Aside from hair and skin care, nail care is of primary importance amongst women---students, housewives, and career-empowered ladies.  In fact most ladies (and some men too) deliberately give time for some self relaxation, pampering and maintenance to project a good image of one’s self amongst significant others—friends, colleagues, strangers we meet.

This image doesn’t just entail the physical aspect.  While it is true that caring for our hair, skin and nails through availing hair spa services or perhaps body scrub and some classic manicure and pedicure services can help us enhance our looks, these services when done on a regular basis (like once or twice a month) can help us mitigate stress and overcome anxieties brought about by the daily problems we encounter in our lives. 

 This is true as the very idea of seeing yourself given care or being pampered makes you feel good about yourself in an instant! 

Perhaps the only problem is, we do not want to be spending too much on these right?

Good thing that there are spa centers that offer services at a very reasonable rate without having to sacrifice the quality of service and the presence of good available options to help us achieve that goal of pampering ourselvesJ

Being a single mom, I consider this a major concern.  Having a baby while thriving to succeed at work, juggling the two while maintaining a good positive image is in fact a tough work. 

I am working on something that I owe to myself—to my body, including my nails!

“Mad About Nails”

I have been staying in Bulacan for two years now.  Bulacan being a province far from Manila ( I meant San Rafael Bulacan; 2 hours away from Manila under normal traffic conditions), gave me a hard time looking for the places I used to go to such as my favorite/ trusted salon, waxing station, nail spa center, body massage center or facial care center. I figured out that, I have yet to explore the nearby towns such as San Ildefonso and Baliuag, Plaridel and Pulilan to check out the available establishments I can go to for my pampering needs.

There are a number of centers actually but only a few I can trust.  Mad About Nails is one them!

Today was my fourth visit to this nail spa center and they haven’t failed me since; I even referred them to my relatives.  Here are some points why I LOVE this nail spa center that it made it to one of Everything Lovely’s top picks!

1.     Mad about Nails offers reasonable rate for manicure and pedicure and foot spa packages, with no additional cost for the type of nail polish brand you want to use.  I always avail their manicure-pedicure-foot spa package because it is budget friendly especially to a single working mom like me!

2.     Unlike in other mall-based nail spa centers, Mad About Nails carries sophisticated and high quality nail polish brands, all imported and have complete collection. Check out the photos!

 I tried OPI lacquer limited Edition Mariah Carey Collection. The liquid sand texture is lovely and suggests sophistication. I’m happy with my pick!

3.     Friendly staff, competent nail technician.  Like other mall-based nail spas, Mad About Nail’s (nail techs) trim toenails and finger nails in a gentle manner. They remove only the dry skin unless you ask them to remove your in-grown.  In this way, the toenails do not look off and unsophisticated.

4.     They offer waxing services at a reasonable rate compared to mall-based spa centers!  I have tried their underarm waxing, the brand that they use doesn’t contribute much to the darkening of the skin. 

5.      Cozy place! I love the ambience.  The interior design gives you that ohh-factor.  You’ll think you are in a city mall or something like it, when actually you’re in Bulacan! Nice interior, whoever designed it, good job. 

Mad About Nails also offers Hand Care, Nail Extension, nail art, foot care, paraffin spa treatment, Mani and pedi for kids, eyelash enhancement, threading, waxing, whole body scrub and ear candling.  Avail any with discount when you get a pampering card! 

They likewise accept nail spa parties.  Visit Mad About Nails at 2nd floor PLM building DRT hi-way corner Benigno Aquino Ave, Bagong Nayon, Baliuag Bulacan.  The building in front of Jolibee flyover across Puregold Bagong Nayon Baliuag.

What’s your mad nails story?

Xoxo
Caroleen

Like ELC on FB_

Follow me on instagram: caroleenish

Hashtag your nail pics!

#everythinglovely #everythinglovelybycaroleen 

“Kili-kiling maputi, kili-kiling maitim, kili-kiling brown, kili-kiling magaspang, kili-kiling may buhok, kili kiling may “putok.”

Let’s admit it. We tag so many labels for that small part of our skin we can never hide--- though we try so hard. (forgive my pun) especially when we are lazy about keeping our armpit looking "sweet".

Armpits, under arms or in tagalog, kili-kili is one of the delicate parts of our body.  Delicate in the sense that, there will be times that even our emotional or social aspect is affected whenever “it lets us down.”

Issues concerning underarm are various and tends to be subjective in nature---cultural, racial and gender-based. Filipinos like it hair-free, French women love it otherwise and yet they find it sexy and seducing. Men and women struggle from their individual issues concerning their pits, different nationalities have unique regards on their armpits. Individual and commercial preferences likewise apply (such as… how do you think models sell themselves? Kili-kili is included of corz!).

