ADVERTORIAL



A new superhero is in town! And it's no other than wANNEderwoman to help us fight darkness for that sexy #ANNEderarms we've always wanted. She brings with her the power of the awesome Belo Essentials Beauty Deo which now comes in two variants -- “Original” and "Shower Fresh".


If you loved the scent of the Original version, you'll surely love the Shower Fresh variant. I know I did. The Original one was already very pleasing to the senses and lets you stay smelling good all day. It got even better with the Shower Fresh scent which leaves you feeling revitalized!

I used to pluck the hairs of my armpit then I stuck with shaving them. Using other underarm products would cause it to sting so bad that it literally brings tears to my eyes and leaves me with what looks like chicken skin. Eeek! With Belo Essentials Whitening Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant, I never get that irritating sensation even right after shaving. It's so cool (literally!) and you'd immediately know it doesn't contain any harsh chemicals.


I really love this Belo Deo spray version because it's just right for me who's always in a hurry and can't wait for the roll-on to dry on my skin before I put on my shirt. You know, that's just a little pet peeve of mine. The Belo Essentials Whitening Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant spray dries instantaneously! How awesome is that? (Attention: People from the Land of Tardiness!)

There's no denying I'm a huge fan of Belo products simply because I believe in the Belo Authority. I have tried many, many, many, many products imported and local ones, but no one knows the Filipina skin as much as Belo. And I, for one, am 100% Filipina. The equation is pretty clear and simple. It just adds up. That's why I get really good results and I'm confident that a lot of Pinays, if not the entire population, can benefit in such highly effective products made especially for Filipinas.


BUT WAIT! There's more...


Just as I have become a believer in night creams, products that are applied when you sleep seem to work remarkably since your body is at rest. I'm no scientist and I can't give you an in-depth explanation but those hair treatments I apply at night and the softening facial creams I use have in fact made a huge difference and aided my quest for vanity. For this one though, I'm lucky not to have very dark underarms to begin with; but if you have that particular problem, then what have you got to lose, right? Give it a go, I urge you!


Now we have the power to FIGHT DARKNESS with the BELO BEAUTY DUO!

For more details, visit http://annederarms.com!

You can also follow Belo Essentials on:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/beloessentials
Instagram – http://instagram.com/belo_essentials
Twitter - http://twitter.com/belo_essentials

ADVERTORIAL


Just when I thought things couldn't get any better, the Belo Authority releases and offers us the additional intensive whitening body cream and face and neck cream to their already proven and highly effective Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid Intensive Whitening soap bar that I first tried back in July of last year. I just finished trying this set for 2 weeks, so read on for my review.

BELO INTENSIVE WHITENING KOJIC ACID + TRANEXAMIC ACID SOAP BAR (SRP PHP 59.75)


It comes as no surprise that there is magic happening here. This Belo Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid soap bar alone can lighten your skin as fast as a week. (See my before and after photos in HERE.) We know that the magical combination of kojic acid + tranexamic acid works because it is very effective in inhibiting both the production of melanin (you know, the substance that's responsible for dark skin pigments) and tyrosinase (the enzyme that controls melanin production). The 65g soap bar lasts about 2 weeks of use. So I suggest cutting it in half to get more out of it.


The Belo Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid soap bar exfoliates skin like no other. In fact, I was using an exfoliating body wash prior to using this soap . Even after first using it, I found that I still had dead skin and the soap was able to exfoliate some more! Wow! Now some people, especially those with sensitive skin, might find this soap strong and I did find that it does sting a little bit as it gets rid of my dead skin. The good thing is that it isn't drying compared to other kojic soaps I've used in the past.

BELO INTENSIVE WHITENING KOJIC ACID + TRANEXAMIC ACID BODY CREAM with SPF 30 (SRP PHP 199.75)


You see, this is why I said things just got better. Because now we can be further protected from the sun's harmful rays with the SPF 30 of Belo Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid body cream. It's essentially a moisturizing lotion that is easily absorbed by the skin and keeps it moisturized throughout the day.


