I'm baaaaaack, beauties!

I haven't blogged here since forever! Beauty blogging is hard, folks. I thought it would be easy, given how many products I get as the editor of OK! Philippines. But the beauty industry is beyond huge! Every week, there's a new product launch, a new innovation, a new technology, new stuff to review... and I just can't keep up. The products and press kits have made mini-mountains at my desk at work and at home. My bosses and my husband are complaining!!!

Here are just some of the lovely boxes I've been getting from...

Olay
the new Regenerist Cream

Lancome
Magnifique perfume and body lotion 
with a tiny tube of mascara

Bobbi Brown
lip glosses and an eye shadow palette
with a personalized pot of lip color

I have a lot more. You won't believe how many more I have--boxes and crates and cabinets of this fabulous stuff! I almost posted photos of my office and my overflowing product cabinet but I got embarrassed at my mess. So I'm finally going to blog about the stuff I've been getting--for the sake of my marriage and my job!

I do want to say that the beauty industry's been pretty exciting this 2010. So many new things for primping and prettification! So do visit this blog soon as I have a lot of things to tell you about--all of them beautiful!

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!

I love the Flora by Gucci TVC

I just saw this on TV and I fell in love with it immediately.


Here's the ultra-long version:


I love everything about it--the girl, the dress, the field of flowers, the sunset, the magical way the flowers move with her... The only thing I don't like is the voice at the end--that voice sounded bored.

Manila's most fashionable come out for an exhibition of Philippine couture

Summit Media, the publisher of my magazine OK! Philippines, had a grand ball last week to celebrate designer Salvacion Lim-Higgins, who revolutionized fashion design in the Philippines in the years after the Second World War.

Sister magazines Preview and Town & Country Philippines hosted the gala. I didn't go because OK! only covers Hollywood stars so there really was no point but because I was curious to see what local fashionistas wear on the red carpet, I checked out Style Bible for the coverage. Well, I was immensely delighted, a bit disappointed and even repulsed (very few, don't get excited)--but I was very entertained nevertheless! And because I'm an entertainment mag editor, I love being amused.

And again, because I am an entertainment magazine editor--not a fashion editor!--I won't criticize anyone's style. But here are the delightful dresses I adored (I arranged the ladies in alphabetical order):

Anne Curtis

She's wearing a Slim original and she looks divine.Anne really knows how to work it--everything about her is perfect. The hair, the makeup, the jewelry, the accessories.  A lot of the women that night messed up on one or two things; if their dress was fab, their hair was a joke or their makeup too thick or they brought the wrong bag or wore the wrong shoes. But Anne? Anne is perfection. What an amazing stylish woman!

Halloween glamour!

It's Halloween this weekend! And with the second Twilight franchise coming to theaters in a few weeks, everyone's going crazy over Team Edward and Team Jacob. Well, at this year's Halloween parties, why not show whose side you're on by donning these glamorous looks?

Vampire

Werewolf

Fantabulous beauty blog Hair in Manila details how you can look like a sexy she-wolf or a sultry vampire in its Halloween Glam series. Hop on over there now for inspiration!

BIG BIG SALE! Beauty products for Mio!

If you're new here, I've been selling the authentic and unused beauty products we magazine editors get from beauty brands. We hope to raise money for Mio's chemo. So far, we've raised P36,482.32.

Thank you to the following--Leyda DC, Riza Jane C, Lanie B, Pilar C, Lee Shen G, Laurice C, Jenny S, Rorie C, Chris M, Ro-Anne V, Lana C, Carmina E, Gwyn G, Lizelle I, Gelyn SC, Lou M, Michelle G, Joanna F, Mai L, Rachelle M, Elaine N, Kristine C, Arlene S, Marcie L, Kaye E, Mariel C, Chi, Sharon P, Leslie L, Levy M, Tara C, Myrza S, Pauline J, Pete L, Jing L, Kat Von E, Kabbie R and Annie S!

To those not new here, here are some stuff for sale again! Because Mio still needs to continue his treatment and chemo can be very expensive. There is some good news though: Mio is already feeling much better and responding quite well to his medicines. In his mother Jasmine's words,

"Mio is getting stronger and smarter by the day, as if cancer was just a cough or a cold.
He frequently asks, "when are my teachers coming? Can I study now?"

See? We all have a part in his life! And we can continue to make it a better and healthy life. Praying for his recovery, supporting the other projects for him, and buying the stuff here will certainly help!

Thanks so much to the many editors who donated these new and yummy beauty products!

SOLD!
BEAUTY KIT
THE COLOR WORKSHOP
P1,500 (+ P80 shipping)
Includes 2 lip liners, 2 lip glosses, 2 eye liners, 6 eye shadow palettes, 3 blushes, 2 shimmer powders, 1 lip palette, 3 nail polishes, 1 face brush, 1 eye brush, 1 lip brush, pencil sharpener in a cute velvet hard case
SOLD!
DUAL EYESHADOW
BOBBI BROWN
P250 (+ P80 shipping)
Sorry, I couldn't find a photo on the web of the exact same BB one given to me.
But this Smashbox dual compact is exactly like the Bobbi Brown one that I do have!
SNOW JOB EYE SHADOW
BENEFIT
P250 (+ P80 shipping)
Sorry, the shade above is not the one I have (I couldn't find a photo on the web!).
The one I have is a pale pretty blue. Costs GBP 4.
SOLD!
GILDED COPPER EYE SHADOW
LAURA MERCIER
P150 (+ P80 shipping)
Okay, that's not exactly the shade either. The one I have is a nice shimmery coppery gold. Costs $22.
The outside of the case is peeling off, though. That's why I'm selling it for incredibly cheap.
SOLD!
LOVE CONNECTION EYE SHADOW DUO
MAC
P250 (+ P80 shipping)
Costs P840
REFRESHING BODY POWDER
ORIGINS
P300 (+ P80 shipping)
The Refreshing Body Powder by Origins is USDA certified organic and therefore nontoxic containing natural ingredients. Because it is free of hazardous chemicals, it is also efficient to produce, having a smaller overall impact because it does not require the production of additional chemicals. Costs $22.50.

