My excuse for wanting new beauty products is that because it's spring. When the seasons change, it's natural to feel that you need new products -isn't it?
I'm madly in love with UK products usually but recently I'm interested in some American brands too. I will definitely pick up some products from Tarte if I ever go to the US. be MATTEnificent colored clay eye & cheek palette is something I was thinking of purchasing from Sephora website until I found out that the shipping to Japan was about $20. fresh is another brand that I fancy a lot, their lip treatment is quite pricey but I've heard so many good things about them. When it comes to drugstore beauty bits, I love wet n wild eyeshadow as the texture is kind of buttery and the pigmentation is very good. I would love to try out more products from the brand.
I have no idea why but L'Oreal Paris in Japan is pretty crap. The price range is on the higher side and they don't bring many new products here. Their Color Infallible eyeshadow is something I've been waiting for them to release in Japan, but apparently it's not going to happen in the near future...unfortunately. They look gorgeous, and it's been hyped up on blogs and YouTube since last year I guess. L'Extraordinaire by Color Riche Nude Ballet looks so pretty that I thought of purchasing on eBay (which I didn't...it's called self control) and I'm sure I will love it as I love their Glam Shine Stain Splash which has got a very similar texture apparently.
Some people may think it's so random but I LOVE Original Source shower gels, since I used it at my sister in law's house! I can't believe that I didn't purchase it last time I went to the UK, I was too paranoid about the weight of my suitcase -which I should have been more paranoid about, because it was drastically over the limit-. I love Lemon and Tea Tree scent, which smells so fresh and clean.
To give some texture and volume in my hair, I need some volumising or texturising spray that's not sold in Japan. Or it's just that I've never seen them anywhere. Japanese people tend to have thick hair that gets frizzy, so there are many products to reduce volume in their hair out there but not the texturising spray for thin hair. Oribe's Dry Texturizing Spray is ridiculously expensive that I would never be able to justify myself to spend $42 on a tin of hair spray, but I am dying to try it out after hearing all the good reviews. Also Bumble and bumble's thickning dryspun finish seems also attractive and a little bit more affordable than Oribe's....but still very pricey.
Apparently I'm into 1) Neutral eyeshadows 2) Good smelling body care products 3) Voluminous hair this spring. What's on your spring wishlist? And what do you recommend? Let me know! x
Nature Conc Clear Lotion
This is like a hybrid of Japanese moisturising lotion and clarifying toner. The Coix Seed extract clarifies your skin removing the dead skin sells, while hyaluronic acid, collagen and plant derived ceramide hydrate.
It looks like it's beigy in this photo but it's actually clear. Some people say that you can clearly see the dirt on a cotton pad when you have wiped your face with it (I know it sounds a bit gross but it must be satisfying at the same time...) but it didn't happen to me.
But that doesn't mean it doesn't work on me. It does make my skin feel soft and smooth, remove dulness and improves the skin complexion. It's such an amazing toner that I am totally obsessed with recently. I even stopped using my Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Antibacterial Toner which I had been loving until I discovered this product, because I just got addicted to how my skin feels after using it.
It doesn't contain any acids like AHA or BHA, which could be a bit harsh on your skin especially you are Asian, as we tend to have thinner skin, which makes it usable on daily basis. This fragrance free lotion which tones and hydrates at the same time also can be used in the morning as cleansing water. Another great thing about this affordable (it's around 800yen mark) lotion is that they have refill, that I'm thinking of purchasing once I've used up my current bottle.
What do you think of this product? Interested?
Rituals Honey Touch Rich & Nourishing Body Cream £17.00
I first got to know the brand Rituals just last year, when Fleur from Fleur de Force mentioned about this body cream on one of her videos. Then I remember she and Becky from Talk Becky Talk spoke more about the brand in one of their haul videos, that made me really want to try out some of their products. They said that the whole shop was spa-like and their products also smelt like spa. Who wouldn't like that?
But I was a little bit scared to try out their products without sniffing them because although I love good scented bath and shower products, I also can be pretty sensitive towards scents. Plus their products are not too pricey but not too affordable either especially YEN is getting weaker now. So when my husband offered to get it for me as a Christmas present, I was super happy that I could fly to the moon.
I wanted all the body cream they have got, but I decided to give "Indian Rose and Himalayan Honey" one a try. The scent is just DIVINE!!! If you are hesitant to purchase this range of products online because you are not a big fan of a rose scent, don't worry about it. It smells nothing like rose. I don't like rose and floral scents too much either and that is one of the reasons why I didn't purchase it earlier, but it just smells like a spa treatment that you (might) get in Bali or Phuket or somewhere like those tropical islands, nothing like rose nor honey.
To be honest, I have more of a bang on description of the scent. It literally smells like a ladies' room in a very luxurious hotel. You know the ladies' room that doesn't even look like one, with beautiful decorations and an amazing powder room, that's what I am talking about! Sorry if I put you off, but if you like that kind of scent (a luxurious spa or a ladies' room, whichever it is) you would love this body cream.
The texture is literally like whipped butter cream. It moisturises my skin but is never feel heavy or greasy. It contains Dimethicone (silicone) which makes the skin surface silky and smooth, so you can dress immediately after applying this.
Because I love the scent so much and I want to be wearing it 24/7, I've been applying this body cream every single day without forgetting to do so since I got it on Christmas -which is very impressive for me as I failed so many times to make it a habit. And it shows how much I adore this product. This new habit improved my skin condition for sure, as now I don't have any dry patches on my legs or arms that I tend to get during winter.
Now I'm curious about their body cream in the orange jar (Touch of Happiness) and the blue jar (Touch of Hammam). I also want to get their foaming shower gel when I go to England next time, as they don't ship any aerosol tins. Have you tried any products from Rituals before? What's your favourite?
