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<< July 2014 >>
PROFILE


The name is Himeko. I love hello kitty, chopper and all things pink. Anything you need to enquire me about, drop me a mail at missyhimeko@yahoo.co.jp




Travelogue

Korea: 2014/06/20 - 2014/06/26 (TBA)


Japan: 2014/02/06-2014/02/16 (TBA)


Japan: 2013/01/18-2013/01/24







Malaysia: 2012/09


COMMENTS
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How to tell between a Real and a Fake 3 Concept Eyes (3CE) Lipstick
There are several reasons behind today's post. Firstly, I want to clarify that I am not sponsored or paid by any website to do this.

I noticed that 3 Concept Eyes (3CE) is getting very popular these days, especially the 3CE Lipsticks, and I see a lot shops selling products from said brand. However, I see that many of the sellers are actually selling fakes. This is extremely disgusting behaviour in my opinion because how can someone sell a product with unknown origins to people? Do you know the real ingredients of the imitation? Cosmetics are products people put on their faces! What will you do if there are ingredients inside that can cause irritation to skin and cause the skin condition of others to take a turn for the worst? I cannot stand such unethical sellers! I've seen many fakes on websites such as Qoo10 and Carousell. I think that the owners of these websites should have the responsibility to check on people who want to register as sellers first before letting them go wild on their platform and selling all these horrible products to the poor unsuspecting market. Granted, buyers have the responsibility to do some research before buy but these days, the fakes look so real that even the sharp eyed buyers can be cheated. Take a look at this:


Or this:


Can you tell which is the real one?

What's worse is that these stores like to use stock photos or selective photos which show what the product they are selling have in common with the authentic ones and hide the photos which show inconsistencies. Then they make use of reviews by others to prove they are selling the real thing because those poor girls don't even know they have been cheated and left those comments thinking they got the real deal, further causing others to believe them and purchase from said shop.

I shop on taobao.com a lot and I know many Singaporean sellers like to purchase from there and resell them to locals here. Even on Taobao, there are so many people selling the fake lipsticks and labelling them as real. I'm pretty sure that the people selling fakes got their goods from there. My post today is targeted at the unethical people who sell the fakes knowing they are fake but brand them as the real deal and the unsure sellers who are not even sure if they have the real thing but still sell them to others, marketing the product as authentic. Come on, I understand that you guys want to make some money but doing this is just plain despicable. Many Singaporeans shop online and you are just taking advantage here! That being said, there are people on Qoo10 and Carousell selling the real thing as well as a few websites I do know of which sell the real deal which are MIYOC, Taiwan Magicshop Singapore and Luxola

Alright, less digressing and onto the post!

First Point:
If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. This is a no brainer yet many people fail to follow because let's face it, who doesn't want a good bargain/deal? However, I am talking about deals which are so obvious that the people who still fall for it deserve a good knock on their heads. The price of a real 3CE Lipstick cost around US$20 - you can see it on the Official Stylenanda Website. Why would a third party seller (not official distributor) sell you are a price lower than that? They will not even make any profit! The only reason for that is because they got the products at a price even lower than what they are selling you. Imagine if a shop is selling you at just SGD$12. That means they bought it at less than SGD$12. Where in the world do you think they found a real product at this steal? Answer - it is a fake. Come on, even a kind hearted spree organizer will charge you for shared shipping with other spree participants and maybe a small handling fee and even sellers who do sell real products at lower prices will be around $1-$3 lower only due to bulk purchase discount (yes, official stylenanda web does offer discounts under their VIP programme and orders above USD$200 gets free international shipping) or trying to clear older stocks. You can read about the programme here.

Second Point:
It must have a Safety Seal on the opening. However, many fakes these days also have this safety seal sticker which is why I have many more points below to help identify.


Third Point:
Outer Packaging, i.e. the box. Firstly, the picture on the box should be of good quality. Fakes tend to have high contrast in the colours and look grainy.


Fourth Point:
Bottom of the outer packaging. Most fakes have codes like HHxxx (x are numbers) or just numbers. The real one will have the name of the lipstick, lipstick code and barcode.


Fifth Point:
Still on packaging but this time it is on the product information. The fake one will have expiry date printed on it as well as missing words. The real one does not have expiry date printed and have the words underlined in the picture below


Sixth Point:
Should you purchase via their online website, the plastic packaging should say www.stylenanda.com, not cn.stylenanda.com as pictured below. Also, the words www.stylenanda.com should be of appropriate size and legible, not so tiny you have to squint to read.


Seventh Point:
The wordings on the case of the lipstick. The fake ones tend to look blurry/ smudgy and the words are bold. The real ones look clear and clean and the words are very crisp.


Eight Point:
Logo of the Lipstick. Similar to the words, the fake ones look smudgy/blurry while the real ones are very clean and crisp.


Ninth Point:
The tip of the lipstick. The fake ones usually have curved tips while real ones should have a straight, slanted tip.


Tenth Point:
The tapered side of the tip. The place where the tapered side of the fake ones face when the lipstick is fully extended are inconsistent, as you can see from here


And here


But the real ones always faces the same side as the logo when you fully extend the lipstick out.


Eleventh Point:
The base where the lipstick rest. The base of the fake ones which hold the lipstick is longer than the real ones.




