i was going through my blog posts and i realized that i reviewed a lot of japan beauty products, but never once put together a recommendation list about what to get there. japan is a beautiful and interesting country and it offers a lot of beauty products (and non beauty, of course) both affordable and high end spectrum. it also offers a wide varieties of experience, from busy city to serene village. from traditional and cultural experience to modern and hip trend. beautiful sceneries to hectic city skyscraper. even though i've only been to their 3 cities, but i always opt going to japan if i could. it's child friendly as well as disability friendly. although it's not that language friendly. most of the people understand simple english, but they wouldn't reply back in english, they would talk to you back in japanese. even in tourist attractions such as disneyland and universal studio. oh well.. but at least google translate works well, so don't worry about getting lost.

last year when we had to go to singapore for my sister wedding, i discovered that the hotel that we were staying at was near plaza singapore, and it has muji store! i didn't get the chance to visit muji store while we were in japan, but now i got the chance. so i was like strolling around the beauty section, deciding which one to try out first. so i decided to grab the famous toning water and couple of mini sizes to try out. and i was doubtful whether to pick the regular version or the light one, but i decided to get the light version. so let's see whether or not i make a good decision.

this is the description from muji singapore's website: skin care series made using natural water from kamaishi in iwate prefecture. provides fresh hydration for sensitive skin that dries easily. contains purslane extract, grapefruit seed extract and lipidure (polyquaternium-51), a material containing a large amount of moisture, as skin protection components. low-irritation, making it gentle on delicate skin. fragrance free, non staining, mineral oil free, mildly acidic, paraben free, alcohol free, allergy tested.

the bottle

the measurement

the packaging: as you might've guessed this comes in really minimalist design. it's just a regular transparent plastic bottle, with the label at front indicating which type of product (all of the products in their sensitive lines comes in either opaque white or transparent plastic bottle) and another label at the back with description all in japanese. but since i bought this in singapore, there's a little sticker with english description as well as shorter version of ingredients list. you can try read the ingredients list on the bottle, but since they use grey color for their fonts, it's a bit hard to read the text. they also pick a weird dispensing system. they put stopper on top just like my purito FTE, and they just put regular tin screw cap. i, personally, like my toner to come in spray with flip top bottle for easier use. i don't like screw cap because i'm clumsy, so i often drop it and it's troublesome having to find it everytime. and the stopper is no use. it doesn't drip the toner out, instead it lets it pour continuously for a few second before it starts to drip. so definitely not my favorite packaging. but it comes with a seal on the opening which is unusual for japan products. usually they would just plastic wrap on the outside and nothing on the inside. but probably because this one doesn't have any plastic wrap on the outside so they put the seal on the opening. there's also an indicator on the side which let you know how much products left you have in the bottle.

ingredients list

the seal inside

the scent: this one is scentless perhaps because it's targeted for sensitive skin. but if you like scented product, i believe there are other lines that is scented for more relaxation effect.

the opening

the product: this is just like the name, watery toner. this is a really runny watery toner that looks and feels like water. since i bought the full size bottle, it has plastic stopper on top, but recently i found out that you can buy their spray head so you can use it as mist as well. i plan to move some to my tiny spray bottle after i finished with my kikumasamune toner.

can you see it on my hand?

the result: this is the light version so it's absorbed quickly. it doesn't leave sticky feeling and if i only use one layer, it doesn't feel like i put anything on my skin. it layers well under my usual routine, no pilling. i really want to try using it as mist to put in between steps as i feel my face is suffering with the weather changes right now. i will try to update it here.

after patted on my hand

i have to say that i really don't understand the hype about this toner. it's hydrating but only a bit. perhaps if you have normal to dry skin, this toner might not be for you. i think oily skin might like it, or teenager as it gives light hydration. as for me, i might try the normal moisture or high moist version. but muji offers quite extended range of products, and all of them are quite affordable, so i might buy some more from them. they also offer makeup products, but they have limited color selection so i might pass on their makeup product. do you have favorite from muji? let me know in the comments below.

