skincare

Japanese Cosmetics Focus: Sofina Hada.ka

by PJ on Friday, July 31, 2009

in _Japanese Brand Profile, -Kao, -Sofina, all about Japanese cosmetics, skincare

(image from www.sofina.co.jp/hada-ka)

After I posted about Sofina’s Beauté skincare line, one of my readers, Ming, requested that I write about Hada.ka, one of Sofina’s other skincare lines. Here is a brief overview of the line.

Hada.ka was launched a few years ago and is available at Sofina counters in Japan and Hong Kong. The line is targeted at consumers in their twenties with unstable skin conditions due to various factors such as lack of sleep and stress. The key product of the line is Deep Boost, which is used after the cleanser and before the toner. It is supposed to facilitate the absorption of the toner and whichever is applied afterwards and to help the skin stay optionally hydrated.

(Some other Japanese skincare brands/lines also feature products that are used before a toner. (I call them pre-toners.) Most are for deep hydration and some (infused with ingredients such as AHA or BHA and used with cotton pads) are wipe-off exfoliators.)

Here is the current lineup of Hada.ka (with notes on whether a product is for morning/night/both):

– Makeup remover:
Skin Reset Oil Cleansing (night)

– Face wash
Skin Reset Washing Foam (morning/night)

– Massage serum
Refining Massage (night)

– Skin softener/texturizer (used before toner)
Deep Boost (morning/night)

– Toner
Aqua Charge Lotion (morning/night)

– Moisture serum
Night Moist Solution (night)

– Emulsion
Deep Moisturizer (night)

– Emulsion/sunscreen
UV Protect Moisturizer (morning)

(Aqua Charge Lotion and Deep Moisturizer are available in two versions for different skin types. Also, UV Protect Moisturizer is available in two versions, one with SPF 24 PA+++ and one with SPF 50 PA+++.)

Prices of Hada.ka’s items are similar to those of Sofina’s other skincare lines. For instance, Deep Boost (180ml) retails for 2835 JPY (about 30 USD).

I have not tried items from Hada.ka yet. If you have, do please let me know your thoughts on them. Thank you very much!

From My Treasure Chest – Sofina Aube Rouge Dressious

Sofina Aube Couture Fall 2009 Collection

Sofina Primavista Powder Foundation Moist Touch

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Daytime Moisturizer Update: Olay Complete Care Daily Sensitive UV Fluid SPF 15

by PJ on Wednesday, July 29, 2009

in -Olay, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others, stash focus

In May 2007, I posted about Olay’s Multi-Radiance Daily Illuminating UV Fluid SPF 15. It was my daytime moisturizer/sunscreen product for about two years. It is a nicely formulated product and I have recommended it to some of my readers.

Earlier this year, I was looking through the ingredient lists of some other daytime moisturizers from Olay in my local Boots store and I decided to try Complete Care Daily UV Fluid SPF 15 (for Normal/Oily Skin) and Complete Care Daily Sensitive UV Fluid SPF 15 (for Sensitive Skin). After using them for several months, I can say that I am very happy with both.

I was very pleased with the Multi-Radiance moisturizer, which is a competent sunscreen product (with ingredients to protect against UVA and UVB rays) that contains niacinamide. It was moisturizing without being greasy, it didn’t cause breakouts or irritation, and it worked for me all year around.

However, there are two ingredients the product doesn’t need to have. One is citrus nobilis (mandarin extract), which can be a skin irritant. It didn’t irritate my skin but I thought it would be nice to use a product that doesn’t contain this. The other is mica, which is one of the ingredients in makeup products that create shimmer. It is usually used in skincare products to create a subtle glow for the skin. (It doesn’t have skincare benefits.) Even though it didn’t make my skin look too glowy, I’d prefer skincare products with fewer ingredients whose effects are merely cosmetic.

Like the Multi-Radiance moisturizer, both of the Complete Care ones are well-formulated sunscreen products (with butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane to protect against UVA rays) and both contain niacinamide. Neither of them contains citrus nobilis or mica. Compared with Multi-Radiance, both have a lighter texture. (The two are very similar in texture.)

