Thursday, November 28, 2013

November 2013 Bag Of Love

bag-of-love.com is shaping up to be the subscription service to watch out for. They usually furnish their subscribers with awesome samples, but they certainly upped the ante for the November bag.



Bag of Love is like Ipsy, where the samples are tucked into a bag instead of a box for RM 39.90. The November bag comes in the form of a denim snap closure Levi's bag. The interior was somewhat of a letdown because all that red check is a mismatch and for some reason, brings family restaurants to mind.



And now for the part where you get to find out what the sizes of the products are...

The star product is the Panasonic Pocket Doltz Toothbrush (full-size). A useful gadget that exceeds the subscription fee is more than enough to make any girl happy!


I have squirted tons of Clarins's Double Serum (7 ml) on the back of my hand every time I set foot into Sephora. Getting to trial it on my face might influence Clarins's sales figure hahaha.


Elizabeth Arden Red Door Aura EdT (1.2 ml) highlights femininity with raspberries and a rich bouquet of floral notes. It is very sweet in a sensual way and transitions into a powdery musky scent in a couple of hours. On a personal note, I do not care for perfume vials being included as part of the five main products as these vials can be easily procured from the counters.


It has been a few years since I have used any Dove products so it is nice that I get to revisit this brand. Dove Hair Therapy Hair Fall Rescue Shampoo (90 ml) and Conditioner (80 ml) smell pretty good and my sensitive scalp could take them without experiencing itchiness. One only wishes that they are free from sulphates and silicones.


Do you subscribe to Bag of Love? If so, what was your favorite item this month?

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Reveur Moist & Gloss Shampoo

Lavish praises have been heaped upon Rêveur shampoos on the blogosphere over the past few months and I am overjoyed to report that this hype is warranted!

(Source: reveur-hair.com/)


Name: Rêveur レヴール Moist & Gloss Shampoo モイスト & グロス シャンプー
Price: ¥ 900 for 500 ml
@cosme rating: 3.6
Release date: 15.10.2010

Moist & Gloss Shampoo is free from all sort of nasties including sulphates and silicones. Folks used to mainstream shampoos assume an inevitable trade-off between rich lather and a healthier scalp but this is not the case with this shampoo. It foams very well.


Not only does it smell divine (imagine the aroma unleashed by a thousand passion fruits), this shampoo also puts an end to my itchy scalp problems (too much information?).


It does not combat frizziness nor enhance shine, in fact it sort of adds a little more oil to my scalp... hahaha. I wash my mane daily so it does not bother me. This minor inconvenience does not deter it from being one of the best shampoos that I have tried this year.


Rêveur has four ranges in total: Moist & Gloss, Rich & Repair, For Color and Scalp. Have you tried any? What do you think?

The full ingredient list for Moist & Gloss Shampoo:
Water, Lauramide DEA, TEA-Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Fragrance, Astrocaryum Murumuru Butter, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Kou-Cha Ekisu (Jtn), Malpighia Emarginata (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Prunus Speciosa Leaf Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Hydrolyzed Prunus Domestica, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Juice, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Anona Cherimolia Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Mango Juice Extract, Hydrolyzed Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract, Sodium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Amaranth Protein, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Betaine, Glycerin, Polyquaternium-10, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Kose Infinity Pure Advance: Essence Lotion II, Serum II

Infinity Pure Advance インフィニティ ピュア アドバンス is an anti-ageing series designed for skin in 20s and early 30s. It enlists the services of botanical ingredients (Rosa Multiflora Fruit, Shell Ginger Leaf Extract, Okra) to boost skin hydration and erase pores. I was really surprised when I failed to find information regarding this range on @cosme. Further research lead me to the assumption that it is not sold in Japan... but why when it is so so so good?

Pure Advance consists of 9 items, and I am going to review 2 of them in this entry.

(Source: facebook.com/kose.malaysia)

Essence Lotion エッセンスローション II has a luxurious, jellified consistency and is designed to rejuvenate, hydrate and plump skin.


Milky textured Serum セラム II restores the natural oil-water balance for a poreless appearance.


It is very clever of Kosé to take these concerns (fine lines and visible pores) into consideration and address them in an age-based line with a befitting price point. I have been using both Essence Lotion II and Serum II for two weeks now and am very taken by my new regimen. These products are very nourishing and leave my skin bouncy and toned.

On the downside, the formulation contains ingredients that make my upper lip area tingle... people with sensitive skin may want to exercise caution and perform a patch test before jumping in with both feet.

Essence Lotion II (160 ml) and Serum II (120 ml) are sold at Kosé counters nationwide where you will find them for RM 169 each.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Hada Labo Face Wash Review: Deep Clean & Blemish Control, Deep Clean & Pore Refining, Hydra & Whitening

Hada Labo recently expanded its facial cleanser repertoire with Deep Clean & Blemish Control Face Wash, Deep Clean & Pore Refining Face Wash and Hydra & Whitening Face Wash.

