Review | Hada Labo Hydrating Lotion

 

When my social media followers asked me on which product I have recently used to help restore my damaged skin barrier; an aftermath of several episodes of allergic reactions due to food poisoning or after trying new products that severely sensitised my skin, I would answer: AHA-based exfoliating toner coupled with Hyaluronic Acid-powered hydrating toners or as Japanese would refer as lotions. Of course, I had to wait for several days after the redness and irritation calmed down by Centella Asiatica and Panthenol-based serums or sheet masks but that's on another post.

Hada Labo Gokujyun (Hydrating) Lotion deeply hydrates as it contains different molecular sizes of Hyaluronic Acid that penetrate skin layers on different levels, helps in balancing the overall moisture balance and prepare my skin to absorb the rest of my skincare products but first thing first, let's go to some basic details about the product!

Product Description:

Formulated with Japan's upgraded formula and High Performance Penetrate & Deep Moisturising (HPP&M) Technology actively infuses 4 types of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) to fully hydrate skin from the surface to inner skin layer for significantly soft, smooth and supple skin; to prepare skin for enhanced absorption of skincare ingredients.

• Large-size HA - forms a layer of moisture retaining barrier to effectively provide skin with a powerful moisture-locking shield to lock in moisture on skin.
• Medium-size & Super HA - combine 2 types of HA with high water retention ability, to lock in and retain large volume of moisture inside the skin for super and long-lasting hydration.
• Nano HA - with fine molecule size HA that easily penetrates and infuses moisture deep into skin to prepare skin for enhanced skincare ingredients absorption.

How to use: Use twice daily after cleansing face. Apply on palms and gently pat onto skin until thoroughly absorbed. Store in a cool, dry and away from direct sunlight.

Capacity: 170ml

Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Disodium Succinate, Methylparaben, Sodium Hyaluronate (Medium-size HA), Hydroxyethylcellulose Succinic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate (large-size HA), Hydrolysed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate.

Packaging:

 

As you can see on the above photos, the product comes in that transparent plastic bottle. There's English label sticker at the back covering the Japanese product description and unlike most Japanese beauty products that I have used in the past, there is a product expiry date printed at the bottom of the bottle! The format is MM YYYY (Month Year). 

 

The product doesn't come with pump or anything; just a simple cap with no bottle neck hence huge opening so be careful not to spill the product. I'd suggest for you to decant into smaller bottle if you were to travel with this one.

APPLICATION

 

The product comes in a quite thick yet watery texture and quickly absorbed into skin. Once spread even, it leaves skin feeling well-hydrated and soft to touch.

THOUGHTS

I think I've mentioned this many times before but when it comes to exfoliating dead skin cells off my face, I'd prefer to use chemical exfoliators; at least for the past couple of years. However at this point, I only use Glycolic Acid (AHA)-containing exfoliating toner like 2 to 3 times a week depending my skin condition of the day. Even though the exfoliating toners contain merely 5% AHA at most, my skin can be sensitive at times so I have to add not only soothing toner or essence in order to reduce the redness and irritation but also hydrating toners, essences, serums even ampoules to compensate the moisture loss often caused by exfoliation. This is where this very product comes in as it's powered by Hyaluronic Acid that is known for its hydrating properties in different sizes that penetrate the skin layers on different levels together with Butylene Glycol and Glycerin i.e humectants that help drawing in moisture from the environment. It's important to know that whenever you're using humectant-containing skincare product, always have facial mists or humidifier with you especially when you're in dry condition otherwise the moisture in your skin is going to be sucked out instead.

This toner can be used as first step after cleansing routine or when in need; 3 to 4 drops on thin cotton pads and place on dry facial area as point masks to have a quick hydrating treats. I also love putting the toner in fridge these days as chilled toner is such a saviour in our current hot weather. As I actually have normal to oily skin, I do enjoyed the Light version of this toner too; sometimes layering it several times before applying my sunscreen of the day and I'm good to go!

You guys know that I don't really have a lot of Japanese beauty product but this product is indeed one of my favourite Japanese skincare product that I've indulged enough to put this on my forever-repurchase list. Do check out some other beauty bloggers' Must-Have Japanese Beauty Products by clicking here! I have to say that the list actually includes some of my other favourite Japanese beauty products too!

I guess that's all from me! Let me know what do you think by leaving comments down below and I'll see you guys on my next post! Jyaa ne~!

Blogger Mail | Re:sea Japan

Recently, a Japanese brand @reseahk sent me two of their products; Reborn Moisturizing Toner and Marine Nano Cream to try and as you've been seeing on my skincare diaries throughout several weeks ago, I've been adding them especially to my night routine solely because I'd prefer to do a much longer routine at night. I do sometimes layer the toner along with my lightweight hydrating toners in the morning. I'm gonna do a full review after several more weeks so definitely do stay tuned for that later.

