I really need to be visit drugstore aisles more often. It seems that I'm missing valuable news! If a reader didn't tell me about the new Asian Secrets variants, I wouldn't have known until oh I don't know, next year. Tsk. Anyways, yes it's true: there are now more Asian Secrets products to love!

AS now has two more versions of its best-selling lulur scrub: Licorice and Mulberry Extract (purple) and the Seaweed Extract with Vitamin E (blue). They both smell nice, though they're more on the soapy kind.

The last event I organized in 2010 was for a brand that's very dear to my heart. I invited beauty and fashion bloggers to experience the Asian Secrets lulur body scrub the best possible way - why, in a spa, of course! You'll remember that I really enjoyed my time at Qiwellness in Salcedo Village, so I managed to hook up the two brands for this relaxing event.

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Happy bloggers!

It was a very casual get-together as bloggers lounged in the soft white chairs of Qiwellness. I just gave them a short introduction about how lulur is part of an ancient Indonesian beautifying ritual for brides.

Beauty blogging has allowed me to reach out to women who want to be more beautiful but just don't know where to begin. Thus, when Asian Secrets asked me to run a contest for them, I was ecstatic! Not often do I get the chance to work with a great product as well as help new people through it. 

After announcing the winners, I set about purchasing and booking P40,000 worth of prizes. Here's my post with pictures of the winners and what they got! This post is about Kirby's makeover.

I was really excited about meeting the bride. I wanted to find out more about her and her wedding plans! Kirby is actually a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who is now taking Law at the University of the Philippines. Her soon-to-be husband is a scientist. Talk about intimidating!

Here's the first part of my coverage on the Asian Secrets grand winners!

Kirby, our December bride, said, "I found out rightaway that I won because my Google Reader's subscribed to Project Vanity. I called the fiance immediately 'coz I couldn't contain the excitement. I'm just thankful for the blog's and the company's generosity! I'm glad that I have been chosen by the people behind the product I really love and actually own in my bathroom. I'm glad I have won from a brand I really use. I didn't join for the sake of joining; I joined because I really wanted to share my experience at the same time. ""

Kirby with her Asian Secrets lulur

"Even before Project Vanity’s product review, I was already aware of the product as I have seen its promotional booth in Watson’s Galleria and it got me interested. I thought of purchasing the product on my next visit since I was in a hurry then. So I did."

"I loved it the first time!

I was very dark-skinned when I was younger. My parents and brother are all fair, so it was a mystery as to why I was so tan! Well, I didn't really mind because even at a young age I was taught to be happy in the skin I'm in. Fair or dark-skinned, I still can achieve the things I want to achieve.

Coming up, a LOL high school photo!

Dark in sophomore (?) year

It was when I was in the senior year of high school when my skin started to lighten, apparently all by itself. I used lotions, but they were purely just for moisturizing. Not that I complained! Having lighter skin gave me confidence when I was in college. I just maintained this color until now with a healthy dose of SPF when going out and making sure to stay out of the sun as much as humanly possible.

Take note, I'm not that maputi, but I suppose I'm fair enough to be mistaken as Korean by around 90% of all cab drivers. -_-

So let me segue to a question: should we lighten our skin? On one hand we should be happy with the color we’re born with. On the other hand, we want to feel better and more comfortable about ourselves by having fairer skin.

My answer?

I don't buy magazines. Well, with one exception! I love Yummy because that's where I get ideas for cooking. I mean sure, I can probably find those recipes in the internet, but I buy Yummy because I can tear the pages and bring them to the supermarket. The pictures help me visualize what I'll be making!

As for other magazines like Cosmo, Mega, Preview, I prefer to read them online. It's an entirely different format and there are no editorials but I'm content since I can find those in other sources.

The only time I ever get to leaf through magazines is when I visit my mom's house. She has stacks of the stuff! She loves showbiz so she follows Yes! She gets Cosmo from one of my Titas who lends it to her. Last weekend, I set down my usual routine and started reading some old magazines. Guess what I saw!

I've written before that Indonesian lulur was originally invented for brides who need to look beautiful on their special day. It helps slough off dead skin cells without removing moisture and, if used regularly, should even out and lighten your skin! But of course, great skin, while an absolute must-have, isn't the only thing you need to have on your wedding day. There are other details you need to take care of to get that makeover before the big day!

Asian Secrets wants to congratulate all brides-to-be* out there by giving them a chance to win a full body makeover package worth P15,000. It will include a relaxing spa day, waxing, hair cut, color, facial, nails, makeup lessons, and other similar treatments in the best salons all over the metro. Aside from that, we will also be giving the lucky bride a beauty loot worth P5,000 which she can use on her wedding day. I will be personally handpicking what goes in there (definitely NARS, MAC, and other favorites!). She will also win a supply of Asian Secrets.

Not a bride-to-be? Don't worry! There will be a second winner. The winner will get a 32 gig iPod Touch to help with her daily productivity and lifestyle. She will also get a beauty loot worth P6,000 full of goodies to be handpicked by me. She will also win a supply of Asian Secrets.

My gosh, I already envy the winners. Here's how to join!