i always wanted to try drunk elephant products, but it's so expensive that i keep delaying getting one. i also don't think you need to buy high-end brand to get good result, but i kept seeing drunk elephant getting lots of love from several youtuber that i follow. so naturally i wanted to try and compared it to my usual japanese/korean skincare. i didn't want to spend lots of money for full size. luckily, drunk elephant has several set in mini or samples sizes, so i got the glow duo one which has the vitamin c serum and vitamin b serum. i was interested in the vitamin c serum and retinol, but there's no combination with that possibility so i grab the glow duo and the midi one. anyway.. i cracked open the glow duo one first since their vitamin c is famous for being oxidized quickly, so better use it up as fast as i could.

this is the description from their website: a daily dose of vitamins for your complexion. what it is formulated to do: you take your vitamins every morning, so why stop there? this daily dose for your complexion delivers powerful antioxidants to firm and brighten while replenishing essential hydration. witness your glow everyday.

c firma day serum: a revolutionary vitamin c serum packed with a powerful antioxidant complex of L-ascorbic and ferulic acids to reveal a brighter, firmer and more even-looking complexion.

b-hydra intensive hydration serum: like a cool drink of water for your thirsty skin, this ultra-hydrating serum replenishes the complexion and improves the look of skin texture and tone.
formulated with pro-vitamin b5 and pineapple ceramide, b-hydra delivers steady hydration throughout the day, leaving the skin looking healthy and more illuminated. blended with a unique lentil/apple/watermelon complex, b-hydra helps diminish drabness, dryness and the appearance of fine lines. your complexion will appear brighter and more youthful upon every application. this lightweight, hard-hitting serum is ideal for all skin.
100% free of essential oils, silicones and fragrance. vegan and cruelty free.

the rise + glow duo

description and ingredients list on the can

the packaging: since i bought this in a set, it comes in little can that you can lift up the top. it has combination of orange and blue design since it's consisted of vitamin c and vitamin b serum. it has a bit description on the can in english and france. there's a list of ingredients for both serum as well. inside the can there are two little bottles, the vitamin c one and vitamin b one. i will discuss the vitamin c in another post. the vitamin b one comes in a plastic tube with light blue cap. there's a usage suggestion at the back in english and french. inside there's a pump head to dispense the serum. and they use airless pump system so you cannot refill the bottle. once you're done, you're done.

vitamin b and vitamin c serum in the can

the scent: this one is scentless since it has no added fragrance.

the serum bottle

the product: the sample size only comes in 8 ml. i use it once every night and it lasts me for a month. i use three pumps every time to cover all my face. the serum is quite unique. i thought since it's a hydrating serum, i expected a liquid-form serum. but this one comes in a gel-like form. it's a white gel like serum that immediately turns into watery traces once you spread it around. it takes a minute or two to be completely sink into your skin and then i don't feel any tackiness. i don't say that it gives matte finish, but compared to my other hydrating serum, this is slightly less dewy than the other one.

the serum on my hand

the result: it does what it says. it's hydrating serum, it's lightweight enough so it doesn't clog your pores, but i don't think it's revolutionary.

after blending it in

that being said, i'm glad i bought this in sample size. this is a decent hydrating serum. it does what it promises to do. but i don't think it will give you brighter and more youthful look. i agree it might be ideal for all skin types but if you only use this serum only and you have dry skin, i don't think it would be enough. my iunik moisturizing serum is more powerful than this one. plus, in full size, it costs so much. better try hyaluronic acid from other brand like cosrx, ordinary or any other brand. but if you like drunk elephant so much and you have dehydrated, normal to oily skin, then it might be a good hydrating serum for you. as for me.. totally won't buy the full size.

i was about to go to japan and even though i like sana wrinkle cream, i thought it would be nice to try something else. so i decided to try hada labo one. i thought since it's called "lift cream" and targeted for anti-aging, it would have retinol or other anti aging ingredients. but not until i was about to write this review that i found out that i was wrong! anyway.. i'm halfway through the cream, so better write this review quickly or i might finish it first.

the description from rakuten website: cutting-edge anti-aging cream to make your skin resilient! gokujyun alpha series dedicated to anti-aging skin care. this is an anti-aging cream with thick texture containing low molecular weight elastin (moisturizing ingredient) that makes the skin resilient and 3D hyaluronic acid (moisturizing ingredient) that creates moisture nets on the skin. focuses on a mechanism that works on horny cells that support the fundamental of skin. seals moisture into skin, and makes your deeper skin resilient.
mild acidity - it is essential for healthy skin. gentle on skin - fragrance free, color free, mineral oil free, alcohol free. patch tested (not guarantee that skin irritation will not occur for all individuals).
ingredients list: water, glycerin, BG, glyceryl tri (caprylic acid/capric acid), squalane, glyceryl tri (caprylic acid/ capric acid/ myristic acid/ stearic acid), DPG, PPG-10 methyl glucose, behenyl alcohol, isostearic acid PEG-20 sorbitan, sorbitan stearate, hyaluronic acid crosspolymer (3d hyaluronic acid), sodium acetylated hyaluronate (super hyaluronic acid), sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid (nano hyaluronic acid), hydrolyzed elastin (low-molecular-weight-elastin), tetrapeptide-5 (erasugurou), hydrolyzed collagen (low molecular weight collagen), lactic acid bacillus and soy milk fermentation liquid, macadamia fatty phytosteryl, lauroyl glutamine acid di (phytosteryl/octyldodecyl), phellodendron amurense bark extract, meadowfoam oil, pentylene glycol, pullulan, carbomer, hydroxyethyl cellulose, aciratescopolymer ammonium, EDTa-2Na, TEA, methylparaben.

