If you're a perfume-addict like me, you'd know how exciting it is to score great deals on your favorite scents! That's exactly what I got from SM Department Store a few months ago. They have a promo that they do not really publicize where BPI and BDO Credit Card holders can get 3 perfumes for only P5,000 AND have their transaction on a 3-month installment AFTER 3 months. As far as I know, it's for those two major banks, correct me if I'm wrong :) I was so excited because until then, I didn't know such an offer existed. Here are the scents I bought:
I have always lusted after Moschino Cheap and Chic's I Love Love but since my dad would buy me my perfumes abroad (he's a retired seaman), I never bothered to buy myself one... until I discovered this deal. I love it because it has a very light citrus-y floral scent perfect for everyday use.It's sexy, feminine and not overpowering. It's composed of these lovely ingredients: Grapefruit, Lemon, Orange, Red Currant (top notes), Bulrush, Cinnamon Leaves, Lily-of-the-Valley, Tea Rose (heart), and Cedar, Musk, Tanaka Wood (base). It's now my everyday scent. The fragrance stays for hours but I always spritz multiple times day ;)
By the way, if you don't want to splurge on a perfume, Petit Monde has a similar-smelling cologne called For My Dreams. :)
The second perfume I got was also by Moschino Cheap and Chic: Light Clouds. It's just as light and refreshing as I Love Love; muskier yet still feminine. Its main ingredients are peach, cyclamen, lotus, jasmine, rose, ambrette, cedar and musk. This one's a tad too plain for me though, with none of the sexy floral and citrus notes of I Love Love, so I gave it to my mom ;) Its smell though, is something that I think teenagers or 'tweeners would love.
Lastly, of all the perfumes I tried on top of the Moschino scents, Versace Bright Crystal won my heart. The sexiness of this scent can't be beat! It exudes femininity, fierceness and independence. Composed of Frosted Accord, Yuzu, Pomegranate (top notes), Peony, Magnolia (heart), Lotus Flower, Acajou, Vegetal Amber and Musk (base), Bright Crystal is the scent to go for when you're in your "Miss Independent" mood. Its sweet, floral scent is dominant but not overpowering as it is neutralized by waterlily and lotus. It is also perfect for after-office parties, get-togethers, and romantic dates! My boyfriend actually loves this scent on me to the point where he notices when I am wearing a different scent. The scent lasts all day long, too.
There's just something about perfumes that can improve the mood we are in. Whether you're feeling sweet and innocent, fierce and seductive, or sporty and active, you bet it will an extra oomph to your entire vibe. As for these three, Moschino I Love Love is the sweet, carefree girl, Light Clouds is the sporty, active lady, and Bright Crystal is the seductive, independent, Miss Boss woman. My favorite among the three? Versace Bright Crystal. I don't use it often but it's the fragrance most people notice and compliment the most. :)
So the next time, you're out in the mall strolling, think of the top 2 or 3 moods you're usually in and find the scents that will go best with those moods. Perfume shops always offer a spray, or sometimes even a free sample when you're lucky so you can always test and find the best scents for you.
I have experimented with a good number of brands before realizing that what works best for me are the gentle products. My skin hates and breaks out on products with too much chemicals that promise major results. That being said, one of my go-to places when I want to update my pampering and beauty regimen is The Body Shop. My usual purchase are their bath products which smell sooo good! I also get them to give as presents.
But just recently, I read up some good stuff about tea tree oil and its effects on skin and because I was having a little break out at that time I decided to get one. I already knew The Body Shop has it, so I went straight to the branch in SM Makati to buy one.
A few technical details: Tea Tree Oil is extracted from the Tea Tree (apparently :P) which is different from the tea plant used for making teas. It can be used for various purposes such as treatment for skin infections like acne and fungal infections, and may also be used to treat vaginal infections, sore throat, and toothache among others.
You have to be careful though when using it as it can have some side effects like drying, itching or even worsening of acne when you use it as treatment. Pure tea tree oil is strong so you have to either mix it with other oils like lavender oil or water or use very little amount on just the affected areas of your face.
Luckily, The Body Shop's tea tree oil is a ready formulation. A 10 ml bottle is a mixture of 15% tea tree oil and the following: Aqua (Solvent/Diluent), Alcohol Denat. (Solvent/Diluent), PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil (Emulsifier), Polysorbate 20 (Emulsifier), Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil (Natural Additive), Limonene (Natural Additive), t-Butyl Alcohol (Denaturant), Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil (Skin Conditioning Agent), Citral (Natural Additive), Leptospermum Petersonii Oil (Natural Additive), Denatonium Benzoate (Denaturant), Tocopherol (Antioxidant). Click here for more details.
For the skin, it can be used as a toner or moisturizer, preferably morning and night. You can also use it as a steam regimen. Just put 3-4 drops on a bowl of hot water and steam away.
As for me, I used it as a moisturizer, applied with a cotton pad every night. At first it felt oily specially on my already oily skin and I was afraid that it would worsen the few pimples I was trying to cure. Since this is a natural cure, it takes longer for the effect to be seen and felt than other products.
After about 4 weeks of use, my skin became smoother and softer especially after applying my powder foundation. The few fine lines I have under my eyes also disappeared. Sadly, it did not work on my pimples. They looked just the same as before and some new additions even popped up. I would have stuck to it if I was not breaking out but I needed an alternative that is not of oil which is already abundant on my face.
I used my tea tree oil instead as moisturizer for my whole body which also worked fine. I mix it my lotion giving my skin a really nice minty lavender scent. I would probably go back to it once my face cleared up. :)
