Unboxing my first beauty box, the super sulit BDJBox!

Oh hello! I disappeared again! But I came back because I just had to tell you the coolest thing ever, beauty-wise: beauty boxes!

I've never heard of such a thing but it's the hottest thing these days. What you do is you subscribe to a beauty box service and every month you get a box of goodies, in sample sizes mostly, usually about 5 products. This allows you to test a few products every month and find out which works for you, without fully committing to a big bottle or tube. It's such a clever idea, I wonder why I didn't come up with it! I guess that's because I'm not clever enough!

My very first beauty box is fantabulous. BDJBox!!! I'll let the photos tell you why I'm so excited about BDJBox:

Meet the pretty box. You just know it's filled with goodies!

Oooh, tissue paper just heightens the anticipation, don't you think?

The theme of the October box is Parisian beauty.

Oh wow, so many goodies!

And all that for a mere P480! Yep, that's all you have to shell out. Subscription fee starts at an incredibly low price of P480 and you get a box na super siksik with amazing beauty products!

There are many subscription packages to choose from. You can try it monthly, for three months, six months and even one year!

Creating an account with BDJBox also gives you access to beauty tips and tricks from some of the best beauty experts in this country. I'm talking about my friends!

Erica and Nicole were beauty editors of the country's two top women's magazines, Kat was the fashion editor of the Philippine edition of the world's biggest women's magazine, Kate used to be the fashion and beauty editor of OK! (yes, my magazine!), Tara is a popular beauty blogger, and Barbi is one of the hottest makeup artists ever! The former editors have left their magazines for bigger and better careers and BDJBox was able to get them all as a team!

Now, who wants a BDJBox? You do? Well, BDJBox is feeling generous! You can win your own box and here's all you need to do:

1. Tweet your answer to this simple question: "What's your best beauty discovery?"

2. Follow @FrancesASales and @BDJBuzz.

3. Tag @FrancesASales and @BDJBuzz when you Tweet your answer. 

4. Use the hashtag #BDJBox in your Tweet.

So for example, I would Tweet this: "@FrancesASales @BDJBuzz My best beauty discovery is SK-II Facial Treatment Essence and Souq Organics Moroccan Argan Oil! #BDJBox"

Tweet contest ends on Wednesday, November 7, which happens to be my birthday. So yup, this is my birthday gift to one reader! I'll announce the winner at 6pm via Twitter and my Facebook page.

For more on BDJBox, click here.

I Do Nails (plus, a giveaway!)

I know I should be happy to announce this news but I'm actually sad. The good news is I Do Nails just opened its first ever nail salon at Eastwood Mall. Hooray! The bad news for lazy me is they don't do home service anymore.

I'm the laziest girl in the world when it comes to beauty rituals. My husband even has to put lotion on me (which I thoroughly enjoy tee hee!) because I just can't be bothered to do it myself. So I have loved loved loved I Do Nails because they go to my house and do my nails for me. I love I Do Nails but now I won't see them anymore ever because they will never ever go to my house and I go to Eastwood Mall maybe once every two years, and only because there's an occasion, like a family dinner or something.

Oh well.

So since I Do Nails gave me gift certificates worth P1,000 (and that can get one lucky reader lots of services!), I'm giving them away!!!

Just Tweet this:
I want to go to I Do Nails Salon! @FrancesASales is giving away GCs! http://www.beautyforaliving.com/2012/09/i-do-nails-plus-giveaway.html

Or put this on your Facebook status (but you'll have to like my blog page first!):
I want to go to I Do Nails Salon! @TopazHorizon is giving away GCs! http://www.beautyforaliving.com/2012/09/i-do-nails-plus-giveaway.html

The GCs expire on September 30. Yes, that's why we need to do this quick! So I'll pick a winner on Sunday and send the prize on Monday. Good luck!

UPDATE:
Congratulations!

Pond's Flawless White is giving away 300+ tickets to Kylie's concert!!!