the box

all text in japanese

the packaging: i don't know why but japanese creams come in a box. that's unusual since usually they just seal the bottle of tub without any other packaging. so, this one comes in a red box with the picture of the tub on it. inside, they don't seal the tub but it's okay during travelling. no spilling. there's some text on the box but everything is in japanese. the tub is also red with gold rimming, all made from plastic. there's another text on the tub, also in japanese. all the anti aging line comes in red packaging, and i think there are two more creams that come in similar tub, so make sure you read the name correctly. this one only has gokujyun alpha cream written on it.

another text in japanese

the scent: this one is also scentless. but you might smell something due to the ingredients, but it's barely detectable.

the tub

another text in japanese

the product: the cream is pale yellowish and has gel-like texture, similar to sana wrinkle cream. but it's not as gel like as sana one. it spreads easily on my skin and leaves watery traces as well. the cream is considered pretty lightweight for an anti-aging cream. but although it becomes watery, it still takes awhile to be completely absorbed.

the cream inside

the result: it definitely moisturizes my skin as well as the sana one. it's not clogging my pores even though it has a lot of moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin, butylene glycol, and a bunch of hyaluronic acid as well as collagen and squalene. usually my skin don't like squalene, but somehow this one seems okay for my skin. i don't notice any difference but sometime i do feel that it's not enough on some days.

on my hand

after blending it in

i want to like this cream, but somehow i like sana one better for now. i also repurchase sana one and i will compare it again, so i will update about it if i feel differently.

i've been wanted to try jayjun masks for so long, but last time i saw them at guardian, i only found the box and it was quite expensive. luckily, when we went to singapore again, i found an individual masks, so i decided to buy some of them. i've tried one before, so when i was packing for my japan trip, i decided to bring one with me. i picked the one that has foam, essence and mask in a pack since i thought on our first night, it's probably easier to just use this mask especially if husband is too lazy to unpack our luggage.

this is the description from their US website: for deep hydration surge! all in one care, made with layon sheet to fit perfectly on your skin, mineral-rich jeju seawater, dermatologist tested.
a thirst quenching mini facial treatment for your skin! a 3-step treatment to cleanse, brighten and nourish your complexion. formulated with precious, mineral-rich lava seawater from jeju island, this sheet mask provides intensives hydration and soothing effects all at once.
step 1: real water cleansing foam - cleansing foam incorporated with papaya extract to remove dead skin cells.
step 2: vita snow essence - the key ingredients in this essence are niacinamide and adenosine - targeting fine lines and helping you achieve a brighter skin.
step 3: real water brightening black mask - with a combination of mineral-rich seawater from jeju island and ceramides, this mask will help capture in all the nutrients.

solutions for skin brightening, skin moisturizing, normal, dull, uneven skin tone and texture.
claims: jayjun products are proudly hypoallergenic, cruelty and paraben-free.
why we recommend this product for you: a 3-step treatment to cleanse, brighten and nourish our complexion.
papaya extract: helps remove dead skin cells and support healthy cell turnover.
ceramide: aids in moisture retention.
niacinamide: actively brightens.
for maximum absorption: black rayon sheet mask. hydration meets rayon sheet for long-lasting hydration, double-layered sheet mask for special care under the eyes. silky soft, yet fitting mask for comfortable use.

the packaging

the packaging: it comes in black and orange pouch with 3 separate compartments, two on the top that are smaller are the foam and the essence. the one in the lower compartment is the sheet mask. there's description at the back of the essence and foam parts in korean, while the description behind the mask compartment is in korean and ingredients list in english.

the foam sorry about the lighting since i used this when i was travelling

the foam: it's a pearly white cream foam that's actually will be enough for two uses, but i just squeeze them all out on my palm, so i use it all. the packaging is a no for me too. it has opening tear on the bottom, so i don't think i can save the remaining product in the sachet either. so using it up is a wise move. it has subtle scent, same as the essence, but i can't specify what kind of scent it is. it foams up easily and it leaves my skin squeaky clean.

essence

the essence: it's a clear gel essence and it spreads easily. it has the same scent as the foam, and it's very subtle. after spreading it, it leaves watery traces. it's definitely hydrating and not sticky afterward.

