Shiseido Water in Lip (Pineapple)

Since my foray into Japanese cosmetics, I have been consistently awed with the quality of their products from the humble drugstore lines to the shiny department store brands. Shiseido's Fine Toiletry brand is a self-select (drugstore) line that is always such a pleasure to use.

Water in Lip is a famous lip balm range from Shiseido's FT line. It comes in many flavors with corresponding tubes reflecting the inspired fruit/scent. I've tried the blue (Mint, one of the original flavors), the green (French Pear, smells divine!), and featured in this review, the yellow tube (Pineapple).

The packaging looks simple but is actually well-thought out. The delicate vertical waves, paired with the dotted oval ring around the words "Water in Lip," together with the perfect pale yellow shade of the tube makes this lip balm look special and elegant. It may be a drugstore product pressed to sell at a certain price point, but the Japanese belie with good quality and beautiful design. Those unfamiliar with Japanese cosmetics could never guess the price of this lovely lip balm (around HK$25).

The balm mimics the tube's color -- a pale yellow shade. It smells unbelievably like fresh pineapples! It glides on the lips easily and leaves a slight glossy finish. I immediately notice some lip lines diminish. Like most lip balms, it does get wiped off easily, but if this is avoided, lips are more hydrated throughout the day. It also doesn't feel sticky or gooey. The effect is like a light gloss leaning more toward a balm. It can be applied anytime of the day with no fuss or worries. This is my favorite lip gloss of the moment (and it has been more than 3 years since I discovered this line). Overall, I would definitely recommend this gem of a lip balm!

Some Japanese description. It contains 3.5g of product. I usually finish mine in a year, with usage of approximately every other day.

For those lucky to understand the above Japanese text!

Laneige Oil-Free Cleansing Liquid

Laneige Oil-Free Cleansing Liquid is a light cleansing agent used for makeup removal. It comes in a clear bottle and looks very light and friendly indeed. I have to agree that the formulation is mild as stated in the bottle.

It is supposedly suitable for all skin types, and the best part of it is that it is oil-, fragrance-, and alcohol-free. I couldn't find any information about this product (such as description and ingredients) on the web, but I am guessing it isn't phased-out yet as it came as a sample when I asked S (thank you) to get me some Laneige skincare in Korea. I have just finished this 25ml bottle (around 8 days), and found that it removes the light dusting of powder I wear every day. As I do not trust single-step cleansing with my reactive skin, I still follow-up with Free & Clear Liquid Cleanser.

The consistency of this cleanser is light to medium. Although this product is oil-free, it feels like most cleansing oils I've tried. It's slightly thicker than Shiseido Fine Toiletry Cleansing Oil which is quite watery, but lighter than Muji Cleansing Oil Sensitive, which spreads thickly. Its texture is slightly similar to RMK's Cleansing Oil, but are different in scent and "finish." The best cleansing oil I've used is Ipsa's Cleansing Oil (old version), which removes makeup and impurities thoroughly without stripping skin of moisture or leaving any uncomfortable residue.

However, for light makeup removal, this Laneige Oil-Free Cleansing Liquid does the job well. This product leaves my skin feeling fresh and grime-free. It cleans with medium-level thoroughness (still need to follow-up with a face wash) and doesn't leave any stick residue afterwards. I didn't break-out or react badly to this either. Overall, this is a great starter cleansing "oil" and certainly not a bad choice for replacing a current makeup remover.

Etude House Aloha 48 Colors of Tropical Eyes

Hallyu, or Korean Wave, has helped disperse many of Korea's products all over the world. Korean cosmetics are no exception; brands of big companies such as Amore Pacific have been pollinating in Asia for quite a few years. Etude House is the company's sub-brand marketed toward teens and young adults. (Laneige, Iope, Sulwhasoo, and a host of other brands are also part of Amore Pacific's umbrella.) During my sister's recent trip to Singapore, she gifted me with Etude House's Aloha 48 Colors of Tropical Eyes set (thank you, 三姐).

It comes in a pink cardboard-type case with cute illustrations of Hawaiian ladies dancing away in Aloha land. This palette is great for travel and it contains a wide range of colors in different hues and is light enough to not take up so much baggage weight.

