Top 5 beauty must-haves for busy moms

I was very lucky to join an exclusive beauty workshop  yesterday for Davao Lady Bloggers and friends. All About Eyes was sponsored by BYS, a new line of cosmetics developed in Australia which continues to fill the void for innovative, good quality and great value cosmetics that everyone can afford. The participants dabbled on everything that has to do with the eyes - brows, lashes and lids using BYS products. 

Discovering Human♥Nature

Last Saturday I was able to Human♥Nature's May-June magalogue (magazine and catalogue) launching after fellow blogger and lawyer Suzette posted an invitation for interested bloggers. I have been hearing about Human(heart)Nature for the longest time that I got curious about their line of Philippine-made, natural products. I reckoned it will be a good event to go to since lately I've become more discerning of which personal and beauty products to use because one, I'm not getting any younger and second, Mum's bout with the dreaded C word (cancer).

Human♥Nature Davao team introduced to us what the company is all about and their three philosophies of being Pro-Philippines (products formulated using ingredients that can be grown in the Philippines), Pro-Poor (aims to develop world-class organic farms and other enterprises for poor communities. Incidentally, Human♥Nature is the offspring of Gawad Kalinga) and Pro-Environment (products free from harmful chemicals that may seep into the soil and water and thus helping preserve nature). By the way, I learned that the correct way of saying the brand is Human Heart Nature - HHN for easier access.

My basic four-step regimen

Ladies - be honest, aside from your weight, relationship status and if you still have feelings for your ex, which question leaves you blank for a few seconds to ask yourself if you should tell the truth or not?

If you say your age, well I don't blame you. One of the worst things for the fairer sex to hear is someone telling you that you look older than you really are! It's like receiving a slap on the face and any woman would feel insulted unless she deliberately wants to appear older. Who would want that?! I believe this is the rallying point of the beauty industry - make women age slower and more gracefully. Do I get an "Amen"? 

Not all of us are gifted with perfect skin, it's genetics and nobody's fault. But if you don't start taking care of your face and incessantly complain how old you look, then the problem is you. Fashion designer Coco Chanel captures this with this quote, "Nature gives you the face you have at 20; it is up to you to merit the face you have at 50". If you have not been kind to your skin, better turn a new leaf before the dreaded wrinkles find its way to your face. A little TLC now will save you a lot of money later when the only option left comes with at least a five-figure price tag. :)

Me @ 33, Jakarta, Indonesia. Notice the break-outs on my forehead :)

Hey you pretty momma!

You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. - Buddha

Photo from the web

I was sitting in front of my laptop one night and while cleaning my face and reading an article all at the same time, I had my light bulb moment. Why not make a beauty/fashion blog for moms? Yes! So after hours of set up, I gave birth to my second blog - Hey You Pretty Momma!

There were quite a few times when people would tell me I don't look like a mom after finding out I'm raising a three-year old daughter alone. Quite honestly I don't know how to react because initially, statements like this is supposed to be a compliment but on the other hand, there lies the pre-conceived notion that mothers are expected to look a certain way. To elaborate, it means you have to let go of yourself because once you give birth you are to fit the motherhood mold. It is the sad truth that the moment we take ourselves for granted, we are also killing little by little our self esteem.