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.

April '14 empties

We're a little more settled now although the baby room is still strewn with miscellaneous things that we don't often use. It's become a store room of sorts and I'm beginning to to feel a little bothered by how I'm not actually bothered. I can be quite a demon when it comes to tidying and cleaning. I did, however, managed to get all my makeup unpacked and organized. Priorities, heh.

April saw the change of seasons here and the sunshine was a welcome sight for me. My skin, however, couldn't decide on what it really wants. I used to think that I have combination/oily skin and then when winter comes around I just have "winter skin". It could be the hormones wreaking havoc here but I've been getting dry patches and flakiness for a while now.

In an attempt to hydrate my skin and make for easier makeup application, I turned back to something that I haven't been doing for many months: using face masks. I haven't seen any significant results as yet, since I'm not exactly consistent with it. But I do like that I'm using up products that I already have instead of running out to buy something new.

Kose Cosmeport Softymo Super Makeup Remover Q10 (refill)

Probably my first foray into makeup remover wipes and I now know why I've always used cleansing oils instead. Not gonna go into that here. I'm not sure if this has been discontinued but I haven't seen it in the drugstores for a long time. I'm assuming the Q10 in the name suggests some anti aging properties but I can assure you that I saw none of them. The sheets seems saturated enough and considering that I use only one sheet at a time (there are 52 in a refill pack) and I don't wear makeup everyday, it took me a long time to get through this. I have to say I'm surprised that even with all that sealing and resealing everyday, the sheets remain moist enough up till the last one. As a makeup remover, though, I'd say it takes some work because I have to use both sides and even then, the sheet is still stained with foundation (I don't wear a lot!). I use a separate eye makeup remover so I can't comment on how well it works for mascara and the likes.

Repurchase: No

E.L.F. Eyelid Primer

I rarely used this and even when I did, I can't really tell if it made my eyeshadow last longer since my crazy oily lids are out to ruin all forms of eye makeup. Neither did I notice my eyeshadow "pop" as so many beauty bloggers would say (I personally detest that expression). It just seems like an extra step and 20 seconds to waste. I almost feel like a criminal for saying this when so many girls out there "swear by" this little tube of wonder. I guess for $1 I didn't have anything to lose out on, really.

Repurchase: No

Feverlet N.M.F. Essence Mask

Provided my really dry skin with some moisture but the effect didn't last. I slapped it on after my bedtime shower and cleansing and left it on for about 20 minutes before wiping off with a toner-soaked cotton pad. My skin felt smoother and less dry when I went to bed, but it was back to the same old the next night. I like that the cotton sheet is well made and fitted my face without essence running down my ears and neck. Might work better if I used it more often, but, I don't know.

Repurchase: No

Weleda Almond Soothing Facial Lotion

I got this in a bid to "go natural" with hopes that my skin would take better to less ingredients. I was expecting it to be unscented but was mildly surprised at a faint almond-y scent upon application (I didn't like it so much when my sense of smell reached new heights due to morning sickness, though). To its credit, I used it as a night time moisturizer when I was back in Malaysia and it worked extremely well for me. Mister Homebody even complimented me on how my face looked a lot clearer when we came back to Japan after a short 5 day break in Malaysia. It goes on pretty easy and absorbs fairly quickly without me having to sit around to wait or think up of other stuff to do while getting ready. On colder days, I can smooth this on and layer my sunscreen on top immediately without any clumping or balling up. I wish to say it worked for me, but somehow, halfway through the tube, it stopped doing anything. It wasn't hydrating enough even as a day moisturizer and I was struggling to finish it up.

Repurchase: No (but have one more tube :()

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel (sample)

I've talked about it here before so I won't go into it again. It was a nice switch after I finished up my Weleda one, even if only for a couple of days.

Repurchase: No

Dr. CiLabo Aqua-Collagen-Gel Enrich Lift EX (sample)

So this is supposed to be an 8 in 1 product that simplifies your skincare routine and helps you save time. You still need a sunscreen separately, though. I like it, actually. Since there was only one small sachet (which I managed to use for 2 applications), I can't tell if I got to reap any of the benefits they claimed. I do, however, know that it's non greasy, pleasantly scented, spreads easily (although I needed a bit of time to let it sink it before sunscreen) and kept my skin moisturized through the day. Wonder how it holds up in summer, though.

Repurchase: Maybe (need to finish up all the others first!)

Weleda Natural Iris Hydrating Facial Lotion (sample)

I've also used up one of these before here, so there's no need to be repetitive. Using up the samples, yo!

