this is one of the reason that i wanted to buy the gift set from peter thomas roth, along with the gold and rose mask. although the rose mask falls short for me, i like the cucumber and black irish moor mask. now i only had 3 mini masks left. and this is the one that i wanted to try first. although i was worried that it might irritate my skin, so i was kind of back and forth using this mask.

this is the description from their website: this powerful, triple-action manual, chemical and enzymatic exfoliating treatment addresses a dull, aging, and congested complexion in three ways: exfoliates with pumpkin enzymes, reveals with alpha hydroxy acid and polishes with aluminium oxide crystals. helps even the appearance of skin tone, smooth the look of fine lines and wrinkles and clarify to reveal skin that looks smoother, younger, radiant and revitalized.

the packaging: i have the gift set, so each mask comes in a color-coordinated plastic tube according to their flavour. for pumpkin, it's orange tube. the tube is a see-through so you can see the remaining mask inside. there's a description and instructions at the back of the tube. each tube is sealed with foil for extra security. which is nice considering this is just small tube for a gift set. i have bought some japanese travel size set and they didn't put seal on the opening of the tube. perhaps they didn't think that we will bring it home with us.

the scent: okay, everybody praised the scent of this mask. and i have to agree, it smells yummy. a lot of people said that this smells like pumpkin pie. well, i never eat one, so i don't know how pumpkin pie smells like. all i can say that it reminds me of ontbijtkoek. which perhaps similar since it was made of several spices, like pumpkin pie, i reckon. i have to warn you though, don't put this mask on when you're hungry or you will be tempted to lick it.

the product: the mask is a grainy orange-brown cream, similar to the tube's color. it's easy to spread on to my face. the instruction says to massage it after putting it on the whole face for a few minutes and then leave it for about 5-7 minutes. you have to put a good amount of mask on your face or it might get dried before the time is up. it's easy to wash off too.

the result: after massaging it, i can feel the hot sensation. it isn't as hot as TBS rice/acai masks, so i think most people could stand the heat. but perhaps for sensitive skin, you might want to try a little first before putting it on your whole face. after washing it off, i can feel my face become so smooth. some blackheads will surface so i can pop them easily. since the exfoliation grains is smaller, it doesn't irritate my skin. i didn't experience any redness after using this mask. but i do remember not to over exfoliate. i usually skip my acid toner and BHA after using exfoliation mask, and religiously layer hydrating toners and moisturizer. i also see that my face is a little bit brighter.

i would say that i'm very happy with this mask. i can see why everyone raves about it. it works well and it is quite gentle for me. but again, not everyone is the same so you might want to test a little bit before purchasing the whole tub. especially since the full size tub ain't cheap. another thing to remember that this mask contains AHA, so don't forget to use sunscreen the day after. in fact, don't ever forget to put on sunscreen on your face. EVER. and use this mask sparingly. perhaps 1-2 times a week is enough to avoid over exfoliation. if you're looking for a exfoliation mask and doesn't mind the budget, grab this. it definitely works! but if you're on tight budget, then don't splurge, there are other exfoliating masks that works as good as this one. as for me, i do like it, but this mask is out of my budget, so i won't buy the full size. especially since i still have two full size exfoliating mask from TBS in my stash.

the tube

left: before middle: mask on my face right: after

as you probably knew, i always do a big haul when in japan. mostly because most of the products there are affordable. so when i went to daiso, i couldn't believe that they sell serum with just 100 yen tag, so i grabbed 3 of them. i've read about them on amabie website, but no review on them yet, so i was intrigued to see whether they work or not despite the price.

this the description from alphabeauty website: an anti-aging moisturizing essence/ serum contains coix seed extract for skin nourishment and helps avoid dryness. this is the best choice for value among those moisturizing essence with similar main ingredient.
i also found a bit description from goodlucktripjapan website, which is not similar at all to the one that alphabeauty wrote. this is description from the second website: this HM lotion contains job's tears extract. job's tears has anti-inflammatory properties, so it can help prevent acne and whiten skin. we recommend this product for both oily and dry skin types.

the packaging

the packaging: it comes in a plastic pump bottle, each type has different color, and for this type, it's green. let me remind you that the triple collagen is pink, the royal jelly is yellow/orange, the horse oil is dark blue and the hyaluronic acid is light blue. there's also a transparent plastic cap to cover the pump. every serum comes in 30 ml size, which is a normal size for a serum/essence. at the back, there's a sticker label that contains description and instruction in english and japanese. quite surprising considering this is a cheap product. even bigger brands like biore and hada labo don't bother to put english translation on their products.

