Sofina Jenne Jelly Moisturizer review/ swatch

Sofina 'Jenne" line is targeted at age group of about 18-25- I'm a bit above that age range but am yet to start on much anti-aging care so I pretty much pick any skincare I'm interested in trying it.

It's 50g size in a nice white lace printed pot. With a screw top container. Retails for just a tiny 25-30USD in Taiwan (depending on where you purchase it), which makes it rather affordable.

I like how the jelly moisturizer is filled to the rim for a new pot-

It's not exactly like jelly consistency but rather a really light whipped gel-cream.

It absorbs rather quickly and leaves a lightly moisturised surface- after one minute (below pic) you can barely see any shine left.

It's a very dry and cold winter in Australia this year, I generally do not use any night time moisturiser in milk or cream (and mostly stick with just a serum each night, or very light facial oil infrequently, or a few very specific moisturising creams with the tiniest amount warmed between palms then patted on face). 

I thought given the jelly or gel-cream consistency it should be light enough for me.

It does work ok as a moderate moisturiser for me, feels really nice to use- easily spreadable, absorbs quickly, and a very very faint but pleasant scent that's non-irritating.

For me this ended up being a moderately moisturising product for me- doesn't get rid of flaky skin with a single or even 2 uses, but just replenishes moisture mildly. However I find that if I use it on a nightly basis I do still experience some very minor congestion (which is the reason I do not use any moisturising milk or cream as I'm yet to really find anything that wouldn't cause congestion on my sensitive skin when used on a daily basis).

Those with less sensitive skin in their early to mid 20s, probably more normal skin or slightly dry skin would probably like this.

Overall rating 3.5/5 for me. I will finish my pot up but will continue my hunt for the perfect night time moisturiser anyway.

(p.s. I have far better experience with almost all Sofina UV products, basically SPF30 or SPF50 moisturisers as my day-time moisturising product- they give me no congestion and moderate moisture and are definitely my staple sun protection and day moisturiser).

Sofina Beaute Deep Moisture Cream review/ swatch (Kaop Corporation)

Sofina Beaute Deep Moisture Cream was only added to the Sofina Beaute line around 2011. It's meant to be the more "moisturising" cream out of the line (rest of the line otherwise contains mostly moisturising lotions in the pale blue packaging so far).

Comes in a beautiful, simplistic pink jar. Screw top.

Product size is 50g, retails between 30-45USD I believe. You can however often find Sofina line heavily discounted in drugstores in Japan, like 20-30% off.

here's the inside of the box. I like on the the right flap, there's an oval drawing, which shows you how much is the recommended usage size, which is meant to be a bean size. (please ignore the glass capsules inside the paper box, I use the box to store my Dr Hauschka rythmic night conditioner capsules, which I shall review eventually too.

Here's the sofina beaute deep moisture cream.  A brand new jar would be filled about 95% full, not to the rim. Mine is down to 80% after a few months use.

Here's swatch- you can see it's a lighter cream consistency, almost whipped. It's not so light as to feel like nothing on the skin, yet not too oily as to feel like a thick greasy layer. Just the right consistency for my skin (sensitive, mildly dry at times but sometimes oily t-zone).

Blended in: it leaves a very nice velvety finish. Can go slightly shiny if you use it alone for the day. Usually I use this as a night cream only.

My skin naturally really hates moisturisers ( whether lotion, milk or cream), so it has been quite difficult to find the right moisturiser for me. I often get really congested skin if I use a cream or lotion moisturiser consistently, then breakout easily. So over the years I actually just use a more moisturising toner then followed by skincare serum, and skip general milky moisturisers or creams altogether.

However as I'm getting older towards late 20s, I find my skin does become drier at times and if I use serums alone for the whole week, I tend to get slightly flaky or peely dryness. This is where some moisturising creams came in. I use it only when I feel I need an extra boost of moisture (which can range from twice a week or once a fortnight even).

I used to use this other Sofina moisturiser (from the Vital Rich line which might be discontinued). I thought this Sofina Beaute moisture cream might be similar, it is. Just even better, minus the richness and slight grease feeling the Vital Rich sometimes left me.

It has a very light scent that is rather pleasant and disappears quickly. Next morning I wake up with more hydrated skin and any flakes tend to be a lot better.

Recommended for those who use occasional moisturising creams but doesn't have super dry skin. I use a pea sized amount, then use my palm to warm it up, then press my palms over my cheeks and other dry areas. I only apply on my t-zone if I'm actually peeling or something.

Overall 5/5. Simple moisturising cream with a good pricetag and pleasant to use, can't really ask for more. Sometimes I really just need a simple moisturiser without bothering about all these other whitening effect or anti aging etc etc.

Sofina Beaute Whitening Day Protector sp review/ swatch (2011 collection)

This might seem a bit de javu as even I was checking myself whether I have reviewed this before. Yes yet another Sofina SPF sunscreen/day moisturiser review.

