My first BDJ Box

Belle de Jour box -- beauty bounty!

I am a beauty blogger wannabe. I really envy those girls that have the time and energy to try all those kikay stuff (and actually know how to use them and look good at the same time!) and give riveting and honest reviews. It's fun to browse these blog sites whenever I need a little pick me up :o)

I would call myself a low maintenance gal that has a kikay heart. I would also call myself lazy and impatient. This is why I can't keep up a beauty regimen aside from cleanse, tone (sometimes), moisturize (when I remember). My daily make up consists of mineral foundation/ powder and tinted lip balm. I put blush and eye liner when I feel a little bit special. I can't stand long facials or long hours at the salon (so my hair is super short).

BUT, I love looking at beauty stuff and always wonder how it is for those other kikay girls. I have been a fan of the Belle de Jour diaries since their first planner in 2009 (was it 2009? of course I hardly use the beauty coupons, I guess am really a beauty lurker , lol) . So when I heard about the BDJ Box , a monthly subscription to a sampler of the latest beauty (skincare, haircare, etc) products, I just had to try it out. 

My December-January box came in the middle of an office day , immediately brightening my so-so day. It was surprisingly small, but I loved the colour of the box! Salmon pink and gray. I am also a reuse and recycle junkie so the durability of the box had plus points ;-)

The contents of the box did not disappoint me. Lots of interesting stuff that came in small samplers: Here's a list and my first impressions.

1. Pevonia Botanica Phyto Gel Cleanser

2. Pantene Pro-V All Day Smooth Miracle Water (a full size bottle) - I use David's Serum and am almost out. I can use this.

3. Etude House Moistfull Collagen Trial Kit (Emulsion and Freshener) -- am intrigued with the hype over Korean stuff, will try this.

4. Britney Spears Radiance Fragrance -- too musky and strong for me. I guess Britney and I don't have the same taste. Lol.

5. Snoe Beauty Beso Balm - I am a fan of Snoe Emu Facial Wash and their Hair Heroes line. I am now also trying out their powder foundation (taking a break from my tried and tested Ellana powder)  I still have my favourite Venus and Mars lip balm so maybe I ask someone else to check this out.

6. Flormar Supershine Nail Enamel (i guess this is full size nail polish -- in shocking red!) - I hope they named the colours. This is nail polish made in Turkey , and the shocking red intrigued me so I am wearing it now as I type, he he. I am not used to having nail polish so this would probably come off soon -- but I will post photos.

Discount vouchers !

7. Flormar Long Wearing Lipstick (standard size lipstick-- again in shocking red!) -- I don't think really red looks good on me. I am more of the earth tone , natural kind of lipstick wearer. My mom likes it so let's see ...

8. Tony Moly Broccoli Sprout Cleansing Cream -- broccoli? hmmm...

9. Tony Moly Tomatox Magic White Massage Pack (2 sachets) -- not a fan of whitening products , though none of them really work so maybe I can try this without risking looking artificially pale.




There are also discount vouchers from Browhaus , Etude House, Azta Salon, and Tony Moly.



So there we go. Stand by for my amateur reviews of these products. BTW , if there are any beauty bloggers or experts reading this -- I volunteer to be your makeover mission ;-) Feel free to comment and tell me how all this is done!

Super Salon Service: Silvery by Sarsie

Have you ever stepped out of a salon, Php 3,000.00 poorer and less than 100 percent happy? Then you convince yourself that it is all okay because it was so expensive.

I remember saving up cash to see a well-known celebrity stylist, only to shell out an additional Php to 1,500.00 for some damage control in another salon. I wouldn't say it was ugly or a disaster, what he did to me was, well, just wasn't ME. I felt good after our session because of the fancy treatment and his flowery words, but I couldn't stand the look when I got home. Lol. So maybe it was also my fault, too!

Then, my balikbayan Tita raved about a neighborhood salon that her elementary school classmate owned. Silvery Salon is located along Capinpin Road in the Binan Town Proper in Laguna. Bored with my hair, short on cash, and turned off by the deteriorating services of another hometown salon I used to go to, my mom and I decided to try it out.

Silvery by Sarsie, professional service with a neighborhood atmosphere and friendly rates. Back to my original color.

The main hairdresser is Sarsie , and I liked him (but I will call him "her" from this point forward because I feel it is more appropriate ;-)   immediately because I feel like she treated her clients with just the right balance of professionalism and personal touch. I knew I will come back. A haircut is Php 50.00.

What I liked most about the service was its efficiency. How many times have I spent more than an hour in those posh salons for just a haircut and a shampoo? I lose time, and I lose money! Sarsie worked at a posh salon before and told me that services are prolonged so clients would not feel shortchanged and that "they are getting the service that they are paying for." Of course, a Php 250 peso haircut will pay for the famous name, the warm water, the designer chairs, and branded hairdresser, but same Php 50 haircut.

