Suqqu Shinjuku Isetan Exclusive Blend Color Eyeshadow and Bright Up Lipstick Swatches

On Monday of this week I went to Shinjuku Isetan to spy on their Suqqu exclusive LE releases, namely the Blend Color Eyeshadow EX-29 光絹織 (Koukiori) and Bright Up Lipstick EX-02 染柘榴 (Somezakuro).

 

***Screencaps from Isetan JP.

Lamuca Collagen Mist

This 200mL spray bottle of Lamuca Collagen Mist was a cart filler when I recently placed an order with Sasa.com. Turns out this item was already discontinued, may be even the whole brand Lamuca, because I don't see it listed on Utena's website anymore.

Having used Hadanomy Collagen Concentrated Mist before, I was eager to try something else for comparison. These two products seem close enough, and to be honest I like them both ^.^ The Hadanomy one was scented, thicker, and more viscous. This Lamuca one is unscented, much lighter and runnier. I'd say Hadanomy would be good for the winter or drier places/seasons, whereas Lamuca is better for summer or more humid environment. Too bad it's discontinued.

Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Isoflavone Moisture Lotion

Just started using this Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Isoflavone Moisture Lotion (しっとり) a couple of weeks ago, so here's a brief review. I just bought the refill pouch and reused my emptied Aqualabel Aging Care Lotion EX bottle.

Within this Nameraka Honpo line, there are 3 lotions choices, Lotion,  Moisture Lotion (しっとり) which is what I'm using, and the Rich Moisture Lotion (とってもしっとり). I picked this one on purpose because it's right in the middle. I want it to be moisturizing but with a watery texture. So I was afraid the regular Lotion won't be moisturizing enough, and the Rich Lotion would be too moisturizing that it's sticky or viscous or both.

Thankfully, I made the right choice ^.^ This lotion is just right. It looks funny, almost like skim milk only way more watery. It goes on super light but is adequately moisturizing and leaves my skin comfortable right after the shower. I'm glad I gave it a chance, although I'll move on once I'm done. There are so many choices out there so I'm going to keep experimenting.

SK-II Essential Power Eye Cream

Just finished with this tiny 0.08oz. sample jar of SK-II Essential Power Eye Cream and here's a short review for it. The sample came in a pair, with the other being the same size jar of Cellumination Deep Surge EX, which I loved and was happy to get more of.

Jurlique Rose Moisture Plus Daily Moisture Balancing Serum

Here's another brand I haven't visited for 2 years, Jurlique. I was in the market for a facial treatment and had used an item from the Rose line before, the Rose Water Balancing Mist. So I picked up this 30mL/1fl oz. pump bottle of Rose Moisture Plus Daily Moisture Balancing Serum. It looked interesting, at least online. 

FANCL 35th Anniversary Styling Cheek Palette

Apparently there was a FANCL 35th Anniversary Collection released last spring, a collaboration with LA-based artist Sunny Gu. Among the items was a Styling Cheek Palette #53 Bloom Blush.

All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

NARS Lip Pencil Duo

Got this NARS Lip Pencil Duo as a Sephora bday freebie way back when but didn't get around to them until now. It's a pair of mini Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella and Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien.

All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

Tokyo Eats - Ginza area Part II (Picture heavy!)

More food in Ginza! In general, this is a very touristy area but there are some great places tucked away here and there (as with everywhere else in Tokyo, but I digress...).  

These particular statues creep the hell out of me, so of course I have to take a photo of them ^.^"

Suqqu 2016 Spring Color Collection Swatches Part II

Stopped by the Suqqu counter at Mitsukoshi Ginza the other day and swatched the 2 new Bright Up Lipsticks in 08 澄橙 (Sumidaidai) and 09 薊映 (Azamibae) while at it.

 ***Screencaps from Suqqu JP.

Tokyo Eats - Roppongi Area Part II (Picture heavy!)

Alright, I can't procrastinate on this post anymore because it's growing too long. More food ahead, folks. In the Roppongi area, same old, same old. Took some photos over the holidays too, trying to get just that special one for the holiday cards. Too bad they all turned out meh so no cards this year. Oh well.