Love Kylie Minogue? Then you're going to love Pond's Flawless White! The whitening range is sponsoring a super easy contest: They're giving away 306 tickets to Kylie's Aphrodite world tour, specifically the Manila concert on July 5! Hooray!

Now before I give you the mechanics, let me tell you why Pond's is so in love with Kylie. Last year, the sexy pop star revealed that her mommy used the classic Pond's Cold Cream and so she uses it, too. She said Pond's is the secret to her flawless skin!

So next week, Pond's Flawless White returns the love to Kylie by inviting more than 300 fans to her concert. It's super easy to be one of these lucky fans! Just follow these steps:

TWITTER
How: Follow @pondsph and RT this: I use the unbeaten power of Pond's Flawless White to whiten every day. Now I can use it to meet Kylie Minogue too! #Ponds_KylieMinogue

Prize: Three winners get 2 lower box tickets plus a chance to meet Kylie!!!

PRODUCT PURCHASE
How: Buy P500 worth of Pond's products in participating supermarkets, department stores and drugstores in Manila. Any kind but at least one must be from the Flawless White range. A Pond's beauty advisor will then give you a raffle form. Fill it up and start praying!

Prize: 150 lucky shoppers will win 2 tickets from either upper A, upper B and lower box sections.

Winners will be announced on Pond's Facebook page (click it now to know more about this exciting contest!).

Good luck!

And the winner of the O2 Intraceuticals set is...

Marites Bolalin Violeta!

There were 71 entries to my giveaway. I went to Random.org and, using their True Random Number Generator, I came up with the number 7. A very lucky number indeed!

Starting from the very first wall post from my own giveaway post, #7 is Marites! So... congratulations! Email me at frances@topazhorizon.com for details on how to claim your prize!

Win a special beauty kit! It's Hollywood's anti-aging secret!

If you've been wondering what the skin secret of Madonna is, then I reveal it here: It's O2 Intraceuticals. Aside from her strictly healthy lifestyle, the 51-year-old superstar relies on this skincare line to keep her looking young.

I met O2 Intraceuticals' training manager Patricia Steel just before I gave birth. Here's OK! magazine's feature [September 2010] on the line:

click to enlarge and read

The treatment starts with a facial--together with the line's active and natural ingredients and extracts, pure oxygen is pumped into the surface of the skin. It's so effective, the facialist usually does half your face first so you can see the instant difference! And it doesn't have ugly results (ya know, like peeling, redness, swelling, etc) so Hollywood celebs can actually have a facial right before stepping onto the red carpet!

I loved how the products are so safe. Being pregnant then, I was wary of using anything that can be toxic to the developing life inside me. But because the line uses oxygen and natural ingredients, it's super safe!

I'm giving this away!

I'm giving you the chance to try out this line. All you have to do is type this on OK! Philippines's Facebook page: "I want Hollywood's anti-aging secret to look great in 2011!" Then just tag 3 of your friends. That's it!

The O2 Intraceuticals oxygen faciala nd skincare line are exclusively offered by The Spa Acropolis. Call (02) 631-5790 to 92 or (0918)884-3772 for inquiries.

Who won the Pond's Gold Radiance set?

There were 89 entries to my OK! and Pond's Gold Radiance giveaway. To pick a winner, I enlisted that ever reliable tool, Random.org's list randomizer!

And the list randomizer says that KITTY SIMS won the Pond's Gold Radiance set and Aranaz special edition golden clutch!

Congratulations, Kitty! Email me at frances@topazhorizon.com for details on how you can claim your prize. Thanks everybody! Don't worry--I have a stash of goodies that I still plan on giving away every week till Christmas! This is my personal way of saying thanks to all of you who like OK! magazine and our Facebook page.

Be radiant this Christmas with OK! magazine and Pond's

Hi everybody! As you know, my work with OK! Philippines has one very lovely perk: I get beauty products all the time! So, since Christmas is just around the corner, I decided that I'll surprise one of you this merry season with Pond's Gold Radiance Collection.

