I’m still in denial that we’ve already entered the “ber” months because I’m STILL hung up on summer. Don’t get me wrong, I love the rain and cool weather. It’s the perfect time to take out your boots and outerwear, but realistically speaking, it could be horrifying as well. Think crazy traffic jam, flood, black outs etc. I would rather bear the heat than to get soaked in the rain. It also signals the fast-approaching Christmas season AND the end of another year. Okay, I know I’m getting ahead of myself but I’m just wishing that time would slow down a little bit. I feel like there isn’t enough time in a day lately or maybe I have too much on my plate and that my time management just sucks. Anyhow, Christmas definitely kicked off early for me because a heavy September BDJ Box came in my door step last week! A brand new month is never complete without an unboxing post, but I have to apologize because I’m posting this late. Hihi.
I remember back in college when I only trusted and knew of a handful of brands. For long-wearing and full-coverage powder, foundation and concealer, I only wear MAC. For budget-friendly makeup that delivers, it’s either Revlon or Maybelline for me. It was easier back then now that I think about it. Fast-forward to present, the beauty industry has become a very competitive market. More and more new players and new products, international and local, are entering the arena. Although it’s advantageous to consumers to have all these choices, it can also be confusing and overwhelming! Hence, research has become a vital tool in decision-making. You want to ensure that you make reasonable purchases, right? This is also where subscription boxes come in handy. Curators pick out the best of the products out there so you could try them out before you buy.
We often times get preoccupied and excited with new brands because well, they’re new! There’s thrill in discovery. Because of that, common brands are overshadowed and ignored. Now the September BDJ Box reintroduces some of the familiar brands that have been in our shelves and their latest products.
1. Godiva Cleansing Kit
Godiva LicoWhite Whitening Facial Wash (Php 85, 50 ml) – “Its low-foaming, soap-free formula is infused with Licorice Root Extract, to gently cleanse your skin, leaving it with a softer, smoother glow.”
Godiva LicoWhite Whitening Toner (Php 60, 60 ml) – “Get longer-lasting whiter skin with this Toner formulated with Glabridin, to effectively even out skin tone and get rid of stubborn makeup gently.”
**I know it looks a little odd sporting a tan in this rainy season, but I embrace my morena skin a lot! For me, summer is all year-round and a tan never goes out of style. LOL. However, I also believe in having an even skin tone which is why this tandem may come in handy especially to my neck area. My neck is darker than my face so I usually wear a powder or foundation that is a notch darker to avoid having a “floating face” but it’s usually a hit or miss. Haha.
2. Pond’s Dewy Rose Gel (Php 150, 10g) – “Dewy, soft skin is now easy to achieve with Pond’s Institute’s newest formulation, Flawless White Dewy Rose Gel. This whitening gel is infused with Rose Lumiere Serum that goes deep into the skin to lighten dark spots and smoothen pores outside giving you that rose glow you’ve always wanted.”
**I used to think that rose can only be used in fragrances, but research has shown that it can also benefit our skins, as well. “Extracts of this delicate flower may be used on all skin types but are often included in products for dry, sensitive, and mature skin. Fun fact: It takes tens of thousands of rose blossoms, picked as they are unfolding in the early hours of dawn, to yield 1 ounce of rose essential oil. That makes rose oil one of the most expensive essential oils; it’s so concentrated, however, that only a few drops are necessary to reap the benefits.”[Source] This Pond’s product contains Rhododendron Ferrugineum Extract (whew!) or Alpine Rose which activates the skin’s innate power of self-renewal. [Source] I’ve been eyeing a few rose products in some organic beauty sites because they’re recommended by some of my favorite beauty bloggers. However, I haven’t made a purchase yet because they’re expensive and now I know why! So if you’re also interested, but don’t have the budget for a pure Rosehip Seed Oil , this might be your best option for now.
3. Cream Silk Daily Treatment Conditioner (Php 134, 180ml) – “This product combines the benefits of a weekly hair treatment with the speed of a daily conditioner. It’s formulated with a Vita-boost Complex, that deeply penetrates the hair strand to nourish it from within. Use it in place of your regular conditioner to pamper your hair every day. With 4 variants to choose from, you’re sure to find one that addresses your hair concerns.”
**My hair is still recovering from the chemicals from the previous hair job which is why it’s brittle and dry today. So I’m pleased to get the Dry Rescue and Damage Control variants because it’s exactly what my hair needs. I recently cut my hair and since then, I’ve been enjoying styling it! However, I realized that I have to exert more effort in taking care of it because these styling tools can damage my hurr.
