My May 2014 BDJ Box Unboxing!

Another day, another box: that's how it is in the life of a Subscription Boxes Queen. I got this box weeks ago but my funked out camera is stalling everything. Including my blog sale. I eventually gave up and just used my camera on the sale and this post.

May 2014 BDJ Box: Summer Radiance

This month's installment of the BDJ Box is another supersized edition. It wouldn't close again. I'm starting to think maybe BDJ should just get bigger (and sturdier) boxes. They often hand out lots of full-size items and their boxes are starting to get really beat up during shipping. I don't know if these are intended to be mere shipping shells meant to be thrown away after one use. They do recommend repurposing it. So it definitely should be more than utilitarian but I don't think it has enough oomph to be a brand statement.

May 2014 BDJ Box: Summer Radiance

My eyes bugged out from three huge samples but I can't help but feel a little underwhelmed. I'm pretty sure they went under the triple the sub fee promise here but all in all, it's still a pretty solid box from BDJ. Read more to find out my favorites!

May 2014 BDJ Box: Unboxing and Impressions

Here's What's Inside (Sorted by Favorites):

Too Cool For School Pumpkin Sleeping Pack, Php 689 / 100ml

I have a handful of samples of the sleeping pack from the first Cool Girl makeup workshop. but I haven't really tried them yet. And I haven't read anything about it but I'm glad I got the full-size sample because I like to read lotion tubes while I'm pooping.

Also, I'm currently going on an almost-daily sheet masking routine but I've gone through about half my stash by now. I'd like to see if sleeping packs have the same effect 'cause I have a couple that I don't know what to do with. I think I have Laneige and Shu. And no, those aren't going on my blog sale stfu.

BONUS: Salvatos Flip Flops, Php 890

Technically not inside the box, but a bonus gift I appreciate nonetheless. I wish they gave these out earlier during the summer, I think Salvatos would've made a bigger hit! Especially for people like me, who get challenged to shove as much junk in as little space as possible. Roll your clothes, best tip ever!

How convenient are these for beach outings though?! As a woman whose toiletries involve one third of her luggage, saving space for clothes and other non-essentials is of UTMOST IMPORTANCE. The waterproof baggie for the flipflops are great for either summer or monsoon season footwear changes.

I'm just not sure if the crease will hold up.

Dermal Sheet Masks, Php 75 each.

So if you follow me on Instagram (@BeautyByTellie!) you'd have spotted these babies some time ago. The sweet Barbi Chan, BDJ Beauty Ministress (?), gave me a few to try. She explained that it's the Korean secret to airbrushed skin. I knew that part long ago, but she shared her own routine and that's what got me hooked.

Sheet masks have a 10-20 minute recommended wear once a week. She says it's totally okay to wear them more frequently and for longer. I can use these everyday and in fact, she leaves hers on for up to 45 minutes or an hour daily. It works for better absorption, she says.*

*Barbi was informally speaking about her personal experience with Dermal Masks. Please consult a derma if you plan to do the same, especially with a different brand of sheet mask. Beware of active ingredients and overexposure.

These got me started on my near-daily routine. I never used to wear sheet masks because I got so anal about the time limit and the schedule. Ten minutes seems too short to get any work done while waiting, but too long to be a comfortable wait. Learning that I could bend the rules to that extent made me super comfortable to finally start masking.

I wish they'd release a value pack so I can drown my face in these babies for a month!

Organix Hair Care Set, Php 499 / 13oz shampoo or conditioner, or 3.30z of oil.

Eula raved about her hair transformation with Organix (posted here.) Seriously, check it out guys! I thought she had good hair before, but after Organix, I just want to drown in her hair.

I was deceived thinking the box was a tiny shampoo bottle or serum. Turns out, it was a sachet variety pack! I'm not disappointed though. Eula was very specific about the variant that worked for her, so I'm quite thankful to be able to try a whole bunch of variants.

No, I do not hate this sample even if it's in sachet form. The sachets are big, plentiful and varied and those three things make sachets at par with deluxe samples for me.

Godiva LicoWhite Antiperspirant Deodorant, Php 79 / 40ml. Godiva Licowhite Whitening Lotion, Php 120 / 100ml.

It was not until this post that I thought of myself as a deodorant person. Maybe a few months ago I'd have relegated this sample to the Other Stuff in Here category but honestly, I'm starting to appreciate the value of a good deodorant. Living under my mom's care, I took these things for granted but I recently found out how expensive deodorants are.

I'm pretty excited to try something other than Dove. Aside from a stick of High Endurance I went through during my stinkier days in high school, it's been Dove or Secret ever since I hit puberty.

As for the lotion, I'm not particularly interested nor motivated to try it out but I am trying to moisturize in the evenings so it will still be useful.

Other Stuff In Here:

Revlon Colorstay Nail Enamel, Php 325 / 11.7ml each.

I never thought I'd see the day I'd revive this category for a BDJ box but there is one sample that makes me feel dead inside: basic nail polish. I'm glad that there's a couple of them and I'm sure some of our nail-loving sisters will talk about kicking me out of the Queendom for daring to put nail polish in this category, but that's how I feel about it.

It's not even funky nail polish.

Vouchers Galore:

I think BDJ knew that this month's box was flatlining a little. Hence, the overload on GCs and discount cards. Some of these are pretty good so I'm not gonna rant about their inclusion.

RECAP:

May 2014 BDJ Box: Curation Card

Box Value: Php 1479, for a Php 580 subscription.

From a general subscription box standpoint, this box is great. There's something full-size, there's great sample variety in terms of product class (hair, face, skin, nails and pits) AND product diversity (two colors of polish and a bunch of Organix variants.)

I guess it just lacks the usual oomph I've gotten used to with BDJ Boxes. It's not like BDJ to rely on vouchers and sachets AND not include makeup. At least even though they got sachets, they were enough to add up to a deluxe sample. At least their vouchers were pretty good. I also appreciate that there were a lot of variants for the Organix and Revlon samples so, so at least they have that going for them.

Perhaps the best thing about this box is the ultra-fresh stuff, i.e. Salvatos, Dermal and Organix. I'm just iffy with all the at least statements I put out. BDJ has never been an "at least" kind of box so I'm hoping this is just an off month for them. It happens sometimes.

BDJ kindly sent me an extra box for giveaway. Keep your eyes open, I'm putting that up for giveaway ASAP :)

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