RO2 Beauty & Wellness Center and Ganban Detox Yoga

R02 Beauty & Wellness Center believes that beauty should start from within, hence, their mantra "Detoxify, then Beautify". R02 is unique from any other wellness centers as it incorporates detoxification through Ganbanyoku and Oxygen theraphy in all their services.


Here's what will greet you upon entering R02 Beauty & Wellness Center.
Upstairs are the treatment rooms and the salon. Do not forget to leave your shoes (they will provide you with a locker) before going upstairs.

Ganbanyoku is a health trend that emerged from Japan. It uses heated Black Silica stone that emits negative ions and far-infra red rays. It is like a sauna, by this has a bedrock.

Health benefits includes:
-eliminating body toxins
-improves metabolism and blood circulation
- weight loss as a 30 min. bedrock bath burns calories equivalent to a 3-5 miles run.
-makes skin and hair smooth
- relieves stress, back pains, stiff shoulders
-alleviates insomnia
-reduces anxiety
- relieves constipation and menstrual pain


R02 also offers Ganban Detox Yoga where you do poses while on the bedrock. It is comparable to Bikram, only different in poses. I would love to get a chance to try this soon so that I can share my experience with my followers.

They also have Bedrock Ultra Slimming and Bedrock Massage Packages.

They also have a salon. Yesterday, I was able to try their precision hair cutting and Oxy hair therapy.
When I saw this equipment, I almost thought I am having a facial, not a haircut. The staff told me that it is indeed the same equipment that is being used for Oxygen Facials which are also becoming very popular nowadays.

Oxy Hair Therapy is a natural oxygen-based system that regenerates hair, strengthens weak , damaged and bleached hair, normalizes sebaceous secretion and prevents dandruff.

And look, they also offer nail art!
R02 Beauty & Wellness Center is located at #144 Jupiter Street corner Orbit Street, Bel-Air, Makati City. you may reach them at 09222360928 or 7500431.

Colour Collection Matte Edition in Vintage

I was browsing the latest offerings of Colour Collection when I saw this on sale:

Colour Collection Matte Edition in Vintage is becoming popular especially during the days of the teleserye "Magkaribal" where Gelai (portrayed by Bea Alonzo, Colour Collection's star endorser) is always seen with a bright pink lippie. Vintage is just one of her barbie pink lippies, and admittedly one of her favorites.

Pros:
- Staying power is really good as it stays on my lips for 5 hours or even more!
- Scent is Mac-like which actually appeals yummy for me. =)
- Color payoff is really good. I am planning to get the other shades (mostly reds, as this is the only pink one in the line)
- affordable at Php 179
- packaging is nice and does not attract dirt easily (yes, I am comparing to NARS)


Cons:
-limited colors, this is the only pink shade available. Mostly reds.
- since it is matte, it dries my lips a bit. but still tolerable.


Here's a lip swatch.

JolliJam Arts Center

JolliJam Arts Center is nestled infront of the famous Salcedo Market (in Salcedo Park). It offers dance classes like belly dancing, pole dancing, hip hop, jazz, Vegas striptease, zumba and ballet. It also offers art classes, through Global Art.



Since I am sure I cannot do Jazz and HipHop very well, I tried belly dancing, pole dancing beginners and Zumba.

Belly Dancing - I was so lucky to have one of the best belly dancing instructors in town, Lala Ilao-Dinglasan. Yes, she is the one you often see on TV, belly dancing even when she is pregnant. I must say she is really good and I really enjoyed the class. After an hour of belly dancing, I felt like I burned tons of belly fat. It is a combination of hip movements, arm works, and a lot of belly jiggling stints.

Pole Dancing for Beginners - This kind of dance is really not for me. I have weak arms, and my body weight is on the heavy side. I cannot even lift my body to do a spin! So after the session, I salute all pole dancers out there!

Zumba - I've been hearing raves about this so when I learned that JolliJam Arts Center is offering this as well, I registered and tried it out. I must say, I am expecting more from this class. The one they offer is somewhat different from Zumba videos I saw online. It is also different from the one I saw on TV earlier (the one being offered by Arts in the City in Taguig). I also feel that the time is consumed mostly of warm up and cool down routines so little time is alloted for Zumba itself.

Their studio looks like this (above)

They also have limited shower rooms and I think there's something wrong with their plumbing as the cubicle becomes flooded after you take a shower. I know this is something they can improve on.


