New-Found Friends

My stretch marks found new friends, thanks to my recent lunch date at Rockwell with my TV5 friends. I've been using these products for only a couple of days but I swear I feel like my skin's going lighter. I'm really stressed about the appearance and "darkness" of my stretch marks due to pregnancy. I won't deny it, coz when you look at them, they simply look disgusting. I know, I know, my tummy served as Sword's home for nine months so having these marks was predictable. But I hope you know what I mean. 

Now let's proceed, shall we?

1. Celeteque Dermoscience Anti-Stretch Mark Cream

I mentioned this already in my previous post about stretchies. Thanks to ate Aimee Diego who posted this on her Instagram account, I learned that Celeteque now offers maternity products. And yep, I enjoy using this because it has the most good-smelling anti-stretch marks cream I ever used. Better than Mustela. Php 469.00 at PCX.

2. Rosken Bio Serum Intensive Skincare Oil

Safe for face and body use, this oil is also used not only for stretch marks but also for scars, dry and ageing skin and uneven pigmentation. I highly recommend this if you are scent sensitive (like me, I have allergic rhinitis) and hate the strong odor of shea and cocoa butter. Its mild scent is so relaxing I want to pour the entire bottle all over my body. I also like the supple and light feeling it leaves. Php 895 at PCX.

3. Eskinol Naturals Facial Cleanser in Lemon

This you won't believe me, but my manghihilot recommended me this. She's one of the few who saw how terrible-looking my tummy is and she said that when I use this to cleanse the area, it will help lighten the skin and the marks. Not yet sure if it does really work, but the cotton "cleans" my tummy as if I exposed it in a polluted city. I use it before applying the Bio Serum at night. Php 31.00 at Watsons.

That's all! I'm still continuing my quest in finding the best anti-stretch mark cream in the market. If you know something effective, let me know. As long as I can afford it, I will buy and use it. :D

Happy Friday night!

♥,

Marianne

Post Partum

It's been two months since I gave birth and I'm happy I'm already allowed to go out and see the world. You know what the old folks say? But even if I can go out and do stuff, I can't leave anytime because it's just me and my mom who's taking care of Sword. And I can only go out for a few hours because when I'm out, my heart just wants to rush back home and be with my son! 

Anyway, since I don't go out often, I make the most out of my whereabouts. Every second counts! :) This month I was able to catch up with Kim and  Cham and my teammates from TV5, thanks to my "turnover"missions and HR calls. I also got the chance to shop little things for myself because believe it or not, I think I'm suffering from post-partum depression at times which is pretty normal, I guess. Retail therapy saves me!

Mary Grace with KiMoNei :)

With team Non-Trad. Coffee and lunch dates. <3

Fun times with the kids and cousins. 

Also, glad to find out about the Wu-Tang muscle shirts Forever 21 has! Paolo is a diehard Wu-Tang fan, his music is becoming mine! So if you want beef then bring the ruckus, I'm loving this shirt:

Wu-Tang Clan!

Alright then, til my next post. Sword's about to wake up. Have a great weekend! :)

♥,

Marianne

Unmark Those Pregnancy Marks

Ever since I found out that I was pregnant, one of the many concerns I had in mind was dealing with those unwanted marks in the tummy and breast areas. It's true, having stretch marks when you're pregnant is inevitable, but there are ways to prevent it from coming or to at least minimize it. To be honest, there are then-pregnant women who were lucky enough not to have these marks at all and I am envious because mine started to appear during my eighth month. I wouldn't deny it because sooner or later, when I'm not successful in clearing them up, you're gonna see them. (Hahaha this won't stop me from wearing my new bikinis no!)

To my preggo friends, readers and new mothers who are fighting the same battle against stretchies, let me introduce you my skin's best friends:

1. Human Nature 100% Natural Sunflower Beauty Oil

Tagged as a miracle in a bottle, this organic product is the first ever product I used and applied on the areas prone to stretchies during my first trimester. It has other benefits, too!

What I love most about this product: It's non-sticky! The heat during summer + growing tummy + stretching/itchy skin that only pregnant women feel will surely understand me.

What I don't: Its availability. I have to pre-order bottles of it so I make sure that before I hit the less than 30 mL level, I already have a new one on hand. (Please tell me where to buy Human Nature products in TriNoma/SM North.)

2. Mustela 9 Months Stretch Marks Double Action 

I joined the bandwagon and heard that Mustela does work well. I gave it a try even if a 150 mL tube costs more than a thousand (thank God for special gift packs they offer--we took home other Mustela 9 Months and Mustela Bebe products). 

What I love most about this product: The smell! Period.

What I don't: The price. And oh, did I say I finished my tube only in a month? 

3. Johnson's Baby Oil Gel - Shea & Cocoa Butter 

My last discovery to fight against stretch marks happened while doing a little shopping at S&R. I was there to buy huge boxes of Pepero (cravings!!!) but I went home scoring a (finally) good-smelling shea and cocoa butter product without me feeling dizzy and nauseous. I still use it after giving birth. I forgot how much it costs though. 

What I love most about this product: Admit it, Johnson's products are unquestionable. My skin always feels softer every after application and its moisturizing effect lasts up to 12 hours. I love it!

What I don't: I'm not sure, but I think it's only available in S&R. For me, every preggo should have a bottle coz it works! 

4. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks

The first ever anti-stretch marks product I bought. All pregnant women used, or at least, tried using this product if I'm not mistaken. But unfortunately, the scent of it just caused me all-day morning sickness. And until now, I cannot use it because its scent reminds me of my pregnancy days--I still feel like throwing up!

What I love most about this product: You will never have a hard time getting yourself a bottle. Available at Watsons, Landmark and all other leading department stores and beauty stores nationwide! :D

What I don't: I can't tell, coz I only used it for a week. But personally, the scent.

5. L'occitane Rose 4 Reines Velvet Hand Cream

A bonus, I'm applying a spread of pea sized amounts all over areas affected (quite expensive kaya tipis hahaha) since this product contains shea butter. I haven't done a research yet on the effectivity of shea butter in preventing/minimizing stretch marks but most of anti-stretch marks products contain it so might as well give it a try. Super thanks to my mother-in-law who gave me three different boxes of L'occitane last Christmas! :)

What I love most about this product: Its velvety feel, the scent, the softness it brings and the feeling of well-moisturized. 

What I don't: the price because I'd rather buy a new makeup than buying a new box. 

There you have it! Hope this helps. I also found out that Celeteque has its own maternity products called Celeteque Maternity! I wonder if Watsons already have it, because I've been looking for Celeteque BB Cream since I got pregnant and I still don't have it now that Sword's almost two months. I wanna try the products!

And oh, now that I'm done with stretch marks, can someone help me about cellulites naman? 

Happy July!

♥,

Marianne