How I whitened my underarms with Pond's Flawless White and Dove Whitening Deo

I have finally found the best whitening products for my underarms! Pond's Flawless White and Dove Whitening Deodorant!

But first, a little history. I got pregnant twice in the last 2 years. Okay, maybe 3, if you count 2009. But since I got pregnant December of 2009, I guess it doesn't count! Anyway, the pregnancies have resulted to discoloration of my underarms. Yes, they've become really, really dark. By my second pregnancy, I was deeply dismayed because my armpits were almost nearly black. Black, dammit!

I've tried this and that (I won't say what failed!) and then I remembered that I have Pond's Flawless White creams from the event I attended last February. The Flawless White line is for the face—it's for lightening acne scars, fading sun spots and evening out skin. It promises to whiten from the cellular level so that your skin whitens naturally. Since my face is already fair, I didn't use my free jars (the Pond's Gold line is what I already use). But when I realized there are parts of me that desperately needed whitening, I remembered I had Pond's Flawless White!

It's the Day Cream. I love the soft texture. It almost feels like whipped cream. I did hear that the Night Cream is far more potent. Oooh! I'll use that when I finish this jar!

I used the Flawless White Day Cream on my armpits every morning and night and after a week (yes, a week!), I noticed a change. I got really excited! My only problem with my new find is that when I use it in the morning and I get sweaty during the day (and of course, I'm a mommy with a toddler and a newborn!), my underarms get really slippery. Yes, cream and sweat combined!

So I stopped using the cream in the morning and just slathered it on at bedtime. It still worked. My underarms lightened and softened week after week.

Then I found a fab solution to the morning ritual: I was watching TV one time and I saw the Dove Whitening Deodorant Spray TVC. It promised to whiten underarms in just 7 days. Well! It did! Yes, I got two canisters, Original and Silk Dry. That's how much I believed in the promise of Dove!

I'm currently using the Original variant and I love the scent, the quick spray action and the whitening power, of course! My one suggestion to those who'll use Dove is don't spray too much and really aim at your underarm. If you aimed at your face (yes, it happened), you can get overwhelmed by the spray and cough cough cough.

My armpits really did whiten faster with Pond's Flawless White and Dove Whitening Deo. My underarms are not just whiter, they're softer and smoother, too! Happiness!

Event: Pond's launches new and improved Age Miracle and Flawless White skincare lines

I knoooooow. I've been gone forever! And what's a great post to come back with than a super fabulous glamorous and sumptuously romantic event hosted by Pond's?

The mega beauty brand invited select media to a "stay-cation" at the Midas Hotel along Roxas Blvd. After we freshened up in our individual rooms, we had high tea with scrumptious hors d'oeuvres (I ate a LOT) as the Pond's team outlined what to expect in our two-day stay. With the help of this iPad!

Each guest had an iPad, which was to announce what will happen next. That's Jacqe Yuengtian of Unilever. She was the host of the affair and so appeared on the iPads every so often to tell us what to do. Well, we were told to dress up in red and proceed to the special Pond's bus.

This TwitPic was taken by Style Bible's Isha Andaya-Valles. From left, that's Divine Lee, Preview's Pauline Juan, me, Pond's Age Miracle spokesperson Rissa Mananquil Trillo and Tim Yap.

As we were driven to the mysterious location, everyone seated at the back Tweeted. Well, everyone except Pauline and me.

There was videoke on the bus so Isha, Phil. Star columnist Zo Aguila (pictured) and Saga Events' Robby Carmona entertained everyone on the bus with the cheesiest songs ever. After winding about Manila and Makati, we found ourselves in Top Shelf at Fully Booked, which was decorated in the color of the season--red (the event was held just before Valentine's Day).

That's former model now Unilever's Global PR Manager for Pond's Apples Aberin. She told us all about the new and very much improved Age Miracle because now it's called Cell ReGEN. As in, this new formulation is called the Intelligent Pro-Cell Complex which promises to regenerate your cells!

I've actually tried Age Miracle but the old formulation, which said my skin would be changed in 7 days. Y'all remember that campaign? Well, on the fourth day of use, my husband stared at me and then said, "You look really good. Like you're well rested." O, diba?! That's just the fourth day!

Anyway, after our skincare seminar, we were treated to a delicious dinner. I think it was catered by Cibo but I'll have to confirm. Even though I was still full from all the canapes and mini desserts from the afternoon tea, I forced myself to eat because the spread was just so good!

Oh, this is me. Yes, look at my big tummy. BURP! Joke, joke. That's my almost-7-months-pregnant tummy! I tell ya, my baby Wiggle was super happy that night from all the rich food Pond's served us!

After dinner, I went home because I wanted to be with my husband and baby boy. But the rest of the media invited went back to Midas and continued the party there.

The next morning, my darling husband braved the traffic to drive me all the way to Pasay for the second launch--the new Pond's Flawless White with GenActiv Formula.

Now this one is really exciting, folks. I didn't get to take photos of the skincare seminar (which everyone attended clothed in various shades of pink) but I was very impressed. Pond's announced that after 10 years of research, they found a way to manipulate the gene that caused skin color so that you lighten and brighten naturally.

I especially like that the new formula does NOT mess with our melanin. Melanin is the skin's primary protection against the sun's harmful rays. Basically, it's why we darken when we're exposed to the sun. Melanin increases its production of pigment much like little umbrellas that open to shield our skin. Of course that means you darken. Most whitening products lighten our skin by destroying melanin. The problem with that is, sure, you look white but your skin's defense against the sun's rays is gone.

The new Flawless White line whitens safely and naturally and your melanin stays put. Basically, it undoes years and years of skin damage so that your skin becomes as fair as it once was when it never felt the sun (yep, the day you were born!).