the bottle

the scent: i believe it's scentless as usual, but the first time i tried it i detect a hint of alcohol scent. then i looked at the ingredients list, and i saw that alcohol is the second on that list.

the cap and the pump

the product: it's a clear essence. the consistency is more viscous than most essence i've tried, but runnier than most serums that i've tried. the few first times i used it, i feel cooling sensation the moment i put it on my skin. i suspect it's because of the alcohol in it, but lately i don't feel that cooling sensation anymore. compared to the collagen serum, this one is runnier but it takes the same time to get it absorbed.

close up look at the pump bottle and the cap

the result: i've been using this serum for about a month, and i see that this is as hydrating as the collagen one. i can see that this serum calms my skin, reducing the redness on my cheeks. as for preventing acne, i don't think it works. i still got acne, although i can't say that it's entirely the serum's fault. i got acne twice during using this serum. the first time, i was using full makeup and i think i didn't wash off my makeup completely, so perhaps it was the culprit. the second one, we were going away for about 3 days and i didn't bring my whole arsenal with me. and during both flight i didn't bring any mist to hydrate my skin, so definitely breakouts afterward. as for whitening the skin, since i already use another brightening product as well as vitamin c serum in my routine, i can't see additional brightening effect on me.

left: the serum consistency right: after blended

i have to say i didn't have any expectation from this serum, mostly because it's so cheap. somehow i can't believe that it will work as well as more expensive ones. i have to say that this one works better than the triple collagen one. i can see the hydrating effect and the calming effect, although the rest can't be seen or not yet proven effective. but for that price, i'm not complaining.
ps: okay.. i've just bought naruko raw job's tears essence, which is similar to this serum. and i plan to use them side by side to see the difference. are you guys interested?

when i was in japan, i intended to do a shopping spree, to buy everything that i will need, including facial foam. facial foam is the one that get used quickly in my home because my husband also use it sometimes. even though the hada labo one is okay, but i don't want to repeat my purchase just yet. and i keep seeing this facial foams everytime i go, so i decided to grab a couple. i remembered the green one is the famous one but i don't want to try the usual deep clean one, so i grabbed the pink and yellow one.

this is the description from amazon: ghassoul is effective in ridding skin of dullness, comes from ancient river beds, and supports the rebirth of skin with the magic of its minerals. argan oil, rich in vitamin e oil and polyphenols, works to preserves beautiful skin. maintain skin's healthy glow! it adsorbs sebum and removes dead skin cells and impurities, causes of dull complexion, and promotes turnover.

the packaging: it comes in yellow tube with black flip top cap. they only seal the outer tube with plastic sealing, nothing on the opening of the inside tube. there's japanese text at the back, but they are japanese.. i have no idea what it's about. this one is 120 ml, which is pretty standard, but i think korean facial foam comes in bigger tubes.

the tube

the scent: i think it has similar scent as the clay mask from TFS, but it's very subtle. i don't think i'll ever find annoying scented product from japan. all of their products that i've tried either scentless or has very subtle scent.

the opening (no seal whatsoever) right: the foam out from the tube

the product: the face wash is a greyish cream, thicker than the hada labo one. i agree that this one is called paste. the texture reminds me of a toothpaste consistency. it's easy to lather, but it's not bubbling much. but i don't care about the bubbles.

the result: since this is a cleansing paste with clay in the ingredient, i was afraid that this one might be too drying. turned out it's not that drying. but it's not as moisturizing as hada labo either. i would place it in between the chulala soap bar and hada labo. i would suggest to immediately hydrate your skin after washing your face with this one. as for the brightening, i will say that it does brighten after i wash my face, but it is only temporary. i have other face wash that does this too, so it's not that special.

the cleansing paste on my palm

again, i don't have any pH strip so i can't say about the pH. all i know that this one might fall in the drying section of face wash, so i guess not many of you will like it. but if you aren't worry about the pH, don't care about the slight dryness feeling afterwards, then grab it. i totally forget the price, but i bet the hada labo is cheaper than this, so you might want to think before buying this one. so far it doesn't break me out, but it doesn't help with sebum problem. i notice if i was outdoor and it was super hot, then i will get oily face as usual. but if i stay indoor, i won't have that problem. so, the face wash doesn't really absorb all the sebum. i will try the other types before deciding which one i like better.

this is the third mask from the mediheal X line collaboration that i've tried. so far i like the other two, so i have high hopes from this mask. my brother in law was kind enough to buy me all the variants, a box each. so i have enough masks for myself.

