I still remember how I fancied having our own local beauty subscription boxes whenever I read posts about international bloggers opening their Glossybox or Birchbox goodies. There's truly something magical about opening beauty packages so I kept wishing I could experience the same thing. 

Birchbox- a popular beauty subscription box in the U.S.

And because this post's title give away too much --- yup, we now have our local beauty and lifestyle subscription box. It's called SaladBox!

For just PhP500.00 per month, a subscriber will receive a box filled with four or more beauty and lifestyle product samples. The SaladBox team greatly values the money their subscribers spend so these products will have a value of more than PhP700.00. SaladBox is currently in partnership with a lot of beauty and lifestyle brands, both local and international, up-and-coming and timeless classics. 

Much like the popular international labels in subscription boxes, SaladBox is more than just a subscription box:

• subscribers who write their reviews will receive reward points in their accounts (called SaladLeaves) which they can use for purchasing their favorite products
• SaladLeaves are also awarded to those who successfully refer new subscribers
• weekly flash sales on lifestyle and beauty that are unavailable to other group buying sites

Monthly subscriptions are limited as they go by the first come, first served ruling so better make sure to get a slot today if you're meaning to get one (subscription for your very own SaladBox is now officially open). Don't forget to visit their website, twitter and Facebook page for the latest news!

Breakups are getting unbelievable techie nowadays. If you have seen PLDT MyDSL's latest commercial on Anna's response to Derek's Youtube video, you'll feel bad for the poor guy coz her dream girl just dumped him right in front of every Youtube-ing individual.

Now if I were a youngster like Derek, I would be totally crushed. Heck, rejection via text messaging is difficult for me to accept so I can't imagine myself coping with a breakup video. But in a miraculous turn of events, Derek's family shows support for the heartbroken kid and seems to be pushing him to meet other girls who are far more interested in him than his classmate.


 

I wish I could do something for poor Derek too you know. But I barely know any girl teeny bopper I can make reto.

Now if any of you know teeny boppy girls aged 12-16, then you might just be able to help Derek recover from the heartbreak! All your referrals have to do is submit a video entry on why they should be Derek’s new Anna! If they win, they’ll be part of the next PLDT myDSL commercial and also take home a Samsung Ultrabook.

Visit http://www.dereksnewanna.com/ for more details on the contest! 

The Neutrogena Deep Clean Ultra Foam Cleanser comes in two variants: Revitalizing Pink Grapefruit and Brightening Mulberry. You must be wondering how someone overly gaga about brightening and whitening chooses to prioritize testing out the revitalizing variant over the illuminating one. Let me tell you that ever since I turned 30, I'm more for products that promote cell renewal!

Product says ---

Developed with dermatologists, the innovative new formula contains the leading Neutrogena® Deep Clean® Technology that effectively removes 99% of dirt, oil, impurities and dead skin cells from the skin with a velvety fine foam, as well as Anti-Oxidant Pink Grapefruit Extracts that helps stimulate healthy cell renewal.

The product promises:

• an ultra clean face through its ultra velvety-rich foam
• better cell renewal c/o Pink Grapefruit extracts

The Deep Clean Promise

Unless one has a super techie device to objectively quantify a clean face, the best way to evaluate a cleanser's efficiency is to observe the amount of gunk a cotton ball shows us after toning. I often use an antiseptic, Clindamycin, after cleansing and the Neutrogena Revitalizing Pink Grapefruit Ultra Foam cleanser passes the "cotton ball test". I never had to worry about any evidence of extreme dirt residue during the time I used this.

And if you'd like to know what I think about the cleanser in the least objective way, my face feels clean and looks brighter after I use it!

This product works well for those who use light face makeup or none at all. Since I am acne-prone, even if I wear sheer powder, I always tandem the Neutrogena Ultra Foam cleanser with a good cleansing oil or a cream makeup remover.

The Antioxidant Factor and the eX-Factor

The product introduces grapefruit extracts into the foaming facial wash to stimulate healthy cell renewal. I almost literally died when I learned about it since it was what my stressed out skin severely needs. 

However, I started breaking out from the cleanser in less than a week. I gave it another week to be tried out but the pimples are just making my skin, in its already bad state, far more horrible-looking. And so I had to stop. I knew I had to give the Neutrogena Revitalizing Pink Grapefruit Ultra Foam Cleanser the eX approval. We were over.

I gave the bottle to a good friend who has a normal skintype and was experiencing occasional bouts of stubborn whiteheads (which she never experienced before). And what do you know--- she loved the cleanser and is using it religiously to date.

ღೋღೋ ღೋ ღೋ

I would have loved to keep the product because it:

• was just P307 for an effective 175mL cleanser
• had a citrusy, yummy fragrance (but is def too strong for those who prefer non-scented cleansers)
• creates a rich, velvety foam out of the pump

I would have loved to experience a more permanent revitalized face from the Neutrogena Deep Clean Revitalizing Pink Grapefruit Ultra Foam Cleanser if only I did not break out from it. I am still unsure why I harbored tiny grape-like zits on my face but I'm hoping it's not from the grapefruit extracts!

__________________________________________________________________________________

Disclaimer: This is not a paid post. Product was sent to me for review purposes. Post content is in accordance with my personal experience while using the Neutrogena Deep Clean Revitalizing Pink Grapefruit Ultra Foam Cleanser.

I can't wait for these to get to our local counters! Although the beauty brand stayed safe with launching a couple of safe colors, I still think these lipsticks are worth checking out. Shiseido Lacquer Rouge creator, Dick Page, says:

The collection is about the simplicity of a lip gloss married to the intensity of a lipstick, with deep pigment and rich color payoff, long lasting shine and gloss.The lacquer rouge collection creates 'a speedy glamour'.

There are 12 shades to look forward to, four of which are Asia-exclusive colours (Carnelian, Amethyst, Rubelite and Sunstone). I dug up photos and some swatches from the net but wasn't successful with finding swatches for the Asian four (hee!):

Photo Source, by Ars Aromatica
Shiseido Lacquer Rouge swatched on NW18  (Asian skin)

Swatches from L-R: Nocturne, Drama, Savage, Nymph, Portrait, Blaze, Disco, Camel

Photo Source, by Beauty and the Feast

You can definitely tell that the lip lacquers are best on well-exfoliated lips!

For the Michael Kors NY Fashion Week Fall '12 runway, Dick Page did something marvelous with the Shiseido Lacquer Rouge. He used a wedged sponge and applied the liquid lipstick on the cheeks!

Check out The Effortless Chic for more photos

For sexy, flushed cheeks, makeup artist Dick Page used a white wedge sponge to spread Shiseido Lacquer Rouge in Drama (yes, that's a lipstick) from the largest part of the cheeks down toward the jawline in a chevron shape. "It's how you look if you've been skiing or in a hot tub or having very good sex one hopes," Page said.

Also, I found one reviewer who loved the Shiseido Lacquer Rouge's formula over the Chanel Rouge Allure Laque (check her story). The other blogger loved Shiseido's more than YSL Glossy Stains and Chanel RAL (her lip swatches here).

My eyes are glued on the Shiseido Lacquer Rouge in Blaze. I've never tried anything orange on my lips. I hear from other girls that among the 8 internationally released shades, Blaze is relatively transparent but buildable. The rest of the lip lacquers finish opaque at first swipe!