Review: Aroma Resort Body Milk in Happy Sweet Peach

I've been on the roll today haha this is already my 3rd post. I will be doing a review on a body lotion that I received as a gift last year from a Japanese friend. I have been using it for a long time and I can now give my final verdict.

Aroma Resort Body Milk in Happy Sweet Peach

It comes in a big squeezable tube which stands. I liked this packaging because it's easy to dispense the product and I can definitely finish up all the contents.

NET WT: 220g

 It has a flip cap lid that is perfect in dispensing the body lotion. It has the perfect size of hole because it doesn't squirt even if I accidentally squeezed too hard on the tube.

As you can see, except for the brand and the scent, everything is in Japanese so I can't show you guys the ingredients list.


WHAT I LIKE:

- I love the formulation! non-sticky, lightweight and very fluid.

- Absorbs fast on the skin. I just need to wait for a minute or two for it to get absorbed which is awesome because I can put on my clothes fast after shower.

- I love the scent of in this one because it doesn't give me any headache and it lingers. Plus, it's not too sweet like other artificial peach scents so that's definitely a thumbs up for me.

- Packaging is sanitary and easy to use. And since it stands on the cap, you don't need to work hard for the product to be dispensed.


WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

- Not travel friendly. Aside from being too big, I'm worried that it will burst on my bag.

- Can't be bought locally. There are no local online sellers that sells this too.

- I can't find any info if it is cruelty free or not.


OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5

I really love this body lotion! It is perfect for our humid weather here in the Philippines. The scent also lingers for a while especially if I use a body wash with the same peach scent. I really can't think anything bad about this product. Totally worth it trying :)


Thanks for dropping by!

Review: Hada Labo BB Whitening Cream

Happy Tuesday! I am now ready to share my thoughts on the Hada Labo BB Whitening Cream. I have been testing this out since the first week of December 2012 and I have tried a lot of ways on applying it. I have also used it in both cold and hot weather just to compare :)

BRAND: Hada Labo
PRODUCT: BB Whitening Cream
SHADE: #1 
EXTRAS: sun protection (SPF 32 PA+++), whitening, moisturizing
NET WT: 45g
PRICE: sorry, I have no idea because this is a gift

I have decided to try this BB Cream because Hada Labo is a very famous Japanese brand for skin care. They are known for being gentle on the skin and basic on their ingredients. I am currently using 2 of their skin care products and this BB Cream, but for now, I will focus on the makeup first.


YAY!!

- This didn't broke me out or cause any allergies. Very mild to the skin :)

- Very light. You can hardly feel anything on your skin even if you applied a couple of layers.

- Buildable upto a light-medium coverage. Although if you have some acne scars, this won't be able to cover it. I tried it with my scarring and even if I apply a lot of layers, they still peeps through hehe.

- Blendable. I can easily blend this on my face using my fingers or a brush so you just need to use small amounts per layer.


- This have SPF 32 PA+++! Good sun protection for every day.

- Shade 1 is an exact match on me (I'm around NC 20-25 in MAC) because it has a slight yellow undertone.

- Doesn't make me oilier. I have naturally oily skin and this doesn't control it but at least it doesn't make me oilier at the end of the day.

- Even though this have a high SPF, it doesn't give me whitish cast on pictures.

- I love the squeeze tube packaging. It is so sanitary and gives me control in dispensing product.


NAY!!

- Like with the Tarte Smooth Operator TM, this oxidizes on me too. It gets 2-3 shades darker after a couple of hours so I can't really wear this alone if I plan to stay out a long time. I just mix it with my Tarte TM (1:1) for better oil control and apply a lighter shade of setting powder on top to counter act with the darkening that may occur.

- This is not brightening even though it has a whitening content. I love Korean BB Creams because they give a brightness to my face even though it's temporary but this don't do it for me.


OVER-ALL RATING: 3.5/5

I'm quite disappointed, to tell you guys honestly. I was hoping to be wowed as this is a well raved product and it is quite affordable so if I loved it I can easily buy another tube. But, I think I need to move on and find something new.

I'm not sure if it's just my skin acting up or the products itself, but even my Tarte TM that I have loved oxidizes badly on me now. I can become darker after 30 mins! Can you believe that? So if anyone of you have acidic skin and have found your HG foundation that doesn't oxidizes, please share them with me. I really need to wear full face makeup in my work so I need help asap. Thank you so much!


XOXO,

December Hauls: LA Girl, Lush & stuffs from Japan!

I have bought a couple of stuffs this month and I wanted to share them with you all because these are the items that I will be reviewing starting January 2013. I am still testing them out and I will start sharing my thoughts on them after the holidays. I promise :)

LA GIRL

LA Girl is part of LA Colors and I really wanted to try something from this brand because 1) it's a cruelty-free brand and 2) they are really affordable. They had a sale before Christmas and I decided to try their lipsticks and concealer. The lipsticks are both red but with different finish as I've been searching for the perfect red color for the holidays. I also got their HD pro concealer for my undereyes since I have a bad case of dark circles. The SA gave me a travel size perfume which is perfect to bring along on your kikay kit.