this is the description from memebox website: equally adorable as it is effective, mediheal's bestselling face masks are now featuring our favorite characters from line! the egt timetox ampoule mask got a makeover, and now features brown, one of asia's most recognizable next-level emoji characters. this ampoule mask feature an exceptionally rich blend of anti-aging ingredients including the award-winning EGF (epidermal growth factor), peptides, astaxanthin, and adenosine. the goal is to boost your skin's elasticity by penetrating to the epidermal layer, firming and lifting to minimize fine lines and wrinkles.
beneficial ingredients: glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, collagen, propolis, royal jelly, honey, portulaca oleracea extract, aloe vera, allatoin, adenosine.

the packaging: the mask comes in regular sachet, yellow in color and as mentioned above, has the picture of brown in front of the sachet. at the back, there's description and instruction both in english and korean.

the sachet

the scent: it has similar baby powder-ish scent as the other two. it's very subtle so once you put it on your face, you can't even smell the scent unless you draw deep breath. and sniff it frequently.

the product: the mask is made of soft cotton, very thin and flimsy. i was hoping it has plastic backing when i used the last one, and i still hope the same. especially now. i have quite difficulty to unfold this mask, i almost tear it apart. and just like the other two, it was drenched in clear essence. it has excess of essence but not enough to soak a dry tablet. the fit is okay, it has slits to adjust the mask, although i hope it has a smaller eye holes so it can cover my undereyes area better. again, i was hoping to get the whole character printed on the mask, but unfortunately, i have to satisfy with just small brown on my cheek.

the result: i put it on for about 40 minutes and it's still wet (i hope i can use it longer, but once again, the baby decided to wake up so i have to take the mask off). after that, i feel my skin is hydrated and somehow i feel a bit tightening feeling. but it is just temporary. what i don't like is that it's a little bit too moisturizing that it feels slightly sticky afterward.

left: before middle: mask on my face right: after

just like the other two, i loveeee this mask too. i think i love all mediheal masks. it is soft, it adheres well, and it has enough essence to do all the good. although it's slightly more expensive than my usual masks, but i don't mind since it has all the goodness inside to make my skin plump and hydrated.

i grabbed this one last year when i was in japan. i was bored with pure smile masks, and i didn't know what to expect from lululun. i was hoping to get more my beauty diary masks, but unfortunately i couldn't find more. so i decided to grab something else, something fun. when i saw this hello kitty covered in strawberry face mask, i decided to grab it without knowing anything about it. and i saw someone else on instagram using this mask, and i remembered i haven't used mine, so i used it.

this is the description from sanrio website: make your home spa & self care experience fun and cute with his hello kitty strawberry narikiri face mask. look like an adorable strawberry hello kitty while rejuvenating your skin. these korean beauty and skincare products make pampering yourself super sweet and delightful.
they put an english label on the website, so i know what's the ingredients. some key ingredients that i noticed are soybean ferment extract, witch hazel, rose water, sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed collagen, and arbutin.

the packaging: it comes in red sachet, with strawberry pictures at the back and hello kitty face using this face mask at front. all texts at the back of my sachet is in japanese. i bet that hello kitty face at front is the main reason for the people that bought this mask, including me.

the packaging

the scent: this mask does smells sweet like strawberry milk, but not too overwhelming.

the product: the mask is made of cotton, pretty thick but not papery. the whole mask is covered id red strawberry pattern and has hello kitty face's shape, complete with the bow. and the bow makes the outline a bit weird. it makes the mask way bigger than my face. it has longer nose part, almost to my nose tip, which is unusual. most of the mask that i've used has shorter nose part. it has slits too for better adjustment. it adheres well. the essence is clear watery type, and it leaves excess in the pouch as much as lululun's excess.

left: before middle: mask on me right: after

the result: i put the mask on for about 15 minutes. i like to keep longer if i could, unfortunately these days the baby decided to wake up on odd times, so i have to take the mask off so he didn't surprised by the kitty face on his mom's face. anyway, it is hydrating, but i can't notice anything else. perhaps it's a bit brightening but the effect is temporary.

the excess from one pouch

anyway, it's a good thing to do on your leisure time, and entertaining too. considering you have this hello kitty face on top of your face for about 15 minutes or so. but if you don't like anything cartoony, then skip this. as for the result, i can't complain anything. it isn't too special, but it's not horrible either. i would get another one if i could, for the sake of breaking boredom in using plain face masks.

