Big Changes at SouthGain

Thursday, 2012-12-27

Thank you for your previous business with SouthGain Enterprises. As a valued customer, we wanted to let you know about a significant change. We have discontinued our business relationship with the Diana Stalder brand.

SouthGain Enterprises is proud to have introduced the Diana Stalder brand to the world market more than five years ago. As the original and largest authorized distributor anywhere outside of the Philippines, we are happy to have served the needs of tens of thousands of customers over the years. However, for a number of business reasons, the time has come for us to make this change.

What is next for SouthGain? Well, we can’t say just yet, but we have some exciting future plans in the works. Stay tuned!

Thanks again for your loyal business!

Sincerely,

The SouthGain Team

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Posted by SouthGain

How to Make the Best Out of Your Skin Care Products

Thursday, 2012-08-02

The success of a skin care product depends on two main factors: the skin’s ability to absorb chemicals and the person’s ability to use the product properly. Changing the former is a bit difficult, but we can definitely help you with the latter. To address this, we’ve list down below a couple of things you can do to get optimal results from your skin care supplies.

Cleanse first!

Before applying anything on your skin, make sure that is thoroughly washed. Make it a habit to do your skin care routine right after a warm shower. Aside from being clean, your skin at this time will be moist and could, therefore, absorb creams and other skin care products better.

(Just to warn you, though: Be careful not to wash your skin – you face, most especially – with hot water, as it may speed up skin aging.)

Apply products when your skin is moist.

As we’ve mentioned above, damp skin absorbs (and retains!) skin care products better. So after shower, massage your lotion, facial creams and the like onto your skin. Your products’ ingredients can penetrate more effectively when your skin is still moist. Applying sunscreen, however, can be done at a later time, since sunscreen is meant to stay on the surface of your skin.

Get yourself warmed up.

Although we’ve mentioned earlier that heat can hasten up the skin aging process, we don’t recommend washing your face with cold water before applying skin care products. Instead, wash it with warm water to help clear clogged pores and loosen the accumulated dirt. When you do this, your skin temperature will rise, causing yours pores to open up. And with your pores open, there will be better absorption.

Buy products that suit your skin type.

One of the reasons why some women who try using skin care products fail to achieve their desired result is that they don’t pay attention to the product labels. Always check the label to see if the product suits your skin type. If you are not sure what your skin type is, choose products with “for all skin types” label, just to be safe.

Keep them in your fridge!

It’s common knowledge that beauty products should be kept away from direct sunlight, but if you want to make them last longer, try keeping them refrigerated. Relatively low temperature can slow down the chemical reactions that most skin care products (e.g., makeup and moisturizers) go through, and can help decrease skin swelling and redness after application. Also, you can further enhance the ability of your eye creams to reduce puffiness by keeping them in a cool storage.

Just a few reminders:

  • Not all beauty products will do well inside your fridge. One of them is your lipstick. A lipstick that is stored in a fridge tends to excessively “sweat” (oil comes out of the wax and rises to the stick’s surface). And when this happens, the lipstick loses its ability to spread properly on your lips.
  • Store your products in a fridge, but don’t let them freeze! Once they become frozen, their water and oil separate (in the case of moisturizers and other creams), and this can ruin them completely.
  • Remember to place the products in closed containers before putting them inside your fridge. You don’t want any spillage and food contamination just because you want to keep your cosmetics cool.
  • When putting cosmetics and other beauty products in a fridge, make sure that you keep them somewhere noticeable. As people say, “out of sight, out of mind.”
  • Do you have any more tips to add to the list above? Share them with us!

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Posted by pgesmundo

Easy, Doable Tips for a Younger Look (Series of Two Posts)

Tuesday, 2012-07-10

You stare at yourself in the mirror, checking each line and wrinkle and sun spot and you wonder what you can do with them without having to resort to laser treatments or wrinkle-filling injections.

Start the day right!

We can’t stress enough the importance of having a good skin care routine – from washing the face in the morning to removing the dirt of the day at night.  A good face soap to start the day and prime the skin for day make up is Diana Stalder Vitamin A Beauty Bar.  This soap contains retinyl palmitate which moisturizes and rejuvenates sun-dried skin, reducing wrinkles and fine lines, especially in the eye area.  Definitely helps maintain young looking skin!

