It's hard to move on to business as usual when a tragedy of awful magnitude just struck our country last week. Everyone is still reeling from the loss of life and property, and then the feverish desperation that comes after it. I'm not an emotional person but everytime I read the news about Yolanda's destruction I feel like there's a small twinge near my heart. That's not just because of the graphic stories of suffering on the ground; it's also because of the heroism of our people and the kindness that other countries have shown us.

I don't know what else to say. I just wish that help to those in need comes swiftly, and that in the future we can pass laws that will help minimize the risks from natural disaters (among other things). 

Shall we move on to lighter stuff? If you're here, perhaps you're also looking to feel slightly less burdened from the news. :)

Plains & Prints just released their Holiday 2013 Collection last weekend! There's over a hundred pictures of all the new pieces in the press kit (see the full lookbook here), but for brevity I decided to post Anne Curtis's looks as styled by Liz Uy. Anne as you know is Plains & Prints latest endorser, and I think that it's such a perfect fit!

Anne has a glam-next-door, slightly eclectic taste in fashion. P&P has pretty much the same aesthetic so it was only a natural progression for both fashion powerhouses to work together.

Plains & Prints' Holiday 2013 has four sub-categories: Camo-Chic, Fire, Earth, and Holiday Dresses. See them in detail after the cut!

Sooo, how was your vacation? Mine dragged as I didn't go out of town or even to the mall. I spent my long weekend watching TV shows, reading books, and playing a new game (Disgaea 4!). Speaking of books, if you like Cinderella-type stories, you should consider reading The Selection (Hunger Games-ish) and A Kiss at Midnight (Cinderella with no magic, more wit). They're not particularly good books but they're fun to read!

Anyway today I want to talk about my visit to Regatta a couple of weeks ago. I have to be honest, I was only expecting the usual preppy stuff like polos, collared shirts, and sensible bottoms. Regatta does carry these must-haves - in better quality than what's usually in department stores - but I like that they came out with uber chic printed pieces! You'll see them later. ;)

Here's a quick tour!

Regatta has casual stuff for you and the special men in your lives

Unisex fragrances and accessories

I love the look of fresh, dewy and glowing skin. Can you give me a few products that will help me achieve that? Thank you. - Therese

Hi Therese! I love this question because I love glowy skin as well. I don't understand the obsession with matte skin because our skin is not matte in its natural state. Nothing screams *makeup* than a face that's covered in a blanket of matte powder, for me! Shine is fine as long as you're able to control it and place it strategically on your face.

A dewy-looking face starts with good skin, of course, so make sure that your skincare routine is up to spec. I find that using serums make a huuuuge difference - try the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate or the Shu Uemura Tsuya Skin Serum (which I am testing recently). These work super well! As for makeup, there are many products that you can use to achieve a glowy face. The trick is to use only one or two of them at any given time, depending on the look you want to achieve.

Face Base: for an all-over glow

A thin, light-coverage foundation can deliver dewy skin simply because it allows our natural skin to shine through. Remember, in order to achieve dewy skin, you must not cover up your bare skin with too much makeup. Light, illuminating makeup will just enhance your skin, not blot it out.

The Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup gives such a nice dewy finish. If you want something with even lighter coverage, try the VMV Hypoallergenics Skintangible SPF30 which is a tinted moisturizer with SPF30. 

Last night, it was so cool that I slept without the airconditioner on. I think it's my first time to do that this year (barring blackouts)! I wish the weather would stay this way, you know, rainy and cold but not overly so.

Anyway, it's that time of the month! Here are the products that I really liked last July. :)

Beautiful tinted lips should be your bare minimum when you going it. There are so many nice tinted balms at an affordable price so there's no excuse to have bloodless-looking puckers! One great colored lip balm slash lipstick that you can find in drugstores is the LipIce Color Lip Balm. I love it because it's super moisturizing and quite pigmented to boot. It does have a waxy smell and taste but thankfully, it dissipates.

Have you always wanted to build your own eyeshadow palette without spending for a MAC or Shu Uemura one? Well, you'll love the Artdeco Eyeshadows and Custom Palette System then.

I tried a lot of awesome high-end stuff last June so they're going to pepper this list. However, there are some affordable gems that you definitely shouldn't miss. Have at it!

I'm all for products that are convenient to carry around while still having a formula to beat. The Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale Pink is rather expensive but it's a handy prettifier than can do both your lips and cheeks in one hot minute. Useful when spotting your crush from the hallway and having almost no time to fix up!

Everyone, and I mean everyone, needs a great neutral eyeshadow palette. Not everyone can splurge for Bobbi Brown or MAC though, and that's where the Revlon ColorStay 16 Hour Eye Shadow Quad comes in. It's a well-thought out collection of flattering neutral shades, and the formula is pretty good too! "Not too expensive" is the magic phrase.

If you want stunning, perfect eyebrows, you can rarely do better than the K-Palette Lasting 2-Way Eyebrow pen.

It's that time of the month again! Here are my favorite finds last month. There's quite a few lip products here, I noticed, but there's also a couple of skincare gems that I think I'll stick with.

Here you go!

The Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter is not perfect, but the beautiful color selection, texture, and packaging more than makes up for its shortcomings. It still is a pretty kickin' lip product!

Sleek MakeUP True Color Lipsticks are amazingly pigmented and the colors are just wow! They feel rather dry to me, but nothing lip balm can't fix. Mystic, a deep purple shade, is such a statement color.

I promised you guys that I'll show you what I got from Bambu, and here it is! 

I like Ipanema's strappy flip flops, but I'm usually too lazy to adjust and fix the straps before I leave. I want fuss-free flip flops that still look stylish and I think this pair, the GB Hot Sands Thong Fem with a ribbon, fits the bill.

My oldest pair of Ipanema flipflops were from waaay back in 2009. I don't use them anymore mainly because they're at my mom's house (I keep forgetting to bring them here), but I'm happy to report that they're as good as new! The print has faded a bit, but the rubber isn't worn down or scuffed. They're quite sturdy and comfortable, to boot.

My current house slippers are Ipanema as well. The thick rubber feels so soft on my feet, and yes, they're also as good as new since I got them last year. They have lived through many out-of-town and mall trips!

My other pretty Ipanema flip flops

All my Ipanemas are well-worn yet they've withstood time in terms of quality and trendiness. I used to think that paying more than P1,500 for a pair of flipflops is ridiculous, but after two years of wearing this brand, I can confidently say that it's definitely worth it. They don't get outdated, they're comfy and sturdy at the same time.

Anyway, I'd just like to share Ipanema's new summer collection with you. It's called the Gisele Bündchen Hot Sands Collection. It was launched via a fashion show held at the SM Prestige Lounge, SM Megamall, featuring young models wearing Coco Cabaña’s swim wear creations complemented by colorful flipflops.

Last Thursday, I was puttering around Megamall, trying to kill time before an event. Naturally I paid a visit to the beauty and skincare section to see if there's anything new - and there was!

Elite Paris sells what looks like professional-level makeup and tools for an affordable price. The brand has single eyeshadows at P300+, eyeshadow quad at P600+, foundations, blushes, and nail polish. It also features a few brushes, nail and hair tools, and hair styling products.

I wasn't able to try the blushes and foundations, but the eyeshadows are worth a mention. They are quite pigmented, with a smooth (albeit slightly powdery) texture. I think the P600+ price tag for the quad is a great deal since the quality of the eyeshadows is better than the usual drugstore brands.

Singles