Le Beauty Diaries: My Current Skincare Routine

One of the joys of being preggo is having a glowing, immaculate skin--- not! How I wish but its actually the opposite. Your skin gets plagued by acne, oiliness (or for some dryness) and redness. Blame it on the hormones that are going absolutely mental inside our sexy bodies. Yes, sexy bodies. 

My face was pretty affected by acne and irritation for months. And to top it all off, my skin was also adjusting to the water here in Manila. You see, when I was back in Dubai, my face was also plagued by acne because of the alkaline content in the water. I never had bad acne before I went to Dubai. I guess my skin wasn't just compatible with the water in Dubai and also, flying affected my skin too. I had tried everything to cure my acne but nothing really worked. I would still get several zits every month or so. I tried Obagi, Neostrata, Avene, Clindamycin, Erethromycin and everything else in between but still nada. Until I tried Beauche which worked well but it was just a bit harsh because of the peeling agents. Beauche made my skin clear again but with a few zits every now and then would appear.

So with that adjusting phase and preggo crazy hormones, my face was literally acne prone. I tried going back to my skincare routine before which was Beauche but it was too harsh for my preggo body. And so I tried searching for products that are all-natural and safe for me and my baby. After months of trying several brands, I finally found my skincare arsenals and they are all crafted with good ingredients and by that I mean good for the body ingredients.

My current skincare routine

  

And they are Moringa-O Malunggay Soap, Snoe Beauty Spot on Spot Off Acne Fading Gel and Aquaphor Healing Ointment. 

These 3 products work wonders on my skin. They have eliminated my acne like seriously and also the acne spots are fading slowly. My skin is not oily anymore and it just became clear and healthy again. The Moringa-O Malunggay Soap is divine. I use it not only on my face but also my body. It brought back the healthy glow unto my face and I love the scent too. I'm actually on my second bottle of Snoe Beauty Shoo-Zit, Spot On Spot Off Acne Fading Gel and it really is effective even if you have preggo acne. My zits just completely dried out fast and the acne marks are slowly fading away. Its a total beauty must-have! I swear by this product. The Aquaphor Healing Ointment was the ointment I used when I was still in the hospital and even up to now to my preggo days. It heals any chapped and irritated skin and it also moisturizes. I just love this product.

There are the 3 products that are a must-have for my current skincare routine. I highly recommend these products especially if you are preggo like me since they are all natural and guaranteed safe for your body and your baby and they really work too.

So, what's your current skincare routine? Share your thoughts!

  

Le Belly Diaries: 27 & 28 Weeks

So I'm on my third trimester already. Wow! That was fast. I think I'm having such a blast with me being preggo that I completely lost count of my weeks. I still think that I'm not halfway yet but I only have 11 weeks and 2 days to go before giving birth. Oh my! I still can't believe it! I'm going to see my Baby Cloud soon! I can't be more elated.

Well, they say that the third trimester is the hardest among the three. I still couldn't tell since its too early but I think that the first trimester was the hardest for me. Although, I didn't have any morning sickness and food aversions at that time, I was yet recovering from my one month hospitalization due to a rare auto-immune disease. So my body was weak and fragile. I suffered badly from fatigue and I just can tell that my body was not yet at its normal state. 

I was truly surprised to know that I was pregnant after recuperating in less than a month.  It was quite an astonishment for me you see, because my whole system bounced back faster that I thought it would. The disease impaired my body quite a bit and I was delighted to know that I healed fast. After being sick that bad, you constantly worry if your body would still be back to normal. So for me, getting pregnant was such a blessing. My whole system was fine after all it took from the disease.  My body accepted the baby. It was one joyous occasion for me. For us.

First trimester for me was difficult because my body was still adjusting and adapting after the disease and recovery. I would easily feel tired and frail. At times, I didn't want to get out of bed. I would always feel nauseous and light-headed. I still couldn't drink any vitamins nor medications at that moment since the recuperation prohibited such. It was utterly an ordeal for me and my little bean. But we gladly surpassed it and second trimester became a little bit of a breeze for us, if not for the occasional flu and colds, it was a lot easier.

Now that I'm on the start of third trimester, I don't know what to expect. I know that my baby bump is going to be bigger and heavier and also, that the stretchmarks are going to be crazier than now but other than that, I'm somewhat clueless. But I think that's what make this baby journey all the more exciting. Don't you think?