Anyway, after the very informative talk, we all had a lovely lunch at Midas.

Below is very pregnant me with Good Housekeeping's Tisha Alvarez Angluben and Inquirer's Cit-Cit Sioson.

I'll talk more about Pond's Age Miracle Cell ReGEN with Intelligent Pro-Cell Complex and Pond's Flawless White with GenActiv Formula after I tested them. For now, I hope you enjoyed this beauty event!

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!

Event: Pond's launches White Beauty Naturals featuring the pretty Angelica Panganiban

Pond's is so excited to launch their first natural line called White Beauty Naturals. It's so natural that on the launch this Tuesday, they used the ingredients of the products for our dinner. Seriously!

The face they got to represent the new whitening line is pretty starlet Angelica Panganiban. She's known for wearing no makeup, even for TV interviews because she likes to let her skin breathe. She can do that, of course, because she has perfect skin. So I guess that's why Pond's thinks she's the best girl for their new line!

The event was held at Sofitel, my favorite hotel in the city. The organizers converted the Sunset Pavilion into an indoor garden, complete with trees, shrubs, flowers, climbing ivy and a gazebo.

Lovely models came out to... you know, I really don't know what the models were for.They just strutted about onstage in goddess gowns created by Rhett Eala. They didn't go around the audience showing off the new products or asking us to test them, smell them, etc. They just stood there and looked stern and beautiful. Strange. I think Pond's could've done away with them. Although I did like the gowns!

Anyway, after the models spent a few minutes walking around frowning, they cleared out so that Angelica can own the stage. She's actually prettier in person than I thought. She was tall and slim. On TV, she kinda looks short and chubby. Oh, those dreaded 10 pounds the TV adds!

Then the host interviewed Angelica who said that she really is a low maintenance girl when it comes to her skin and that she's so happy Pond's came out with a product line that she's happy to use.

Then Angelica was whisked off to a table so that the media can interview her. That table was actually next to mine so I got close enough to see that, yes, her skin is absolutely perfect. I was so green with envy! I've always had oily, acne-ridden skin so whenever I see gorgeous skin, I get so envious!

You know what else was green? The guests! The theme of the night was green, green, green. Even I burrowed through my closet, looking for green dresses.

Unilever's Jacqe Yuengtian, fashion designer Rhett Eala
and Age Miracle image model Rissa Mananquil

Visions & Expressions Ginggay Joven, Inquirer columnist
Tessa Valdes Prieto and me

For my outfit details, click here. For my review of Pond's White Beauty Naturals, we'll wait for 2 months from now!

Event: Meeting Pond's Gold image model Tweetie de Leon

The Pond's Gold line includes a cleansing mouse, a cleansing foam,
a day cream, a night repair cream, an eye cream and a serum.

Had a lovely lunch the other day. Hosted by Unilever, the lunch was at the luxurious Shang Palace at Makati Shangri-la, in a private room decked in golden touches. Along with other editors, I had an intimate lunch with Pond's Gold image model Tweetie de Leon.

This is her first endorsement of a beauty brand in a long, long time. She told us that she tested Pond's Gold for a couple of months and when she saw the fab results, only then did she agree to sign up as its endorser. I guess she really believes in this anti-aging line! Well, I saw the results up close since I sat right beside her. Tweetie is drop-dead gorgeous and she only had eye makeup on!

Tweetie said that she uses all the products in the line but that her favorites are the cleanser and the serum. She confessed that she's actually very lazy with skincare, hence she quickly found what works best--cleaning and treatment!

Unilever's Jacque Yuengtian (right) said, "No matter
how we try, when we pose beside Tweetie, we just
can't look that good!" I agree, Jacque, but only for me.
You look smashing as always =)

She also revealed that beauty is all about having a beautiful life. If your life is happy, your relationships are great and your body is healthy, it will really show on your skin. So yes, she recommended Pond's Gold as a skincare regime, but she also encouraged us to live happy, healthy and full lives so that our beauty will shine through to everybody!

Pond's Gold gave me a beautiful golden box with the day cream, night cream and serum. I'll just finish testing this other skincare line and then I'll start with Pond's Gold. Watch this space for my review!

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

What are your thoughts on the Dear Diary commercial of Pond's?

This is Nicole Delos Angeles, Nichole Reyes-Mercado and me (looking very pregnant in a gray silk dress by Miu Miu for Prada!) at the launch of the latest TVC of Pond's Flawless White last Friday at the Beauty by SM at SM Makati. The commercial is called "Dear Diary." I can't find the TVC on YouTube yet so I trust you might've seen it on ETC by now.

 

Here's how the story goes... Once upon a time, in a magazine publishing company, an assistant named Carrie has a huge crush on her boss, Jack. Too bad for her, her dark spotty complexion makes her unattractive to Jack. So a friend gives her a pot of Pond's Flawless White, which magically lightens her skin and removes sun spots, acne scars, and all those nasty things in seven days, turning Carrie into a fair maiden. Will Jack notice her now? (Make a wild guess!) Will Carrie find her happily ever after now that her skin is flawlessly white? (Make another wild guess!)

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!!!

Pond's Big Beauty Sale now ongoing!

Ladies (and gentlemen), better grab your wallets and stock up on Pond's products! The beauty brand is having a huge sale from August 15 to September 15, and the discounts are fantastic!

I'm a fan of the Age Miracle line. The TV commercial promises younger-looking skin in 7 days, right? Well, I used it and four days after, my husband looked at me appreciatively and said, "Wow, you look nice. Have you been getting more sleep? Your skin looks great." Wow! Not even this anti-aging serum got that response from Vince!

Want that same reaction from the man in your life? Grab a jar (or two or three!) of Pond's Age Miracle now!

For a complete list of the discounted prices and participating stores, click here.