left: before middle: mask on right: after

the mask: it's a black thin mask, a bit stiff in material, but it's still juicy with all the essence. it has slit on temples and lower jaw, and it has bottom eye flaps and longer nose flap. for me, the fit is okay, but if i could ask for something, i would ask for softer material than this one. the material on this one feels a bit papery, a bit stiff, but still manageable. i put it on for about 20 minutes or so, and after taking it off, i definitely feel it hydrates my skin really well. the brightening effect is noticeable as well. though afterward, it leaves slightly tacky feeling, but i can put my sleeping mask on top of it without any pilling.

the next morning, i can still feel my skin is supple and well hydrated, considering that the last time i put on my skincare is the morning after my arrival to japan. usually when i was in long haul flight, my skin will suffer the next morning and i will have acne popping out. but since i use this mask on my first night after the flight, somehow it helps preventing it. and i have no acne on the next day. definitely something that i will repurchase for travelling since it's a practical thing to bring. it has the foam, essence and mask in a pack, so it's really practical to bring even in the cabin. i think it would be suitable for all skin types, but if you feel it's not enough, you can always seal the deal with night cream or sleeping pack. as for price, it's a bit pricier than my usual sheet mask, but i think it's understandable since it also comes with foam and essence in sample size.

i have skin that's easily get dried. that's why i use body butter religiously. but when i wash my hands repeatedly or wash dishes with bare hands, my hands get dried quickly. so i get to use hand creams on top of body butter. especially when i was still pumping my breast milk, hand cream is a must on my table. i would apply it after washing all my pumping stuff. and then there would be on-off situation with our house maid, so i need to wash dishes and it would affect my hand skin. so, when body shop had sale, i immediately bought some. i've tried their strawberry hand cream and it's not moisturizing enough, so i bought the shea one as the shea body butter is more moisturizing than the strawberry one.

this is the description from their website: perfect for on-the-go hydration, don't leave home without this hand cream. infused with the scent of shea, the light, gel-cream formula absorbs quickly, helping to soften and protect the hands. nourishes hands, light, non-greasy texture. leaves hands feeling softer and smoother. enriched with community trade shea from ghana.

the tube

the packaging: i bought the hand cream in store, so it's just the tube. i can't remember whether or not they put sealing around the cap. it's toothpaste-like tube, but much smaller. there's a bit description in indonesia printed on added sticker label, but the ingredients list is in english printed at the back of the tube. there's a bigger size, but i bought the 30 ml one. there's another sticker on the side with expiry date and the price. it's really small and travel friendly.

description and ingredients list at the back

the scent: the shea has similar scent to the body butter as well as the hair care products (yep.. i also use the shea hair conditioner and hair mask). it has floral scent that's quite strong but it's not lingering. i can't stand too strong scent, but somehow it's not making me dizzy.

hand cream on my hand

the product: as stated, it's a gel-cream formula that's easy to spread around. a little bit goes a long way, but when my hands are drier than usual, i might need to use more. but i hate the tiny screw cap, i drop it all the time. i wish it comes in a pump. oh well...

after blending it

the result: well, it's not a miraculous product. it does moisturize my hands but compared to dhc hand cream, this is lighter than that one. the dhc one is more balmy but it makes my hands sticky. but this one is easily absorbed, so even though it gets sticky for awhile, it will go away later.

well, i do like the shea one better than the strawberry. with the strawberry one i need to use a lot so i finish it quickly. but this one works just fine. but i think if you have drier skin than mine or live in super cold country, you might not like this as this is more lightweight. i still have another version in my stash, so i will try them all before deciding which one i like best. as for the price, i think it's reasonably-priced. definitely give them a try especially when body shop is having sales. another plus thing is you can always bring the the empty bottles. less waste.

i watched a lot of youtube lately, but sometimes i get bored with it. but then i stumbled upon matildaonvideo. she did youtube videos differently. you won't see her face in any of her videos. she will show swatches and close up of the product so you can see texture and shades. her voice is very soothing too. and about couple months ago she uploaded a video about her japan beauty finds, mostly makeup, and she's someone who like creamy products or product that's sheer but buildable. and she mentioned canmake stay on balm rouge. when i was in japan, i was about to get it, but i was afraid that it might be a dud since i have bad luck with my previous tinted lip balm. but after watching matilda, i decided to get it when i went to japan. so i did. when i went to japan last time it was autumn and canmake released several new shades for autumn, but i didn't like it, so i got the no 9 which matilda recommended.

