Uriage Eau Thermale Water Sleeping Mask

Been using this 50mL/1.7fl. oz. jar of Uriage Eau Thermale Water Sleeping Mask in conjunction with my recent obsession Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Memory Sleep Mask, taking turn using each every other night.

Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Memory Sleep Mask

So I'm obsessed with sleeping masks at the moment, and I blame this 15mL/0.5fl. oz. freebie jar of Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Memory Sleep Mask that I got from LookFantastic when I placed an order a short while ago. Let's just say I've since hoarded a few full size jars. Even more impressive is that hubby shares them with me and he loves this stuff as much as I do, and it's no small feat to convert him.  

Honestly, celebrity dermatologist, cosmetic surgeons, chemist brands and other name-brands just make me roll my eyes. Worse, I don't have a good impression of sleeping masks. Many years (like, more than a decade) ago, I used jar after jar of the super popular Laneige Water Sleeping Pack as well as other Korean sleeping masks but totally didn't get what the big deal was, and thus haven't bothered with any mask since, sleeping or wash-off or sheet or otherwise. I already have so little time to do anything, why waste it on masks? Plus I'm lazy :P For all the time and efforts that masks require, I felt the return just wasn't worth it, because I didn't and still don't get how a sleeping mask differs with a really good night cream. Any freebie mask I received over the past decade+, I immediately gave away.

Estee Lauder Nutritious Vitality8 Radiant Energy Mist

I decided I hate the whiff of alcohol from the Estee Lauder Nutritious Vitality8 Night Radiant Overnight Detox Concentrate enough to put it away in favor of this lighter, and much better smelling, 30mL/1fl. oz. spray bottle of Nutritious Vitality8 Radiant Energy Mist.

Avene Thermal Spring Water

Stumbled upon a great bundle for Avene Thermal Spring Water sprays, five 50mL bottles for 2,000JPY. For comparison, Beauty Habit offers three 50mL bottles for $18, and here I got five bottles for $16! Scored! So of course I grabbed one set for myself and another for J. who was looking for some sort of hydrating spray for the plane rides.

Clinique Moisture Surge Intense

Both hubby and I are a fan of Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief, so when there was a 15mL Moisture Surge Intense deluxe sample in a GWP, I jumped for it. This GWP also included the Repairwear Laser Focus, All About Eyes Serum, and Chubby Stick 04 Mega Melon review previously.

Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray

Happy New Year!!!

I got this freebie 30mL/1fl oz. Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray also in 2012, although I don't remember from where. I was thrilled when I got it though, because I've been wanting to try this spray since it came out! I also brought this with me on my short trip as one of the layering products.

This is pretty much a light layer of oil-free and unscented hydration. After Astalift Jelly Aquarysta, SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion and Essence, I sprayed this on, let dry, then apply a light serum or essence (Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus, will review next), then seal in with a light moisturizer (Phytomer Hydra Original Thirst-Relief Melting Cream, will also review next).

VivoDerm Natural Skincare Facial Toner

This 120mL/4.4fl oz. VivoDerm Natural Skincare Facial Toner is from the Dermstore Fall 2012 Super Luxe Grab Bag #4. I guess the element of surprise is the best part about those mystery grab bags, because I've never heard of this brand before and probably would have never gone out of my way to seek them out and try their products.

Olay AquaAction Long Lasting Hydration Gel TW

Picked up this 50g jar of Olay AquaAction Long Lasting Hydration Gel at Watsons in Taipei (hence the TW) with hubby in mind. He was a fan of the long-discontinued Lancome Aqua Fusion line. Way back in the mid 2000's when I still using both the non-SPF as well as the SPF versions of the creams and lotions, he would mooch the non-SPF cream from me every night until I get him his own jar. Then Lancome discontinued this line and he moved on to Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief, then SkinFood Lettuce & Cucumber Water Jelly Cream after he grew bored of Clinique.

Lancome Visionnaire Advanced Skin Corrector

Had 2 of these 7mL sample bottles of Lancome Visionnaire Advanced Skin Corrector through various GWP promotions, one of which landed me the Creme Douceur Cream-to-Oil Massage Cleanser deluxe trial tube!

