metamorph-me

last time when i went to japan, i saw new series from lululun. so obviously i bought some. i bought three of them. honestly, i don't know how many are there in this new line, but this new line is called "one night". i've tried the blue one, and now i'm trying the pink one. though lululun masks are not spectacular, somehow i keep buying them because they are cheap and it gives basic hydration, so i'm satisfied enough with them. so let's see how this one do.

this is the description from their website: lululun one night, skin hydrating facial sheet mask. rescue your skin a night before your special day! lululun one night red deeply hydrates the skin and improves skin environment. wake up with the perfect supple skin the next morning.

the packaging: lululun always have similar design for masks in the same line. that goes the same as this one. this has white background with pink cloud at the bottom while the other two has colored background and white cloud. but they all have the same "face" design. you can see at the background two closed eyes with heavy eyelashes and a nightcap. description at the back in japanese as usual.

the packaging

the scent: it has the usual wet tissue like scent that other lululun masks have. but it's not too strong, only when the pouch is freshly opened.

the product: the mask is thin but has mesh-like texture. it has lots of clear type essence. there's even excess in the pouch, a lot compared to other masks. the mask has no slit but it adheres well and i can adjust it well too. the fit is okay for me, only a bit wide on the temples and it has those weird inner eye slit, but the rest is okay for me.

left: before
middle: mask on
right: after

the result: it does hydrating and a bit brightening as well. but it's not more hydrating than any other masks. i don't feel like this is a one night emergency item to use before your special day. it feels more like regular hydrating addition.

well, i haven't tried all three that i have so i can't say which one is my favorite. but compared to other lululun masks, this feels ordinary, just like other lululun masks. it doesn't feel special. but since it's affordable, i think i'll grab a few if i could visit japan again. somehow i like japanese masks on my lazy day since they're thinner and not so much essence so it's a quick treat day for me. so, if you're used to taiwanese mask that has a lot of essence and slightly thicker than lululun's, then you might be disappointed. so i suggest you'd skip them. but if you're like me, who still want to sheet mask, but you don't have a lot of time, and longing for quicker sheet masking option, you might want to try it. as for availability, lululun is a more widely known japanese brand, so you could get it online easier than other japanese brand. but the price might vary, so pick one that's trustworthy and still within reasonable price.

by the time i'm writing this post, i'd finished this cream. i don't know why i never get to write about this. somehow i'm not sure what to write, but i've finished it, so i think i have to give some thoughts about it. i'm thankful that i can try this in mini size since they were selling kits during holiday season, but this is the only kit that has both retinol cream and the protini cream in one set, so i hope they could bring another kits like this.

this is the description from sephora website: a skincare kit of top-notch, top-selling products in midi sizes. this skincare kit includes a-passioni retinol cream, b-hydra serum, protini moisturizer, and slaai cleansing balm which are all perfect for both morning and nighttime skincare routines.
what it includes: protini polypeptide cream 30ml, a-passioni retinol cream 10 ml, b-hydra intensive hydration serum 5ml, slaai makeup melting butter cleanser 22g, bamboo booster 1,7g.

the packaging: as i've said in another post, since this was sold as a kit, it was placed in a drawer like packaging. the outer part is a bright neon orange paper that enveloped the whole drawer. it has description at the back. when you peel it open, there's a cardboard drawer which all the products are placed on a plastic separator. a passioni retinol cream has red and white combination. it is in a squeeze tube like toothpaste, really old one, not the plastic one like today's. the cap is red screw plastic cap. it has weird shape so it's a bit weird everytime i unscrew it. there's another description at the back of the tube. this one comes in 10 ml. i thought it was too small at first, but it could last up to 6 months.

the box

description at the back

the scent: i don't think it has added fragrance, but it has natural scent from its ingredient. nothing too much though.

how the drawer looks

the product: it's a yellow cream. it's quite thick like medicinal salve, but still spreadable. i've watched susan yara using this, and she said to use just tiny bit. so considering that this is my first serious retinol, i take that suggestion seriously. i only use tiny bit, probably less than a pea size for my whole face and neck. though i've used retinoid from the ordinary before, but it's super mild. so i have to be extra careful with this one. this cream has 1% retinol which is considered quite strong. at first, i only used this twice a week, and then i proceed to use it every other day. but when i was about to increase the frequency, my skin took a toll. so, up until the end, i only use this every monday, wednesday and friday.

