Hey guys! Most of you probably know by now how I adore BB Creams and why I prefer it over liquid foundations and tinted moisturizers. I love BB Creams so much that they have become part of my everyday look which is why I never pass on any chance of trying out different brands whether high end or drug store.

Among the array of BB Creams in the market, one of the very first brands I've read about with great reviews was Dr. Jart so when I finally got my own Dr. Jart Blemish Base Silver Label, I immediately tried it.

Dr. Jart Blemish Base Silver Label comes in a 50 ml squeeze type tube with a flip top cover which I really like because aside from being hygienic, it also gives you good control over the amount of product to dispense.

This product has a thick consistency but surprisingly spreads with ease and melts almost instantly on your skin. It has a subtle scent which goes off in a few minutes. It gives off a white cast and takes a little while to blend with my medium complexion. I like that it gives my skin a moisturized finish without looking shiny or greasy. It offers sun protection with its SPF 35 and has light to medium coverage so you may still need a concealer for dark blemishes. 

Dr. Jart Blemish Base Silver Label (50 ml) Php 1,780
Tony Moly Luminous Goddess Aura BB Cream (45 g) Php 748
Clinique Age Defense BB Cream (40 ml) Php 1,850

Now let's see how Dr. Jart fairs when compared to the top two BB Creams on my list, Tony Moly Luminous Goddess Aura BB Cream and Clinique Age Defense BB Cream.

Dr. Jart has the thickest consistency followed by Tony Moly and Clinique. All three products spread effortlessly but Clinique dries off faster than the two. Dr. Jart gives your skin the most moisturized look followed by Tony Moly, Clinique on the other hand looks more matte. All three offer light to medium coverage and protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Tony Moly offers the highest SPF value of 37 followed by Dr. Jart with SPF 35 and Clinique with SPF 30. 

  

A closer look at the swatches above tells us that Dr. Jart has the fairest shade followed by Clinique. Tony Moly best matches my skin tone because it blends well with my complexion. You may not appreciate it with the image shown since my hand is way darker than my face, but Tony Moly is my skin's perfect match judging by the way it virtually disappears on my skin without leaving a white cast. Clinique is the 2nd best match for my skin but I still need to top it with a finishing powder for a better color match. Dr. Jart may leave a ghostly cast for a while but eventually fades to a minimum fair glow. I also prefer using it under Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder because it tends to look more natural that way. 

Overall, Dr. Jart Blemish Base Silver Label is quite a good product in my opinion but I have to say I won't be buying one when it runs out. I do however recommend it to those with dry or combination skin who want to get a moisturized finish from a BB Cream. If you have oily skin, this might not be the best product for you. So that's it, I guess this means Tony Moly and Clinique remain undefeated on my list hence the search for best BB Cream is still on. Have you tried any Dr. Jart products? What do you think of their BB Creams? Do share your thoughts on the comments section below. Thanks for reading and have an amazing day!

♥ ♥ ♥ 

SHU UEMURA: Revolutionary BB Perfector Set

Hey everyone! A few months back I saw new Shu Uemura products being offered via Taste Central and boy was I excited to see the magic word "BB" on one of them. I initially saw the offer a little late so they had no more stocks of the Revolutionary BB Perfector Set. Good thing I signed up for wait list so I got my own set when they restocked.

There's the familiar huge box which I guess is their standard package for any product they deliver.

Inside is the Shu Uemura Revolutionary BB Perfector Set carefully packed in bubble wrap and the product invoice with discount coupon in a nice envelope.

The set consists of the Stage Performer BB Perfector Skin Smoothing Beauty Cream and a Sheer Face Powder.

This Shu Uemura Stage Performer BB Perfector Skin Smoothing Beauty Cream (wheh!) comes in a 10 ml sample tube.

I'm not too crazy about the packaging though it's quite okay since it's in sample size, I'm still hoping the full size container isn't as crappy. The texture isn't too thick and can be applied easily on your face. I love that you don't need a special tool or applicator to achieve a flawless finish because the product spreads effortlessly and blends well with your skin. 