This latest skin care set from Pond's infused real gold particles in its creams and serums to impart these benefits:

• skin tone that is clear and even;
• skin texture that is elastic, soft, and smooth;
• skin color that is fair and translucent; and
• skin hydration having a dew glow as a result of optimum moisture levels

I will give the complete collection and a special edition Aranaz golden clutch bag! Just follow these steps:

1. Go to OK! Philippine's Facebook page.

2. Type this on the wall:

"I want to be radiant this Christmas with my favorite celebrity magazine, OK! Philippines, and Pond's Gold Radiance Collection!"

2. Tag three of your friends.

3. Wait till November 19 (that's next Friday!) and I'll announce who gets my gift!

That's it!No purchase necessary. No difficult questions to answer. No events to attend. No need to re-blog (although I'll be very happy if you do!). All you have to do is like my magazine's Facebook page!


*product photo courtesy of Pond's

The winners of the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate are...

But before I announce anything, let me first apologize for taking more than a week to do this. Our Globe/Innove Internet connection was down since last Tuesday. Yes, as in July 20!!! It's 8 days already and it's still down. Unbelievable!

So let's do this quickly!

The winner of her very own bottle of Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate is Rosa of Hello, World!

(or is it Car Driver? Hard to tell since your blog title and blog URL are different!)

I chose Rosa because she said she needed a miracle. Rosa, I can't promise you a miracle but so far my skin looks pretty okay with this midnight concentrate so I really hope it will deliver the same results to you! And you also said you promise to not be so cocky about skincare anymore--which is something we all should also promise ourselves!

Then--because I have TWO bottles of Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate--I am giving away the other bottle to Teeyah of Chronicles of Vanity! Why? Well, Kiehl's will be very happy with her post: She wrote about the Midnight Recovery Diaries rules! So from my sponsor's point of view, she earned it!

Congratulations, Rosa and Teeyah! Shoot me an email at frances@topazhorizon.com so we can talk about how to claim your prizes!

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Diaries Challenge: Day 12

There's some improvement from the last report: Now that I've gone back to applying just the prescribed 2 drops on my face, my ginormous pimple has dried up. Pretty quickly, if I may add!

So today is the 12th day since I started using Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. My skin is super soft. Do you want super soft skin, too? Then you can get a chance to win your very own bottle of this concentrate worth P2,880!

Here's what you have to do:
1. Just finish this sentence in a post on your blog: "I want to try Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate because..."
2. Then finish that blog post with this sentence: "I hope I win my very own bottle of Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate from Beauty For A Living!"
3. Leave a comment on this post with your post's URL link so I can check if you link to my blog!

That's it! Judging the winner is entirely up to me! But a fun and creative post will definitely help things along for you. Sob stories are welcome, if that's your thing. Flattering me may help, too! Joke, joke, joke. I just feel really fat and heavy now that I'm about to give birth but I'm digressing...

So I'll announce the winner on the very last day of this Midnight Diaries Challenge, which is on July 20! You have 3 days, beauty-zens! Good luck!

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Diaries Challenge: Day 6

It's been almost a week since I started applying the elixir, Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, and so far, I like what I feel.

To those who just dropped by this blog, I've agreed to take on the Midnight Recovery Diaries of Kiehl's, which is to sleep well and to apply this oil on my face and neck for 15 days. Unfortunately, due to my schedule and my pregnancy, I can't really sleep that well. But that doesn't mean I don't feel and see any good changes to my skin!

I apply the concentrate on my face, neck and hands. Kiehl's said to just put 2 drops; I like putting 4! I emulsify the oil with my fingers first then when it's nice and warm, I spread it on my face, neck and whatever's left over I rub all over my hands. And now all of those parts mentioned are super supple. I like touching my cheeks and neck and hands now!

