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.

More products for sale!

I have sooooo many product updates, I don't know where to start! Guerlain, Lanvin, Make Up For Ever, Revlon, Kerastase... I promise to update with beauty news soonest!

So busy! It's just that I've been wrapped up with the October issue of OK! magazine and taking care of my sick rabbit, leaving me emotionally exhausted. I've also been collecting donations from my fellow editors to raise money for little Mio's chemotherapy. I have a TON of stuff--the editors have been extremely generous in giving me their new and unused beauty products.

If this is your first time to read this blog, let me tell you about Mio Mendiola--he's an adorable, smart and talented 5-year-old boy who is fighting leukemia. A group of people are trying to help Mio win his battle and people--strangers from all over the world!--have helped donate to this cause. I'd like to thank Lee Shen G, Lanie B, Pilar C, Riza Jane C, Laurice C, Lizelle I, Chris M, Ro-Anne V for purchasing products and thanks also to those who sent money to help fund Mio's chemo.

I'm putting up a few products on this post. Again, all proceeds of the sales made in this blog post will go to Mio's leukemia treatment. I will be adding more products in the next few days so watch this space! Pleeeeease be patient while I research descriptions, prices and photos.

SOLD!
7-IN-1 ANTI-AGEING CREAM (GENTLE)

OLAY TOTAL EFFECTS
P500 (+ P80 shipping)
Fight the seven signs of aging with this cream! Costs P700.
YOU SAVE P200

SOLD!
LASH BLAST MASCARA
COVERGIRL
P237.50 (+ P80 shipping)
Get a blast of lush, volumized lashes! Lash Blast's patented volume-boosting formula
and patent-pending brush are designed to max-out each and every lash,
leaving you with the ultimate big lash look. Cost $7
YOU SAVE P101.72

SOLD!
COLORSTAY LIQUID EYE PEN
REVLON
P402.50 (+ P80 shipping)
No-mess liquid eyeliner creates a precise line from soft to dramatic. Felt tip controlled
application. Smudge-proof lasting color that wears up to 16 hours. Costs P575.
YOU SAVE P172.50

SOLD!
INTENSIVE CONCENTRATE FOR STRETCH MARKS
STRIVECTIN-SD
P2,500 (+ P80 shipping)
This revolutionary stretch mark cream is clinically proven to reduce
the appearance of stretch marks! And it's also used by some
men and women on their wrinkles! Costs $135 (P6,596.10)
YOU SAVE P4,096!

SOLD!
LASH BLAST MASCARA
COVERGIRL
P237.50 (+ P80 shipping)
Get a blast of lush, volumized lashes! Lash Blast's patented volume-boosting formula
and patent-pending brush are designed to max-out each and every lash,
leaving you with the ultimate big lash look. Cost $7
YOU SAVE P101.72

SOLD!
TOUCH OF FOUNDATION
OLAY TOTAL EFFECTS
P500 (+ P80 shipping)
Fight the seven signs of aging and combine the flawless finish
of foundation with this cream! Costs P700.
YOU SAVE P200
SOLD!
SOFT SHIMMER LOTION
JERGENS
P100 (+ P80 shipping)
This looks amazing on bronzed/tan/morena skin! It leaves a golden sheen
on your skin. I think this is about P250 in SM Dept Store.

SOLD!
LIGHT MILKY LIGHTENING TONER
GARNIER
P100 (+ P80 shipping)
Enriched with pure lemon essence, this creamy toner lifts off dead
skin cells, smooths and lightens skin, helping a translucent complexion
and a soft supple skin to resurface.

SOLD!
VITA LIFT DOUBLE ACTON EYE CREAM

L'OREAL MEN EXPERT
P250 (+ P80 shipping)
Developed to restore and rejuvenate the look of the eye area thanks to its unique technology
which combines 2 formulas in 1 action to treat men's sagging eyelids, bags, crow’s feet, wrinkles.

SOLD!
BLACK GARLIC EMULSION

SKIN FOOD
P300 (+ P80 shipping)
This toner/serum from the Korean beauty brand contains allicin from
fermented black garlic extracts to moisturize and smoothen skin.

Please send an email to frances@topazhorizon.com if you wish to buy. Tell me the product/s you want, your name, delivery address and phone numbers. Please also tell me how you wish to pay.

I accept PayPal, G-Cash and deposits to my BDO bank account. Once payment is received, I will send the beauty products straight to your doorstep. Yes, I combine shipping! Thank you for your generosity and happy shopping!

IMPORTANT: If you arrived here from a link, please check more recent posts. All products here have been sold and I most probably have other and newer sale posts for Mio. Thanks!

Garnier's Anti-Puff Eye Roller really works

I've been using Garnier's Anti-Puff Eye Roller for a month and I will be honest--I couldn't see any happy changes around my eyes. So I figured the thing didn't work. Then yesterday, hay fever hit me and my eyes were all seriously puffy in the morning. I looked like an insect snacked on the skin under my eyes. I rolled on the serum as usual and--I am not lying, I swear!--between the time I applied it and walked to my closet, which was a mere ten steps away, my puffy eyes were back to normal!!!

I ran back to the mirror and, well, it still looked a bit swollen but not as swollen as a minute ago. And by the time I finished dressing, I looked fine. My hay fever struck again this morning and same results--perfect!

So if you have puffy eyes from crying, sleeping late, allergy, etc, Garnier's Anti-Puff Eye Roller really works! Now my eyes aren't really the puffy kind so I'll need to look for an eye cream that addresses fine lines and crepey skin, but I'm keeping my Garnier roller on my vanity for emergencies!

The Beauty Writer

Questions on eye creams and foundations answered (kinda sorta!)

Hi to my new readers! Welcome again to my new beauty blog! Anyway, I've got a couple of requests to write about certain beauty topics:

Hope you can review eye creams in the market - Anonymous
Can you share some tips on finding the right foundation to use? Specifically what brand is the best? - Ranran

For Anonymous, off the top of my head I can guarantee that Olay Regenerist has a fantastic eye treatment--the one I used was the Eye Lifting Serum (P999). Right now, however, I'm using Garnier's Anti-Puff Eye Roller. It feels kinda weird and I miss Olay Regenerist but I'm going to give this Garnier a chance. I'll write about that in a month. Keep glued to this blog!
Ranran, to answer your question will entail an entire book! I'm kidding... Actually, it's not really about the brand; it's really about your skin. An expensive product can look awful if it's not meant for your skin tone and type. So give me time and I'll answer this in detail.
My personal pick is L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Foundation. I use both the liquid and mineral powder foundations. I've been a fan since 2007, when my bridal makeup artist, L'Oreal Paris Chief Makeup Artist Jigs Mayuga, showed me my true match (Golden Beige) the day I wed my true match (Vince Sales)! The range of shades they have is amazing, making it easier for you to find your, er, true match! Plus, it's just below P1,000 and available at all department stores nationwide. Just throw away the brush of the mineral powder--it's scratchy and stiff.
I'll interview some beauty editors and do some research, too. Thanks!

The Beauty Writer