sunscreen is a must for me since i'm living in tropical country. i always stock up whenever i went to japan, simply because sunscreen is easier to get there and there are wide selection of sunscreens. i bet everyone will say japan is a sunscreen heaven. but unfortunately, before i got the chance to go back to japan, i ran out of my sunscreen stash. so when i went to singapore i decided to grab the newest version of biore uv gel. unfortunately, i don't like that one. that makes me reluctant to buy the essence. but i saw someone in instagram saying that the essence is good, so when i was back to japan, i decided to grab one. if you're new to biore sunscreen, it is quite popular in asianbeauty community, everyone loves it. but then they changed the formula. so people loves the 2015 formula (in light blue bottle) but hates the 2017 formula (in darker blue bottle) and seems to like the essence version of 2019 formula (darker blue with italic "aqua rich" text written on the body). so, let's see whether i hate or like the essence.

this is the description from their japan's website: world's first micro defense formula. prevent uneven coating even at micro level gaps. even if repainted, it is impressively light even when layered! a translucent and watery essence that blends into your skin. purupuru water capsule formulation, prevent drying. contains hyaluronic acid, royal jelly extract and BG (moisturizing ingredient). although it's a super waterproof type (confirmed by an 80 minute water resistance test), it easily falls off with usual soap. coloring free. prevention of acne (non-comedogenic tested). allergy tested.

the packaging

the packaging: it comes with usual cardboard backing full with description at the back. they only seal the bottle with plastic sealing. since i bought it in japan, everything is in japanese. the bottle itself is similar to other version. it's a dark blue plastic tube with white plastic screw cap. there's another description at the back of the tube. the only difference is it has "aqua rich" text written across the body to indicate that it's the newest version.

the tube

the scent: it has the usual biore uv's scent. but less citrusy if i remember correctly. but don't worry, it dissipates quickly so it doesn't linger when you put it on your face.

back of the tube

the product: it's a ivory white gel cream just like the other formulation. it spreads easily and turns into watery traces. i guess it suits the name "watery". it takes a few minutes to be completely absorbed, but it doesn't leave white cast unlike the gel one. i also don't notice the white flecks in the essence version.

the sunscreen on my hand

the result: as base, it's okay. it gives enough moisture and not overly sticky, no white cast either. but... it's been super hot these days, and i notice that i was drenching in sweat whenever i use this sunscreen, so i have to make sure i put on powder before going out. as for the protection against uv ray, it works just as well as its predecessor.

after blending it in

i have to say that i like the essence version better than the gel version. it absorbs easily and it doesn't give white cast. but somehow it's a bit greasier than the gel version which is weird since i remember the older version gives matte finish. price wise, it's still cheap as usual if you get it straight from japan. but if you're buying this online or order it via online shop, the price might differ. i will put this in my sunscreen rotation, but compared to senka watery gel, i still like senka's better.

instagram might be a dangerous for your wallet, but it might be helpful as well. i have no idea that we would go to japan, but i saw @ryanroar posting a lot about senka white beauty serum. so somehow it got stuck in my head. so when i found out that we were going to japan, obviously i put it in my wishlist. anyway, if you knew me, i've been to japan several times, and serum is something that i rarely see in japan. somehow their serum or essence game is lacking compared to korean serum or essence. but lately, i found out that there are some decent serum. so i got some while i was there. hopefully they will make better and more affordable serum since korean products is getting more expensive each day.

this is the description from their website and it's google-translated so it might sound funny: a whitening essence that simultaneously cares for the four major skin problems that cloud your makeup. bright and bright every morning. a white creamy essence is fresh and smooth and fits your skin, keeping it moisturized for a long time. it permeates every corner of the stratum corneum, preventing skin damage and dry damage. gives moisture, keeps skin healthy and supports the natural reincarnation of the skin. suppresses the production of melanin and prevents spots and freckles. fragrance free and coloring free. allergy tested.

the box

it contains naturally derived beauty ingredients rice bran, honey, white eyebrow essence: rice germ oil, honey, sericin, hydrolyzed silk, glycerin. it also contains hyaluronic acid: acetyl hyaluronic acid Na, hyaluronic acid Na. suppresses melanin production and prevents spots and freckles. contains tranexamic acid.

back of the box

the packaging: it comes in a black box with transparent plastic window at front so you can see the serum tube inside. at the back and the side there's description in japanese. the serum itself comes in silver squeeze tube with white screw cap. it has spout to dispense the product. there's another description at the back of the tube but it's also in japanese. the serum is 35 grams which is standard for serum size.

