May '14 empties

I believe that I'm now in my "nesting" mode. Or I'm just product demon. How else am I to explain my insane mowing through of products?

rinRen Konatsu & Camellia Treatment

Talked about the shampoo here and the Yuzu & Ginger treatment here.

Repurchase: No

Hada Labo Gokujyun Light Lotion

Took me a really long time to finish this one up. Like, more than a year, with on and off use. Seems like a pretty standard sized bottle for toners (lotion in Japan), but at 170ml and 7 drops per use once a day, this really went a long way. I found it particularly useful on warm days when I'm too lazy to moisturize or when moisturizer makes my makeup melt faster/face oilier. 7 drops of this, some BB cream and I'm good to go. It's not particularly hydrating but it gives my skin a little something to cushion the BB cream as the ones I use are not particularly good in providing moisture. It's also nicer to be able to pat on product in the morning instead of soaking up a cotton pad and swiping as I sometimes find that it's a little too harsh especially when I have really irritable skin. With no fragrance and color, I'd say this is a good budget buy for people with sensitive skin. At my age, I need something that will improve the appearance as well as maintain moisture so I'm gonna move on and experiment more.

Repurchase: No

The Body Shop Olive Shower Gel

For men, apparently. Since Mister Homebody and I share shower gels, I try not to get anything that's too girly. Love, love this. Probably second in line after their Satsuma Shower Gel which we used one giant bottle of here. Not your typical refreshing, fruity scent from The Body Shop and I'd say this is good regardless of season. I always step out of the shower feeling relaxed after my shower.

Repurchase: Yes

Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil (travel size)

I've used up a bottle here. Still have a few bottles in my stash (yes, I'm a crazy hoarder, I know).

Repurchase: Have backups

NOV UV Shield EX SPF 50+ PA+++

Comes in a squeezy tube with a needle point sized nozzle. Perfect for not having too-big globs when you don't need them. Recommended by my dermatologist when I was going for some skin peels and treatment last year (not much improvement, long story) and always left the clinic with hypersensitive and red skin. I get reactions from most chemical sunscreens and have therefor stayed away from using sunscreen ever. Imagine the amount of damage I've suffered through the years :( This is a purely physical sunscreen without UV ray absorbing agents that can be used on both the face and body although I used it only on my face due to the 30ml size and price point. Loved it in the beginning as it didn't contribute to the oiliness in my face and seems to spread easy enough. I used it on days when I have to spend a lot of time outdoors (walking to school, taking pictures on a sunny day etc.). At a glance, I have zero white cast, but after putting powder or foundation on, everything goes horribly wrong. Instead of a smooth base, I'm uber cakey especially around my nose and mouth. I credited it to my lack of moisturizing at first, but even after moisturizing and smoothing this on, I still get cake-faced. Whichever way I tried it, I always ended up with a mask-like face. Slightly darker foundation, moisturizing foundation, BB cream, powder foundation, nothing worked. I loved that my skin had no reaction to it and I never get a burn or even feel remotely sore when I used it, but I don't think I can make it work with other products.

Repurchase: No

Claudia Jansen & Co nose strip

Used here. Does what it's supposed to, that's all.

Repurchase: Have a few more strips to go

Esprique Precious Powder Foundation SPF22 PA++(sample)

Not entirely sure which one this is as Esprique has a few powder pacts in their line, but I love it! Got the sample along with the makeup bases that I used up here and it lasted me a good couple of uses. The salesperson must be psychic and know that I'm always wearing mismatched bases because this is the perfect match for my skin (OC-410 for my own future reference). Either that, or I'm just lousy and still have much to learn. It works beautifully with their makeup bases and it's so natural that I'm almost able to fool myself into thinking I'm not wearing any makeup! No dryness or oiliness detected, just smooth beautiful skin. I used my Sephora mineral powder brush with it and was rewarded with the most beautiful finish I've ever seen on myself! Win!

Repurchase: Yes

ELAN Cleansing Cloth

A sample thrown in during a purchase I made from a Korean skincare store some time ago. Rub the cloth on wet hands to foam it up and then massage onto face. Acts as an exfoliant as well as a cleanser. No scent that I remember of, but I'm not entirely sure what the ingredients are since it's all in Hangul. I liked it, but feel it's a little wasteful to discard one cloth with each use.

