KAORI FACE PACK 2100yen for 12 pcs You know when you want to treat yourself to a soothing facial mask, it doesn't necessarily mean that you want to do something good for your skin. It's more like that you want to do something good for yourself. I sometimes use a face mask just to relax. And when I do that, a great scented face mask like Kaori Face Pack is required. The facial mask comes in a pretty sky-blue box along with the clear spoon. The cute bowl is optional, you can use your own bowl to mix the organic green tea powder with 2 spoonful of water. This organic green tea powder contains hyaluronic acid and coenzyme Q10 to hydrate your skin.
The powder smells divine. This is definitely one of the best smelling facial mask I have ever tried in my life. It literally smells of green tea, like very high quality natural green tea. For those who have never smelt Japanese green tea, it's totally different from what you have experienced with some Twinings green tea bags (please don't get me wrong, I LOVE Twinings green tea especially with apple and pear one, but green tea in western countries is different from the real green tea that we have in Japan), it smells fresher and a little bit bitter.
It becomes an amazing-smelling paste after 30 seconds.
Once applied on the skin, it stays there without dripping off. Then you spend luxurious 3 minutes until rinsing it off, relaxing with the great scent of fresh green tea. I can leave it on for more than 30 minutes to enjoy the scent, however I would never do that because I noticed that it makes my skin feel a little bit tight when I leave it on a bit longer. 3 minutes is the maximum length in my opinion, any more longer would not be suitable for dry skin. I know it's weird because it's supposed to be hydrating with hyaluronic acid and coenzyme Q10.... It makes my skin feel freshbut to be honest I didn't feel it moisturising particularly. It's a shame as I have dry skin and was hoping it to hydrate my skin during this colder season. BUT I have been enjoying this face mask because of the amazing scent. It's such a perfect face mask when you want to pamper yourself and relax. What is your favourite face mask for relaxation?
Natyucera Cream 8,300yen Hyaluronic acid has been raved about for the past 6 months or so, mainly in the UK (because of Caroline Hirons?). It holds moisture up to 6000 times its own weight as you may already know. But the fact which doesn't seem to be well-known is that it does evaporate. Ceramid is also a substance that you already have in your body just like hyaluronic acid. 40-65% of intercellular lipid is constructed from ceramid which means that your skin will be dehydrated and less plumped without it. You lose ceramid in your body as you age, that is why it is important to include skincare items that includes ceramid, to maintain moisturised skin.
The biggest difference between ceramid and hyaluronic acid is that ceramid can lock the moisture whereas hyaluronic acid only can hold it. Once moisture is locked by ceramids, it won't evaporate even when the humidity hits 0%, and it won't even freeze the temperature hits -20 degrees. So the best way is to use a moisturising lotion with hyaluronic acids, and lock the moisture by using a cream which contains ceramids.
This cream made by this small company called Kiyou Corporation based in Gifu prefecture is my favourite cream that contains 7 different ceramids along with hyaluronic acids. It contains "ceramid 3" and "ceramid 6" which you tend to lose as you age. The amazing thing is that it contains hyaluronic acids as well, which means this cream gives and locks moisture in your skin cells.
It is a thick cream that feels a bit like butter. I only use it at night because I prefer a lighter moisturiser in the morning as my skin tends to get a little bit shiny during the day. It feels very moisturising but it sinks into my skin eventually that it doesn't leave my skin greasy or oily. I received an instruction card along with the product which says "Apply just a little bit first, then feel your skin. If your skin absorbs it very quickly and it feels a bit dry afterwords, apply a bit more until it feels enough because that means your skin is lack of ceramids. On the other hand, if your skin feels greasy and heavy after the first application, that means your skin has enough ceramids. In that case apply just a tiny bit on your dry areas".
I usually apply 2 thin layers on my skin after it's cleansed and moisturised with a lotion. It makes my skin feel plumped and I feel the difference in the next morning. It doesn't have any fragrances, parabens and artificial colourings in it which makes it suitable for those who are sensitive to them. I've been using this cream for months now and I'm about to run out. My skin has been hydrated during the coldest months of the year, and I can assure you that it's all because of this amazing cream. I got it as a PR sample to do a review but I would repurchase it next winter if I hadn't found a better face cream until then. Have you tried anything with ceramids? What's your thoughts? *PR Sample
Sometimes I wonder what I was doing and thinking last year today. I lived that day, but it feels like the day is gone because I don't remember anything of it. I can't even remember what I was doing last Wednesday. Do you? That's why I decided to keep this journal on my table and write my thoughts every night before going to bed. I bought this in January on Amazon and have been keeping it religiously since then. It's not a normal diary like you write whatever you want that day, which tends to be quite negative and boring in my case, it's got 365 questions that you answer.
Some questions are easy to answer, some questions make me think deeply and bring new meaning to my day. Some questions make me realise what I really am thinking in my head, which I couldn't have noticed without answering them.
As you answer the same questions every year for the next 5 years, you will see the change of yourself. By writing a few lines every day, I feel like my days became more meaningful somehow. And also I'm so looking forward to reading it back when I'm 35!
It's pretty thick but small, it won't take too much space in your suitcase even when you are traveling.