i have tried almost all lululun masks, i only have two left from this plus line, the lavender and lemongrass. if you're interested in lululun masks, you could read them in my blog. this plus line is thicker and meant to be used weekly instead of their regular masks that supposed to be used daily. in the plus line, there are two groups, the aroma care (which is clearly has fragrance in it) and the non aromatic one. the last two are from the aromatic, and this time i'm trying their lavender mask.

this is the description from their US website: dreamlike healing - blend of lavender essential oils from france. lavender is known to be the most versatile of aromatic oils. its soothing floral aroma is an excellent source of stress relief. lavender extract firms up the skin, and effectively permeates dry skin to restore optimal nourishment.
french lavender essential oil formulation - lavender is known as the most versatile aroma oil. a floral fragrance revitalizes your mood. in addition, lavender flower extract permeates moisture deep into the skin for a supple and healthy appearance.
marjoram, symbolizing happiness. marjoram meaning "joy of the mountains" in greek. known as an herb that symbolizes happiness, it was used in ancient greek-roman weddings as the bride and groom decorated the corolla with marjoram. extracts from leaves of marjoram give moisture to the skin for a smooth and supple appearance.
blueberry rich in anthocyanin. blueberry is a rich source of anthocyanin, which is present not only in the fruit but also in the leaves. anthocyanin gives the skin a superior boost of moisture and gloss.

the packaging: it comes in regular rectangular sachet which is color coordinated according to the type of the mask. for lavender, it comes in light tosca green sachet with the picture of lavender at front. at the back there's description as well as ingredients list. the description is written in japanese as usual, but the ingredients list is in english.

the packaging

the scent: i supposed it smells like lavender, but it's totally different from my lavender essential oil, so i can't say which one is more natural. the scent is quite strong when it's freshly opened, but it dissipates once you put the mask on your face. so if you have sensitive skin or nose, you might want to try or even avoid it at once.

the product: the mask is thick but still soft cotton, it's similar to other mask in this line, but thicker compared to regular lululun mask. it's drenched in clear runny essence. there's a bit left in the pouch. the fit is okay for me. it has long nose flap which i appreciate since most mask won't reach the tip of my nose. it has decent forehead length and cover my temples and jaw area but i have to tuck a bit on my temples area. it has weird inner eye slit but luckily it doesn't poke my eyes. it doesn't have any other slit, but it's adjustable just okay.

left: before middle: mask on right: after

the result: i put it on for about 20 minutes and it's still damp when i take it off. it's definitely moisturizing but i don't see anything else. it does leave tacky feeling and it layers well under my usual skincare routine.

if you like lavender scented mask, then you should try it. as for me, i think i like the non aromatic one better. i think it will suit any skin types, but if you have sensitive skin, since it's obviously has added fragrance, you should think twice before getting it. but even if you decided to get it, it's really affordable so it won't break your wallet. now i believe lululun is easier to get in japan and online, but here in indonesia you can't really get it with decent price. most preorder shop sells these masks double in price, so i won't suggest you to preorder here. at this point, i will tell you which one i would get if i could find them in japan again. for me personally, i will repurchase sunny days and probably homeo age, and probably nothing from the aroma care. i know i still have one more, but considering i don't like lemongrass, i don't see myself repurchasing that one. if i have to pick one from aroma care, i would pick the yuzu one because it smells okay, not floral and not weird at all. what about you? have you tried this line? and which one is your favorite?

papa recipe is a brand that i fall in love with their masks. unfortunately, it's not easy to get them here, so i have to wait until at least i go to singapore to get them. last time i got them was when i went to hong kong and i bought three variants at once which i love them all. and this time, i noticed that they have two more variants available in singapore. i was hesitating at first, but then i found the 5 masks in a box, so i grabbed them both. i decided to try the green one first, so let's see...

this is the description from kmall website: avocado, parsley in rich chlorophyll make healthy and elastic skin. the propolis ingredient replenishes moisture and nutrients to dry and frizzy skin, creating a moist and shiny skin. the vegetable collagen ingredient obtained from carrots gives skin elasticity.