These are sold at SM Department stores, if you are wondering.

LUSH

I am in need of hair products and I really love LUSH so I decided to drop by at their SM North The Block branch and got myself a shampoo and conditioner. After talking with very friendly SA, I decided to go for a solid shampoo called Ultimate Shine and the popular conditioner American Cream. I have been using these duo for more than 2 weeks now and I believe I will review this soon as I have tested it out extensively to give my verdict on these 2 :)

JAPAN HAUL

And lastly, all of the items I got from Japan that were brought by my Japanese friends in the beginning of this month. I got a Hada Labo facial wash, Hada Labo antiaging lotion, Hada Labo BB cream, Aroma Resort body milk and 4 kinds of face masks. I haven't tried the masks so it will take time before I can review those. BUT I have tried all the Hada Labo stuff already since the first week of December and I will give my two cents on those soon :)

See, I have a lot of stuff to try and review. Please do follow my blog so that you can see my reviews for these products as soon as they got posted. :)


Thanks for dropping by!

Review: Finess Oil Control Sheets

Happy Friday! Time really flies so fast. It's already weekend again and I felt like I haven't accomplished anything this week =/ The holiday season is coming soon so fast! 

By the way, have you noticed how hot our weather these past few days? Well, it's uber hot here in Manila and I am getting oilier again so one of my must-have items in my bag became my best friend again -- my blotting sheets! So I had wondered if I have already reviewed my go-to brand of blotting sheets and I believe I haven't so that's what I'm gonna do right now.

FINESS OIL CONTROL SHEET
(made in Japan)

I always gravitate towards this brand whenever I am shopping for blotting sheets because (1) it's affordable (only Php35 for 100 sheets) and (2) it does the job of absorbing oil on my face + some.

I wear glasses so it is quite handy that I have this on my makeup bag if I left my wipes at home...I can still have clear clean glasses :)

I also love the fact that this is bigger than the regular oil absorbing sheets like Gatsby or Clean and Clear. It can really cover a lot of areas before it got soaked.

My only complain about this brand is that it is so easy to get 2 sheets at once since it is so thin, but aside from that, it is perfect. 

OVER-ALL RATING: 5/5

Love love love this brand. I definitely recommend this to everyone especially to the students or those on a budget coz this is really a good find :)


WOULD I REPURCHASE THIS? Definitely! I have been buying the Finess oil control sheets for years now since I've discovered it. I never went back to Clean and Clear since that one is over Php100 while this is less than Php50.

Thank you for dropping by! Have a nice weekend! ^_^

FOTD + my cat

Hello everyone! It's weekend already!! yipee!! hehe I really like to rest :)

It has been quite some time since my last FOTD so I decided to post one today..actually this FOTD will serve as a swatch for my new blush..I got a loot bag during our Japanese friend's birthday party. The bag has some cute fake nals (but I don't know how to attach those hehe), hair clips and these two palettes.

What caught my eyes is this palette..I so love the shade of the blushes! Very pretty and fresh. Sadly, it doesn't lasts the whole day on my oily skin but i'm happy that it lasts for 4-5 hours. I'm not sure though if it causes breakouts or not coz I got itchy when I wore it and the weather was super hot..I'm not sure...

Here's a swatch on my cheeks under natural lighting..isn't it the prettiest? ^_^

It looks so natural! I used both shades and I applied it using my Lumiere stippling brush.

Here are some looks that showed the blush on my cheeks. This is my look lately coz I'm trying to minimize the products that I use on my face to help my skin breath while it is healing from breakouts.

FACE

- Ellana Sheer Velvet powder primer in White Chocolate

- Meow Frisky Abyssinian in Flawless Feline formula

- Aromaleigh URFP in Peaches and Cream

EYES

- Mary Kay Signature Concealer in Ivory (all over lid and undereye area)

- Ellana undereye concealer in Awake (all over lid and undereye area)

- Artdeco e/s in #20 (on upper lashline)
- The Face Shop white eyeliner pencil (on lower lashline and inner corners)

LIPS

- Clarins lipliner in Naturale-Soft Nude

- Stila lipgloss in Vanilla? (I'm not sure on the shade name coz the sticker was gone haha)

Here's a close up swatch..I just applied my Clarins lipliner all over my lips and then topped it with my Stila lipgloss (it's a sheer bronzey shade with gold flecks) :)

Here's another one ^_^

FACE

- Ellana Sheer Velvet primer

- Ellana foundation in French Vanilla (glow formula..this was discontinued already)