Twelveth Point:
The bottom of the product itself. Just like the packaging, the bottom of the case of an authentic product have both the lipstick code and the name of the lipstick. The name of the lipstick will always be in English with Expiry Date printed on it as well.


Thirteenth Point:
Texture of the case. The fake ones usually feel very plastic and much light reflects off it while the real ones feel more like acrylic. Sorry but no clear pictures to illustrate this but from one of the pictures above, you can tell the difference between the amount of light reflection.


Fourteenth Point:
Product lineup. Not talking about lipstick here but other products from 3CE. A quick google search will tell you whether a product is in their lineup. I've seen ridiculous people selling things not even in the lineup like 2-in-1 loose powder with face powder or some Aqua Boost lipstick. Another giveaway is when the product doesn't even look close to the real thing. For example, the special edition Pink 3CE lipsticks only comes in rectangular case; I've seen rectangular cases with rounded edges and even an oval looking case. It's like they are not even trying to look like the real thing because people just believe it when they see the words "StyleNanda/3 Concept Eyes" on the packaging.

There, Fourteen points that I can think of for now. I will add on if I can think of more - feel free to tell me any points I've missed out! Hope this post helps you ladies and prevent more of you from getting cheated! This post was actually inspired by Tsuriki because we were talking about it the other day and she suggested I should make a post about it to help others out there! Remember, all the points I stated has NO EXCEPTIONS. Don't cheat yourself/ be in denial that you piece might be a "slightly different" piece. Do yourself a favour and stop using it if yours turned out to be fake.

xoxo

Himeko
 
21:03||comments(3)trackbacks(0)pookmarktop
[Event] Tokyo Luxey Meetup at P.S Cafe at Harding Road & Product reviews
Hello!
It has been a long time since I went for any bloggers event, even Karmun was surprised when I told her I was on my way to one last week! Anyway, since I promised you guys I will be back blogging properly and regularly, I guess the first thing I should do is know the new bloggers around, right? Afterall, I have been missing in action for over a year (laughs)

The event was held at P.S. Cafe at Harding Road


When I arrived, the sharing session just started. We were told what Tokyo Luxey about and how they hope to have more "luxeys" join the community and share more about what products you guys wish to see as well as provide feedback on what you think of existing Japanese products in the market. I am definitely excited about this as there are so many Japanese brands that are still not readily available here in Singapore that I go on a "panic stocking up" session everytime I go Japan (laughs). 

Also, did you know that Tokyo Luxey actually had a programme on FOX International Channel called A Luxe Makeover TV Series which does a makeover according to the theme of the episode? For those of you who know about it/ watched it, you will be pleased to know that Tokyo Luxey has a Beauty Box which cost just SGD$39 where the value of the goodies inside far exceeds that price! Oh, and you do get to see what you will get for the price you pay! I actually prefer this compared to "mystery boxes" as more often than not, I get so many sample sized products that are not even suitable for my face and I end up paying for absolutely nothing! I can tell you that any two items in the Tokyo Luxe Special Edition Gift Box already exceeds the SGD$39 you paid!

After a quick briefing for us Luxeys about what being in the community is about, we were given a goodies' bag filled with awesome stuff! I have to say, I totally squealed silently inside me when I saw the paper bag upon arrival at the venue because it was a bag that says "ALBION!" If you follow my instagram, you will know that I have been a huge fan of their skin conditioner and lately, my bottle is actually running out and....


They included a generous 110ml bottle of the Skin Conditioner inside the goodies' bag! Mind you, it is not some sample-sized but actually a size sold over counters in Japan for 3,500¥ (Approx. SGD$44)! Not just that, you can see a smaller sample sized bottle which is actually their Eclafutur which was snapped off the shelves upon launch in Japan September last year, causing a shortage of stocks and a total of over 35 million bottles have been sold so far. Upon seeing the statistics, I must say I was really anticipating how the product will perform for me.

Another product that I was glad to see inside is the 24H Cosme Foundation. They are a mineral line of cosmetic and the reason why it caught my eyes was because of Tackey and Tsubasa (laughs). They were endorsing them some time back and when I saw it in Japan, I was like in a total fan girl mode (I have a thing for Takizawa Hideaki!!) I learnt that this product is very popular amongst celebrities in Japan too!


After all the product introduction, we were served delicious pasta! The portion was huge that we all had a hard time finishing but we kept stuffing ourselves because it was sooooo good!


So many goodies, so little time. I shall give you guys a brief review quickly!


As aforementioned, I have been using the Skin Conditioner for about 6 months now so I can very confidently tell you that this product works amazingly for me.


See, I am not lying! I really have the Skin Conditioner and about to finish it so you have no idea how glad I was when I saw the bottle! The first time I bought it, I got the medium sized bottle (165ml) because it was not cheap and I didn't want to end up wasting money if it did not work out well for me. Thankfully, everything worked out well! I will be buying a new bottle and this time I intend to buy the huge 330ml bottle for use at home because I want to keep the smaller bottle for travel use! Since I started using this, my skin is more moisturized and I experience lesser breakouts. My makeup also goes on my face much smoother~ Overall, I really love this! They have a counter in Takashimaya Beauty Hall. I cannot remember the exact price but I paid around $80+ for the 165ml bottle. For working ladies, I will really recommend this to you guys and for younger girls, if you can afford, go for it!