the side of the box

the scent: i have to agree that this is unscented. in fact, most of japan products that i've tried are usually unscented products, so i think even those with sensitive skin can try it.

the tube

the product: it's a white gel-cream serum, but not too thick. it's easy to spread around and you only need tiny amount for your entire face. you can also use it as spot treatment. i use this as all around face serum, but i do put a bit more on my cheek as there's where i have dark spots and on my acne scars. it takes a minute to be absorbed, and it leaves moist feeling, a bit tacky but not annoying and it doesn't pill under other products that i put on top of it.

the serum on my hand

the result: i've been using it for about two months and though it comes in 35 grams, somehow i think i will finish it quicker than my previous vitamin c serum from japan. anyway.. it's moisturizing but i don't think it would be enough on its own. let me remind you that i use this after iunik serum, so the combination between the two is good. i don't take progress pictures because life has been hectic, but i notice that my acne scars is lightening up after using this serum. though it's not instant, but it's fading. as for my dark spots, i notice that even though it's not gone, it's not as obvious as before.

after blending it in

anyway.. i have to say for a japanese serum, somehow this one works! though you have to remember that usually asian skincare doesn't have lots of actives in its ingredients, so it might takes longer to see the result. but you have to keep using it and you will see it one day. as for the price, it's a bit pricier for drugstore products, but it's similar to other serum prices, so i might repurchase this if i could find it again. i think it will be suitable for any skin types, but if you have concern about dark spots more, you might want to use this as spot treatment as it might work better as target treatment.

i've heard about iunik for quite some time, but somehow when i was about to finish my serum, there's another hype serum in the market that i'm more attracted to, so somehow i keep postponing buying iunik. but last time, i was waiting for my japan trip and somehow my serum was finishing fast, so i need to buy something else quickly. luckily, there was an online shop carrying some iunik serum. after browsing a little bit, i decided to try the beta glucan first.

this is the description from the website (please remember that i google translated it, so it might sound weird): tired of dry and sensitive skin when the seasons change? looking for a non-sticky, highly moisturizing product? do you want strong moisturizing on dry skin?
beta glucan extract 98%, oil and water balance adjustment, all ages, immune boosting, firm skin.
beta glucan were extracted from the skirt of yeast cell walls. as a leading polymer polysaccharide, moisture storage function. it is a moisturizing ingredient that is 20% 6 or more superior to hyaluronic acid. rough and sensitive skin from external stress. soothing comfort and rich nutrition. it provides moisture and helps strengthen skin barrier.
20% higher moisturizing component than hyaluronic acid. excellent non-stick absorption.

the box

description in korean

the packaging: it comes in a dark brown box with some description on the box. inside, you can find the glass bottle with the same dark brown label on the bottle with minimal description. it has dropper to dispense the product. the bottle is quite heavy so make sure not to drop it. there's something weird about the dropper though. usually i can control how much i want to suck with the dropper, but this one is different. the dropper seems to suck certain amount of product, almost exactly the same every time.

direction to use in english

the separator

the scent: at first, i thought it has alcohol scent, but when i look in the ingredients list, it only has one ingredient, beta glucan. so there's no alcohol in it. so i'm not sure where the alcoholic scent comes from. i think it's supposed to be unscented.

the bottle beside the box

the back of the bottle

the product: it's a clear viscous serum, but it gets watery when i put it on my face. this is another weird thing. it's more runny when freshly dropped from the dropper. it would run down my cheek so i have to spread it quickly. sometimes there will be some product remained in the dropper. but if i don't get it out immediately, somehow when i drop it on my face, it will be a bit thicker than usual. after being absorbed, there's only a bit tacky feeling, but not too sticky. it also layers well under other skincare that i use.

the dropper

the result: this one is definitely hydrating and moisturizing, but not too much moisture. if you have dry skin, i think it might not be enough for you. but i think it would be okay for combination or normal to oily skin. i don't have sensitive skin, so i have no saying about being okay for sensitive skin. i do agree that it soothes my skin. i notice that my skin is less red than usual. even when i have cystic acne, it's not that bad with the redness and inflammation. but on super hot days, i can feel that it's not enough. my skin is still looking for more hydration.

