Haul: BDJ Box Beauty Social Tres Chic Loot

I love BDJ. I carry with me my BDJ planner everyday and make it a point to attend their BDJ Rendezvous events whenever it fits my schedule. (Oh, there will be another one this April 12!) Though I haven't subscribed to any beauty box subscription (my friend Tellie would gasp at this statement, as she is the reigning Subscription Boxes Queen), I think the BDJ Box is one of the best beauty boxes to subscribe to, based on what I see online.

Last March 23, BDJ Box hosted another Beauty Social event which goes by the theme Tres Chic. The event was held at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura. If you knew me personally, you'd know that I avoid events at Taguig and all further South areas like plague just because I'm a lazy girl who lives in the North. But then, since its a BDJ Box Beauty Social, I just had to go. I went with my kikay colleagues and blogger friends to bond over girly stuff, which was so much fun! :D

Like all beauty fairs, there were booths featuring a wide variety of brands that will let you experience their products and services. Some gave away samples, while some even gave full-sized products! In events like these, you have to brave - be very brave as you visit every single booth. (Kidding, you just have to roam around the booths while there's an ongoing talk so there will be less people falling in line.)

Now, I shall present to you my haul from the day. I'm not used to doing unboxings, so this one will be an "unbagging" post! :p

Diamond Peel GC from AIP Clinic

Everyone who pre-registered for a talk gets a loot bag, and this GC was part of it.

Bifesta Cleansing Express Sebum Cleansing Lotion

I got this from the Bifesta booth. Makeup remover wipes are so handy for sleepovers!

Canmake Cheek & Cheek

At the Canmake booth, you can Like Canmake Philippines on Facebook and pick a prize. They gave away free makeovers and full-sized products, and I was so lucky to not pick the "thank you for liking Canmake on FB" paper. I got this super cute blush instead! ♥

Celeteque Samples

I LOVE these! I'm a huge fan of the Acne Solutions range, especially the Acne Clearing Facial Moisturizer Gel, so I was so happy to see these inside the loot bag. I've actually shared some of these to my friends, hoping it will work for them, too!

Cosmopolitan Philippines August 2013

I already have a copy of this at home, since I never skip the "beauty awards" issues. Women's Health naman next time! ;)

Covergirl Lash Blast Fusion Water Resistant Mascara

The Covergirl booth had a mascara swap, wherein you'd have to share their promotional photo from their FB/IG, bring an old mascara, and get this full-sized product for FREE! ♥

Cure Natural Aqua Gel Samples

I got these samples at Cure's booth. This one's so gentle yet so effective when it comes to removing dead skin cells.

Ellana Minerals Samples

Ellana Minerals made me love mineral makeup and embrace loose powder! I'm excited to discover more of their products. My current faves are the Loose Mineral Powder Foundation in Chai Tea Latte and Pressed Mineral Blush Duo in Flirtation/Fetish.

Femalenetwork.com Feel-Good List Memo Pad

This one's also from the loot bag. I love making lists and it's pink! What's not to love?

Max Factor Whipped Creme Foundation Sample

The only talk I attended was from Max Factor, and they did it Oprah-style by giving everyone a sample of their latest product which will be launched just this month. Like Max Factor Philippines on FB, as they'll be giving away 50 of these babies soon!

My Amazing Blow Dry Secret Shampoo Sample

I got this for liking the FB page of My Amazing Blow Dry Secret. My sample lasted me several days, and this one really works even if I just air-dry my hair! The full-sized one is too pricey though. >.<

Ocean Potion Suncare Anti Skin Aging Quick Dry Sunscreen SPF 30

I've tried the SPF 50 variant of this one before and I loved it! I bet I'll like this one, too. This one's from the loot bag as well.

PAC Free Make Over GC

I got this as a consolation prize when I drew the line (literally, by using an eyeliner) at their booth.

Baked Bites Nutella Rocks

I got this yummy, not-too-sweet but very chocolatey cookie from visiting the booth of Kalm Cosmetics, which carries the famous Real Technique brushes.

Tomato Time & Swap Watches Discount Vouchers

Too Cool For School Samples

Too Cool For School's booth had a cute vending machine, wherein you can get 3 samples when you pay P3.00. Not bad, actually. I'm excited to try the Pumpkin Sleeping Pack. The voucher I got from the loot bag, wherein I can get a free Marshmallow Puff for when I make a P1,000.00 purchase in their stores.

Yves Rocher Samples

There was an activity from the Yves Rocher booth wherein you'd have to post a photo of yourself on FB or IG with the hashtag #YvesRocher, and then you get to pick a prize. (I don't think I'll ever get tired of pick-a-prize, since I consider myself lucky.) I got the deluxe sample size version of their intensive slimming cream, which I will use solely on my tummy. One sachet of the Naturelle EDT was from the booth, while the other one was from the loot bag. :D

Whew! That was a LOT! Thanks as usual, BDJ Box! Now, I have lots of new beauty finds to discover. :D

Were you able to go to the BDJ Box Beauty Social, too? Leave me your links so I can read about your experiences! ;)

Love,

Helen

COVERGIRL Clump Crusher by LashBlast Water Resistant Mascara

For my everyday makeup, I skip the eyeliner and just go straight to applying water-resistant mascara. I call it "lash preservation" or just plain laziness, because I don't really have the patience to remove waterproof mascaras every single day and risk losing each precious strand during the process. (I have sparse lashes, that's why!)

