space'.

Use a good makeup remover and follow up with your regular cleansing routine.

Other Tips

Avoid touching your face. Our hands are full of germs so avoid transferring the germs to your face.

I don't use a towel to dry my face. I either use a soft facial tissue or let it air dry. Towels are known to harbor bacteria and can transfer wart viruses from one person to another or even from one part of your body to another. So as a personal general rule, I avoid towels on my face.

Use a bubble net. Click here to find out more about this.

Go and see a dermatologist if none of these steps work for you. You might have an underlying condition that needs to be addressed or you might need some special meds to help you get a clear face.

If you are unsure as to how to start, the very beautiful Ms. Elsa of Clinique Trinoma gives this tip:

"Go to Clinique counters and have a quick skin consultation so that you will know what custom-fit Clinique products fit you. By religiously using it for 10 straight days, Clinique claims you will see the (sic) great skin already."

Be sure to drop by her counter for a personalized beauty and skin care assessment.

Stop comparing yourself to other people. You are beautiful, no matter what. Nobody is perfect and the more you stress about your face, the more you will have fine lines and wrinkles and you don't want that. I hope this post has been useful to you. Feel free to Pin this to your board for reference or share it with your friends.

*This is not a sponsored post. Special thanks to Ms. Elsa of Clinique Trinoma and to the wonderful lady who inspired this post. 

Upping My Sun Protection

After this event and my conversation with the guest dermatologist, I thought about getting really serious about my sun protection. I use a few products every now and then but this time, I was determined to make it a part of my daily regimen. 

Fortunately, I went on an impromptu trip to Watsons before leaving for Singapore last year. I discovered this Sun Protect and White Sunscreen from Nivea. It's safe to apply on the face. I was really scared, I have to admit because I have super sensitive skin but turns out, I have nothing to worry about. The blue logo has been a trusted brand in my house for many years. I am so glad I tried this. It's not sticky at all. It actually feels like moisturizer, just a tad thicker in consistency. It easily gets absorbed by my skin. I'm not really sure if it gives me a white cast because I am acidic but I think you can easily cover that up with foundation or even this product. 

I wanted to stock up on a few travel toiletries and one of the products on my list was a good sunscreen. Most of you know how hot the weather gets in Singapore. This one from Nivea is good to use on the face and the body so I brought it with me. 

While in Singapore, I spotted this cute Sunplay sunscreen and it's a whopping 130 SPF. It was included in the 3 for SGD5 promo so I got three. Not. Regretting. It. At. All. This is liquid sunscreen that is easily absorbed by my skin. I apply it before going out. It's not sticky and the smell is okay. It's not great but it's also not offending. I'm down to my second bottle. Sunplay is also available in Watsons and the slightly bigger bottle costs Php300+. I have yet to explore PCX to find this product. 

Summer is coming up fast so you better start upping your sun protection too! Maybe these products will suit you well. Let me know in the comments below. I'd also like to know what your favorite sunscreen is. 

L'Oreal Glossy Balm

I am not a huge fan of lip gloss. I just don't like the sticky feel and I don't like my hair sticking to my lips. I'm pretty sure there are newer products out there that are not sticky but still, the damage has been done and I don't wanna go back there. 

I don't like lip gloss but I do like a good lip balm, especially a tinted one like this from L'Oreal. The shade is My Babydoll and it looks like this:

My lips are also acidic so after an hour or so, the tint gets just gets a tad darker which is okay. What I like about this is that I don't need to use a lip balm before I apply it. It's both a lip balm and a lipstick. When I'm rushing, I use this product. I'm normally a lip balm + lip stick gal but this is also a great alternative. 

The color payoff is good and it lasts for a fair amount of time considering it's a drugstore product. The packaging is quite nice, very Clinique Chubby Stick like. But, given a choice between this and the Clinique Chubby Stick, I'll take my original Chubby Sticks any time, any day, thank you very much. 

Lucido-L Neat and Keep

It's always a treat for me to visit Watsons, PCX or Mercury Drugstore here because I get to discover a lot of things. If that's a treat, then imagine my delight when I am abroad. I always make it a point to checkout the drugstores and beauty shops to find new products and products that are not available here. One of those products is Lucido-L. I haven't seen this here. I'm not sure if they have this at PCX though. I still have to check. 

I normally use the wax from Bench Fix to tame my unruly baby hairs. The Lucido-L looked pretty (sucker for cute packaging) and it says that it's non-sticky. That's good enough for me. 