It has light to medium coverage so you may still need a concealer for darker blemishes. Staying power is quite impressive when used alone or under a setting powder because it lasts for 6 hours without caking. I noticed a bit of it coming off in the area where my eye glasses' nose pads rest on my nose bridge but other than that I have no major complaints. It only comes in one shade so I'm really lucky it matches my complexion. It also has a pleasant scent which becomes almost undetectable after application.

The set includes a sheer face powder housed in a container with a puff applicator. I love that it's small enough to fit in any pouch making it perfect to carry around. The powder has a very fine texture which reminds me so much of the Ben Nye Luxury Powder. It spreads easily and blends well with your skin. First time I used it on top of the Stage Performer BB Perfector Skin Smoothing Beauty Cream, it looked really good but I noticed caking under my eyes after about 3 hours. 

I wanted to see if which among the duo is more responsible for caking so I used them separately with other products. The cream lasted a good 6 hours with very minimal caking when used with the Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder while the Shu Uemura sheer face powder looked good with my Tony Moly Luminous Goddess Aura BB Cream but had visible caking on the forehead and under eye areas after 3 hours. 

Overall, I think both products are worth trying but there are other brands that can offer the same or even better results with lesser cost. However, if you're really into trying out new stuff but lack the budget of getting the full size like me, you may get this sample set instead from Taste Central and decide later whether to get the full size. As for me, I won't be purchasing the full size but if given the opportunity to get at least one, I'd choose the Stage Performer BB Perfector Skin Smoothing Beauty Cream and use it with my Ben Nye instead of the Shu Uemura finishing powder.

This  discount coupon was also included with the package so those who would like to continue using the products may buy them at 10% off the regular price. Now that's a good deal! 

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June BDJ Box

Hey everyone! I got home this evening and saw a familiar package I couldn't resist opening.. The June BDJ Box!!! Since it usually takes me a while to make a review on these jam packed boxes, I have decided to make videos of my unboxing just to give you a preview of the products. If you happen to like the video, please hover over the thumbs up button and click away. Enjoy watching and have a wonderful weekend!

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May BDJ Box

Hey everyone! In my last post I already gave you a sneak peek of what's inside the May BDJ Box and promised you I'll do a more detailed review. This post is intended to give you a description of the contents so you'd know the real deal why BDJ Boxes get sold out so easily.

Just to give you an idea, I've been a BDJ Box subscriber from the time they started which was October of 2012. I got a 3 month subscription and boy was I right in doing so because the first 3 boxes boasted of quality products from drug store to high end. BDJ has indeed made it possible for simple bellas to experience the luxury of high end brands.

Image courtesy of BDJ Box 

The BDJ Box soon became a common topic in the blogosphere and attracted everyone from all ages nationwide. It wasn't a surprise when the number of their patrons bloated in 2013 that their boxes became sold out a month or two before the scheduled release.

Unfortunately, I failed to subscribe from February to April and I could say those were three long agonizing months of avoiding posts of BDJ Boxes being reviewed. Up to now I regret not having the February Shiseido and the March L'oreal boxes. I inquired too late that the next box available for subscription was the May box. I have to admit I got too disappointed that I even considered not subscribing at all but after a few days of contemplating, I gave in and renewed my subscription. Good thing I did because the May BDJ Box was all I needed to cheer me up!

My BDJ Box came later than everyone else in Manila so imagine my anxiety while waiting for it. Then last night, my very own May BDJ Box arrived plus an extra gift! 

This box is bursting with three F's: Fun, Fresh and Fierce products from Garnier, Maybelline and Ralph Lauren.

Got to have these stickers everywhere as a positive reminder.

Garnier Light Intensive Brightening Scrub (100 ml)

"An ultra foaming texture, easy to rinse, with gentle micro-beads and lemon essence for an immediate action on dullness."

Garnier Light Multi-Action Whitening Cream (20 ml)

"This multi-action whitening cream acts on dullness, dark spots, excess oil and acne marks. It makes your skin visibly fairer while leaving it perfectly clarified."

Garnier Light Overnight  Whitening Peeling Cream (20 ml)

"This peeling cream peels off dullness overnight thanks to an intensive exfoliating action to help remove dark cells. It whitens the skin to reduce dark spots and further skin darkening."