These pH balanced cleansers are enriched with Bentonite Clay (draws impurities) and the brand's signature ingredient, Hyaluronic Acid (encourages water retention) amongst other beneficial ingredients to address different concerns (which will be mentioned later). Additionally, they are alcohol, colourant, fragrance and mineral oil free.


Name: Hada Labo Face Wash
Price: RM 20.90 for 100 g
Made in: China

Deep Clean & Blemish Control Face Wash is fortified with Wild Pansy Extract (contains natural Salicylic Acid) to control and prevent blemishes. And while it left my face feeling comfortable, it showed signs of being the culprit for my flaky, peeling nose. The formula is too harsh for my skin type but would be perfect for oily and acne-prone skin.


The full ingredient list for Deep Clean & Blemish Control Face Wash:
Water, Lauric Acid, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine/Water, Potassium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer/Water, Glycol Distearate, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide DEA, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate/Water, Stearic Acid/Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium EDTA, Methylisothiazolinone/Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate/Water, Glycerin/Water/Viola Tricolor Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate.

Deep Clean & Pore Refining Face Wash includes Alpaflor ALP-sebum, an ingredient with proven efficacy to regulate sebum secretion. The concentration is too minute for me (doesn't prevent oil from forming whatsoever)... It works great as a no-frills foaming cleanser though and is ideal for oily skin with visible pores.


The full ingredient list for Deep Clean & Pore Refining Face Wash:
Water, Lauric Acid, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine/Water, Potassium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer/Water, Glycol Distearate, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide DEA, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate/Water, Stearic Acid/Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium EDTA, Methylisothiazolinone/Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate/Water, Glycerin/Water/Epilobium Fleischeri Extract/Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate.

Hydra & Whitening Face Wash has Resveratrol (the heart of Caudalie's Vinexpert range), an antioxidant that intensifies brightness and employs Fucosorb to provide moisture. My face can't discern the differences between this cleanser and Deep Clean & Pore Refining Face Wash, so much so that I use them interchangeably.

Nonetheless, Hydra & Whitening Face Wash is getting the special treatment and will come along with me for my upcoming trip. All skin types will benefit from this cleanser and not only those with dull and dry skin.


The full ingredient list for Hydra & Whitening Face Wash:
Water, Lauric Acid, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine/Water, Potassium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer/Water, Glycol Distearate, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide DEA, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate/Water, Stearic Acid/Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium EDTA, Methylisothiazolinone/Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate/Water, Resveratrol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Algae Extract/Sorbitol.

The size of a pea is enough to whip up a dense, lovely lather. These cleansers remove impurities and daily grime, leaving the skin feeling fresh and moisturised without any of the tightness or dryness that you would associate with foaming cleansers.



My sole criticism regarding these cleansers is the Sodium Laureth Sulfate content. I thought that this is worth a mention because some may prefer to avoid exposure to this particular chemical.


You can easily get hold of the Hada Labo Face Wash range at all leading pharmacies nationwide. All the more reason to indulge at RM 20.90 a piece!

Disclosure: Press samples.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Kate Slim Gel Pencil BK-1

There must be something amazing about Slim Gel Pencil if it managed to grab third place in the @cosme ranking for the first half of 2013. Since I was in the market for a pencil gel eyeliner, I thought why not?


Name: Kate ケイト Slim Gel Pencil スリムジェルライナーペンシル BK-1
Price: ¥ 1,200 for 0.12 g
@cosme rating: 4.5
Release date: 1.2.2013

Slim Gel Pencil is a gel liner housed in a twist-up, pencil form. This formula boasts the benefits of intense colour payoff and smooth application, all squeezed into an extra fine 1.5 mm lead (or is core more apt?). It glides on fluidly without dragging. The colour is on the greyish-black side and has a non-shiny finish.


I have always had a problem wearing eyeliner on my waterline (Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils and Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes turn me into a raccoon) so it should have been obvious that I would not find my HG so easily. Slim Gel Pencil did not stand a chance against my waterline - it smudged within minutes. Nonetheless, rest assured that it works fine and does not budge from my lash line.


As with all Kate eyeliners, it refuses to come off easily. I have to whip out an attack squad that consists of an eye makeup remover, whichever cleanser I am using at the moment and a large dose of warm water to remove every single trace.


Kate offers three shades for this eyeliner: BK-1, BR-1, and GD-1. Mine was purchased from my second home, Watsons for RM 44. Have you tried Slim Gel Pencil? Is your experience different from mine?