this is the description from their website: OK to apply directly, even to chapped lips. a tinted rouge like a moisturizing lip balm. moisturizing lipstick with staying power. UV-reducing effect. wave goodbye to troublesome lip makeup! the moisturizing ability of a lip balm, the color of a lipstick, the sheen of a gloss, plus UV protection. this single item will satisfy even the most demanding of women.
super rich oils enfold your lips like a silken robe. creates a thin film that clings flexibly to your lips, for a comfortable, non-sticky feeling that lasts and lasts. you'll be amazed by how smoothly it goes on, even without applying lip balm first! provides solid color despite the light texture, creating irresistible lips with a natural luster. moisturize while wearing makeup. contains beautifying and moisturizing agents. keeps your lips plump, soft and moist while wearing it. protects against the ultraviolet rays that cause dryness, chapping and dullness. contains no ultraviolet absorbers (non-chemical formulation), ensuring gentle protection for your lips.

the packaging: as usual, japanese is minimalist when it comes to packaging. so there's only the lip balm sealed with plastic sealing all around the body. all shades have similar floral design on the body and the only thing that differentiate the shade is a number at the back of the label. all the text on the label is in japanese so i don't know that it says. so, definitely check the number to make sure you get the right shade since there's no color coding on the packaging at all. all the caps are metallic and the twisted bottom part is plastic, so nothing that will tell you the shade aside from that little number.

the lip balm

the color: there are two types, the tinted one and the regular one. the tinted one is coded with T in front of the number and there are only 5 shades and all of them are on the brighter side. the regular ones have total twelve shades (not including the new autumn shades) and it ranges from bright to darker color. but it's on the sheer side, so don't get intimidated by the color. i get the no 9, masquerade bud that's described as a dark red that blends in softly. it's a brownish red but not too brown, and it's sheer so it's buildable. it's a perfect color for autumn. i never had color like this, and somehow it suits me well.

it looks quite dark in the tube right?

the product: it's a tinted stick lip balm with slanted tip. you need to twist the bottom part to get it out. since it's a bit longer than my usual lip balm, somehow i always twist the body and not the bottom part, so it's annoyed me when i get it wrong. don't worry about twisting it all up since it can go back down. i can see it's more glossy compared to my previous nyx lip balm. and the color is pretty dark in the tube, but when i swatched it, it's very sheer.

hand swatch

the result: one swipe will give you sheer wash of color. you can definitely feel your lips moisturized like you're using lip balm. it's a bit sticky at first, but it's not annoying. you can feel the waxy feeling when it's freshly applied, but not too crazy. since this is a tinted lip balm, obviously it won't stay long. definitely will vanish after 1-2 hours especially if you're eating or drinking, but it never sets into my lip lines, which is awesome since my nyx tends to do that.

on my lips

obviously matilda is right about it. it's a good tinted lip balm. if you have dry lips and feeling enough with liquid lipstick or lipstick bullet already, then you should try this. it's very affordable, but unfortunately, it's not available in my country yet even though there's canmake counter in one of the drugstore here. online you could get this as canmake is a brand that's easier to get online. but obviously you could easily get it from japan and you can swatch them to see the real color, since the color from the website and the real life color is a bit different. totally love this, and i would repurchase if i like other color. so far i'm more into nude and mauve shades lately, and somehow canmake tends to make pink and corals and bright red instead of nudes and mauves. so we'll see.. for now, i'm satisfied with mine.

i really need to catch up with my review. i was watching maskaddict from ig showing her spreadsheet. she showed how she use her spreadsheet to take notes about her skincare products. and i realize i need to be better with my skincare products. i used to haul everytime i go to japan, and even though i know i would finish them all, it would be good to know how long it takes me to finish one product. so, i was trying to list all my skincare products, and i realize that i haven't written several products that i have tried. one of them is this mask kit. i've tried and written about the charcoal mask, but i forgot to write about the sleeping mask and the exfoliating mask.

this is the description from their website: drink up intensive overnight hydrating mask with avocado and glacier water. this ultra-moisturizing sleeping mask instantly floods skin with moisture & keeps skin soft, smooth and happily hydrated for 72 hours.
what it does: infused with glacier water, hyaluronic acid & avocado butter, drink up intensive drenches extra thirsty  in 72 hours of non stop hydration. plus it treats skin with lasting nourishment. it's all day, everyday superfood-infused hydration while you sleep.
we formulate without parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol, mineral oil, DEA, petrolatum, paraffin, polyethylene beads, formaldehyde & animal ingredients.

the box

the packaging: as i've told you before, i bought this as a kit, so it's a kit with 3 masks inside. the outer box has descriptions and ingredients list at the back. then there's a plastic slide where all 3 masks are placed inside. all masks come in a plastic squeeze tube with screw cap. each has different design that looks exactly like the full size version. the sleeping mask come in a pattern green design. it has no sealing on the inside.

the tube

the scent: i can't say for sure but it smells like citrusy fruit or something acidic. it's not too overpowering, but i can definitely smell it when it's squeezed out from the tube. but once i spread it on my face, i can't smell it anymore.

description at the back

the product: it's a yellowish thick cream, but it's not super thick. it has slight gel texture so it's easy to spread around. it takes a minute or two to be completely absorbed, but i don't think that it's completely absorbed at all. since it's quite thick, i only need a tiny amount every time i use it.