Repurchase: No

Rinren Konatsu & Camellia Shampoo

For some reason, this variant is not listed in any of their websites. Eerily similar to the Yuzu & Ginger one I've used before here and the experience is equally blah. To make things worse, I actually bought this as part of a bulk buy(!) in order to save some money. Sigh.

Repurchase: No

Biotherm Aquasource Skin Perfection Toner (discontinued)

One of the last (very) few Biotherm items that traveled here with me. Not usually something that I'd pick from my hodge podge of products. When I first started using it years ago, I didn't like it for being too hydrating and turning me into a grease ball quickly. However, with my yoyo-ing hormones and low winter temperatures, I thought this might be a better option than the others in my stash. I was reminded of how much I loved the fresh scent that all Biotherm products share and it worked really well as my night time toner. My skin felt a little less dry than before and the flaky bits seemed to have lessened as well.

Repurchase: No

Another 10 more empties this month (with 1 makeup product thrown in, yay!) and nothing I would repurchase (boo!)

March '14 empties

March had been a crazy busy month for me. Between settling into a new place and trying to adjust my schedule now that we live slightly further from the train station, I was also wrapping up my first year of teaching in high school.

Our apartment was still filled with boxes (most of which I packed and labeled, but still manage to forget what's exactly inside) that I had to dig through almost everyday to get what I want. Not easy, I'll tell you, when the Little Tako seems to be getting heavier and more wriggly by the nano second.

This month saw some samples and a couple of products that I  had really enjoyed using.

Bifest bi-phase Eye Makeup Remover
Something that has already been featured in one of my previous empties posts and needs no introduction nor explanation.
Repurchase: Have another backup bottle somewhere in one of my many boxes...

E.L.F. Shimmer Gloss in Miami (discontinued)
Exactly the same as their (also discontinued) Minty version except this one smells and tastes a little fruity. Plastic-fruity, if I may add. Boring, work-safe, kept my lips moisturized for a couple of hours, nothing to write home about.
Repurchase: No (discontinued)

Clarins Multi-Active Night Youth Recovery Comfort Cream (sample)
Something that Mister Homebody had thoughtfully picked up for me seeing that I'd been having skin woes due to hormonal changes. This is the first cream in a long while that didn't make my face oily overnight. Instead, my face felt normal which is something I don't even remember feeling first thing in the morning. Smells relaxing and luxurious, too.
Repurchase: Bought the full-sized jar

Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Tamarind (sample)
Came together with the little baggie from Mister Homebody. Has little scrubby bits that I'm pretty sure are not synthetic because they feel like crushed nutshells on my face. Love the scent and the fact that it rinses away clean with no residue. I used this as my morning cleanser and it didn't leave my face tight even in the cold and dry weather.
Repurchase: Bought the full-sized tube

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB in Light/Light Medium
I'm not sure if this has been discontinued as I got it in a swap and it's not available in Japan. Never having been a fan of BB creams, I had actually really enjoyed using this as the cut up tube shows, till the very last bit. I loved the zero effort needed for the sheer and light coverage it gave me and wore it all summer through winter. Only difference was, I skipped the moisturizer in summer as I tend to get oily. A quick buff with a face brush followed by a light sweep of powder and I'm good for the day. I do get shiny through the day, of course, but that's by no fault of the product.
Repurchase: No (not available in Japan)

Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Color in 01 Peony
Color is crazy pretty (for lack of more descriptive words) but it shattered and became so messy that I hardly bothered since I transferred it into a little jar. Soft and easy to blend but may be a little light on my skin tone.
Repurchase: No

Canmake Perfect Serum BB Cream Light in 02 Natural (sample)
Not sure if I used this wrongly but it looked really cakey and melted on the sides of my nose and below my lower lip. I did powder over it as I tend to do on long days but I just look cake-faced. It was also a shade darker so I'm glad it was just a sample. I might try out the lighter shade if I can get my hands on another sample, though.
Repurchase: Possibly in a lighter shade

Esprique Moist Makeup Base (sample)
Love. LOVE. I'm not one who bothers with primers and foundation bases but I wish this little foil packet had more than just one use because I'm so in love! It worked wonder for my winter skin and I saw zero dry patches, yet, no trace of shine. So easy to smooth and the SPF25 was a bonus for me as my skin is highly reactive to sunscreen ingredients.
Repurchase: Definitely (after I'm done with my current tube of sunscreen)

Esprique Flat Control Base UV (sample)
Another win for me. Should've discovered this sooner and I imagine that it would work very well for me in summer. No allergic reactions, too!
Repurchase: Yes