Now, onto the Eclafutur!


After using this for a week, I cannot give a very in depth review but I do not have any negative reaction from this so far. No breakouts or bad reaction so that is a good thing! I do like how smooth my skin because after apply this and since this is a cell repairing product, I am actually very keen to purchase the full sized product to give it a try in a longer term.

Finally, the 24H Cosme Foundation.


Inside a pack, you will get the case, sponge and a refill.


Just pop the refill and the sponge in and you are done assembling your pact!


However, the shade of the foundation given to me was quite dark; pretty far from my skin tone =/


Such a pity because I was really excited about this :( Nonetheless, for you guys, I tested this out by wearing it when I am home (laughs) Don't judge me! Just so you know, I don't put on make up when I am home because I like to let my skin breathe. The staying power of the foundation is actually really good and the fact that it is a mineral makeup makes me feel less guilty about putting it on despite being at home (because I really want to let my skin breathe on my laze-home-days.) It doesn't cake up either, which is a huge plus point, and it is also very blendable. Overall, a great foundation but pity that it doesn't have a wide range of shades available in Singapore yet. Also, this does not come cheap (5,122¥, approx. SGD$63), which was the main reason why I eventually didn't buy it back from Japan last year.

There, my review of the products I received from the Tokyo Luxey meet-up last week!
If you are interested in purchasing products from them, do shop HERE for Singaporeans and HERE for those outside of Singapore.

See you guys very soon for my next review!

xoxo

Himeko
 
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[Sponsored] Klarity™ Lasertox™ CC Miracle White Lotion Review
I'm on a roll, yes?
Churning out reviews and keeping my blog alive so diligently (smiles)
For today, I will be sharing a relatively new brand with you guys called Klarity.
I received 2 products from them some time in late June but only saw them when I got back from Korea, thus the belated review.


Before I get into more details about the product, let me share some information about the brand with you first.

Klarity believes that youthful, healthy skin requires daily commitment of superior formulations. Teaming up with group of dermatologists from Korea, they meticulously yield a harmonious blend of medical-grade ingredients and cosmetic-science with nature to make you look and feel good. 

Some properties I really love about Klarity™ Products:
  • Not tested on animals 
  • Halal
  • MFDS Korea Approved

So what exactly is Lasertox™? It is a functional treatment methodology that brings ytou targeted treatment to improve on specific concerns, by adopting the laser technology which reinforces efficient penetration of the natural beauty essences into skin dermis layer. 
Laser - Confined permeability through skin tissue. Focus essence penetration onto target area
Detox - Purification of the skion layers to enhance a better absorption of the essence upon application onto skin, Cleanse skin has better absorption power.
Lasertox™ is researched by dermatologist in Korea with formulae from France and Switzerland.

Now, onto the Klarity™ Lasertox™ CC Miracle White Lotion [SGD $29.00]


Lasertox™ CC Miracle Whilte Lotion promises instant fairer skin, contains SPF 30/PA++, Paraben Free, Colorant free and can be used on both face and body. I know right, paraben free! That was the first thing that caught my eyes. Oh yes, did I mention that it also contains Diamond powder and Rosehip extract?


This amazing CC Cream has 11 functions, namely:
  • Whitening
  • Purifying
  • Repairing
  • Firming
  • Smooth
  • Soothing
  • Hydrate
  • Tone
  • Anti-aging
  • Sun Screen
  • Waterproof 

The cream is white in colour when you dispense it from the squeeze tube


Just that little amount can cover the entire back of my hand when blended


Left hand has the Klarity™ Lasertox™ CC Miracle White Lotion while Right hand has nothing on it


That definitely vouched for the instant whitening as promised!
Onto the ratings

Klarity™ Lasertox™ CC Miracle White Lotion

Manufacturing Country: Korea

Product Volume: 30ml

Product Ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Titanium Dioxide, Cetyl Peg/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylysilane, Chlorphenesin, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Diamond Powder

Product Packaging: ♥♥♥♥♡ 9/10
I may be biased here but I really like the holographic effect the packaging has. Colours used are also very simple - just silver (holographic) and black.

Coverage: ♥♥♥♡♡♡♡♡♡♡ 3/10
In all honesty, I was not expecting much from this CC Cream in terms of coverage because from what I know, CC Creams aren't supposed to give you coverage but rather to enhance your natural skin and make it look more even. Therefore the rating does not mean that the CC Cream had dissapointed me but rather just performed on par with other competitors in this aspect.

Product Efficiency: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡♡ 7/10
Instant whitening? Check. Even skin tone? Check. Sun screen? Waterproof? Hydrate? Check, check and check. Besides the properties listed above, other claims will require a longer time for me to assess how well it performs.

Texture: ♥♥♥♥♡ 9/10
Extremely lightweight on my skin, felt like nothing was on it at all!

Application: ♥♥♥♥♡ 9/10
Easy peasy. This is a cream product so the viscosity makes it super easy to work with. Also, my old readers will know that I have a thing for squeeze tubes because they are just so much more hygienic. 

Blendability: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡ 8/10
Blends in easily with my skin and while it is buildable, I will not recommend you to overdo it as it is white in colour and I'm sure you do not want to end up looking too pale. Remember, CC Cream is not meant for coverage. If you want better coverage, go for BB Cream or apply a thin layer of BB Cream on top of this.