My current go-to mascara is the new Clump Crusher mascara by CoverGirl. I actually won this from their Facebook page (COVERGIRL Philippines) late last year! :D

COVERGIRL Clump Crusher by LashBlast Water Resistant Mascara

What makes this mascara unique from the rest of the ones I've tried is that it promises zero clumps even after 30 strokes. Amazing right? With all other mascaras, 30 stokes = bad news and clump galore for sure!

Ingredients: (The technical stuff, in case you're interested.)

Now on to the review! First of all, I love the packaging of this mascara. The bright neon green tube looks so happy inside my kit, even if it's just lying there! There is also room for mascara wand appreciation, since the bristles are also green before you finally dip it inside the tube forever.

The Clump Crusher brush from CoverGirl delivers 200% more volume and ZERO clumps for beautifully separated lashes.

Clump Crusher mascara's innovative curved brush features a lash loading section to saturate the lashes with loads of products and fine-tooth comb bristles to evenly distribute mascara.

It comes in a formula that's not too wet or dry. The brush works wonderfully in separating my lashes.

As for the effect, I say it gives more of a light and natural feathery lashes look. True enough, it NEVER clumps, no matter how many layers I apply!

I always curl my lashes prior to applying any mascara, but this one doesn't seem to hold my curl all day. I still have to "retouch" by giving my lashes a good squeeze by midday.

At the end of the day, this comes off easily as I wash my face with just my good old facial wash and water. I just rub my lashes with water for a few times, and off it comes - no need for fancy eye makeup removers. (The downside, it doesn't come off in "tubes" which are less messy. This one gets dissolved upon removal.)

Pros:

• It comes in a bright packaging - adding a gorgeous pop of color to anyone's makeup kit.
• The brush is seriously amazing - no clumps, ever.
• The formula isn't too wet for a non-waterproof mascara.
• It separates and volumizes my lashes, but still looks natural.
• It's water resistant.
• It doesn't smudge or flake.
• At the end of the day, it comes off easily - no need for makeup remover.
• Its price is affordable for a good everyday mascara.

Cons:

• It doesn't hold my lashes' curl all day.
• Upon removal, it doesn't come off in tubes (or solid fibers). Just a personal preference.

Price: P495.00
Available in all CoverGirl counters in department stores nationwide.

As for me, this mascara gives my lashes an added oomph - it looks real but just enhanced. I heard this works wonders for those who have naturally long lashes. (You lucky ladies!) Have you tried COVERGIRL Clump Crusher by LashBlast Water Resistant Mascara? If not, what is your current go to mascara?

Love,

Helen

Cosmetics: Return and Exchange

All along, I thought that we cannot return or exchange makeup we bought that have something wrong with them and/or does not meet our standards. Last Sunday, I bought a tube of Maybelline Hypercurl Volum' Express Mascara at SM North EDSA Department Store. I usually get my Maybelline fix in Landmark Trinoma (who has the nicest BAs that let me hover and check out their products without following me around or looking at me like I'm going to steal). Yeah, I hate it whenever sales people watch my every move, and whenever that happens, no matter how much I love the product, I would never buy it from that place. Because I was lazy to walk to Trinoma, I bought from the Department Store in SM (something I would never do again).

I got a tube of this Maybelline Hypercurl Volum' Express Mascara. I was so excited and happy because it was just P249.00! Maybelline has been my HG brand for mascaras and other cosmetics. If you peek into my kit, majority of the products are from Maybelline. I opened it and found the mascara formula to be dry, with a consistency of a mascara that has been opened for 5 to 6 months. I let my sister check it, as she has used tubes of this same mascara (before it was marked down from P399.00), and she agreed with me. I went back last Tuesday to the counter to have it replaced, but the BA said that it was a new stock and that the formula was really like that. She said that it was manufactured February 2011 (as marked by the sticker on the price tag).


When I checked it at home, I saw the true manufacturing date which was November 8, 2010. I wish that the BA just made an honest mistake and that she really meant that this stock arrived February 2011 to their store shelf. Really, I don't care even if it was manufactured last year as long as it worked fine.


So that Tuesday, I asked for this to be replaced, but the BA did not want to because she said there was nothing wrong with this. I had to seek Maybelline's help through their Facebook page and hotline, and they advised me that if a product did not meet my standards, I could really have it replaced. They told me to try having it replaced at the same counter (within 7 days from the receipt of purchase). I like their fan page. The admin was really nice, and the page is really interactive in that members and the admin interact with each other all the time.

Today, I went there again to have the mascara exchanged. Sorry I had to name drop and say that "the head office already knew about this" and the BA immediately replaced the mascara without any question. However, the replacement stock was just the same. I don't know if there is something wrong with me, or with the mascara, but I really did not like it. I even showed it to the lady on the customer service counter and she said 'Ay bakit ganyan?" upon looking at the formula. In the end, I returned the mascara and decided to just use the P249.00 (in the form of a receipt) returned to me (that I had to consume within the day). I decided to go for Covergirl! :D This one was P625.00, less 10% because SM had a one-day sale today for SM Advantage Card/BDO Reward Card members.


Lesson learned, you don't have to settle for something that you feel shortchanged for! As long as the reason is valid, you can have it exchanged for something better. :)

On a lighter note, what mascara do you currently use? :)

Love,
Helen