the opening. no seal on it

the result: it's definitely moisturizing, but as sleeping pack, i don't think that it's moisturizing enough. i can even get away with using it every night as substitute for night cream when i went to japan for a week. it's not even that cold that time, but it gives enough moisture for my skin during the night. even i don't suffer any breakouts after flight. i usually have acne after my long flight since the air in the cabin is messing with my skin. but using sheet mask and this hydrating mask has prevented the acne from popping up.

the mask on my hand

if you have super dry skin, this might feel as usual night cream for you. but if you have super oily skin, you shouldn't use it every night since it might clogged your pores. for me, it's okay when i'm travelling since my skin might get dried after long flight, but when i'm home, i don't use this every night since it's super hot and humid at home. so, if you're looking for a sleeping pack, then this might feel short. but if you don't mind using this as night cream, it would be a good option. but i won't purchase the full size since i don't like the texture. sometimes i wonder whether it would clog my pores if i use it every day. and it's super pricey. so i'm glad i've tried the sample size but it's not super great that i might buy the full size.

after blending it in

as i've said before in other post, i was putting up my skincare inventory in a spreadsheet and i realized there were some products that i've tried but i never put a proper review, so here i am catching up with my reviews. i bought the origins mask set two christmas ago, and i tried using it up now, so i guess better write a post soon before i run out of it.

this is the description from their website: a rose clay mask that deep cleans, retexturizes skin & perfects pores for a naturally flawless look - no filter required.
what it does: gently draws out dirt & debris, exfoliates to refine skin's texture & visibly minimizes the look of pores in one simple step. skin is left looking perfected & polished.
formulated without: parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol, mineral oil, DEA, petrolatum, paraffin, polyethylene beads, formaldehyde & animal ingredients.
willowherb is crazy resilient! it's the first plant to bloom after forest fires. much like it helps heal the land as it grows, it helps skin rebound from dullness causing protein change. so you stay gorgeously glowing.

the original box

the packaging: it comes in a box with all three masks inside. there's a big plastic transparent window at front so you can see all the masks inside. there's short description in various languages and ingredients list at the back of the box. there's a plastic slider with all 3 masks inside. the other masks are clear improvement and drink up intensive. all the masks comes in 30 ml size which is more generous compared to pixi mask set. the rose clay one comes in textured pink plastic squeeze tube with white plastic screw cap. there's a short description at the back of the tube as well. 

the tube

the scent: i hope it smells like rose, but it just smells like clay. which is a bit disappointing. but that's a positive note since it's scentless, it's supposed to be okay for sensitive skin.

the product: the mask is pinkish cream mask that's easy to spread around. but it has this harsh bits inside the mask. it's not tiny grains like any other exfoliation mask that i've tried. it's bigger chunk but it's not that harsh considering that the chunk is bigger. but there's a bit confusion about how to use it. there's no suggestion to massage the mask on the tube. but when i checked the website, you're supposed to massage the mask while you're spreading it on your face. then wait for 10 minutes before washing it off. 

left: before middle: mask on right: after

the result: since i've tried several ways to use this mask, i will try to explain everything. if i just put it all over my face and waited for 10 minutes before washing it off, it would do nothing to my face. it would feel like regular clay mask. i tried massaging it before washing it off, using the water to wet the mask for a bit and massaged it in circular motion. it's hard to do that since the bits were bigger and it was hard already, so definitely not a pleasant experience. but after that i could see my face was brighter. then i read the website and massaged it before letting it dry, then after 10 minutes washed it off as usual. it's easier to do that way since the mask isn't dried up yet. after that, i could feel that my face is brighter. the next day, i would see those blackheads popping out. if there was some impurities, it would surface afterward.

in short, do i like it? no. will i repurchase the full size? i don't think so either. so, even though i wouldn't buy it myself, i would still say that any skin types could try this mask, especially if you like clay based mask. but if you have sensitive skin, you might want to try some sample because it contains harsh bits that might sensitized your skin. but i would say that freeman exfoliation mask is a bit more harsh than this mask, so it might be a gentler option. price wise, i think it's worth the price considering the generous size compared to pixi beauty. but it's still a high-end brand so if you are okay with drugstore masks, i would suggest using the drugstore option instead since it doesn't offer super marvelous result.

last time i went to japan with my kids, it was spring and it was colder than i thought it would be. it took a toll on my skin, especially my hands and my lips. so i thought i would buy some lip balm since i forgot to bring mine. but i forgot that they would seal anything you bought in japan if you wanted the tax-free return. so mine got sealed. so i didn't get the chance to try it until i got home. and i didn't realize that there were two of DHC lip balm, the original and the UV one. considering where i came from it had sunshine all year long, i bought the UV one.

