Obagi C Powder Wash

Obagi C Powder Wash  1,800yen
Obagi is a Japanese brand founded by Dr. Obagi and Rohto, one of the most famous drugmakers in Japan in 2001. They are known for their Vitamin C Serum which was an innovative product back in those days as it contains pure Vitamin C in high concentration. After 16 years, their serums are still selling well and Obagi as a brand remains well-known.

They recently brought out this new product called Powder Wash, which looks very similar to Beauty Clear Powder from suisai which has been super popular especially among tourists from China. This is basically enzyme powder that removes excess sebum on your skin that causes clogged pores. The biggest difference is that Obagi C Powder Wash contains Vitamin C to moisturise and clear up the skin along with enzyme.

One pack comes with 30 little portions. I find it very handy because you can simply take one or two when you travel, rather than carrying the big heavy jar like Rice Enzyme Powder from Tatcha (which is an amazing product, too!). Also it's good to know how much you are supposed to use at a time.

The powder is very fine and is not scented. Simply take the powder in the palm, add a little bit of warm water and make it into paste. You can use a net to create fluffy and bouncy foam with it too if that is what you prefer. Keep in mind that you just need a tiny bit of water -2-3 drops to be specific!

Gently massage the clean skin with the paste or foam, whichever you like, and rinse with warm water. You will feel the instant effect because enzyme removes excess sebum and old protein in the pores and leave the skin feel clean and moisturised. It's kind of shocking how smooth it makes my skin feels just by one use. I let my husband try it and he was impressed too that I gave him the whole pack. I am not sure how often you are supposed to use it, but it does not replace your daily cleansing step. I use it once or twice a week whenever my skin feels oily or unstable.

Obagi C is widely available in Japan, mainly at Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Loft, Tokyu Hands, Ainz-Tulpe, Plaza and Tomods.

+OneC Premium Hydrogel Eye Patch

+OneC Premium Hydrogel Eye Patch  2,600yen*
As you know, we have tons of different kinds of face mask in Asia -especially in Japan and Korea. Normally I do not like Korean beauty products because they break me out nine times out of ten. Korean products are said to be very effective which made them popular among western people, but the reason why they are effective is because they are high in active-ingredients content. Their Pharmaceutical Affairs Law isn't as strict as it is in Japan (I am not sure about comparison with the western law), meaning it is possible for them to put more of active ingredients, which can irritate sensitive skin sometimes. My colleague who was living in Korea for years told me that most of Korean friends of hers used Japanese skincare products rather than Korean ones, because they find Japanese ones much higher quality, and they did not understand the recent hype of Korean beauty in the western countries.

I do not have sensitive skin particularly, but Korean products often break me out. I can deal with some spots and pimples, but I was shocked to see my skin under the eyes started peeling off after using an eye cream from a Korean natural beauty brand. Since then I have been extra careful when it comes to Korean skincare products -I have been trying my best to avoid them to be specific.

When I got +OneC Premium Hydrogel Eye Patch, I was skeptical because the product was made in Korea. I was ready to face the terrible state of my skin. However, I find this product rather brilliant. After a bit of research, I found out that their products are made in Korea but are produced and developed by a Japanese company. Ah that makes sense!

+OneC's products are hybrid Korean-Japanese beauty. Korean brands come up with unexpected and outrageous ideas whereas Japanese brands can be pretty conservative yet very careful with ingredients. When those two elements meet, the world is introduced to something completely new and innovative.

Put the longest intro aside, let's get into the product review. +OneC Premium Hydrogel Eye Patch is such an amazing under eye mask hydrates the skin instantly. The masks contain bird's nest extract, horse placenta, aloe, cucumber, CoQ10, ceramide, hyaluronic acid and collagen -which all said to have anti-aging properties.

This jelly like texture is due to the fact the masks are made with agar which slowly melts on the skin. You can actually melt the masks after use in the bath to make the most of its benefit. The masks can be used under the eyes and around the mouth to prevent smile lines which Japanese people tend to hate.

