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Showing posts with label kose. Show all posts

My favorite travel skincare set is from kose sekkisui (the drugstore one, the cheap one). I’ve bought it numerous times and it was a saver especially when my destination is a lot colder from where i live. Anyway, i intended to buy the full size, but i can’t decided on which one to try on full size. I was thinking of getting the emulsion, but at the last minute, i changed my mind and bought the one in tub. I thought it was the cream, but i was mistaken. It was an all-in-on gel. Oh well, let’s see how it goes.

the box

This is the description from their website: the power of oriental herbal extracts for skin with a snow-like radiance. One product, five uses! Moisture that penetrates quickly. A medicinal all-in-one gel that prevents dryness and age spots, leading to brighter, more translucent skin.

- Contains tranexamic acid as an active whitening agent. Inhibits melanin generation, preventing age spots and freckles, leading to skin with a snow-like translucence.

- This one product is all you need after using face wash. An all-in-one gel: one product, five uses (lotion, emulsion, cream, serum, face mask), helping you to achieve beautiful skin more easily.

- This moisture-filled gel penetrates deep into the keratinous layer. Completely moisturizes the keratinous layer, leading to skin with less-obvious pores and dullness due to dryness.

- Containing five moisture components, including oriental herbal extracts and moisturizing collagen GL. A strongly moisturizing all-in-one gel that will satisfy those concerned about dry or rough skin.

- A gentle floral, herbal fragrance.

description all over it. the picture on bottom left shows how much you should use it

Key ingredients:

- skin whitening active agent (tranexamic acid)

- five moisture components (coix seed extract, dioscorea panthaica extract, korean ginseng extract, moisturizing collagen GL, and glycerin)

the tub

the packaging: this comes in a blue box. The blue is the same all throughout kose products, not only the sekkisui but also the sekkisei one, so make sure you read the brand name carefully. Or better yet, remember where you bought it. In japan and singapore, sekkisui products are only available at 7/11. anyway, the box is dark blue with description all over the box in japanese. they even make a suggestion of how much you should use the gel. they made a weird slanted line on top to make it easier to rip the top off. it makes it way easier to open the box and to get the tub out of the box. The gel comes in the same blue plastic tub with white screw cap. They seal the cap with tiny sticker on the side, but it’s very stretchy that i can’t pull it with my hand. There’s some descriptions on the box in japanese. The gel comes in 60 g which is slightly more than the usual.

stretchy sticker to seal the tub

the scent: as described, it has subtle floral fragrance. I think all sekkisui products have the same scent, and it’s quite relaxing. I like the scent. It’s very subtle but still noticeable.

how it looks like inside the tub

the product: it’s a milky white gel that’s quite thick but still easy to scoop out of the tub. it's easy to spread around as well. keep in mind that this one contains tranexamic acid, so it will promote some brightening effect. this feels thick and sticky at first but as i keep spreading it around, the thick feeling lessen.

how it looks like on my hand

the result: but as i'm quite fair to begin with, i won't be able to tell about the effect to my overall skin tone. but i think i notice it helps fading my acne scars faster. in combination with vitamin c serum that i use separately, of course. even though this one is a gel, but surprisingly, it's still moisturizing while still feeling lightweight at the same time.

after blending it

i have to say that i didn't like this gel at first. i thought it felt sticky and too lightweight for night time, especially since i use retinol and acid as well. but as i keep using it, i started to like it. it feels moisturizing and even though it's lightweight, it's still enough to use during night time. i can say that the brightening effect shows up as time goes by, especially in combination with vitamin c. so i think if you have problem with dullness or want more brightening effect, then you should try this one. i think this is suitable for all skin types, but i'm not sure whether it'll be enough for dry skin. price wise, kose sekkisui is affordable, but it's a bit hard to find. so, better snatch it if you can find it.

i was on face wash-buying streak last time i went to japan and i'm glad i did that since now we're putting our lives on hold thanks to this pandemic situation. most of facial foam that i bought i had no idea about. just because it's a facial foam, i grabbed it if the price is right. one of them is softymo. softymo is a brand under kose cosmeport super brand and usually has product for cleansing. i've tried their cleansing oils, both the speedy one and the deep one. both are good, but if i have to pick a favorite, the speedy would be my pick. so, naturally i get curious when i saw their facial foam. so let's see how it does.

