Additional photo courtesy of Strip It! Special Thanks to Ms. Arlette Alvarado of Strip It Beauty Products and Sugar It Waxing Salon

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While we’re all talking about the new year, annual projects, and goal-setting, let’s not forget to include an equally important matter in our lives—ourselves. For most people, they want to get healthier or more fit this year. But let’s strip it down to basics, shall we? Have we looked back on our hygiene and beauty regimen for the past year?

Body hair may be one of the minutest details of our physical selves, but controlling its appearance can spell the difference between self-conscious and self-confidence. Especially nowadays and in the near-advent of summer, we’d rather be in culottes and flowy skirts than in inhibiting jeans, we really have to look good to feel good (among other things, of course).

Last year, there was a boom in the cold wax industry. And although I’ve been meaning to get into it earlier, I can’t seem to find a specific brand that suits me, my time, and budget. Until, of course, I found out about Strip It!

Strip It! is a ready-to-use hair removal sugaring (also known as Egyptian sugar wax). It is all-natural (made from sugar, honey, and calamansi), hypoallergenic, and soluble in water so it’s safe to use on the face, body, bikini area, and even on sensitive skin. It also exfoliates dead cells, moisturizes, and promotes skin lightening!

Sugaring is epilation or removing hair from its roots. Hair is unseen for 2-4 weeks unlike shaving or using hair removal creams. Sugaring also helps keep hair growth sparse and thin the more often you use it.

The Strip It! Sugaring kit includes four cloth strips, a wooden applicator spatula, the wax tub, and information with instructions on how to effectively use the product. Because the sugar wax is soluble in water, it washes off the cloth strips and spatula very easily so you can reuse them however much you like.

The step-by-step instructions are a breeze to follow. I was padding on wax and stripping like a pro in just a few repetitions. The wax smells great, too since it’s mostly honey.

It was actually the first time after waxing that I felt so hair-free! Strip It! wasn’t hard to use and didn’t miss a single strand. It also didn’t have that residual sticky feeling, and it left your skin supple and soft. It took me just about half an hour doing both legs. I saved time going to and fro the salon, with the same great results.

They have 100g (P130), 200g (P200) and 350g (P295) sugar tubs. If you’re just trying out the product, you can opt for the 100g, good for two uses. But if I were you, I’ll get the biggest tub right away and stick with it! I highly recommend it!

You can find them in Sesou Nature Source at the following malls:

1. G/F Trinoma near Sarabia Optical
2. G/F Glorietta 3 near Regatta
3. G/F Market!Market! near Mercury Drug

Garden Wing Basement, Alabang Town Center.

They also have distributors at the following:

1. Cerana Farms #12 Handicrafts Village, Tiendesitas, Pasig
2. Poshnails, Marikina Maryland 1 Bldg, Gil Fernando Ave cor Estrador St. (intersection of Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall)
3. Gorganics Eco Store, level 2 Marquee Mall, Pampanga
4. Sugar It! Waxing Salon 98 Avenida Rizal, Molino, Bacoor, Cavite.

(Source: thegirlsroomonline)

(Photos from Beauty Brick Hair Salon’s Facebook Page)

Have you had times when you left a hair salon disappointed? You feel like you came out with the wrong hair length, style and color? I have. Nothing is worse than not looking and feeling good about your crowning glory. Not to worry, though, I’m sharing with you one of Makati’s hidden jewels.

Beauty Brick Hair Art Salon is the only salon I trust when it comes to my hair.  Mr. Shin, a friendly Korean national who was trained in Japan, is the mastermind behind this successful hair art studio. His expertise includes Asian hairstyles and digital perms. Working together with his crew, customers are assured of a ‘do they will be happy about for a very long time.

My six o’clock appointment started on the dot. There’s definitely no Filipino time here! After quick shampooing and drying, Mr. Shin began cutting my long locks. While he was doing his magic, we talked in Japanese about the best products to maintain healthy, vibrant hair. And in just forty-five minutes, I’m more Japanese than ever compared to before in this photo. 

What gives this salon a plus is that the walls are covered with art.

If you think you need an upgrade in life, come by Beauty Brick Hair Art Studio and get that uplift that you need!