this is the description from their website: DHC UV moisture lip cream is a lip balm with a DHC's first UV-cut function. block both UVA and UVB. smoothly familiar to the lips, to protect the thin, delicate lips from ultraviolet rays. excellent boasts the moisturizing power, including the olive virgin oil, dark and dull tend plant extracts such as bright and kept to smoothly adjust chamomile the lips, a vitamin C derivative, vitamin E plus. no fragrance, free coloring, paraben free and natural ingredients.

the packaging: it comes in a blue box with the picture of the lip balm at from of the box. the box was not entirely block in shape, but it has some irregular shape backing which is annoying. all the description on the box is in japanese as always. there's no other sealing on the lip balm tube.

the lip balm

the scent: this one is unscented as stated.

looks like a bullet lipstick

the product: the UV moisture one has white plastic body while the regular one has pink body. both comes in slim lipstick tube shape so you have to twist it up. it has slanted tip, i have no problem with it. it doesn't have color, so it comes in usual yellowish tone that usually a lip balm has.

can you see the glowy part on my hand?

the result: this one feels a bit balmy compared to my usual body shop lip balm. the body shop one is slightly creamier. at first, it feels to hard that i don't feel anything when i swipe it on my lips. but as i keep using it, somehow it melts a bit so it's easier to use. this feel highly moisturizing but somehow i don't like the after feeling. it feels like i put a layer of wax on my lips. oh well, but it has SPF in it, so i guess i will put it in my maybe list for now.

i think if you live in tropical country where the sun is over your head 365 days, then you should consider buying a lip balm with SPF in it. so this might be a great affordable option. this one is definitely cheap. you might get this one online, but here there are not many seller selling ready stock. and the price for pre ordering this item is almost doubled the price in japan, so it's not worth it. if i could buy it, then i would buy it. but if i can't get it, i can still buy my usual body shop lip balm.

i might be too late posting this but i want to round up my favorites from 2019. not all of them i tried in 2019, but they are my favorites for the last year, or at least the most used product in 2019. i will separate them in 3 categories, hair & body products, makeup and skincare.

hair & body
body products:
- the body shop body butter: i have dry skin and the only thing that can moisturize my skin well is the body shop body butter. i forgot to bring them when i travel to japan during spring time, and i suffered a lot. since then, i always buy a travel size body butter so i can bring them on my holidays. my favorites are strawberry, argan oil, shea butter and limited edition candy apple (i was disappointed when they changed it into spiced apple and then not releasing any apple scented product this year).
- the body shop hand cream: on  holidays and on my no-maid days, i wash dishes and clean my house so i keep washing my hands repeatedly, hence drying my hands. and the only thing that can help with my dry hands is the body shop hand cream. i've tried other hand cream, but some of them are too thick for my taste. the shea hand cream is the right consistency for me.

my body butters and hand cream

hair products:
- hair dye: my favorite will be liese bubble hair dye. i've tried several shades and i like them all, but i never try the blonde shades.
- hair shampoo: i've tried numerous shampoo, but lately i've been more selective with my choice. i start looking for non SLS shampoo, and going vegan or cruelty free if i could. my favorite so far is petal fresh one. unfortunately, there's no waste bin for recycling the product in my city just yet, so i won't repurchase due to that reason. i do hope that those recycle organization will open some branch or at least have drop boxes in my city.
- hair conditioner: my favorite for 2019 would be aussie conditioner. i notice it softens my hair and it comes in big size. again, i won't repurchase it since i couldn't recycle the bottle, so now i'm testing the conditioner from other brand.
- leave in conditioner/ hair oil: my favorite would be ogx kukui hair oil and loreal extraordinary oil. i've used loreal one years ago, and i began to use it again several months ago and i still like it. the ogx is hard to find since the supermarket near me sometimes have it, sometimes they don't, so loreal is a more readily available than ogx.
- hair mask: i've tried several masks, but this year i really like the body shop shea hair mask. in fact, since i tried it, i decided to give the conditioner a try. it might be the most expensive hair mask that i've tried, but it comes in a big tub and i can bring back the tub to the store to be recycled, so another plus for me.
- tools: for years, i use ordinary hair dryer since i didn't think that it would make any difference. but i've seen people using dyson everywhere and for quite some time, i wanted to persuade my husband to buy me one. but it seems ridiculously expensive so i never said anything to him. but i told him to buy me new hair dryer since the one that i have is not powerful enough to quickly dry my thick hair, so he told me about xiaomi hair dryer. honestly, i never knew xiaomi made hair dryers! so he showed me some videos about the hair dryer, and the plus thing about this hair dryer is the ionic system that supposedly make your hair softer. and it works! my husband told me that my hair looks softer and sleeker after using the hair dryer. and it's very affordable.

