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!)

December '13 empties

Happy New Year! I declare this year the year of decluttering/destashing! 

These empties posts are really addictive, I say. I love chucking stuff out (must've got that fom my mum!) but at the same time I'm completely horrified at how much I've accumulated in the short time I've been here.

The weather's cooled down considerably and it's a really nice time of the year right now before it gets crazy cold in the coming months. I'm not much of a "switch up my skincare" kind of person, I'm more of a "finish up before you buy more" person so most of the empties from last month were leftovers except for a few.

Red Earth eyeshadow in GR066

This is embarrassingly old and I refuse to say how long I've had it. Is the brand still out there? Or did it die out a long time ago along with my youth? Let's just put it this way, it's traveled with me ever since I started traveling alone (it was one out of my 4 eyeshadows!). I've worn this almost everyday since I've started working again and although it actually contains glitter particles, the color layers surprisingly well over one of my cream shadows to create depth but remaining subtle enough for the school environment. Glad I'm finally done with this one.

Repurchase: No

Weleda Gentle Cleansing Milk

Love it! Used it as my night after shower cleanser in winter and I find that it's less harsh on my face as compared to the foamy type. The smell is really soothing and helps prepare me for bed. I've always practised double-cleansing when I wear makeup so this is great as a second cleanse because I don't feel tight or stripped after patting my face dry. Through experience, milk cleansers work really well for me in cold weather without causing any adverse reactions, although I've used it day and night for about a week when I was back in Malaysia last year and it worked, too. This comes in a heavy glass bottle that I wouldn't recommend having in the shower. Also, sometimes it's hard to control the amount you pour as it's pretty liquid-y and the bottle opening is kinda big so I ended up with too much a few times. 100ml seems to be pretty standard size for cleansers but with the occasional over-pouring and seeing how runny this is, I went through it pretty quickly, which is pretty unusual as my cleansers usually last for at least 2 or 3 months. It doesn't break the bank if you can get a discount on the price, and I honestly do love it, but I'm happy to explore other options that are more cost effective.

Repurchase: Maybe

Weleda One Step Cleanser & Toner

Perfect morning cleanser for lazy people like me. I wake up well ahead to make sure I get a good breakfast and have time to enjoy my cup of tea before going to work. Somehow, almost every single time, I end up having to rush through the motions before I run out the door to catch the train. This cleanser saves me that few precious seconds of having to pat/swipe on toner/lotion since it's 2 in 1. I wouldn't recommend it for night use since I like something a little heavy duty to get rid of the day's grime and dirt along with traces of makeup. Love the refreshing scent that perks me up and I spend less time than usual rinsing it off. My skin never feels dry after cleansing; just soft and a little plump. Like the cleansing milk, it comes in a heavy glass bottle, which I don't mind since I don't take it into the shower with me. My gripe is the over-pouring bit because although it comes with a dropper-cap type that allows you to shake the product into your hands, it's so runny it's practically water and you'll have it spilling out of your palm before you even know it's way too much. 

Repurchase: Maybe

Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar Body Lotion (travel size)

I'm not so well-versed in seasonal scents but I have to say this is awesome with the cooler weather. Never mind that it's not really that moisturizing or that it's basically perfume disguised as a body lotion. I guess it's alright when it's not too cold and dry yet. Unlike some vanilla scents, I find this not too sickly sweet and just right for before bed. No stickiness and tackiness that makes me feel uncomfortable about rolling around in my clean sheets.

Repurchase: Maybe

Sunscreen (sample from dermatologist)

You may or may not know that I'm highly allergic to certain ingredients in sunscreens. I'm more prone to getting reactions from chemical sunscreens than physical ones. Was given a small sample at the skin clinic without any label :( and I had zero reaction from wearing it. No rash, no redness, no itching, no swelling, nothing. And it wears well under makeup, too, surprisingly. None of that dreaded white cast or extra oiliness after an hour or so. Wish I'd taken a picture of what this actually is :(

Repurchase: No

Weleda Wild Rose Smoothing Eye Cream

I'm blessed with good genes in the sense that neither of my parents age before their time. But years of squinting in the sun from working outdoors have given me a few very faint lines here and there. I've been using eye cream for a good few years now, but I'm not actually sure if they're doing anything for me. This is a very affordable alternative to what I used before I came to Japan and 10ml goes a really, really long way considering that I don't use it during the day. It's more like my "extra" step in my night routine. I haven't seen any improvement (nor deterioration) so I guess this is more of a preventive measure...? Doesn't feel oily or greasy like other eye creams I've used in the past and I can almost immediately moisturize without needing time for it to "sink in". I don't feel heaviness in the morning, either. I'm not big on anti-aging (yet) and I'd say this acts more as a moisturizer for the delicate skin around the eyes than a smoothing one.

Repurchase: Maybe

Biotherm Biopur Pore Reducer One-Minute Unclogging Mask

Discontinued, maybe? One of my favorites from Biotherm. I know it says one-minute unclogging mask but I always use it like a regular clay mask. Cleanse, pat dry, slather it on, lay back and relax (sometimes squeeze in a little snooze) and wait for it to dry. The cool, minty feeling is really calming and I especially love using this in warmer weather. When it dries, I sometimes see translucent spots where I'm especially oily, mainly on my nose and occasionally on my cheeks. I've had oily/combination skin for a long time so this mask helps to keep it in check. I wet my hands and splash some water on my face to moisten the mask slightly and massage the exfoliating beads a bit before rinsing everything off and wrapping it up with toner and moisturizer. Might be my imagination but my skin always looks clearer and brighter after my once a week application. Much, much love and I'm pretty sad to see it go :(

Repurchase: No

The Body Shop Blueberry Shower Gel

Dislike. Sickly sweet, even for me. Soap and paraben free, like the rest in the shower gel range.

Repurchase: No

Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil

Needs no introduction. Used up countless bottles and still have many more to go. It does its job really well, but I mustn't have been in the right frame of mind when I bought way too many bottles. Time to try out something else.

Repurchase: Have backups

rinRen Konatsu & Camellia Shampoo

Dislike it just as much as the Yuzu & Ginger version which I've used up previously. First whiff, ooooooh, nice and light! Sadly it stops there. My hair is not shinier nor less tangly. If anything, I get more frizz than usual, which is so strange since I've never really had this problem before. The smell doesn't linger, either. So underwhelmed by the experience. Again, I must have hit my head or something because I have another 2 bottles of this atrocity :(

Repurchase: Have backup bottles

6 full-sized products and an eyeshadow. Am I a goddess or what?

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!