Repurchase: No

Muji Cotton Puff

A staple which I've talked about here.

Repurchase: Yes

Dermal Grape Collagen Essence Face Mask

Another freebie from a Korean purchase. For relaxed, clear and moisturized skin. As mentioned before, I don't use sheet masks often enough to be able to see the results. At most, I pop them on after my night time shower and go to sleep after I've removed them. I know most people massage the essence in, moisturize and call it a day. I can't stand the stickiness, really, so I moisten a cotton pad with toner and wipe the essence off before rounding up my night routine. My skin did feel a little plumper and smoother immediately after use (as with any other mask I use) and it felt like I had a bunch of grapes on my face, haha. 

Repurchase: No

My monthly 10 done! So looking forward to thinning out all this stuff I hoarded and eventually just be able to stick to staples and products that actually work for me.

November '13 empties

A full month of work and I'm ready to take a break from the cold and just put my feet up with a mug of hot Milo. So, so looking forward to winter break next month.

Daiso Vitamin C Cleansing Tissue

I don't use wipes on my face, so this is mainly for my grubby fingers when I apply makeup with my hands. Can't say much, except that it was only 100 yen a pack, so why not? It's saturated enough for face (I guess) and the snap lip closes tightly so I imagine that it would keep the packet moist right till the end.

Repurchase: No

The Body Shop Olive Body Butter

Didn't realize it was for men haha. But I actually prefer this over the other sickly sweet scents they have. Body butters are an absolute must for me in winter (I know it's not winter yet but it's getting cooler = drier skin) and this helps with the dry knees, elbows and legs. I probably go through 2 tubs every winter. By myself.

Repurchase: Yes

L'Occitane Relaxing Body Lotion (travel size)

I love this. Never mind that it's not as rich a moisturizer as I would like, but I think it helps prevent my skin from getting drier. Like all other L'Occitane products, the scent is in no way chemical-y and it's so relaxing it's absolutely perfect for before bed. Consistency is pretty runny and spreads easily enough, which also means I don't have to use as much. It absorbs quickly into skin and leaves no residue or tackiness. Wish I could afford this for everyday :(

Repurchase: Yes

Shiseido Oil Blotting Paper

A resident in Japanese drugstores which comes in a few different sizes. Personally, I don't look into sizes too much because, well, it's just paper. It's not life changing if it's got a 5mm difference. I want to like this, but it's really pretty meh, in my opinion. I don't see it really blotting because even when I gently press, it doesn't seem to lift much off and I have to press on the same spot repeatedly to be able to get a matte effect. 3 or 4 sheets per use seems to be the norm and I definitely spend way too much time on this than I want to. Unfortunately for me, I was out of my mind and hoarded, like, 5 or so of these so it's a long way to using them up :(

Repurchase: No

2e sunscreen for sensitive skin

I have absolutely no information on this product since it was a sample from my dermatologist. Never seen it in the drugstores, either. It's slightly thick, as physical sunscreens go, but I was surprised with how my makeup went on with no problem at all. Zero reaction is always a bonus for me and I'd love to have more than a sample of this, to be honest.

Repurchase: No

Muji Nail Polish Remover

My first bottle was used up here.

Repurchase: Yes

Biotherm White D-Tox Micro-Scrub Cleanser (sample size)

Lasted me pretty much forever since I don't use it often. Once a week, at most. I find it slightly harsh for my temperamental skin. The beads are in no way large, but rinsing off makes my face really squeaky. I get some tightness after drying with a face towel and it's really not something that I like. I don't see any brightening/whitening effect and this is probably one of the few (maybe only) product from Biotherm that I dislike.

Repurchase: No

Weleda Iris Hydrating Facial Lotion

My road to using more natural products in my daily life seems to be a rocky and difficult one. While I love the lavender scent (I thought it was meant to be iris but smells very lavender-y to me), this is really terrible under makeup. It's terrible under everything. It's terrible alone. I know it's meant to be hydrating but the facial lotions are supposed to be less heavy and more suitable for day use. I used it under powder foundation, it caked up. I used under BB cream, it pilled. I used it alone, I was oilier than ever. It really didn't help my skin in any way. No deterioration, but I saw no improvement and really struggled to use it up. Even using it as a night moisturizer proved to be too much when I wake up oily.

