Collective Haul

Queen Helene Cocoa Butter Body Scrub $17.50 ( Dragon D'or at People's Park )
MJ Speedy and Glossy Nail Color GR615 US$3 ( Adambeauty )
Coffret Dor Eye Colour BK-06 US$7 ( Adambeauty )

Sato Q10 Face Mask at $1.95 per piece (selling cheaply because its expiring in May 2011, from Nishino)

Neogence HA Face Mask at $1.95 per piece ( Sasa )

Ichikami Shampoo and Conditioner 40ml  $3.90 ( Liang Court Japanese Fair )

Bioderma Trial Kit ( cleansing water, soothing cream and soothing mask ) $4.90 (Nishino Pharmacy)

Shu Uemura Eye Correcting Pro Concealer $24 (original price $48, got it at Loreal )

Laura Ashley E-mook $28.35 with Kinokuniya membership (original $31.50)

 Emook $20.60 with Kinokuniya membership (original $22.40)

I have been trying to stop myself from hoarding more skincare products for the last few months because my drawer is just filled to the brim.
I am constantly reminding myself and thankfully I have been about 70% successful.
Snapshots of my haul is another way to remind myself that I have about 1000234 products waiting to be used. Alright, I know the number is too exaggerating but you know what I meant, right? *winks*

Here's a mini haul.

Barrier Repair Facial Mask HA $1.95
Adin Collagen Essence Mask $1 ( gifts from a colleague)
Hopscotch Kids Polish Remover $13
Hopscotch Nail Polish for kids $15
Hada Labo Skincare Kit $15.90

A lovely friend managed to snag the Hada Labo kit for me after knowing that I have been searching for it in different Watsons store. I am really looking forward to using it.
My first foray into using "safer" nail polish products and although its for kids but I do not mind.

Cosmetics haul from Adambeauty which took about 11 days to arrive at my doorstep,
Kate Loose Eyeshadow HK$30
Maquillage Nail Color HK$59
Lavshuca Stick Eye Shadow HK$25

Biotherm Aquasource 24hr moisturiser (purchased before my winter trip) I think its around $81
Ecotools 5piece brush set $12.90 (Gmarket)

Adambeauty items are priced in HKD but because I paid by paypal which is in USD, it costs me about $3 to $4 more after conversion but I am still happy to shop for cosmetics when its on sale.

I thought the ecotools at $12.90 was such a steal. It was my first Gmarket purchase and it has been a hassle-free purchase. I used to think that it was such a messy navigation site and refused to go near it but it turned out to be untrue after all. Watsons is selling much higher price than this while Gmarket is selling it at just $14.90 and with a $2 coupon, I only paid $12.90. A happy customer!

Review : Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Wash

Product Description
Hydrates as it cleanses. Helps restore and preserve skin's natural  moisture, leaving it silky smooth. Skin ph-balanced, low irritation. Free of fragrances, mineral oil and colorant.

After all the hype surrounding Hada Labo products, I just have to give it a try, especially since I have an obsession with hydration. Made in Japan, its retailing at $12.90 for a 100ml wash n Watsons and its pretty affordable for the masses. Mine was a 20g cleanser as part of its trial kit retailing for $15.90  I love such trial kits as it gave me a chance to try their products before investing in their original sizes.

If you know me by now, you would have realized that foaming cleansers are not suitable for my sensitive and sometimes dehydrated skin so I was pleasantly surprised that I have no issue with this during my first 2 usages. It foams very well and has an addictive scent which I like.
After each wash it left my skin soft and smooth. Totally unexpected for a foam cleanser so I continued to use it as a night cleanser. Its easy to rinse off and there is no greasy or sticky after-feel. And because it foams well, I just need a pea-sized of the cleanser for the face. A little goes a long way.

However on the 3rd and 4th tries, it started to leave a slight taut feeling on the skin which goes away after a while. Even though its not a big issue but I simply did not like having an taut and dry feeling on the skin as I believed its bad for the skin in long term usage.
Considering that it contains super hyaluronic acid, I was expecting it to be hydrating on the skin but it just doesn't work quite well on my skin after awhile.
But then again, probably its just my skin. You may have better luck with it than me, who knows?

