Spotlight | Althea A'bloom.

I love sheet masks. And I love them a lot.
Aside from being my favorite step in my Sunday skincare routine (sometimes I add them to my mid-week skincare routine whenever I feel like it), sheet masks are probably THE skincare product that I will never run out of and can never live without. I buy them in bulk whenever I'm in Korea, hoard them whenever they go on sale here in the Philippines, and they have a lingering presence in my Althea shopping cart - almost all of my previous orders from Althea had a sheet mask or two included.

So imagine my excitement when Althea announced that they'll be a launching a new in-house brand, with sheet masks as one of its introductory products. That excitement turned to amazement when Althea's freshest product drops finally arrived in the mail.

Fresh drops from Althea! :)

I call this the 'Althea A'bloom Box' - an assortment of products from the A'bloom brand, the new beauty brainchild from Althea. 'Fun and funky' is the signature of A'bloom, and I can see that from the get-go. I mean, just look at the packaging - the cute prints and vibrant colors are guaranteed to grab your attention.

This box screams of cuteness.

Now let's take a closer look at these A'bloom products, starting with the ones that piqued my curiosity the most - the sheet masks. There are four fruit-based variants in A'bloom's sheet mask line:

A'bloom Sheet Masks, Php 20 each.

Ac-Me-Peach - An anti-blemish sheet mask that purifies and soothes irritated and sensitive skin. It's infused with peach extracts and tea tree oil to combat acne, regulate oil, and clarify skin.

Water-Me-Long - A moisturizing sheet mask made with watermelon extracts and lavender that help retain moisture and keep the skin hydrated and supple.

Sparkle-Me-Bright - A brightening sheet mask that brings dull skin back to life. Enriched with green tea extracts plus a double dose of vitamin C from lemon and lime, this sheet mask banishes dark spots and brings out the natural radiance of your skin.

Avo-Cuddle-Me - A nourishing sheet mask that helps keep wrinkles at bay while protecting the skin from free radicals and other harmful elements from the environment. Made with avocado extracts and hibiscus, this sheet mask is rich in antioxidants and helps improve the skin's elasticity.

My favorite variant among the four A'bloom Sheet Masks.

First off, I love the quirky names of these sheet masks. They're puns of the ingredients that they're made of, and that sounds fun and witty to me. Second, I love how budget-friendly the A'bloom Sheet Masks are. Priced at Php 20 each (that's less than half a dollar), they're probably the most affordable sheet mask in the market today. And finally, I love how juicy these sheet masks are. They're soaked in essence, which allows you to wear the sheet masks for at least half an hour. 

Sunday is sheet mask day!

Among the four variants, the Avo-Cuddle-Me would have to be my favorite. Mildly scented, non-irritating, and very moisturizing, the avocado sheet mask made my skin soft and supple without the sticky feel. My only gripe is that the sheet mask seems a tad too big for my face. That, or maybe I have stretched it out too much in the process of unfolding the sheet mask and sticking it to my face.

Next up, we have the BHA Blackhead Blaster. It's a slick stick that helps remove whiteheads and blackheads easily and pain-free. 

BHA Blackhead Blaster, Php 200.

Formulated with natural BHA (beta hydroxy acid) from extracts of white willow bark, this product cleanses deep into your pores to remove dead skin cells and excess sebum. The BHA Blackhead Blaster also contains a mixture of apricot seed powder, charcoal, and tea tree oil which tightens pores, clears the skin, and inhibits the growth of blackheads and whiteheads. 

Bye, blackheads!

I don't have blackheads and my whiteheads are nearly invisible, so I asked my sister to try this product instead. She loved it right away! Aside from the ease of use (you simply glide the stick onto targeted areas, massage it for about a minute or two, the rinse it off with lukewarm water), you also get instant results. My sister easily rubbed all the blackheads off her nose, leaving her with nothing but soft and clear skin afterwards. I saw her blackheads 'coming out' and I was grossly impressed, lol.