This probably shows how much I love Sofina's SPF day moisturisers as this is easily my 5th or 6th bottle of various Sofina sunscreens. Funnily enough it's always been a different one from different Sofina lines to date, as Sofina simply has a lot of different lines targeted at different consumer groups and age groups etc.

This is from Sofina Beaute line, the subline is the Whitening range.  Personally I find it almost identical to the Sofina Beaute UV Cut Milk SPF50 moist  which I reviewed before. Other than this is from the whitening line.

The product packaging is mainly white in the whitening line, other than that the nozzle, content , scent are all very similar.

This one is also SPF 50+ PA+++.

It says after cleansing, apply toner then this. (This is intended to be a SPF day moisturiser, so you do not need a separate sunscreen or moisturiser to be used in conjunction with this. However I do sometimes use my usual face serum (lately it's been the Fancl White Essence ) before using this and it seems to layer just fine.

The bottle contains 32ml, lasts for a good few months.

 Very simplistic and pretty packaging:

Again, a nozzle opening, which dispense the right amount easily and you can control the amount that comes out.

Quick swatch- you can see it is on the more runny side. It is not oily or super 'slick' like some other silicone or those 'liquidpaper-like' Japanese sunscreens (they tend to dry very quickly but has a uncomfortable overly smooth and slightly tight feeling due to the silicone content).  That being said , those with dry skin might find this not moisturising enough.

Spreaded out: you can see it sinks in quickly and leaves minimal shine. No whitecast either.

Overall easily my daily SPF moisturiser. I have not experienced clogged pores with this and find it easily removed with my  usual makeup cleansers. On my slightly dry cheeks in winter I do need a moisture boost so I sometimes even use a little bit of moisturising gel underneath- however this is also the main advantage of this moisturiser- it is not super oily or thick which means it is very easy to layer with other skincare as needed.

Overall 5/5. If you haven't tried Sofina sunscreens you really should (though most people have a love or hate relationship with this) but I really do recommend trying it.

Sofina Whitening Mask (Sheet masks) review - secret to looking like extra 5 hours of sleep

Sofina Whitening Masks in the follow packaging was released around early 2010 (and it still looks like this for 2011 too). With most Japanese brands, they tend to revamp the packaging from year to year but the product is often very similar to previous versions (usually they say it's 'upgrade' to new ingredient or whatever additives is popular in that year).

Each box pack contains 5 sheets of mask I think. They are around 25-38USD depending on whether they are on sale or not. It is common for Sofina brands to be a bit more heavily discounted in Japanese drugstores.

The packaging is a lot prettier than my photo- it's a silvery blue centre.
 

Back of the sheet mask. It says use after cleansing your face and after your toner.

I find it interesting how a lot of sheet masks always say use after toner- if I was using a sheet mask I would want all the active ingredients to go directly to my cleansed face so I never prep with a toner.

However I always try to do a light scrub either the night before or right before I use any face masks. I have combination skin with a bit of oilies back in my teens and early 20s, now after 25 my skin is normalising and have far less oilies. However it is now more sensitive and prone to clogging. Therefore having cleansed skin is quite important for me before using face masks as they are often very nourishing and may just be a tad pore clogging.

Each sheet mask is infused with a whopping 24ml of serum inside.

Here's what it looks like- it is actually a 2-section sheet mask.  Like this. Top half and bottom half.

The liquid is a milky liquid, not runny at all but not too thick.  The material of the mask is a firm sheet mask feel, heavy enough to feel substantial on the face, yet not so thick as to feel all the serum's being wasted.

You apply the top portion of mask and fit around your forehead and upper face. Then you apply the lower sheet on around cheek and chin area. You can see there's some overlap (side of my face below).

However it is this design which I love! My cheek area is slightly drier so the overlap gives some extra oomph. Having the bottom sheet over the top sheet also means it sort of 'lifts' the face a bit and make sure the mask stays put. Having 2 separate halves also means it fits your face much much better. This is the few face mask which does not have air bumps here and there once applied to my face and it just gives such good coverage.

p.s. the eye area is just hollow, I know some brands don't trim out the eye area entirely and leave a foldable flap there, so you can mask your eyelid (with closed eyes) as well. However I don't really mind. 

The mask is the signature Sofina scent. It's light and pleasant and doesn't give me a headache.

I apply for a generous 20min after shower. During which time I can do pretty much everything else and walking around the hosue with the mask on if I want. (Some masks are too slippery that you have to stay lying down). Then I remove the mask and leave it on my knees or arm as a quick body mask again. There's also enough serum left in the sheet package even after taking the mask out, which is enough to be used all over body as a quick moisturiser.