Lasting Power: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡♡ 7/10
The product lasted a good 6 hour-ish before all traces of product were gone from my face.

Price: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡♡ 7/10
At $29.00, it is on par with a few fellow competitors.

Availability: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡♡ 7/10
You can purchase it online from Secretive SG and yes, they do ship internationally!

Repurchase: Maybe
I am not really a CC Cream person because I prefer at least a medium coverage since I am not blessed with super smooth and healthy skin so I still lean towards BB Cream. Maybe when my skin becomes good enough, I will switch to CC Cream!

Overall Rating: 7/10

Honestly speaking, if the coverage could be higher, it would have gotten an 8/10 from me. Then again, CC Creams are not supposed to give high coverage so that deduction is due to my personal preference. I do recommend people who love CC creams to give this product a try as I am still not confident enough to survive with just CC Cream on my day out (laughs)

You can purchase this product from Secretive SG

Wow, that was my first CC Cream related review so far. I know a lot of people have tried CC Creams and this type of product is no longer the newest thing in town but I have never bothered to pick one up because I need some level of coverage which I believe the CC Creams cannot give me. Good news is that my skin is currently quite stable and on the road to recovery so I hope I can be confident enough to switch to CC Creams at times and purchase more to try! Many thanks to Secretive SG for the opportunity to let me experience the product!

xoxo

Himeko
 
08:17||comments(0)trackbacks(0)pookmarktop
[Sponsored] Lee JiHam (LJH) Doctor's Care Vita Propolis Ampoule (Honey Ampoule) Review
Hello lovelies!

Following my recent influx of Korean cosmetics review, I am going to give you skincare review today (and the next few days) instead! I was sent 3 products from HKCPlaza some time back in Mid may to test them out. Very thankful that they have been extremely patient with me and their genorisity to provide me with 3 of their newest products. On top of that, they have provided me with special 10% discount code for my readers as well as a link for you guys to get a free starter kit from them. Oh yes, did I mention that it provides free worldwide delivery? Read till the end to find out!

I have been sent 3 products, namely:

1. LJH Doctor's Care Vita Propolis Ampoule (Honey Ampoule) [SGD $42]


2. LJH SMART Power Cleansing Foam [SGD $38]


3. LJH SMART Power Cream (3 Tubes) [SGD $80]

Credit: stock images from HKCPlaza

Before I move onto today's review, let me share a little bit about Lee JiHam products with you. It is not highly publicized in Singapore but in Korea, they are actually the first cosmetics company to introduce "doctor cosmetics." They are pioneers of Cosmeceutical in Korea (cosmetics combines the beautifying effects of cosmetics and the healing power of pharmaceutical.) Not just that, they are also one of the most famous providers of functional cosmetics. Their first clinic established in Korea is in Ehwa Women's University [I went to the University during my Korea trip in June!] and now has over 50 clinics nationwide with 9 under own management! The LeeJiHam Dermatology R&D Center has 7 patents for cosmetics composition and manufacturing process and also received the Science Technology Merit Award in 2006 for its innovative research and development. It is definitely such a pity that it is so underrated in Singapore and thus I am glad I can share this amazing brand with you guys and hopefully, you will get a lot of benefit out of their products! They have an amazing range of products for different skin types - do check out their website for the full range.

Enough on the background, let us move onto today's review on their LJH Doctor's Care Vita Propolis Ampoule (Honey Ampoule)

Packed in a box which folds into a cute little prism


Upon opening, information about the product is revealed along with the ampoule.
See the chart? Translated, it says that the product contains 50% Propolis, 10% Vitamin Derivatives (B3. B5 and C), 10% Vitamin Tree and 26% combination of witch hazel, Centella Asiatica, Portulaca Orelacea and Rose Extract.
Major effects of Propolis include Soothing, Skin Protection, Nutrition and Vitality Supply.
Oh yes, did I mention this is Paraben-free, Artificial Coloring free and Ethanol-free?


I have so much love this dropper products! In case you guys are wondering why is the product filled to such an awkward amount, that is because I have already started using it prior to taking the pictures. The product was filled up to somewhere near the neck of the ampoule when I first received it.

Lee JiHam Doctor's Care Vita Propolis Ampoule (Honey Ampoule)

Product Volume: 15ml

Product Type: Serum

Packaging: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡ 8/10
I love the cute box! That aside, the packaging of the bottle which contains the product is small and thus easy to bring around. Bottle is transparent with minimal words - no frills like clinical products.

Brightening Efficiency: ♡ 8/10
Performs very well in this aspect and the difference is especially prominent when you use this to sleep! I wake up the next morning with glowy and more even looking skin!

Moisturizing Efficieny: ♡♡♡ 7/10
It does help to keep my skin moisturized throughout the day and overnight. Though my skin don't look exceptionally supple, this is a multi-functional product so I did not expect the result to be prominent either. It is good enough for me that it does help my skin maintain a healthy moisture level.

Application: ♥♥♥♥♡ 9/10
I LOVE the dropper on this product! It is extremely easy to get the product and no leakage from the dropper! I have tried quite a few serums before and this is by far one of the best dropper ever! Being liquid and slightly viscous, it is easy to apply and spread on my face.