Source : Hada Labo

Review : Neutrogena Fair Fairness Deep Whitening Mask

Product Description
All new improved Neutrogena Fine Fairness Deep Whitening Mask immediately brightens skin tone and whitening essence is designed to continuously lighten melanin beneath skin layers all night to give you lasting translucent fairness.
Featuring new 3D Push-in fabric that not only contains more upgraded HealthyWhite Complex but also has a unique 3D stretchable design that fits closely to face to push more essence deep beneath skin layers, providing 3 times more essence for absorption. Even after mask is removed, a reservoir of essence works like an invisible mask beneath the skin layers that continuously lightens skin though the night.

I have reviewed it early last year but the packaging and description seems to have changed slightly and the formula have been improved so I thought I would just do a review again.
Unlike its predecessor, there is an additional packaging as shown above. Ingredients are also reflected on it now.

I bought it for $1.95 and do enjoyed this drugstore brand for its effectivness, ease of usage and affordability.
The material of the mask is stretchable and durable yet thin and comfortable. It fits the face comfortably and is quite pleasant to use. After the 3rd sheet on the 3rd night, I do find my skin appear slightly fairer. My skin feels soft and smooth too. For the record, I am fair by nature and has slight pigmentation on both cheeks.

Review : Elianto Brightening Eye Zone Treatment Patch

Product Description
Spot treatment for eyes zone, brighten, hydrate, improve elasticity. Formulated with pearl extract that helps to lighten dark circle appearance, blotches and uneven skin tone. Witch Hazel extract to reduce dark circle and improve eye puffiness problem.

I picked up this pack of 12 eye masks from Kuala Lumpur last year when it was having a sale. It was my first foray into this brand and I thought it was quite affordable at that time. However, back home in Singapore, I was dismayed to find out that it was manufactured in 2008. Considering that its made in Korea, I had thought that it should be selling the products from the same year as what I have experienced before, in Korea.
Upon reading more about the brand , Elianto is actually a Malaysia brand opened in 2005 in Genting Highlands. Since its manufactured in 2008, I am trying to finish up the masks usage.

The 12 pairs are packed in a clumsy and unhygenic manner, I am not sure what kind of buyer experience it is trying to provide for a customer as all  12 pairs are stacked together with no separate packaging. Perhaps by this way, it can save money for both the manufacturer and consumer as its definitely value for money considering that it contains 12 pairs in 1 pack.

To use it, I need to remove the the first stack of 6 pairs (12 sheets) from the pack and peel off 2 pieces for my eyes usage. Hence it can be quite cumbersome initially but after awhile, I am used to it. It has the typical scent of eye mask from drugstore, nothing pleasant or foul.
Its moist enough to be used for 15 minutes before it started to get dried up so I usually leave it for 15minutes at the maximum. My undereye area looks slightly brighter and less puffy. Its only temporary though so best to use it just before you head out for an important night.

April Quick Review

1) Lilyth Brighter Complexion Toner

Lilyth Brighter Complexion Toner helps lighten the skin and remove pigments with a holistic blend of plant extracts and Hyaluronic acid. Enriched with antioxidants and flower distillates for deeply clean, soothed, refreshed complexion. Regular use may help prevent uneven skin pigmentation on face.

Lilyth Brighter Complexion Toner is for all skin types. It is also recommended for dry skin or sensitive skin. It contains:
Chamomile extract: protect skin mositure
Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract: a strong anti-oxidant and astringents, it helps in tighten your skin

The 2 times usage from the 1 sachet received from Cosme-de may not be enough for me to assess the effectiveness of this product but so far, my sensitive skin have been able to take it well. It seems mild as compared with most other toners in the market but is still able to leave a soothed refreshed complexion. I am happy to know that it contains antioxidants and HA in a toner and I wish most companies can formulate such ingredients in their toner.

2) Biotherm White Detox Cellular Melano-Block Ultra Whitening Serum

Enriched in active ingredients, this serum acts on 5 parameters of a clear and flawless complexion. 1. luminosity of the skin 2. translucency of texture 3. clarity of complexion 4. uniformity of colour 5. dark spots diminution

I chose to use 2 times out of the 3 times from this sachet as it left me with a stinging feeling on the slight pigmentation areas on both cheeks the first time and a small red zit the second time. Both incidents happened on the following morning after application. I believe Biotherm have now replaced this product with another one so its no longer available even if you are keen to try it.