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Cat Care Essentials

September 10, 2020 / PET STUFF / 0 comments

Hey cat lovers! In this post, I’m sharing with you some cat care essentials that I like to use for my kittycats. As what you might have read in today’s pandemic world, felines are prone to acquiring the vid. So, I take good precautions regarding my cats’ health. The following cat care essentials I’m going to list below are part of my daily and/or weekly cat grooming routine. Without further ado, check out how I care for my cats, as demonstrated by my kitties: Bibi & Dodo.

First of all, I like to check my cats’ temperature. I use the baby rectal thermometer from Vicks (linked below). I like using it because it’s really tiny and gentle on cats. If you’re not sure or not familiar with using rectal thermometers, I suggest you consult your vet or a health care provider. The normal cat temperature is between 100.5°F and 102.5°F or 38.1°C to 39.2°C. I usually check my cats’ temp monthly or whenever I notice that they’re not feeling well.

From there, I go from head to toe, or whichever my cats want first.

I usually start by checking their ears. I like moistening a soft cotton pad (check out my top picks in cotton pads here) with the Virbac Epi-Otic Ear Cleanser and clean the outer part of my cats’ ears. I also soak a few cotton tips to reach around the ridges of the ears, but I don’t push or go all the way down since that would not be safe.

Next, I use a small otoscope to visually their inner ear. I don’t push it all the way, just enough to see if there might be any presence of ear mites. These mites usually resemble a coffee ground texture in the ear. FYI: Examining a cat’s ear is the opposite of examining a human ear; where you pull up and back. With a cat’s ear, you pull slightly down and forward.

I then proceed to check my cats’ eyes. I look for discharges and retinal scratches. If there’s nothing wrong, I don’t put anything on them. If there’s a slight irritation around the corner of the eye, I usually clean it with a presoaked eye wash pad (linked below) and put a drop of Vetericyn Eye Wash which is a very mild antimicrobial eye wash for slightly irritated eyes. If your kitty has swollen or very irritated eyes, and seem more serious than a light scratch, or tearing a lot, you have to consult your veterinarian.

After checking the eyes, I check my cats’ teeth. Brushing a cat’s teeth is always a challenge. It’s always a good idea to start brushing their teeth while they’re young, so, the process gets a bit easier with time. My cats still don’t like, but they tolerate it, and I’ve got a whole lotta persistence, lol. Cat brushing is more like dry-brushing, where you use a small toothbrush designed for pets, a flavored toothpaste, and perhaps a bit of water. So, no Colgate or Crest here :-).

After brushing, I proceed to trimming their nails, using a pet nail trimmer. I only trim a tiny bit on the tip, and not go all the way up. In that way, they can still scratch and climb. This is a very challenging activity because this requires sharp attention and precision. Your cats might move while you’re trimming their nails. So, I suggest having a partner to do this, or position yourself behind the cat and stabilize them with your upper body. I prefer a tall table and plenty of light whenever I do this. Usually, this is the part I don’t like the most.

Lastly, I do the part that my cats like best – brushing! Now, some cats may have a preference as to what kind of brush they like. Some like a scratchy brush, while some like it soft. My cat Bibi likes the Furminator even though he doesn’t really need it because he doesn’t shed a lot. He also likes the LoveGlove which is a silicon glove full of little knobs that catch his fur and simulates as a hand. The Kong Zoom Groom is also his fave, which is a detangler made of silicon. Dodo, on the other hand, likes a kitten slicker brush, even though he’s not exactly a kitten anymore, lol. I use two kitten slicker brush on him to get a good coverage. They also serve as his toys which he likes to bite. This chunky bean has a lot of fur :-).

In general, most cats don’t like water, although I have one that thinks he’s a mermaid, lol. From time to time, I like to use a Waterless Cat Bath to refresh my cats’ fur. You just soak a soft cloth or paper towel in it, and let it dry. It usually dries fast and is very gentle on cats. Also, another good product to have is a Styptic Powder, which is a good first-aid product for pets, just in case they get a cut.

That comprises my cat care essentials and procedures. If you’re in doubt about doing these procedures, please consult your veterinarian and also read the ASPCA Complete Cat Care Manual. If you have any suggestions or tips on how to care for your pets, DM me or comment below.

Always have fun with your pets!

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Disclaimer: No cats were harmed in this post and I wasn’t scratched. Although, there were some attempts, lol 🙂

Home Nail Care Routine

June 11, 2020 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

The world might be reopening right now, yet a lot of us are still in quarantine mode and are practicing social distancing because we aren’t totally out of the woods yet. You know what they say, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, right? From where I’m at, a lot of stores and services are still close. Getting a haircut or a mani-pedi is still quite a challenge. Speaking of nail care, I haven’t been worried about it because I have been doing my nails for a very long time. I find the joy of applying nail colors to be somewhat of a time to disconnect and reflect, even though I’m not much of a fan of the scent of these products.

In this post, I will be sharing with you how I do my manicure at home, and if you have tips on how to do home nail care, please do so in the comment section below.

Nail Cleaning/Prep

First things first, I wipe off old nail polish using a textured cotton square. I like the ones from CVS. For the nail polish remover, I’m a big fan of the Zoya Remove Plus because I can pretty much tolerate its scent. It also removes nail polish very easily, it doesn’t dry the nails, and I really like its easy to dispense pump packaging.

I tend to cut my nails in a squoval shape. That is, a hybrid between square and oval. To do this, I cut my nails using a toenail clipper/cutter. I like this particular cutter because it is wide and makes for a square cut on the nails. Then, I apply a cuticle remover using the one from Sally Hansen. I love this product a lot because it softens the cuticles within seconds, which makes it easy for the cuticle pusher and nipper to do their job. After that, I file my nails, especially the edges, to achieve that sort of oval trim.

