The Caravan of Beautiful People (Stop over: QC)

precy acabado-chan

full-time wifey/domestic chef to Richard (who she refers to as "the main financier") and proud mom to rinoa; does part-time consultancy and personal shopping service to fund her "kaartehan" (term hers).

It was not difficult to convince precy to join my Caravan.  she's naturally pala-ayos, kikay and fashionista, which i bet would rub off to her unica hija, Rinoa, my inaanak whom i haven't seen actually in person yet.   precy was a classmate in grad school but she has a grad degree from AIM as well.  i remember that i was pretty surprised learning back then that she worked for the PNP when she was all dressed up when she attended our classes.

(At dahil kinarir niya ito with 30+ pictures and a 4-page write-up, i copied-pasted everything as is.)

Joining Pie’s Caravan
 

When my Kumare Pie asked me to join her “caravan”, I got so excited that it has become a priority over a project that I need to finish.

Pie said that I tell about my typical day, in terms of beauty regimen and what beauty stuff that comes with it. It, then, hit me that my days now are indeed– typical. Ever since I decided to become a full time mom to my adorable baby girl Rinoa, my daily beauty routine has also changed.

But I am RATHER happy that it did! Before, I should only spend less than an hour preparing myself before going to office. That includes a fast shower (facial wash, germicidal soap, shower gel, feminine wash, shampoo, conditioner), fast after-bath regimen (tone & moisturize face, body lotion), apply corporate make-up, dress up, then hand lotion, and go!

Right now, daily baths are a ritual really, as I can spend more time inside the bathroom while baby is asleep, or while the yaya is looking after her. As I need to take photos to be included in this blog, I just realized that our bathrooms are filled with lotsa lotsa supplies! We live in a three-storey townhouse that has two bathrooms. So what I did was to fill up both bathrooms with supplies so that we don’t have to bring supplies every time we use either bathroom. Hence, photos here are taken from those two bathrooms.

bath 1 pic

Basically, our bathrooms should contain different hygiene essentials. For our oral hygiene, like any other household/bathroom, there are flosses, toothbrushes, toothpastes, and mouthwash. Unlike other couples who have a “Hers” and “His” sink, our stuff are both in one place.  (bath 1 pic)

Bath 4 pic

Between me and hubs, it’s him who is required to be extra hygienic orally since he had gingivitis years ago because he had to wear teeth braces. So aside from dental floss, he use a special toothpaste Gumtech (while I use Colgate classic white – I don’t like the taste of other “flavoured” toothpastes), and finish it off with a one-minute gargling of mouthwash (Plax or Listerine), but when he has ”singaw” (mouth sore), he needs Bactidol. Ako naman, I use a different toothpaste before going to bed at night. I found this toothpaste with Chamomile and I love how it keeps my breath fresh when I wake up in the morning. (bath 4 pic)

Bath 2 pic

Bath 3 pic

For haircare, we also use various products since, as what Pie also mentioned, using the same shampoo will make the hair limp. Hence, the many shampoos and conditioners I can find from the supermarket are stocked in our bathroom hehe (bath 2&3 pics). However, I guess because of using a variety of shampoos, I had a serious case of dandruff in February this year (unlike when I was pregnant where I enjoyed several months of niiiice luster of my mane), so I had to use Nizoral twice a week for about a month. After that, the derma said that I need to use it once a week as maintenance. I also now use my baby’s shampoo because it is so gentle and smells so good.

Lush happy hippy

But among these products, what I love is this Lush hair and body gel, which is very handy when we travel since it can already be used for the body and hair. It smells so good and refreshing and it also makes my hair really soft and smelling good. It also feels so silky on my skin.

Essentials 1 pic

For my after-shower ritual, it’s also actually pretty basic, but like our bathroom I am also guilty of having a lot of “essentials”! (essentials 1 pic)  I have to thank Pie for this project since I was “compelled” to at least organize my beauty essentials, and I was also able to eradicate those that need to be thrown away. Also shown in this photo is my accessories box (which I will blog about later since they a gazillion!) Let me “categorize” these stuff according to their purpose.

Face pic

Every woman should have realized by now of the beauty “must” – wash, tone, moisturize. (“face” pic) I am lucky not to be plagued with acne and I was told I have tight pores. All I need to do is to take care of it. Right now, I use Olay face cream if I am going out since it also serves as sunscreen because of its SPF. But if I am just staying at home, I use Neutrogena or Celeteque toner and moisturizer. I also now have a once-a-week formula from my derma to take away impurities that an ordinary toner/moisturizer can’t eradicate. In the evening, I also apply an eye cream to avoid dark circles around the eyes.

For the skin, I use several moisturizing lotions. As I said, the key to maintaining skin at our age is to keep it moisturized. I use Cetaphil lotion after a long bath since bath soap/gel can exfoliate and take away a serious amount of moisture from our skin. When going out it’s a must that we bring a mosquito repellent lotion, kase mahirap na. Moms can’t get sick, as they say! Oh, it’s summer now and the sun is so cruel to our skin so there’s got to be a high-SPF lotion slathered all over us!