Appearance-wise, well, the skin looks very moist, but not oily. I don't know what this elixir is supposed to do actually (whiten? brighten? remove wrinkles? reduce size of pores?) since my skin looks the same, except for the fact that it looks very supple... and young. Well, I guess that's what it's supposed to do! After all, its tag line does say, "One night. Two drops. Younger-looking skin by morning."

And since you're all with me in the middle of this challenge, I am offering one lucky reader the chance to take on the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Diaries Challenge, too! Just follow my diaries first--it will be over by next week--and I'll tell you how to get your very own bottle of youth!

 

Want to win a Lancome gift set?

I love Lancome. My favorite products are Bi-Facil Make-Up Remover, Genifique Youth-Activating Serum, and my super duper latest fave--the UV Expert Make-Up Base with SPF 50 (which I'll write about soon because I'm soooo in love with it).

Anyway, Lancome Manila (that's the Facebook page) is giving away fab gift sets and you ought to try your luck. Here's how (click to enlarge):

Good luck! Okay, I'm off to have pics taken of me and my UV Expert tube. I hope the so-called luck of pregnant women wins me a set. I've already won one contest. Please please let me win this one. I'm only going to be pregnant once!

P.S. Lancome Manila's Facebook page here.

Beauty updates!

I've been very very busy putting to bed the June issue of OK! magazine and gathering stories for you. Here's the special stories to watch for:

1. Johnson's & Johnson's Body and Bayo's fashion and beauty show
2. Pond's Flawless White's latest TVC, Dear Diary
3. NARS' upcoming fabulous makeup products (this is beyond exciting!!!)
4. Kenneth Cole's new super comfy high heels
5. TOMS Shoes' campaign to help poor Filipino kids get shoes

And, last but most definitely not the least, a beauty giveaway featuring famous Japanese brand Shiseido!!! I'm doing a fantabulous giveaway so I'm going to make the mechanics just a little hard, just so I can see how much you want the prize!

Okay, that's it! Are you excited??? I am!!!

Just Jewels presents its celebrity-designed wedding rings (plus a little chatter from me)

Dreaming of your wedding or already planning the big day? Then this news is for you!

Just Jewels just launched their Rings of Promise, wedding rings designed by actress and brand endorser Dawn Zulueta, TV host/society columnist/interior designer Tessa Prieto Valdes and fashion designer Debbie Co. The rings are part of Just Jewels' Made-to-Order Wedding Rings service, which promises good quality and customized design fit for any budget. I think it's a lovely idea! 

The event was held at Enderun Colleges at McKinley Hill. It's a nice place! Though it did remind me of a church. Anyway, the event took a while to start so I spent the time taking pictures.

WHILE WAITING...

Look at that blue sky! The red brick facade sure looked stark against that expanse of perfect azure.

Inside, the afternoon sun streamed in through the big windows. This would be lovely for an intimate  wedding reception.

I think the table arrangements are elegant and simple. I quite adore the flowers spilling over our heads. So pretty yet unobtrusive.

With me at the event was Mica, an intern for Cosmo.ph. She's so terribly young, it's almost painful. She's adorable, don't get me wrong, but she's all wide-eyed with wonder at the glamorous side of the magazine industry and when I told her that events are work not play, and that we usually spend our days hunched over a keyboard, typing and editing away, and negotiating with brand managers and advertisers, and worrying over circulation and advertising profit... well, she didn't believe me. She just thinks it's all fun, fun, fun! Sad to burst her bubble but it's more of stress, stress, stress!!!

Anyway, I was also there with bloggers Earth of Earthling Gorgeous and Jennie of Marriage and Beyond. They're power bloggers! Blogging is fast becoming (if it isn't already) the new important media, and Earth and Jennie are two of the few who know how to do this blogging thing well. I'm a blogger, too, but I'm still very entrenched in traditional print media. I do want to learn more about blogging because times are changing for print!

Caronia says, "It's your time to sparkle!"

Caronia nail polish sent me an email. Here's a read:

Greetings from Caronia Philippines. We came across your blog entries about Caronia Nail polish and we would like to thank you for the fab raves!

