YuSkin Lipcare lipbalm/ Lip Cream review

YuSkin (or Yuskin A) is one of the trusted long running Japanese brands that first started with the Yuskin A cream, which is probably holds the status of like vaseline in normal western households (but a bit more than multi-functional).

The YuSkin series are positioned as the 'cure all' mutli-purpose cream, that can double as moisturiser, relieves minor insect bites, lipbalm, handcream etc etc. 

There are also various Yuskin lipbalm out there, I'm reviewing one of them below:

The full name is YuSkin lipcare. Comes in a paperbox packaging, all Japanese. Says something like for sensitive skin.

Ingredient : (not sure why my picture flipped after uploading!) I got mine from Taiwan so there's a Chinese label instruction in the back. Features vitamin E, Jojoba oil, it also has the English ingredient list.

Here's the tube, it's quite miniature, but similar size to normal lipbalms.

Here it is, it looks a bit solid doesn't it? Well it does feel a bit more solid compared to most lipbalms. But upon touching the lip it does melt and provide a very thin film on application.

Here it is on the skin- you can see it provides a very thin layer, with a tiny bit of shine. It does remind me a bit of a medicinal scent (not much taste), not worse than those Mentholatum lipbalm scents or carmex. So I don't mind at all.

In terms of moisturising my lips, it's now winter in Australia, because I turn my heaters on at night and constantly drink hot drinks, I do have pretty bad chapped lips and sometimes sensitively or irritation. This does help a bit, and seems to soothe minor lip irritations.

However, because of the consistency it does apply a bit too thin (I like something more substantial or rich). That being said, there are at least 4-5 different versions of lipbalms from Yuskin out there.

I LOVE the lip cream version. It's this one below: (yes it's so extra cute!) Yuskin tends to collaborate with Bruna the rabbit and the packaging also features Bruna.

The lip cream version applies a bit more creamy and does sometimes leave a slight white cast, but it heals my lips so well, no complaints at all! (And the product is just plain white stick, as opposed to the tube version in yellow).

Overall 5/5 for the Yuskin lip cream

You can find this in various online stores, but they aren't entirely common out side of Japan.

Regene White Reborn Sheet Mask review

Regene is a brand mostly sold in Hong Kong (in fact it might be the only place where I constantly see Regene around). Features just general skincare products.

As usual, there are a lot of Asian brand masks that boasts their whitening qualities (i.e. provides brightening effect, reduces sunspots or pigmentation etc etc).

Regene white reborn mask is not particularly expensive, I think you can find these online for maybe < $5USD per sheet or so. The back of box says RRP 2100 yen (for the box of 4 sheets).

The main ingredients are Vitamin B5, rice bran extract, Penederm R something.

Back of box, also has Japanese texts.

Here's the English instructions and explanation on how to use, you can click on my photo to enlarge which will be readable.

Overall 2/5. I noticed no immediate hydration afterwards despite 20 minutes application, it fits my face loosely, not very well cut around the nose area. I do not wake up with brightened complexion the next day either (I don't believe in whitening products all that much, but I do expect brightening effects especially from sheet masks that are generally quite hydrating).

Will not repurchase.



Paul & Joe Eye Gloss N #03 Moonlight and #05 Murmur swatch/ review

Paul and Joe have revamped their eye gloss line at least 2-3 times. The ones in 2010 were called "Eye Gloss N", the Japanese brands tend to like to add 'N' behind any revamped series of an older product, N for neo or new.

They come in a soft foam doe foot applicator like most lipglosses.

I got #05 Murmur which is a rich chocolate brown shimmer and #03 moonlight which is a pale lavender purple with shimmers. They apply a bit like a runny cream. But blends out quickly to a dry finish and stays put quite well. I get minimal creasing at the end of the day.

Overall 5/5. Paul and Joe packagings are always pleasant to look at, the handle is a pearly shimmery pink and the tube features the signature orange blossom design. The product has their signature orange flower scent but it's very very minimal and barely detectable.