JolliJam Arts Center is located at 2/F Three Salcedo Place Bldg., 123 Tordesillas St. Salcedo Village, Makati City. You may reach them at 3926220. Check them out at http://jollijamarts.multiply.com

NYX Round Lipstick in Paris

I love pink lipsticks, simply because reds make me look older. Here's my latest acquisition:

NYX Round Lipstick in Paris

I know I'm sort of a late bloomer on NYX lippies as they have been in the Philippine market for a long time already (though, mostly these are sold online). Anyways, better late than never. So here it is:

When I first opened it, I thought of Revlon Colorburst in Mauve. Yes, they belong to the same color family but they are not exact dupes. Revlon CB in Mauve is more on the brown side, while this one is on the pink side. Before I got Paris, I was researching through the net and actually saw photos that it looks close to MAC Pink Nouveau. But then, it's not a dupe of PN. Sol of digitaltraincase must be right that PN is closer to NYX Louisianna than Paris. I'll try to have one in the future.

Here's aswatch on my NC-30 skin:
and a lip swatch: (forgive the bad lighting, please)

Overall, I like NYX Paris beacuse:
-pigmented
-affordable at Php 160
- nice shade of pink, though totally different from MAC Pink Nouveau (that is if you are into Barbie Pink Lips)
- not drying
-easy to find, just contact SOL of digitaltraincase


The only thing I do not like about it is the smell and the taste. Yes, it tastes something like plastic or whatever. Though the smell is more tolerable than that of NYX Round Lipgloss. The staying power is so-so.


Other than that, it's a steal!

Bikram Yoga Manila

I've been so curious about Bikram Yoga and 2 weeks ago, my officemates and I decided to try it as Bikram Yoga Manila has a free trial promo for Valentine's Day.


Bikram Yoga is a series of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises done in a hot room (about 38C) to warm your muscles, prevent injury, allow a deeper workout and cleanse the body by flushing toxins out.

The 26 Bikram Postures
As a first timer, the instructor told us that our goal for the day is just to stay in the room for the whole session which lasts about 90 minutes. During gaps, you are allowed to drink water to rehydrate yourself but personally, I do not recommend you drink too much because by the time you try doing a pose again, you are bloated and might end up throwing up. BTW, it is also advisable that you do not eat an hour or two prior to the session. So see to it that you hydrate yourself throughout the day.

One may ask, what's the difference between Bikram Yoga and Hot Yoga? I used to do Hot Yoga in Bliss Yoga Manila and I think the difference is Hot Yoga is usually Vinyasa inspired, meaning postures just flow as it is in a regular yoga class. Most of the asanas are done on a mat and there are only a few standing postures. Bikram Yoga on the other hand has a fixed, structured 26 poses that one should do. I also noticed that in Bikram, there are lots of standing poses than those done on mat. Bikram Yoga's studio temperature is also hotter than the one used in Hot Yoga. For me, Hot Yoga is more relaxing while if you are up to something that can make you lose more pounds, I guess Bikram Yoga is the right choice.

I took some photos around the area. Here's the Yogini's Room (Ladie's Room)


They also have some yoga merchandise in there.

If you would like to try Bikram Yoga, you may visit:

Bikram Yoga Manila
15/F, 88 Corporate Center
141 Valero Street corner Sedeño Streets
Salcedo Village, Makati City 1227

Tel: +632 889 0126

makati@bikramyogamanila.com

Please do not forget to bring water, 2 towels and your mat. You can also rent a mat at Php 40 each.

Namaste!

ELF Blush in Glow and Nichido Sunset Glow

I've been searching for a nice peach/ coral blush since the day I let go of my NARS Gilda. I was about to get ELF Studio Blush in Candid Coral but realized that it is almost the same shade as ELF Regular Blush in Glow which is cheaper by a hundred bucks. So I decided to get Glow instead.


The shade is a natural coral one but it has a pinkish undertone, or at least that's how it looks on me. So when I wear it, it looks almost the same as my NARS Orgasm, just that NARS Orgasm is leaning more towards the pink side than the peach side.

The powder is chalky though so when I use a brush, it crumbles up. It stays about 3 hours on me.

I also came across Nichido in Sunset Glow which almost resembles NARS mini multiple. The shade is again leaning towards coral, but for whatever reason, it turns pink on me. It is also a bit sticky on my cheeks but a bit dry for my lips (yes, you can actually use it as a lippie)



Swatches: Left - Nichido Sunset Glow, Right - Elf Blush in Glow

Still on the lookout for that perfect peach/coral blush. Suggestions, anyone?