IPSA Skin Beauty Lipstick S2 review/ swatch

IPSA is one of those Japanese brands that never seems to be getting much discussion other than outside of Japan...even though it's sold in Taiwan and Hong Kong etc, I still ever hardly read reviews on these.

So I felt obliged to introduce at least a few things I've tried at some point- this is probably from an earlier collection, it's the Skin beauty lipsticks, RRP3000 Yen and comes in a twist up tube a bit like Cle de peau's version which cost an arm and a leg, or the Dior serum de rouge.

Like the Cle de peau and Dior counterparts, it's a very soft, creamy and glossy consistency.

The shade "S2" looks like a medium muted pink in the tube:

However on the skin you can see how creamy and pigmented it is- it glides on like melted butter.

It has amazing coverage- however it's almost too creamy for me- it went on my lips a bit too opaque and because the color is probably not a great match to my skintone, it just looked a bit too mature/ serious- like a medium soft pink with a hint of maroon undertone.  It seemed a little bit darker applied than in the tube.

Actually my thoughts were the consistency and finish reminded me a lot of YSL's Rouge Volupte formulas (the original, super creamy opaque versions).

Compared to Cle de peau and Dior, those ones have a slightly more 'natural' finish (though I do have a CDP one which is shade 116 or something which looks a lot similar to this and a tad darker in shade that is equally not very wearable on me ). But my general impression is it's easier to wear the CDP and Dior colors. The IPSA skin beauty ones are just a tad too creamy on me and not a really 'natural' lip look I prefer.

It's unscented and fragrance free. I would recommend trying these before purchase.

Rating is 3/5.

IPSA Cleansing Oil review

IPSA Cleansing Oil comes in a pump bottle dispenser, 196ml and retails for 3,000 Yen (which is around 32USD, around a mid-range pricing point in terms of Japanese cosmetic brands). It looks like this:



It's housed in a clear orange bottle I believe, I cannot tell if the product is clear or light orange, seems just clear to me.

The orange bottle version must be an older version of Ipsa's cleansing oils- as I can only see from the official website the 'Cleansing Oil EX', which looks like this instead:



I decided to try the IPSA cleansing oil since I had rather good experience with the cleansing oil from a pricier line in IPSA, which looks like this:


The "On the Peak Cleansing Oil" above is in an even smaller size, 150ml and retails for 4750Yen. This was about 2 years ago when I used the On The Peak cleansing oil but did remember it to be a rather nice and comfortable makeup remover.

Anyhow, back to the Cleansing Oil. I've really struggled trying to use this up, I end up using this on extremely light makeup days only (e.g. where I wear just a foundation primer/ base plus a very light powder foundation or pressed powder). Even after almost a whole year, this is all I managed to use up:

The instructions says to use 3 pumps on dry hand, massage on dry face, until makeup dissolves, then add a tiny bit of water, massage further until the cleansing oil emulsifies , then rinse with luke warm water, then you must also follow with a normal face wash again.

I find it very curious as most cleansing oil always boasts that they do not require another cleanser or face wash to follow up. However given I always double cleanse, it doesn't concern me.

I only realised (all too late) that it's best to try to apply your usual makeup to your arm and see how a cleanser oil performs, instead of just relying on it completely. It's really common for a lot of people to use cleansing oil to try to remove ALL makeup (including stubborn mascara and eyeliners). Which really means you could end up going to bed with traces of makeup if your cleansing oil underperforms- this can't be good for your skin.

I used whatever was in my current makeup bag that I knew must be a bit harder to remove. Mascara in the middle (by Helena Rubinstein, which is really waterproof, yet not quite oil proof so still smudges on me). On the side are just Majolica majorca's latest brown eyeliner pencil and De javu brown eyeliner.

I applied some cleansing oil over it- you can see it's runny , not as runny as water, but it's just a tad runnier than Fancl's MCO cleansing oil.

Massaged a fair bit- you can see the eyeliner goes quickly but not the mascara.

I added a bit of water, emulsified a bit, but still, mascara remaining:

Pat dry below:

As you can see, still some leftover mascara. It did come off easily once I rubbed it with my fingers, maybe the cleansing oil did loosen it. However this really meant this cleansing oil is probably not strong enough to remove stubborn makeup. 

While it is a decent price, lasts a while (really only need two pumps for the full face and neck and it's still plenty), however the inherent lack of cleansing property means I will not be repurchasing. 

I always use a separate eye makeup remover now (a habit I wish I picked up earlier- I used to always just cleansing oil everything off, until once I used a cotton bud after i already washed my face, dabbed some Lancome bifacil eye makeup remover, and found the cotton bud still came off with lots of traces of mascara and eyeliner- what a shock it was). I still expect using a separate cleansing oil would ensure absolutely all traces of makeup are removed properly (i.e. a final step after the eye makeup removers as well).

Rating of 3/5. There are tonnes of Japanese drugstore brands that produce superior cleansing oils which are even more comfortable to use and with a smaller pricetag (e.g. the Hada labo one I reviewed earlier that I'm still happily using).

IPSA x Keiko Itakura Limited Edition 25 year anniversary Body Care Bouquet review (2011)

Here's one of my very few Christmas limited edition purchases from IPSA (I didn't really find too many Christmas LE items that excite me in 2011, but given I do go through body creams and bodywash regularly it seems like better purchase than yet another lipgloss or something). It retails for 5250Yen which is like 65USD but was meant to include a pair of rose indoor slippers (online seller I bought this from didn't include it anyway). I paid below RRP (no don't think I would have paid the full 65USD for it).

It features design in collaboration with keiko Itakura. It's a fuschia pink bottle/ tub with gold prints ( I think they are flowers), but honestly I didn't feel the design was all that special or pretty or cute. 

It comes in a 180g body cream and 350ml bodywash. Substantial amount.

Here's the body cream:

It's in a screw-top tub. The cream is a super super pale pink white. (It might just be white and is just showing a bit of the color reflection of the tub or something). It has a beautiful sort of creamy yet light consistency. It doesn't feel balmy or thick or greasy.

Swatch- a small amount

Spreaded out- leaves skin nicely moisturised , next morning I do feel softer skin and hydrated. It doesn't leave a greasy shine, yet doesn't just disappear like a lot of the runnier body lotions.  It has a very very light fruity scent with a touch of citrus (maybe like a grapefruit or something, not orange or lemon or lime).

I checked the Chinese website and it supposedly contains 25 scents! (in line with the 25 anniversary idea)


Including: yuzu, green apple, bitter orange, orange, 7 types of roses being Princess Rose, white rose, purple rose, Damascus rose, blue rose, tea, rose and rose wood, then jasmin, Freesia, Lily of the Valley, peony, sweet pea flowers, Rui flowers, lilac and iris
The base note is meant to be (light floral and fruity), also has White musk, musk, amber foolish, Vanilla and Sandalwood cloud.


Ok I'm truely amazed if it contains this many scents because it smells REALLY light (in a good way), refreshing and non-cloying, just the right touch of sweetness and citrus.




After application (left a part not fully blended in).

The body wash is of the same note / scent and lathers into a nice foam easily. It is pretty standard, doesn't leave my skin tight and dry but just a nice, easy to use bodywash.

If you can find this set for cheap online somewhere, do recommend it. I wouldn't pay an arm and a leg for it though.

Overall 4/5. I would repurchase the body cream if it was ever part of regular collection (and maybe at below 20USD RRP price or something, 180g isn't a whole lot). Body wash- not unless it was fairly cheap too.