the packaging: this comes in a box of 5. the box has the same design as the individual packaging. there's description at the back in korean, but the ingredients list is in english. the picture is the the same as the older version. the difference is in the individual packaging. the old one has regular rectangular sachet, but the new one has cut-out honey jar-shaped sachet.

the packaging

the scent: it has the usual papa recipe honey scent, which is not overly sweet, a bit medicated in my opinion, and very subtle. the scent is supposed to be different for each type, so i honestly can't tell what is the difference between the original and the green one in terms of their scent. all i know is that they both smells similar.

the product: the mask is thinner than the rose gold (which has pattern on it), but this one feels more papery compared to the original mask. it still has backing and it's appreciated since the mask is really thin. as usual, the mask is soaked in lots of clear but viscous essence and there's a bit left, but i pat it back to the mask to prolong the wear time. i forget about the original mask's fit, but this one has tall forehead, small eyes and mouth holes, long nose flap (love it), and decent width but still doesn't cover my jaws. there's no slit but it's adjustable. for me, the fit is acceptable and easy to work with.

left: before middle: mask on right: after

the result: i put this one for about 30 minutes, and it's still damp. and the result is predictable. it moisturizes my skin, making it a bit tacky but i don't mind it. it also gives brightening effect. although it's not as visible as the black honey one, but it's still visible when you compared to the "before" picture.

anyway, long story short, i definitely like this version. although i'm hoping that it has the same smooth and soft materials as the original one. definitely putting this in my "will repurchase" list for now. oh, and price wise, it's a bit expensive than regular korean masks, taiwanese masks, and japanese masks, but i think it's worth the price. i think it's suitable for all skin types. even though it's moisturizing, it's not super rich heavy that it might clog your pores. have you tried papa recipe masks? which one is your favorite?

i think i've tried lululun masks, but when i went to singapore last time, i was strolling around tokyu hands and i saw a new lululun masks. how did i know? because it is green. lululun has different colors for different types of mask, so i remembered that there were no green before. so i decided to grab a pack of 7. so let's see about this one.

this is the description from their US website: ultra-thick sheet that fits comfortably to your skin, lotion permeates penetratingly on adult skin. it incorporates a new ingredient "L22", which is a moisturizing ingredient imitating the sebum balance of 22 years old, aiming for youthful skin.
the precious series contains oil to relax the stiffness of your skin. new product precious green contains the most expensive oil among them. improved fit and more liquid! ultra thick, plump sheets. a "water tank full of moisture" full of beautifying ingredients is gently sandwiched between "skin absorption support layers" to create ultra thick, plump sheets that help moisture penetrate your skin.

the packaging: as i've mentioned before, this comes in green plastic zip back with description at the back in japanese. i bought the 7 masks in one pack type, but they have other types, with more masks in a box, like 42 or something. since i bought this in singapore, there's a tiny sticker label with english description. the zip closes really well, securing all the masks inside and keeping them fresh and juicy still.

the packaging

the scent: this has a faint floral scent but it's very subtle. somehow i like it. i think even though you have sensitive skin, you won't be overwhelmed by the scent.

left: before middle: mask on right: after

the product: okay, after reading their description, i think it does comes in thicker sheet. the usual lululun masks are thicker than taiwanese or korean masks, but i have no problem with them as they adhere well to my skin. but this time it's thicker than usual but still feels soft and adheres well to my skin. it still has the weird inner eye slit but luckily it doesn't poke my eyes. it has narrow nose bridge, wide temple, bit short nose flap and slits on cheek part. the slit is new since the older version doesn't come with any slit at all. but the mask it still adjustable. the fit is okay but i think the tenting is worse than the older version. however, if you feel the mask is too small for your face, you can stretch it to fit your face better. i learn this tips from @christinahello. i do that with saborino masks, but i don't need to stretch the lululun one.