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Beauty Brick Hair Art Studio

Address: Unit 103 Dona Consolacion Bldg., 122 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air , 1227 Makati

Call for appointments at 02-473-5108

Monday to Saturdays from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Love,

Aki of The Girls’ Room

Accessorize in the most basic way. Glam up for the fall season with color options for your digits. Here are some affordable nail paints and the low-down on each.

Bobbie Premium Nail Creme Patent Blue Glaze – Hot Collection (P34.25)

• Color – I was drawn by the richness of color from inside the bottle and bought it out of impulse only to find out that when i tried it on, it did not translate as well as I thought. The color is actually quite bland, and although on the regal-blue side at first glance, it’s actually a dull deep blue.
• Application – The color of Bobbie Premium Nail Creme Patent Blue Glaze is thin and translucent. To even achieve a consistent color, I needed to apply at least three coats of paint – something that disfavors both time and money.
• Color Stay – In constrast, it stays on longer and isn’t as prone to chipping as other nail polish brands that are as cheap as Bobbie, although it might be due to the multiple coats of paint.
• Removing the Paint – It is fairly difficult to remove the nailpolish, and being glaze, it leaves a little glitter when removing. It’s best to go over your nails with a remover at least thrice.

Caronia Regular Nailpolish in Blueberry (P33.25)

• Color – Currently it’s the color of my nails. If you want out-of-the-ordinary-but-not-so-shocking-neon digits, I recommend you get this color. It’s no blueberry, but it sure looks as fun as it sounds.
• Application – Application took no more than five minutes for both hands with Caronia Regular Nailpolish in Blueberry. It took two coats to pull off a plush color but the great thing about it is it needed no top coat (clear polish).
• Color Stay – After the first week you’ll start to see chipping at the edges of your nails, near the growth and the end of the lengths. However, it’s comparatively minimal to the other brands such as the Bobbie Premium Nail Creme in Vamp Red.
• Removing the Paint – It’ll take more than a round of nail polish remover to rid of.

Bayo Nail Enamel in Blush (P80.00)

• Color – It’s a pretty, almost neutral pink which I absolutely adore. Bayo Nail Enamel in Blush really looks like tint for your cheeks, only it’s on your nails. It’s probably my go-to color among the bunch.
• Application – One coat is enough but if you’re like me who is OC about the coverage, two is more than enough. My favorite thing about this is that it dries really quickly and flatly so I can do my work, which entails both of my hands, right after, without worrying about wrinkling or impressing on my nails.
• Color Stay – It lasts a week and a half, at most. There is semi-severe chipping after the first week owing to its thin application, especially if you’re a nail biter or someone who likes to scratch off nail polish out of habit (like me).
• Removing the Paint – moderately easy to remove and easy to reapply if you just wanna touch it up for the coming week.

Revlon Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel in 140 Fall Mood Glaze (P248.50)

• Color – What you see is what you get. The glaze is perfect for Fall/Winter, and that metallic sheen provides you with that bit of glamour in your everyday ensemble.
• Application – Revlon Colorstay is a breeze to use. The thick paint caresses effortlessly and gives full coverage on the first coating. That with its super-quick dry feature? It’s heaven-sent.
• Color Stay – Staying true to its name, it’s a longwear polish without chipping (or fading) after a week and a half. It actually feels like a part of your nails. You’d really be getting your money’s worth with this one.
• Removing the Paint – It’s the hardest to remove. Understandably so, because it should stay on longer. When removing though, your fingers will end up looking like churros dipped in glitter. A few rounds of nail polish remover will do the trick.

Chic Nail Color in Neon Purple (P31.75)

• Color – The name can be deceiving. Not only is purple misleading , it isn’t even neon. It’s more like light plum. The color is pretty though. It’s rather a perfect hue for the season.
• Application – Similar to Bayo Nail Enamel in Blush, it gives an almost full coverage on the first coat. Chic Nail Color in Neon Purple does the job in half the time with its quick drying enamel.
• Color Stay – It will stay on for at least a week, but no more than a few days after. For the price, it isn’t a bad deal.
• Removing the Paint – It comes off completely after two go-overs of nail polish remover.