Clarins Multi-Active Day Early Wrinkle Correction Cream (sample)
Item #3 from Mister Homebody's baggie and you must be thinking, "Is it safe for pregnancy?" Answer is yes. Clarins has stated that their products are pregnancy safe, but of course, if you're feeling iffy then skip along. I liked this one, very much. Not heavy or oily for day use and perfect under makeup (although I'm still figuring how to layer on the pesky sunscreen and not be cake-faced). Smells beautiful, just like other Clarins products and seems to calm my skin more than my current moisturizer.
Repurchase: Bought the full-sized jar

All in all, it's probably the best empties month I've had so far with wonderful new discoveries as well as using up makeup products (they never seem to die, do they?)

What did you finish up in March?

September '13 empties

What is up with this heat here? I'm beyond melting and it's pretty crazy how hot it gets here in summer!

It's true that I'm from a tropical country and it's hot all year round, but not 37 degree kind of hot :(

At least I used stuff up this month so I guess that makes it alright in a completely unrelated way, yes?

b. Strong Wash Shampoo

Mister Homebody got this for his itchy scalp and I ended up using it more than he did since I'm a sucker for all things cool/fresh/minty/tingly. I love lathering up and massaging into my scalp, then waiting a few minutes before rinsing off. Gives me the tingly menthol feeling and it's really refreshing in crazy summer heat. Since I use it once or at the very most twice a week, I'm not sure if it did anything for me. My hair texture remained the same (though thats fair since it wasn't for beautiful hair anyway) and my scalp condition remains unchanged. I didn't have much scalp problems to start with so this was more a pick me up than a treatment.

Repurchase: No

Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion (Moist)

This is the original version of their facial lotion and believe it or not, I'm finally done after a year. Yes, it really took that long. Since the consistency is almost like water, I didn't have to use a lot, just 5-7 drops at most. I didn't even have to use cotton pads so you can imagine how slow my progress was with this bottle of 170ml. Free of fragrance and coloring, this is supposed to be ideal for sensitive skin in providing moisture without contributing to oiliness. I'd say it did all that it claimed, but nothing more than that. There was no improvement, but I'm happy that my skin didn't get worse. It does get tiresome, though, to be using the same thing for an entire especially when it doesn't feel luxurious or give me a boost of...anything.

Repurchase: No

The Body Shop Earth Lovers Lemon and Thyme Shower Gel

I'm in love with this! But sadly, it's been discontinued with the rest of the Earth Lovers range :( Mister Homebody and I have been really enjoying this shower gel over summer as it's got that zing and it's oh-so-refreshing in this heat. Paraben, colorant and sulfate free, which is just my thing. Works like all the other shower gels from The Body Shop, but I have to give it some extra love for smelling absolutely delicious!

Repurchase: No (discontinued)

Bath & Body Works PocketBac in I Love Bling Rock Candy 

I think Bath & Body Works products are mostly misses for me being that they're usually too strongly scented. This one here smells sickly sweet and I get really embarrassed each time I use it in the teachers' room after a lesson. To think it's one of the milder ones that I have in my stash. To be honest, I don't actually know how effective it is for clean hands, but I'm too lazy to walk all the way to the washroom in between lessons, so this does the job.

Repurchase: No

Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil

I've used a bottle up here.

Repurchase: Have backup bottles

Feverlet E.G.F. Essence Mask

One of the many masks from my haul at Incheon Airport. I like this way more than the Etude House ones. Saturated with just enough essence so I don't get anything running down my neck while I relax and the fit seems a lot better, too, with minimal adjusting. The cotton sheet is slightly embossed and thinner than others, but I don't know if it's just by design or if it functions to provide more benefits to application/absorption. I can actually massage the essence into my skin after taking it off, as opposed to doing some rinsing with other masks before I proceed with the next steps. Stick it in the fridge for a while and there you go, a cool sheet for your face in 35 degree heat. 

Repurchase: Maybe

Biore Pore Pack (Black)

Found a few strips of these when I was digging stuff out. I always buy the black version because I like seeing all the gunk on the strips clearly when I rip it off my nose. Yes, TMI. I actually prefer this brand over the Claudia Jansen one.

Repurchase: Yes

Claudia Jansen & Co nose strip

Talked about it here.

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!

June '13 empties

Finished up a whole bunch of stuff and one discard this month. Not bad at all, homebody, not bad at all!

Étude house Pomegranate and Royal Jelly Sheet Mask

Hate pomegranate but love LOVE the royal jelly one! Both didn't do much for my face in terms of beautification. But the royal jelly smelled so good that I wouldn't mind using it just for that. Used up 2 this month because the weather was absolutely sweltering and having them chilled in the fridge and on my face after is sheer bliss.