Availability: ♡ 8/10
While outside of Korea, it is only available in some salons and clinics for Singapore and Malaysia, HKCPlaza provides free worldwide delivery, making it extremely convenient to purchase since one does not have to worry about ridiculous shipping fees.

Price: ♡♡♡ 7/10
Serums do not come cheap. For 15ml, it might seem expensive to some but the price point is still very acceptable for me. I only have to use 2 drops per applicable for my whole face so this product actually last me quite a while (I have been using it since I got it back in May and still have around half a bottle)


Repurchase: Yes
It is considered reasonably priced to me and given the size, I will very much love to repurchase this for me to bring around in my skincare pouch whenever I travel.

Overall Rating: 8/10

Head over to HKCPlaza to browse all the products and use the special VIP Code: SB01000JAD for additonal 10% discount - that's right, you get this discount ON TOP of products that are already on sale/discounted! (Click here to see how to use coupon) Also, there are some starter kits for you guys to redeem and try so do not hestitate any longer! Do watch this video to see how to use the Honey Ampoule in different ways.
Next review from the same line will be on the SMART Power Cream!


xoxo

Himeko
14:27||comments(0)trackbacks(0)pookmarktop
ヒメコの旅日記 - 東京第四日「第18章から第20章まで 」/ Himeko's Travel Diary - Tokyo Day Four [Chapter 18 to 20]
I was just browsing through my day 4 photos and I realised there are not a lot taken that day so I decided to edit and do this post up spontaneously. I spent 4 straight hours filtering and editing because my laptop was giving me problems (laughs)
Anyway, it's 4.17am now, will probably be around 4.45 by the time I get all the photos uploaded and pasted here with translations...
Well, here you go, Day 4 of my Japan trip last year (I know... trying to rush through as you can see, so I can get to this year's two trips!)


Chapter 18: Harajuku
Day 4
We woke up early so we can get to Tokyo early.
I am alone for this part~
Of course, my first stop will be Harajuku!
It's time for some shopping!


Chapter 19: Mitaka
I only had around an hour of alone time so I couldn't finish my shopping.
I did not buy much. I only managed to head down Takeshita Street and Laforet Harajuku.
I didn't get to walk around Omotesando... Such a pity. Well, it's okay.
I will definitely return during my next trip to Japan!

Next venue was Studio Ghibli Museum in Mitaka! The tickets go on sale a specific dates and 
you can purchase for specific dates and time. Also, do note that you will not be able to use
the ticket you purchased to enter on any other time or date besides the one stated on your
ticket. Therefore, to everyone who is interested in heading here, do remember to buy your
tickets in advance. You can purchase it at LAWSON. Do buy and print your ticket using the
Loppi machine in the LAWSON convenience store~


Top left is the timetable for the bus to the Museum from Mitaka Station.
Note that the museum does not allow photography inside.
Such a pity because it was really pretty inside.






Snow!
Before this trip, I have never seen snow before.
Therefore, I was very excited during that time whenever I saw snow!


After the Studio Ghibli Museum, it was some alone time again.
In other words, shopping time!
I went to the popular Shibuya!
Super excited!
Only after I arrived at Shibuya did I realise that I have yet to eat anything for the day.
(laughs)
Therefore, my first place was...


Hungry!
Ma Maison's Pasta and Ice chocolate were delicious~
To be honest, I love shopping alone (laughs)
When I am shopping alone, if I see something i like, I will buy it immediately.
I do not need others' opinions at all.
It is definitely not lonely at all!
Am I weird?
(laughs)
Doing this (shopping alone) makes me feel free and I like that.


After I was done with my own shopping, I went to the WC store to help Tsuriki get
some stuff. Before I returned to the hotel, I went to see the Hachiko statue first.
Happy~ (laughs)


Today's Get!

There you go, day 4!
I didn't do much photo taking because firstly, the museum did not allow it and secondly, I don't think it is polite to be snapping away in a shop when you are shopping.
Also, do check out this link for those interested in heading over to the Studio Ghibli Museum.
It shows you how to purchase the ticket from the Loppi machine in Lawson.
I will recommend those who want to head down to buy the ticket on your first day in Japan (you can only purchase the ticket in Japan) as you can only buy tickets within 10 days from the date itself if I am not wrong (E.g if you are there on the 4th, you can buy tickets for 4th - 14th) and there is also the risk of tickets being sold out (only limited amount of tickets are up for sale each day).
Also, note that if you purchased tickets for, let's say 4th of August & entry at 2pm, you will not be able to use the ticket to go at any other day or time. 
Sorry, I am very sleepy now on top of having fever so I don't even know if I am typing right (laughs)

Alright, goodnight!

xoxo

Himeko
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3 Concept Eyes [3CE] by Stylenanda Highlighter in Pink Review
As promised in my previous post, bringing you my first 3 Concept Eyes [3CE] product review.
3CE is actually the makeup line from Stylenanda, which was established by Kim So Hee back in 2004.
Stylenanda is wildly popular in Korea for its chic collection of clothes available, as well as bringing in many other brands such as Jeffrey Campbell into their stores. Many celebrities in Korea can be spotted wearing their clothes. Since K-wave is hitting the world so hard, I am sure many of you would have spotted your favourite idols wearing clothes from Stylenanda before such as 2NE1, Exo, Brown Eyed Girls - just to name a few. The current models you see on their website are Park Sora, Gong Sua, Kwon Soojung, Jung Minhee and Kang Jiwon. 

