Cure Natural Aqua Gel Product Review

If you have been following this blog for some time now, you may all know that I underwent this phase of ordering whatever product sample that is available here on www.sampleroom.ph. This website is the one that introduced me to Cure Natural Aqua Gel.

Unboxing: June BDJ Box (and some product reviews on the side)

In my idle months in the office, I have been an online lurker in the beauty scene mostly, of course, NAIL ART-sy topics. As I looked into blogs (mostly from the Philippines) there was this one blog that featured this so-called BDJ BOX.

BDJ or Belle De'Jour is more popularly known for their rockin' annual planners that include discount coupons for girls like me. I was surprised to know that they also offer this so-called BDJ Box. Apparently, the box contains samples of beauty products in the market that you can try if you avail of it. I got intrigued with the box so I ordered one for myself. (For those of you who also want to get one for yourself, create an account and login at www.bdjbox.com)

I subscribed last April. I was expecting a box to arrive by May but the BDJ May Box were already out of stocks. I felt even more bad because I really liked the products that were in the May box. :( Oh well, I was bound to wait for another month.

Then, June came. I already saw friends posting pictures of  the June box. I went into panic mode because I have not received mine yet. LOL, OA. By lunch time, I already got the package. =))

This is my first BDJ Box ever. When I saw the contents, I was a bit disappointed because compared to the May box (which contained more make-up) the products from this one does not really bite my interest. But anywhoo, they still do come in handy.

Yay to the June BDJ Box!

Product Review: BB Creams

Aside from eyeliners, I can attribute my rather "blooming face" when I started using BB Creams. And boy did I regret not using these beauty inventions waaay before! Haha.

The very first BB Cream that I have used is Ever Bilena's.

Ever Bilena BB Cream- "Oriental" shade; Watson's; PhP195

Product Review: Maybelline Lasting Drama: Gel Eyeliner

Maybelline Lasting Drama: Gel Eyeliner
PhP449.00, SM Department Store

Brief History: Why I started using eyeliners

I started using eyeliner on my lower lash line to look as though I was mysterious and all that ish. (Emo wasn't uso that time pa.)

Haha, yeah, it all started when I saw this scene from The Mummy (if you may know is my all time favorite movie):

Haha, the look on Rick O'Connell's face when she emerged looking like this. I wanted to have that same kind of effect, too, back then. (Didn't happen though. HAHA)

Brief History: Eyeliner products I have tried

K. Going back on track.

It is only of late that I have learned that eyeliners can also be applied to the upper lash line. Loser much. Actually I really liked the effect of that (it seems to look more natural) than lining my lower lash line (which kinda makes me look mysterous-y and DEPRESSED *ehem* Emo *ehem*).

The first eyeliner that I have used were of my Mom's. (I have only been in the girly girly make-up scene like, last year so, before that, the only make-up that I have ever used are that of my Mom's or sister's.) They were the Ever Bilena pencil eyeliners that smelled like freshly chopped wood in the lumberyard. Yes. Those.

Back in high school, when I was a "closet" kikay. I tried purchasing liquid eyeliners from, err, Fashion 21. Haha, I was in HS for crying out loud. I never, ever, decided on using them again after I accidentally poked my eye with it. It was soooooooo hard to manipulate. Then, the product was "namumuo-muo" when it got dried. Eeek! Never tried purchasing liquid liners, ever.

Then, last year, one of my Angels, Maye, informed me of this wondrous invention called gel eyeliner she purchased from, I think, Victory Mall. I loved the product back then. The only problem with it though was it gets easily smudged. My face is naturally oily. So you can just imagine my eyes at the end of the day. I looked like a frigging panda.

Product Review: Finally (sorry for being such a blabbermouth)

This time around, I was browsing through the products at the Maybelline counter that I saw this eyeliner. I don't know what hit me but I just felt a sudden urge to buy it (despite it being a bit pricey for my taste). I was too excited to try it when I got home.

So. Here's the verdict.

Pros:

• Very easy to apply - very easy to control; brush glides smoothly when used in application (ulike the liquid eyeliner's brush)
• Product dries fast when applied.
• It takes a longer time to give in to my oily face. LOL. In other words, it lasts. (not making me look like a panda at the end of the day)
• Does not easily smudge.
• Hindi namumuo-muo, when applied.
• Easily goes off with make-up remover. (Haven't tried with soap and water yet. I'll let you know about that.) You wouldn't need to rub the cotton to your eyes for it to be removed.
• No scent. (Unlike the pencil eyeliner)

**see, the brief history sections have a point, you know. hahahah.

Cons:

• A bit pricey.
• I prefer a brush that is incorporated with the product. I'm a klutz, so if I accidentally lose the brush, I'd have to buy another one to replace it. (yung brush lang ha). So it's kind of a hassle.

