My Melody × Love More

My Melody is the perfect candidate to ease me into the world of Love More (愛戀膜法). She is my favourite Sanrio character!

Name: My Melody × Love More
Price: NT$ 299 for 1 box
Contents: 25 ml ×18
Made in: Taiwan

The fabric is well-woven and absorbent. Despite its thinness I was able to unfold and place the mask easily on my face without fearing that it would tear. The cut and proportion fits the contours of my face rather well. My only caveat: I would have liked the nose flap to be a little longer.

ღ Lily & Crystal Marine 百合礦岩花緊緻潤白 (tightening)

Price: ★★★★★★★ RM 1.71/piece
Scent: ★★★★★★☆ very fresh and grassy
Moisturising level: ★★★★☆☆☆
Whitening degree: ★★★★☆☆☆ made my face very pale
Recommend: No. It is impossible to see tightening or lifting effects when the manufacturer decides to do without extra bells and whistles (a jaw strap or ear hooks). Further more, it is not impressive in the moisturising or whitening departments.

The full ingredient list for Lily & Crystal Marine:

ღ Rose & Achillea Millefolium 玫瑰歐蕾草雪白 (whitening)

Price: ★★★★★★★ RM 1.71/piece
Scent: ★★★★★☆☆ I adore rosy scents especially when they are light and not overpowering at all like this mask
Moisturising level: ★★★★★☆☆
Whitening degree: ★★★★★☆☆
Recommend: Yes! It really brightens the complexion and hydrates my skin.

The full ingredient list for Rose & Achillea Millefolium:

ღ Lavender & Lemongrass 薰衣草檸檬活絡亮白 (brightening)

Price: ★★★★★★★ RM 1.71/piece
Scent: ★★★★★★☆ very similar to Lily & Crystal Marine with an added hint of lavender
Moisturising level: ★★★★☆☆☆
Whitening degree: ★★★★☆☆☆
Recommend: No. This mask is more for the smell, I do not see as good of a brightening result.

The full ingredient list for Lavender & Lemongrass:

ღ Chamomilla Vulgaris & Mint 洋甘菊薄荷控油細緻 (oil control)

Price: ★★★★★★★ RM 1.71/piece
Scent: ★★★★★★☆ light and flowery
Moisturising level: ★★★★☆☆☆
Whitening degree: ★★★★★☆☆
Recommend: Yes! I usually start looking like an oil slick at around midnight and this mask prevented that from happening. My face looked very well balanced, there was a slight hint of dewiness but in a nice glowy way.

The full ingredient list for Chamomilla Vulgaris & Mint:

My verdict:
#1 Chamomilla Vulgaris & Mint
#2 Rose & Achillea Millefolium
#3 Lavender & Lemongrass
#4 Lily & Crystal Marine

These My Melody x Love More sheet masks are good but they did not do enough to blow my mind. I would rather spend my money on Sexylook or FaceQ.

~*Giveaway*~ Tatcha Sampler Set (US$ 162 Value)

Edit: Giveaway closed, prize sent. Thank you for participating!

I have here a giveaway to end my Tatcha review series. Thank you for getting this far! One of you will get the chance to sample Tatcha's amazing products.

What is up for grabs?
One sampler set from Tatcha worth US$ 162.

How to win?
① Fill out the form below to enter this giveaway. The first three requirements are a MUST.
② This giveaway is open to US readers only and one winner will be randomly selected.
③ Agree to provide your mailing information to Tatcha. They will ship the prize to the winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck everyone!

Disclosure: Sponsored giveaway.

Tatcha Deep Brightening Serum

Deep Brightening Serum is formulated with a blend of licorice, scutellaria and jujube extracts working in harmony with Tatcha's signature HADASEI-3™ Bioactive Complex of rice bran oil, red algae and green tea to provide the skin with an instant boost of moisture and radiance. This serum also promises to prevent future age spots from materialising as well as clarify existing ones.

Name: Tatcha Deep Brightening Serum
Price: US$ 150 for 30 ml
Made in: Japan

I had to comb through the ingredient list (listed at the bottom) after that spiel. And indeed, this serum is loaded with a lot of excellent ingredients. Emollients, antioxidants and anti-irritants, you name it, they have it. However, I noticed that even though it is supposed to be a brightening serum, it only contains a single skin brightening ingredient: licorice root extract.

In this vein, I will address this serum as a hydrating serum instead of a brightening serum. My observations are made after one and a half months usage.

It keeps my skin hydrated and silky smooth to the touch in this hot and humid tropical weather. It would definitely suit those with oilier skin types. I imagine that it is not enough to meet dry skin needs or if you are living in a different climate.