Mariage Freres

Since moving to Tokyo last August, I really got into Mariage Freres, probably because there's a tea salon and shop in Ginza, conveniently a few metro stops from my neighborhood.

Rosette Horse Oil Traditional Cleansing Paste

Been using this 120g tube of Rosette Horse Oil Traditional Cleansing Paste for the past month. It came in a bundle with a freebie 25g of Horse Oil Makeup Removing Cream, which I haven't tried and probably won't get around to for a while.

This is a foaming face wash and there's actually another kind available, the Komenuka (rice bran) Traditional Cleansing Paste, which I might try next when (and if) I finish this gigantic tube.

Hadajyun Moisture Lotion

While looking up Aqualabel Whitening Jelly Essence online, I found another very similar item, the Hada-Labo Shirojyun Cooling Hyaluron Jelly Clear Essence (a mouthful!), a 5-in-1 product that's an astringent, lotion (toner), essence/serum, moisturizer, and a pack that also lighten up dark spots.

The Hada-Lado brand is rather exhaustive, with the Gokujyun line in white bottles, Gokujyun Premium in gold bottles, Shirojyun (whitening) line in blue bottles, Medicated Gokujyun in green bottles, Gokujyun Alpha (aging care) in red bottles, and a bunch of other odds and ends. So I thought I'd go to my local drugstore to check them out in person. While there, I saw this 180mL refill pouch of Hadajyun Moisture Lotion (しっとり) nestled among the many other Hada-Labo options, so I picked it up to try.

Aqualabel Aging Care Lotion EX

Anticipating my family's visit over the holidays, I bought a big 200mL bottle of Aqualabel Aging Care Lotion EX for my mom to use during her 2-weeks stay. But she never touched it. I'm guessing she must have tried it and didn't like it?

The Aging Care EX line is in the gold bottles, versus the Whitening line in blues and the Moisture line in reds, both of which I've tried and reviewed (spoiler: I like the red line best). For the lotion, there are 2 types available: an R Moisturizing (しっとり) which is what I have, or a RR Enriched (とてもしっとり). The Lotion R is runny and watery, and I'm guessing the Lotion RR would be more viscous.

I forgot to take a photo of both the packaging and the bottle itself, so I'll post a stock picture for now and will update later with more photos.

Suisse Programme Platinum Refining Milk Cleanser

A quick review for this 30mL/1fl. oz. deluxe sample bottle of Suisse Programme Platinum Refining Milk Cleanser, which I used up within a couple of weeks. This was from a generous GWP I got a while back and I think this is the very last item in that batch too, hooray!

Clarins Cleansing Milk with Alpine Herbs

Finally got around to this tiny 10mL/0.3fl. oz. sample tube of Clarins Cleansing Milk Alpine Herbs. It lasted me all of 3 uses, so here's a quick review ^.^
 

It's really not a cleansing milk at all, more like a cleansing cream instead. And it's perfumy, much more so than expected. It does rinse decently well and doesn't leave me too greasy. I might pick up a full size if there's a good promotion. I like using a more gentle cleansing creams on days when I don't go out, which means I don't need a cleansing oil or a follow-up foaming cleanser.

Afternoon Tea at the Lobby Lounge & Bar, Ritz-Carlton Tokyo

Our December afternoon tea session was at the Lobby Lounge & Bar, on the 45th floor of the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo inside the Midtown Tower, Roppongi (well, Akasaka actually...).

This one was another maze of a hotel entrance. We walked around for quite a while before going through two narrow hallways just to the elevators. Perhaps this was designed to keep us riffraffs out? Ha.

The hotel lobby was on the 45th floor with very high ceiling, which I really enjoyed. The huge Christmas tree made the atmosphere festive, and the killer view didn't hurt either.

Yanagiya Anzu Oil

I first bought this Yanagiya Anzu (apricot) Oil back in 2012 before I left Japan, only to give it away upon getting home. So having finished up the copy-cat ABS Tsubaki Abura 100% Camellia Oil, I picked up another bottle along with Anzu Oil Hair Treatment Water (not sure if I'll ever to this hair water, since Oshima Tsubaki Hair Water will likely last me through to the next year).

Bottle bought in 2012.

Bottle bought in 2015.