EYES

- MAC Painterly paintpot

- Mary Kay signature concealer in Ivory
- eyeshadows from the Japanese palette (green, brown and white) <-- :="" and="" pigmentation="" poor="" power="" span="" staying="">

- Black eyeshadow from Coastal Scents 88 palette as eyeliner on upper lashline (dry)

LIPS

- Venus & Mars lip balm

- Ellana moisturizing lip color in Lady Love

I'm in love with blush's shade but I want something that lasts the whole day..I hate retouching during the day..If any of you knows a blush with high quality pigmentation and staying power with the same shade as this, please post them on the comment section below..I would like to have a peachy pink blush that has sheen and a little shimmer (not glitters).. I'm looking forward for your recommendations! Thank you! ^_^

I want to end my post with a picture of my cat "Muning". This is how she looks like when she's sleeping and "sun-bathing" on her favorite spot (in my window)..She can stay a long time like that without moving :)

Till my next post! Thanks! ^_^

Random haul ^_^

Hello everyone! Me and my mom did some bonding today after finishing our chores (washing clothes and cleaning). We went to Trinoma to buy a steam iron (she said she likes one just like that of my aunt hehe) but we ended up buying something else lol ^_^

We took advantage of the bra sale in La Senza. Actually, I'm quite sad because I don't have that many choices..majority of the sizes available are big sizes (for me anyways)..I have a small bust so it took me a long time to find a good pair that will fit me..me and my mom ended up with 3 pairs all in all..one for me, for my mom and for my sister..Mine cost Php795 from Php1,695 while the other 2 pairs are only Php1,295 (they cost Php1,300 each if bought individually)..I think we got a good deal! I'm just annoyed with myself coz I left my Bench card at home so I can't put this purchase there.
We also went to Japan Home Center/Daiso where everything is sold for Php88 (Php66 for Daiso items). We bought some plastic cover for clothes, some office supplies and a tie for my brother and a very unique cleaning slipper for me hehe..check it out! I was so attracted by it that I asked my mom to get me one haha :)
It's a slipper and rug in one! how cute is that? I can easily clean and shine our floor by simply walking around the house..I'm so lazy so this is great for me..very convenient..Here's a closeup shot:

What do you think?

Thanks for dropping by! Till my next post. Bye! ^_^

Review: Mandom Cleansing Express Age Care + Update

Hi everyone! We've been having bad weather here in the country lately and while many are getting sick because it changes so frequently, it will get hot then later will rain very hard, I'm experiencing the effect of these sudden changes on my skin. I'm experiencing dry skin! Yeah, my oil mine face turned into a peeling, dry skin which rarely happens to me. It was pointed out to me by my dermatologist when I visited her late last week for a checkup. She then gave me a thick moisturizer to be used instead of my usual Celeteque moisturizer. I also try to help my skin by not using oil controlling products such as my silica finishing powders and primers and my cleansers and makeup removers. This lead me to use my Mandom Cleansing Express in Age Care. I believe that anti-aging products have moisturizing properties because they are meant for mature skin that usually have dry skin. I've been using this product for a couple of days now and this is my review of it :)
PROS
- has anti-aging properties
- not drying to the skin
- removes dirt and makeup well
- comes in a big 300ml pump bottle (very hygienic)
- affordable (if you buy from Japan)

CONS
- not available locally
- the pump sometimes expel a large amount of product

Over-all Rating: 4/5. I'll give this a 5 if only it is available locally and the pump can be controlled better.

Will I buy this again? Definitely! I will ask my brother or my friend to get me this again hehe I love this way way better than the Sebum one (because it was too drying for me now).


oOo

Just an update about what I've been doing lately. I'm currently reviewing for my IELTS and I'm having a difficult time with it because my vocabulary and pronounciation is not that good (too much watching Asian dramas) huhu so wish me luck and please pray for me. I'm aiming for very high scores in this exam (around 8.5-9.0) so that I can work as an instructor there while I'm still waiting for a better opportunity for me as a nurse. Thank you! ^_^

Review: Shiseido Tsubaki Shampoo & Conditioner

Hi guys!

I just want to share with you guys the gift of my brother. He asked his friend who is coming here in Manila from Japan to buy me Shiseido Tsubaki shampoo and conditioner since I've been asking him about it (Are they good quality products? Do they work great? How much are these in Japan? etc) laately. I've been hearing good reviews on them and I really wanted to try. And then he surprised me last week that I'll be getting one! I was really happy at that time but I was so surprised and ecstatic that he got me 2 sets for free! I'm really lucky to have a very generous brother haha :)

I can't take a clear shot of these babies so I got a picture from the net :)


Shiseido Tsubaki Shampoo

What i like about it
- comes in a very pretty and big packaging
- smells really good but not overpowering
- not that thick in consistensy so it is not hard to rinse off
- easy to lather on hair

What I don't like about it
- not that moisturizing if I use it alone
- the lather doesn't stay long so I don't feel that cleansed afterwards

Over-all Rating: 4/5 - If only it will create more bubbles, I will give this 5 hehe..but since more lather = more SLS, then i guess this is better right? :)

Will I buy this again? If I finished these 2 bottles of shampoo and I still like it, then I will get another one.