comparison after 1 use and the whole package

the result: i tried using them all in one week, but as usual, i got tired, i got distracted, but i managed to finish them in 10 days. i use them for about 15-20 minutes. so after using one mask, i notice that it's moisturizing but it feels lightweight so i can use my usual routine without worrying that it might pills. after using them all, i can say that i will miss this one for sure. it adds moisture and makes my skin plump and juicy.

okay... i've said in all my lululun reviews that after tried them all i will make up my mind about which one is my favorite, so i decided to put it here. from the regular line, i like the blue and pink one. from the precious line i like the white and this green one. from their plus line, i like the essential one, and not the aroma care one. especially the one for normal to oily skin,  the sunny days. so, hopefully if i could find them, i will repurchase them. i will say that this one is definitely targeted drier skin and even though it's marketed as anti-aging, i think normal to dry skin will like this but this will feel like regular mask compared to super juicy taiwanese mask. but since it's quite lightweight, even oily skin could try this, but perhaps you could skip a day or two and not using them 7 days in a row. anyway, it's really affordable and if you're concern about the packaging waste, you could try their boxes which contains more masks.

if you've seen my instastory couple months ago, you might seen that i did small haul in guardian singapore and managed to get a pouch of beauty products. it had several mini items, some i have tried but mostly i haven't. so i'm quite interested in trying them all. i've tried the antipodes serum, so i decided to move on to the april skin essence. i've known april skin mainly for its cushion products, but i didn't know that it has skincare products as well. so i had no idea what to expect. i also never heard anyone talking about it, so here i am testing the product completely clueless.

this is the description from their website: real calendula deep moisture essence contains a real calendula flower allowing the skin to absorb it upon application. when applied the calendula flower helps recover skin conditions induced by stress.
- calendula flower extract 80%: contains 80% calendula flower extract which helps control oil and moisture balance, supplies moisture, calms the skin, and has antibacterial effects to improve skin condition.
- EWG green grade, alcohol free: this EWG green grade alcohol free essence is effective while consisting of mild non-harmful components.
- pore reduction complex: patented pore reduction complex only available to april skin was adopted for real calendula deep moisture essence.
- when rolled, the calendula flower is absorbed directly into the skin.
due to april skin's independent method of extraction, the calendula flower provides nutrients and moisture to the skin in a unique way that melts into the skin
clinically approved for safe skin / clinically tested for antibacterial acne.

the packaging: the full size version comes in a bottle with dropper, but the sample size come in tiny plastic squeeze tube. it has the same yellow color as the full size one. it comes in 10 g, which is usual for mini size. even though it's a mini size, they still put a seal on the opening of the tube. the description at the back is in korean and there's no ingredients list.

the tube

the scent: it has strong floral scent, quite perfumey. i don't like the scent but it's not super overwhelming, but still pretty noticeable. if you don't like floral-scented product or you have sensitive nose, you might want to avoid it.

the back of the tube

the product: it is a clear gel essence, and it does have calendula flowers petals in it. it becomes watery once spread out to my skin, and it takes quite a while to be completely absorbed. since this comes in mini size, the calendula flower petals are quite small so i don't feel it when i massage it to my skin. the mini size lasts for about 3 weeks since i use it on and off for a bit. i check the ingredients list on skincarisma's website and it's true that it's alcohol free. it's also paraben, sulfate, silicone free as well and fungal acne safe too. some notable ingredients are butylene glycol, sodium hyaluronate, betaine, allantoin as well as several extracts such as calendula, lavender and evening primrose.

the seal

the result: i can definitely feel that it's moisturizing. not surprising since it has lots of moisturizing ingredients. but i remember calendula is being hyped as calming ingredients, and i have some acne popping while testing this product. unfortunately, this doesn't help calming down my skin. in fact, i became suspicious that it might contribute to the acne popping events. i don't test anything else, and i use my usual makeup, so i don't think anything else could trigger my acne except for this essence. that's why i use it on and off, and when i don't use it, i don't see any new acne popping. and after i start using this again, in 3 days to a week, a new acne will pop. so, you might guess that this is a no for me.