The mask sits on the skin without discomfort -for about 5 minutes. It slowly dries out and starts peeling off from the side of the nose as you can see in the photo (and this is when the silicone mask from Daiso comes in handy), but hydrates instantly that you do not need to leave it on the skin for more than 5 minutes. I tend to use this mask in the morning before makeup, to hydrate and prep the skin before piling on tons of concealers.

Having 60 sheets come in one container with a spatula, 2600yen is not too expensive in my opinion. The fresh scent is very subtle that I do not feel uncomfortable putting around my eyes. However, the skin under the eyes is the thinnest on the face, so you might want to be extra careful if you are sensitive to fragrance. They also have a jelly face mask that I loved too. If you have sensitive skin that prone to break out by using Korean beauty products, why not try +OneC to see if your skin likes it?


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Hada Labo Shiro-jyun Brightening Sorbet

Hada Labo Shiro-jyun Brightening Sorbet
Summer is finally here in Tokyo and I cannot be happier! Although we're in middle of the raining season technically, it felt like summer last weekend. If you're thinking of switching some of your skincare items to something summer-appropriate, why not try the new addition to Hada Labo Shiro-Jyun series launched a couple of months ago called Brightening Sorbet?

The formula with a brightening ingredient tranexamic acid will calm down inflammation -which is known to encourages melanin to grow, and prevent dark spots. Its cooking and refreshing texture is kind of innovative, and I find it very enjoyable to use.

It comes with a spatula which I usually don't like but with this product it's necessary. As you can see the texture is like a solid oil, so if you dig your fingers into the jar directly, you will end up with the moisturiser under your nails which can be irritating.

Once it's applied, it starts melting by the warmth of the skin. As it contains menthol, it gives a very refreshing and cooling feel to the skin which would be very nice when your skin is burnt after a long day out on the beach or something. It also contains Witchhazel to tighten the pores, Saxifrage to moisturise and Edelweiss to calm the skin.

The scent surprised me more than the texture to be honest -because usually Hada Labo products are unscented, but this product has a very nice floral scent to it. It's definitely floral but not too heavy or sweet as you might expect from the word 'floral', it's more like a fresh and clean scent.

I usually apply a small amount on my palm and rub my hands together to melt it a little bit, but if you want to cool down your burnt skin, you might prefer to apply it directly to the skin.

I like how moisturising yet not greasy this moisturiser is. It's perfect for normal to combination skin, but might be a little too light for dry skin. You can store it in the fridge to make it even cooler! It's such a lovely moisturiser for under 1,500yen ;)

Popular Japanese Drugstore Makeup Removers under 1,000yen

I feel bad whenever I get asked by some followers to recommend them some Japanese drugstore products, because I don't use Japanese products much unless they're given. I only have a couple of products I can recommend, such as RAFRA balm cleanser and Love Liner. So I came up with the idea of doing 'Popular Japanese Products' series on my blog, to give myself an opportunity to try more Japanese products, and you guys get to read my reviews at the same time. How efficient!

Today's theme is 'makeup remover'. In Japan, micellar water isn't as popular as it is in the western world and I guess the reason is because Japanese people hate rubbing their face to remove makeup. Asian skin is said to be thinner than western skin, thus we are prone to pigmentation caused by friction. And also it simply irritates sensitive skin. You would be overwhelmed by the number of cleansers displayed if you visited Aintz&Tulpe's basement floor where they have skincare products. I had no idea which one to pick, but I managed to choose 3 popular makeup removers to compare.

To test how they remove makeup, I used these products. From left, Mis"el Ady Liquid Eyeliner aka one of the hardest liquid eyeliner to remove, Kesalan Pathalan Smooth Lips, Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color and Anastasia Brow Pomade.