At the very moment I am using the one for normal/oily skin, but I will be going back to the one for sensitive skin. It was the one I used first when I bought the two and it will become my staple daytime moisturizer. The main reason is that it is fragrance-free. (The other two contain fragrance.)

One thing I would like to point out is that all the three moisturizers, as well as many others from Olay, contain benzyl alcohol, which can be a skin irritant. But it is not among the major ingredients in any of the three and I haven’t had negative reactions to them.

On a very minor note, I wish the bottles (pictured above) would come with a pump dispenser.

Overall, both are nice products. They spread effortlessly, absorb easily and don’t leave a greasy film. Both work well under makeup too. I would recommend them (especially the one for sensitive skin) to those with combination and oily skin as a daytime moisturising/sunscreen product.

Other skincare products I am using at the moment:

Olay Complete Care Night Enriched Cream

RMK Cleansing Oil

Lancôme Tonique Douceur

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Lunasol Fall 2009 Eye Care and Base Makeup Releases

by PJ on Wednesday, July 22, 2009

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, skincare

(image/info from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Lunasol will release items for the eye area in Japan on September 18th. Two new shades will be added to the popular concealer, Under Eyes Base N. (It currently features 3 shades.) The shade in Natural Yellow will help conceal brown-toned dark circles, while Natural Orange will help cover up blue-toned dark circles.

Also, the Eye Essence Kit will be launched. The Kit includes eye moisturizers for day and night. The night-time one can be used as an eye mask once a week.

Lunasol Eyeshadow Palette Swatch Galore

Lunasol Fall 2009 Collection

Lunasol Layer Bloom Eyes in Purple Gradation

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Skincare Review: Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum

by PJ on Monday, June 15, 2009

in -Olay, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(image from www.olay.co.uk)

Olay is a solid skincare line that has many very well-formulated items. The fact that most of Olay’s products are on the affordable side (compared with all the high-end products) shows that we don’t have to spend a lot of money on quality products.

Olay’s Complete Care Night Enriched Cream has been my evening moisturizer for a couple of years, and I have recently switched from Olay’s Multi-Radiance Daily Illuminating UV Fluid SPF 15 to Complete Care Daily Sensitive UV Fluid SPF15, also from Olay. (I will be featuring this product later on.) Today I am reviewing the Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum.

This serum has more of a gel texture than a watery consistency. (It is one of the thicker serum-type products that I have come across.) It doesn’t have a lot of slip, but it does create a silky finish, which is largely down to the various silicone ingredients and the fact that cyclopentasiloxane (silicone) is the first ingredient on the list (before water and glycerine).

It has a very good mix of beneficial ingredients, such as carnosine (with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties), tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E, antioxidant), tocopherol (vitamin E, antioxidant), allantoin (anti-irritant), and camellia sinensis (green tea, potential antioxidant for the skin).

Also included in this product is niacinamide (vitamin B3). Paula Begoun mentions that the serum contains approximately 2% to 3% niacinamide and that, in this amount, “it can increase the skin’s ceramide and fatty acid content as well as have anti-inflammatory action” (Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, April 2004, pages 88-93). (The three Olay products that I mentioned above also contain niacinamide.) For more information on all the potential benefits of niacinamide, please refer to the entry in Paula Begoun’s Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary.

Overall, this can be a good product to be used under the moisturizer for those with normal or dry skin or as a light-weight moisturizer for those with oily skin. For daytime, it can also work as a primer to help create a smooth texture for the skin in order to facilitate makeup application. (You can also see Paula’s review of this serum here.)

Rose & Co. Apothecary Rose Petal Salve

Amatokin Emulsion for the Face

Nude Skincare Review

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YSL Fall 2009 Makeup Collection

by PJ on Friday, June 12, 2009

in -YSL, 2009 Fall, makeup, skincare

(images/info from www.joseishi.net/voce)

Here is a quick look at YSL’s fall 2009 makeup collection. I like the look of the eye palette below, but this might be an Asia-exclusive release as it looks slightly different from the palette posted at Temptalia.