this is the description from their website: a cleansing foam that gently removes makeup and sebum stains with a soft, rich foam. persistence up! remove makeup and sebum stains with one soft foam. contains quick cleansing ingredients. the fluffy, thick foam raises the makeup and dirt inside the pores that are hard to remove, and you can remove it quickly and quickly without rubbing. moisturized bare skin with no tightness after washing. moisturizing essence: contains sage leaf extract, chamomile extract and glycerin. no need to wash face. cleans to a smooth, moisturized skin without a tightness. you can also use it as a face wash for your bare face.

the packaging: just like usual, it only comes in a bottle without any additional box whatsoever. they only seal the pump head with plastic sealing but it's secure enough so nothing leaks in my baggage when i brought it home. the bottle is similar to hada labo one. it is a pink plastic bottle with darker pink pump head. it's round at the bottom just like hada labo. there's description at the back in japanese. there's a stopper on the neck to secure the pump. the pump works okay. i can control the amount that i want to pump by pushing it a little or using more pressure. on the side of the body, there's a thin transparent window so you can see the remaining product inside. it's a good thing so you'd know when it'd be gone. anyway, i just found out that they have a refill which i didn't remember i saw one when i was in japan. and now i regretted that i didn't buy the refill as well.

the bottle

the scent: i can't say what kind of scent it is, but when i smell it the first time, i thought of old lady perfume that was popular back when i was a child. but it's very faint and doesn't last long, but if you're sensitive to fragrance, you might want to consider hada labo instead of this one.

description at the back

the product: the foam is very dense. compared to minon one, this one is quite dense so there's no air seen from the outside. that makes the foam holds its body well. i can use it with my foreo just well. since the foam hold the body well, i only need small amount every time i use it. even smaller compared to minon one.

notice the transparent window so you can see the remaining product inside

the result: okay, this is the weird part. when i used it with my hand, after washing it off, i can feel my face is squeaky clean, so i think it must be drying just like sana face foam one. but i kept using it and then one day, after i used it with my foreo, i realized that my skin is still okay. even when i touch my face, i can feel that my face is silky smooth that i keep touching it. so i guess the description is right.

the soap foam on my foreo

i think i find another favorite that i can buy whenever i go to japan again. sigh.. when will i can go travelling again? oh well.. anyway, i think my shopping list will get bigger then. thankfully, now that i find out that they sell refills as well, i'll make sure to buy their refills as well. price wise, this is even cheaper than hada labo one. so definitely will buy a bunch if i could. if you're in japan or you could buy this online, and you don't mind the fragrance, you should buy some. especially if you're looking for hada labo alternatives. as for me, definitely putting this in my shopping list.

okay, before we start this review, let me apologize for not being a good beauty blogger. i usually take picture right after i buy the product and right before using it. but last two months have been up and down for me. i've been busy with the kids graduation events, all that practices and stuff. then after that we went to singapore for a long holiday, and afterward, the kids took turn getting sick and i had no helpers aside from my nanny for two weeks, while hubby was already get back to work. and i completely forgot that i haven't take any picture of this sunscreen and i had used it up while on vacation and i threw the bottle away while cleaning up! oh well, i hope you guys forgive me... now let's move on to the review.

this is the description from their website: the power of oriental herbal extracts, for skin with a snow-like smooth translucency. a gel-type everyday sunscreen with a refreshing texture. washes off easily without special cleansing products. compound beauty formula: coix seed extract, loquat leaf extract, licorice leaf extract and glycerin.
little trivia: i just found out that there are two brand name, sekkisei and sekkisui. the one that's more pricey, considered high-end in japan, is sekkisei (with E). but the other one, sekkisui (with U) is a sister brand that's more affordable since it's made exclusively to be sold at 7-eleven. no wonder i only found kose products in 7-eleven!

the packaging: it comes in plastic pouch. at the back there's a description in japanese, but they put another sticker label on top of that and it has english description as well as ingredients list. the sunscreen comes in blue plastic squeeze tube with white plastic screw cap. it comes in just 50 g, pretty small for sunscreen. it doesn't have the usual spout to dispense the product.

the scent: straight after opening the tube, it would smell like alcohol. but it diminishes after being used regularly.

the original packaging

the product: the sunscreen is a white gel-cream that's slightly runny. perhaps almost similar to biore uv gel. it's easy to spread around but it takes a minute or two to be absorbed.