For the next part, I brush my nails lightly with a wooden nail brush to dust off any loose cuticles and to have a smoother nail surface. I then apply the OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener in Original Formula and let it set for 3 minutes. Without this amazing base coat, my nails would go brittle and would chip easily after a few days of manicure. There are other types of Nail Envy Strengthener that OPI released nowadays, but the one in the Original Formula is my most fave.

Nail Coloring

After letting the base coat set for a few minutes, I then proceed to apply the nail color. Tip: In order to achieve a smooth nail color application, make sure that the nail color brush is parallel to the nail bed. In this post, and lately, I have been obsessed with the new Spring-released Chanel Le Vernis in Daydream. This color is a surprise love for me, and a great neutral nude nail color option for those can’t pull off the shade “Particulière”.

I let the nail color set for about 5 minutes, and then I apply a top coat. Depending on the type of nail color I use (gel vs regular), it’s always a good practice to use an appropriate top coat that matches each type. Since the new Chanel Le Vernis in Daydream is a gel formula, I use a matching gel top coat from Seche Vite (the one in blue bottle). I also usually use the Chanel Le Gel Coat, but I ran out of it. The Seche Vite one isn’t the most perfect, because it tends to peel after a week or so, but it really dries fast and it sets your nail polish in seconds, which is amazing.

To clean up mistakes or excess nail colors that had spread and stained the skin, I just use a cotton tip dipped in nail polish remover. After that, I let my nails set for another 5 minutes and I try not to touch or do anything.

And there you go! My nails are set for two weeks. The whole process can take about 20 minutes, more or less, depending on how elaborate you want your nails to be prepped, or how fast you can apply your nail polish.

To maintain the health of my nails and cuticles, I’ve been using the OPI Avoplex Nail & Cuticle Replenishing Oil, which is now called OPI Pro Spa Nail & Cuticle Oil To Go.

Lastly, don’t forget to take a #Nailfie 🙂

Take care my darlings! What’s on your nails today?

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Top Picks in Facial Cotton Pads

May 5, 2020 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Are you currently using a facial cotton pad? I’ve been using a few brands and have tested some in the past. I find that the ones that work very well are the ones that are made for sensitive skin. The soft and gentle type that doesn’t scratch the face and are perfect for toners or liquid makeup removers.

I’m not a big fan of the regular cotton rounds or cotton squares. The ones that have raised textures or are too small to use all over the face. Those types are scratchy and those require some rubbing on the skin upon application which isn’t so good, and those also absorb and waste way too much products. I like the ones that are plush, highly-absorbent, and easy to find like the ones below.

Shiseido Facial Cotton (40 – 165 sheets: 5 – 12 USD) – This is a well-loved facial cotton that is made in Japan and this is soft, compact, and totally gentle on the face. This is perfect for any toner application and even for any oil or liquid makeup remover. I like this a lot and this doesn’t break or disintegrate easily as you use this all over the face and neck.

CVS Beauty 360 Extra Thick Premium Cotton Squares (150 sheets: 3.79 USD) – This super soft and affordable cotton pad is so fluffy and this absorbs enough products especially toners, which means I don’t get to waste a lot of it. Even though this doesn’t feel as compact as the other cotton pads mentioned in this review, I find this pad to be still on par with the high-end ones and this is so affordable. There was another version of this that comes in somewhat green packaging, but I’m not sure if CVS still carries that one. I like that one a lot because that’s even softer than this extra thick version and though that pad tends to disintegrate easily, it’s way more fluffy so it absorbs just enough toner to cover the whole face. Then there’s also the current larger version of this facial cotton, but it’s definitely not soft on the face, in my opinion. I find it to be ideal for removing nail polish because it has more texture and is quite exfoliating.

Muji Soft Cut Cotton Unbleached (180 sheets: 6.19 USD) – This pad retains the natural specks of seed pods and husks that you’d normally see in most unbleached cotton products, which could potentially feel scratchy. However, I’ve only felt a slight scratchiness once or twice all throughout my usage of this particular facial cotton. Even though this doesn’t look white at all, don’t let the color and the texture fool you. This very natural cotton is so soft and so fluffy, which absorbs enough toner to apply all over your face. On top of that, this doesn’t disintegrate easily.

Chanel Le Coton (100 pads: 20 USD) – A very luxurious cotton pad embossed with the Chanel logo that is delicately packed inside a beautiful Chanel box. The size of this is about 0.5 inches and 0.3 inches (lxh) larger than most facial cotton pads and is ideal not only for the face but also for the neck. Cutting this into two would make this cotton pad quite too small for the face, but it’s very doable and definitely economical. The texture and the overall quality of this are pretty much like Shiseido’s, which is soft, compact, highly-absorbent, and lint-free. Also, this is made in Japan.

If I have to rank the facial cotton pads I reviewed above, well, my top pick will definitely be the CVS cotton pad because it’s the cheapest and it works just as great as the designer ones. In fact, it pretty much looks like Shiseido’s and it seems even softer. If my local CVS is out of stock of their cotton pads, which happens a lot all the time, then I’d definitely opt for Muji because it’s so fluffy and so soft. Third would be Shiseido, and lastly, it will be Chanel.

I have yet to investigate the Koh Gen Do Pure Cotton and the Clé de Peau Beauté Cottons, have you tried them before? What did you think about them? Any facial cotton pad recs?

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