Sofina Jenne Two Weeks Trial Kit II (Moist)

Sofina is part of the giant corporation Kao, which carries many brands under its belt. Among Sofina's comprehensive lineup covering a woman's entire lifetime, Jenne is a two-year-old (to date) drugstore brand focusing on 20's skin care. I intended to purchase the Sofina Jenne Trial Set I (Fresh [for oily skin]), but alas, after placing my order, adambeauty went out of stock and so opted for the Sofina Jenne Trial Set II (Moist [for dry skin]) instead. 

It came in a clear bag containing a sunscreen (8g), lotion (30ml), and a jar of its star product, a moisturizer in jelly form (10g).

The Sofina Jenne Day Protector II SPF24 PA+++ comes in a squeeze tube with a lovely lace pattern signature of the Jenne line. Like the Sofina Jenne UV Day Protector SPF50+ PA+++, it is highly fragranced (floral).

The 8g surprisingly lasted me over a month. I brought this tiny tube with me on a trip to England, when the winter weather was just about to wane. I thought this richer sunscreen can help with the dryness of the cold weather for my oilier skin type.

The soft, light cream texture of this is a lot easier to handle compared to the liquid consistency of its counterpart, the UV Day Protector SPF50+. Although it contains alcohol, I didn't experience noticeable irritation from using this. It has a soft, light feel and finish. It's one of those rare formulations that you know just won't clog your pores. It also did an adequate job in protecting my face from the winter/spring sun, which can be hiding behind the clouds one moment and shining brightly overhead the next.

It's easy to spread and dries to a dewy finish. However, even in the cold weather, my skin still found this sunscreen too rich, as it started oiling up in retaliation. Another lesson learned is that sunscreen does not replace moisturizer, even if it is intended for drier skin types applied on oily skin types. When it comes to sunscreen, it is still best to stick to your skin type's character no matter the weather.

The Sofina Jenne Lotion II is a skin conditioner that is applied after washing the face and before moisturizer or sunscreen. Again, this is highly fragranced, but the redeeming factor is it is alcohol-free, which is short of a miracle when it comes to Japanese lotion formulations.

Japanese lotions are different from Western brands' toners in that they are meant to soften the skin, not remove excess dirt, which should have already been done with the Japanese method of double cleansing (cleansing oil + face wash). Softening the skin makes it more receptive to the effects of the subsequent application of serum/moisturizer. Some also use lotions as a mask. One way is to soak cotton pads with lotion and laying the pads thinly all over the face.

I didn't experience any stinging feeling with this lotion, but I developed several red patches after application. The patches disappeared in the morning, however I would be wary of this lotion as the patches usually indicate sensitivity to some ingredient in this product. Also, I find no joy in using toners or lotions as I do not see any visible results from using them, not to mention the added cost and step in the routine. For sensitive skin, less is more. 

Above is the Sofina Jenne Jelly Moisturizer -- the reason why I bought this trial set in the first place. It contains ceramides which make up the heart of the ingredients. Another plus is that it has no alcohol.

One thing to note is the Jenne line is fragranced, and the Jelly Moisturizer is not exempt.

It is clear type and jelly-like indeed, not like the creamy consistency of most moisturizers. There seems to be a "jelly/gelly" trend in the cosmetics market, as other brands have featured the same type of product in their lineups. This moisturizer is not so easy to apply because of its jelly texture. The amount of product required for application seems to be much more than conventional creams. It also didn't hydrate my skin effectively; many parts of it were left feeling rough. The finish is filmy and sticky and not very comfortable at all. Overall, this would be a basic moisturizer for people with normal skin-types, but I cannot recommend the Jenne line to sensitive skin-types.

The description at the rear.

The pictogram is a nice touch.

Ingredients for Sofina Jenne Lotion II.

Ingredients for Sofina Jenne Jelly Moisturizer.

Ingredients for Sofina Jenne Day Protector II. Ratzillacosme has a list of the ingredients in English here. 

Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo

It has been over two months since I started using Organix's Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo (thank you 大 姐), and would have to differ from Makeupalley's low rating on this.

This was purchased in Australia by my sister, however the brand is locally available in SM Watsons and Landmark. Organix's hair and body care range is quite extensive -- offering different variants of shampoos, conditioners, serums, etc. Its products don't contain SLS (sodium laureth sulfate) and they also emphasize their eco-friendly packaging. The plastic of their container feels softer compared to other brands; it is more of a squeezable type of plastic.

The opening. The shampoo has a light buttery yellow shade and smells slightly sweet.

Many reviews state this shampoo made their hair dry, but not in my case. My towel-dried hair feels soft and looks shiny after this shampoo. I also like the fact that this lathers really well, as opposed to many SLS-free shampoos I've encountered. Most importantly, it left my hair feeling really clean without drying it out. The simple ingredient list is another plus, aside from the affordable price tag for an organic brand. I wouldn't mind exploring more of the other ranges from this brand in the future.