TipidTip # 30 - Wax at home using Epilin.

I've been using this for years, thanks to my Ate who discovered it. It works like any other wax that salons use, but comes at a cheaper price. A pan costs like P150 and it can last you up to six months. In my old boarding house, every two months or so, a housemate is assigned to buy one to be used by everybody. It's that economical. :)

It can be used for legs, armpits, upper lip, bikini line. You don't need a cloth to strip it off with. It just dries after several minutes and turns crispy so you can just peel it off without so much hassle. Just make sure you put the pan over low heat so that it melts gradually, hence it cools gradually as well. So that it won't turn solid so fast.

When you peel it off, it looks yucky with all the hair stuck in it. Kinda reminds me of the skin of a roasted pig (lechon), when the hair isn't very well scrubbed off. Hahaha :) I'm sure you'll never look at the lechon balat the same way again.

TipidTip # 29 - Wear your jeans at least twice before sending them to the laundry.

It shouldn't sound as ick-y as that. :)

Jeans are made of durable and thick material so one pair can withstand multiple uses without washing. They were made for miners first, remember? Since most of us don't roll around in the mud or get dumped in a quagmire in a normal day, the thickness of the fabric can be a shield for dust for around 2 uses. But if you get the bottoms wet because of flood water, get them washed, pronto! Your health shouldn't suffer.

Jeans are pretty hard to wash and take up most of the detergent and fabric conditioner. Maximize them before washing. Just hang them after using so that they can be aired out. And it's not noticeable to be wearing the same denims in one week. After all, it's just our trusty maong, albeit in a skinnier form. :)

*pic from http://www.momist.com/blog/uploaded_images/jbran1000215386_347x683f-.jpg

TipidTip # 28 - Be like Tyra Banks and embrace the wonders of petroleum jelly. Just not too much. :P

I made recent dash to Shopwise to stock up on eyeliners galore (cheapy cheap ones so stock up as in all sorts of colors). I was browsing through the aisles and saw a small pot of Apollo petroleum jelly. I snapped it up, having no use of it in mind. Since it was around P24 only, it wasn't really a think-twice moment.

But it turned out to be a really great purchase!

Upon arriving at the dorm, I read the fine print on the pot and saw its many uses. And I quote --
* moisturizes dry skin overnight
* soothes chapped skin and lips
* soothes minor burns
* helps prevent diaper rash
* soothes minor scrapes
* removes eye makeup

The last one really got me. So apparently there was, in my subconscious, a reason why I picked it up from the aisle at the time when I was buying eyeliners -- so I have something to remove it with. Galeng, God works in mysterious ways. :)

I tried it and it's really effective. I wiped it off with Giggles Baby Wipes and my face became free of gunk. Baby wipes or a warm damp washcloth (bimpo) work also sans petroleum jelly but the latter removes the eye stuff easily, with no damage to the sensitive skin around your eyes.

See for yourself how Tyra Banks went crazy over petroleum jelly. As in crazy. Like "Are you out of your head and into the outer space?" crazy. Hahaha.

(the nicer video's no longer available. hmph.)
or try this sketch parody:

TipidTip # 27 - Buy key designer pieces.

If you want to get a sosy look for less, I have a not so tipid Tipidtip for you. :) Not so tipid because it would still require you to shell out a huge chunk of money. But if you look at it as an investment, it's really value for money.

Buy designer sunglasses.

Yep, Tipidtips girl just recommended you to buy something branded. Let's face it, shades are the only attainable thing we can purchase from designer houses. (Well, at least I'm speaking for myself.) Moreover, we can wear it everyday and it wouldn't matter. It's not like people would whisper that you *eep* repeated the same sunglasses two days in a row. After all, who doesn't need protection from the UV rays of the sun, right? So for a fashion savvy girl (or guy) who's very practical, it's really the best buy.

Another thing to buy from well-known brands are watches. Like sunglasses, these are investments. It's actually not expected of most people to change watches everyday, right? And if you choose a classic style, it can be worn with most of your outfits. More of a practicality than a fashion luxury, watches are timeless (oh, the irony) pieces which you can even pass on to your daughters and granddaughters.

Save up and move up!

Just be careful not to lose them!

TipidTip # 26 - Check out org-sponsored sales in your campus.

If you're from UP Diliman, you know what I'm talking about. :)

Being part of an organization is a must in this campus. As a loyal member, you would go to all lengths raising funds for your org's parties, out-of-town trips, an occasional symposium and sige na nga, charitable causes. A lot of orgs sponsor movie showings in the Film Center. But in the recent years, branded clothes sale is where the action is. At student-friendly prices, these sales are worth checking out.

Ride the Ikot jeep and you would notice the colored papers pasted everywhere screaming "SALE." Jag and Lee sales are staples. There's Adidas too. Sometimes, Penshoppe, Memo and all other local brands join the bandwagon. This week, July 9-13, Mango, Zara etc will be on sale too! Every week, Vinzon's Hall is booked for sales such as these. Just hang-out in that area (with all the yumminess of fishballs and cheese sticks) and you'll see what I'm talking about.

I'm sure other schools also have org-sponsored sales. For instance, I am updated about sales in Ateneo (and other goings-on there) just by looking at their huge board with the blue flourescent eagle. And Monster Radio RX 93.1 also sends shout-outs regarding these things. School fairs are a good bet so you can check them out as well.

*thx jill!