The new items includes:

– Palette Y Face Powder (above, limited edition)

– Ombres 5 Lumières 5 Colour Harmony for Eyes (2 new variations)

– Ombres Duolumières Eye Shadow Duo (2 new variations)

– Cream Blush (3 shades, limited editions)

– Gloss Volupté (4 shades)

– Rouge Volupté (4 new shades)

– Volume Effect Faux Cils Luxurious Mascara (1 new shade)

– La Laque (2 new shades, limited editions)

– Top Secret Refining Skincare Brush (Primer)

Two new skincare/pre-makeup items will be joining the Top Secret range:

– Top Secret Instant Eye Patch

– Top Secret Lip Plumper Essence

Updated on July 6th 2009:

More images of the collection:

(images from www.cosme.net)

YSL Spring/Summer Base Makeup Releases

YSL Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils

YSL Golden Gloss in Golden Pink

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Skincare Review: Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream & Oxygenating Night Cream

by PJ on Thursday, June 11, 2009

in -Elemis, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(images from www.elemis.com)

Elemis is a UK-based spa and skincare brand that has a wide range of skincare and bodycare products. The Pro-Collagen range is one of the brand’s most extensive ranges, featuring items for the face, eyes, body, hands/nails and neck/bust. Today I am featuring the two facial moisturizers from the range.

– Pro-Collagen Marine Cream

This is the first product in the Pro-Collagen range and it is among Elemis’ most popular products. It has a cream consistency that is on the light side, and it absorbs well without leaving any greasy residue.

Some of the main moisturizing ingredients include glycerine, propylene glycol, wheat germ oil, shea butter, and jojoba seed oil. The “marine” ingredients are chlorella vulgaris extract, padina pavonica extract and porphyridium cruentum extract, all of which are algae extracts that act as emollients. (The anti-aging properties of algae can sometimes be exaggerated.)

The product contains ginkgo biloba extract, which is a potent antioxidant.

Even though this product is mainly marketed as a daytime moisturizer (that complements the night cream reviewed below), it does not contain any anti-UVA/UVB ingredient and should be paired with an adequate sunscreen product for daytime.

– Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream

The Night Cream has a richer consistency but it still absorbs relatively well. The main moisturizing ingredients include glycerine, shea butter, jojoba seed oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, and wheat germ oil. It also contains three algae extracts: laminaria digitata extract, padina pavonica extract and corallina officinalis extract.

One ingredient I am concerned about is rosa damascena flower oil, which is a fragrant plant oil that may cause skin irritation. It is high enough in the ingredient list (among the various emollients) to warrant some concerns. (I would worry less if it were among the preservatives towards the end of the list.)

It is worth mentioning that this product contains no silicone derivatives. I am not opposed to a moderate amount of silicone in skincare products (as it can preserve the efficacy of some skin-benefiting ingredients better than water), but I am aware of the fact that some consumers look for skincare products that are silicone-free.

For me, I prefer the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, as it is lighter in consistency and leaves the skin feeling more quenched. (Even though the Oxygenating Night Cream is richer, it can actually leave my skin slightly tight.) Overall, I would recommend the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (as a nighttime moisturizer) to those with slightly oily, normal, and slightly dry skin.

(Some of the ingredient information above is based on Paula Begoun’s Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary.)

Clinique Youth Surge SPF 15

Crème de la Mer Skincare Review

Elizabeth Arden Intervene Radiant Serum & Night Cream

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Blog Sphere Trotting: NvWah Blogs

by PJ on Monday, June 8, 2009

in skincare

(image from NvWah Blogs)

In my reviews of skincare products, I try to share what I know about the various ingredients. There are quite a few other blogs that pay considerable attention to skincare ingredients, and NvWah Blogs is one of them.

The recently launched blog features reviews of skincare products and is part of a larger skincare review database, where positive and negative sides of products are pointed out and where readers can see full ingredient lists of products reviewed.

I will certainly be following the blog’s latest posts and I hope the database will be growing steadily.

Blog Sphere Trotting: The Well-Heeled Society

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Japanese Cosmetics Focus: Sofina Beauté

by PJ on Friday, April 17, 2009

in _Japanese Brand Profile, -Kao, -Sofina, all about Japanese cosmetics, skincare

(image from www.sofina.co.jp/beaute)

A few readers have requested that I highlight one of Sofina’s latest skincare ranges, Sofina Beauté. Here is a brief profile of the line, which I hope would be helpful for you.

