These are the Havianas I made during the first day of the Make Your Own Havaianas (MYOH) 2013 event. This yearly summer tradition has grown to be a year-defining event. I know, I know, that seems like a push for a slipper event, but I realized after many years of MYOH, I've grown to define the yearly tradition in different ways.

It started off as as merely wanting a unique pair, so pahirapan before to select a combination that would make my ultra-colorful pair the only one of its kind. Other years, it was about goth drama and no-nonsense style (so came my blacks with skulls), aligned with how busy, stressed, and anxious I was at that time. Last year, I kind of zeroed in on the process of choosing my Havs.

For this year's MYOH, I wanted to celebrate my dreams, wishes, and goals. My 2013 Havs are meant to perk me up, inspire me, and remind me that each step I take should be a step towards achieving my goals. O diba?! Positive spin naman.

So, here are this year's Havaianas. My slippers are slim soles in pool green with silver straps and two pins. Pansinin n'yo pins ko! I luuuurve them.;-) They're a pair of wings, one for each strap. Hopefully, my slippers will remind me to always dream big and fly high. ;-)

Top soles, the thicker slippers, go for P895 and slim soles, the more feminine looking ones with thinner straps, go for P945. Each pin costs P100-P150 each, spending on your pin of choice. If you can't seem to make up your mind, grab this year's commemorative style for P995, a super-cool glow-in-the-dark pair designed by Filipino illustrator Dan Matutina.

So, what'll define your slippers this year? Scoot on over to the MYOH event and customize your own pair at the Rockwell tent now. It's the last day today. Hurry!

Oh emmm geee, Kalerkah. I knew we women end up eating some of our lipstick. I just didn't know we ate that much. To put it in perspective, I got my kitchen scale and measured "several lbs."—ang dami!

This was my startling discovery from Celeste Lutrario, vice president of research and development of Burt's Bees, during the brand's recent lip color launch. You see, I looove my lipstick. So, I eagerly soaked up the facts on lips and got some new news on lippies. Here are some things I snooped:

1. Lip skin is thin, with only 3 to 5 layers, vs. skin which has 16

2. Lip skin does not have sweat glands which balance moisture levels

3. Lips do not have a lipid layer, meaning it has a very weak barrier function and has difficult time protecting itself, drying faster and become chapped more easily

4. Lip shines and glosses can be all natural! Yey!

Popular for its tinted lip balm, Burt's Bees expanded its portfolio to create other lip products with different finishes. The part I love best? All their lip products are all-natural, giving the nourishing benefits of botanical oils, butters, and waxes now in great skin and effects. 

Burt's Bees reported that most of the ingredients used in synthetic lip glosses are petrachemicals, which provide the high-shine texture and tack we've come to expect. What Burt's Bees did was to find natural ingredients that can mimic the effect of these synthetics. Their products use: sunflower polyglycerides (gloss, shiny finish, pigment stabilization, hydration) + ahoba essence with beeswax (moisturize, shine, body) + apricot wax blend with shea and cocoa butter (glassy shine) + natural pigments. 

I think the Burt's Bees products are perfect for girls who like the natural look. I slicked and swiped on the different lippie formulas and here's how they look. I think I still like the balm the best, but the rest of the formulas are pretty fab, too!

During the lip colors launch, we were made to paint our versions of women puckering up. T'was such a fun afternoon! Keri na ba painting ko? P'wede nang pang-alternative career? Hahaha! I think the rest of my gorgeous friends in the beauty industry are natural artists! Nahiya naman ang skills ko. 

So, after a very lovely afternoon with Burt's Bees, I developed two resolutions: 1) to paint more (it's a fab, relaxing release) and 2) to be very very particular about what touches my lips. Hmmmm...then again, shouldn't all respectable women be particular about what (who) touches their lips anyway? ;-)

I want to share with you some of these great lippies! Tweet about this post and why you think it's a must-read and tag me (@zoitseems) and get a chance to take home some Burt's Bees loot. Yey!

I've always been a fan of BB creams. I remember attending my first BB cream presscon for Korea's top BB cream brand and recall being immediately smitten. Imagine: An all-in cream for everything? Amazing! I was sold! Later, when I flew to Korea for another beauty brand, I hoarded my stash! They had all sorts of BB creams there: pearlized, light, extra-moistirizing—name it, they had it!

It took a couple of years for the rest of the beauty brands to catch up. Soon, counter brands had their own versions. What I was waiting for, though, was the BB cream made for me—well, for Southeast Asian skin, that is. So, imagine my thrill when Pond's introduced their BB+ cream. My kikay heart got sooo kilig!