The case opens to an 8 by 6 palette. The little nuggets of eyeshadows come in tiny sizes which I wish more makeup brands will make (and they can charge lower) because most people never really get to finish full-sized eyeshadows.

It comes with five sponge-tip applicators that reminds me of magic pencils from elementary school days. Each applicator can be inserted into the bottom pile which pushes up a new applicator, much like the pen.

It also comes with a handy mirror.

The mirror revealed. Although it's a bit fuzzy, it gives an accurate reflection.

Removed from the box, all 48 colors!

Here is a close-up of 24 colors (left half).

Swatches following from top to bottom (wrist to elbow).

Close-up of the other 24 shades (right half).

Top to bottom swatches (wrist to elbow).

Above is the ingredient list.

 

The product description on the back says this palette is inspired by the beach. Indeed the colorful shadows are so tempting and attractive. However, I found this palette to have delivered more visually than actually. The swatches above were taken under natural sunlight without flash, and without eye primer. The shadows have low pigment resulting to dull finishes. There was also a lot of product fall-out (little bits and pieces of shadow splattering all over) due to the gritty texture. Most of the shades were swatched around four to five times to achieve the level of pigmentation in the pictures. I for one dislike applying colors too many times/too long on the delicate eye area, so already this was a huge downer. The finish of the shadows are all about the same -- satiny or shimmery. Texture and pigment-wise, these are a total fail and I would not recommend it to girls who are serious about their eyeshadows. It helps to note that "something's gotta give" with most sets/palettes. It is still a clever set and I am glad to have had the chance to enjoy experimenting with a colorful range of shadows.

It came with (GWP) an umbrella covered in rabbit "clothes."

Cute back of it. Overall, the main strength of this palette is the wide variety of shades. I think it is best suited for makeup newbies as an introduction to many different eyeshadow shades and hues. 

L'Oreal Elnett Satin

L'Oreal Elnett Satin is one legendary hairspray in the beauty industry. It's known to deliver hold while maintaining hair's natural bounce.

I've seen the big version of this product sold in Sasa and just couldn't get myself to buy because I know I wouldn't be able to finish it; when I saw this mini tube in Boots I thought it was the perfect size to try.

The product is released with a "push-down" button.

The spray nozzle is without cover.

 

Some description.

Ingredients list. Alcohol tops it. (Eek!)

I am very glad with this handy 75ml can. I've only used it once for a party and I think this is the perfect size to get if you're using hairsprays only for special occasions.

The finish is definitely natural; in fact I had to spray this product lots of times to get it to "hold" my hair style. I would say Extra Strength is a bit misleading to describe this product's capacity. If you prefer quick action from your hairspray, this product is not it. But for mild hold and natural waves, this product is just fine.

Lux Hair Mask

I've finally finished my tube of Tsubaki Shining Hair Mask after two long years (wonder how I stuck to it; it was more of a personal dare/challenge, really). There were many brands of hair masks to choose from while scouring the aisles of Wellcome in HK Causeway Bay when I was seeking for a backup. In the end, I finally settled on Lux. The golden cap and elegant packaging drew me in, and the fact that it was made in Japan (Unilever) sealed the deal.

It's a huge 200g tub that I think will take longer than the Tsubaki (180g) to finish. 

The beautiful golden reflective cover.

I thought Tsubaki's signature scent was hard to beat, but I was reminded of how Lux shampoos smell like when I finally unsealed this lovely treatment. Tsubaki, while very unique in scent and easily impresses, can be a bit cloying. Lux has a more familiar scent that is on the sweeter side, but nonetheless balanced.

I honestly have never encountered a hair mask, or any beauty product for that matter that has Lux Hair Mask's soufflé-like texture (except maybe Jill Stuart's Jelly Eye Color N, but that is a whole different story). It is so soft and uniquely "fluffy." The formula has a beige-y color that gives off a comforting feel.

Some Chinese description.

I use a tiny dollop and apply beginning three inches below the scalp, leaving it on for three minutes as stated in the recommendation above. While it did not give my hair the same shine and smoothness that Tsubaki did, I found my hair to be a lot softer. I use it only once a week as opposed to 2~3 times a week.