when i first went to japan, the daiso that i found wasn't as big as the one in harajuku and it didn't have lots of cosmetics option, so i only bought the tablet sheet mask and this hand cream. i grabbed it mainly because i was curious about horse oil. horse oil was an interesting ingredients a little while before i went to japan, but mostly the product that contains horse oil that i knew was from korea. so i decided to try it and actually i didn't dare to put any horse oil on my face (yet. since i have a horse oil sheet mask that i haven't used) so better to put it on my hand first.

the packaging: it comes in simple white plastic tube with the horse picture at front. there's an english text to indicate the name, besides japanese and chinese characters. at the back, you can read the short description, instructions, and ingredients in english, japan, and spanish. i don't know why daiso bother to put 3 languages at the back of its product considering it's super cheap?

the bottle

the scent: this is the first japanese item that has subtle scent. and i was like, yayyyy!!! i think it's floral scent but very subtle. that's why fragrance is the last on the ingredients list.

the back of the tube (again, surprisingly there's english text on it)

the product: the cream is white, gel-like texture. it becomes watery after being spread on my skin and it is absorbed quickly. afterward, i can feel there's a film like coat on my hand. perhaps more like the feeling that you get after you hold a candle. the wax is transferred on your hand. that's exactly how i feel about it. it's a little bit slippery and sticky too, but it fades as the time goes by.

left: sealing on the opening of the tube right: hand cream on my hand

the result: yes, it's moisturizing. although i don't like the slippery feeling in the first 5 minutes that i put it on.

the tube opening

honestly, i like the daiso hand cream better than my previous the face shop or body shop hand creams. somehow it's more moisturizing than the other two brands that i've tried before. and the moisturizing feeling lasts longer than both brands too. i wish i knew it on my breastfeeding days, when i wash my hands numerous times.. oh well. if you have super dry hands, grab this one. and probably not one, but lots. after all, it's super affordable. i still have DHC hand cream, so i will compare those two before deciding which one i like better. for now, i'm keeping this hand cream on my desk.

cream on my hand

half blended

fully blended

i've been washing my brushes with baby shampoo. it's simply because it's the only thing that i can get my hands on to wash my brushes with. as for my air puff, i use my cleansing oil. and then i found out about daiso detergent for puff and sponge. i read all the reviews and all of them say it's a good stuff. naturally, when i went to harajuku daiso, i searched for one and grab two bottles in one go. if this stuff is as good as they all say, then i should have back ups. after all, this stuff is even cheaper than my baby's baby shampoo!

the packaging: it comes in tiny white plastic bottle with flip top, no sealing whatsoever on the opening. lucky it didn't leak when i packed it inside my luggage. the label is pink and luckily they put english text to indicate the name of the product. at the back label, they put the description, ingredients and instructions in english and japanese! something that is surprising considering daiso is a budget products. even hadalabo and biore don't bother to put on english text on their products. however, this stuff is tiny, only comes in 80ml. i do hope it lasts long...

the bottle

the scent: i believe it's scentless. which is a good thing since sometimes i even feel weird when i smell baby shampoo scent on my brushes.

the back of the bottle (they care to put english text on it!)

the product: it is a liquid detergent. and it's colorless too. so you have to be careful when you pour this thing since it's powerful. a little is only what it need to clean your brushes and sponges. it's runnier than my usual baby shampoo, so i have to be more careful when pouring this thing.

the flip top

the result: i've tried this several times. this works like magic. it cleanses my puff, sponges and brushes like a dream. no hustle. if you read my post about my DIY bb cushion, then you will know that i use this stuff to soak my cushion sponge, alternating with cleansing oil and this one works better and faster in cleaning the cushion sponge. all i need to do is putting a few drops in a bowl of water and then soak the cushion sponge and leave it for a few minutes. repeat 3 times and done! for brushes and sponges, sometimes i only need two rinses since i clean my brush every one or two weeks so no heavy build up there. for my brushes, i use the same method that i use when cleansing the cushion sponge. as for my sponge, i put a few drop on dry and dirty sponge, then rub it with wet finger and add a few drops of water to make it foam a bit, massaging it with my finger until all the dirt comes off. then i soak it in clean water and rinse it several times.

definitely love this detergent since it works wonderfully and it doesn't cost much. repurchase in bulk the next time i go to japan again (crossing my finger.. hopefully we get to go to japan again sometimes). i recommend this detergent to anyone who use makeup brushes and sponges regularly and want to clean them regularly, effectively and quickly.