The after effect is I get immediately plumped and hydrated skin. I think this mask is marketed as being hydrating and whitening and I do feel it does both quite well.

It doesn't give me super clear, radiant skin- but my skin just looks so well rested the next day (despite I may have only slept for 3 hours).  Sometimes I sleep really late and I still slap a mask on for 15-20min before I sleep, and it's quite amazing what it does the next day. I still feel tired but my face doesn't look anything like I haven't had 8 hrs sleep.

After removing this mask, it doesn't feel sticky (slightly tacky light I applied a night moisturiser that's all). Feels comfortable, pleasant to use, gets 5/5 from me. I don't follow with a separate moisturiser or serum liek the packaging suggested, because this mask is not so runny and filled with liquid only, like some other masks, that you need to seal the moisture in with something else. I go straight to bed =)

I've bought about 4 boxes to date and will continue to use this. (I also use a lot of other masks but come back to this one quite often). Great for emergencies! A little bit pricey to be used regularly like 2-3 times a week so I only use this about once a week or fortnight, other times I go with other masks.

Sofina Beaute Day Protector II SPF24 PA+++ moisturising sunscreen review/ swatch

Carrying on from my last post, here's the Sofina Beaute Day Protector II (again, Sofina moisturisers go by codes, I for oily skin, II for combo/normal, III for dry skin, sometimes some lines has IV for very dry skin).

This is the SPF24 PA +++ version (the earlier one I reviewed was SPF50). The product is marketed as a moisturiser/ sunscreen in one.

Unlike the SPF50 version which comes in a hard plastic bottle, this one comes in a beautiful elongated tube, which is still very easy to use and the soft squeeze tube means quantity control is very easy.

Contains 32g of product, which would easily last for a few months when using just for the face.

The SPF24 PA+++ version is meant for winter/ spring, when the UV needs are a bit less. It is also a bit more creamy and moisturising than the SPF50 version.

The instruction says use after toners during the day. Recommended usage is about 1.5cm size for full face, and the tube should last for 2.5 months with regular use. (I would say I definitely get more than 2.5 months use out of this, which could mean I'm not using enough sunscreen).

Here's the tube nozzle, again it's a fine nozzle and very easy to control.

Here's the product, if you compare it to my previous post to the SPF50 version, this one is slightly creamier and not as runny. I actually love the consistency of this one for winter. It's not super rich or nourishing but instead it just feels so soft and mild on my skin. It also seems to moisturise more than SPF50 version (which is intended as the SPF50 is for summer and when your skin probably prefers less rich products).

The middle is product on its own, on the left is when lightly blended out, and on the right is fully blended.

You can see from the very right swatch, it spreads so easily and evenly, looks slightly dewy on my skin only because I didn't blend it completely. On the face it disappears very quickly and you will not get a noticeably shine or anything.

Under makeup this still sits very well, just because it's more nourishing than the SPF50 versoin doesn't seem to make this one slip and slide on my face like a lot of moisturisers tend to (I have issues with my moisturisers being too rich and melting my makeup or make me look oily by mid day). Not with this one.

Overall 5/5. Would gladly repurchase this. Almost wish there's a SPF50 version in this consistency even for winter use.

Sofina Beaute UV Cut Milk SPF50 moist sunscreen/ moisturiser review/ swatch

Sofina Beaute UV Cut Milk SPF50+ PA +++ Moist  is my staple summer sunscreen. I've gone through 3 full bottles of this already in the last 2 years ( I usually have 2 different types of sunscreen open at once for the face so it's not really that 3 bottles lasted me 2 full years).

It is marketed as a sunscreen with moisturiser so you can skip your moisturiser before this if you don't have very dry skin. I find it excellent in terms of the consistency- while it's not super moisturising per se, this also means once layered with my usual serums it won't make my skin too clogged and unable to breathe.

Here's the back, in pic below on the right (the bottle on left is the Sofina Beaute Moisturiser which I have already reviewed separately).

Comes in a 40ml bottle- not huge amount but it lasts months for using on the face.

It has a small nozzle which makes quantity control very easy.

Here it is, a light runny milky consistency. Not as runny as real milk, but just a tad thicker. Has a very light pleasant scent which disappears very quickly on application.

Spreaded out:

Once blended- you can barely see anything there! It's not intended to be a makeup primer or foundation base etc, but my makeup usually goes over this just fine.

Honestly I've used this around Australia and also when I was in the middle east during the hottest months of September/ October, I mean I'm standing at the edge of the dead sea under 46 celcius heat (yep 46) and on other days literally in the middle of the desert with this on my face and very little makeup, and this was for a whole month, and my face got barely tanned.

It's also reasonably sweat proof etc (at least for the face, I use other sunscreens for the body).

Very impressed with this SPF50 moisturiser. Lightweight, dries velvet finish, does not interfere with my other skincare or makeup. The only thing I can think of is anyone with really dry skin or peeling skin might want to prep your skin well with a normal moisturiser, as any peeling can show a little bit with this.