Shiseido Senka Perfect Watery Oil  980yen
Their face wash Perfect Whip became popular more than a decade ago, and still is one of the most popular cleansers. I used to be a heavy user of the face wash until I became more fussy about skincare products in my mid-twenties. It was my first time to try out their oil, and I must say I was pretty impressed.

The consistency is pretty watery as the name suggests. The top ingredient on the list is mineral oil, which I believe most of you hate. I self-studied dermatology to get to know more about skincare when I was into natural and organic beauty products, and I believed mineral oil was bad for your skin, but also found information that claims mineral oil back in the day contained impurities and irritative, but nowadays impurities are all removed from the oil and nothing is wrong with using the oil on the skin. It's completely up to you what to believe, but I don't care too much about it because my skin doesn't hate it anyway. To cut the long story short, I just wanted to mention that it contains mineral oil.

The good thing about this cleanser is that you can use it with wet hands. Normally you need to apply cleansing oil to completely dry face with dry hands to dissolve makeup, sebum and dirt. But this one can be used in the shower, when both face and hands are wet. How convenient.

It instantly removed everything besides the eyeliner. See, I told you this is pain in the butt to remove it! Apparently this cleanser contains 'mascara remover' which makes it easy to remove waterproof mascara. Well, it didn't remove the waterproof eyeliner though.

I love the floral scent which isn't too overpowering at all. The texture is very smooth just like normal cleansing oil, and it rinses off quickly with warm water. No need to use muslin cloth, Japanese oil cleansers are designed to be removable with warm water.

It leaves moisturising feel to the skin, which is perfect for dry skin yet not too heavy for combination to oily skin. A bonus point is that it contains hyaluronic acid too.

Softymo Super Point Makeup Remover  647yen
This remover was recommended by Sami from Makeup Wasteland when I mentioned Mis"el Ady Liquid Eyeliner would never come off completely. This gel consistency eye-makeup remover is neutral just like your tears, which makes it less harsh to your eyes. The thick formula removes your eye makeup instantly that you don't need to rub your eyes which is the most sensitive area of your face.

As you can see, it's pretty thick. If you put this cotton pad directly to your eyes, it might go into your eyes and causes irritation. I make sure the makeup remover is soaked completely into the cotton pad, then place it on the eyes and leave it for a couple of seconds without rubbing.

Sami mentioned it would remove the eyeliner easily, but for some reason it didn't work as good on me. It could be the combination of the eyeliner and my skin -no idea what that means but hey, something could be wrong with my skin- but it takes two cotton pads to remove my makeup on one eye.

It's fragrance-free which is suitable for sensitive skin, and it's also oil-free that's perfect for those who hate the oily residue some eye-makeup remover leaves on the skin. Hyaluronic acid and provitamine B5 protect your lashes. I use it to remove my eye makeup only when I'm wearing heavy makeup but it does shorten the makeup removal process which I appreciate.

Bifesta Bright up Cleansing Sheet  550yen 
Bifesta is famous for their micellar water -which I believe is the most popular drugstore micellar water- and this is the face-wipe version from the same series. They have 3 different types of makeup wipes you can choose depending on your skin type. I picked up 'Bright up' one which contains AHA and moisturising vitamin C to clear up the complexion. There are 'Moist' and 'Enrich' ones as well.

It was very hard to capture how wet the wipes are, but can you see the small pool around my finger? It's pretty wet which reduces friction and irritation caused by the harsh material. I like how soft the wipe is, it's not irritating at all on the skin which is always a plus.

Another good thing I must mention is that this packaging is genius. The most annoying thing is that when you try to take one wipe, another comes with it and you have to put it back in. Worse is that the wipe gets dried out the next day -and the worst case scenario is the whole pack gets dried up. Bifesta's makeup wipes never do that. This genius packaging allows you to take only one wipe each time. Also the lid is actually plastic, not a sticker that loses stickiness after 3 uses.

