Unboxing: BDJ July 2015 Prepped and Polished Box

As some of you may go "Hohum" on the previous BDJ boxes, my heart gave a skip on this month's PREPPED and POLISHED Box!  The name says it all!  Who doesn't like to look prepared and polished wherever we go?  I know I do!  As I seem not to sport that look nowadays with all the crazy schedule!  

What I like about this month's box how diverse the brands they included here.  But all of them have the same purpose --- to make us feel good both in and out.

Let us start with the most "obvious" product/s in the box!  It just came out of the market and you've probably seen ads on all social media!  And yes, BDJ Box subscribers, you get to try them immediately!

Unboxing of: BDJ May 2015 Kiss Dry Goodbye Box

As the box goes "Kiss Dry Goodbye".  It old myself: "This is MY box!"  I am claiming it because you all know how dry my hair is, how dry my face is, how dry my skin is ---- yes, I'm a dry dude!  So as I excitedly opened BDJ's May box, I do have very high expectations!  (kayo kasi, laging super ganda ng box my expectations are getting higher by the month!)

TADAH!

My eyes gravitated towards a full pack of Nivea Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes (Hooray!)  and the Dermal Face masks!  Then my mind went blank....there are quite a number of products or brands I haven't seen or heard off!  

Aloe Derma --- Check!

Himawari --- Check!

Oh, 2 brands lang pala! :P

According to BDJ, this month's box is all about using the right hair treatment, wash your body for that silky, smooth fell.  As you step out of the shower, we are expected to show off that white pearlies!  Then, a good scrub and facial products won't hurt for a healthy, fairer skin.  And of course, they added 1 makeup product (a blush) to achieve natural flushed face!  

As much as the box goes Kiss Dry Goodbye, I want to call it --- Kiss Summer Goodbye!  Because the rainy season is here and the products in the box are there to help revive the "lost summer"! 

Unboxing BDJ Spring into Beauty April 2015 Box and My Thoughts

You have probably seen several unboxing of the BDJ April 2015 box from other Beauty Blogging sites!  I'm so sorry I'm too late but I have to still post this and share my thoughts.

As much as I would LOVE to say I love this box dearly like most of the BDJ boxes I own, I am on lukewarm water on this month's box because for the fact that I have enough bath products as of the moment!  (Totally not BDJ's fault).

This month's box is called Spring into Beauty, what the team calls, the "secret to overall radiance".  True enough, the contents will help keep your skin radiant because of the presence of exfoliating products, a sample of a BB cream and a highlighting palette.  

I say, it is not enough!  I wish they included at least a sample size of a sunblock or sunscreen! 

But is the box worth it?  As always, it is worth every single cent spent as you get at least 5 full-sized products.

I Wonder: Do You Turn Your Eyeshadow Into a Blush or Vice Versa?

I Do!
And it is from an inexpensive brand Fanny Serrano Php150.00 and it is actually a single eyeshadow! 

AMW Reviews: FS by F21 Cosmetics Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner (Brown)

If you are a long-time reader of AMW, you'll know how much I loved Gel liners and I used and tried a couple of brands!  

From Coastal Scents (raise your hand if you still remember this brand), Makeup  Masala Gel Liners,  San San gel Eyeliner with Vitamin E, Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner, Kate Gel Eyeliner, ELF Studio Creme Eyeliner,  Stila Smudgepots, MAC Fluidline and the list goes on and on!

As you can see, I don't discriminate makeup brands or price points!  What is important for me...is the effectiveness of the product!  If it works and is super affordable, you'll know where it'll go --- Eureka Moment!

I recently got to try FS by F21 Cosmetics from BDJ Box for the month of September 2014.  Thankfully, this gel liner is included in the box because I wouldn't purchase any gel liner because I just have too many as of the moment!

FS by the way stands for Fanny Serrano, Fanny Serrano is a well known local Makeup Artist for the stars and his collaboration with Fashion 21 Cosmetics is really wonderful because most of the products from the FS line works really well!