Men worry mostly about the odor since underarm hair is just natural to them, though sometimes it is an issue amongst their partners when their pits do not grow much hair like (they are supposed to be there, right? 0.o). Women on the other hand worry about the texture of their pits—how smooth they are, how chicken-skinned as well.  Odor is an issue as it gives them a negative impression amongst crowd (men and women), skin tone also matters---the question whether why it turned brown or “sunog” or why it is so Belo-white! (And. HOW).

The thing is, how your kili-kili looks like apparently suggests something about the kind of person you are (or so they say). Who wouldn’t appreciate white, smooth and hair-free kili-kili right?

But is this proper? I mean, if she is a morena, why would you expect her to have rosy white pits? 

Major concerns of the Pit:

Arm pit color and hair aside from odor or too much sweating are the major concerns of Filipinas. 

According to research, the most common cause of darkening of armpits is its natural characteristic. Our pits’ skin are located UNDER arms hence it is just natural that friction transpire because it is “under” and hence, it causes skin irritation due to the rubbing of skin.  Those that have fairer complexion may not suffer significantly from this but those that are morena or those who have darker complexion (kayumanggi, morena, etc.) may have darker armpits due to the darkening pigments called melanin that work whenever skin cells die due to irritation from friction.

“The most common cause of darkening of the armpits is in the anatomy, the rubbing of the armpits against each other,” says dermatologist Isabel Ballesteros-Mangubat, MD. She explains that, as a rule, anything that traumatizes the skin darkens it. Trauma or irritation alerts your melanocytes, cells that carry the darkening pigments known as melamin. Once stimulated, the melanocytes grow bigger. Consequently, your skin becomes darker (direct quote from femalenetwork.com).”

Other causes may be due to hormones, pregnancy (but not all), irritation from shaving, peeling, waxing, plucking, and deo use.  Hence our desire to be hair-free may consequently be affecting our normal armpit skin-tone causing two problems now.

Based on the researches I made, shaving traumatizes the skin 100%.  When we are shaving, it is actually the skin that we are shaving and not our hair!  We are causing damage to the skin just to keep it free of hair.  If you are then tempted to shave, think about the blades that glide on your skin.   

I must admit I had this bad habit for many years until I listened to my pits.
Underarm products, services, commercials and brands should then be reviewed critically before we just apply one to our pits!

Bottom line

It is just normal and proper that we look after the welfare of our dear armpit.  However, I just hope that people would also try to lessen the stereotype they created amongst people who have darker underarms or those who prefer it with some hair present.

We do not really know what happened along the way.  Allergies, hormonal changes, pregnancy, and even economical status can be factors that may have affected negatively people’s armpits. 

We shouldn’t be OC about armpits of other people.
"Mas maganda parin ang taong may totoo ot mabuting ugali kaysa maputing kili-kili lang. "
BUT OF COURSE, let’s still keep our kili-kili clean.  Our kili-kili is part of our entire body, so give it extra-care.

Caroleen’s brief pit tips:

a.    STOP shaving. The blades remember.
b.    take a bath regularly and make sure you rinse off the soap in that area well.
c.    Mind your deo/anti-perspirant brand.  Some are too strong they burn your underarm skin.
d.    Go for natural treatment like use dayap, or kalamansi to whiten or smoothen it as other chemicals from your underarm whitening set can WORSEN the case.

I didn't expect that this lipstick can be as dry as an old pastel crayon stuck in a drawer for years.  

This was really the initial reaction i had when i first applied Mac Ruby Woo on my lips.  The first aplication didn't even seem to cover heavily on my lower lip as the dryness refuses to color my lips fast and solid-strong.  

And yet, I still find Ruby Woo as one of the sexiest red red red lipsticks there is:)

My recent purchase of Mac lipstick has got to be Ruby Woo, I said to myself months ago after purchasing Mac candy yum yum (click on link for my write up on lipsticks and some tints _) which has neon pink shade.  

Though I met Ruby Woo during my first Mac purchase, I still chose Mac Russian Red as it was very well-recommended by the Mac booth attendants.  Perhaps as a first time user of the brand Mac, they knew that Ruby Woo would quite surprise me (and perhaps turn me off!) But it didn't. 

After reading few reviews about Mac Ruby Woo, I decided to give it a try and see what they really meant by Ruby Woo causing the lips "dry."

Ruby Woo: How was it then?

My verdict: well. It-is-dry. Mac Ruby Woo has a matte-finish just like Russian Red except that Ruby Woo is seriously FLAT and DRY.  Russian Red, though matte and likewise dries my lips a lot, has a shinier finish and thus smoother effect (like by 2%) compared to Ruby Woo. 

Mac Ruby Woo costs 1000php in Mac Trinoma.  You can check it out and apply it on your lips to see if it fits "your kind of lipstick." 

I can say that I'm a little "sadista" when it comes to my lips as i do not have the habit of putting on lip balm and/or lip gloss to smoothen it.