Not one to take all product claims at face value (even if I may be a little biased), I wanted to make sure that the Pond's BB+ Cream was The One I was looking for and more. So, I put it to the test.

I applied it as easy as one would a face cream, dotting it on all the right areas and spreading it even. It was light on the face and what's more is that it came in my favorite formulation, too: anti-aging! Woohoo!

I roadtested Pond's BB+ cream to achieve different looks. For each look, I topped the BB+ cream with a light dusting of powder, defined my brows, and chose a pop-bright color for my lips. I loved the look. I even tested it on extremely hot days when I didn't want anything else on my face.

Here are some of my sample looks:

I'm quite fairer now than I used to be, so the shade, while a tad too light for some, can work for me. I still can't wait for Pond's to introduce more shades though (I hear the other shades are available in other markets already!). I'm crossing my fingers that those shades come soon!

Nonetheless, I've already started recommending Pond's BB+ cream to my makeover students! I strongly reco it to skincare newbies and to those who want a quick, easy fix.

As a side kwento: Oh by the way,excuse my cheesy title! I couldn't resist; it was too tempting. (My friend, Donna Cuna-Pita, fashion director of Cosmo magazine, would understand all about kulit headlines, right, Dons? I miss you, dear!)

Obviously, there's a reason why I didn't name this post "How To De-clutter Your Dresser." You see, admittedly, I don't exactly know how to do that (obvious ba?). I'm not an expert at de-cluttering
(I've been trying though, so cut me some slack!). In reality, I'm quite the beauty pack rat, so my dresser is packed with sooo many beauty faves. 

While I insist that I need EVERYTHING on my dresser top, I've decided to come up with this ultra-edited list of top 5 beauty musts (trust me, kulang 'yan! But, it's a start!). Make this list a checklist of sorts when you're shopping for your own dresser staples.

1. Day cream. Yes, you need one. And, it doesn't matter how flawless or maselan you think you are; having and using a day cream regularly is a definite must. The right day cream gets your skin supple and healthy. It takes care of your skin while giving you day-time protection (from harsh rays, free radicals, etc.).                                                                                                               

2. Night cream. You know how they say your body recuperates while you sleep? Well, the same applies to your skin. A night cream is packed with nutrients your skin needs, only concentrated and harder-working. It repairs damage and allows your skin to make the most out of that special healing time. 

3. Special creams. Okay, I'm cheating here. But if I enumerated all the different creams and serums I love, I'd definitely go way past the promised count. There are just so many special creams for different purposes. In my case, along with the acceptance that I can't have my 20s body back came the realization that my skin is (gasp!) aging! So, I have special serums and creams for my fine lines, crow's feet, and sun damage. And, I have even more specialized creams that I use for certain occasions. Exfoliating masks for dreadfully dull days? Check. Night brightening capsules if i need to look fresh for an early morning affair? Check. Lashline serum to grow my lashes? Check. 
              Now, I'm not saying that you need all of these products. Instead, know which products to invest in to get your desired outcome. The point here is really this: You need to know your beauty needs more intimately. That way, you can take advantage of all the many creams and potions available in the market to address your specific skin concerns. 

4. Cleansing products. Never underestimate how important it is to clean your face properly at the end of the day. Even if you aren't a fan of piling on the makeup, your face still needs a thorough cleansing at the end of each day. I love my ultra potent cleansing and makeup-removing creams. And since I'm quite OC-OC about cleansing, I follow this up with an eye makeup–removing solution and a skin-balancing and cleansing facial oil, all before using my facial wash.  

5. Makeup! I love experimenting with makeup on myself and on other people, so I own quite an impressive stash of makeup, if I may say so myself. On my dresser are my ultimate favorites (yes, I have several trolleys housing all my other makeup stash). In reality, you don't really need a lot (Sorry na! OA lang ako). I reco, though, that you put some makeup on your dresser that'll help you achieve  a "five-minute face." Then, add some products that can help you transition that day face into a flirty night look.

I'm sharing with you this list of must-haves because I think every woman needs to take care of herself—and needs to have the proper loot to do exactly that. Besides, at this day and age, it's no longer excusable to look less than presentable. Happy shopping!

(Photo of my dresser. Okay, I admit, it totally needs a spring cleaning. That's my summer project. I'll post another pic once I've fixed up my little beauty nook.) 

I’m on a spin pins craze!

The hot summer months had my hair in a perpetual bun. Okay, so did some lazy days. Either way, humid-hot or lazy-daisy, I so love how these spin pins save me from using my ratty hair ties. They’re so easy to use; simply screw them in to create an easy dishevelled bun.  