Bobbie Premium Nail Creme in Vamp Red – Hot Collection (P34.25)

• Color – I had a laugh when I found out the name was Vamp. It is blood red, in fact. Especially when you look at the bottle. It’s a luxurious shade of deep red. Because Bobbie Premium Nail Creme in Vamp Red can be a bit overpowering, throw on a simple outfit or a feminine and dainty garb when donning red nails.
• Application – I was glad to learn that application wasn’t as bad as the Patent Blue Glaze. Contrastingly, it delivered a good amount of paint on every stroke. Overall, it required two coats for a good coverage, and a top coat.
• Color Stay – I couldn’t stand the chipping after only a week, and had to change into more wearable and durable colors like the Caronia Regular Nailpolish in Blueberry or the Revlon Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel in 140 Fall Mood Glaze.
• Removing the Paint – Removing ordinarily takes two rounds of nail polish remover but sometimes it could get a little bloody, so I usually go over my nails a third time.

Photography by: Tala Singson

Disclaimer: Not a sponsored post.

Love,

Kit of The Girls’ Room

Craving for something cute but unbelievably affordable? Or do you want to bring home some lovely Japanese trinkets to brighten up your room?

I strongly recommend you head on over to Saizen! 

Saizen actually stands for “best choice” or “the very best.” And it holds true to that very definition when it comes to their items. Japanese items are known for their reliable quality and they are priced at only P85! *gasp*

The store has every corner of the house covered: kitchen, bedroom, living room, bathroom, garden and everything in between. Stationery, accessories, pet clothing, chocolates, pots and pans - practically anything you want, it’s most likely there! 

Here are some products I know you’ll love as much as I do!

Floral Notebooks

Ice Bar Maker

False Eyelashes

Hot Spring Salts (will make your skin better!)

Saizen is the place to be! There’s more than what I’ve shown you, of course. I promise you girls, I’ve been here loads of times and it never fails to impress me (and make me buy things!) I really trust and love this store to bits especially now that I’m starting a new phase at a new home! 

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saizenph

Multiply: http://saizenph.multiply.com/

Store Locations: Ali Mall, Robinson’s Galleria, Robinson’s Abreeza, Robinson’s Place Manila, Trinoma, Pavilion Mall and Market! Market! 

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Happy shopping!

Love, 

Aki of The Girls’ Room

At the start of the season we’ve seen a variety of hot nail art trends whose inspir-evolution saw its beginnings over 7,000 years ago (see full history of nail art here - wow that’s ancient!). When I was writing about this summer’s trends here and here a while back, I came across the most notable nail trends. These include Patterned, Bejeweled, Neons, Ombre, and Two-Tone. I was never too adventurous with my nailpaint. I believe the only time I used two colors at a time was when I alternately applied black and red on my nails in high school.

Now however, I’m slowly falling in love with different shades both bold and nude, and I wanted to try something that veered away from my usual boring flat paint. Because I didn’t have any neons and because I would love contrasting colors for a Two-Tone which I don’t have right now, I opted for a simple Ombre in pastel pink.

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Here’s how you can do your own at home. Applicable to any hue, I believe!

WHAT YOU NEED:

WHAT TO DO:

Step 1: Apply your darker hue across the bottom of your nail. I did it to less than a third of the whole nail.

Step 2: Overlap the darker hue with the lighter hue a little, and apply upwards to cover the rest of your nail.

Step 3: Immediately coat your nail with the colorless polish from Step 2’s starting point.

Step 4: Wait 20 seconds for the polish to dry a little, then apply the colorless polish to 100% of your nail. Repeat until finished.

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It’s a little bit tricky at first. To get the gradient effect you’re happy with, you need to control the amount of paint on your brush. Remember to keep a portion of your darker hue untouched by the lighter hue, and don’t wait too long to do Step 2.

I hope the instructions are easy enough. :) I had fun with it even though the results are a bit cray, but hey, it’s my first time! You can practice doing your Ombre nails until you perfect it. Tweet us photos or post ‘em on our wall so we know how it went!

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Love, your artventurous friend,

Kit of The Girls’ Room