I bought 2 highlighters from 3CE Stylenanda on my trip to Korea in late June.


I am going to be talking about their Highlighter in Pink today. (Item Link to Official Store)


Simple packaging, as you can see. Upon opening, there is a plastic film on top of the powder. Also, all Stylenanda 3 Concept Eyes product has a seal on them to ensure the product has never been opened before.


I've swatched the bottom part of the compact and the powder becomes very shimmery looking. I am not sure if you can see it but if you can't, tlit your laptop screen lower towards the back and you might be able to see it. 


It also comes with a brush, which I forgot to take a picture of so I took the picture from their official website.


A swatch of the product on my hand


This highlighter in Beige has been featured in Korea's popular beauty show, Get It Beauty.
However, when I was in Korea, I swatched them and preferred the Pink one better so I got this instead.
There are many products that have been featured before, you can find the highlighter's link here.
From what I gather, products shown on that show always gets a huge boost in sales.
For those of you familiar with Taiwan's 女人我最大, it is very much like that show.
Onto the review, shall we?

3 Concept Eyes [3CE] by Stylenanda Highlighter in Pink:

Product Weight: 4.8g

Product Ingredients: Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Cl 77891), Talc, Nylon-12, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Penyl Trimethicone, Magnesium Myristate, Polyethylene, Diisostearyl Malate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Magnesium Stearate, Synthetic Wax, Ulrtamarines (Cl 77007), Mineral Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polybutene, PTFE, Dimethicone, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Tin Oxide (Cl 77861), Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Iron Oxides (Cl 77491)

Highlight Type: Micro Shimmer Particles

Packaging: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡ 9/10 
Clad in black with the logo and words in white, the simple exterior looks chic and clean. A big thumbs up is that the brush is being kept on a separate compartment in the same compact - under the blush. A huge fan of this because I get a proper brush and not some tiny and hard to use mini brush (Yes, I'm looking at you, Canmake!).

Color Payoff: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡ 8/10
This is a highlighter, so don't expect it to look intense upon application. I always make sure to apply my highlighters with a light hand because I do not want to overdo it. Remember, it is meant to highlight certain areas of our face to give us more dimension, not to tell people "yes, I slapped it on right here and here." One thing I really liked about this is how the micro shimmer particles look when light is cast on my face. I feel so glam when I see my highlighted areas glow (laughs)

Texture: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡ 8/10
Very smooth when I swiped it with my index finger. Powder is packed quite tightly as I did not observe fallouts when I did that. 

Blendability: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡ 8/10
With some blending using the brush provided, this sits on top of my loose powder without looking like I have a line of shimmer across my under eye area. 

Lasting Power: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡ 9/10
I did not constantly check the mirror for the highlighter but by the end of the day (I was out for around 11 hours), I could still see some glow on the areas I used it so I am going to say this one is pretty darn lasting.

Availability: ♥♥♥♥ 4/10
As with my other newer cosmetics from Korea, I bought them during my trip there. I believe they do not have an official offline store in Singapore (I'm not sure if I.T Singapore brought them in together with Stylenanda's clothing line). However, there are quite a few online stores selling it but once again, do be very careful when buying online. Do not look for a cheap deal and expect an authentic product. You can see the prices in Stylenanda's official website. Anything below is most likely not going to be authentic, no matter how real the pictures look (Remember, they can be stock photos or photos taken elsewhere!)

Price: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 10/10
Specifically for their highlighter, the price is actually very affordable! I bought this at only 12,000 won, which is around SGD $15.00 (say what?!), not forgetting that it comes with a brush too!

Repurchase: Yes! At this price point and how efficient it has proven, I might even want to stock up some!

Overall Rating: 9/10

I was really looking forward to trying this since I saw it online (the pictures from their official store looked amazing) and I'm glad it did not disappoint, especially since this is the first 3CE product I'm trying out of the bunch I bought. Can't wait to review the other products! 

My next review will likely be The Saem's Color Lip Rouge or Banila Co. Prime Primer BB Cream in Nude.
Stay tuned!

xoxo

Himeko
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Iope Air Cushion XP Cover in C21 [에어쿠션 XP 커버 21호] Review
Hello~
Back today with another review as promised!
If you follow me on my instagram (id: MissyHimeko), 
you would have seen me gushing about this a few days back.
This also explains why I am so motivated to get this up ASAP because I simply LOVE it and can't wait to share it!
I know I am pretty slow on jumping onto the bb cushion bandwagon because I thought "is it really that awesome? Do I really need something else other than my trusty Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer?"
Well, to answer that, YES.
I will get to that in a bit.

BB Cushions have been heavily promoted for their flawless yet natural finish. In Singapore, the most common one you will hear is probably the Laneige BB Cushion. However, before I went to Korea about 2 weeks ago, I did my research and found out that the most popular BB Cushion in Korea is actually from IOPE, followed by HERA. Both brands are under AMORE PACIFIC, which also has bb cushion released under the brand name as well but strangely enough, did not make it to the top few cushions in Korea (it's like the kids are doing better than the mother). Just a little more information for you, other brands like Etude House, Innisfree and Laneige are also under Amore Pacific. Therefore, I've decided to get the IOPE and HERA cushions in both Cover and Natural so I have at least a different brand to compare against. I did not get the Laneige one though it is much cheaper in Korea because I thought I should buy something not readily available in Singapore instead of something I can find here, though it is at a higher price. 