I know I'm blabbing so much again, I should just get on to the review right?  Well, just so you know, my first FS by F21 Long-Wear Gel Liner is in color Brown which I love because Brown is a perfect gel liner shade for everyday look!

FS by F21 Cosmetics says ---
A long-lasting, gel-based, water-proof liquid eyeliner that's soft on the lids and rich in definition.

Shades: Black and Brown
Made in Taiwan
Ingredients: Isododecane, Cycolopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Talc, Cera Alba, Synthetic Wax, Microcyrstaline wax, Polyethylene, Triglyceride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylated Hydroxytoluene, Magnesium Stearate

Unboxing: BDJBox September 2014 Beauty Innovations

BDJ Box never failes to surprise me with their monthly beauty products, this September Box ain't no exception!  This Beauty Innovations Box is worth EVERY SINGLE CENT you spent in subscribing because they are fill in mostly FULL sized products!  I love how this box is versatile!  You see new releases and all-time favorites as well!  

You want something for hair?  Skin?  Face?  They have it all! 

The box is bigger than the regular BDJ Box.

TADAH!

Shu Uemura VS Fanny Serrano Eyelash Curler

I know a lot of comparisons has been done between Shu Uemura and Shiseido...
I never owned a Shiseido lash curler
I've had my fair share of plastic lash curlers, really cheap lash curlers etc...
Since I'm a die-hard magazine reader, I've read 2 years ago on the Cosmopolitan yearly award on the Splurge vs. Save portion and there I've seen the Fanny Serrano Eyelash curler won the Cosmo award as a good Dupe for the Shu Uemura curler.
Considering it's price, for less than Php200.00! (approx $4.00) compared to Shu's Php1,000 (approx $22.00), I'm definitely giving this a try!

So here's my head to head comparison of the expensive vs. the cheap! :)

(again, this is just my opinion, feel free to comment)

Side by side, you can see that the Shu Uemura curler is a bit bigger, in terms of the arm, the head, but as you can see, the FS curler looks like a medium sized version of the Shu.

Check out the head, they both have the brand name written/carved. The Shu curler is wider and bigger while the FS curler is a bit more curved.

The FS curler being more curved, it is a li'l bit difficult to reach the short lashes that I have. (Just a teeny bit difficult)

Top view, again as stated, the Shu is wider compared to the FS, but the foam used, well in my opinion, they are "almost" identical, same black, same silicon pad "feeling" !

And here's a close up shot on the "arm/latch".

The Shu Uemura Curler ---

Pros

• does its job in curling my lashes
• easy to reach the "hard to reach" part
• fits my eye

Cons

• pinches my left eye
• expensive
• can change pad upto 2x and you have to buy a new one

The Fanny Serrano Eyelash Curler ---

Pros

• can easily buy the refill, can use the curler longer (can be lifetime if you take care of this)
• the refills can be purchased in all beauty stores for a pack of 3 for less than Php100 (approx $3.00)
• very affordable
• does its job in curling my lashes
  

Cons

• pinches my left eye (same with Shu, even Shiseido! I borrowed from my friend)
• that's all! I can't find any con for now

Overall?

To be honest, both curlers work for me! I find that when I curl my left eye, both eyelash curler pinches my eye so i have to use my finger to "LIFT" my left eye manually as I think I have extra skin on my left eye or something.

If you are on a budget, the FS is A-OK. If you have the extra moolah! then go for the Shu. Both works for me, I alternate in using them so that my Shu doesn't get too "molested" LOL <--- what a term! I am not sure if FS is available for our international readers, it's definitely available in all beauty shops in the Philippines. Fanny Serrano by the way is a name of a famous make-up artist here in the Philippines. He's got a whole range of good cosmetics that are affordable and of good quality! :)

Have you curled your lashes lately?
Do you think curling your lashes makes a huge difference to your overall look?

Want to check out my bare lashes?
Want to see my old review on mascaras?
Smile and say "lashes!"