Start the night right!

Part of a sensible skin care routine should be night care.  By starting the night right, we mean helping your skin recover and rejuvenate as you get your eight hours of sleep.  Help your skin get a good night’s rest with Diana Stalder Nourishing Crème.  Also known as the Night Repair Crème, this cream exfoliates dead skin cells to revitalize the skin and maintain its elasticity.  Apply it sparingly on the face before bedtime – it works while you sleep!

And to help achieve that young, fresh look throughout the day, here are some tried and tested make up tips & tricks, guaranteed to take a couple of years off your look.

Do some make up magic!

Although for most situations, the “less is more” adage is applicable, when it comes to make up, less is really less.  We’re not saying you have to spend hours putting tons of make up on your face, but if you really want to keep it at a minimum, do make up magic with your eyes.

Prime your skin before applying make-up.

For radiant, younger looking skin, use a luminizing primer with liquid or cream foundation.  Powder is okay but can dry the skin, so this is ideal only for those with oily skin.  Make sure your foundation is not too pale as a lighter color than your skin tone does not look natural.  When using liquid or cream foundation, pat a damp sponge into skin to pick up the excess.

Conceal away. 

Concealer may be used not only to hide skin flaws or uneven color, but also to highlight the skin.  Brush or pat concealer under the eyes, blend down well into the middle of the face.  Concealer mishaps happen when it sinks into wrinkles and creases and can make you look older, so it is best to use it minimally.

Focus on the eyes. 

Eye make up can instantly brighten your eyes and make you look younger, such as a touch of glowing shadow on the center of the lid and inner corner.  You may want to avoid using shimmer as this often brings colors fine lines and texture of the eyelids, making you look older.  For an “eye lift”, line the top lash with a brown pencil or shadow and use a shade of highlighter for that glowing halo around the eye.

Fine groom your brows.

A well-defined and well-groomed set of eyebrows makes a good base for making up the face.  Define the best brow thickness for your face shape – not too thin and not too thick.  Use a pencil to define the brow shape, followed by brow powder to blend and fill in the gaps.  Thicker brows make for a younger looking face.

Play up the lashes.

Thick, long lashes always help project a youthful and wide eyed look.  Maximize your lashes by wearing a few individual false lashes or use thickening mascara.  Choose one that separates and curls each strand and not the kind that weighs it down or causes clumps.

Glow with a cream blush.

Using a cream blush gives the cheeks an instant glow, specially when applied with a foundation brush.  If you have oily skin or large pores, opt for cream powder instead.

Use lip liner.

As we age, the sides of our top lip loses its fullness.  Using a neutral lip pencil to line and softly round the outer corners of the lips and soften the Cupids bow can help make can take off ages from your face.  Choose a clear silicone formula that can fill in lines and act as a barrier to avoid lipstick leaks.  Satin-finish lipsticks can add moisture and any rose or beige shade is most flattering.

Do you have any other make up tips and tricks you can add to the list?  Share them with us.

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Posted by pgesmundo

Your Man’s Grooming Kit: 5 Essential Items That Should Be in It

Saturday, 2012-07-07

Metrosexual or not, your man should be carrying around with him his own grooming kit.  His own, we repeat, to bring along on business trips, when you both travel for pleasure, or better yet, on a day-to-day basis, just like us.  Many a times, we have “caught” our man going through our bag of personal toiletries, looking for say, shampoo, a shaver, toothpaste, or even, lotion.

And because we’re of different genders from them, our grooming needs are different.  Our pH balances are different, our skin care specifics different.  Which is why it’s only wise that they stop using our products and start using their own.

Surprise your man by putting together his very own grooming kit.  Start with the 5 essential items that we know every man needs, and will definitely use.  He’ll thank you, believe us, and you’ll be grateful too that he’s not using up your moisturizer as a shaving lotion.