The product is pretty thick like regular sunblock but without the greasy feel. It has the same scent as the bar soap which is actually quite strong as I would have liked. The fragrance does not stay long, however, to my relief.

BELO INTENSIVE WHITENING KOJIC ACID + TRANEXAMIC ACID FACE & NECK CREAM (SRP PHP 249.75)


Of all the facial creams I've tried, this is the most hygienic one! Why? Because, look! It comes with a spatula and you don't have to dip and re-dip your fingers all the time. We all know bacteria breeds like there's no tomorrow on moist environment, so this is quite a lovely surprise from Belo Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid face and neck cream. Again, the scent is pretty much the same as their body cream which is quite strong for my liking but it eventually goes away. It is a rich cream that is absorbed by my skin quicker than I anticipated and leaves my skin really, really moisturized. I could skip my BB creams or foundations with this. And what's even better? The SPF 30 has got you covered... like literally, from the sun. Woot!


And now to the fun part... let's take a look at my BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS of using the Belo Intensive Whitening Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid soap bar, body cream, and face & neck cream.

Before and After using Belo Intensive Whitening Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid soap bar and body cream

Ta-dah! On my arms, it may not look super substantial compared to my old blog post but since I hadn't been under the sun lately, my skin color isn't as dark as it was prior. Also you can notice that the yellowish pigment of my skin seems to have lessened. It is a subtle but still obvious effect.

Before and After using Belo Intensive Whitening Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid soap bar, body cream, and face & neck cream

On my back, it still has the same effect. I didn't turn into an albino (thank goodness!) but if you click on the photo to make it larger, you can see that my skin's pores have tightened and it looks more radiant than it was and with less yellow pigment. Take note that this is only with 2 weeks of use; now imagine doing this for a month or more. That's definitely going to do a lot of skin whitening!

Before and After using Belo Intensive Whitening Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid soap bar and face & neck cream

The photo above shows how significantly it managed to lighten my neck area. You know I never really paid much attention to it before and I just realized that my neck is the area that gets exposed a lot. And again, it is the yellow pigment that seems to have been targeted by these products and now I have a lighter and more radiant skin after using Belo Intensive Whitening Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid.


I can only imagine how fast skin whitening can be after all the summer fun in the sun. If you're looking for ways to fade that summer tan quickly later on or even just to lighten any dark spots, remember that Belo Intensive Whitening Kojic Acid + Tranexamic Acid can surely help you with that.

You can get this set in all Watsons, Mercury Drug, department stores, groceries, Amazon and even from Lazada.com!

Two months ago, I discovered the next best thing to the fountain of youth. I tried it and I loved it! I never thought my skin could benefit from such a thing but then again, there's no denying that I'm not getting any younger. Who am I kidding, right? But who says we can't try to stop aging without having to drastically change our image to preserve what we think is beautiful?

Enter BELO NEUTRACEUTICALS COLLAGEN POWDER DRINK with Hyaluronic Acid.

Thank you, Nuffnang Philippines, for this!

The first time I heard about collagen powder drinks was from a good friend of mine who is also a huge fan of all things Japanese. She told me all about the benefits and it was pretty obvious how her skin glowed. She was a living statement to this thing. It was during that time I was seriously battling an acne breakout, so it wasn't a top priority in my beauty to-do list. I asked her if it would exacerbate my skin condition and she said it shouldn't. She was using a product she ordered from Japan and just when my skin started to get better, Belo announced their newest product! It's available at Watson's, Mercury Drug, SM Beauty, and all leading drugstores. Heck, you can even just order it online at Lazada Philippines and get it delivered to your doorstep!