Repurchase: No

Claudia Jansen & Co nose strip

Funny story. My face was going through a very dry phase because of the medication I'm on but it's also oily at the same time with the crazy high humidity in summer. My blackheads were annoying the crap out of me and I couldn't stand them anymore so I applied this after my usual nightly shower. Thing is, I exfoliated the night before, and I usually exfoliate again before I put on a nose strip. Left it on for too long, peeled it off, and I saw bright scarlet dots on my nose bridge. Yep, I was bleeding. Actually, that wasn't really funny. And I didn't even manage to get a lot of gunk out.

Repurchase: Yes

Shu Uemura eyelash curler pad

Finally changing the pad after 7 years! I read somewhere that you're supposed to use it for only about 6 months, no? But I wore makeup like once in a month in the past 7 years and didn't curl my eyelashes all that often so I think I can make an exception.

Repurchase: No (not for sale)

E.L.F. minty lip gloss (shade Miami)

My favorite lip gloss, which has been sadly discontinued. Why?! I love the way my lips get all tingly and cool when I slick it on. I even believe that it cools me down in summer, even if it was just for a few minutes. Color wise, it was pretty sheer and did nothing to dress up my face and the applicator doesn't pick much product up at all. I usually have to dip twice just for my bottom lip and twice again for my upper lip. Guess that explains why I could finish it up quickly. That, and also the minty taste.

Repurchase: No (discontinued)

Ban medicated antiperspirant roll on deodorant

This isn't technically a beauty product but I thought it's worth the mention because of how good it is. There's been many comments about how Japanese deodorants are utterly useless and I haven't tried enough of them to know. While I'm not big on antiperspirants in general because they contain aluminum and aren't all that great for our bodies, I do like that this one is unscented and kept me stink free. I wear light perfume and body sprays and hate when my deodorant interferes with my scent of choice. There is some wetness if I'm sweating way excessively (which happens when I take the 25 minute walk to school) but I don't smell. I'm on the fence about this because I want to switch to a more natural deodorant but at the same time I also can't go through an entire day with soaked pits.

Repurchase: Yes

Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil

First bottle that I got in Hong Kong had me hooked. I know there is another variant that is generally preferred over this one (don't know why) but this one does exactly what I expect it to. My face doesn't feel stripped or dry and it gets all the warpaint off.

Repurchase: Yes (a few backup bottles in storage)

Clinique Sun Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen Face Cream

I have very sensitive skin and while my experimental nature and attention span of a goldfish makes me want to slather every possible product on myself, the (sometimes horrible) reactions that I get after always made me think more than twice. This product is supposed to be suitable for sensitive skin, oil-free and dermatologist tested. Horse crap, I say. I applied a thin layer on my arms (prefer not to go straight to my face) and I broke out in a rash that refused to go away for days. The allergy reaction wasn't as bad as the worst I've had, but it was enough to make Mr. Homebody sit up and notice that my arms had splotchy red patches and they felt like hundreds of little bumps on my skin. The redness went away after a few days but the bumps were more stubborn. Luckily for me, this was thrown in with a bunch of stuff for a swap so I didn't have to spend actual money on it. Mr. Homebody, who has tougher skin and is religious with his sunscreen wanted to try it before I threw it out, until I pointed out that this is purely a chemical sunscreen and I'm not sure if it'd be such a good idea. Out.

Repurchase: No

Biotherm Biosource Exfoliant

This baby has been with me for a very long time. I mean, VERY. Got it when I was still living in Malaysia, took it with me to Shanghai and finally ended up here. Like other Biotherm products, I love the fragrance, which I can only describe as fresh and slightly manly, yet totally female-friendly. I know I totally excel at describing scents but, whatever. The exfoliating beads are not too grainy and they don't hurt my skin when applied. With this one, a little goes a long way as the gel is so densely packed with beads that I don't have to work on spreading it around so that I get an even scrub. My face always feels smoother and softer after using this and I absolutely love that I don't get that tight feeling after rinsing. All that said, I'm moving on from Biotherm simply because I prefer to use stuff that have shorter ingredient lists due to my highly reactive and temperamental skin.

Repurchase: No

The Body Shop Bath Lily

Can't say how many of these I've used in the span of the past 15 or so years, but I just can't stop using them! As you can see, this one is totally floppy and out of shape and coming loose from the center so it had to go. I find that the bath lily works extremely well for people like me who love lather and suds. They don't grow mold or get that damp smell and they rinse out pretty good. I love the gentle exfoliation that isn't as harsh as say, a body brush or scrub gloves, and I use less product when I have this. 