the result: after being absorbed, it will give you a white cast but after awhile it will subsidies. it's not absorbed as fast as biore but a bit faster than skin aqua essence. when i said it smells like alcohol, it's no wonder because alcohol is second in the ingredients list, but luckily it doesn't break me out. but if you're concern about the alcohol in the ingredients, then you should skip it. it does leave semi-matte finish, but if you're super oily you might not like it as it's really hydrating.

i have to say 50 ml feels like nothing! it's gone within one month (if not under.. i'm not counting anyway). it would be fine if you have dry skin, as this one is really hydrating. but if you have super oily skin or living in a hot humid weather, then you might not like it when it's super hot. i tried this when the weather is hot, but my kids were already halfway to holidays so they're not going to school full time, so i was only out in the morning. anyway, i still prefer my biore sunscreen, and perhaps the skin aqua if i'm running out of any japanese sunscreen as it's available in singapore. this one is considered affordable and you could only pick this up in 7-eleven. have you find a good biore substitute ever since they're changing the formula? let me know in the comments.

this is a super long overdue post. i've used up the refill pouch, and then i bought the real bottle just so i can take proper picture of the product, and now i almost finish with it too. and i haven't written any review yet. oh dear. so i decided to make time to take picture (life has been hectic lately with my nanny and maid taking turn in getting on leave which force me to do their workload), and write a review soon. i also have tried the speedy version, so if you are curious about that, you can read about it here. but for now, let's find out about the deep version.

this is the description from sasa website: kose cosmeport softymo deep cleansing oil remove all trace of makeup, including stubborn waterproof mascara. cleanse and purifies deep in pores. it washes away sebum that blocks pores. improve blackheads problem. pores are cleared. skin is refreshed, purified and clean.

the packaging: it comes in a yellow plastic bottle with pump head, it's a clear plastic so you can clearly see the remaining products inside. at the back there's a lot of text, but everything is in japanese. there's plastic sealing around the bottle and stopper under the pump that secure the pump so no product is being spilled during transport. there's nothing else unfortunately. the bottle comes in 230 ml. the refill is a big pouch that has the picture of the deep version bottle at front. at the back there's description in japanese as usual. however, the tip of the pouch is something else. usually, my refill pouch doesn't have anything inside the tip of the opening, so when i try to refill the bottle, sometimes it will collapse or go flimsy and it will make the product spills all over my sink. but the japanese has thought about it. they put a short straw-like hard plastic inside the tip of the opening, so when you pour the refill to the bottle, it will go smoothly.

the bottle

the scent: as usual, it's unscented. at first, i use the refill and i don't smell anything. but... when i change into using the real bottle, somehow i smell a bit like DHC cleansing oil. like olive oil scent that makes me nauseous. but as i'm using it regularly, it doesn't smell as strongly as when i just open it.

back of the bottle

the product: compared to the speedy one, this is still a runny cleansing oil, but a tad more richer and more oily slip feeling. although the bottle is yellow, the cleansing oil is pale gold, if not almost transparent. it spreads easily because of the runny texture and i can massage it all over my face easily without any irritation. this is a cleansing oil that gets emulsified when you mix it with water but don't expect foams or crazy bubble.

the refill pouch

the result: it can remove basic makeup easily, like base makeup, eyeshadow, eyeliner (not easily, though), liquid lipstick and even mascara. but i don't use it to remove mascara because i have separate mascara remover that's easy and reliable, not to mention that i have to rub my eyes a bit harder to remove all the mascara, sooo... no thank you. oh, and not forgetting that it will sting your eyes if you accidentally get it into your eyes. but not crazily sting your eyes, but still.. it stings.

left: bb cream, cream blush, highlighter, liquid lipstick, eyeliner and mascara
second from left: after applying the cleansing oil and massage it around (you can see that eyeliner is the hardest thing to clean)
second from right: after adding water the eyeliner is starting to fade
right: after washing it off and pat dry - nothing is left!