Overall, I do like this product and would recommend it to people who have no problems with dull/frizzy hair and would only want an extensive conditioning treatment.

NARS Loose Powder in Flesh

NARS Loose Powder has been the best in its category that I've come across. There were a few glitches down the road with my being matched to the wrong shade (Eden, two shades dark and too yellow-toned for NC20). As used cosmetics cannot be returned here where I live, one tub is sitting useless in the cabinet.) I did love the texture and coverage enough that I didn't mind investing in another one in my appropriate color, reviewed here as Flesh.

It comes in a black box, typical of NARS packaging. Most loose powders contain a maximum of 25g, and I was impressed with the hefty 35g content of NARS.

Removed from the box, behold the smooth curves of NARS Loose Powder's packaging. I was surprised that the surface doesn't feel as rubbery as that of their blushes. It actually feels smooth, although powder still clings to it easily. I found rubbing with a damp towel removes any smudges in a jiffy.

The powder comes with a mesh screen and a plastic sifter. In the picture, the mesh screen is put right on top of the powder, which is the recommended type of application for heavier coverage, since the sponge picks up more powder. 

Here is the more traditional type of plastic sifter. Beware for this does not fit snugly into the container. The sifter sits on it quite loosely and risks spillage. Since I prefer using the plastic sifter method over the mesh screen, I secured this sifter using Scotch tape on all sides. The loose powder cover is not a screw-top kind, but one that is pulled off the container. So it is actually as deep as the entire tub. To apply powder, I turn the lower container upside down right on top of the lid and tap some powder into it and put it on using MUFE's Kabuki Brush and MAC's 188 alternately.  

The puff is thin and feels like rough towel, unlike the fluffy soft cottony texture that come with most Japanese loose powders. I had no problems with this sponge when I used the mesh screen method. It gave even application and provided great coverage.

The NARS website recommends Flesh "for light skin tones to compliment pink tones or to correct yellow tones." Although it is not a perfect match, I find that this shade is nearest my NC 20 skintone among the six shades sold (aside from Becca, to my knowledge NARS has a most excellent selection of loose powder shades). The shade is a tad leaning on the pink side, but this is fine because I find that it neutralizes my yellow tones. It also blends into my natural skintone in a few minutes.

This powder also mattifies my face very well, and quickly at that, considering I use a sticky suncreen (Vanicream SPF60) directly under it. The sunscreen is one that I cannot take out of my regime because it was prescribed by my dermatologist as part of my rosacea treatment. It was for this reason that I had to hunt for a loose powder that can "tolerate" and set this unforgiving sunscreen. Another concern I had was aside from my already oily face type, this sticky Vanicream sunscreen speeds up oil production on my face. Aside from looking for a loose powder that can set/mattify the sunscreen right after application, I also had to find one that controls oil. Luckily, NARS Loose Powder really does help control oil for around 4 hours for me, which I am quite happy with. 

Although I am more used to translucent shades of powder, I do like the sheer opacity that Flesh provides. The pigments in this powder are enough to diffuse pore size, cover minor blemishes and redness, while still retaining a natural look. I daresay I haven't been touching my foundation and BB Cream since I started with NARS Loose Powder because not only does it provide coverage, it also does not feel as heavy and is not as pore-clogging as foundation. It provides me with what I look for in base makeup perfectly -- light texture, coverage, and oil control. More importantly, it did not break me out.

More information about this powder from NARS' website:

"Triple milled into a light silky texture, Loose Powder provides sheer, natural coverage to set makeup, soften color and smooth the texture of the skin for an overall radiant complexion. The ultra-smooth formula blends undetectably to absorb excess oils and maintain fresh looking skin with an imperceptible finish. Use to set foundations, wear alone or lightly layered over Primers to enhance a natural complexion."

And when I do use this to set foundation, the finished look is immaculate but still natural. 

The bottom.

The ingredients above; the website also states that this powder is enriched with Vitamin E. (Can't make it out on the ingredient list though.) Overall, I would recommend this loose powder to pretty much everyone.