I stumbled upon thebeautydepartment.com and my god, isn't that site just lovely? It's filled with non-annoying beauty posts and even has a whole article dedicated to curly-haired people like me.

Having curly hair has been slightly frustrating due to the lack of products dedicated especially for girls with bouncy hair. I used and loved this underground conditioner by Sunsilk for curly hair which suddenly disappeared and was prolly phased out most likely due to a huge chunk of the shampooing population being obsessed with straight hair.

Anyway, here's The Curl Chronicles post by thebeautydepartment with a section dedicated for wavy hair (aka ME!):

NATURAL WAVE – Keep it simple. Your goal is to hold it together and not break the pattern of the wave by brushing too much.

• Shampoo and condition as normal, but comb hair out using a wide tooth comb in the shower.

• Towel dry when you get out of the shower. No more brushing.

• Shake hair to unlock the wave pattern. Comb with your fingers.

• Flip hair over and scrunch with the towel again.

• Apply a lightweight curl enhancing cream from roots to ends. ask your stylist if you aren’t sure what that is.

• Use a diffuser to dry 50% of the way. Air dry the other 50 %.

• Use a small amout of argon oil or anti-frizz serum to lock ends together using a twisting motion.

• If you want to refine this natural wave with a curling iron, try a 1″ or 1 1/4″ barrell, twisting hair around the outside.

For girls who have either kinky or really curly hair, click here for the rest of the article.

So..

Tea Tree Oil Australian Melaleuca Alternifolia
100% Organic
JASON 100% Certified Organic Tea Tree Oil helps improve the appearance of cuts, wounds and abrasions. Known for its medicinal properties, Tea Tree Oil has been used for years as a natural antiseptic, anti-bacterial treatment for skin disorders.

I was eyeing The Body Shop's Tea Tree Oil variant for a while now and when I learned that it costs Php499 for a small bottle, I was frakking horrified. I know that taking care of your skin is important but hell no, TBS. You're not having my 500 bucks. Not today.

Funnily enough, I jumped on this one like a mutha. I saw it, asked when it's due to expire (3 years from the manufacturing date) and proceeded to swipe the shit out of my credit card. I easily waver. :( I haven't checked thoroughly but Jason's variety was in a bigger bottle and I hastily concluded that it's cheaper.  Here's to hoping that it is.

Edit/Update: The Body Shop's Tea Tree Oil is worth Php499 for a 10mL bottle. This one's Php575 for 30mL. TBS's variant is not pure oil as well. HELLSYEAH.

Second: Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque
Price: Php329 at Healthy Options, Ayala Center Cebu
Expiration Date: 3 years from MFG Date
Product Details: 226.8g; not tested on animals; no animal stuff added; cruelty-free ♥; eco-friendly



From www.queenhelene.com

Mint Julep Masque is the original natural home treatment to help dry up pimples, rinse away blackheads and shrink enlarged pores. Simply apply Mint Julep Masque to your clean face and neck. As it firms and hardens within minutes, it draws out impurities from your pores. After the masque is removed, your skin will feel clean, refreshed and smooth. Even for individuals who are fortunate to be free of skin problems, Mint Julep Masque is a refreshing facial treatment that helps relax tired muscles and ease tension lines on the face and neck.

I've been wanting to try this mask for the longest time but it's always out of stock in Healthy Options SM City Cebu every time I drop by. I was surprised to find this one in the Ayala branch so I bought it alongside the tea tree oil because, well, my face needs something to "rinse away blackheads and shrink enlarged pores". It also wasn't horrifyingly expensive as the goddamn tea tree oil.

I have three awful-looking zits in my forehead today so I'm going to try these stuff out. Will blog on how it turns out.