Shopping Online With A U.S. Address

Don’t you just find it frustrating to find something you really wanna buy from an online shop in the US, and realize you can’t have it due to shipping restrictions? Well, in some ways it works to your advantage because it helps you save money but sometimes, it can be a bummer.

The easiest and cheapest solution we could think of is to ask relatives and friends from the US to ship it to us or to bring it on their next trip back to the Philippines. But then, they lead busy lives and have other more important things to do than mail our orders. When they come home, there is not enough space for their own stuffs, so why bother them with ours? I’m guilty of the last part that’s why I had to look for options not to be a burden to them.

Last month, I tried ordering through Johnny Air Cargo. So far, they have the best rates and fastest delivery based on my research. No, I didn’t order for makeups but for health supplements and some of the best multivitamins  (yeah, times are changing) which are sold way cheaper in the US.  It got to me 2 weeks after, which we picked up from the Johnny Air outlet at Robinson’s CDO. 2 weeks- because It took one week to deliver my goods from Washington to New York (the location of Johnny Air US)  through regular mail,  then  Johnny Air forwarded it to my provincial destination in just 1 week.  I received the goods in perfect condition and in a timely manner.

The rates are $6.50 per pound for Manila delivery, $7.50  per pound for provincial addresses, with a minimum of 2 lbs per package. An additional dollar is charged for highly taxable items like electronics. Handling fee is $5 per package. These rates are already inclusive of custom taxes.  For electronics, $50 customs charges apply for laptops, and  $15 for iphone and itouch.

Here’s how to avail of their forwarding service:

• Shop from any US -based online store,  pay it through the available payment options offered by the US vendor, pick a method of shipping listed by them (UPS, USPS, Fedex, DHL) and address it to:

Attn: Analyn San Diego/Your Name
Johnny Air Retail, Inc
6904 Roosevelt Avenue
Woodside, New York 11377

Telephone: 718-672-7080

• Notify Ms. Analyn San Diego of your order, inform her of the details including tracking #, item description, order#, etc, through her email at analynd@aol.com or jna@johnnyair.com.
• For further inquiries, you may get in touch with them through Crissy or Analyn in the US: 1(718)672-7080 or Plem in the Philippines: 02-7603818

I’m expecting another package through Johnny Air next week, this time it’s a book I ordered (still not beauty-related). The next problem we have is how to order from sites that do not accept  credit cards billed outside the US,  like Sephora. I’m not sure if Johnny Air has a solution for that but I’ll get back to you when I find out. Happy Shopping!

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Smashbox Eye Wish Palette Now On Sale

Smashbox is having a beauty blow-out sale with 25-50% discounts on selected items. Included in the sale is the Holiday special, Eye Wish palette which used to be $44. It is now sold for only $33! This has much lesser colors than the Ultimate Palette which I got in 2008 but it contains bolder shades, the Smashbox Lid Primer and a lookbook that teaches step by step applications for 13 party looks.

The $49 travel brush that I featured in an earlier post is now reduced to $36.75.

What sets me on panic mode is the Hybrid in 2 Luminizing Primer which is marked down from $34 to $17! Here is a brief description from the Smashbox website:

Get instantly smooth and glowing skin and create a perfect canvas for makeup application with this revolutionary dual formula PHOTO FINISH FOUNDATION PRIMER and ARTIFICIAL LIGHT. It’s packed with vitamins, antioxidants and botanicals for added healthy skin benefits. Wear under foundation or alone for a gorgeous natural glow. Can be used all over face for a radiant complexion or blended over cheekbones, brow bones, the bridge of nose and chin to highlight.

There are plenty more products and gift sets on sale which you may find interesting, just go head over to Smashbox.com.Tip: Grab these makeup goodies while you can because most of these are limited edition items. They are placed under the curtain call area of the website which means they will be gone soon. The next time you look for these, they will probably be sold in eBay by retailers who will sell the set items individually at a higher price.

Images from Smashbox.com

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Makeup Artist In A Bag

Are you a sucker for makeup tutorials? I just came across Stila’s latest product, a portable makeup player that lets you bring your makeup guru in the bag. The Stila Makeup Player is a makeup bag and video player in one. After you download free beauty videos from www.stilabeautytube.com, you can connect the makeup player to an mp3 player or smartphone for audio or video playback right on your traincase.

Aside from the sleek bag and the portable video player, it contains $110 worth of Stila makeups including the One step makeup foundation, Convertible Color for the lips and cheeks, Eyeshadow trio and #7 eyeshadow brush, plus a full sized Lip Glaze. The whole package is worth $250 but is being sold for only $69.90! They’re even offering it on 2 installment payments of $34.95.

This is great for makeup newbies who want guidance on the proper application of makeup from the Stila Pros themselves. The bag size is just right for those beginning to build their own stash of makeups. While you do primp yourself up facing the large mirror on the bag, the video will show you how it’s done step by step. Even if you already have a cell phone or laptop where you can easily view the tutorials, the affordable price of the whole package is just too good to ignore.

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Leyende Loot

After posting about organic products a week ago, I was prompted to order from Leyende, a leading local manufacturer of organic skin care products. Positive things have been said about their goods that I decided to try it out as part of my plan to take the organic route to beauty.

My orders arrived today and I made sure I took pictures for future reviews. I chose the  Apt Pupil Face Kit With Lip Balm Set containing the 50 ml Clean Slate, 10g mini Face Canvas and 15g Kiss Kiss Balm Balm, wrapped in a recyclable box with a cute silver ribbon bearing the name Leyende.  I also picked  the Place in the Sun Face Sunblock SPF 30.  I must say they make good Christmas presents.

After enough time for testing, I will make a review on my purchase. So far, I’m liking the effects of the lip balm. Will it be good enough to be my next favorite beauty buy? Find out my verdict  in the coming weeks!

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$49 Smashbox Makeup Brush Set

When speaking of Smashbox Brushes, the quality is assured but the cost can be limiting. I’d rather look for a nameless brush that has the same quality yet is sold at a much cheaper price. But if you want to try for once how it would feel to own a Smashbox brush set without skipping your meals for a week to afford it, this is your chance!

Image from Smashbox.com

The $134 value Smashbox 5-piece brush kit is now only $49! It contains 5 exclusive travel-size brushes, protected in a shiny raspberry case. The Perfect Tools Set is just one of the WISH Holiday 2009 collections. With every purchase of the WISH kit, Smashbox donates $1 to the Children’s Miracle Network for sick and injured kids.

The set includes:
TRAVEL ANGLED BLUSH BRUSH
TRAVEL BLENDING BRUSH
TRAVEL CREASE BRUSH
TRAVEL SHADOW LINER BRUSH
TRAVEL ANGLED PRECISION LINER BRUSH

Among the 5, what grabs my attention is the blending brush. I’ve always wanted to have one because the ELF blending brush I got is a little too abrasive for the sensitive eye area. I hope this one’s different. The Smashbox website doesn’t say what the handles are made of, which is an important factor when deciding to purchase makeup brushes.

The size may not be for professional use but it serves the same purpose and it makes a handy yet elegant companion for your purse. My ultimate WISH for Smashbox, however,  is that they start shipping to the Philippines so I wouldn’t have to wait for a relative or friend to come home before I could purchase their products.

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