The wipe is 15cm x 20cm which is pretty big. Use on dry skin start from wiping the whole face gently. Then I fold it and sandwich my eyelashes to remove my mascara, then wipe around my eyes even more gently. Because it's pretty wet, it's not harsh on the skin. It removes not only makeup but dirt and dead skin cells, which is of course a plus.

So, I placed a wipe on the skin covering the half of the area I put makeup on, and waited for 10 seconds. Then, gently wipe the skin off trying not to rub the skin.

You can see the only product it removed completely is the lipstick. The traces of brow pomade and eyeshadow are visible although the other two I mentioned earlier completely removed them. As for the eyeliner, words are not needed to describe how disappointed I was. I added 10 more seconds to the test after taking this photo but it didn't make a big difference.

I don't think this is a perfect makeup remover to use on its own, but in combination with other cleansers, I actually find it convenient. I usually remove my makeup and cleanse my skin at the same time with RAFRA cleansing balm. It does remove my makeup very well but sometimes I have panda eyes after rinsing my face. That's when it comes in very handy. I fold the wipe into four, then remove the makeup left around my eyes using the edge. It works better than using the eye makeup remover with a cotton pad because it's thinner and edgier. I also use it to remove a part of my makeup in the morning when I screw up. I don't recommend to rely on it, but it's handy to have for sure.

Phew, I wonder why my posts are freaking long all the time. I wonder if there is someone who's read it all, but if you did thank you so much and hope you enjoyed!

Shiseido d program Allerbarrier Essence

Shiseido d program Allerbarrier Essence  3,240yen
If you ask me what the latest trend in skincare in Japan, my answer would be 'the products that protect your skin from environmental irritations -a product like Allerbarrier Essence from d program to be specific'.

Skincare products used to be more to do something extra to your skin to improve the condition of it -i.e. brightens up the complexion, smoothes wrinkles and lightens dark spots...though they became more to protect the skin in the past few years due to the change of lifestyle, stress level and environment.

Allerbarrier, the latest launch from Shiseido d program (you can read more about the brand on my past review on their Moist Care range) is representing the shift in my opinion. With the ingredient called H-stabilising A, this light-weight essence increases skin barrier function whilst protecting the skin from environmental irritations such as pollens, pollution and a UV damage.

In Japan, more than 15% of the population suffers from cedar pollen allergy from February to March / April time depending on the year, and PM 2.5 from China is a massive issue as well. People sometimes suffer from unknown skin irritations actually caused by those environmental irritations.

The texture is quite runny and thin, which feels like an oil the moment applied to the skin. But then it turns into a silicone-y feel after about 30 seconds. It probably is because this essence is supposed to leave a film on the skin surface so that dust, pollens and pollution do not touch the skin directly.

Having SPF40 PA+++ UV-protecting action, it makes a perfect primer without being too oily or drying. It does not contain UV absorber which sometimes irritates the skin, which makes it leave the alien-looking residue. It makes my face look blue-y silver, which I don't think is the best primer to wear on a free-from-foundation kind of day. It does look OK when foundation is applied on top, it shouldn't be worn on its own in my opinion -unless you want to look sick and shiny.

I am one of those who don't know much about the consequences of pollens and pollution, but I hope it stabilises my skin condition.

I also got a mini of Day Repair Mist, which is like a mist lotion that is perfect to use during the day to refresh the makeup. It's free from alcohol, paraben, artificial fragrance and colouring, which makes it very gentle and suitable for sensitive skin -all of d program products are supposed to be suitable for sensitive skin, though. It's so small that fits perfectly into my makeup bag, and I like spraying it all over my face and blot with oil blotting paper, before applying a bit of concealer to touch up.

d program over all is a lovely brand, they have some trial sets as well that you might want to grab when you have a chance!