As I am impatient, I usually ask for quick haircuts so I guess I don't maximize the Php 250++ I pay at high end salons ! :-) When I met Sarsie, I couldn't even bear to go to those expensive ones. Two months ago, I came out of Silvery Salon (after just one hour) with a fab cut and a fab color worth Php 550.00. With the look and the price, I felt like I hit the jackpot , lol. The salon had a light atmosphere and fresh towels every time.

Just yesterday, I had a new color job, had footspa and pedicure,  a collagen hair treatment , good stories - and paid Php 700.00 for quality service. With that cost efficiency, I had room to leave generous tips for Sarsie, Ate Bek (the footspa lady), and their young assistant.

Definitely my money's worth :-) If you are around the Binan area, I would be happy to introduce you.

Strip'd and (feeling) Sexy

Wannabi sexy, or at least feel like it? Get a Brazilian wax !

(side comment: I can't believe my first post is a vanity post...) 

I never thought I would ever want one, after a rather traumatic experience at Lay Bare in Market! Market! No, I was not the one getting the Brazilian (was only in for half leg-waxing), but the girl in the next cubicle. I could hear her crying and tearfully requesting for a few seconds of rest time in between rips. I felt so sorry for her and swore I will not even attempt to get one.

Thanks to my Belle de Jour (BDJ) Power Planner 2012, I found a coupon for Strip Manila. With Lay Bare always fully booked (they really do have the best prices for waxing services), I decided to use my 15% off for a half leg wax at Strip in Greenbelt 5. The funky interior designs (I am a sucker for branding and packaging), very private rooms, pleasant staff, attractive literature , and as I found out from my first visit - the outstanding service, made me vow: I want a Brazilian and I want it here.

Love the cute posters. This one made me feel like such a monkey :-)

If I wanted to inflict pain and torture upon myself, I would rather have it in a posh place where nobody can hear me. Unlike Lay Bare's cubicles, Strip's waxing rooms are fully private and closed - so the poor soul next door won't get scared of somebody else's intolerance for pain (like what happened to me!) Armed with my BDJ Card (comes with the planner, which, by the way, allows the bearer 5% off from ala carte waxing service from Strip), I bravely walked into Strip Greenbelt and asked for.. ehrm.. (in a moment of cowardice) a bikini wax ::blush:: The girl at the reception sensed my apprehension and nodded knowingly, "Okay ma'am, bikini muna - then kung saan abutin." Lol. Okay. I requested for Bianca, the Striperella who did my legs a few weeks ago.

Bianca did it to me by stage :-) as seen on their "menu" (click left for larger image, i got this from their website...), asking me per stage if I still prefer to continue. When she was done with the 2nd to the last level (before xxxx all off!) , it was the "now or never" moment for me -- meaning , if I chickened out after the first rip, I still have to pay the Php 1200 , hehe. I took one look at my VJJ and the remaining tuft of hair, and thought, what's the point of waxing if you are not going to take it all off? So I bravely said... bring it on Bianca!

It was all quick! Done efficiently and expertly, I think I was out of there in less than 20 minutes. The pain was not so bad at all, at least for me - it was just like getting a leg wax. More of surprise than pain. I had to squeeze Bianca's arm a little bit and let out a short "Ow" when she was waxing the most sensitive parts, but nothing scandalous. I guess I had 4 major "ow" moments - the price for vanity. I just laughed with relief after, I think I handled my first Brazilian wax with grace!

The hot wax scared me at first, but it was surprisingly soothing. Bianca said hot wax was better because it helped open up pores, which makes pulling easier. And I think I believe her. I can't imagine the same technique being used on my legs at Lay Bare , being used to wax my VJJ! They use a clay-like wax there, which strips little strips instead of bigger areas. Must be a lot of "ow" moments!

Handy after-wax care card

Overall, I liked my waxing experience at Strip (plus the fact that they didn't try to sell me something after :-) , and I won't mind doing it again ! Php1,200 for every wax is a bit steep for me, so I don't know how often I can do it (for Cash Cash Pinoy members and Citibank cardholders, there's actually a good Strip deal for up to June 2012! Check it out). Lay Bare is another waxing salon option but I am yet to try a Brazilian there (costs only Php450!). I will also stay with Lay Bare for my leg wax since it's really more affordable there (Php 300 vs. Strip's Php 800 for half leg!) 

Now... my only worry are the in-grown hairs , infections , and other Brazilian wax horror stories! But I bet those are one in many cases. Cross my fingers I won't have a post wax horror story!

Let me just conclude with , get it if you want (like what I did!) , triumph over the pain , savour the sexy, fresh feeling after!

Learn more at www.strip-manila.com