the tube

description at the back of the tube

the result: i have to warn you that this is really strong. i've prepared myself before using this retinol. up until before using this retinol, i only use one serum in my night time routine. but since i knew i was going to use a strong retinol, i started to use two serums at that time. one for extra hydration or at least snail serum, and another anti aging serum that's usually heavier. when i first used this twice a week, i have no problem. for two weeks my skin was adapting well. but when i started to use it every other day, my skin started to feel drier than usual. i could see skin around my nostrils and even on my neck sloughing off. i even started to use a lighter serum during daytime. and after two weeks, my skin started to adapt well. then after a month, i started to try using this every day, but it was worse, so i dialed back to using it every other day. and up until now, i don't dare using it every day, so i keep using it every other day until i finish it. retinol is famous for its acne fighting properties, but i keep getting acne here and there. probably because i'm trying things and also hormonal acne, but i still get them. i rarely get them before using retinol. as for anti aging, i can see it works. on my normal skin, i could see my skin gets more radiant and glowy. especially since i'm using other brightening serum like propolis.

how the cream is on my hand

after patting it in

i have to say that this retinol does work, but it's quite strong. so if you're new to retinol, i suggest you take it really slow and use more serums and essences before using this cream. even use oil to mix with it or other moisturizer. i even used sheet mask more frequently when i just started this retinol. anything you could do to help the skin barrier against the dryness that retinol caused. if you're not sure about it, then you could try something else, something milder. as for the price, the full size is very expensive, so i don't think i'd buy the full size. but if i could get another sample size in holiday sets like this, i would buy another one since it lasts quite for some time.

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.

i've heard about acwell a lot back in the days, but i never get to buy it. i don't know why i forget to try this one. until this pandemic happened. i can't buy imported things, so i resort to local online shops that still has some korean skincare product stocks left. also i try several local brands as well (that's why you'll see some local brands here in my blog). that's why i decided to try oldies but goodies stuff like acwell, cosrx snail and also tosowoong. but for now, let's talk about acwell.

this is the description from sokoglam website: deep clean and brighten your skin with this specially-formulated toner that's perfect for all skin types! this toner has a pH level of 5.5 to effectively balance your skin. peony extract and a high concentration of licorice water - both natural brightener - seep into skin to add an extra dose of luminosity to your complexion. green tea extract also helps calm and reduce pigmentation, including acne scars and dark spots. after use, skin feels clean and smooth, not dry or tight. because it's so good at removing any impurities left on the skin post-cleanser, it helps the rest of the products in your routine absorb better. the toner is your ticket to achieving glowing, supple "honey skin" . ingredients: licorice water, peony flower extract, green tea.

the packaging: it comes in dark brown plastic bottle covered in plastic sealing, no box whatsoever. there's description on the label in english. it has flip top bottle which is okay, but i prefer pump for toner. especially on top pump like etude one. but it's okay, the hole on the top is small so it's not messy at all. it comes in 150 ml size, which is quite normal for toner, but since i've been used to big toner like hatomugi or kikumasamune, the bottle feels small.

the bottle

the scent: it has weird scent, which i can't classify. it doesn't smell fragrant but it's not sweet nor sour as well. but i get used to it fast. it's not too overwhelming either so it's not bothering me at all.

label at the back

the product: it's a yellowish liquid. at first i thought it would be clear, but when i pour it on cotton pad, it has dark yellowish tinge to it. though i'm not someone who use cotton pad to use toner. but the instruction says to use it with cotton pad. and i've experience with something similar as this, where i don't get maximum result for not using cotton pad as instructed. so this time, i'm using cotton pad.

before (only the toner on the cotton pad)

the result: i'm using this in combination with other product like tosowoong propolis ampoule and also kose sekkisui brightening emulsion. both products are marketed as brightening products, so it might affect the result. i've been using this toner for more than a month. i use it once a day in the morning. and i realized that in combination with other products, i can see it works. i can see my skin is more glowing than usual. and in term of brightness, since the pandemic, i've been staying indoor mostly, of course i have more limited sun exposure. so, it's not surprising if i look paler than usual. but as cleansing toner, you can see at the cotton pad that it works. even though i've washed my face before, there's still some dirt on the cotton pad. it doesn't dry my skin either. i can feel my skin still supple after using this toner, though not as much as using regular toner.

after using it on my face, you can see some dirt on it even though i've washed my face

i can say that this toner works well as cleansing toner. the prove is on the cotton pad. but as for other claim like brightener, you might need to use it longer to see clearer result. i can say that it might works for all skin types, but if you're confused when you should use this toner, then you might have to try it yourself. you can add hydrating toner after this, but i don't see the need for my skin. but if you have drier skin than mine, you might have to. as for the price, i don't know why several online shops have been putting big discount for this toner. i know that it's been around for some time, but the expiration date is still long, so i don't know why they putting sale for it. so i guess if you like it, or want to stock up, this would be a good time for it. as for me, i think i'll try something else but i surely would like to use it again sometime.