the essence on my hand

after blending it in

i can say that it's a good moisturizing essence, especially for normal to dry skin. it layers well under other products and it has good ingredients. i don't know about the price, but i think april skin is a middle-priced brand, so it probably would be quite affordable. unfortunately, i think it's not for me. although it doesn't give me hard cystic acne like body shop serum, but having acne here and there is quite bothering, so definitely won't purchase the full size one.

i've been wanted to try jayjun masks for quite some time, but the price of the individual mask is a bit expensive for me, so i've been put that thought into hold. then i had try any other affordable masks so when i went to singapore last time, i decided to buy three of them. and after waiting the right time to use it, i decided to give one a try. the other two has 3 steps, but this one only has 2 steps, so i think i'll try this one first.

this is the description from masksheets website: hyaluronic acid improves skin texture, prevents and slows down aging of the skin, smoothes wrinkles, effectively moisturizes skin. niacinamide provides regeneration of the skin, improves skin elasticity, helps to remove age spots and improves the skin tone and its texture. ginseng has a rejuvenating effect on the skin, it moisturizes the skin, normalizing the water-salt balance, protects against premature aging.
step 1: hyaluronic acid essence - intensive, moisturizing essence instantly penetrates into the deeper layers of skin. promotes softening, moisturizing, improving skin tones.
step 2: the mask sheet - effectively it acts on the epidermis of the skin, has a strengthening prolonged action. vitamin complex, contained in the mask, restores the skin structure, promoting elasticity and natural shine, mask nourishes and has an anti-aging action. has sedative effect, eliminates dryness and flaking of the skin. improves and evens skin tone.

the packaging: it comes in rather tall cream sachet. there's the name of the mask at front along with separate divider at front to differentiate the essence and the mask placing. they also put english text at front so you can see which one to open first. the description at the back of the essence step is all in korean, but there's a short english text which just tell you to spread it on your face. the amount of the essence is 1,5 ml which is quite generous because usually essence sample only comes in 1 ml. the mask description is also written in korean, but the ingredients list is in english.

the packaging

the product and scent: the essence is clear runny essence but a bit viscous. 1,5 ml is definitely a little bit too much for one use. it smells a bit fragrant but only after opening the sachet. i could use it twice, but since i already pour it to my hand, i use it all in one go.
the mask is a thin msh-type cotton or maybe biocellulose matter that's drenches in clear gel-lotion essence. the essence of the mask is a bit thicker than the essence from step 1. the mask essence is quite generous but nothing's left in the pouch. the mask smells a bit fragrance, slightly noticeable than the essence but it doesn't linger. the mask is on the big size. it has tall forehead, wide temples, long nose flap and wide jaw which almost reach the side of my jaws, and long chin. it also has weird inner slit, but they don't poke into my eyes. there's no other slit, but it's adjustable.

the essence notice how it's dripping down my palm

left: before right: after

the result: the essence is easy to be absorbed and instantly hydrating. it leaves tacky feeling but still bearable. maybe if i use less amount, it won't be as sticky. adding the mask over the essence doubles the hydration and moisture. the mask also gives a bit brightening effect as well. but it is very sticky afterward that i'm afraid that it might pill other stuff that i will put on top, especially with tricky naruko sleeping gelly, so i decided to just seal it with emulsion.

left: after essence but before mask middle: mask on right: after mask

i have to say that i'm impressed with my first encounter with this brand. multi steps products in a sachet is pretty handy especially when you're travelling. i have two other options and there's a foam and eye cream and mask combination. i think it would be great to use when you're about to haul an overnight plane. you can use the foam to clean your face and then put the mask on to avoid the dryness. as for this type, i think it would be suitable for normal to dry skin type. combination or oily skin should divide the essence and then put other steps mindfully after using the mask. the price however, is more expensive than my usual masks, but considering that it's a multi-step mask, i think it's worth the price. i won't decide about repurchasing until i've tried all the variants that i have.