Juju Aquamoist Moisture Washing Foam

Japanese face washes are some of the best -- be it oil or milky cleansers, but most especially foaming face washes, in my experience. Juju Aquamoist Moisture Washing Foam follows the famous Juju Aquamoist Hyaluronic Acid Essence in the Aquamoist series as a foaming face wash that cleans thoroughly while maintaining skin's moisture.

 It comes in a squeeze tube with a flip top cap.

The product comes out white and somewhat pasty. It lathers quite well; you'll feel the bubbles and foam if you like that kind of cleansing feeling.

I found this to be a good cleanser in cold climates, where I initially tested it. However, in hot Manila weather this cleanser somehow wasn't able to clean my face thoroughly, as if leaving a veil of film that cannot be washed off. I didn't encounter this problem back in colder climes.

Overall -- a basic cleanser that does not strip skin too dry, but may not clean thoroughly depending on climate and environmental exposure. Not a rebuy for moi.

Naruko Narcissus Total Defense AA Foaming Wash

Naruko's Narcissus Total Defense AA (Amino Acid) Foaming Wash was part of my Naruko set of purchases from last spring. Here are my thoughts on this cleanser after about three months of use. 

It comes in a simple box with violet lettering (the Narcissus' line color assignment).

The Narcissus line is meant for all skin types.

The tube is a hefty 120ml.

The foaming wash emphasizes on "gentle and non-irritating" points.

Usage instructions in Mandarin: The product is for washing the face, cleaning the skin, and cleaning pores. Squeeze 1~2 cm of product (dry skin 1 cm) on hands, add water to foam up and gently massage onto entire face; wash off with water. Product life: 2 years.

It came sealed properly. I appreciate it when skincare companies do this.

The transparent cap is a nice touch.

Here is the product -- looking more like a mousse/whipped cream.

Should I eat it? There isn't much to say except that the texture is a novelty compared to creamier types the market is bombarded with. I only use it in the morning as it's too mild to remove a whole day's accumulation of sweat and grime. I doesn't lather into blissful bubbles either. I wouldn't say this is gentle; in fact it kind of irritates my skin, making it redder and rougher than usual. Mind that there are really excellent face washes out there (Ipsa comes to mind) which leave skin soft and supple. Not this one. For the price though, the quality is reasonable. Perhaps it is best for those with no issues of hypersensitivity and who don't need to wash their faces squeaky clean (who doesn't these days? maybe if you live in paradise with not much pollution?). Overall, not one of Naruko's best products.

Same usage instructions.

Ingredients list.

In typical Naruko fashion, box recycling/origami instructions are included.

 Follow the instructions and . . .

Here you go: a pen stand.

I'm using this in the office now. Quite handy.

 

Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation

While purchasing Koh Gen Do's lip gloss, I was give samples of their Aqua Foundation. KGD products, while marketed toward the U.S. market, are all made in Japan.

 The samples came in a paper pamphlet.

The brand's deep-sea water -based ingredients remind of Shu Uemura's skincare and base makeup recipe.

The Aqua Foundation (SPF15 PA++) comes in five colors, one of which is a highlighter (WT-00). The other four colors offer quite a limited shade palette, mostly catering to fair to medium complexions.

From left to right: OC-1, PK-1, WT-00. See above photos for shade descriptions.

Although the samples state they are good for one use, I was able to do two full face applications with PK-1.

WT-00. This is a very unusual foundation. Few brands label highlighters as foundations, but KGD formulated the WT-00 as a foundation and highlighter in one. The consistency is very light and liquid. A little goes a long way, since this highlighter is not meant for the entire face. I applied it on the apples of cheeks, forehead center, and nose line. The white pigment blended into the skin with no white cast, but there was a slight "sheen of light" and the littlest bit of shimmer. Overall, it created a noticeable illuminating effect. For day, it might be over the top, but for an evening soiree, I'd say this is just about right. The formula is commendable. It is not sticky. Alas, though this was a already a light formulation, it was still too heavy for my skin type. It made me look extra oily in a matter of an hour. Sadly, it also clogged my pores. I didn't break out from this though.

Blended out. WT-00 delivers with its superb formulation and finish. I see how it can do wonders for those with normal to dry skin types.

OC-1 turns out to be too yellow for my skin tone. I usually am an OC-02 in Kanebo foundations, so this was quite a surprise. (OC stands for ocher, and is a common labeling method of Japanese base makeup; the others being PK for pink, YO for yellow, and sometimes N for neutral.)

Blended out, this shade looked too dark and yellow against my natural shade, so I didn't bother testing it out on my face.

PK-1. Ah, this one looks much more familiar to my foundation shades. The shade is a perfect match to my skintone. The formula is concocted so well it looks good enough to drink (gulp!).

This foundation felt very light against my skin. It offers sheer coverage, covering minor blemishes and some of the redness on my cheeks. It also gave a slightly glowing, illuminating effect. I like how light the formulation is. The problems I had with the foundation were that, again, it gave me the oilies and clogged my pores. Also, it broke me out around the cheeks in small spots at the end of the day. I can't vouch the same experience for every one, but please do note that my cheeks are extra-sensitive because of mild rosacea, and reacts to products quite often. Other reviews have been very positive with Koh Gen Do's Aqua Foundation. I can already tell that KGD foundations will work very well for people with normal skin, given that they are well-formulated and of high quality.

The ingredients list.