My Current Skincare Routine

Morning

Soap and Glory For Daily Youth Face Wash

This has been my morning cleanser since I got it from Boots back in August. I actually wanted FACE SOAP AND CLARITY but it was HUGE that I was too worried about the weight of my baggage. I picked this one up instead simply because it's smaller. It contains peach and goji berry extracts that are rich in antioxidants and vitamins, along with exfoliating beads that gently removes dead skin cells. It smells gorgeous just like Peaches and Clean, and I love the moisturising feeling it leaves on my skin after use. I absolutely love Soap and Glory.

Homeo Beau Lotion

This lotion from a Japanese skincare brand Homeo Beau contains amino acids that structure NMF -the moisturising factor you naturally have in your skin- to replenish it to increase the moisture level of the skin. It also contains fulleren, lipidure and vitamin C derivative as well. This lotion does not leave ANY oily residue on the skin, which makes it a perfect lotion in the morning for my combination skin.

Kiehl's Daily Reviving Concentrate

I was 100% against the idea of applying oil on my skin before makeup. My skin gets pretty oily during the day which melts the foundation and make me look super greasy and disgusting, which is why I used to use oil-free moisturiser. I got this oil as part of their special kit, and the shop assistant told me that some people say this oil reduces the oil production during the day. I thought that was just a sales-talk to convince me to buy the kit. But I was wrong, this oil blew my mind, literally! It DOES balance the skin meaning your face doesn't get oily nor dry during the day. It sinks into the skin within a second, which really impressed me. It's a magical oil for sure. 

Elemis Hydra-Boost Day Cream

I got it in my lookfantastic.com beauty box which is my favourite beauty box EVER. I had never tried a decent sized sample from Elemis before, but this product made me fall in love with the brand. Though this cream is for normal to dry skin, it's not too heavy for my combination skin. Maybe it's because of the weather, the air is absolutely dry that I need extra moisture. It smells lovely -I guess it's Neroli which is giving this pleasant scent. I need to absorb excess oil with tissue after applying this moisturiser as it leaves an oily feel on the skin, and doesn't sink in quickly, but overall it's a very nice cream.

Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet

When Elemis Hydra-Boost Day Cream is a little too heavy, I use this moisturiser from Caudalie. I got it in the same beauty box. I have used this cream before, I purchased the full size one 2 years ago and used it up within a couple of months as I used it every single day during the summer. I love the scent, and how it feels on the skin -very light yet not drying. It's not moisturising enough for dry skin for sure, but if you have oily to combination skin, you will like it I guess.

LUSH Popcorn Lip Scrub

To finish up my morning skincare routine, I use LUSH Popcorn Lip Scrub to remove any dead skin cells on the lips. I have very dry lips no matter what season I'm in, so lip scrub is a must-have item for me. I used to have Mint Julep Scrub from LUSH and I very much enjoyed it, I especially loved how sweet it tasted when it accidentally got into my mouth. Popcorn Scrub smells sweeter, because it smells like caramel popcorn, but as it contains sea salt it's pretty salty which I am not a big fan of....still it's a good lip scrub.

Rafra Balm Orange

The best cleansing balm I've ever tried followed by the balm from Evelom. Having a texture like honey, it melts makeup within 30 seconds completely. I love how fresh it smells, and how smooth the skin feels after use. It cleanses, moisturises and exfoliates at the same time. What more do I want? 

YSL Forever Youth Liberator Essence-in-Lotion

This lotion is very thick that I definitely need a cotton pad to apply. It's a very intense lotion that feels like a serum. Though it claims to plump the skin, I haven't noticed any difference of my skin to be honest. But I like the powdery scent and the texture, so I will keep using until it gets empty. 

