Hey guys! How was your summer? I hope you enjoyed yours as much as I did mine. Anyway, I thought of doing a monthly post of my favorite products but I don't think I can really commit to that so I'll just make a "current favorites" entry probably every chance I get, hopefully every quarter. 

(L to R) Shiseido Ibuki Purifying Cleanser - Php 1,495 per 125 ml
Avene Thermal Spring Water - Php 900 per 150 ml
Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum - Php 5,650 per 30 ml

I have so many favorites but I narrowed them down to 3 items per category. So let's start with skin care. The Shiseido Ibuki Purifying Cleanser has been my go-to facial wash since I got it at 20% off a couple of months ago. I love how the fine granules feel so delicate on my skin yet very effective in cleansing my face. A little goes a long way so you only need a pea size and you're good to go.

Next is the Avene Thermal Spring Water and I cannot begin to describe how wonderful this product is. It sprays on like mist and feels so refreshing once it touches your skin. This product has been very helpful in hydrating and cooling my skin especially on hot days. I believe I got this at half the price from my last trip to Singapore but they're available in the local drug stores as well.

Last on skin care category is Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum, an absolute favorite of mine among all the White Lucent products of Shiseido. A very effective spot correcting concentrate that helps hasten recovery time from skin discolorations. It may be a little on the expensive side but it's worth every cent. 

(L to R) The Body Shop Organic Cotton Rounds - Php 150 per pack
UCB Refreshing Body Mist - Php 499 per 250 ml
Physiogel Intensive Cream - Php 575 per 50 ml

Now for other body care products, I am loving The Body Shop Organic Cotton Rounds so much that I've been reaching for them every single time. The textured side is best for removing makeup while the flat side is great for applying your toner. 

I ran out of GAP dream cologne and since they're not widely available, I decided to get the next best thing I found in SM North, United Colors of Benetton Refreshing Body Mist in Arousing Watermelon. It has a fresh fruity scent which lasts for about an hour or 2 after you spray it on. I love that it's priced reasonably and that you can choose from a dozen of floral and fruity scents.

Who could resist a product that offers intense hydration? I know I couldn't which is why I'm so thankful for the Physiogel Intensive Cream I got from  BDJ Box. I love that it doesn't feel too greasy and that the moisturizing effect lasts for several hours. I find myself using this often especially when my skin gets really dry around December and January. 

(L to R) Ben Nye Luxury Powder - Php 900 per 85 g
Max Factor Max Effect Lip Gloss - Php 400 per 13 ml
NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil - Php 300 per 0.25 g

As for makeup products, I currently adore Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Cameo. I do have the Banana shade but I've been enjoying how Cameo instantly brightens my under eye areas. I also use this to buffer some of my compact powders that appear darker than my natural color. 

The Max Factor Max Effect Lip Gloss is an amazing discovery for me. I got it for free from Miss Shen's 4th Anniversary Giveaway and I misjudged it thinking it's the same as Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Lip Gloss that can only give your lips a subtle tint with lots of shine but I was wrong. This Max Factor Max Effect Lip Gloss in #14 Rubyliscious is highly pigmented and gives just the right amount of shine. It may not be long lasting but I really don't mind reapplying it.

Next makeup favorite is the NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown. I raved about this before and I'm still raving about it now. I love that it's an eyebrow pencil and brush in one stick. The pencil is tapered hence no need for sharpening and the brush really comes in handy although you can still use other tools like a spoolie for blending. It glides on smoothly and stays on the entire day.

(L to R) Kerastase Elixir Ultimate - Php 2,260 per 125 ml
Paganini Untangler - Php 149
Goody Metal Clip - Php 299 per set of 3 clips

Now for hair care products, I've been obsessed with Kerastase Elixir Ultimate in the past days. I actually forgot I have it for a while and only got to see it last week when I was decluttering my closet. Anyway, this elixir smells heavenly and feels velvety to touch. It may feel a little greasy on first application but it eventually transforms into a silky finish without clumping your hair strands. 

This Paganini Hair Untangler has been my favorite since the day I bought it. You can use it on wet or dry strands and it untangles hair without hurting your scalp. The blunt bristles feel very relaxing and the big handle gives you a nice grip while combing. 

This hair clip from Goody is an all-time favorite. I discovered this small wonder years ago and they don't make one anymore which is really a downer considering how great this clip is. It comes in a set of 3 and has a small and medium size. This one in particular is small and is best used for smaller pony tails. It looks really simple and very classic. You lock it sideways and your hair is clipped neatly into place without tugging the strands. 

(L to R) Freshlook Dailies Illuminate in Rich Brown - Php 800 per box of 5 pairs
EO Sauflon Comfort Drops - Php 95 per 30 ml
Esprit Sunglasses - Php 7,000 

My eye care favorites include Dailies Freshlook Illuminate in Rich Brown. It comes in a box of 5 pairs and I was able to buy one box but a friend recently wanted to try them and found out you can't buy just one box anymore. They are now being sold as a set of 3 boxes. Anyway, I love that these make your eyes pop but in a natural way. They feel really soft, although I find these a little harder to remove than my regular extended lenses. Freshlook recommends this for one time use but I was able to try using them for 2 days. They were still soft and pretty much intact. On the 3rd day, they felt a little weird so I decided to discard them.

The EO Sauflon Comfort Drops has never left my retouch kit for the longest time. I love that it instantly moisturizes my contact lenses without the sting. It instantly refreshes your eyes and removes any residue. Best thing about this is the very affordable price of less than Php 100.