Repurchase: No

E.L.F. Mineral Foundation in Fair

Cheap and works awesomely for me. This is not my shade, of course, and I never use it alone. I had a darker shade that didn't suit my skin tone so much so this one evened it out nicely. Goes on smooth and dare I say, it disappears into my skin so much so that it look like I'm not wearing any foundation. My redness and slight blemishes are covered and it holds up pretty well in summer, too. I buff it in with a Sephora brush and it's one of the quickest ways for me to do my makeup. I use it when I have moisturizers that stay tacky no matter what, or when I've got sunscreen on. It seems to mattify pretty well. Of course, I get oily through the day, but it doesn't break down in any obvious or patchy way.

Repurchase: Yes

One short of my monthly target of 10, but I think I did very well, considering there are a few products I'd never repurchase, but yet managed to finish up.

August '13 empties

Compared to say, 2 years ago, I'd say that my hoarding habits have been greatly toned down.

Yet, I feel pretty amazed at the end of each month that I go without buying, I still have a large stash of stuff that I can mow through.

No finished makeup products this month, but loads of full sized bath and body items on their way to the recycling bin!

Rinren Yuzu & Ginger Shampoo
I've talked about it here before. Frankly, I'm glad this one is done with because I was getting tired of how mild the scent is.
Repurchase: No

Shiseido Tsubaki Shining Conditioner
Wish I got this sooner because it made my hair a lot less tangly. Less tangles = less hair loss in the shower = very good. It has silicones, yes, but I'm quite ready to admit that those non-silicone shampoos and conditioners just don't work for me. If anything, my hair got drier, frizzed up and it takes forever to detangle in the shower, not to mention the hair loss. I'm not exactly blessed with thick hair and being able to save some from clogging up the shower drain everyday is a good thing. The scent is not overpowering and very feminine. For an inexpensive drug store conditioner that is easily available everywhere (even in convenience stores sometimes!), I'm pretty happy with the results.
Repurchase: Yes

Rinren Yuzu & Ginger Treatment
This is no treatment, by any means, as conditioner is often referred to as "treatment" here in Japan. I wanted to go down the no-silicone path and picked this in hopes that my life will be changed forever. And change it did. I noticed more hair in the shower drain after rinsing off and it did nothing to make my hair smoother. Nor did I have a healthier scalp. Nothing. At all. Glad this one is finished.
Repurchase: No

The Body Shop Cucumber & Mint Shower Gel
Yes, love x100000. Never thought that the cucumber-mint combo would work in the shower although it's a drink that I've had many times before. Paraben/soap/sulphate/colorant-free. So much win here! I wish this came in a larger size like those jumbo 500ml bottles that they occasionally have in store. This was a real breath of fresh air in the crazy summer heat and makes an awesome body wash for that end-of-the-humid-day grime and dust.
Repurchase: Yes

Feverlet Collagen Essence Mask
One out of the 120(?) sheet masks that I hauled from Incheon Airport last year. Yes, they're still around. This feels like it's better quality than the Etude House ones that did absolutely nothing for me. The cotton sheet is a little thinner than the Etude House masks that I used. They have a texture that seems to work quite well in holding the essence. Although less saturated than Etude House masks, I find that it has just the right amount and doesn't drip down my neck. I also find that I don't have that sticky residue after I take them off and I don't need to splash my face with water again before I apply toner (or lotion as the Japanese version is). Not sure if my face is any less wrinkled or more plumped up, really, since I've never had any life changing experience with any sheet mask except for SK-II. I usually pop sheet masks in the fridge for a few minutes while I go through my cleansing routine in summer because let's face it, who doesn't like that temporary relief when it's 40 degrees out there?
Repurchase: No

Claudia Jansen & Co nose strip
First mentioned here. I'm not sure if this is a charcoal strip but I love my nose strips black, nonetheless. Makes it so much more satisfying when I can see those little blackheads clearly. Nothing to shout about here, just your regular nose strip, if you're into that sort of thing. I did find it a little harder to peel compared to the Biore ones that I've used previously.
Repurchase: No. Happy to finish up the remaining strips and be done with them