serum on my hand

after patting it in

anyway.. for a single ingredient serum, this is a good and solid serum, especially if you're not looking for target-all serum. it does what it promises, giving hydration and moisture. so if you're looking for a hydrating and moisturizing serum with minimal ingredients, then this might be the one for you. but if you like target-all serum, you might not like this as this only targets hydration and moisture problem. as for the anti aging, i think if you hydrate and moisturize your skin properly, the anti-aging might come as benefit so it's not necessarily because of this serum. for me, right now it's a good serum for me, but i don't think i will repurchase this as i like something more. probably i will try the snail serum but if that doesn't work either, i will just go back buying benton snail serum again.

i always try new hair products, mainly because i'm bored and i haven't found anything that satisfying enough for me to stick around. i have a very thick and frizzy hair that has drier ends while my scalp was a bit oily but lately it's not that oily anymore. i colored my hair sometimes, so few months after coloring my hair i usually try to use color protecting shampoo. i've been using petal fresh shampoo and i like it, but it comes in big size so it takes me almost forever to finish it, so i decided to switch something smaller. and enter love beauty and planet. i've been seeing it from several beauty influencer in my ig, and being a curious person, of course i'm intrigued. on my first journey to guardian, i didn't find many variants, luckily i spotted this one and it's targeted for color protecting, so i bought it right away.

this is the description from their website: life should be full of color. that's why our blooming color murumuru butter & rose sulfate free shampoo is designed to deliver a healthy shine, while protecting colored hair. the formula is infused with organic murumuru butter that is certified sustainably sourced in brazil. murumuru butter is a lot like coconut oil. murumuru butter comes from the white fat found in the nuts of the amazonian murumuru palm tree. that fat is known to be deeply moisturizing so it helps nourish, soften and protect. also infused is ethically sourced absolute from bulgaria. our blooming color shampoo exudes a rich, warm, floral rose experience. in this fragrance, the natural vibrancy of the rose notes is enhanced by the juicy freshness of red berries, delivering an intensely feminine and refreshing ambiance in your shower.
it's cruelty free, vegan, ethically sourced extract, 100% recycled bottles, dye free, paraben free, silicon free, safe for colored hair, with organic coconut oil, sustainably sourced extract, no guilt, sulfate free.

the packaging: since i bought this in store, there's no box. it just has outer sealing on the cap area. the bottle is transparent plastic bottle with colored label according to the type of the line. for murumuru butter and rose, it's pink obviously. there's description at the back in indonesian as well as ingredients list on the side. it has click top cap which sometimes i like since i can push it up and pour and then click it off with one hand. there are two sizes, the small one and the big one. i bought the small one which is 200 ml. i don't know if the bigger size comes in similar packaging.

the bottle

the scent: okay.. some say that it does smell like rose, but after trying several rose scented products, this one is the least rose-scented product for me. the scent is not overpowering, not lingering either. but some say that the smell lasts for a few days.. so it's not the same for all.

description at the back

the product: the shampoo is milky white gel-like shampoo. it bubbles up easily though not too much. you don't need much for your entire hair. i have shoulder-length hair and i only need a tiny amount.

the clik-top

the result: it feels like this one cleaning my hair without stripping the moisture too much. i've been using half the bottle and i don't experience any problem with my scalp. but i've been washing my hair every two days since it's been so hot here. usually i can stretch to three days, but due to the hot weather, i can only managed for two days. i can still feel my ends dry as usual, so i need some conditioner or hair mask afterward. as for the color protecting benefit, i have to say that it might work. i don't see any difference in my hair color.

i have to say, this one is a good alternative for someone who is looking for vegan and sulfate free shampoo. it's also cruelty free and it's cheaper compared to petal fresh. but one question though, if they are marketing their products as a way to save the earth by using recycled material and claimed that their bottles are recyclable, then why couldn't they provide a place or something to bring back their bottle to be recycled? if we are not sure that the bottle is recycled, then it will be wasted in the waste dump. i know that some place in jakarta you could bring the bottle and get it recycled, but this product is being sold country wide, but the recycle center isn't, so i wish they would resolve that problem. if you're interested in other cruelty free and totally clear about their recycling, i should recommend the body shop. though their price point is definitely more expensive, but you are sure that the bottles are being recycled and there are stores almost in every big city where you could drop the empty bottles back.  for me, i think until the problem is solved, probably i won't repurchase this.