I am so happy that I got this because it works so well! It doesn't harden my hair or make it oily/sticky. It feels so natural and it tames those unruly hairs. It's light and it smells nice too. Just a small amount and my hair is all set.  I am looking forward to going back abroad so that I can stock up on this. 

Lucido-L Neat and Keep is available at Watsons Singapore. 

Going Back to Garnier

I used Garnier products when I was a young adult. I don't know why I stopped using them but recently, I had the chance to try them again starting with these:

I must say, I bought them because they were 50% off at Watsons sometime in November. I found them at the Walter Mart branch and grabbed a bunch along with some Dove body wash which were also at 50% off. 

I use the serum creams to moisturize my super dry elbows and knees. They are actually the only products I've tried that make my elbows and knees soft to touch. They are normally rough and scaly even with lotion. I use them at night, before going to bed.

The face scrub is also great. I use it on nights after removing my makeup to really get rid of the dirt on my face. They are gentle enough and don't cause any rashes or breakouts. I'm really loving Garnier again so I'll be on the lookout for more promos, new products and of course sales!

Hand Cream Collection

I am such a sucker for cute packaging and while I was gift shopping at Watsons, I found this set of hand creams. I was smitten and I immediately put it in my basket seeing that it was the only one left. 

I didn't have high hopes for this product as it is a house brand but I was really surprised. The creams smell really good and they are easily absorbed by the skin. I am using the Vanilla Sugar variant and it doesn't leave a greasy feel. My hands are so abused from all the chores and work that I do day in and day out so hand creams are really a must-have for me. This set is super affordable yet effective. Sure, it's not L'Occitane but it's a nice stand by on my vanity for hectic days. 

Taking Care of Our Teeth

I had a dentist visit a couple of months ago and it's always a pleasure going there as I always learn something new. For one, the dentist said that a lot of people my age (early 30's) have really bad teeth so she was surprised that I only had minimal damage. She asked me about my routine and why my teeth were so shiny. I never really knew this until she pointed it out. She also taught me a few things on how to better take care of my teeth.

Use medium bristles

I use soft bristles because I have sensitive gums and they easily bleed but I find it hard to clean my teeth. The dentist said that medium bristles are the way to go to really get rid of the stuff that sticks to our teeth. So, I changed toothbrushes and could really tell the difference. She said that if you use soft bristles, in just two weeks, food will accumulate in your teeth and you might need another dentist cleaning.

Brush softly

Since I use a soft toothbrush, my tendency is to brush harder so my gums suffer. Now that I'm using medium bristles, I am kinder to my gums.

Floss

Floss at least once a day especially if you have teeth that are so close together like I do. It's also a great way to take care of sensitive gums.

Mouthwash

After I floss, I follow up with a mouthwash. Just find one that suits you. If I don't get to floss, I use mouthwash. The dentist said that she uses dahon ng bayabas (guava leaves) as a mouthwash. Just boil the leaves and you have a cheap mouthwash that's effective. She said that it freshens breath and lasts the whole day. I can't do this so I just settle for the ones that can be bought from the store.

Toothpaste

It's so hard for me to find an organic toothpaste that meets all my requirements so I settle for the popular brands.

By the way, if you've ever read/heard that story about the colored stripes on toothpaste tubes, it's not true. It says that green striped toothpastes are all natural, blue is natural plus medicine, red is natural and chemicals and black is all chemicals. Apparently, the stripes are markings so that the machine will know where to cut the tubes. Whether you believe this or not, it's still good to check the ingredients in the products you buy.

I found a tube of Darlie toothpaste in my SIL's bathroom so I asked about it. I've been wanting to try it ever since I saw it on my first trip to SG but never got around to buying some. She said that it's a good toothpaste and it's cheap so I went ahead and bought some.

I've been using this for a few weeks now and I'm pretty happy with it. I think it made my teeth a bit whiter. It also has a nice taste and I can't complain about the packaging (which what attracted me to it in the first place). I like that it looks like an old school toothpaste because of that man and the font used. 

I made a quick Google and found out that Darlie is only sold in Asia but is under the Colgate-Palmolive brand. (So that's why it tastes familiar). It used to be called Darkie but that name is disrespectful so Colgate-Palmolive changed it. They changed the logo too. Read all about it here. 

Other ways to take care of your teeth

If you have sensitive teeth and gums, avoid too sweet, too sour, too hot and too cold food. You should also massage your gums after brushing your teeth. With clean fingers, massage your gums in a circular motion. This is part of good oral hygiene. And of course, don't forget to visit your dentist for regular cleanings.