For the average Maria Clara, when you look at the cost, one would think it's pretty steep for a beauty drink, correct? That's what I thought until I tried it for a month (finished 2 boxes or 28 sachets) and I conclude that it's definitely worth it! Disclaimer: I am not paid to say this or even write a review. I'm doing this because I want to tell you guys how it improved my skin significantly. I do use topical creams to get rid of acne and blemishes, but this here is all about BEAUTY FROM WITHIN as Belo Authority so aptly puts it. And I couldn't agree more! If you follow me on Instagram, you can see how my skin got so much better... and even FASTER than I anticipated! And this is greatly due to such supplements that I've been taking.

It feels like 45 deg outside! Time for a refreshing drink! 🍹 But wait, there's more... Here's the secret to staying young and #beYOUTHiful! @belonutra gives us the anti-aging power to prevent wrinkles and retain the elastic and supple characteristics of our skin with a collagen powder drink -- a dietary supplement which I find essential when it comes to obtaining beautiful skin! ☺️👍👍 It's time to youthify! 😊 CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! Beautiful skin, you'll be mine! #bastaigatsikat #bbloggers #beauty #blogger #blog #skin #skincare #drink #instadrink #beautybloggers #pinay #belo #belobeauty

A photo posted by ✨✨✨✨MyMaria✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Oct 10, 2014 at 12:46am PDT

What I love about the collagen powder is that you can add it to any of your favorite drinks and even to soups if you wish. The powder turns jelly-ish when it comes in contact with liquid but dissolves shortly after. It smells fishy if you think about it but not in a bad way. There is also no after taste to me. It is recommended to take 1 or 2 sachets a day. I'm not entirely sure you can OD on a collagen supplement or any supplement for that matter, but I do know that it would be a waste of money if you took more than you need. So one sachet a day was enough for me. Hey, I'm not *THAT* old yet. Tee hee.

Time check! 🕔 It's collagen o'clock! Looking younger is a daily drink away with Belo Collagen Powder Drink! You can mix it with your favorite drinks or even with soups! As you can see from my recent photos that my skin is apparently so much improved since I started drinking this at least once a day. Tried and tested that it works for me. 👍👍 I highly recommend this to anyone looking for an effective #antiaging product. 💕 #bastaigatsikat #skin #skincare #beYOUTHiful @belonutra @sampleroomph #SampleRoomPH #belocollagen #BeautyfromWithin #instadrink #coffee ☕️

A photo posted by ✨✨✨✨MyMaria✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Oct 10, 2014 at 2:08am PDT

This drink, however, contains marine collagen so if you have shellfish allergies or something, I would advise to get a professional or expert consultation first. You know, just to be sure. Beauty products including supplements work on a case-to-case basis. For me, the Belo Collagen Powder Drink made it possible for my acne scars to heal so much faster and restored the youthfulness of my skin in a short span of time. I mean come on, with pimples and acne, the biggest fear really is to have holes on your face the size of moon craters! If you saw how bad I broke out the last time, then you'd be worried what your skin would be like afterwards.

After finishing 2 boxes of Belo Collagen Powder Drink.

That photo above was taken with just powder and a little bit of concealer on my face. I've been out and about already, thus the obvious shine on my oily face. I didn't have to layer lots of foundation anymore to hide my imperfections because my skin seems smoother and more supple, and if not for the little red marks, you'd think I never had to battle acne problems. Take a look at this before and after makeup transformation I did 4 weeks ago.

BEFORE & AFTER #makeuptransformation with my current acne covering technique. (See previous post!) Fortunately my acne hasn't flared up lately so no major bumps on my face but only blemishes to conceal. It's far from the perfect flawless face you see in my regular #FOTD posts. But as you can plainly see, my skin has way much better texture now thanks to a month's use of @belonutra collagen ☺️👍 #BeautyFromWithin #beYOUTHiful #belocollagen #bastaigatsikat #belo #pinay #bbloggers #beautybloggers #beauty #instabeauty #makeup #instamakeup #motd #muotd #eotd #lotd #beforeandafter #naturactor #acne #pimple #nofilter

A photo posted by ✨✨✨✨MyMaria✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:10pm PST

Don't you just love it? I mean, have you seen my makeup transformation prior to that? Anyway, I wouldn't say that the drink alone took care of my acne woes, I did do water therapy and changed my diet. But one thing is for sure, it contributed significantly to my current skin condition, which is acne-free and my skin's looking healthier than it has ever been.