I'm happy to share this baby journey with my baby daddy, Jet, even more because it just brings us closer together. Family. Awww.. Mushy I know. Forgive me.

Oh and I'm also counting my baby kicks already and its so much fun. Its our little bonding. So cuute!

So, how was your third trimester? Share your thoughts!

Le Belly Diaries: 26 Weeks

My baby boy, Cloud, is now the size of a Cucumber according to the app, What To Expect Pregnancy. Awww.. He's really getting bigger by the day. So adorable. He's getting heavier too since I now have a bit of an ordeal with stairs. Climbing the stairs that is. It feels like I'm carrying chock-full of grocery bags on both my hands. Heavy! I can also tell that my baby boy is getting heavier since I now have varicose veins on my legs which I didn't have any before. I just wish those nasty, blue veins disappear after my delivery.  Oh the joys of being preggo..

My appetite had been pretty much the same with my not-preggo-self. I think. I don't really have any food aversion which is a blessing. I just want some stuff more than other stuff. Like I'm more fond of anything creamy, rich and milky. I'm also into sweets a bit more than usual since I'm not really a sweet tooth. And so my go to brekky lately had been Nesvita Sweet Corn mixed with cold low fat milk instead of water and a banana. I love Nesvita Sweet Corn so much that I also drink it before going to bed. I'm pretty sure Baby Cloud likes it as much as mumma does.

My go to brekky lately

Did I also mention stretch marks? Seriously. The joys, oh the joys of being preggo. I'm using Palmer's Cocoa Butter on my tummy now. I've ran out of Bio Oil already and I think that would be more effective than the one of Palmer's. I'm contemplating on Mustella though. Hmm..

Any thoughts on lotions or creams for belly stretchmarks? Share your thoughts!

Le Belly Diaries: 25 Weeks

Last Saturday was the get-to-know-your-babys-gender-day and I couldn't be more excited! Me and Jet have our own guesses already and we were just so anxious for the result.

And finally after 25 weeks of arduous waiting. Ta-daaa!

I happily present to you our cute, little baby BOY! Yes! Our little munchkin is a healthy, bouncy baby boy!!! And Baby Cloud says hi!!!

Our hearts were just overwhelmed with pure bliss and delight. It was indeed inexpressible. Such a happy moment in our lives.

It also turned out that we were both correct with our guesses. Awww.. Now we know what baby stuff to buy. Yay!

25 Weeks

What to Expect Pregnancy App

According to the app, What to Expect Pregnancy, our baby boy is still the size of an Eggplant but a bit heavier this week.

Only 14 weeks and 6 days to go before I can cuddle Baby Cloud. OMG! So near yet so far. Well, I say that gives us plenty of time to prepare then! 

So, what was the gender of your first baby? Share your thoughts!

Le Belly Diaries: 24 weeks

Hello darlings!

I have not been blogging for almost forever since there had been way too many things that happened this month. From the fiance's admittance in the hospital (He's fine now.. Thank God! :] ), check-ups and what-nots and a wonderful wedding of my dear friends, Cris and Jay. 

I was pretty much preoccupied the whole month as you can tell. And as much as I am a busy bee, my little bubba in my belly is also as busy as me or probably even much busier than I am. My munchkin is getting bigger and rounder by the day. So cute! And according to my trusty iPhone app, What To Expect Pregnancy, my bubba is already as big as an Eggplant (9in, 1.7 lbs). Yay! 

 

We were supposed to have an ultrasound last weekend to determine the gender of my baby but we weren't able to go to the hospital. Getting it done by this weekend though. I'm super excited!!

Here is moi and Jet at our friends' wedding.

My FOTD for my friend's wedding. Officially 23 weeks and 5 days here.

BB Cream Foundation: Pinkies Collection in BBCF-01 (Php299)

Setting Powder: 4U2 BB Powder (Php 149)

Eyebrow Powder: Pinkies Collection Eyebrow Cake in EBC-03 (Php 169)

Bronzer & Highlight: Etude House

Blush: Nars Super Orgasm

Lipstick: MAC Pink Nouveau

I'm currently loving the Pinkies Collection makeup especially their BB Cream Foundation and Eyebrow Cake! Love the coverage and cheap too! I'm going to do a review soon.

First baby? Excited like moi? Share your thoughts!