Experiment with side buns, double buns, and nape buns to create different looks. I think these pins are gentler on the hair, too, since you don’t have to squeeze your strands into a tight ponytail.

The smaller spin pins were sent by Goody (Thanks, guys!) and are available in your fave beauty stores. And, the big screw pin was a gift from my sis (Thanks, te!). I believe she scored it at a bazaar. 

I know I’ll use these long after the summer ends.

(On another note: With these pics, I realized that I really need to have my hair colored. Dyahe na! Kamusta naman ang mega-dark crown and lighter strands?! I can imagine my hairstylist friends giving me a tongue-lashing. But, well, that’s another story.)

Although I know I own more than enough pairs of slippers than I really need, I don’t think I’ll ever tire of designing my own slippers at the annual Make Your Own Havaianas event. I’ve had candy-colored pairs, nautical ones, and neutral designs. In some years, I made pairs to give away to BFs (haha!) and BFFs. I know, I know, it’s a guilty pleasure. But, I’ll justify and say that there’s really something about owning your own unique pair of slippers that makes beach trips a lot more fun and fab. Plus, it’ll make your slippers recognizable, especially when you leave them on the shore while you take a dip in the water.

Check out my pair this year against the white sands of Malapascua, Cebu (will tell you more about my awesome trip later on). I took my pair out for a sunset stroll, and I loved how the pop of pumpkin color made my slippers absolutely sun-perfect.

Here, some of my time-tested tips gathered from years of MYOH events. 

1. Canvass for the styles and colors you really like. Use the color charts and style wheels to imagine how your very own pair of Havaianas will look like. Once you see the style you want, queue up ASAP. You can always change your mind while in line.
2. Choose a neutral colour combo. I realised that of all my Havs, the pairs I use the most are my black-gold/brown-gold/silver-grey/cream-gold combos. Somehow, the neutral pairs are easier to match with my general wardrobe. To get more mileage for your slippers, get a pair that’ll work well with your closet. But, if you’re feeling experimental and want a dose of summer color (like I did this year), grab a pair that can go well with summer finds in your closet. That way, you can guarantee that you’ll wear your  pair for long. My new pair goes well with all the warm tones in my closet. Plus, anyone knows that I absolutely love gold!
3. Brand it! I like putting my name on my Havs. I’m lucky to have a short nickname, so it works out fine. Grab pins that are cool and quirky to express your own personalized style. I’m in love with this year’s aviator pin! 

If you’re planning to hit the Make Your Own Havaiana’s 2012 event, do sotoday (May 14) at the Rockwell tent. It’s the last day! Get creative and grab yourself your own customized pair…or get your mum a pair of slippers as a belated Mother’s Day gift. :)

Hi miss Z! :) what are the best drugstore makeup that you recommend? (foundation, concealer, powder, eyeshadow, lip gloss/balm, blush/cheek tint) I'm on a limited budget kasi, but i don't wanna sacrifice some guilty pleasures (like makeup. haha) MEGA THANKS AND VIRTUAL HUGS TO YOU!Asked by: josephinemarch


Hi, dear! You don’t have to spend so much to look good. My too-simple friends (a.k.a. lazy-but-pretty lasses) often blame budget constraints for not looking their best. I think that kind of thinking wastes away your pretty potential. There are a lot drugstore finds you can try! Honestly, while I love posh kikay stuff, I can’t do without my drugstore staples, especially for everyday use. Here are some samples to try: 

foundation- I like Revlon’s foundation. Maybelline also has affordable options, too!

concealer- Elianto (available in department stores) has a creamy concealer that can work for those spots you just must cover up.

powder- While not exactly available in a drugstore, Prestige at the Beauty Bar has shades that can work with Pinay tones, and they’re not too steep.

eyeshadow- Human Nature has a nice, wearable palette. 

lip gloss/balm- Fanny Serano has a gloss range that works well. One variant of their glosses even has a built-in mini flashlight that makes it absolutely club-friendly.

blush/cheek tint- I’m not really a fan of cheek tint. I prefer powder and cream blushers. In2it/Fashion21 have stick blushers that lend your cheeks a nice sheen.

*I can reco so many more drugstore options, but I encourage you to browse through the aisles to see alternatives that will work well on your skin.