Finally, we have the A'bloom Meringue Puffs. These beauty sponges are the first-ever beauty tools made by Althea, and they come in two different sizes - Giant and Baby. The Giant Meringue Puff is sold individually, while the Baby Meringue Puffs come in a set of three.

Giant Meringue Puff, Php 100 each.
Baby Meringue Puff, Php 140 per set of three.

Soft and bouncy, these Meringue Puffs are made with non-toxic, latex-free materials. These puffs are free from harmful chemicals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, chrome, and antimony, and are safe to use on sensitive skin. Both puffs can be used wet or dry. When used wet, the puff expands to almost twice its size and gives your (base) makeup a glossy finish. If you want a regular, matte finish, you can simply use the puff as is. 

Giant Meringue Puff vs. Baby Meringue Puff.

Personally, I like the Baby Meringue Puff more than its big (bigger) sister. I feel like they're softer, fluffier, and they're easier to clean. I use the baby puff to apply cheek tint on my face, and to blend concealer under my eyes and around my eyebrows. I would have preferred a pointier tip for these meringue puffs, but I love them nonetheless. 

As of this writing, the A'bloom Sheet Masks are still out of stock at the Althea website. The response to these sheet masks was so overwhelming that the website almost crashed when offered a 10+10 introductory sale. Well, who wouldn't go crazy when you can get 20 sheet masks for Php 180 (that's less than $4 when converted)?! I know I would!

Femilift | A Rediscovery of Feminine Power.

Mother's Day is this Sunday (May 14), and I do hope most of you have already made 'celebration plans' with your moms and/or wives. For those who still have nothing up on their sleeves for the occasion, how about a weekend getaway at the nearest beach resort? Or Sunday brunch with the family with your mom/wife not doing any kitchen work? Better yet, why not let your mom or your wife take the day off altogether and let her enjoy some much needed pampering at SvelT'i?

You may not know it because she refuses to talk about it, but the beacon of your household might actually be needing treatments that go beyond facials and are more intimate than liposuctions.

Photo credit: SvelT'i.

And by that I'm talking about stress urinary incontinence. It is a medical condition that mothers may experience but choose not to discuss or even consult with a doctor, for fear of embarrassment or shame. It consists of a series of temporary, fast, but very palpable urinary leaks that are triggered by ordinary things like laughter, sneezing or coughing. The lady may be in the middle of a conversation with friends or having a laughing interaction with teachers at a PTA meeting, then suddenly, she gets an involuntary spasm in their muscle down under, followed by a familiar wetness that comes with a pee. It is a very awkward and uncomfortable moment.

Stress urinary incontinence happens when the vaginal muscle becomes lax and is unable to prevent those sporadic involuntary leaks. Several factors that cause this laxity in mothers could be natural ageing, childbirth, or a very active sexual life. One or all of these factors can strain the orifice’s tightness and loosen it up.

Formerly, to fix this issue, vaginoplasty surgery was needed. However, thankfully, these days, there are non-surgical solutions to this problem that many women face. According to Beautiful Canadian Laser and Skincare Clinic, which offers vaginal rejuvenation in Vancouver, vaginal tightening is ideal since it does not involve medications or Kegel exercises. They use a device that inserts a wand, which delivers radio-frequency energy to the area, to stimulate collagen. The collagen stimulation is what tightens the skin in that area. It's a completely painless process that only needs to be maintained once per year.

Femilift is the cutting-edge treatment that can heal mothers of this medical condition, and restore their confidence as an attractive woman of poise and power. Dr. Lalaine Salazar, Medical Director of the SvelT’i Health and Beauty Centre, explains: “Femilift applies concentrated thermal healing and micro-abalation to the vagina’s inner layers. . A laser probe is used and releases a laser beam deep enough into the vagina’s submucosa level where new collagen is formed. This stimulates the regeneration of collagen which tightens the tissue. At the same time, it contracts the vagina’s elastin fibers.”

Results and contra-indicators
Dr. Salazar continues, “The restored female genital tissue strengthens the vaginal wall and reduces or eliminates stress urinary incontinence. It also restores vaginal laxity and enhances lubrication and the sensitivity of vaginal tissue.”

