Fancl Beauty Facial Treatment Hydrating pack review

These are basically Fancl's version of wash-off masks in convenient little tubes. They come in a box of 5 or 6 and retails for around 20-30USD depending on where you purchase it from.

Each tube contains 13g of mask. Which is a lot- most sheet masks contain a standard 10ml to 15ml essence, depending on how runny it is normally.

You twist off the cap, and the opening will look like this: (unfortunately the cap is not designed to be plugged back as these tubes are for single use only).

Consistency: it's light and creamy without being greasy.

Fancl's instruction is to clean face, then apply this to cleansed face and massage in, then leave for 10-20minutes then rinse off, then follow with other skincare items.

Here's my face -looking irritated and a bit angry pores since I haven't had much sleep the night before. I don't have active acne right now but I do have a bit of freckles/spots and enlarged pores on the cheeks. This is taken under flash photography and you know how bad your skin can look if you turn flash on!

Applying the mask generously- it sort of turns a bit clear after massaging in:

After rinse off in picture below (I think I left it on for 10-20min? cannot remember exactly). You can see it clearly soothes my skin (especially the large pores around the cheek area that were looking a bit red before), skin looks brightened (because it's now hydrated) and generally a bit more glow. Again, taken with flash photography.

I do find it soothes a bit and provides some hydration. However I do not feel it's more powerful than my other favored masks like Sofina whitening mask where the effect is visible the next day. Generally the next day my skin feels just "slightly" better than usual, but not as well as some other sheet masks.

In terms of size , the 13g is massive, you can really apply half a tube on the whole face, neck, decolletage and still have half a tube left over. So usually I use this at night, then just put the tube aside and use the next morning (never noticed consistency changing).

I probably give this 3.5 or 4/5. It's a bit of a strange mask for me- sometimes it works (I think from my own pictures I can notice a difference), but sometimes it doesn't quite deliver.

Chanel Brilliant Extreme Glossimer 158 BRAISE Levres Scintilantes lipgloss review/ swatch

I have to admit back when glossimers were first released, I was never a fan of these. Especially those really popular shades like Blizzard, Black tie etc- I found them a bit too sparkly and often frosty.

However over the last 2 years the glossimer collections had grown a bit with lots of wearable soft pinks and peaches and I've started experimenting with them again.

This is easily the darkest glossimer I have, I think this is 2011 fall collection. It looks like a medium wine red, with flecks of gold shimmers.

Here it is swatched: you can see the base color is surprisingly sheer even though it looks deep in the tube. The gold shimmers are rather fine and does not stand out obviously to make this glossimer frosty.

Lip swatch: it really just tints my lips with a touch of a sheer pink red- it's not wine red, but like a soft red and the shimmers become very soft and unnoticeable. I actually like how this color turned out because it adds a touch of color and brightens the overall look (without saying "look I'm wearing a dark colored lipgloss here").

 Here it is close up again:

Overall 4/5. If you are expecting a lot of color payoff, this is not the glossimer for you. However if you like a tint of color and would like to experiment something different to normal soft pinks and peaches, this is a great entry level choice. I don't think the color is super unique for Chanel (especially given the pricetags with all Chanel cosmetucs), if price is not an issue this would be a nice gloss to try.

It's unscented, does not taste like anything in particular, and not really sticky at all, the shimmers are not gritty or grainy but very subtle and understated. The lipgloss does have a good grip to not migrate around too much or look too gooey and thick.

Laneige Multiberry Yogurt Peeling Gel (face scrub) review

This is the face scrub from Laneige. Each tube is 120ml, depending on which parts of Asia you purchase this I think the price is anywhere between 25-35USD.

Comes in a long soft plastic tube like a lot of face washes.

The opening is like this- just the right size. It is easy to have some scrubs building up around the cap though.

Looks like this on the skin- it's a soft pretty pink, very fine granular scrub in a creamy base. It smells so yummy, like a strawberry yoghurt, a bit sweet.

Spreading it out - you can see the gradules are really fine- I'm not sure what's the base of the granules but it's not really 'sandy' or scrubby and doesn't feel sharp either. It feels quite gentle on the skin. Not as smooth and rounded as the Peter Thomas Roth scrubbing beads (or other jojoba bead type of scrubs), but not jagged like the St Ives apricot scrub.

The base of the scrub feels like a gel-cream cleanser, it doesn't foam. I suspect the mechanism of this scrub is similar to Origins Scrubs with Fruit Enzymes, i.e. a gel based enzyme scrub with physical granular scrubbing beads inside too.