But wait, there's more! I also added to my regimen the BELO NUTRACEUTICALS GLUTATHIONE + COLLAGEN CAPSULES.

Life is what you make it they say... Well, I say... Aging is an option! Stay young and #beYOUTHiful with @belonutra! 💕 Experience #BeautyfromWithin. Get your FREE samples from @sampleroomph and get #Belofied! 👍👍 #belonutra #belo #SampleRoomPH #bastaigatsikat #beauty #instabeauty #pinay #bbloggers #beautybloggers #bbloggers #skin #skincare #health #belocollagen #collagen #drink #gluta

A photo posted by ✨✨✨✨MyMaria✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Oct 10, 2014 at 8:01pm PDT

Now I know what you're thinking. Do I really need that? Well, I'm not sure about the whitening part because that's not really my concern but since it has collagen and I've seen what collagen can do for me, I immediately grabbed the opportunity to try out some samples from Sample Room. You can also buy this online at Lazada Philippines which is currently on SALE! If you're in the US, Belo Nutraceuticals Glutathione + Collagen Dietary Supplement is also available for purchase at Amazon.


After finishing the 2 blister packs I got, I can assure you that this product did not break me out. I've tried some gluta capsules in the past that ended very badly for me because not only did I flush money down the toilet (these madafaka are exxxpensive!), they also broke me out! When something does that for a prolonged period of time, then stop using such product. That's not purging anymore. It means you're not "hiyang" and you're better off looking for other options. Like I said, it's a case-to-case basis. So imagine how happy I was when Belo Glutathione + Collagen gave me no adverse effects. I couldn't say it whitened my skin because honestly, it would take a lot of glutathione capsules, whatever brand it may be, plus Vitamin C to really see some changes. That's the thing about whitening -- you can't rush these things because it takes time.

This wonder combo by @belonutra from @sampleroomph works like magic! ✨ I haven't been this happy with how my skin looks like in a long time. It really is possible to become #beYOUTHiful at whatever age. 😊 Will be writing my full review soonest. 👍 Stay tuned! #SampleRoomPH #belo #belocollagen #BeautyfromWithin #bastaigatsikat #pinay #bbloggers #beautybloggers #beauty #instabeauty #skin #skincare #collagen

A photo posted by ✨✨✨✨MyMaria✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Nov 11, 2014 at 2:53am PST

Now unlike most other gluta capsules in the market, the Belo Glutathione + Collagen contains the following:

• Glutathione: Master antioxidant, detoxifies carcinogens from the body, and has skin whitening properties
• Alpha Lipoic-Acid: Antioxidant that boosts glutathione levels in cells
• L-Hydroxyproline: Collagen precursor, provide moisture, and helps in skin proliferation
• Sodium Ascorbate: Essential in collagen formation and increases glutathione levels in cells
• Coenzyme Q10: Prevents premature skin aging
• Marine Collagen: Increases collagen level and moisturizes skin

I have digestive problems and my stomach can only take so much acid until I start retching and feel awful with cramps and relentless pain in the gut, but I'm still all for being beautiful inside out. Another thing I had observed with Belo Glutathione + Collagen is that it doesn't hurt my tummy. WOOT! So if I can't find the fountain of youth, I think I may have stumbled upon the next best thing.