here where i live, probiotic seems to be hype ingredients that everyone likes nowadays, especially since one online shops have been quite vigorous in marketing one korean brand that use probiotic as its main ingredients. but maybe not so many people knew that before probiotic became such as a hype, some japanese brands have used probiotic as its ingredients, one of them was pdc cutura, but somehow it doesn't get enough love, probably because it's not easily found online. couple months ago i was about to go to japan again, and since it's been awhile, i decided to find out what's new in beauty community. and i found out that there's other brand that also use probiotic, BCL momopuri. apparently, due to its cute packaging, it gets more love than cutura. when i finally got to japan, i saw momopuri almost everywhere. so, i decided to buy the mask, lotion and the cream. i've used the mask and already reviewed it, so now it's the lotion's turn. anyway, if you're new in skincare community, in japan, lotion means toner (compared to korean terms), and milk means emulsion.

this is the description from their website: contains lactic acid bacteria and peach ceramide. plenty of moisturizing, puripuri skincare series. contains lactic acid bacteria and peach ceramide to apply. moisturizing lotion from the skincare series "momopuri". to a healthy skin everyday.
formulated with lactic acid bacteria EC-12 strain which focuses on skin resident bacteria. it's as if you're applying lactic acid bacteria to apply to give your skin elasticity.
cinnamon ceramide - a skincare product that's moisturized with peach ceramide, a moisturizing beauty serum ingredient that is particular about domestic production.
pore tightening - bergamot fruit extract/ peach leaf extract, vitamin c derivative/ hyaluronic acid/ vitamin a/e combination (all moisturizing ingredients).
slight peach scent.

the original packaging with sticker and sealing on the outer body

the packaging: the overall design is similar from one product to another. the toner comes in peachy pink plastic bottle with a dripping peach-like picture at front, which is similar to other products. there's a tiny text "lotion" to indicate the type of product. it has round peachy pink flip top that's cute addition to the packaging. it comes with plastic sealing on the outer bottle but nothing else on the inside. typical japanese packaging, but it's quite secure. somehow i've been used to japanese minimalistic packaging and fond of it compare to the super secure and a bit excessive korean packaging. it also has refill pouch, but since i just try this, i didn't buy the refill pouch.

the bottle

the scent: it does have peachy scent, just like the sheet mask. it's quite noticeable, but i like it. it gives a nice refreshing scent to my almost all scentless routine. but if you have sensitive skin and prefer fragrance free products, then you should skip this.

the back of the bottle

the product: this is a watery toner. it's transparent though the peachy bottle makes you think that the toner is peachy as well. it spreads easily and absorbed quickly too. it does leave a bit tacky feeling, but nothing much.

flip top

the result: compared to my previous muji toner, this one is more moisturizing. it is hydrating obviously, but it's a bit moisturizing as well. i can use this twice a day without any problem. it doesn't clog my pores and layers well under my other skincare routine. i can layer this toner as well if i feel my skin is drier than usual without any problem.

the toner on my hand

i have to say compared to muji light toner, this one is more moisturizing and i like it better. but compared to my previous kikumasamune moist toner, it feels almost similar. i can feel the moisturizing effect, but i can't say anything about the pore tightening and lactic acid effect in this toner. i don't have good days all the time unlike what i'm used to, sometimes i get acne here and there and i have no idea whether the pollution or my skincare or my makeup did that. but i can say that this one help moisturizing my skin. if you have combination to normal skin, you might like this. but for drier skin, you might need layer several layers for your need. price wise, it's very affordable like most japanese drugstore products. availability wise, i don't know. obviously i couldn't find it here, even some pre-order online shops don't carry this brand. but if you're in japan, you could definitely find it there easily. after trying both the mask and the toner, i have high hope for the cream. crossing my finger that i might like it as well.

after patting it in

if you read my other posts, you might know that before first lab became popular here with its probiotic ingredients, i've encountered a japan skincare brand that also uses probiotic as one of its star ingredients. but somehow it didn't get popular even in japan. last time i went to japan, i've seen more brand coming up with new lines, new products. i saw brands like freeplus, momopuri, chifure that i haven't seen when i went to japan 2-3 years ago. some of them use probiotic too, and the one that i bought for trying this time is momopuri. i saw momopuri from youtube (i forgot the name of the channel, but i will update it here) and i was fascinated by its peach theme packaging, so momopuri for now. hopefully i could try other brands as well.