compared to the speedy version, this "deep" version is a little bit rich, more oily slip. but both works well removing makeup, so it totally depends on your preference. but on the downside, both is on the drying side, compared to biore. but my skin could take both even though i've used it everyday. not as drying as innisfree, but not moisturizing like DHC. as for the price, both kose cleansing oil are still more affordable than DHC. if i have to pick favorites, mine would be biore first, then the speedy version then this deep version. basically because i don't like the olive oil scent and the slippery feeling. i honestly can't say whether i would recommend this or not. based on the performance, this is a good and affordable cleansing oil. but other aspect, it's just preference. you should try it yourself. i think you could get it from watsons, or straight from japan's drugstore. or online. this is a widely-known brand, so it's easier to get it. and it won't break your wallet. so try it and let me whether or not you like it.

last time in japan, i was bored with the selection of sheet mask. i bought the remaining lululun mask that i haven't tried and saborino mask pack, but nothing else attracts me. but i want to try something new, so i decided to try another kose mask, this time it's their premium one. my sister in law bought this last year, but she said it has weird jelly essence and she didn't like it. that's why i was hesitant to buy it at first. but i saw this mask on @ohmyglossblog instagram and she likes it, so i think it's worth to try.

this is the description from their website: for more precise skin cleansing using a sheet mask. recommended for controlling dryness. recommended for use when more moisture/ greater elasticity, improved makeup hold for when you need it most, speedy special skin care, skin maintenance, relaxing skin care time. a beauty serum formulated with a high concentration of beautifying components & ultra-rich jelly serum. premium skin care mask for special occasions. a high concentration gel type beauty serum with a deep penetrating feeling with a rich blend of carefully selected beautifying components. for hydration that goes a level deeper providing trustworthy delivery for your skin. formulation: coenzyme q10, royal jelly extract, argan oil, glycerin.
hyaluronic acid: for better than ever hydration. you'll notice soft, radiant skin the next day. 3 times the concentration of hyaluronic acid.
the enhanced moisturization clears the fine lines caused by dryness. an all-in-one type with six actions per sheet. complete skin care in one specially formulated sheet. your skin will feel energized from the inside out and bouncing with youthful elasticity. soft skin from sheets made with 100% plant extract. the raw material for the pulp is 100% cellulose (the main component of plant cell walls). hygienic impurity-free sheets. the rich gel beauty serum packs every corner of your skin with concentrated moisture. the weakly acidic formulation does not contain mineral oil, paraben, tar-based dyes, or ethanol to provide gentle care for your skin. the soothing and subtle floral fragrance turns your skin moisturization routine into a moment of luxury.

the packaging: i bought this in a box of 4 masks. both the box and the individual packaging has the same design. it has a picture of a woman using a sheet mask that is the same for every kose masks. it also has a picture of what seems to be royal jelly in a glass. the design of each type of premium mask is the same, the difference is the background color. for hyaluronic acid, it has red-pink background. at the back there's description but as usual, everything is in japanese.

the packaging

the scent: as described above, you can see that this mask contains fragrance. even a special one. it has various scent mixed. for my amateur nose, i can smell subtle floral with a musky hint. on their website you can see it has top note, middle and end not of the scent, which i completely have no idea of.

the product: the mask is a thick and has this gauze pattern on it. perhaps because it's made of cellulose. it's a bit stiff. and the essence is truly has jelly texture. literally like putting jelly on top of my face. it's light gold in color. the mask has too many slits and useless bottom eye flap. but apparently some people like them. oh well. this mask doesn't adhere well because of the jelly essence that creeps out underneath it. and it's also has a light yellow gold tinge on the mask because of the jelly essence.

left: before
middle: mask on
right: after

the result: i use it for about 15-20 minutes just as instructed and it's really moisturizing. it leaves sticky feeling afterward, just like putting honey on my face. but it is very moisturizing as promised. my face looks glowy. i also don't have any problem putting my next step after using this mask. no pilling up whatever.

honestly, this feels too rich for my skin. usually i will use mask longer than the instruction, but this one, i can't seem to stand another minute and i take it off immediately after using this for 15-20 minutes. i think it will be great for someone with dry skin. or you like royal jelly much. or you're like me, eager to try something new. but if you have super oily or oily skin or maybe just combination skin, i suggest buy singles, don't buy a box of it. i honestly forgot how much is this mask, but everything from japan seems to be affordable, so i think this one too. as for availability, i think you can get this everywhere in japan's drugstores, and maybe online. but here, i can't seem to find or see online shop selling this type. recently, kose is being sold here at watson, officially, so i think maybe i could find this at stores soon. but for this type, i won't repurchase.

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