Spreaded out: (it's non-foaming)

I usually massage this onto skin, concentrating on t-zone and areas with large pores or blackheads. Leave on for maybe 1-2 minute (while I wash my hair or brush my teeth or something). Then rinse off.

Overall it leaves my skin feeling very soft and polished. It's non irritating. Leaving it on for more than 1 or 2 min doesn't seem to make a marked difference in effect, so I think the enzyme action is very gentle. I do not need to follow with a separate face wash either.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for a gentle face scrub. (my skin is thin and sensitive now, so I only use a gentle scrub once a week. Maybe a stronger scrub like those microdermabrastion type e.g. Origins modern friction, once a month).

Overall 5/5.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer #18 Nude Attitude 2011 swatch/ review

Here's another review of the new Estee Luader nail lacquer 2011 shades.

This is #18, Nude Attitude.

Again, comes in the signature crystal looking design.

I first prepped my nails with Seche Vite ridge filling base coat, as the base coat offers a slight white base, in case #18 Nude Attitude turns out too sheer (I don't really like having to layer 3 coats of polishes).

The finger on the very right, is the Seche vite base coat only. The other nails I've painted 1 coat of Estee Lauder 18 Nude Atittude. You can see with 1 coat it's very uneven and barely gives much coverage.

Here's a good 2 coats, I've done the second coat slightly thicker. I'd imagine some people might need 3 coats to get full coverage.

The color is a very neutral/ slightly cool toned french shade, it's more milky almond nude color, there isn't much pink base in this. There's just enough touch of nude beige in the mix to make it "nude", but without looking like those bandaid-ish nude shades.

Overall, a very very basic nude shade, if you are looking for a true nude shade without any pink base. There is no shimmers. It's a semi translucent creme, but will never give full opacity since the base is just translucent.

However, the coverage can be streaky (even though the polish goes on smoothly with 2 coats). The shade is also very minimalistic- very plain. Great for the office of course, but it's one of those shades where people just think you have very neat clean nails (as opposed to saying "wow what a lovely nail color").

My overall rating is 3/5. Not an unique shade at all- while the wear and coverage are decent, I just cannot see myself reaching for this very often.

Fancl Cool & Moist Jelly Mask review

Here's yet another mask review. (yes now the weather's warming up here, I'm quite desperate to finish all my masks, particularly all the Fancl ones since they only have a 12 month shelf life).

This is Fancl Cool & Moist Jelly Mask, usually marketed during summer.

 You can see from the diagram, it comes with 2 sheets for the side of face only.
(click to enlarge pic)

I forgot to take a photo of the masks still in the plastic wrapping- but basically the 2 masks are placed in this plastic separator. This is always the case for the 'jelly' type of masks Fancl makes.

On the face on one side, you can see the jelly mask has perfect adherence and it is sort of translucent as well. A jelly like consistency. Feels very cooling on application.

As for effects- I think this is meant to be an after sun mask for cooling the skin etc but I do not find too much other benefits after using this mask. It does adhere well, feels pleasant on application, minimally scented, but I wish it comes with a forehead piece too. (Usually I do the two patches on side of face for 15min, then move the mask to forehead and chin).

It does provide light hydration, but not as much as the other Fancl normal sheet masks like the Moist & Vital masks etc.

overall 3/5. Cool to use, adheres well, but the effect is not that fantastic whether at calming the skin or moisturising.  However would be suitable for those with oily skin who enjoy using sheet masks (but may find the other thicker sheet masks too nourishing).

Shiseido Ferzea Lip balm review/ swatch

Shiseido Ferzea lipbalms are sold in Japanese drugstores quite commonly. (it's not from the 'Shiseido' counters in department stores etc as you might imagine in Western markets). I paid under 10USD? From Taiwan online shopping websites.

Comes in a squeeze tube in 5g size.

 The head has an ultra small nozzle, and the tip is rounded so you can squeeze and directly apply on lips.

Consistency is clearish, a bit of a gel like feel (but once spreaded out, it has a certain grip/ very light stickyness to it and is not too runny).

Spreaded out:

Overall I quite like this lipbalm for a drugstore item, it's unscented, tasteless, and can be applied thinly or thicker dpending on what you need. (i.e. you can get a slightly glossy lip look from this). Or you can do a thin layer just as a barrier before lipsticks.

It doesn't treat acute chapped lips, but seems very hydrating and mild for troubled lips. I usually apply this in the mornings and it lasts a good few hours without reapplication.

Overall 4/5. Not miracle maker, but it's a good solid drugstore lipbalm that is non irritating to my sensitive lips.