Sofina Beauté was launch in January 2008. It is positioned as Sofina’s anti-aging skincare range for those in their 30s and 40s. (Meanwhile, Vital Rich is targeted at those in their 40s, and Grace Sofina is marketed towards those in their 50s and beyond.)

The main claim of the line is that the products are formulated to improve the penetration of the ingredients and to be able to reach the “core” of the skin. According the press release from Kao, some of the ingredients in the products are ginger extract, citron extract, and eucalyptus extract.

The range features a full lineup of basic skincare products, which include:

– four makeup removers (oil, cream, gel, and foam)
– two face washes (foaming and non-foaming)
– four toners (I being the least emollient and IV being the most emollient)
– one skin-firming serum
– four night-time moisturizers (three emulsions and one cream)
– four daytime moisturizers (two with SPF 24, PA+++ and two with SPF 50, PA+++)
– eye mask sheets

The prices of the products are similar to those of the existing Sofina skincare products. (The night-time emulsion is 3675 JPY (about 37 USD).)

I haven’t tried products from this range so I don’t really have any first-hand experience. One reason is the alcohol, which is a recurring issue with many Japanese skincare products. (You can see the ingredient lists of the night-time emulsion (II) and the makeup removal cream here and here. The emulsion has too much alcohol and my skin will certainly not be able to tolerate the product.) I have not had a chance to see all the ingredient lists so I don’t know precisely which other products also contain alcohol.

If you have had a chance to try products from Sofina Beauté, do please leave your comment and let us know what you think of them. Thank you very much!

Japanese Cosmetics Focus: Kanebo Freeplus

Skincare Genre Focus: Whitening Products

Can’t Live Without – RMK Cleansing Oil

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Skincare Review: Clinique Youth Surge SPF 15

by PJ on Tuesday, April 7, 2009

in -Clinique, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(image from www.clinique.com)

Launched in March in the UK, Clinique‘s Youth Surge SPF 15 is the brand’s new range of daytime moisturizers. Today I am reviewing the version for combination oily to oily skin.

The main moisturizing ingredients in this product are castor oil (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate), cetyl ethylhexanoate, butylene glycol, glyceryl stearate and glycerin. The anti-UVA/UVB ingredient is titanium dioxide.

It features antioxidants such as polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese knotweed) root extract, algae extract, birch bark extract and linoleic acid. It also contains phytosphingosine, which can be a cell-communicating agent. (Please see this post for relevant links.)

The product contains no alcohol, parabens or fragrance.

One ingredient that might cause irritation is coleus barbatus (part of the mint family) extract.

As a moisturizer for combination and oily skin, it has a rich texture and feels quite emollient on the skin. It can initially leave a slight white cast on the skin, which is probably down to titanium dioxide, an active ingredient in this product.

Overall this is a competent facial moisturizer. It doesn’t leave the skin shiny but it can feel slightly filmy for those with oily skin. Even though this product is marketed for those with combination and oily skin, I think it will suit people with normal and slightly dry skin a lot more than those with oily skin. Those who are sensitive to chemical sunscreen ingredients might also want to consider this product as titanium dioxide is less likely to cause skin reaction.

Lancôme Génifique

Chanel Huilde Confort & Lotion Confort

Can’t Live Without – Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

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The Body Shop Tantalising Lip Butter for the Staying Alive Foundation

by PJ on Friday, April 3, 2009

in -The Body Shop, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(image from The Body Shop)

To support the global HIV and AIDS awareness campaign by the Staying Alive Foundation (founded by MTV), The Body Shop has launched Tantalising Lip Butter in the UK for the 2009 campaign.

The Staying Alive Foundation, established in 1998, funds youth-focused safe sex campaigns across the world. Have a look at the foundation’s official website to learn more about the foundation and the cause.

Tantalising Lip Butter contains Community Trade shea butter and Community Trade beeswax to moisturize the lips. It also contains vitamin E, which serves as an antioxidant. The lip butter has a smooth and emollient texture and it has a very fresh and sweet fruity scent.

The retail price of Tantalising Lip Butter is £5.00, with £3.98 of the sale going to the cause.

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