By the way, we recently launched our official website and Facebook fan page. Visit us at www.caronia.com.ph or look for Caronia Philippines on Facebook. We also have an on-going online photo contest, for more details visit www.caronia.com.ph/photocontest

It's your to Sparkle!
Your friends from Caronia Philippines

Join the Shen's Addiction Fantabulous Big Beauty Giveaway!!!

My beautiful blogger friend Shen is celebrating her blog's second anniversary with an uber fabulous beauty giveaway and a new blog called Manila Beauty Blog! The new blog is supposed to be an extension of her beauty blogging but, so far, it has posts on fashion--which, in increasingly stylish Manila, is the industry to watch!

Shen and me at a Body Shop event last November

First, let me tell you about Shen. She's one of the sweetest, kindest, smartest and friendliest people I've ever met. That doesn't make her a doormat, by the way. Personally, I don't like the simple sweet kind. She isn't like that--she's sugar and spice. My kinda girl!

This New Year, use Kerastase--and only Kerastase!--for your hair

I love Kerastase. I use the Resistance Bain Volumactive line for my flat lifeless hair. Of course, with Kerastase, my hair is revived and bouncy and beautiful! I also use the Reflection Bain Chroma Riche line when my hair's newly colored, to keep my hair looking redder longer. I cannot emphasize just how much I love Kerastase for my hair! Even my husband is spoiled rotten--he loves it, too, and switches between his Phyto shampoo and my Kerastase bottle because this stuff really works.

Now, Kerastase is not cheap. Why, it's the hair care line used by Hollywood celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Aniston and Emmy Rossum! So I'm so happy I'm friends with Kerastase's Senior Product Manager, the affable and totally wonderful Birdie Salva--he sends me my bottles and jars for free! Thank you, Birdie!

Birdie's so generous, he's extending his offer of free Kerastase products to YOU! Look at what he's giving away on his fantabulous blog, Hair in Manila:

My darlings, that is one box of beauty! Hop on now to Hair in Manila for details on how you can win that fab box!

P.S. Birdie, thanks for my Kerastase Resistance Bain Volumactive shampoo and conditioner and the yummily scented candles, too!

GlutaMAX wants to see a happy new you!

GlutaMAX, that whitening product responsible for the amazing transformation of comedienne Jinky Oda, has an exciting contest and you have but seven days to try your luck! Just share your own transformation story and you can win a MacBook, a trip for two to Hong Kong, a Nokia 5000, an iPod and a Sony Cybershot T70!

Here's all you need to do:
1. You need to be a Nuffnang blogger aged at least 18 years old. (Not a Nuffnanger? Join now!)
2. Write a post showing two photos: a BEFORE and an AFTER of any transformation.
3. Describe the transformation (ex: "30 pounds lighter!", "new hippy me", "The power of a red lipstick!").
4. Title the entry, "The New Me"
5. Include a photo of yourself with any GlutaMAX product at the end of the entry, and the tagline "GlutaMAX, See the Results!"
6. E-mail the URL of your blog post with your full name, place of residence, and mobile number to glutamaxcontest@nuffnang.com.
7. Submit before the deadline of December 31, 2009.

I'm not joining the contest but--just for fun!--here's a look at a before-and-after of me!

My dear friend Jennie of Kikay Corner uploaded some of her old photos on her Facebook profile. Problem is, some of those photos included me! Ack! Can't believe I looked like this before:

Win a pot of La Prairie Platinum Creme!

All of these women love the December issue of OK! magazine. And because of that, they get a chance to win La Prairie Cellular Creme Platinum Rare--currently the most expensive moisturizer on earth!

I was able to get two sample sachets before and then a 5 mL pot, too! I used the sachets but, because I'm oily, I guess I didn't really need a rich moisturizer. Here's my review. So now I have an unopened and unused pot of this pricey cream and I'm giving it away!

Want to know how you can win this pot for yourself? Go here now!