The consistency is thin and runny like a lotion, so it glides easily across the skin. It is extremely lightweight and sinks in quickly, which is a must have characteristic in my serums. Nobody likes waiting a good ten minutes for their serums to absorb!

The serum has a natural floral scent with a whiff of earthiness. I only notice the scent when it comes close to my face. It is very subtle and does not linger long.

Deep Brightening Serum keeps my skin in an optimum condition but it does not wow me enough to merit US$ 150 every two months. I would rather fork out that money for Moisture Rich Silk Cream (US$ 150 for 50 ml) which completely bowled me with its luxurious texture. Read review here.

The full ingredient list for Deep Brightening Serum:
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Squalane, Isocetyl Stearate, Inositol, Phenoxyethanol, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Isostearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Sericin (Silk Extract), Arginine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Zizyphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sorbitan Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Algae Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Fragrance.

Coming up next, a giveaway!

Disclosure: Press sample.

Tatcha Review: Camellia One Step Cleansing Oil, Moisture Rich Silk Cream, Original Aburatorigami

Tatcha is the newest luxury skin care line to enter the market. Widely known for their beauty blotting papers infused with gold flakes, Tatcha recreated the geisha's minimalist beauty regimen in an effective range of seven products.

A bit of background about my skin type for reference: I have combination dehydrated skin, oily in the T-zone, prone to comedones and hyperpigmentation on my cheeks.

ღ Camellia One Step Cleansing Oil

Name: Tatcha Camellia One Step Cleansing Oil
Price: US$ 48 for 150 ml
Made in: Japan

This cleansing oil removes base makeup and point makeup easily. It takes some time to dissolve waterproof eye makeup so a separate remover is recommended.

Thick fluid texture.

Cleansing power against Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter 015 Tutti Frutti, Kate Super Sharp Liner BK-1 and Lancôme Hypnôse (from left).

It left my skin feeling clean, smooth and very soft to the touch. The floral scent is very calming and soothing. The formula does not sting my eyes nor cloud my vision.

The full ingredient list for Camellia One Step Cleansing Oil:
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate (Palm Kernel Oil), Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Water, Camellia Sinesis Leaf Extract (Green Tea), Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil (Rice Bran), Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquicaprylate (Coconut Oil), Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Algae Extract (Red Algae), Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance.

ღ Moisture Rich Silk Cream

Name: Tatcha Moisture Rich Silk Cream
Price: US$ 150 for 50 ml
Made in: Japan

Like the rest of the skincare range, the Moisture Rich Silk Cream has a subtle floral scent with a hint of earthiness.

The 'liquid silk' description on the site is extremely apt, I have never encountered another moisturizer with such a luxurious texture. It feels rich without being heavy, absorbs quickly and does not leave any greasiness behind.

So, does this cream fulfill its claims to provide long lasting moisture and to prevent and repair premature ageing? It was hard for me to assess its anti-ageing efficacy as the deluxe sized sample only lasted two weeks or so of daily use. Not nearly enough time to tell a difference in my forehead lines haha!

However, I did notice my skin feeling extremely hydrated and lush. It provided a smooth and soft canvas (almost like a baby's bottom!!) for my next step, may it be a sunscreen or a night gelly.

The full ingredient list for Moisture Rich Silk Cream:
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isocetyl Stearate, Squalene (Olive Extract), Inositol (Rice Derivative), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Oryza Sativa Germ Oil (Rice Bran), Hydrogenated Lecithin (Soy Bean), Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Batyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arginine, Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Carbomer, Sericin (Silk Extract), Xanath Gum, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panax Root Extract (Ginseng), Royal Jelly Extract, Thymus Serpillum Extract (Wild Thyme), Algae Extract (Red Algae), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Green Tea), Fragrance.

ღ Original Aburatorigami

Name: Tatcha Original Aburatorigami
Price: US$ 12 for 1 pack (30 sheets)
Made in: Japan

The gold flakes in Tatcha's blotting papers are a mark of authenticity as these papers are used by goldsmiths in Japan to hammer out gold leaf. Since these gold flakes are transfer-resistant, they won't come off when you use the papers. For those not in the know, aburatorigami (あぶらとり紙) is a by-product of the gold leaf making process.

I have never seen a blotting paper that is more decadent or as steeped in history!

They absorb oil very well while leaving my makeup in place. As much as I enjoy using this blotting paper, others work just as well for so much lesser. Tatcha's aburatorigami can be costly if you have to replenish your supply often but they would make fantastic one-off gifts to friends and family members.

Tatcha skincare is available exclusively in Barneys U.S., online at tatcha.com and in a variety of boutique retailers around the world.

(Source: Promotional images are from tatcha.com/)

Disclosure: Press samples.