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

I now understand what people have been raving about it for years! When I tried on my skin a long time ago to see what the hype is about, it felt very oily and sitting on the skin surface. It does sit on the skin much longer compared to Daily Reviving Concentrate, although it doesn't feel too oily for some reason. Containing Evening Primrose, it reconstructs the skin barrier and reduces the oil production. The lavender scent is soothing, too. I noticed my pores looked smaller the next morning, and my skin definitely is much more firming than before.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

I bought my first product from First Aid Beauty, finally! And this thick cream which contains oatmeal and shea butter makes my skin feel thicker, even. I know it sounds strange but it really does feel like my skin is plumped and got thicker. I first didn't like the feel it sits on the skin, because I don't like my pillow case sticking on my face, but I am not used to it. It's not the fastest absorbing cream in the world, but I do like it. P.S. I am not a big fan of the scent either -it's a little bit like Oronine Ointment.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye

This tiny tube -which is almost empty- lasted for ages. I liked how it reduced the appearance of my dark circles when was given the sample sachet, and decided to purchase the full size. But now I'm using it up, I don't see the effect that I felt when I used the sample. I am not going to repurchase it.

I hope you enjoyed the post!

A new whitening formula! Organic Rose Skin Conditioner

Organic Rose Skin Conditioner -Whitening formula
Some of you may remember I was raving about Organic Rose Skin Conditioner before. I loved the lotion very much, as it helped balancing my skin and made it stable. While I was using the lotion, my skin didn't break out nor felt dry. Considering the price (I think it was about 1200yen), I thought it was such a lovely product for everyday use. They just came out with this new whitening formula which I received to review. The packaging looks the same as the original, just in blue.

I usually use a cotton round to apply the lotion, but you can use your hands like the most of Japanese people do so. It contains placenta extract to brightens the skin and organic rose water to hydrate. Placenta extract grosses me out, the website does not say what it's derived from but I am hoping it's plant derived placenta (yes that exists, such as melon placenta).

It smells divine just like the original. I love how natural the scent is, it doesn't smell artificial or too perfumy. When applied on the skin, it feels cooling and soothing. Not sure if it's supposed to have a cooling sensation, but it feels very nice on the skin in my opinion. It never irritates my skin, and has got this perfect texture to use in the morning before makeup.

It helps a serum or moisturiser -whatever you apply next- to sink in better, and also balances the skin's pH balance. As I am quite pale for Japanese, I am not keen on whitening, but I have some dark spots I want to erase. I am not sure if this lotion helps, but I am looking forward to seeing the result!

FLOWFUSHI The Eyelash Serum

FLOWFUSHI The Eyelash Serum 1,200yen

Have you heard of FLOWFUSHI? Maybe not. Then, have you heard of Mote Mascara? You probably have! FLOWFUSHI, a company well-known by their hit product ranges such as Mote Mascara and Mote Liner, came out with a new product on 1st October; an eyelash serum. It contains 'End Mineral' which claims to encourage the eyelashes to grow stronger. You can use it as an eyelash serum and eye cream all in one, which sounds pretty convenient.

As you can see, the packaging is a little unusual for an eyelash serum because it does't have an applicator. It does look like an eye cream (imagine Midnight Botanical Eye from Kiehl's) and also look hygienic. The metallic design looks pretty nice as well in my opinion.

You are supposed to apply a tiny bit on the eyelid, lash line and under the eyes if you wish to use it as an eye cream. The tube will last you 3-4 months according to the official website. You can also use the lid to massage your eye area to stimulate your blood flow to reduce puffiness and dark circles, which I haven't tried yet.

The texture is very silicone-y which is far from moisturising feel of an eye cream. I don't think this is moisturising at all, and I won't use it as an eye cream. However, I sometimes apply it on top of my daily eye cream to make the surface silky smooth so that the concealer stays put.

At night, I close my eyes and apply it on my eyes which takes about 3 seconds. But it makes my eyes itchy when I apply it that way, though it doesn't irritate my skin when applied on under the eyes. I heard the ingredients aren't as harsh as normal eyelash serums out there, but something seems to irritate my eyes. It doesn't make them look red or swollen, it just makes them itchy and uncomfortable. I have stopped using it as a serum, but only as a daytime eye cream. You don't want to apply anything that you might have allergy to around your eyes, so choose your eyelash serum wisely!