RMK Nail Color #101 Holographic Soft Pink review/ swatch

RMK has a very complete nail color range, it was ravamped in late 2010, and continues to grow.

Every season RMK tend to release a few more permanent colors in addition to some limited edition shades. The limited edition shades start with the code "EX".

I like the way RMK names their polish shades, they are true to the names. If they say it's holographic soft pink, that's probably how it will largely turn out. Here's #101 holographic soft pink (from 2008 spring collection, limited edition) :

I'm not sure whether Holographic is just the word the Japanese cosmetic brand chose, I would say it's more properly described as 'flashing another color', but not quite duochrome. #101 is a medium geranium shimmery pink that flashes some green. The green flash is very subtle, barely picked up in my photo. However it does add an interesting touch to the color.

Here it is from another angle, where the green flash is far less obvious.

Overall 5/5.

RMK nailpolishes are of high quality, they apply easily, does take a little longer to dry (but nothing a fast dry top coat won't fix).

Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Moisturizing Emulsion review

Shiseido's White Lucent line has been around forever. The line generally features a pink metallic cap packaging and an ivory tube.

I got a few of the White Lucent items in a trial set (that's a lot bigger than normal GWP sets) as I've always been interested in this line.

It's a moisturising lotion consistency, milky and slightly runny.

It spreads easily, seems to absorb quickly too.

However, the major drawback is the scent. Usually Shiseido line is fairly unscented. However I noticed a pretty strong floral scent that smells almost chemical like. I really cannot find it enjoyable to apply this to my face.

In terms of moisturising properties, I've tried this when my skin was raw and peeling from irritation and it did no good. Even when my skin was better, it still seems to be a bit too nourishing for my skin and a bit pore clogging.

Overall 2/5. Probably suitable for those less sensitive to fragrances and with combo or dry skin.

Orbis Moist Lip Essence Review/ swatch

Orbis is very similar to Fancl, both are mail order brands in Japan.

Moist Lip Essence (product code 9476) is probably < 10USD RRP I think, and contains 8ml in a pink squeeze tube.

Applicator looks like this: it's not the most convenient thing because while it's round and smooth, applying on lips still feel a bit awkhard since the nozzle is very small.

Constistency is a liquid gel, pretty transparent once on lips though.

Instruction etc:

Orbis products are sealed in plastic on purchase like this:

Overall 2/5. While it feels nice on the lips, I honestly didn't feel any moisturising properties. Most of my other lipbalms are probably more moisturising than this. That being said I do have really dry lips and they are always chapped. The dry climate in Australia is not helping a bit!.

Paul & Joe Hand Cream review

Paul & Joe hand cream features the signature Paul and Joe orange flower scent, in a white creamy whipped texture, housed in a beautiful metal tin (that could be reused for other things once you are done with the hand cream!) 

It's 80g and about the size of my palm.

The cream is beautifully velvety and soft. Melts on contact with the skin. It really does feel like doing a mini hand spa treatment on something when using this cream.

Ingredients and instructions, click to enlarge:

Consistency:

Spreaded out:

Overall 4/5. It's fairly moisturising and nourishing on the hands, and cuticles. However even though I like their signature scent, the thing with handcreams is usually our hands got a certain heat and is warmer than rest of the body at times, once you apply hand cream and massage in, any scented handcream tend to have the scent even more amplified with the heat from the hand. So the scent may become a lot more noticeable and stronger. Wish the scent for this was just a bit fainter, since I tend to like a very very subtle skincare scent only.

(It's kind of annoying when you are doing work and all you can smell is the orange blossom from your hands for the next hour!).

Cosmedicine Medi-morphosis Self-Adjusting Exfoliator review

You know your reviews are lagging behind when you get to finally writing something and realise the product is actually discontinued!

Unfortunately this is it- this is probably my HG facial scrub in 2010.

Cosmedicine is one of those cosme-ceutical brands that doesn't seem to have a huge name anywhere. The medi-morphosis self-adjusting exfoliator is basically just a granular facial scrub.