Muji Nail Polish Remover
Only slightly more than 500 yen and I wish I'd discovered this sooner. Smells citrus-y with none of that eye-watering suffocating deathly fumes that comes with cheap polish remover. Does a really good job with removing nail color and doesn't leave my cuticles or nails dry and flaky like the really strong ones do. A little pricey for probably half the amount that I get from the 100 yen shop, but hey, it's worth not having my bin and entire apartment smell like we've been doused with alcohol.
Repurchase: Yes

Shiseido Sebum & Oil Blotting Paper
Dislike. I need at least 3 sheets in a single blotting session and even then my fingers feel oily after as if the sebum has soaked through the entire sheet. TMI? I still haven't found a Japanese blotting paper that actually works like the Johnson & Johnson ones. This feels no different than if I blotted my face with regular paper.
Repurchase: No

Sally Girl neon orange nail polish
One of those things that got thrown into a package when I bought some stuff off a blog sale. What a rip off since it was already gooey and I could use it only once after adding a few drops of solvent in it. The brush is really tiny and makes my shaky application look even worse than usual. I'd have love to wear this color when it was still usable as it was totally a summer color that doesn't look too out of place, neon and all.
Repurchase: No

iHerb.com nail file 
Think low quality sand paper stuck onto a foam board. It goes all floppy at the slightest pressure that I apply when filing my nails. Good for one use only. At least it was free gift, useless as it was.
Repurchase: No

Nail file from drug store in Malaysia
I've had it for so long that I can't even tell the brand anymore. It went with me from Malaysia to China and finally ended up here in Japan. I guess that says a lot for a nail file because it gave me countless uses over the years. I never torn a nail or had jagged tips that snagged on clothing from this one. It was pretty hard and didn't bend during use. I haven't found anything as good here yet, sadly.
Repurchase: No

So there, 10 is the magic number this month. I'm pretty good in using up stuff, regardless of whether they work or not. Don't you think?

July '13 empties

Another month, another empties post. Seems like all this blog is about is just the garbage that I accumulated, eh?

This month brought me tons of disappointments, but as is my OCD nature to finish up everything right down till the very last drop/dollop/sheet, I think I did pretty damn well.

One more finished lip product this month!

Shiseido Senka Perfect Whip Face Foam

Hates it. Even with my oily skin, I always feel like my face is stretched beyond limits after I use it. And don't get my started about the itching that came with that crazy dry feeling. On the bright side, I use it with my Clarisonic and I love how it really foams up.

Repurchase: No

Cleansing wipes from 100 yen store

I don't use these on my face, ever, but I keep them on my vanity for wiping my fingers off after using cream shadow, BB cream, before dipping my fingers into anything etc. You get the idea. Somehow this box must be either a really old one or the seal sticker inside doesn't really seal. They were pretty dry by the time I got to the third sheet. They don't seem to clean very well. either. I usually have to press hard on the dirty spot and swipe a few times before anything comes off, especially cream eyeshadows.

Repurchase: No

Bifesta bi-phase Eye Makeup Remover

Went on a crazy buying spree during my brief period of insanity and bought 3 bottles of these. I didn't even really start wearing eye makeup regularly till I started working in April. Must've been some demon possession going on there when I clicked purchase, I'm sure of it. This bi-phase eye makeup remover does its job well and lasted me a very good 4 or so months before I got to the last drop. Doesn't sting my eyes and never left me with cloudy vision either. Some of my eye makeup can be a little stubborn to remove, like my Bobbi Brown gel liner and waterproof mascara, but all they need is 10 seconds of this stuff on a cotton pad on my eye, and a few very gently swipes. All clean. Even in between my lashes. My only gripe is that it doesn't smell like garden flowers and babies, but I guess that's alright.

Repurchase: Already have 2 backup bottles

Etude House Lemon sheet mask

So I went trip happy at Incheon Airport during my many flights between Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur and I bought, like, 10 of these. Which is a lot, considering I don't use sheet masks. So, what did this do for my face? Absolutely nothing. It claims to brighten skin and is supposed to be great for acne skin types. But, well, nothing happened. Smells great, though. And chilling it in the fridge 10 minutes before applying it onto my face felt pretty awesome in this summer heat. I do, however, hate the sticky feeling that the essence left. I don't care what anyone says, it does not absorb into skin. It just stays on the surface no matter how much I try to massage it in. I ended up rinsing a second time just so that I could apply my moisturizer after. Oh, I have to say that it's a pretty good fit for my face too. And they weren't skint on the essence because there was plenty left in the packet even after I took the mask out.