No-makeup #selfie but the eyebrow game is strong 😊 just because my skin is looking so much better compared to how it was a couple of months back. No foundation, concealer nor powder here. Just @olayphilippines Aquaction Long Lasting Hydration Gel. But of course, since Friday due to the bad weather and no power, I was able to get all the beauty sleep I needed and then some. 👍👍 #GoodMorning #bastaigatsikat #bareface #nomakeup #skincare #olay #olayphilippines #sampleroomph #makeupfree #skin #nofilter #beauty #bbloggers #beautybloggers #instabeauty #pinay #choosetoshine

A photo posted by ✨✨✨✨MyMaria✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Dec 12, 2014 at 5:32pm PST

Above is the most recent photo I have trying out a brand new beauty regimen. In the meantime, I'll be continuing to use the Belo Neutraceuticals Collagen Powder Drink and Glutathione + Collagen. Apparently, a very beautiful package from GlamourBox just arrived today and take one lucky guess what's inside!


TA-DAH! Feeling stressed out and Hagardo Versoza ang peg? Let's turn back time and get that youthful glow! So if you haven't already, perhaps it's time to come and join me in unlocking healthy and luminous skin! And please share your #beYOUTHiful experience with me in the comments below. I'd love to hear your stories. Thanks for dropping by and hope to see you again in my next blog post!

Click to buy a box of Belo Collagen Drink with FREE GLUTATHIONE capsules!

Contrary to what most people believe in that I need at least an hour to do my makeup, I actually need only at least 20-30 minutes. But to answer your question on what I do when I'm in a serious hurry and if I had just 5 minutes to do my makeup, I am proud to say, "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!" 


CHALLENGE COMPLETE! So within 5 minutes here's what I did... I spent:

• 2 minutes for concealers (because I have acne and blemishes!) - please see my complete concealing ritual on my other video -- http://youtu.be/buCfnp-_wrg
• 1 minute for powder+foundation/contour (no blush-on)
• 1 minute for eyebrows (pencil this time because it's faster, normally I use a gel product)
• 30 seconds for curling lashes+1 coat of mascara (normally I do 2-3 coats, also no eyeshadow/eyeliner)
• 10 seconds for lipstick
• 20 seconds to BLEND, BLEND, BLEND.

• Naturactor Cover Face Concealer / Foundation in 171 and 151
• Maybelline New Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles in Medium
• MAC Studio Fix Powder + Foundation in NC30
• Fanny Serrano Two-way Cake in Rajah
• AVON Glimmersticks Brow Definer in Dark Brown
• Fairy Drops Platinum Mascara
• Pixy Colors of Delight Lasting Matte Lipstick in Earthy Beige

Brushes Used:

• Precision Flat Angled P88 by Sigma Beauty for concealing
• Sigma Beauty Flat Kabuki F80 for powder/foundation
• Beauty Cosmetics Precision Angled Kabuki brush
• ELF Brow Spoolie

“Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but from what we give.”

As promised, here I am hosting another giveaway for my birthday! Whopeeeee! And this time I put together a beauty box containing 11 beauty items for one lucky Basta Igat, Sikat! reader. Check out this video below below to find out what's inside the box.



Excited to be the lucky winner? Please join via rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This contest will end on May 31, 2014. Open to my international readers as long as you have a valid PHILIPPINE address to join the contest so I can ship your prize if you are unable to pick it up. The name of the winner will be announced on my social media accounts. Be sure to follow me on FB, Twitter, and Instagram!


Good luck!


TWITTER ★ http://twitter.com/bastaigat_sikat
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BLOG ★ http://www.bastaigatsikat.com

My BFF suggested I go to the salon today to get something done. After all the controversy, I think I want to awaken the Jean Garcia in me.

To cut the story short, here's my "exotic pinay" look.

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And yeah, i got the tresses trimmed just a wee bit. My hair is still unusually long plus the highlights. Isn't it so Japayuki-ish? Tee hee.



So it's summer.. I'm bringing the balikbayan look back!!! ^_^

⋆✌㋡ღ⋆ ia\m/^_^\m/ai 陳美西