I guess that's all for now so I'll be seeing you guys on my next post. Annyeong~

Skincare Diary | PM Cleansing Routine

I've discovered a new brand from Japan while watching Get It Beauty recently and it's Bifesta. Here in Malaysia, you can find the facial cleansing products by this brand in drugstores such as Watsons and Guardian.

With that, these are my current evening cleansers from Bifesta. I actually got my hands on 3 cleansing waters but currently I'm loving all these three right now as they're so good at removing my makeup and cleansing my skin.

The Eye Make Remover doesn't sting my eyes which is definitely a plus and it removes all my waterproof eye makeup so well. Just take a cotton pad; damped it with 3 to 4 drops of the remover then place it on my eye area, press gently for about a minute and wipe off. 

The Cleansing Lotion is like a cleansing water and it's actually a no-rinse product. Using 3 separate cotton pads damped with this and wipe my face with one pad each round is enough for for my cleansing step and technically I can already  proceed with skincare. Still, I can never give up double cleansing unless on days I'm too tired, passed out on my bed and only manage to lift one arm to take pre-soaked cotton pads and remove my makeup of the day. Sounds exaggerating? I'm pretty sure you have those days too.

Now, the Carbonated Cleanser is a whipped foam cleanser that dispensed a fluffy foam that's so soft, cleanses well and doesn't dry out my normal to oily skin. 

The combination of these three products are ample for my PM cleansing routine as for now so stay tuned for next one. Until then, annyeong~

Review | Sakura Kokoro Halal Japanese Skincare

The only time I had the chance trying out Japanese skincare was when I was so curious about why Jun Ji Hyun replaced Park Han Byul as the ambassador of Hado Labo skincare and I ended up buying trial kit for its most known moisturising line. Today, I have the opportunity to share with you guys about this line of skincare which is also from Japan, Sakura Kokoro Halal Skincare by H&N Cosmetics, carried by Ippin.com.my. 

About Sakura Kokoro:

H&N Cosmetic's halal skincare products are easy to use and gentle on the skin, aiming not only for Muslim women, but also for local Japanese and for those who have sensitive skin. Its packaging is lightweight and easy to take with you wherever you go.

Sakura Kokoro skincare contains natural ingredients including Yoshino cherry tree leaf extract, lactic acid bacilli and fermented soy milk, grape vine extract, and damask rose flower extract, with ability to lighten the skin and improve skin appearance to promote beautiful skin.

There are 4 products comprising this skincare line and I'm going to share with you guys 3 of them which includes the facial cleanser, moisturiser, and BB Cream. I've been on easy 3-step skincare in the morning for the past few months so getting into this line of skincare is truly easy.

Review | Melati Halal Japanese Skincare

Makeup removers are among those products that ran like water. Well, at least to me, it kinda is as I can somewhat stretch my facial cleansers as I use different products according to my mood and I have separate cleansers for morning and evening but during weekdays where I usually wear wakeup to work, I tend to use one makeup remover throughout the month. 

I recently got this makeup remover from Ippin.com.my to try so I'll be sharing with you guys my thoughts on this very product. 

First, let me talk a little bit about this Melati Halal Japanese skincare line. Melati is a skincare line that is specialising in makeup removal, moisturising and sun protection products. The brand combines high quality Japanese cosmetic products with Islamic principles. 

Product Description:

This gel contains extract from coix lacryma-jobi ma-yuen seed (Adlay Coix seed) and Prunus lannesiana (a kind of cherry blossom), which has been well-known and loved since ancient times, for its effect to smooth, refine, and tone skin, prevent dark spots resulted from sun exposure, and moisturise skin. Continuous use of Melati skin care products to maintain natural, healthy, glowing skin.

Blogger Mail | Melati and Sakura Kokoro | HALAL Japanese Skincare

Previously, I talked about an online shopping site that is based in Tokyo, Japan that not only offering variable products ranging from Japanese food, fashion and of course, Japanese beauty products but also simple ordering process and effortless shipping all the way from Japan. No worry on authenticities of the products as Ippin.com.my are monitoring their merchants closely and providing direct customer services. 

Around last month, I received a package from them which contains Japanese skincare and makeup items so today I'm going to share with you guys these items as shown below so without further adieu, let's get right into it!

First thing first, let's talk about the shipping process. I received the package in exactly 9 days including weekends after I was notified about the shipment. 9 days is quite fast considering they're merely using Japan Post Express Mail Service. As of right now, they don't give their customer to select their choice of delivery and it's quite understandable as if you've been to the site, different products have different allocated time for shipping and some of them even comes with Free Shipping. 

The items came in that sturdy regular box and each item was bubble-wrapped separately and there are layers of bubble wrapper that line the inner of the box for more protection.

Now, let's go to good stuffs the store sent me.