Garnier Pure Active Anti-Imperfections Cooling Roll-On (15 ml)

"Concentrated in Purifying Salicylic acid, its fresh non-greasy formula quickly dries out imperfections instantly. It helps to improve skin, minimize redness and fade out marks."

Maybelline New York Hyper Curl Volum' Express Waterproof Mascara (9.2 ml)

"It offers thrice the volume instantly with 75 degrees curl and keeps curls for 18 hours. The unique formula makes it clump free and waterproof."

Ralph Lauren for Women 1 Sporty Fresh (1.5 ml)

"Catch her if you can. Confident and fearless, she is a natural born leader and ready to take on the world." 

Ralph Lauren for Women 2 Fruity Sensual (1.5 ml)

"Seductive and spontaneous, she follows her heart... and just might break yours. An irresistible flirt, yet a romantic heart."

Ralph Lauren for Women 3 Radiant Floral (1.5 ml)

"Rebellious and independent, she plays by her own rules. Always pushing her limits, she loves the thrill of discovery."

Ralph Lauren for Women 4 Delicious Oriental (1.5 ml)

"Daring and dynamic, with a flair for the dramatic. Her style express her unique personality. She is the life of the party."

Maybelline New York Lumineyes Eyeshadow Palette in Yellow Brown

" It comes with an illuminating color-control primer. Now eyeshadow color lasts longer. Eyes open up bigger and brighter than ever before."

Maybelline New York Colorsensational Lipcolor in Coral Crush (4.2 g)

"Fall in love with color all over again with crisper color from pure pigments and creamier feel from nourishing honey nectar. This lip color is so rich, so stunning... it's sensational. Enjoy 68 captivating shades!"

Maybelline New York Clear Smooth All in One Shine-Free Foundation (3.5 g)

"The blend of water and sebum-repellent powders keep skin matte and wonderfully fresh throughout the wear. SPF 25, among the highest in sun protection, shields from skin darkening, with PA++ for added protection."

Garnier Oil Clear Self-Heating Sauna Mask (2x6 ml)

"The formula generates a self-heating action on contact with the skin. Specially developed with clay and zinc, it works to remove impurities and excess sebum to unclog pores and refine skin texture. Your skin feels deeply cleansed and looks shine-free. It feels purified for up to 7 days"

Garnier Light Lightening Peel-Off Mask (2x6 ml)

"This is a real anti dull skin solution to gently remove impurities and dead skin cells that darken complexion. It instantly reveals a brighter complexion. You recover a naturally healthy-looking glow and skin texture is refined."

Maybelline New York Baby Lips Color Lip Balm in Cherry Kiss (4.5 g)

"Infused with pure color system for a translucent pop of color and shine. Formula with Vitamin E and jojoba oil helps to shed away rough dryness for supple smooth and cushioned lips all day."

Finally, I love that BDJ makes it a point to make you feel special, this time they added an extra treat with a hand written message. Inside is Garnier Brightening Eye Roll-On in full size. 

Garnier Light Brightening Eye Roll-On (15 ml)

"This is a massaging roll-on that combines caffeine and the draining effect of a massage to reduce bags and dark circles and brighten the eye contour."

Imagine the humongous joy this little box gave me! It has everything a girl wants to have from skin care to makeup and fragrance, just the stuff I need to be my own kind of beautiful.

How about you, how are enjoying your May BDJ Box? Any favorites? Do share them on the comments section below. Thanks for reading and have a FUN, FRESH and FIERCE day!

♥ ♥ ♥

CLARISONIC and CETAPHIL: My Skin Heroes

Hey everyone! I just want to share with you how I was able to get back on track after five long days of skipping my skin care routine. After not washing my face the usual way and missing the rest of my regimen like use of toner, moisturizer, under eye cream and anti-aging serum, I already noticed having unpleasant skin changes. My face felt rough, looked greasy on the T-zone with dry patches on my cheeks. Needless to say I was in my worst skin condition ever that I decided to have a facial the moment I get out of the hospital. 