Here’s what you should put in his manly grooming kit:

1.)  Shaver & Shaving Cream – Pick a good razor, one with multiple blades that make sure it cuts the hair as close to the skin as possible.   Battery-operated razors are best as they are more economical and men swear by the close shave it gives them.  Pack it with a shaving cream with moisturizer and vitamins.  If they were to choose, they would just pick out whatever is on the shelf, without reading what’s in them.  Because we women read the label, your man’s recently shaved skin can be soothed by the kind of shaving cream you choose.  Choose one with additional moisturizing ingredients to soften the “traumatic” experience their skin gets from frequent shaving.

2.)  After Shave – Most guys do away with the after shave.  Otherwise, they tend to put on the “old scent” that they have seen their dad or older brother use.  This is your chance to choose the scent you like to smell on your man’s chin and neck.  Both you and your man may enjoy a citrus scent for that refreshing feel and smell of a good clean-shaven face.

3.)  Gentle Soap – I’ve seen my guy use whatever is on hand to wash his face – shower gel, hand soap, shampoo, etc.  For them, whatever lathers is good enough to wash their face with.  Make sure there’s a sensible bar of soap in his kit, just for his face.  A good choice would be Diana Stalder Lemon Soap.  This bar contains acne-fighting ingredients that is not harsh on the skin, and is ideal for the male skin type.

4.)  Facial Lotion -  You may get resistance, but you should insist on this.  Explain to your man how that razor “broke” and “damaged” his skin, and how lavishing it with a good facial lotion afterwards will give his skin some TLC by keeping it moisturized, smooth and supple.  Diana Stalder His Facial Lotion is a “no-nonsense” lotion for men – scent free and made specifically for the male facial skin.

5.)  Masculine Wash – Slip this into your man’s grooming kit and you’ll both be grateful that you did.  Men’s hyperactive, physical lifestyle makes them sweat throughout the day, more so in the genital region, which may result to sore, itchy and irritated skin.  Diana Stalder Masculine Wash is ideal for the active male.  It contains guava extract which acts as a natural antiseptic and lactic acid which helps control the pH balance of the genital region.  Surely, your man will be happy to use this daily as a liquid soap to moisturize and was away odor.

These are just five (5) of the must have grooming essentials in your man’s personal kit.  Help him pick the items, remind him to use them and he’ll thank you every time of how sweet and thoughtful

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Posted by pgesmundo

Lips Smacking Care Tips

Thursday, 2012-07-05

Lips are extremely delicate and should be given extra care especially as we grow older.  Signs of aging such as lines and wrinkles may also appear if not given the right attention.

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Here are some tips on how to keep your lips smack ready and healthy:

1)  The first step in lip care is exfoliation.  Just like the skin, our lips naturally shed dead skin cells over time.  Regular exfoliation prevents the build-up of dead skin and allows new skin cells to emerge.  Because lip skin is thin, exfoliation should be done gently.  Use a soft washcloth or soft toothbrush and carefully brush it over the lips.

2)  Protect your lips from the elements.  Use a gentle lip balm or lip protector such as petroleum jelly.  This acts a shield against dirt and harmful weather elements such as cold wind and extreme heat.

3)  Keep your lips hydrated.  This is another good reason why you should drink at least 8 glasses of water of day.  Good hydration will keep your lips moist and smooth.  This will also help prevent wrinkle from developing around the lips.

4)  Keep your lips moisturized.  Use moisturizer on your lips during the day and apply a good cream at night.  Most people, when moisturizing their face, tend to skip the lips and the area around it.  As you apply moisturizer and cream, don’t forget to cover the lip area as well.  Regular use of Diana Stalder Nourishing Crème, which contains white petrolatum, can keep the lips soft and supple.

5)  Strengthen the skin around the lips with collagen.  Aside from helping remove dead skin, collagen has been found to be extremely effective when applied to chapped lips.  Regular application of Diana Stalder SBF – Collagen Cream can help make the lips and skin around it smoother, and can help prevent fine lines and wrinkles from developing around the lips.

6)  Avoid smoking.  Aside from cigarette’s harmful effects on the lungs, smoking exposes the lips and the skin around the mouth to the toxins of smoke and nicotine.  This hastens the aging process in the lip area, making it prone to damage, dryness and wrinkles.

Healthy lips are naturally pink and smooth.  When you have this kind of lips, you can easily opt to go lipstick free on ordinary days and use lip color only on occasion.