It doesn't contain silicone, oil, paraben, alcohol, artificial colouring or fragrance, mineral oil and gluten. Though it doesn't contain silicone, it contains polymer instead which works in a similar way. In addition to that, it contains many different types of peptide as well as hyaluronic acid.

I usually use much stronger eyelash serums such as Rapidlash and Revitalash, and they don't irritate my skin or eyes at all. I have never thought myself having sensitive skin, meaning this eyelash serum in particular did not agree with my skin. The idea and the packaging are very attractive, it's unfortunately I cannot keep using it!

Shiseido d program Moist Care

Shiseido d program Moist Care

I'm aware there are tons of people who dislike the word 'moist' and for those 'most care' must sound horrific. But just hear me out, this Moist Care range from Shiseido d program is absolutely amazing. If you have dry / sensitive skin, this is what you need in your life.

d program Moist Care Lotion  3,780yen
This lotion is super gentle, moisturising yet not heavy or tacky at all. The 125ml bottle is a little smaller compared to any other lotions that I own, but it's very handy that it comes with a pump. Take one pump of the lotion on your palms, gently press them onto the face until it's absorbed. Repeat the same thing again, to supple your skin.

I am lazy and inpatient, so I prefer to use a cotton pad to apply the lotion. I have mentioned here before that cotton pads aren't recommended here in Japan unless they are very thick and fluffy (check out ALBION, they have such amazing cotton pads) as Japanese people have thin and sensitive skin that shouldn't be rubbed. I have hyper pigmentation under my eyes which was caused by myself rubbing my eyes too much when I was younger, and possibly because I used the makeup wipes to remove my eye makeup when I was a teenager. Because I have experienced the downside of rubbing my skin, I am very careful whenever I use a cotton pad. I apply lotion quite a lot that it completely wet the cotton pad -which seems to be a waste of product but cotton actually pushes back the moisture whereas your palms absorb it.

So I take 3-4 pumps of the lotion on a cotton pad, gently swipe my skin with it, and place the pad on my cheeks or where I feel dry for a couple of minutes. It makes my skin very moisturised that I feel like I even can skip my moisturiser -which I never do though. As it doesn't contain fragrance, it's suitable to the skin which is sensitive to essential oils / artificial fragrance.

As I use about 8 pumps a day, I used up a half of it within 10 days or so. I know I shouldn't be bathing in it but it's keeping my skin moisturised so I am happy about it. I wish it wasn't as expensive as it is...

d program Moist Care Emulsion  4,104yen
They just reformulated this emulsion and the new one is available online ahead of the official launch on 21 / November. It moisturises skin while protecting it from the dryness. The 'gel balls' inside of the formula -which you can't feel- burst when applied on the skin to supply hydration and moisturisation.

Emulsion is another unique step seen in Japan. I personally don't use emulsion but I believe a lot of Japanese women are using it. Some people use emulsion instead of moisturiser but you are supposed to finish up your skincare routine with a good moisturiser. I do not use this emulsion in the morning because it contains oil which isn't perfect for combination skin, but it makes my skin soft when I use it at night.

It looks pretty thick but when applied on the face, it goes on smoothly and sinks in quickly. It leaves a slightly moisturising 'veil' on the surface of the skin, which goes away once it's completely absorbed. I always apply night cream on top which makes my face like a grease ball anyway, so I don't care how shiny my face looks when the only task left to me is to go to bed.

They also have different ranges which you can choose depending on your skin type. The blue one is Balance Care Program for dehydrated skin, the orange one is Acne Care Program for acne prone skin, and the purple one is Ageing Care Program for mature skin. I think Balance Care Program is suitable to my skin, and suspected that Moist Care would be too heavy but it actually works OK for my skin!

They have mini sets of trial sized products too which makes it easier for you to try out. I love it when a skincare brand comes out with mini sets especially when the full size products are pretty pricey. Check out d program if you have sensitive skin!