Image courtesy of Clarisonic.com

As it turned out, I was stuck at home for several more days after discharge urging me to think of alternative ways to revive my skin's former condition. Good thing I have Clarisonic Mia to run to. 

Image courtesy of Clarisonic.com

I got the Clarisonic Mia as a gift from my loving fiance about 3 years ago and good thing it's still in tip top shape! The moment I got home, I immediately charged my Clarisonic Mia and used the sensitive brush head for two cycles because I felt like I needed the extra cleansing after a whole week without it. 

Image courtesy of Cetaphil.com

Since bending forward was still painful, I opted for Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser because it rinses off easily. I have to admit I haven't been using this for ages, good thing I still have a bottle in stock. I love that I didn't have to rinse it off thoroughly unlike other cleansers and that it leaves my skin feeling supple after each use.

Image courtesy of Clarisonic.com

I can't think of a better way to describe how I felt when I used the Clarisonic for the first time after what seems like forever. It really felt like being reunited with an old friend. You only realize how good it really makes your skin feel until you miss using it. My skin felt clean and invigorated thanks to the unique sonic cleansing only Clarisonic can give. I could tell a big difference after a single use. My skin became smoother with visibly clean and clog free pores. I also noticed my skin's complexion improving a shade lighter after a few days. 

I love and enjoy taking care of my skin but sometimes inevitable circumstances can keep us from doing so, hence we need skin heroes. I'm thrilled to have found mine through Clarisonic and Cetaphil. Your skin heroes may differ from mine and they can be as simple as a toner, cleanser or a facial mask but no matter what they are, what's more important is they work wonders for your skin the time you need them the most. How about you, have you found your skin heroes? Do share them on the comments section below. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!

♥ ♥ ♥

DIET DIVA: Day 5 (Late Post)

Image courtesy of Diet Diva

Hey everyone! This is it, my last day with Diet Diva and I'm having mixed emotions about it but before anything else, let me first give you a review on my 5th and final day with Diet Diva.

Good thing Diet Diva delivers early, I was able to eat breakfast before my morning Zumba Class. I had Canadian Ham Sandwich for breakfast and skipped the hot choco since I'm really not a hot choco gal. At first I thought I wouldn't like it since the ham looked undercooked but after heating it in the toaster for a few minutes it tasted really good so I'm giving it ★★★★.

Lunch consisted of Bicol Express with Red Mountain Rice. I love that it wasn't too spicy hence bringing out the real flavor of the dish and that they included a generous amount of lean pork. This dish really tasted so great so I'm giving it ★★★★★.

My last meal for the day, Steamed Chicken Strips with Broccoli and Potatoes, seemed to answer my wishful thoughts in the past days. I've been telling you that the potatoes in my previous meals were all half cooked which is how they were suppose to be but I really want mine soft so I've been setting them aside. The potatoes in this meal however were soft but not mushy, just the way I like it so I'm giving it ★★★★.

Overall, my five-day experience with Diet Diva has truly been amazing! They have excellent delivery service because they never failed to deliver on time and the meals are always carefully packed and secured without spillage. The portion sizes are realistic and can get you through the day with minimal cravings. I also have to mention that the food they deliver are exactly the same with what they post on their Facebook and Instagram accounts so they're not just for show. I feel like the meals are carefully planned and thought of  because they never repeated a single dish during my program. Most importantly, their meals taste really good!


As for the results, I lost 3.6 lbs in just one week! Of course I was also involved with Zumba thrice a week but I can still say Diet Diva helped me achieve this. I feel like Diet Diva helped change my perception of following a diet and that it taught me discipline in terms of food choices and portion sizes. That I can control the amount and most especially the kind of food I take in. Since I wasn't able to register for next week, I think with a hopeful heart that I can pull it off on my own.


Lastly, I am highly recommending Diet Diva to those who are having a hard time starting and keeping a diet. I think a week experience can already jump-start your way to a healthy lifestyle. If you're on a tight budget like I was before I started with Diet Diva, I strongly suggest you set a few things aside and save up to register. This might just be the right start you've been waiting for.

♥ ♥ ♥