my xiaomi hair dryer, hair oil, hair mask and hair dye i've finished everything else

makeup
okay.. this year, i decided to carefully buy things that i need, and at least finish one before buying another one. so i probably won't have much things to tell here as i'm finishing old products in some area.
- foundation: i have none since i'm finishing my bb cream and foundation, both were okay, but i don't love it. if you're curious, i like the catrice foundation better than the japan bb cream.
- concealer: i've repurchased catrice concealer since it works well for me, but i bought a shade darker and it works better for no makeup makeup day.
- powder: i open two powders, one of them is a finishing powder, but i don't see the difference it brings, so definitely a no for me. then the other powder is the body shop clay powder and i like it, so i definitely will put it in my rotation list.
- bronzer: the physician formula is my favorite for this year. although i wish my husband could find the bronzer shade, but light bronze works well for me too. but probably won't repurchase since it's not sold here.
- blush: no new thing that i like so for me my favorite is still my makeup revolution blush palette. it's super pigmented so even though i've used it for months still there's no dent in it!
- highlighter: i really need to go through my stuff and make a list of products that i haven't reviewed yet. so, this is a new brand for me, it's a local brand, and i've been using it on and of for this last 3 months, especially when i'm travelling since i usually use cream products for travelling. it's their halolight highlighter in moonlight. i love it, the shade is perfect for me, and the glow is just enough for me.
- eyebrow: i've tried several eyebrow pencil but my favorites for this year is elf brow pencil. the shade is okay for me and the spoolie is not scratchy. but it's hard to find, so probably i will try to find something new.
- eyeshadow: though i bought milani eyeshadow palette this year, but it's just okay for me. i still like my MUR naked chocolate better.
- eyeliner: i've used liquid eyeliner since i tried japanese eyeliner, and my favorite this year is dolly wink liquid eyeliner.
- mascara: i was buying several japan mascara, but this year i tried some essence mascaras because husband was away to europe and US and it's easier to find them there, so i asked him to buy some. my favorite this year is essence lash princess volume mascara.
- lip balm: again, i need to get better with my review. my favorite this year would be canmake lip balm rouge that i recently bought in japan. it gives enough moisture and it's tinted. the shade is perfect for daily too.
- lip gloss: i remember long time ago i like revlon lip gloss, but the shade that i like is no longer available. so i tried essence lip gloss (the vinylicious liquid lipstick) and i like it. i bought two of them but i like the rosy shade better (it's called woody rosy).
- lipstick bullet: i've tried so many lip cream and liquid lipstick mainly because i had baby back then, and i want something that's long lasting and minimal to no transfer, so liquid lipstick is a must back then. but now as the kids grow up, i try ordinary lipstick bullet again, and i love flower beauty petal pout lipstick. i bought two shade, and i like the rosy one better as well (it's called spiced petal).

some of my makeup favorites

top to bottom swatch: bronzer, two favorite blush shades and highlighter

lip products swatches (top: flower beauty, middle: canmake lipbalm rouge, bottom: essence)

skincare
oh gee.. it's difficult to narrow down in this department since i try so many skincare products all year long. i never put my skincare products into inventory since i know i would finish them no matter what. so... i need to haul better each year and not scrambling buying everything that i saw in japan.

- first cleanser: my favorite is biore cleansing oil. it's cheap, it works well and it smells nice. i like kose speedy cleansing oil too, but somehow i like biore better.
- second cleanser: i try so many facial foams, but lately since i bought foreo, i like face foam better. my favorite is hadalabo gokujyun facial foam and if i couldn't buy one, i would like muji face foam in second place. another one that i like is firstlab facial foam, but it's not readily foam, so it's so-so for me.
- FTE: i like purito fermented complex essence and i would repurchase it again.
- toner: for toner, there's liquid toner that i like to soak my tablet mask, but as toner, it's not my favorite. but lately i found BCL momopuri toner and i like it! though it's peach-scented, i don't mind the scent. it's hydrating and smells nice.
- essence: i have a few favorites. obviously i like both huxley grab water essence and oil like essence, but i also like firstlab reverse essence that i thought it was a FTE but it's an essence. all of them are hydrating and moisturizing without clogging my pores. huxley ones have scent that is huxley's signature and i like it.
- serum: though i've tried so many serum and ampoule, my favorite this year is benton snail bee serum. it's more moisturizing than the essence and it helps with my acne scars better. and it's cheap as well.
- emulsion: my favorite for this year would be muji milk light for sensitive skin. it's moisturizing enough but not greasy for my skin especially in the morning and it layers well under my sunscreen.
- moisturizer: though i don't try it this year, but i've repurchased it so definitely will put it in my favorite list. it's sana nameraka honpo wrinkle cream (i know.. it sounds ridiculous) and it contains retinoid product, but i can't tell you for sure the concentration for sure. but if you're new to acid or retinol, this is definitely very gentle so you can use it everyday.
- sunscreen: oh my.. i've tried so many sunscreen this year, but the newest favorite would be biore aqua uv essence 2019 formula. another one that i also like is skin aqua gel. the essence is a bit too greasy for me, so the gel is just right for me. though i would say that i will keep looking for new sunscreen since there are a lot of them that i haven't tried.
- wash off mask: since i have oily skin, i always like a good clay mask, and i like freeman black sugar mask for this year. it comes in a tube so it's mess-free and it's not super drying for my skin. plus it's cheap and it smells good?
- mask sheet: this is another department that i have difficulty to pick my favorite since i tried so many. the new mask that i tried recently and i like is obviously BCL momopuri mask, which smells like peach just like the toner. obviously i would put MBD masks in here (the latest one that i try is the grape one and i like it!) and papa recipe (i still love the original, but i tried the green one this year and i like it as well). for mask pack i like lululun precious green, it's moisturizing and it does make me want to use them every day. and it's the first lululun mask that i repurchase!
- tool: earlier this year my husband spoiled me and bought me foreo. i've been using it everyday since then. and i love it! i used to think that i cleansed my face pretty good, but after using foreo i definitely could see the difference. i bring it with me on my holidays. definitely a great investment for me this year!