Love, 

Z

Hi Zo! I'm a big fan! I super admire your classy and feminine taste! I'm amazed with the stuff you have inside your bag- I'd like to know where you get to buy "just a drop" and "aromatherapy diet aid". Tried lookin at PCX but there's none. Hope you can help me. Thanks in advance!Asked by: bluesonnet



Thanks, bluesonnet! Too sweet! By the way, sorry it took me forever to reply. You can buy “just a drop” in Ace hardware. There’s even a local alternative (also available there) that serves the same purpose. As for the aromatherapy diet aid, I got it at the ECHOstore at Podium. ;-)

Love,

Z

In my former job, I remember having to sift through boxes upon boxes of products to find the ones that deserved prime dresser space or a rightfully demanded share of your vanity budget. In as much it was any beauty junkie’s joy, the task wasn’t easy. Counted among these many products were EDTs, EDPs, and mists galore. 

And, we smelled them all: scents that smelled of fresh blooms or cut grass; scents with a heavy layer of musky aroma; perfumes that were so pungent, they made you gag; and those that were just pleasantly perfect.

Dropping in at two perfume launches today got me thinking: Exactly what is it that makes a scent sophisticated? And more importantly, exactly when is it finally time to switch from a baby cologne—the same you’ve had since grade school—to your own womanly signature scent?

I say that the time is NOW.

Still hesitant? Then, this may be reason enough: Apparently, the olfactory bulb (in charge of your sense of smell) has access to your amygdala, which processes emotion and your hippocampus, which controls associative learning. Our brains therefore associate certain scents with certain memories through conditioned learning/responses.

Think of it this way: If your BF/ex/fling/crush, associates your scent with a happy, kilig moment, then simply smelling that scent will remind him of you. Likewise, if he nuzzles in for a sniff, it’ll also likely bring back that loving feeling. Get the point?

So, use your signature scent as your personal gayuma (love potion). It’s your perfect tool to subliminally seduce him. Go-ness, girls! I-karir na ‘yan!

Try these new lovely scents on the shelves:

Jimy Choo’s latest parfum lends a sexy-sensuous scent to the skin. While it was unmistakably feminine, it wasn’t a “shy” fragrance at all. In fact, it was bold yet mysterious, a perfect combination for having someone lean in closer for a wonderful whiff. I think the scent smelled of intoxicating chocoloate—but that’s probably just me. Then, I found out that it has orchids, orange, and toffee. Well, that’s close enough, I guess. All I know for sure is that it has a “look-at-me” appeal that smells sumptuous, if I may say so myself. If the heels are any indication of sexiness, then this scent can have you “step up” in the right direction.

Bulgari’s Jasmin Noir is a seductive scent that’s great for nights out. Familiar with Bulgari’s strong sensuous scents, I think this one was an interesting addition to their roster. It wasn’t as strong as the others (which I enjoyed), but it had Bulgari’s signature magnetic pull to it nonetheless. It has a citrus-y sweet first sniff, a comfy-floral center note, and a hint of woodsy jasmine as the smell tapers off. Hours later, I can still recall how it smelled—and if you’re wanting to be remembered, then that would definitely be a good thing.

 In my career, I’ve met a lot of men who know their threads, but I also know that the greater majority of men aren’t style studs. So, what happens when a guy gets a style-lift?

Last Saturday, I went with my friend D to shop. His tipsy request the night before was to give him a style revamp, and I gamely took on the challenge (see my pre-shopping musings here). So, I slipped on comfy Toms and got  ready to brave a Saturday afternoon of shopping. 

I knew it was going to be challenging, and we were expectedly beat at the end of the long afternoon. Now, it isn’t like I don’t enjoy doing the mall rounds; in fact, I used to “require” myself to see what was out there on a regular basis for my former job. This time, though, was extremely different. We were shopping for someone who had a set style sense, one who hadn’t developed the habit of styling up even for happening nights out. For D, comfort was key, and while I agree that comfort is the cornerstone of confidence, sometimes, the parameters of one’s comfortable corner can be quite limiting.

So, off we went to raid the stores and brave the dressing rooms. With a working budget in mind, D fitted so many outfits, cringing at some and agreeably nodding at others (“P’wede…,” he would comment at his reflection,kulang nalang wink with a Mr. Pogi pose). D had a budget pegged, and we were building a wardrobe from ground up, so he wanted pieces that were affordable but good, stretching his budget to the best of our abilities. From F21, Oxygen, and Memo, Folded And Hung, Penshoppe, and Bench, to Maldita Man and People Are Poeple—I grabbed hanger after hanger, and D probably saw more dressing rooms in one day than he has in the past couple of years. 

After the long afternoon, we were spent. And, D beamed when he found pieces that made him comfy in his skin. He had some paper bags to show for his “hard work” that afternoon, and he scored four tops, two pairs of versatile pants, and a whole new attitude about fashion and shopping. He still has a long way to go to complete his 30something closet, but it was a good start.