i may not be head over heels about lululun masks, but i like their way of forcing us to do regular masking. they didn't have single mask pouch, they always come in bulk (until recently.. they have their premium mask that comes individually), with the least one is 7 masks in one pouch. i've tried the basic one, pink, white and blue. there are two other basic types which are classified as their precious category, red and gold. i didn't buy them at first because it's for anti-aging, and i was afraid it might be too much for my skin. but after trying their masks, i bought them anyway to complete all the regular types (they have regional special masks too, but since i only went to tokyo, i didn't get the chance to buy any).

this is the description from their usa website: intense moisture RED for anti-aging care. go ahead and feel the difference. tackle dryness and signs of aging with the lululun face mask in precious red, a luxurious daily treatment developed in japan to deliver anti-aging benefits while infusing skin with moisture for long-term results.

the packaging: just like the rest from this brand, the masks come in a ziplock bag. each one has different colors according to the type. as for this one, it's definitely red. at the back there's description but everything is in japanese. the bag type one has 7 masks in a bag. all seven is in one bag without any individual packaging.

the scent: like wet tissue but subtle. i don't think i've ever encountered a japanese product that has offensive scent. most of them are either scentless or has very subtle scent.

the packaging

the product: the mask is made of thin cotton, quite stretchy and not papery at all. the fit is okay although i wish they have smaller eye holes. there's no slit so it might be a little difficult to adjust on your face. the essence is clear. usually i will try to flip the bag couple times before opening it to ensure the essence is well distributed. but even though i've done that, at the end, there's still some excess, but it's not enough to soak a dry tablet mask. this is the first lululun pouch that give me excess essence.

the result: the mask is not soaking wet so basically i only use the mask for about 15 minutes each. after taking it off, i can feel a bit tightening feeling afterwards. it's just as hydrating as the blue one, a little bit disappointing since i'm hoping this one is more moisturizing considering it's labelled as the "anti-aging" one. there's a sticky feeling afterward too, and it takes a little while for the other product in the next step to be absorbed. i didn't manage to use all seven masks in consecutive days unfortunately (the kids got sick so i have to skip days), so i can't say what will happen if i use this mask consecutively. but as for single mask usage, this one only hydrates well enough but not too much. no other effect from this mask.

left: before middle: mask on me right: after (this is the after 7 masks)

honestly, i'm disappointed with this type. i'm hoping something that is more moisturizing than the blue or pink one. i have good times with the pink and blue one, and it made want to use it everyday for the whole week. but this one? i didn't miss it for skipping days. perhaps i should use this consecutively to see better result. luckily, this one doesn't cost much.

since almost everyone doesn't seem to like the new biore formulation, i didn't grab one when i was in japan last time. i was hesitating whether or not to get the anessa one, but in the end i grab one. and i also grab this one too, considering now i'm using my sunscreen faster than ever! oh, and i also get the spray version too. honestly, i know nothing about this brand, so i have no idea what to hope for other than it works as well as biore one and it has matte finish just like the biore one. does it satisfy me? let's see.....

you can read the description from ratzillacosme's website here.

the packaging: as usual, the packaging has cardboard backing and the plastic cover that you can slide over to get the tube out. the tube itself is light blue with white screw cap. there's description at the back but everything is in japanese, of course. there's a label at the front to indicate which type it is. it has the usual spout to dispose the sunscreen. it also comes in 80 ml size, bigger than biore essence but a little less than biore gel.

the packaging

the scent: it has that super subtle sweet fruity scent but i also pick a hint of alcohol scent in it. the scent is quickly dissipates. i usually put it on the back on my hand first before doting it on my face. and i can't pick up the scent even before i dot it on my face.

the tube

the product: it's categorized as gel-cream, but i think it's more of a runny cream. more milky than biore uv essence, but runnier than TFS sunscreen. i think it has similar consistency as biore uv gel. it's easy to spread but take awhile to sink in. since it has alcohol in it, i feel a cooling sensation right after i spread it on my skin, but only for a couple of second.

left: the spout right: the sunscreen on my hand

the result: after being completely absorbed, it leaves greasy feeling, unlike biore that turns matte completely. after i use my usual makeup, i will look more dewy than usual. oil control is definitely poorer than biore. but nothing that a powder can't handle.

i definitely won't repurchase this one, but for dry skin, this might be a good option for daily sunscreen. but if you're sensitive to alcohol, perhaps you should skip this. normal to oily skin if you don't mind looking extra dewy or doesn't mind putting powder on top of your makeup, then you'll be fine.