As if I needed more convincing, when I was trying to purchase the IOPE Air Cushions, the Air Cushion XP Cover in C21 was actually sold out in the whole Korea and they were not too sure when the stock will be replenished! Imagine how popular it must be to be sold out across so many stores in Korea! Disappointed, I only bought the IOPE Air Cushion XP Natural in C21 while keeping my fingers crossed that there will be stock at some secluded shop in some lonely corner. Thankfully, a day before I left Korea, the shops received fresh stock and I could get my IOPE Air Cushion XP Cover in C21! Having experienced being unable to purchase the product that was sold out in the whole country, that made me really look forward to giving this a shot after I successfully purchased it. 

A little about this product:
  • Has a cooling effect during application
  • Long lasting wear up to 12 hours
  • Many benefits such as whitening, brightening skin tone, wrinkle care
  • Doubles as sunblock with SPF 50+/PA+++
  • 1 compact is sold every 6 seconds
  • More than 10 million compacts sold to date
  • 1 in every 4 woman uses this brand in Korea

Firstly, let's take a look at the packaging




Each box comes with 1 compact as shown and 1 additional refill.


Upon opening it up, you can see the rubbery puff sitting on top of the flap which separates it from the product.


Product sealed for hygiene purposes


You can pop the compartment with the product and rubbery puff out from the bottom of the compact and fit in your new refill.


How the cushion looks


I was going to insert a picture of the swatch but I found that unnecessary as the product will definitely be of the right colour for my skin and I'm pass the time of plastering my face all over because let's be real, I definitely will only show good shots in which the product is applied well on my skin. Therefore, I will be skipping them. However, if you guys think you need a shot, let me know and I will add them in the next time I use them and take a picture.

Iope Air Cushion XP Cover in C21 [에어쿠션 XP 커버 21호]:

Product Weight: 15g

Product Type: Creamy

Packaging: ♥♥♥♥♥♡♡♡♡♡ 5/10
I think more can be done to the packaging. It is too simple for my liking. Also, one thing about cushions that I wish they can improve on is probably the size - compact is a little bulky.

Blendability: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡ 8/10
Being a creamy product, it is highly blendable. I have no problems with the product being incompatible with the loose powder I put on top, still giving me the flawless finish I hoped for.

Coverage: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 10/10
I bought the one in cover, obviously expecting coverage from it and it is absolutely amazing. It is definitely buildable as the rubbery puff that comes with it is meant to pick up minimal product to prevent you from slapping too much product on your face and end up looking too made up (we want a natural, flawless finish afterall). No worries about caking either (reiterated in my next point).

Lasting Power: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 11/10
It is ridiculous how great the lasting power is! I was skeptical about claims that say it can last up to xx hours because usually it does not live up to those expectations but this one performed even better than claimed! My makeup stayed fresh looking from the time I stepped out of house to when I arrived back home! Just so you know, I finished my makeup around 2.30pm and got back only around 2am. Imagine how shocked I was to find my cotton pad full of makeup when I was removing - it was as though I had removed it right after putting it on!

Availability: ♥♥♥♥♡♡♡♡♡♡ 4/10
I bought this in Korea and as far as I know, there are no places in Singapore that sells this offline. However, you can get this from certain online shops - just beware of fakes and buy it from trustable sellers instead of looking for the cheapest deal.

Price: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡ 9/10
It cost 40,000 Won (Approx. SGD $50.00) per box which comes with a compact case, 2 refills (1 already fitted into the compact and 1 in a plastic package), which means each refill only cost $25.00 (excluding cost of compact case). Very reasonable for a product that works so well.

Repurchase: Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES.

Overall Rating: 10/10

I'm so sold and if you aren't, you are missing out so much.
I can totally understand why this is making waves all over now and feel regretful for catching on so slow!
I can't wait to try the Natural one and see how it compares with my Laura Mercier which I use for minimal coverage.

Next review will be on a product from StyleNanda 3CE.
Stay tuned!
(P.s. Yes, I managed to get this up before 12 midnight!)

xoxo

Himeko
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Les Merveileuses Powder Foundation in Shade 10 「レ・メルヴェイユーず ラデュレ パウダーファンデーション 10」 Review / レビュー
Haven't done a review in 3 million years of something that I bought (guilty)
I haven't been accepting sponsorships for the last 2 years much as I know I am too busy to commit.
I guess even I felt some of the fun and freedom had been lost when I did way too many sponsored/advertorial post so eventually I became lazier and lazier... Feels like I am starting from zero again and I actually feel much more motivated and the energy to push myself to work hard again is back!
Let me make good my words (which I haven't been doing as you can see from the last few post) this time and not disappoint again. 
- end of naggy speech -

As some of my more loyal followers will know, I went to Japan again this year in Febuary and bought even more Les Merveileuses Laduree Cosmetics this time. When I went Japan last year, all I bought was the pot and blush petals (which I still haven't use by the way but at least it is no longer in the box but sitting prettily with my other cosmetics in its pretty pot). Here's a shot of the stuff I got there this year, including my rose petals blush with its pot.