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Posted by pgesmundo

Nail Care 101

Saturday, 2012-06-30

Just like the hair on our heads is our crowning glory, the nails on our fingers reflect how healthy we are and how well we practice good hygiene.  Our fingernails are composed of calcium and other minerals, which is why it’s important to replenish them.  For healthy fingernails, we need an adequate supply of calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, phosphorus, zinc, and silica in our system.

Here’s a short list of essential to do’s to ensure that we always have healthy fingernails:

1)  Eat right.  Since our nails consist mainly of calcium, milk and milk products are a good source.  Other dairy foods such as cheese, yogurt, and eggs should also be among our regular diet.  Of course, fruits, nuts, and vegetables such as carrots, spinach, parsley, coriander, and broccoli, are also rich sources of calcium and other nutrients.  Discolored nails and uneven ridges are an indication of a vitamin deficiency.  When this happens, you must supplement your diet with Vitamins B12, A and C.

2)  Drink right.  Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day is not only good for our overall health and skin, but also has a direct effect on our nails.  When we are well hydrated, we prevent our nails from becoming dry and brittle.

3)  Clean right.  We can never emphasize this enough.  Aside from regular cleaning with manicure and pedicure, the first step of course, is keeping them clean with soap and water.  Our nails are exposed to disease causing dirt most of the day, which is why you can never go wrong with frequent hand washing.  Use a soap that has excellent antiseptic qualities but still is not too harsh on the skin.  Make sure you massage soap around the nails and cuticles.  For frequent this, we recommend the Diana Stalder Licorice Beauty Bar.  This soap is very gentle as it deeply cleanses and moisturizes at the same time.  It contains soothing properties from licorice and coconut oil extract.  Dead, dry skin around the nails should also be exfoliated with a soft brush.  Keep your nails clean by using gloves when gardening, washing dishes and clothes. 

4)  Trim right.  In between manicures, nail trimming at least once a week should be a regular practice.  Cut them just right and make sure that the skin under the nails is not damaged or broken by cutting too close to the skin.  When filing the nails, use one direction only and avoid filing immediately after bath when the nails are too soft.  Buffing helps improve blood circulation and stimulates nail growth.

5)  Moisturize right.  After a good cleaning, nails should be rinsed and moisturized well.  This is necessary because our nails are exposed to extreme temperatures – direct heat and cold, hot and cold weather and water.  This can cause our nails to become dry and brittle.  Keep your nails moisturized with regular use of lotion.  When you use the Diana Stalder Surely White Body Lotion on your skin, don’t forget to give attention to your nails and cuticles as well.  Massaging the nails with moisturizer will help maintain good blood circulation and will result to healthy and fast growth.

6)  Avoid harsh chemicals.  Exposing the nails to harsh elements such as paint can damage them badly.  It’s a good idea to apply a base coat on the nails before handling paint, to help protect them from the harsh, damaging effects.  This should also be a practice before applying nail polish, especially when you like wearing bright, vibrant colors.  The base coat helps prevent staining and discoloration.  When removing nail polish, choose nail polish remover that contains acetate, not acetone.  Acetone dries the nails and causes them to be fragile, making them susceptible to further damage.

7)  Let your nails breathe.  Try not to overdue manicures – maintain a regular gap between wearing nail polish.  Soaking nails in vinegar once in a while is a good way of keeping the ph balance of the nails, and prevents nail fungus from growing and living under the nails.

Nail care 101 is simple and easy.  Our hands and nails are noticeable parts of our body which is why it is essential to take care of them and protect them from nail disorders.  Show off your beautiful hands with healthy and clean nails.

 

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Posted by pgesmundo

Why Not Add Lemon Into Your Beauty Regimen?

Thursday, 2012-06-28

A few months back, we wrote about 8 powerful skin foods that can help you attain that perfect skin from within.  These are natural, regular food – fruits and vegetables – that you can readily buy from the supermarket and easily add to your daily diet for healthy, glowing skin.

This time, we’d like to talk more about one fruit that most beauty experts have only good things to say about:  lemon!

Aside from the thirst-quenching lemon juice that you can drink straight up, and the tangy zest of flavor it gives to cooked food, lemon’s nutrient-rich qualities give us a list of reasons why it should be included in our health and beauty regimen.