Comes in a  soft squeeze tube with 100ml or 3.4 fl. oz, retailed for around 30USD or thereabouts.

Closer look at ingredient list and instructions. It says use once or twice a week on wet or dry face. Massage until the crystals seem to disappear and rinse.

Comes sealed initially- just a squeeze tube nozzle.

Here's what it looks like, slightly spreaded out without adding water.

It looks creamy, but if you look closely there are some tiny granules, they are about the size of beach sands.

Adding a little bit of water- you can see the exfoliator does not foam, the granules are extremely gentle (yet quite effective), while the crystals do seem to dissolve a bit, I do not find that it completely dissolves on me? Usually I massage as much as I feel my face needs that exfoliation then rinse off (without actually waiting for all the granules to dissolve) as I feel that is sufficient enough for me.

After rinsing away, I get clean, supple face, not dry and not taught or raw feeling like a lot of physical exfoliants tend to leave my sensitive skin.

I've strayed away from physical exfoliants in 2011 as I had a slight change in skincare regime and plus with age I do feel my once young, acne prone skin is now definitely getting drier and a lot more sensitive.

I still reach for this a few times a month though. Sad to hear it's discontinued because it's nothing like I've experienced with most other physical exfoliators (e.g. Peter Thomas Roth botanical beads, St Ives apricot scrub, Chanel's pink bead scrub (the name escapes me), Origins Modern Friction...
it's not as subtle as the jojoba bead scrubs, yet not as 'harsh' as those crystal scrubs that boost their likeness to microdermabrasion.

Overall 5/5.

Cellbone Peptide XS for Under Eyes Dark circles/ Puffy Eyes prep serum review

Cellbone Peptide XS for Under Eyes Dark circles/ Puffy Eyes prep serum

is one of those cosmeceutical brands which boasts powerful ingredients to give you skincare that really makes a difference.While the brand website says it's a US company, I've only ever seen it sold in Hong Kong (and perhaps Malaysia given there's a distributor listed on their website).

Comes in a medicinal looking drip bottle. Personally I think dripped bottles are the worst designs ever, who wants to squeeze in and out the same liquid and expose their skincare to constant air and other contaminants?

Here's the ingreident list. from the website it's also listed:

Ingredients:

Water, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Rice Ban Protein, Soybean Protein, Oxido Reductases, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3, Melon Extract, Butyleneglycol, Hexapeptide-9 (Collagen Peptide), Centella Asiatica, Cucumber Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate

 

I don't know why any company wouldn't at least spell check their ingreident list, on a quick scan, "Hydrolyzed Rice Ban Protein" really means rice BRAN protein.

Hrrm...for 15ml that sells for 46USD RRP in the US website, isn't that odd!

It's a translucent looking serum, that's slightly tacky. Not quite clear on the skin.

Spreaded out (sorry my camera couldn't focus well ).

Overall for someone like me with massive dark circles and constant puffy eye, this did just about nothing despite use for 3 months. I've tried using it alone, or under other eyecream, nada.

Overall 1/5, save your money please.

Majolica Majorca Honey Pump Gloss lipgloss PK130 swatch/review

Majolica Majorca is a drugstore brand in Japan, it features whimsical designs and a bit of that magic and fairies theme. This is the honey pump gloss I'm reviewing, in shade PK130. They are 6.5g in size and only retails for 480yen (which is like 5USD?).

Here's the applicator' I tend to find these completely round tip applicator to be a bit awkhard to apply, they goop the gloss around your lips instead of spreading them smoothly.

Here's the swatch on skin, you can see it's pretty much clear! it has the faintest pink tint and minimal shimmer. Honestly very boring for my liking.

On my lips it's pretty much clear anyway- the shimmer only shows up under direct sunlight. It evens out my lip color a bit that's all.

Overall 2/5. It's cheap, but nothing special at all.

The texture is average, not sticky but a bit on the more runny side (but will not drip). I don't find this that moisturising for my super dry lips either.