The SvelT’i Health and Beauty Centre also conducts medical screening for each patient before administering or approving the treatment. Procedure cannot continue if any of the contra-indications are found like active bacterial infection, immune system deficiency diseases, pregnancy, malignancy, vaginal bleeding, photosensitivity to laser, pelvic organ prolapse, pacemakers in the body, uncontrolled diabetes, and menstruation.

Moms can experience the renewed sensitivity and tightness of their vaginal muscle after three short sessions. The treatment takes place in a quick 30 minutes and requires no downtime; the patient can go back to work immediately. It is non-invasive, and very safe, using separate individual probes for each patient.

“The one post-treatment requirement would be no sexual activity for three days after undergoing the Femilift procedure. It’s a little sacrifice considering the benefits the patient will gain. Stress urinary incontinence can diminish if not disappear after a session,” says Dr. Salazar.

She pauses then adds with a smile, “The removal of the vaginal laxity could also rekindle the exciting sexual intimacy with their partner so the results are more than worth the wait.” That rekindling of passion in the bedroom, along with the elimination of the urinary stress incontinence, may be the best Mother’s Day’s present yet!

To know more about SvelT’i’s treatments, please inquire at (02)332-7546 / 09188-SVELTI (783584) or visit the clinic at 5F South Insula Condominium #61 Timog Avenue, Quezon City from Mondays to Fridays from 9am-6pm and Saturdays from 8am-1pm.

You may also visit SvelT’I FB page at www.facebook.com/sveltiph and IG account @SVELTI_PH.

Hair Extensions Are Versatile.

The appearance of one's hair is a major attribute when it comes to being appealing. If you want to be enticing and noticeable for having beautiful hair, the answer may well be using hair extensions

Adults and kids both like to add some fun highlight extensions for special occasions and holidays. An example is using pink to show support for breast cancer awareness month, and an array of colors and extensions that can be worn for other events that occur during the year. This is a way to add style, color, and a remarkably natural feel and give you a hairdo that you have desired for some time but couldn't achieve with just your own hair.

An array of colors.

To create a perfect match, you can choose from high quality 100 percent human hair from Europe, Asia, India and more. There are also micro ring, i-tip and fusion hair extensions. For something extraordinary, there are Fantasy Highlight Extensions!

You can make a statement even with just a few strategically placed strands. Clip-in feather hair, whether real or synthetic fiber, can add an unusual flair. Fantasy Color Hair Extensions are also a terrific way for salons to get started in the hair extension business. All the equipment needed can be provided and include a hair extension iron, micro rings and pliers, shields, remover solution, and an assortment of fun colors.

When considering these exciting additions to your 'crowning glory', pick yours today from the vast selection offered by Vision Hair Extensions and 'feel like a million dollars' as you change your hairstyle to something unique. You have the convenience of ordering online and can preview the hundreds of offerings and ask any questions by contacting our friendly and helpful staff.

Smudge-free with NOSMUDGEE!

Since I wear contact lenses, I'm very, very careful when I apply makeup on my eyes. I keep my hand as steady and light as possible, as I do not want any foreign matter entering my eyes - think specks of eyeshadow.

Now when it comes to my eyeliner or mascara, I try to apply them with a light hand, too. A shaky hand can lead to unnecessary smudging or smearing, which can ruin the complete look.

But now that I've discovered NOSMUDGEE, I consider this dilemma solved.

The NOSMUDGEE Mascara Shield is a basic tool that helps create luscious, gorgeous lashes without smears or smudges. To use, simply position the NOSMUDGEE Mascara Shield behind the lashes, hold it vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, as you apply mascara. That's it!

Once you're done, all you need to do is wipe the Mascara Shield clean. Now it's ready for reuse!

With NOSMUDGEE, applying mascara without the aid of a mirror can be possible! How's that for skill and talent? Plus, you can be assured of gorgeous, eye-catching lashes with every use.

Whether it's full volume, thick and dramatic, or gorgeously-curled lashes that you want, the NOSMUDGEE Mascara Shield can do the trick for you. I'd say this product is a real treat for all the makeup junkies out there!