i love holidays, since usually high end brands will release some holiday kits so i can try some of them in reasonable price. i tried origins products thanks to the holiday season. last december when we were in singapore, i decided to splurge a bit and bought drunk elephant kits. i always want to try drunk elephant products, but their price range is way too expensive for me. even their kits are still too expensive, but the midi kit has two products that i want to try, the protini cream and the retinol cream. so i think it's worth the money. for this post, i'll just write about the protini cream. it's highly raved by many people, so let's see how it does.

what it includes: protini polypeptide cream 30ml, a-passioni retinol cream 10 ml, b-hydra intensive hydration serum 5ml, slaai makeup melting butter cleanser 22g, bamboo booster 1,7g.

the box

description at the back

the packaging: just like the name, all the products are placed in a drawer like packaging. the outer part is a bright neon orange paper that enveloped the whole drawer. it has description at the back of it. when you peel it open, there's the cardboard drawer which all the products is placed on a plastic separator. the protini itself comes in a white plastic tub with green screw cap. the color combination is the same as the full size product, but the dispensing system is different. the midi size, which is 30 ml, comes in a usual tub just like any ordinary cream, but the full size one has a airless pumping system so the whole cream doesn't get in contact with the air. there's another description at the back of the tub in english and french.

ingredients list for protini

how the drawer looks

the scent: this time, i have several products in my line that is fragranced, so i can't say for sure if this has subtle fragrance. so far, i think it's scentless, so correct me if i'm wrong.

the tub

description on the tub

the product: it's a snow white gel cream. right off bat i knew that i like the texture of the cream. it feels like my usual japanese cream, but this one is slightly thicker. and it doesn't melt into watery traces either. but it spreads easily as well.

look at the cream's texture!

the result: i can feel that it's moisturizing enough for my skin. it's thick but not clogging my pores. it also works well over my other skincare products. it gives glowy finish which i like. it really makes my skin glowing and it makes me happy before hitting the bed.

on my hand

okay, i don't know what went wrong, but after blending it in,
it looks glowy, not matte like this picture

i could see why people like it. i think it's really suitable for normal to combination skin, but it would slightly too rich for oily skin. but if you're using this at night, it might be okay. it's occlusive enough so it can retain moisture throughout the night. especially if you're using air conditioner at night. i do like this, but it doesn't justify the price. i think my japanese cream would work similarly, so let's see how it does since i repurchase some and buy new stuff as well. but if you have the money and want to splurge on something nice, i think you should consider this. it's a good cream so the rave is true. but if you don't have the budget, you don't have to spend your money on this cream. there are other good creams to try as well. as for me, i'm glad i got the chance to buy the midi size, but i don't think i'd spend fortune on the full size product.

i just recently begin enjoy trying foundation again. i was reluctant to try foundation because i never seem to find a shade that's suitable for me. especially since most brands don't carry light enough shade for me. but it's easier to get stuff from overseas via online shop and preorder facilities. also there's a shade changing product as well. but i got a better way. my husband was going on a trip to the US so what's a better way to get US products than to ask my husband? so i compiled a shopping list for him. fortunately, he managed to get the flower beauty foundation. the problem is, i don't know which shade to get. i think L1 would be too light for me, so i asked him to get L2 instead. so let's see how it goes.

this is the description on their website: light illusion is a breakthrough foundation that achieves the impossible; provides you with medium to buildable coverage to smooth and perfect, while imparting your skin with the most flattering soft luminosity imaginable. all with a weightless, nude skin feel. imperfections and uneven skin tone are diminished. only a flawless, smooth, and incredibly natural complexion is revealed.
lightweight & breathable formula blends effortlessly. matches seamlessly and wears endlessly. broad spectrum SPF 18.

the packaging: it comes in a square glass bottle with pump head and has separate white plastic cap to cover the bottle. there's a description at the back in english. you can see the shade name written on the bottle at front so make sure you read it carefully. judging by the packaging, it looks expensive. but it costs like drugstore products. but actually i don't quite like the glass bottle as i am pretty clumsy. i drop things now and then, so if i could pick something to change, i'd like a plastic bottle instead.

the bottle

the shade: they don't offer lots of shades. i don't know how many shades are there at first, but all i know is that they add L0 to the shade selection. previously, it was porcelain L1 the lightest, but now they added shell L0 as the lightest one. i pick ivory L2 which is fair to light and has cool undertone. it's slightly too light and a bit off for me, but if i only put a light layer, i can still get away with it, especially now that i'm using essence powder that's super white. somehow it works well in combination.