I like my lips dry and chapped.  I don't feel comfortable with sticky, shiny lips (don't ask me why, I really do not know why I have that kind of preference).  
 i supposed this is the very reason why I fell in love with the brand Mac, especially their matte lipsticks as it is the only brand that makes my lips real dry compared to other brands that have matte-labels but produce satin-finish on the lips. 

Shown here in the picture are MAC russian red, retro and ruby woo swatches:
 top pictures shows  ruby woo (first application).
left picture: 
first line is russian red
second line is retro
third line is ruby woo
on a pale/ fairer skin (white complexion).

Meanwhile, the right side of the picture shows the same order of lipstick swatches only applied on a medium-skin complexion.

So far, Ruby Woo completed my most coveted Mac top finalists!  

(1) Russian Red though is still my favorite. Classy and lovely. first application, you get the red red red that you want!
(2) Creme Puff (not on the picture) is the least of my favorite because it has a pale pink almost nude effect that makes me look sick when i apply it.
(3) Candy Yumyum is the most girly and fashionable barbie pink lipstick that I have so I carry it with me whenever my mood suddenly swings.... :)
(4) Retro is perfect for laid back style as it is simple and offers a sub-fashion statement that gives lovely look in a photo. It is not daring so i love wearing it in an ordinary day. (it was given to me by my loving auntie, Tita Ann).
(5) Ruby Woo is now my second favorite Red lipstick. i love the way it creates smudge, it gives me a rockstar bold red attitude.  

"it's red, and hell i care if it smudges!

Mac Ruby Woo is flat and hence it is perfect even worn in a bright broad daylight.  It doesn't look off yet it still gives that classy smeared or stained-look.  If you are planning to purchase Ruby Woo, i hope you are warned about it.  As for me, really, am enjoying it:) 

Tell me what you prefer: dry lips or shiny/glossy one and why? I'm not closing doors to that glossy pout:) C'mon share! :)

comment below!:) xoxo

caroleenish:)

caroleen wearing Mac Ruby Woo.

Bright, bold and delicious. 

These are three adjectives I can totally relate with how this creative babe Viracel “Cel/Vicel” Enriquez plays with color on bare faces.

A graduate of Mass Communication in an exclusive for girls school in Manila, Vicel has an eye for beauty bursting with creativity from a touch of imagination.

Simply put: This girl can kick ass with just her eye shadow on.

How about that? 

Trained by Lani Arcedillo of Make-Up Design Academy in November 2010, Vicel felt much confident with how she delivers professional make up services being part of the said institution.  It is no wonder also that Vicel was considered a top student, even “Valedictorian” of their batch because of her skills in make up application. 

While it is true that Vicel did not have to worry too much on how colors should blend as her personality is so game with it, Vicel admits that handling clients is still the challenge of the profession as the personality of each client differs and the purpose of the event  as well as the requests of clients should appropriately be reflected in her work.

When asked how she handles challenging clients, “you still have to be polite (and professional)” she shared.  

As one of Vicel's college friends, I am just so glad to know that she is making it! The industry of make up design may be called "elite" as not all artist actually have the REAL talent and not all are able to get proper training to deliver the discipline of this fine art. I admire Vicel so much for having been able to put up Kiss N Make Up in which she has serviced a number of make up gigs mostly through referrals of satisfied clients!

Vicel is the type of person that does not sit through long idle time.  Hence, when bored or when she has nothing to do, she naturally feels the instinct of "creating" something or just be productive.  This is how this babe keeps up with her passion for art (constant updating, constant exploring).  Yep, it's not just make up she plays with, include pastels, watercolors, and so much more. Vicel is gifted with a talent of expressing herself through fine arts. 

oh yeah and singing:) 

Amongst the popular individuals Vicel has given service together with her mentor Ms. Lani, include Dingdong Dantes. To date, Vicel has a number of clients for her make up gigs ranging from individual modeling shoots to large wedding ensemble and the like.  

As a student and as a professional  make up artist Vicel has been popular amongst her friends because of her friendly and perky attitude.  Most of the time, you’d find Vicel along with an excited crowd as she get to share her talent in nail art application amongst her friends in college.  Throughout the years, her interest in eye make up gave her a blessing of a freelance career as a professional make up artist since early 2000.

According to her Beauty and Fashion Photographic Make Up is her forte. No wonder she can pull off different looks, from sweet naturale and boho and bright gysy to bold and avante garde  Check out this bridal make up look she tried on me and other fashionable looks she tried on her models:)

Natural Bridal Make Up

what i like about her:
 Aside from her make up skill, 
Vicel owns a complete professional make up collection. She maintains and ensures proper sanitation of her make up brushes and sponges, you can just sit back and relax,..and  of course, ultimately, just feel beautiful;)  Vicel takes care of everything nicely.

https://www.facebook.com/vicel.enriquez
https://www.facebook.com/pages/kiss-n-makeup-by-Vicel/364616393631801

*credits to the photographers (Vicel, Bryan Monsod et.al.)
photos were sourced from Vicel's site and Kiss N Make up Page