BDJ Box Elite December 2016 Unboxing: Celeteque Exclusive

This is probably the best BDJ Box I've ever received after the Pink Sugar exclusive box. I wasn't planning on buying anymore BDJ Boxes but when I saw it's most certainly an exclusive box from Celeteque I purchased myself a box as my birthday/Christmas present. And I have never been more right.

It comes with 15! full size products from Celeteque. From CELETEQUE!!! Celeteque is my go to skin care when things go wrong from the products I try. What I usually look for cosmetics is the infusion of skin care that's why I really like korean products. And now Celeteque has just introduced new products for their DermoCosmetics line.

Here's a summary of the products you can find in the box:

Skin Care

Cleansing Oil PhP 249 (50 ml)

Cleansing oils are good for removing make up before using cleansers specially with hard to remove lipsticks and eyeliners. Compared to other cleansing oils, this one is quite pricey for the size. The packaging is not very user friendly. It would have been nice if the bottle comes with a pump.

Hydration Hydrolyzed Moisturizing Mist P150 (50mL)

Moisturizing mist is good for people with dry skin. Just like the ones you see in korean novelas when the weather is too cold and drying for the face. It's always a good practice to moisturize your skin.

Cosmetics

Face

24-Hour Photoready Matte Primer P825 (15g)

I like using primers to keep my make up intact all day. Think of wall paint or car paint primers. This primer is very promising. It has no scent and feels velvety to touch. Plus you get an ample amount for the price.

This comes in 3 shades and I got the shade Classic Natural

CC Micro-Hydrating Powder P930 (10g) Classic Natural

This is one bulky powder which probably won't fit in my kikay kit. I wonder how it differs from their pressed foundation (that one doesn't last long before I oil up).

Lips & Cheeks

I was really excited with this one because I get to try all the shades but I was quite disappointed when I saw the size.I honestly wouldn't buy them for PHP545 each.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream side to side for comparison. Note that NYX only costs around PHP300 (at online shops).

This has a sweet scent but not as strong as the Lip&Cheek Duo

Ultra-Nourishing Lip Lacquer P545 (1.6mL)  x 3 shades Natural Nude/Soft Pink/Velvet Red (top swatch)

Also I didn't quite expect how glossy they would be. Well they are really glossy and not pigmented. Actually I think it's a gloss. I don't know whatever.

This has a very strong sweet scent

Moisturizing Lip and Cheek Duo P665 (1.6mL) x 2 shades Rosy Blush/Soft Berry

This one has better pigmentation but again, I wouldn't buy it personally/intentionally for the price/size. It's quite sticky so I don't think I'd be using it for blush.

Eyes

This comes in 3 shades and I got the shade Natural

2-in-1 Eyebag Miracle Kit P745 (6.4g) Natural

I was surprised how small it was. Probably the size of a NYX dark under eye concealer. It has a balm underneath and a concealer on top. I'm really excited to try this one.

Kilay is life! This comes in 2 shades and they gave us both! daebak!

Eyebrow Defining Kit P600 (3.3g) x 2 shades Dark Brown/Medium Brown

One is gel/wax used to fill in the brows and the other is powder to set. I use a similar cheaper version of this from Elf which only costs around PHP300

Omo! Omo! Eyeshadows! with Primers! They come in really beautiful shades of neutrals, pinks and smokey. And I just can't get over the fact that the palette already comes with a primer!

Long-Wear Eyeshadow Palette P725 (6.5g) x 3 shades Pink Orchid/Smokey Grey/Warm Brown

Really beautiful colors! I'm excited to try them!

Total of all the products in the box is PHP9239. I only paid PHP1480 for the box so I saved PHP7759. Prices are based on the CeletequeDermo website. So now I have a year's worth of make up :) I was originally going to give away some but seeing them in person makes me want to keep them all for myself! hahaha <evil laugh>

Digital Perm at Das Raum (Beauty Brick)

I have already curled my hair a lot using traditional perm in the past but it's my first time to try digital perm. Why? Because it's too expensive!!!

A traditional perm only costs around PHP400 - PHP800 at local salons (yung sa tabi tabi lang). While digiperm costs around PHP3000-PHP8000.

I stick to traditional perm in the past because I feel like they last longer than digiperm though I'm not really sure..yet. Anyway I had this spur of the moment urge to curl my hair (after watching Barcelona) so yeah I ended up trying a digiperm.

Beauty Brick is located at Jupiter St. Makati. My friend has already tried their digiperm service (she made her research on different salons offering digiperm) saving me from having to research myself and end up not actually doing it. In short, Beautybrick is known for good digiperm results at a more affordable price than it's counterparts. So here are 3 simple steps to get that curl you've long wanted.

Step 1: Secure a reservation.

You can call or text 09175200044 to schedule an appointment with Mr. Shin. They reply promptly and and they were very accommodating with my questions.

Q: How much for a digiperm?

A: Depends on hair length and condition. Ranges from PHP3300 to PHP4300.

Q: Do you accept credit cards?

A: Cash only basis

Q: Can I color my hair beforehand

A: Depends on your hair condition we will check first.

Step 2: Getting there

From MRT Buendia southbound, ride a jeepney with "Washington" signboard beside McDonalds.

Get off at Petron Gas Station (right side) then walk to the street behind Petron (Jupiter St.)

Walk to the left until you see Anytime Fitness. Beauty Brick is located inside Doña Consolacion Building.