Hubs pic

I also use several deodorants. While hubs only use one brand – something from Marks and Spencer, I use Nivea or Rexona. (hubs pic)

Hair pic

For my hair, I usually use a leave on conditioner after I dry my hair to prevent it from looking dry. At times when I like to rock some curls, I have an curl activator gel and viola, instant curls! (hair pic)

Liz Arden pic

For fragrances, I am very basic. I cannot use strong smelling perfumes since hubs has asthma. He, himself only use Versace Blue Jeans because its smell is very subtle. I am so fond of Johnson’s baby colognes and hubs also love it on me (though when I was still single I was so into Victoria Secret’s colognes and D&G’s Light Blue). Last December, hubby’s aunt gave me an Elizabeth Arden set, which I actually love since it also has a very gentle smell (liz arden pic). My good friend also gave me this nice Italian brand cologne and only smells like a baby cologne so I also love it. (When I got pregnant, I was prohibited by the Doctor to use perfumes or other strong smelling fragrances so I gave away my Victoria Secret’s. Also moms know this that we can’t  be too fragrant anymore since it’s not good for babies to inhale chemicals that are in perfumes. It’s bad for their respiratory system).

Finally, I finish it off with a hand lotion – Rose pour Reines by L’Occitane.

Massage 1 pic

By the way, I also included here the massage oil and lotion we bought from Nurture Village Spa in Tagaytay during our romantic getaway there. Hubs sometimes request some relaxing massage and that’ I use since it has a very relaxing scent.

What’s in my bag?

If you’re wondering why I ended my beauty regimen entry is because I want to have a different blog about my makeup (photo is pending, as my new traincase is also pending as hubs promised to buy me a new one, and while I am still waiting for the MAC Wonder Woman collection, which I am getting from the Middle East as it’s sold out here), my accessories, my dresses and of course, my beloved shoes.

Brown 1 pic

Brown pic

Beltbag pic

So right now, I am showing you what’s inside my bag. Unlike other girls, I am not a bag person. When I buy a bag, it’s more of function over design or brand (though I have several favourite brands) or if it’s uso or not. Since I became a mom, having a bag that’s convenient to carry has become a must for me especially when I am going out with my baby. Right now, my personal favourite is this Ferragamo sling bag, where I can put and easily get my essentials. (brown1 pic here) it only contains my wallet (a large leather wallet from Brazil given as a gift), my cellphone, digital cam, wipes, compact powder, etude house nude lipstick and a Maybelline lip balm stick.  (brown pic here) Sometimes, I also use another very convenient bag – this Guess belt bag which also contains what I mentioned above, except the big wallet because I can put my cash in one of the zippered pockets. (beltbag pic)

Bag pic

Bag 1 pic

Bag 3 pic

But if I need to bring a BAG, I usually bring my Paul Smith bag, which is big enough to contain most of my stuff. (bag pic) Inside is a bag organizer I got from Landmark, which I really love because it keeps my things organized – something very essential for a DISorganized person like I am. (bag 1 and bag3 pics) My stuff are contained in small bags, again to keep me sane when I look for my things inside my bag. I see to it that I also have an “eco bag” because I hate bringing plastic bags, not only because it’s bad for mother nature but really “wa poise”!

Clinique 2 pic

Beauty Bar pic

Beauty Bar 2 pic

The Clinique green bag went with the Clinique stuff I got about 3 years ago. Now it’s very useful for my basic make up needs (for retouch). (Clinique 2 pic here) – a Shiseido eyebrow pencil, a nude lipstick from Etude House, Maybelline lip balm, basic eye shadow powder, Revlon compact mirrow/powder and Shiseido loose powder. Meanwhile, the pink organizer (from the Beauty Bar) contains more make-up (I have this “artista attitude” of which I make sure that I always look presentable when I got out, hence the makeup essentials). (beauty bar & beauty bar2 pics here).

First Aid pic

I also see to it that I always have a first aid kit inside my bag since I am a trained first aider (by Red Cross). I bought the kit from Mercury Drug and it contains basic first aid stuff – bandages and dressings, wound cleaners, medications and ointments, and a digital thermometer. 

Coach pic

Coach bag ring

Lastly, I like to share my favourite bag accessory, this Coach bag ring – a photo frame bag/key ring from Coach, because it has my baby’s so cute pic! (Coach pic here)

So there, that’s all for now since I need to sort out my MESSY wardrobe, shoe closet and organize my accessories, which are by the way, mostly my creations so I am super excited to blog about them. I am also thinking of blogging about my baby’s “regimen” – yes shes has! Thanks Mare for this. I am reminded how maarte I am. Sigh!

Precy and Rinoa

wow! kinarir mo ito, mare! hindi ko ito kinaya i-copy/paste, as in! hehehe.  but i am going to read this again because i realized i do need to exert effort to "moisturize" and be more conscious to use sunscreen.  i don't kasi. i might not be a wash and go girl but my ritual is not as labor-intensive as yours! grabe, bilib ako how you get to balance every thing! hats off! can't wait for your next entries, especially Rinoa's regimen!!