Overall 5/5. I'm honestly yet to find something better.

For comparison sake, during my middle east trip I also used up a full bottle of La Roche Posay anthiolos fluid SPF50 (orange label white bottle), that was excellent and slightly more moisturising than Sofina (but slightly thicker), but I still prefer the lightness of Sofina Beaute.

I also used a full bottle of Shiseido Anessa sunscreen in the gold label bottle, that was good for the body but extremely difficult to remove and quite drying. Plus a full bottle of the Japanese drugstore brand Mentholatum Sunkiller SPF100 (the Japanese doesn't seem to regulate the suncreen protection level and just let them label even above SPF50s), which was a bit drying too even for the body and I didn't feel too much SPF protection as I still got burnt on some days.

(No kidding...I really used 5 bottles of sunscreen during a 1 month trip!)

Sofina Beaute Toner II review

Sofina Beaute Toner is easily my favorite toner for 2010 and 2011.

It comes in 3 or 4 different types, I, II and III (there might be a IV like the moisturisers but I'm not too sure). I is for oily skin, II for normal/combo, III for dry skin etc.

Comes in a elegant tall bottle with a pretty blue cap. I bought Toner II which is for normal/ combo skin. This is my 3rd bottle already.

Comes in the similar opening design to the moisturiser, which is double-ridged to prevent liquid from dripping from the edges.

Looks basically clear on the cotton pad. Usually I saturate the cotton pad ( just wet enough but will not drip), then apply to cleansed skin. It feels so refreshing, and comes with the signature Sofina Beaute scent which is clean and crisp.

I like this toner because it feels basic yet adequate, no wildly fancy ingredients, but it just normalises your skin and calms it down after a hot shower and takes away any redness.

I used to think toners are absolutely waste of money before I was 25, then once you start wearing makeup regularly and travel a bit more, you learn the benefits of using a toner easily.

A good toner helps to remove very last trace of any impurities on the skin and help to prep the skin for the moisturisers or serums to follow. I also find a toner really important when I'm travelling- when you travel it's often that your skin will get irritated from the different water composition (e.g. minerals, or just pollutants) and that's often the cause of irritated skin during travel.  Using a toner will help your skin to normalise to a condition that it is used to. Not to mention the slight exfoliation it gives to help unclog pores and I find that after using a toner regularly, my skin feels more refined, and the need to use a exfoliant or scrub is reduced to once a fortnight.

Overall 5/5. Will happily repurchase.

Sofina Beaute Moisturiser II review/ swatch

Sofina Beaute line was released in 2009 or 2010, it was the revamped Sofina primary skincare line for probably the 20s to mid 30s age group. (Sofina later released the Jenne line for the 16s to mid 20s age group only in about 2011?).

I adore the Sofina Beaute line, it's complete from moisturiser to toner, sunscreen , various facewash or makeup remover and heavier moisturising creams.

Sofina labels their moisturiser and toner by 3 or 4 types in Roman numerals. I, II, III or IV.

"I" would be the lightest and for oily skin, II for normal skin or combo skin, III for dehydrated skin, IV for even more dry skin.

I'm using "II" which is for normal or combo skin.

It's in a beautiful bottle, with an easy to grip screw top cap, the bottle is a pale mint blue, very pretty and simple. Moisturisers come in standard 120ml size.

The bottle is almost opaque, but under the light you can still see how much has been used roughly. To show I've actually used substantial amounts here before my review, you can see I'm almost 60% through the bottle.

The opening is just like this- there's some special design so the moisturiser is trapped in the opening (compared to flowing everywhere and dirtying the caps like normal squeeze bottles).

Here's the consistency- is a milky moisturiser- not a cream, it is slightly on the runnier side, much like a standard moisturising lotion consistency, e.g. Sisley econological compound.

Spreaded out:

Once blended in: you can see it leaves a faint moisturisering layer, it does not dry and disappear, there is something left on the skin. Leaves the skin with a very slight shine, but quickly disappears with makeup application.

Ohh and I love the way the Sofina Beaute line smells, it's sort of delicate and very clean scent.

The verdict? Unfortunately it's not suitable for my skin, that being said I get congested skin with about 90% of any moisturisers I use (so I often just use a serum or pat in a very thin layer of a thicker moisturisng cream). So I did experience congestion despite persisted use trying to see if my skin would adapt to this.  I'm now trying to finish the bottle as a body moisturiser (which is probably ok in summer and a bit weak in winter).



Overall 3/5. It's probably just me experiencing the minor congestion- I have not had any side effects with using the rest of the line including the toners, the facewash and sunscreen or moisturiser with SPF- so this could just be too rich for my skin (although it doesn't feel oily or thick on the skin).