Anna Sui Nail Color N Vernis polish #405 Flaming Red review/ swatch

This is a review for the Anna Sui Nail Color N collection, in shade #405. (I'm not sure what the English shade name is, but I'll call it a flaming red).

Comes in the beautiful rose shaped bottle again.

You can see how it's a solid red in the bottle

On the nails- sorry for the awkhard angle- I did a pretty poor job at applying this like at midnight. I usually do not clean up the edges until the next morning (when the polish dries).

Here it is- look how glossy it is (no topcoat here). It's such a liquid luscious looking red. It's bright, but not neon. Quite a true cool blue toned red. However at some angles, I think there's almost a hint of coral.

Overall a lovely red, it's full opacity in 2 coats, ultra shiny and glossy, applies very smoothly (the polish is almost too fluid that's why it caught me offguard and I applied it a bit messier than usual).

It's not a jelly finish polish, but somehow reminds me of a jelly color, as the finish is so clean and crisp (as opposed to the dullness of a full red creme at times). I would call it a very pigmented jelly color.  Looks better on paler girls I think.

Rating of 5/5. I did apply seche vite top coat after photographing, but as with most darker polishes, I do find I get tipwear by end of day 2 or 3.  (I suppose with darker shades any wear is a lot more visible too).

Fancl Clear Spot J-Mask review

Fancl Clear Spot J-Masks are those jelly sort of feel bilcellulose mask. It's meant to be targed at sun spots/ freckles you'd get around the cheek area or around eyes.

Each mask sachet comes with 1 pair of masks for each side of cheek.

Ingredient list etc  (click to enlarge).

This is what it looks like- two plastic sheets contains the two jelly masks. The jelly masks are really small! like the size of eye masks.

Applied on face, you can see the mask is very translucent and a bit 'jelly' like. I apply for a good 15 minutes then remove.

Honestly I don't expect this mask to remove my freckles or sunspots at all- it's curious why Fancl would make something like this either. Usually a box of mask only comes with 3 or 4 masks in each packet, so I really do not believe there are any intensive treatment mask that can get rid of sunspots or freckles within one or two boxes.

After removing the mask, my skin feels slightly more hydrated. This mask feels cooling on application and I like the jelly texture- it adheres well.

Overall after using 2 boxes I do not notice any difference in freckles, sunspots or acne marks. It provides light hydration but for a targeted spot treatment, this hardly does anything.

Overall rating 1/5 - invest in a good whitening serum instead I would say.

YSL Nail Laque Polish #43 Wintergreen 2011 Fall vs MAC Deep Sea Nail polish colour swatch/ review

Fall season means all these brands are coming out with dark greens and burgandy and various deep shades of nail polishes.

Here's a change to my usual pink and nudes direction, YSL Nail Laque 2011 Fall collection in #43 Wintergarden.

I was just going to wear the YSL, then I realised it reminded me so much of MAC Deep Sea which was also recently acquired.

Well here they are, MAC deep sea on the left and YSL wintergreen on the right.

MAC Deep Sea looks like an inky, dark forest green in a creme/ opaque finish in the bottle, while YSL wintergreen has a lot more jewel toned shimmer/ flash in a slightly brighter looking forest green base.

Here are swatches below- I'm holding YSL WinterGreen in my hand.

The top 2 nails are MAC Deep Sea, bottom 2 are YSL.

Obviously the YSL shimmer is a lot more visible.

In this swatch below I'm holding MAC Deep Sea in my hand.

The two top nails are still MAC Deep Sea and bottom 2 are YSL wintergarden. I'm not wearing a topcoat in either picture above or below. Both polishes has a superb glossy finish.

I know you must be thinking....they are the same once on the nails! Other than one has shimmer and the other one doesnt. On the nails they are both a very rich , pigmented deep forest green  (YSL seems a tinge more opaque than MAC). The YSL shimmers are beautiful, jewel toned like, and even. It makes the deep green look glowy.

MAC on the other side offers a crisp, clean creme finish. Looks better with short nails while YSL can be sported on both medium length or long nails since the shimmers help with that.

So....verdict? I love YSL 43 wintergreen a bit more I think. I just find it amazing how they are exactly the same shade on the nails, just one shade is missing shimmers. To be honest due to the very dark color base, the YSL shade will NOT be as sparkly/ shimmery in real life under natural light compared to my photos. MAC looks like a pretty nice dark green glossy creme too in natural light.



Overall 5/5 for YSL, and 4/5 for MAC. The YSL shimmer is truly gorgeous particularly with such a deep shade.