For the hair
•   To condition dull, damaged hair – combine ¾ cup olive oil with 1/3 cup honey and 3 tablespoons of lemon juice.   Comb the mixture evenly to wet hair. Cover with a plastic wrap for 30 minutes. Shampoo then rinse out.

•   To use as a hair rinse – squeeze juice from two lemons (or 3 fluid oz) with a quart of water. This lemon rinse helps restore the hair’s ph balance by reducing the oil and keeping the scalp healthy.

•   For hair loss – mix lemon juice with 4 tablespoons of coconut milk. Apply to scalp once a week. You’ll notice new hair growth where it was once thin.

•   For dandruff and itchy scalp – mix an egg white with 3 tablespoons of lemon. Apply to scalp by rubbing gently, allow to set for an hour then rinse. Repeat for a month until dandruff is gone.

•   For natural highlights – combine ¼ cup lemon juice and ¾ cup water. Apply to hair with a spray bottle and comb. Let the lemon oxidize by staying under the sun for 25 minutes or by heating your hair with a blow dryer. This will give your hair a sun bleached look.

For the skin
•   For brighter, softer skin – use fresh lemon juice on any area of your body, especially where there are dark, rough spots like the elbows, knees and underarms. Applying lemon juice to the face also helps brighten age spots and freckles. For an overall skin treatment, you may opt to soak in bath water mixed with ½ cup of fresh juice. However, if you’re one of those with sensitive skin who fears that the citric acid from the lemon may be too strong or harsh, you may choose to use Diana Stalder Lemon Soap. This beauty bar is formulated with lemon’s natural acne-fighting ingredients without being too harsh on the skin. Regular use also helps get rid of blackheads.

•   To get rid of blackheads – at night, rub lemon juice over the affected area. Rinse the face with cool water in the morning. Repeat nightly until blackheads disappear.

•   To make a moisture mask for dry skin – mix equal amounts of lemon, honey and olive oil. Apply to dry areas and leave to dry for 10 minutes. Rinse after with warm water. You may want to supplement the natural moisturizing effect of this mask with the use of Diana Stalder Clear Creme by applying to the affected area 2 or 3 times a day.

•   To exfoliate dead skin cells – dip a cut lemon in sugar and rub over the face for a few minutes. The lemon juice and sugar granules combined together make a good cleanser and exfoliant in one. You may do this every night to refresh your skin and remove accumulated dead skin cells from the face. If you find this nightly routine too tedious, once a week use of the Diana Stalder Exfoliating Kit will have the same refreshing effect on your skin.

For the body
•   For body detox – lemon juice has long been recommended for healthy, natural detoxifying. Make a glass of lemon juice with warm water and 1 teaspoon of honey. Lemon’s citric acid helps flush out toxins from the liver, improve blood circulation and activate intestinal secretions that help the body rid of unwanted elements in the system. It’s always a good idea to drink a glass of lemon juice a day.

For the nails
•   For healthy, shiny fingernails – soak nails in lemon juice for at least 10 minutes. The citric acid will loosen dirt, odor and even fungus from the fingernails. Dip nail brush in a 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and warm water then rinse.

For oral hygiene
•   For teeth whitening – rub half a lemon dipped in salt and baking soda onto the teeth before brushing. Or brush teeth with lemon juice, salt and baking soda for instant sparkling white teeth.

•   As a natural breath freshener – squirt a few drops of lemon juice into the mouth, swish around for 15 seconds then swallow. The citric acid from the lemon will destroy odor causing bacteria in the mouth and help treat bad breath. Drinking lemon juice throughout the day will also keep your breath fresh and odor free.

The above is just a few of the many reasons why you should consider using lemon as part of your health and beauty routine.  Lemon has nutrients that can be used as a good cleanser and does wonders for the body and the skin.  Drinking the juice can only have good effects on our digestive system, and can help result to clean clear skin, hair and scalp.  Just a word of caution, lemon is acidic and should therefore be used in moderate and proper proportions.  For those with sensitive skin, using formulated lemon soap may be a safer and effective way of benefitting from lemon’s beautifying nutrients.

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Posted by pgesmundo

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