Repurchase: No

Etude House Pearl Extract sheet mask

Bought 10 of these as well on the same day I got the Lemon ones(!). Nope, didn't like them, either. Claims to brighten skin, hydrate blah blah blah. Whatever. This one didn't even smell nice. I had the exact same issues I did with the lemon one. But I do love the feeling of slapping one on when the summer heat is unbearable and taking a short nap with the air conditioning on. Not sure if it's just me, but my face itched a little after.

Repurchase: No

The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel

I'm one of those devoted lifelong users of The Body Shop's shower gels. While I won't particularly pick this one first out of the many other scents they carry, this one's apparently manly enough for Mister Homebody. I like how foamy it becomes and how the scent lingers in the shower. However, it contains SLS which I'm trying to cut down and eventually out.

Repurchase: No

Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil

I first tried this one out when I was in Hong Kong and everything sells for cheap there. It removes my makeup very well and doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or dry. Now, I have a very complete cleansing routine whenever I'm wearing makeup (which is pretty much almost everyday now that I have a job) and it involves what most people would call "tedious". I start with the Bifesta eye makeup remover to remove all my eye makeup (obviously) and I use the cleansing oil for the rest of my face. After I've rinsed off, I always follow up with my regular cleanser, which may be whatever I'm using at the moment as I've not been loyal to any particular brand since Biotherm. I've been doing this for ages and it seems to work best for me out of all the other methods I've tried, from cream cleanser to makeup wipes and everything in between. It's slightly runnier than other types of cleansing oils that I've used previously but I don't see how that makes it inferior or work any less than other more expensive types. Although I have sensitive skin and really should stay away from fragranced products, I do sometimes wish this had at least a teeny bit of fragrance in it to spice things up.

Repurchase: Already have 2 backup bottles

Clinique Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Clearly Pink

I've never had a Clinique lip gloss before and I'm clearly blown away by this one. It fills out all the fine lines and gave me smooth silicone looking lips while not making me look like I used a lip plumper. The formula is awesome and glides on easily. I never needed to double dip because somehow, the doe foot applicator always picks up the right amount of product. The SPF 15 is an added bonus too, though they're chemical sunscreens which I randomly get allergic reactions from. While I love almost everything about this lip gloss, I don't think I'd repurchase simply because I'm currently trying to phase out buying products with ingredients that I'm iffy about.

Repurchase: No

DHC Eyelash Tonic

I used this for the recommended 6 months because apparently that's how long it takes for some people to see results. I did miss a few days in that span of time but I don't think it's supposed to make a difference to the results I was supposed to get. Because it did absolutely nothing for me. If anything, it annoyed me that I had to apply this to my lashes everyday and sometimes I somehow manage to poke my eye with the wand. It started out as a clear gel but in time it grew cloudy and I think it's due to the fact that I always moisturize beforehand and it's the moisturizer that's making the product cloudy. In the beginning I felt that I had less falling out of my lashes but after 6 months, it was just another extra 2 minutes that I had to spend every night which yielded zero results. I even tried using this on my eyebrows because mine are so sparse. Nothing. Just a waste of my time.

Repurchase: No

Muji cotton pads

Not sure if these cotton pads are organic cotton but I find that they tend to shred less than the ones that I usually get from the 100 yen store. They even withstand removing glitter nail polish, and that is really saying something. I don't feel like they work any better or any worse but I do like that I don't get bits of cotton stuck on my face and fingers all the time. They feel smooth enough on my face, yet rough enough to remove nail polish easily. Slightly more expensive than my regular 100 yen cotton pads, but since I live in Muji land and prices here are cheap-to-reasonable, I don't see why not?

Repurchase: Yes

So out of 10 empties, I ended up with no to 7 of them. Not sure if I'm just too picky or I buy all kinds of crap products because of my no-loyalty personality. I do, however, like seeing my stash get smaller after I've used up/thrown out stuff, though.

On to more product discovery!