this is the description from bcl japan website: skin that bounces with one sheet! contains lactic acid bacteria and peach ceramide. moisturizing high moisturizing jelly mask. plenty of moisturizing, puripuri skincare series. the essence of a jelly-like essence, a lot of one was included in one sheet, rich face mask.
feels like a high-adherence jelly sheet sticks to your skin: a jelly-like sheet mask that sticks to your skin. cover well around the eyes. easy to take out and easy to use.
to a healthy skin every day:
- lactic acid bacteria: formulated with lactic acid bacteria "EC-12" strain, which focuses on skin resident bacteria. it's as if you're applying "lactic acid bacteria" to give your skin and elasticity.
- peach ceramide: a skincare product that is moisturized with peach ceramide, a moisturizing beauty serum ingredient that is particular about domestic production.
- pore tightening: bergamot fruit extract, moisturizing ingredients (vitamin c derivative/ hyaluronic acid / vitamin A/E/ peach leaf extract)

the packaging: i bought a box of 4 masks. both the box and the mask has the same design. it has blue background on the upper part and white background underneath, and at the center there's a dripping peach picture, which is similar to other product's design. there's description at the back but as usual, it comes in japanese.

the packaging

the scent: it has peach scent which i think all the products in this line might have since the toner also has peachy scent as well. for me, it's not bothering me, but if you're sensitive to scent, you might want to think twice. the scent is quite strong especially when it's freshly opened.

the product: the mask is made of mesh-like materials, which reminds me of minon masks. it's drenched in jelly essence. the fit is a bit wide on temples area, closer eye holes and ordinary nose flap. it has no slit but it's adjustable. for me the fit is just okay, though i wish the eye holes were not that close.

left: before middle: mask on right: after

the result: i put this on my face for about 20 minutes. after that i can feel that my skin is well hydrated. i notice a bit brightening effect as well, but not much. after that i can put my usual skincare routine without any problem. i don't have any breakouts after using this as well.

i'm a bit on the fence with this mask. i like how it works okay with my skin, but i'm not fan with jelly essence. somehow my previous experience with jelly essence is not good. somehow sometimes the jelly essence will just sit on my face and then pills when i put something else on top of it. though this one doesn't do it, but somehow i still doubtful about it. i think it works okay for every skin types, but if you don't like jelly essence like i do, then don't buy it. i think it's not easy to get outside japan. perhaps you could buy it online, but here i can't find it. price wise, it's still considered affordable for a box of 4 masks. will i repurchase it? probably not. but not because it's not good, but it's just me. i like mask with clear runny essence better.

last time i was in singapore, i couldn't find new variants of my beauty diary that i haven't tried, so i didn't buy anymore since i still have some left in my stash. but when i strolled around yodobashi in kyoto, i was excited since i saw several variants that i haven't tried and even a special edition for 15th anniversary of my beauty diary. so obviously i grabbed some of them. i think there were 4 variants, but i only managed to get 3 of them. when i got back home, i wanted to find the description from the grape one, but i couldn't find any. so annoying. even on my beauty diary taiwan or japan's website, there's no description about it. really annoying. so i have no idea whether this is super new or discontinued. anyway... let's talk about it straight.

the packaging: just like any other my beauty diary mask, since i bought this in a box of 5, the box has same packaging as the individual one. it has purple background with grape's picture at front to indicate the main ingredients. at the back, there's description and ingredients list but since i bought this in japan, everything is in japanese.

the packaging

the scent: it smells like sweet red wine that's used in holy communion. it dissipates after awhile, so i don't mind the scent.

the product: the mask is thin as usual, the fit is great as usual. a bit tall forehead and it has slit on inner eyes which annoys me, and another slit on the outer eye. it has big enough eyes and mouth holes and it's easily adjustable. it has plastic backing which is good as the mask is thin and flimsy. it has clear runny essence, which i like. if you didn't know, lady fiddy found out that the MBD masks that have milky essence were not as good as the ones that have clear runny essence, so i'm glad this one has clear essence. there's a bit excess in the pouch, but i just pat it back on the mask.

left: before middle: mask on right: after

the result: as predicted, i like this one too. it's hydrating and a bit moisturizing but not too heavy. i can use this for an hour, but i limit myself to just use it for about 30 minutes. as i don't know what this mask is supposed to do, i can only say that i don't see much calming effect nor brightening effect. it does brighten but only a bit. i've used other masks that are more brightening than this one.

i do like this mask, so i'm glad i bought this one. but i'm a bit annoyed by the fact that i couldn't find any information about it on the website. plus i think it's a limited, and i don't know what kind of limited it is. whether it's just limited in japan or it's released for limited time. totally have no idea since there are no information about it. anyway.. if you're in japan and you find this one, better grab it as i think it will be suitable for all skin types. price wise, though it's limited, but i don't see any price difference with the usual type.