Obviously, my pros outnumber the cons so I'd definitely recommend you to use this product. Actually, I LOVE IT! Haha. Never mind the price as you will be able to get your money's worth.

I'd like to thank Maybelline for manufacturing such a product. I can well attribute my "blooming face" to this. nyahaha. :))

Product Review: Megan Hair Removal Wax Kit

I am born naturally hairy.

If hair could be donated, I would gladly donate an abundant amount of it. Or, if hair could be sold, i might be a millionaire right now. Yes, that's how much hair I have on. Haha.

My mom says it is because I was "pinaglihi sa unggoy". 

On the other hand, I do have a scientific explanation about this matter. I have PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome). This, err, disease causes my testosterone (male hormones) levels to shoot up. One of the major effects of this syndrome is an irregular menstrual cycle. Egg cells in my ovaries do not "mature" enough to enable me to menstruate. They just stay in my ovaries, as cysts, hence the name of the disease. One of the many side effects if this disease is, yup, you guessed right, being hairy.

I started to wax my legs when I was in 3rd year high school. Since then, I regularly visit a waxing salon to have the hairs on my arms and legs removed. And if you're wondering, no, I haven't tried the Brazilian yet. (TMI Moment, sorry!) 

I also have facial hair. It would be too much of a hassle for me to go to a salon every week just so to have them removed as they grow rather quickly. So, what I do is that I take care of them myself.

I used to buy waxing strips from Veet. Last Monday, I noticed that the hairs on my upper lip are starting to get visible again. As I checked my wax stash, I realized that I already ran out of strips. Yesterday, I went home early to go to the mall and buy me stocks. 

At the wax section of the store, I was about to grab my usual Veet product when something caught my eye:

PhP75 per kit

I saw this little thing right here. Intrigued, I read the label and saw the price tag. Hmmm, it is waaay cheaper! (The Veet wax strips that I use for the face and arms/legs are priced PhP180++ and PhP280++, respectively.) The idea of heating the wax got me too excited that it was my deciding factor to try out this product. I took one box of this, and another type of wax (the strips), also from the Megan brand, just in case the wax kit was a fail.

Wax stips - Landmark, PhP199.00

I was also tight on budget so I opted for this one over my trusted Veet brand. Malaki-laki din yung na-save ko. Haha.

Unboxing the Kit

The kit contains:

1. Two small wax blocks

2. An applicator (in the form of a popsicle stick), and

3. A small "llanera" which you can use to heat the wax.

(See photo above)

So, before using, prepare a heat source for you to heat the wax. It may either be your stove, or a candle. For me, i just used a lighter placed directly under the "llanera".

Since I was just going to wax my upper lip, i cut a fair amount of wax just enough for use and started heating it using the  "llanera" and the lighter. The  "llanera"  has a small handle for you to use. Just make sure to use a thick cloth when you hold it as the handle also heats up (DUH?). 

On Usage

Using the spatula, let the heated wax cool a little so that it would not burn your skin and gently apply it to your desired area, and in my case, my upper lip. Please do remember to apply the wax in the same direction as how the hair grows.

Unlike other hot wax products, this one does not need specialty paper/cloth/tissue to remove the wax on your skin. Once the wax has been set, it quickly dries up into an almost solid substance. Which then, in itself, can be used to pull out the hairs. Amazing, right? (please see photo below for reference)

I have already experienced this type of waxing on my legs. I do not recommend it as it takes too much time to cover a large surface area with the heat/cool-the-wax process.

Sorry for the fail look and oily face. :))

Now, the time for pulling out the hairs. Ouch!

Waxing tip: Remember that when pulling out the wax, it should be in the opposite direction of the way you put the wax (which also equates to the opposite way the hair grows). This way, the hairs will surely come off with the wax, and in my case, I find it less painful. The photo below shows the state of the wax after waxing. If you look closely, the wax has been able to successfully pull out the hair.

Also, it is to note that this type of hot wax does not leave very sticky residue on your skin like the traditional hot wax in the market. So, two thumbs up for this remarkable feature.

Sorry for being icky. haha.

I might say that I am quite satisfied with this product, thus recommending you to use it. It is very effective and very affordable. Plus the feeling of being a pseudo chemist while heating the wax is GREAT! hahaha.