TOTALLY PURE DEODORANT
ORIGINS
P300 (+ P80 shipping)
This product uses organic vinegar as an antiseptic with scents of lemons, lavender,
mandarin and ginger. It’s a unisex product but certain woodsy aromas tip it
in the masculine direction. Costs $14



NUTRITIOUS VITA-MINERAL ENERGY LOTION
ESTEE LAUDER
P100 (+ P80 shipping)
A powerful treatment lotion that revitalizes your skin, detoxifies skin as it neutralizes
skin-damaging free radicals and boosts cell metabolism & visibly reduces fatigue, dullness.
This is a sample size of just 1oz/30ml.
SOLD!
ULTIMATE WHITE WHITENING ESSENCE
KIEHL'S
P1,000 (+ P80 shipping)
Costs P1,950 at Kiehl's Greenbelt 5. Here, it's almost 50% off!
ANEW FACE-LIFTING CREAM
AVON
P700 (+ P80 shipping)
Costs $28 (P1,330) online. Here, it's 50% off!

ANEW LIFT & TUCK LOTION
AVON
P765 (+ P80 shipping)
Costs $32 (P1,527) online. Here, it's 50% off!
BELLA BELARA BODY LOTION
MARY KAY

P200 (+ P80 shipping)
Costs P432.45. Here, it's 50% off!

SOLD!
MANGO BODY BUTTER
THE BODY SHOP
P480 + (P80 shipping)
Got very dry skin? Mango seed oil moisturizes
your skin fast! Costs P960 in shops. Here, it's 50% off!
SOLD!
BURITI BABY BODY LOTION
THE BODY SHOP
P397.50 (+ P80 shipping)
Tickly tummy softening lotion for gentle giggly moisturization, enriched
with oil from the precious Amazonian buriti tree. Costs P795 at shops. Here, it's 50% off!
SOLD!
SHEER FREESIA BODY SPLASH
BATH & BODY WORKS
P220 (+ P80 shipping)
Apparently, this is what Bella Swan smells like. Well, if it's enough to drive
Edward Cullen crazy, then maybe you should get this cologne!

MIROIR DES SECRETS PERFUME
THIERRY MUGLER
P4,780 (+ P80 shipping)
1.7 fl. oz. Costs $199. Here, it's 50% off!

KENZO AMOUR PERFUME
KENZO
P1,730 (+ P80 shipping)
1.7 fl. oz. Costs P3,460. Here, it's 50% off!

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!

Support Breast Cancer Awareness with beauty

My weekend had a lovely start when I checked out the World Pink event yesterday at Rustan's Makati. The pink-themed affair was sponsored by Estee Lauder Group of Companies so I was very excited to see not just Estee Lauder products but products and activities from their other brands as well (La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Clinique).

The focus of the event is our wellness. So women attendees, especially those from the I Can Serve Foundation, had a fun time learning to value their health. There were cooking demonstrations, yoga classes, makeup lessons, facials, skin consultations plus the yummiest hors d'oeuvres served by Intercontinental Hotel. And, did I forget to mention the fabulous freebies? We all got a little pouch with a fluffy towel, a Bobbi Brown lip-and-cheeks pot rouge and mini blush brush, and--of course!--a pink ribbon.

Healthy food need not be yucky, guests learn at the cooking demos.

Exercise is needed for complete wellness so guests gamely do yoga.

This lady has her skin professionally scrutinized by a Clinique expert.

Everyone gets pointers on how to look good!

Beauty writer Marie Calica gets a pampering session from La Mer.

A guest goes through a makeover at the Bobbi Brown counter.

Each guest brought home a pouch full of prettifiers

Raise awareness on breast cancer and care more for yourself and the women in your life by going to World Pink this weekend. You still have all of today and tomorrow to enjoy some pampering!

First photo details: With the Estee Lauder ladies and fellow editors. That's me at center in a white Kate Torralba dress featuring embroidered pink cherry blossoms, Bayo cardigan, Schu flats and Longchamp clutch.

Estee Lauder launches fun and fab weekend for Breast Cancer Awareness

It's October! That means it's time to wear pink and promote breast cancer awareness. This weekend, Estee Lauder lined up some lovely activities for us ladies to enjoy--all in the name of finding a cure!Marketing Manager Sandra Lacson tells us more about what we can expect: "Estee Lauder is holding a Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign-Wellness Weekend this Saturday and Sunday at the 5th floor, Heaven on the Fifth, Rustan's Makati. Activities include Yoga sessions, Cooking Demonstrations and Makeup Workshops. Plus, all the Brands have different offerings: Clinique Derma consultation, Estee Lauder skin-typing consultation, Bobbi Brown makeup lessons, La Mer Essentials pampering session. Activities are on-going for the whole weekend. Bring your family and friends. See you there!"

I'm so going there! And, of course, I'll be wearing pink! I'll post photos from the event soonest! Hope to see you girls there...