Today we are going to focus on the powder foundation


Isn't the packaging so queen-like? I was so reluctant to use it because that would mean I have to sweep away the pretty coat of words on my foundation (it was coated on top like how you sprinkle icing sugar).
Let's start on the review, shall we?

Les Merveileuses Powder Foundation in Shade 10
「レ・メルヴェイユーず ラデュレ パウダーファンデーション 10」:


Product Weight: N/A

Product Ingredients: N/A

Foundation Type: Powder

Packaging: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡ 9/10
Very simple and clean cut. I think using a brassy colour with pearl white makes it seem fit for royals as compared to using gold and white, which can come out too harsh due to the contrast.

Coverage: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥❣♡♡ 7.5/10
Slightly digressing, I was not very good at working with the brush that came with this foundation but after getting a hang of it, I was able to pick up juts the right amount of product. The coverage is pretty good with just one layer. Usually I don't go beyond that unless I have certain problematic spots I want to cover.

Texture: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡ 8/10
Smooth and fine yet does not settle into fine lines or crack on my face. 

Blendability: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥❣♡ 8.5/10
Sometimes I will use products before I even apply my foundation and I have no problems so far, like having blotchy patches on those areas.

Lasting Power: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡ 9/10
Thumbs up for this! At the end of a long day out (when I say long, I mean like 10 hours and above long), I can still see traces of my foudation on my cotton pad when I remove my makeup.

Availability: ♥♥♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡ 2/10
I was going to give it just one point but since they opened up in Taiwan this year and they have many more stores in Japan now (Last year when I went, they only have like 4 or 5 but now they have more than 10 in Japan, including Haneda Airport), I shall give it 2 points.

Price: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡♡♡ 6/10
While it is not cheap at 4,500 yen for the refill and 1,500 yen for the case (totalling up to 6,000 yen on first purchase), considering that it is a counter brand, it is considerably cheaper than many others. 

Repurchase: Yes
I'm very much in love with this brand and though it is definitely not very affordable, I can see myself being a loyal follower.

Overall Rating: 9/10
Since it is not an international brand like Chanel and many others, I'm sure not many will be willing to spend this kind of money on this brand but I am someone who is very much in love with Japanese brands and know of the "Made in Japan" brands so this is not a problem for me. For a counter brand, I find that it is actually quite reasonably priced for a foundation.

xoxo

Himeko
02:05昨年の記事comments(0)trackbacks(0)pookmarktop
ヒメコの旅日記 - 京都第三日「第11章から第17章まで 」/ Himeko's Travel Diary - Kyoto Day Three [Chapter 11 to 17]
I know, I've been dead.
So to make up for that, I will stop doing collages for my travel diary because I am WAY behind time.
I'm still at last year's Japan trip when I have already gone to Japan again this year as well as Korea!
I am surprised at my inefficiency as much as you guys...
I look at other bloggers who can balance work and blogging plus have a social life (some even have kids!) and I feel so ashamed that I got motivated to get my ass back working (laughs)
So here you go, chapter 3 from my January 2013 Japan trip.
Next chapter onwards will go back to slapping the pictures with captions below them so I can get them up ASAP.
I might backtrack and remake them into collages in future if time permits.


Chapter 11: Kyomizudera
Day 3
Breakfast is very important!
The food from Mcdonald in Japan really looks like the pictures!

It was really early in the morning so all the shops were closed.
There was absolutely no one... except for this cute dog.

We are here!



Everybody's wish...

Many types of charms









This place was much bigger than I thought.

It is a must to have ice cream in winter!

Chapter 12: Silver Pavilion
Compared to the Golden Pavilion, the Silver Pavilion looked less impressive.





Where are we heading next?

Bear date? Cute bear family~

In such a cold weather, warm canned soup is the best!
The corn potage soup was delicious!

Chapter 13: Yasaka Shrine
Did you guess correctly?
Our next stop was Yasaka Shrine!

Candy apple! No no, I meant Candied fruits!



Karmun is in the picture again (laughs)

Delicious~



This looks good but it wasn't delicious at all...

Chapter 14: Kodaiji
Thanks to this couple, we managed to find our next destination.
We got lost trying to find Kodaiji and this kind couple walked us to the shrine!



Chapter 15: Gion

Chapter 16: Kyoto Station (Sorry, picture has a mistake, it still says Gion and I'm too tired to change now.)
Kyoto's Tsujiri is the best! Super delicious~ Compared to the one in Singapore, this is slightly
more bitter. However, I actually prefer the Kyoto version.

Chapter 17: Shinseikai
Our last stop was Shinseikai~

But we didn't find it very interesting...

We forgot to eat so we ended up having bento (laughs)

That concludes my third day!
I will probably post a few reviews before I get the 4th post up.
Anyway, I will hasten all the travelogues (:
Oh yes, and I have a ridiculous amount of cosmetic reviews coming up!
I bought a lot this year compared to the last two years.
I'm sure my older readers will remember the days when I bought eyelashes like no tomorrow.
After that, I kinda got bored and realised I have way too much to finish anytime soon so I stopped buying
cosmetics for about 2 years.
Cosmetic crazy monster is back.

xoxo

Himeko
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