4. Dove Intense Repair Daily Hair Vitamin (Php 75, 6 caps) – “Lock in nourishment for your hair the whole day by using these newly launched hair vitamins infused with Vitamin E and botanical extracts from Dove. Packaged in individual capsules to keep the formula fresh, simply cut out the end to squeeze the contents on your palms and apply to the middle section of your hair dow to the tips for long lasting shine and smoothness.”
*I love Dove product because their products really deliver especially their lotions and soaps. I love the rich, creamy texture and the after-effect, of course. Plus, their ads are very powerful! Anyway, I’ve tried their shampoos before and they keep my hair and scalp hydrated, but I have to say these capsules got me intrigued. It looks like a huge, blue vitamin. LOL.
5. Jergens Moisture Pack
Jergens Ultra Healing Lotion (Php 88, 100 ml) – “Be the first to try this newly re-launched body lotion that’s formulated with a Hydralucence Blend to a go deep beneath skin’s surface to heal dryness at the source.”
Jergens Daily Moisture (Php 153, 200 ml) – “Infused with moisturixing Silk Proteins and a Citrus Extract this reformulated lotion leaves the skin looking and feeling silky and smooth all day long.”
**I’ve tried a lot of lotions that promise deep moisture and I found that Physiogel works amazingly with my skin. I’m really impressed with the brand that I’ve ditched my body oils and butters. I’m willing to try this because it expected to be better formulated but Physiogel is a tough one to beat.
6. Beach Hut Clear Spray (Php 390, 180 ml) – “Gone are the days of having to spread that sticky, messy sunblock on your skin! Stay longer under the sun without worrying about those harmful rays. It provides better, easier and even application than you ordinary sunblock lotion. Just spray and go!
*I’m a sunblock freak and I never leave the house without slapping some on. What can I say? I love the sun, but I love my skin, too, so I take precautions to avoid skin damage. It can sometimes be time consuming to apply sunblock especially if it comes in a white cream. You have to spread it evenly and thoroughly to avoid having a white face! There are some lotions that kind of “rise” when you sweat and that’s quite embarrassing! Good thing there are clear ones available in the market like this Beach Hut Clear Spray! This is my first bottle in this formula so yay! Saves you of that horrifying experience!
7. FS Single Eye Shadow in Pacific Breeze (Php 150, 4g) “These easy to blend powder shadows from FS are a great way to build up your eyeshadow collection. They come in varying finishes – simmer, matte, satin and glitter that you can mix and match to create that look you want. Their silky textures make it easy to blend on your eyes and also prevents product fallout.”
8. FS Gel Liner (Php 299, 5ml) – “Say goodbye to your pencils and hello to this gel based eyeliner from FS! It’s soft on the lids and rich in definition, so you can easily define your eyes. It comes in a 5ml elegant glass bottle and also comes with a free brush! It glides on smoothly helping you effortlessly achieve the look you want.”
*I think this is the first time that I saw a local makeup in the BDJ Boxes, but I could be wrong too. I’m glad, regardless, because it introduces Filipino and affordable products that have good quality like their foreign counterparts. Honestly, this is my first Fanny Serrano eyeshadow, but I’ve always been intrigued by them because of the positive reviews of my favorite bloggers, Carina of Softly Sometimes and Shari of The Misty Mom. I just wish I got a more neutral shade. I always look weird in blue. Haha. I’m also looking forward to experimenting with this gel liner because I’m a sucker for eyeliner and it’s rare to find a local and affordable one that stays on for hours.
Bonus: PAC Makeover Voucher (worth Php 1,500 ) – “Get a brand new look from the PAC Makeup Experts”
Overall thoughts? I’m having a fluctuating emotions towards BDJ Box starting from two months ago. I feel like it’s losing its value as months go by. The anticipation is there, however, the momentum is hardly sustained once you open the box. Yes, the box is bigger and contents are majority in full size, but the products don’t excite me that much anymore. This is just my personal opinion. The issue of familiarity resurfaces once again and that’s what I feel about this box. In fairness, there’s always something good in every BDJ box. You will notice that most of the products lately are practical and useful. I can actually see myself consuming most of it as these are bath products. Of course, we have to address that not everyone is willing to spend on expensive salon treatments or products. I have a cheap-o side in me, too, so if something is affordable and efficient, I’d buy it!
If you want to win a special Cream Silk box, join the video challenge! BDJ has stepped up the mechanics but it should be fun watching everyone’s review! If you have a video entry up, kindly link it below. :)
Do you feel the same way about the September BDJ Box?
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**This BDJ Box was sent to for editorial consideration. I was not required to write a review. Opinions expressed on this blog are still that of the blog owner and are not edited, reviewed, or influenced by the giveaway.