You wouldn't see any sign board of a salon or beauty brick outside (even inside).

Step 3: Show up for your appointment

When you enter, you'll instantly be reminded of a Japanese restaurant because the staff will greet you upon entering. Makes sense because Mr. Shin is a Japanese.

The salon is just simple. White walls, mirrors and chairs. Unlike other salons which stink of chemicals, I can actually breathe normally inside. The only downside I guess is the comfort room which is located at the second floor of the building (outside the salon).

Mr. Shin (the one with the hat) seems to only speak Japanese (and very little English) so he always has his translator by his side. Sometimes it's very confusing because my mind is trying to process what Mr. Shin is saying (which is in Japanese) at the same time, I need to listen to the translator for well.. translations.

What amazes me is how a nameless salon (literally) became so popular. When you check on google, there are only a handful information about the place. By the wall hangs some magazine clippings about Mr. Shin so I guess he really is famous.

Before Shot (Saturday)

We had our appointment for 10:00AM. We arrived 10minutes before 10 and was shortly called for shampoo afterward. The salon was already full this early Saturday morning.

Then Mr. Shin (through his translator) will ask you what type of curls you want (small, medium, big, combination). I showed him some pictures but unfortunately he told me the curl I wanted was created by setting and using curling irons and not digiperm. He advised using medium curls because I have short hair so that it would last longer. Then he trimmed my hair and the translator gave me a quote of PHP3400 all in (haircut, treatment and digiperm)

After trimming my hair, they put on the treatment. They will walk you through the steps one by one and introduce what product is being used clearly.

Then they shampooed my hair again and put on collagen and then blow dried.

Next is the winding and setting (with heat).

After removing the curlers, they will set it again and put another chemical. Then they'll give you a head and back massage.

Last is blow drying and styling.

Result

It was not the type of curl I imagined but Mr.Shin didn't really give me any false hopes. He said that curls turn out differently for everyone depending on your hair so there isn't really a pattern.

Can't manage to smile because I was sooo sleepy not because I didn't like the result. Mr. Shin will also teach you how to maintain your curls. I know it wouldn't actually look like this when I wash it so I'm quite nervous about what it would actually look like

Mr. Shin is very hands on on each of his clients. Their process is very organized. I didn't notice it at first but my friend pointed out they were using a kanban. With post its to keep track of the status of each phase and timers. It's a bit noisy though with Mr. Shin giving out orders from time to time and all the staff answering in unison "Yes Sir, Yes Manager" (really like in a Japanese restaurant).

The service is superb! and I'm not even exaggerating. I felt like a princess with the service they were giving. Always checking if you're comfortable and what not and making you feel your money was well spent even if it's a little expensive.

But honestly I really love the service (I can't stop gushing about it). Unlike in other salons where they will tell you how horrible your hair looks like so they can push you to buy their products and avail of other services. Beauty Brick is nothing like that. If I didn't ask they wouldn't even mention that they also sell some hair products they use.

So aside from the service, I find digital perm more acceptable than traditional. The medicine they use for traditional irritates my eyes and sometimes my skin too. Not to mention the horrid smell that makes it hard to breathe. I didn't experience any discomforts during the digiperm process so definitely a lot better than traditional.

What's left really is to test the longevity. I'll update this blog in a few to see what happens.

After Shot (Monday)

It's easy..they said..You just twist and scrunch.. they said.. but boy was I so lost the first time I had to "maintain" it. 

Some people say it's easier to maintain curly hair because you don't need to comb it. But if you have straight hair and don't usually comb like me then I beg to disagree. I had to wait for it to dry a bit then put a combination of hard wax and oil to 'hold' the curls while twisting and scrunching. X_X

Tuesday

 This time I used a curl defining mousse and found that the wax and oil combination holds better

One month later and this is how our hair looks like

 Check out the link below if you want to know more on how I maintain it.
Maintenance for Digitally Permed Hair

Fall in Love Again with the May Elite BDJ Box

Honestly I was really disappointed with this box. It was supposed to be an elite box with summer goodies for the month of May but we received it on June when it's already raining. Two of my friends ordered the box as well and it was their first time to try BDJ Box and probably their last. 

It's a Revlon exclusive box following Revlon's campaign of #chooselove

Box costs PHP1482. Contents are supposed to be double the value (PHP3015 in total).

Tweezer PHP150

Nail Pile PHP150

Volume + Length Mascara PHP650

Photo Ready Kajal PHP575

Eyeliner in 304 Matte Marine

Ultra HD Matte Lip Color PHP575

Matte Liptint in 615 HD Temptation

Photoready Skinlights PHP825

Highlighter in 300 Peach Light

Nail Polish in Lavander and Silver Glitter PHP250x2

Hair Color in 42R Medium Auburn PHP450

Swatches from Uppermost

Pink Sugar lip tint for comparison

Revlon matte lipstick

Sky Blue Eyeliner

Highlighter

Eyeliner and Lipstick on.

It's veerryy retro and loud and I don't see myself actually using them. It's sad that I won't even be able to use most of the contents I paid for. Probably the hair color and mascara (which I somehow misplaced). 

It has been a nice affair with BDJ Boxes. My monthly dose of surprise and cosmetics. Sadly #walangforever when expectations turn to dissappointment. This is probably my last BDJ Box as well. I think I'm moving on to Althea boxes. Something I personally picked and worth wait waiting for. :)