the description and ingredients at the back
(oops.. i put the cap incorrectly)

the product: in terms of consistency, it's as thick as catrice foundation, but thicker compared to wet n wild one. one pump will give me light coverage and one and a half pump will give me medium coverage. they do promise medium coverage and a buildable formula, which i have to agree that it's buildable. you can add another layer if you feel it's not enough.

hand swatch

the result: in terms of coverage, it does help evening out my skin tone and cover little imperfections like dark spots, but it doesn't help much in covering acne scar. the finish is obviously glowy, and it's really glowy. too glowy for my taste. i always have to use powder on top of this foundation to set it and to make it matte or i will look super oily. i've used this over 4 hours and it holds really well. but it does separate on dry patches like around my nose. but i do have to agree that this one is really weightless and feel like skin.

jaw test

half-half on my face
you can see on the after part that my face is brightened,
redness is covered but the acne scar is still visible

left: before
right: after
you can see there's not much difference with one pump,
only covered the redness and dark under eyes, but not acne scars

performance wise, i do like this foundation. it's buildable, gives medium coverage and looks natural on me. it gives glowy finish that everyone seems to like right now. but shade wise, it's slightly darker for me, though i can get away with it if i only use single layer and wearing turtleneck shirt. price wise, it's also affordable especially if you get it yourself from the US. unfortunately, it's not easy to find it here. even through pre ordering system, only several online shops gives option to order this via pre order system. so, i'm lucky i'm able to try this foundation, but i won't buy another one. if you like glowy finish foundation with medium buildable coverage, you should try it.

i always find new my beauty diary masks when i go to japan. i don't know why, but last time i went there, i was lucky. i found several new types so i bought them all. the masks were sold in box in japan, i couldn't find any single masks being sold, so i bought the whole box, hoping that they all have clear essence and not the milky one. i like the ones with clear type essence, and somehow the milky type ones don't disagree with my skin type. i've tried two of them and this is the last one to try. it's the sakura one.

this is the description on their website (let me remind you that the picture of the one that i had and the one in the website is different, so i have no idea whether they are the same or not): for normal skin type, dull skin. a limited edition product in spring to create a tender and tender love. japanese yoshino cherry extract, rich in sakuranetin, can even skin tone and prevent dullness factors. with the unique 3-effect superconducting penetration technology of beauty diary, the essence can penetrate and absorb better.

the packaging: since i bought this in a box, the box has same design as the individual packaging. however, compared to last time when i bought them in a box, they had 8 masks in a box, while this time, it's only 4 masks in a box. when i look at the website, it's also confusing as well. the one that i had, it had light blue sky with white tall building silhouette and a bunch of sakura tree blossoms at front. i had seen the same design in their website, but then i saw a newer version that has similar vibe, but instead of tall building silhouette, it has eiffel tower on the bottom right and only a few sakura flowers. anyway.. the ones that i have, has japanese description at the back as well as the ingredients list also in japanese.

the packaging

the scent: it has fragrant floral scent, quite strong at first, but it doesn't linger. once i put it on my face, i barely smell it. so if you're sensitive to fragrance, you might want to consider it.

the product: the mask is made of thin material just like the other type that i've tried. it adheres well to my skin without any problem. there's plastic backing as usual, which i do appreciate since the mask material is flimsy. luckily, this one also has clear type essence which i like. the mask has enough essence, even there's a bit left in the pouch but it's not enough to soak a whole mask with it. there's no slit on the outer part of the mask, but there are some slits on the outer rim of the eyes holes. though there's no slit, it's easily adjusted to my face. the fit is okay for me, though it has rather tall forehead. but everything else is okay.

left: before
middle: mask on
right: after

the result: i put it on for about 30 minutes or more, and after that i can feel my skin is moisturized. a bit more than when i used the polar bear one, and it feels a bit sticky afterward too, but not too much. it doesn't clog my pores even though i put another serum and cream on top of it. i can definitely see the brightening effect. i can even see my skin tone is even the day after.

i totally like this one just like the other ones that i bought. unfortunately, i didn't buy more. and now thank to this whole pandemic situation, it might be awhile before we could get back to travelling. so, if you're in japan or taiwan and you saw this mask, grab a bunch. it's a limited edition so i don't know whether it's still available or not. i think it'd be suitable for all skin types and the price is still affordable as well, so definitely grab it when you can. i do hope that this pandemic will resolve soon and travel ban to be lifted so i could go back to japan and doing beauty haul again soon. anyway, wherever you are, please be safe and stay healthy. follow health protocol whatever it is where you live. together we can fight this pandemic.

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