Repurchase: Yes

E.L.F. Essential Lip Stain (Pink Petal)

The thing with marker/felt tip makeup is that they tend to soak up whatever's on your skin, like saliva and dead skin, possibly small food particles. So, that's just way gross. This marker had a sharp felt tip that proves to be good for precision lining and the tip is saturated just enough to deposit the right amount of product on your lips. The color looks a lot pinker that I'd usually go for but once on my lips, they looked right at home there with that I'm-wearing-a-lip-color-but-it-looks-just-like-my-lips kind of pink. The lasting power, though, isn't great, although that might be the color and not the longevity of the stain itself since it's so light. Apply this on, top it with a balm and you're good to go, for a couple of hours at least. Now, the really horrible thing about this is that awful, awful smell that tells you that something had contaminated it and is multiplying disgusting germs by the bajillion per nano second. I've managed to get only one use out of this before it smelled worse than a month's worth of dirty socks. Out.

Repurchase: No (discontinued)

Cleansing wipes from 100 yen store

One of the better ones that I've tried. I have no loyalty for wipes, really, since I never use them on my face. At most they make their way to my inner arm when I'm swatching makeup, but that's the furthest they'd go. The seal worked pretty good at keeping the moisture in and I was able to go through all 30 sheets with minimal drying out. Problem is, I can't remember exactly which 100 yen shop I got them from when there's one around every corner.

Repurchase: Yes

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (old formula)

Cult favorite, this one is. To be very honest, I loved it. My parched winter skin was saved by this little tube of awesome. I didn't wake up greasy faced and most of the time I could even use it in the day, and this is saying a lot, coming from someone with oily skin. The texture is so much lighter than the rich cream-type moisturizers that companies churn out for dry skin and it spreads easily with an absorption rate that isn't too time consuming. I don't feel like I have product sitting on top of my skin and this is one of the most important factors for me, even if I was just going to bed and will probably know nothing when I'm asleep. The bad: very long list of ingredients that essentially tells me I'm using too many things on my face that I don't need. I used to think that Clinique was the perfect brand for people like me, no fragrance, dermatologist tested, allergy tested, blah blah blah. But then I started clueing myself in and realized that HORSE CRAP THAT IS A LOT OF CHEMICALS GOING INTO ONE PRODUCT.

Repurchase: No (discontinued)

Clean & Clean Oil Absorbing Sheets

My absolute favorite oil blotters. I get so much satisfaction from seeing the sheets turn transparent from the oil that's lifted off my greasy face. I'm weird, I know. This is by far the best oil blotters that I've tried, and I've tried many. Even the superior Japanese brands with their powdered and fragranced sheets can't compare to this. With this, I'm shine free in 2 sheets maximum. With the other ones, I can go up to 6, and they're usually bigger, too. I've always just used the press motion when blotting and never wipe like how some people tend to, and I do notice some makeup being lifted off, but I suppose it's normal when my facial oils have melted my face off? Only thing that I'm not very happy with is that this is not a cruelty-free brand.

Repurchase: Yes

You got through this empties post (phew!) so, congratulations! Soldiering on to pare my collection down!

Introducing: My Suteki

It shouldn't be allowed, ever, but I'm going to do this anyway.

SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT!

A good friend in Malaysia and I had recently started venturing into opening a little blog shop of our own. We thought that with her still being in Malaysia, and I, now living in Japan, we could probably send each other parcels now and then to make ourselves feel loved (I know, I know).

Japanese cosmetics and skincare had long been known for their quality and performance and I figured there was no better was to prove the myth by trying them out for myself. Truth be told, I haven't had the chance to try out many things yet as I had brought along with me approximately 6 months worth of skincare when I came here. And the sheer volume of products here is really just mind blowing.

I love going to drugstores to browse and do swatches. It really surprised me that drugstore cosmetics here are of reasonably good quality and at highly affordable prices. They tend to wear very well, too. Though the colors may not be as daring and bold as, say, American brands, I have to commend the Japanese on mastering the nudes.

Without further ado, I present to you, My Suteki.

The site is still a work in progress as I'm still constantly sourcing products that I honestly think are good and well worth the buck.

If you want something but don't see it in the store, why not shoot me an email and I can hunt it down for you. I have access to pretty much anything when it comes to Japanese skincare and cosmetics so I could most likely do a CP for you.

Do take a look and please shoq us some love!