masks galore

some of my skincare favorites

well.. that's all my favorites for this year. it's been a good year discovering lots of stuff and beauty gadget. but i need to be better with my purchasing. not that i buy things that i don't need, but i need to curb my curiosity and think twice before stocking up. i watched maskaddict story the other day and she told people how she put use of her skincare worksheet. she took note the opening date and when she finished a product so she knew when she would need another one before buying new one. or if you would like to stock up, you would know how many that you'll need for half year, for example. i did take note of my opening date, but i didn't take note when i finish a product. but since i don't have so many stash, there are stuff that i knew i would finish up quickly and which one doesn't. so i need to get better with that stuff and not getting away while there was some sale. especially with makeup. it took me years to finish a product, so i will hold up before buying new makeup next year. hopefully i can do that.. until next year!

if you follow me on instagram, or read my blog, you might knew that i have been using the same eye creams for almost two years mainly because i can't find something new and affordable and interesting enough. i bought my two eye creams from japan. i do like the retinol one, but i'm getting bored of it, so i decided to try something new. i've seen this country and stream honey eye roll from influencer in instagram, but it's hard to get even in japan. i've been to several store without any luck. fortunately, when i strolled around waiting for our hotel check in in osaka, i found it. i was tempted to buy more than one, but i haven't tried it, and i might like it, i might not.. so i decided to just buy one. so let's see how it goes.

this is the description from their website (it's google translated so it might sound weird): roll-on eye lotion that gives delicate eyes firm and moisture. clean your eyes! to the eye where the eye makeup shines by the double effect of beauty serum and massage! cool stainless steel roller adoption. contains natural moisturizing ingredients, honey and royal jelly extract. it leads to a firm eye.
moisturizing ingredients, honey, royal jelly extract, pomegranate extract, ginger extract, nogurumi extract.
skin tightening ingredients: hamamelis extract.
ingredients: water, glycerin, PEG/PPG/ polybutylene glycol-8 / 5/3 glycerin, DPG, glycosyltrehalose, betaine, honey, hydrolyzed honey protein, royal jelly extract, chamomile flower extract, pomegranate fruit extract, panax ginseng extract, ginger root extract, nogurumi fruit extract, polyquaternium-51, hamamelis extract, chlorella extract, red algae extract, brown algae extract, allantoin, na hyaluronate, hydrogenated starch, BG, hydroxypropylcyclodextrin, hydroxyethylcellulose, arginine, PG, carbomer, polysorbate 80, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, etidronic acid 4Na, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, fragrance.

the packaging

the packaging: it comes in the usual packaging, cardboard backing with description at the back all in japanese. they put hard plastic cover to shield the product. there's a picture at front that indicates that it's a rollerball or roll on product. the product itself is a curvy pen shape with obviously a rollerball end covered in transparent plastic cap. unfortunately, the pen is opaque, so i can't see how much product remaining inside.

the roll on

the scent: well, i just sniff the rollerball and i can smell honey scent from the roller. but when i put it on my eyes area, i don't smell anything. so i think it would be okay even for sensitive skin.

bit description at the back in japanese

the product: since it comes in a rollerball shape, i can't see the product from the outside. when i put it on my skin, i can only see that it's liquid and it spread easily to my eyes area. it's very thin and after being absorbed, i can feel a bit tacky feeling but nothing much.

rollerball

the result: the cooling sensation from the rollerball is something that i enjoy, but it doesn't help much if you have puffy eyes. it does give enough moisture for my eyes area without being too heavy. i don't take progress picture but i didn't notice any difference so i guess it works as good as my previous eye creams.

can you the glowing part where i put the eye cream on?

it's a good moisturizing eye cream but if you have drier skin than i do, then you might not like it. if you have problem with puffy eyes and dark under eyes, it won't do any help either. so if you only need regular moisture on your eyes area, then this might be a good option for you. also if you love honey products so much, you could try that too. but if you need eye product for puffy eye, super dry eye, fine lines, dark under eyes, then you should skip it. price wise, it's still considered affordable for japanese drugstore product.