Shiseido Tsubaki Conditioner

What I like about it
- comes in a very big and pretty packaging
- smells so good and clean
- it lessened the frizziness of my hair
- keeps my hair soft and smooth for 24 hours
- makes my hair a little straighter than usual (air dried)
- my hair feels light and non-greasy
- I did not experience any hair fall (unlike when I use pantene and creamsilk)

What I don't like about it
- it is not available in any Shiseido stores locally

Over-all Rating: 5/5

Will I buy this again? Yes! I think I found my HG conditioner in this baby yay! :)


Till next time bye!

Japan Haul + Award

I'm back! I can now post pictures again coz my parents (with our digital camera) are back from their vacation in Japan :)

My mom bought me some stuffs and also brought some gifts from our Japanese friends too..so I got so many gifts to open yesterday..it really felt like Christmas for me lol =)

I asked my mom to buy me Lancome Bi-Facil makeup remover and some Japanese foods and clothes coz I thought it would be much cheaper there..but when she came back, here's what she got me:

Mandom Cleansing Express (in Sebum and Age Care)..I asked why she did not get me the Lancome one instead and she told me that it was too expensive! haha I know it is expensive that's why I asked her to get me one coz if she did, she won't let me pay for it haha..but my plan didn't work..but it is still okay..I love Mandom Cleansing Express..I already finished one bottle and I'm on my 2nd Cleansing Express Sebum now..and I'm glad that I have two more extra bottle..so thanks Mama! and I also love the silicone pads for my shoes..she knows I have a problem with my heel because I need to stand up for long hours whenever I go to my duty..so hopefully this will work great to give me some comfort :)

Goodies! Goodies! Goodies! I love Japanese snacks because they are full of flavors..Yummy! :)

Here are the gifts I got from our family's Japanese friends...So many noh? they came from different people so I'm really touched that they thought about me even though I was not there :)

Here's the content of the pouch..lipsticks (Shu Uemura, Lancome, HR) and eyeshadows! They are all pretty and I love the pouch too..So oriental..I can't wait to use them all for my FOTDs :)

Oh! Before I forget..my mom got me and my sis a second-hand Chanel handbag! Isn't that cool? She knows how much we love Chanel..and I don't really care if this is a hand-me-down from someone in Japan..I just love the fact that it is Chanel and it is in superb condition..and this is for free! How lucky can we get right? I can't wait to use this hehe :)

Very classic right? I love it so much! :)

I'll try my best to post an FOTD next time..My training is coming to an end so I'll be free again..and I'll probably review for IELTS so I'll be spending the whole day in an air-conditioned room so it is perfect for me if I want to put on makeup hehe..let's see..I'll update you guys on that one :)

oOo

I got an award! Thank you Nesz for this award..I appreciate it :)

Till next time! Bye! :)

Review: Mandom Cleansing Express Sebum

I have read so many great reviews about Mandom Cleansing Express Sebum on the net and I got really curious coz I'm really on the look out for a great makeup remover. I love putting on eyeshadow but it's hard for me to remove it at the end of the day. I use olive oil but it makes my vision a little blurry afterwards, and it can't totally remove my eye makeup. I usually need to repeat it with wet wipes. I also have trouble using oilive oil for my acne prone skin coz it gives me blackheads and bumps. So after I read about Mandom, I said to myself that I will try it.

What really sold me into trying this product are these:
- water based
- affordable (compared to other famous makeup remover)
- has great reviews from people here in our blogger world
- I can use it both on my eyes and face

I got lucky coz my Japanese brother was in vacation last month to his hometown in Japan. So I asked him to get me one bottle of Mandom to try. He said he will and when he came back here, she gave me my very first Mandom bottle..and he didn't allowed me to pay him so THANK YOU KUYA SHINCHAN! I'm so lucky to have an elder brother (we're just actually his family whenever he's here in the Philippines) :)

Here's my take on it:

PROS:
- very big pump bottle - it's very sanitary
- affordable
- water based - it doesn't make me oily afterwards
- keeps my skin moisturized - my skin don't feel tight after wiping my face with cotton pads
- doesn't sting my eyes
- can really cleanse my face - you can actually see the dirts and makeup on the cotton pads
- I just need one cotton pad for my whole face

CONS:
- it's not available locally
- the pump bottle leaks a little so I can't bring it when I travel - I need to buy a spritzer for travelling
- if you're not careful, you'll definitely squirt some products anywhere hehe
Till my next post! :)