I was told by my Sociology teacher in college to protect my eyes from sun exposure all the time with shades that offer UV protection. I couldn't relate back then because I had prescription glasses and wearing shades wasn't a good idea. Fast forward to graduate school, after learning how to wear contact lenses, I started enjoying the perks of using sunglasses. My current favorite is this Esprit aviator-like glasses. It may look dark in the image but it's light brown under sunlight. I love how it effectively protects my eyes from the glaring rays of the sun especially in the summer. 

Myra e 400 IU - Php10+ per capsule

Another favorite of mine is the Myra e 400 IU supplement which I started using around 2 weeks ago. I noticed having less breakouts and better skin days since I started taking one capsule a day. I may need to use this continuously to see the long term effects but I guess it's been okay so far. 

So that's it! My current favorites from various brands. I do hope I can keep up with a monthly favorites entry to keep you more updated on what products I love. Do we have any favorite products in common? I'd love to know your thoughts so please share them on the comments section below. Thank you for reading and have an awesome week ahead!

♥♥♥

June BDJ Box

Hey guys! I hope everyone's finding ways to enjoy the rainy season. I for one have had more than enough time to spend indoors hence do a lot of cleaning and organizing in my room. I've also been free to update my blog hence I bring you this in-depth look of my June BDJ Box.

Inside are the much awaited stickers with this month's mantra "YOU are STRONGER than you seem, MORE BEAUTIFUL than you think". Now that's what you call girl power. 

Seeing the contents made my eyes pop with excitement! Seriously, it will take an ice queen to ignore how wonderful the products are. So without further introductions, here are the contents of the box as described by BDJ.

L'oreal Paris Fall Repair 3x Hair Tonic (90 ml), Php 259

Nourish your scalp with a water based treatment Fall Repair 3x Leave In Tonic. The tonic ingredient makes your hair resistant to external aggressions. Have a fabulous hair finish with the latest hair care set from L'oreal Paris!

L'oreal Paris Fall Repair 3x Shampoo (70 ml), Php 110

Grow your hair stronger from the roots! With L'oreal Paris Fall Repair Shampoo, your hair fibers get restructured as it nourishes your hair from the roots! Its latest discovery, Arginine - an essential amino acid vital for hair growth is the highlight ingredient of this innovation from Paris!

L'oreal Paris Fall Repair 3x Conditioner (70 ml), Php 119

Feel softer and detangled locks with L'oreal Paris Fall Repair Conditioner. Use this conditioner along with the Fall Repair Shampoo to address top 3 causes of hair fall: hair malnutrition, root fragility and fiber damage.

Physiogel Hypo-Allergenic Intensive Cream (50 ml), Php 574.50

This non-comedogenic cream is enriched with Derma Membrane Structure (DMS) technology, ceramide and lipids that mimic your own skin's lipid layers! Apply a thin film once or twice daily. May also be used more often, if necessary. 

Avon Vitaluscious Lipstick (3.6 g), Php 299

No more dry and chapped lips! Make your lips look alive and vibrant as you pose one fab smile with Avon's Vitaluscious Lipstick. This rich and full colored lippie has nourishing vitamins to hydrate and soothe your lips!

Revlon Photoready Kajal Intense Eyeliner + Brightener (2.4 g), Php 525

Get multiple on-trend looks with one dual ended pencil. The dark end's rich color gives you an intense, bold look. The light end brightens and opens up the eyes. Use both ends together for an on-trend smoldering look.

Kinerase C6 Peptide Intensive Treatment (5ml), Php 5,000 (30 ml)

After cleansing and toning, visibly improve your skin texture and tone with Kinerase intensive treatment. It has Argireline - an ingredient that helps reduce the depth of wrinkles by up to 30% in 30 days.

Kinerase Eye Cream (5 ml), Php 3,800 (15 g)

Kinerase's eye cream is a light and moisturizing formula that pampers delicate skin around the eyes with its soothing benefits. It has Coix seed extract and Sodium Hyaluronate that hydrate skin around contours of the eye area.

What I  L♥VE  about my BDJ Box

I actually think of the BDJ Box as my own personal shopper! I don't know how, but they seem to have a way of effectively predicting the stuff I need and want to try each month. Like this month's box, it was a good thing I haven't bought shampoo and conditioner before receiving my June box because they included hair care products from L'oreal. Now I don't have to think of which brand to try next when I restock. I've also been putting off buying an eyeliner (eye liner newbie here) simply because I don't know which one to get. Luckily, Revlon Photoready Kajal Intense Eyeliner + Brightener was included as well. I love that BDJ keeps us updated with new products in the market like Avon's Vitaluscious Lipstick and allows us to experience high end brands like the Kinerase C6 Peptide Intensive Treatment and Eye Cream. Finally I have to say that only BDJ can repeat products and still make it look awesome! Who wouldn't want a tube of  Physiogel Hypo-Allergenic Intensive Cream right?

I used to envy beauty boxes in the US but not anymore since the birth of BDJ Box late last year. If you watch unboxing videos of international beauty subscriptions like Birch Box and ipsy, you'd know how great BDJ Boxes are. In my opinion, BDJ isn't only at par with these boxes, it's actually better! You get more value for your money because BDJ doesn't only stuff their boxes with random things, they give you a combination of well thought of products you can actually use. 

I got my BDJ Box for less then Php 500 and received more than Php 3,000 worth of products! So if you're still unsure, you may want to try signing up for one month and let that one time BDJ Box experience help you decide. Who knows, you might enjoy it so much you'd subscribe for a year! Thanks for reading and have an amazing weekend!