The promotion also came with the Tonique Radiance 50mL/1.7oz. which I still haven't gotten around to try yet!

Shiseido Pureness Balancing Softener

Finished this 150mL/5fl oz. Shiseido Pureness Balancing Softener almost two weeks ago so it's time to review. I was in the market for a toner when I picked it up along with The Skincare Hydro-Balancing Softener during Shiseido Skincare Bonus event last fall. I chose them over the few other Shiseido toner options because both are alcohol free.

***Screencap from Shiseido USA.

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence Part II

Back in early May, after accidentally discovering the winning combination of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, Facial Treatment Clear Lotion, and Astalift Jelly Aquarysta works really well for my skin I immediately took it to the internet to restock my supply of SK-II.

Of all the online options, ironically I found buying directly from Japan was most economical, even with international shipping. It's not that the US retailers were marking them up - they actually retail for cheaper here when you consider the exchange rates! It's more like Japanese (and Taiwanese, Korean, HK, Singaporean, etc.) retailers often bundle gift sets with full size purchases, so in paying full retail, I also get more than just the full size item. And I don't know about other places, but gift set bundles are available year round in Japan, though of course they get super crazy around special events and holidays.

***Screencaps from Isetan JP.

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 1

I have a few of these 30mL/1fl oz. bottles of Clinique Clarifying Lotion 1 and have been taking them with me on travels here and there in the past year. I've been meaning to review these, but keep forgetting :( Clarifying Lotion 1 is the second mildest toner from Clinique, after the Mild Clarifying Lotion, both marketed towards very dry to dry skin. The only difference is the that the Mild lotion is alcohol-free, and this Lotion 1 contains alcohol.

Shiseido The Skincare Hydro-Balancing Softener

Almost done with this full size bottle of Shiseido The Skincare Hydro-Balancing Softener. I bought this to try when Shiseido was having a nice promotion last fall that came with a miniature Revitalizing Essence in an 8mL square red glass bottle. They had another similar promotion earlier this year and got me to buy a couple more things also. I'm a total sucker, I know -.-'

***Screencap from Shiseido USA.

Cle de Peau Beaute Intensive Facial Contour Serum

Been using this 4mL 0.13oz. tube of Cle de Peau Beaute Intensive Facial Contour Serum for a month now after finally finished up the burnt-rubber smelling DDF Amplifying Elixir. This was a part of an older set of samples from E(vil)bay, which I bought solely for the cute little glass bottles the Gentle Nourishing Emulsion as well as the Gentle Balancing Lotion came in ^.^

This sample set (left) includes, from left to right, the Gentle Balancing Lotion 15mL/0.5fl oz., Gentle Cleansing Foam 10mL/0.38oz., this Intensive Facial Contour Serum 4mL/0.13oz., and Gentle Nourishing Emulsion 6mL/0.20fl oz.

DDF Amplifying Elixir

Got this 15mL deluxe sample of DDF Amplifying Elixir from the Ulta Spring 2012 GWP and been using it for the past month. This is a serum and is supposed to go on after toner but before moisturizers. It's supposed to help the skin absorb whatever goes on next, maximizing its benefits.

Spring 2012 GWP

***Screenshot via Ulta.com.

Caudalie VinoSource S.O.S Thirst-Quenching Serum

I love getting samples with online orders. That was how I ended up with several of these small 1mL pouches of Caudalie VinoSource S.O.S Thirst-Quenching Serum that I've been using for a few weeks now after finishing the previous sample of L'Oreal Age Perfect Hydra-Nutrition Advanced Skin Repair Daily Serum (what a mouthful!).

My typical packet of samples from a Caudalie order ^.^ I usually pick my favorite Pulp Vitaminee Eye and Lip Cream (the skinny green capped tube), which lasts at least 2 weeks and is perfect for travel, the Deep Cleansing Exfoliator (chubbier tube), which I will review soon, and this VinoSource Serum.

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence

Yep, it's time to share some humble opinion on this so touted the "miracle water" that is the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. This is the 75mL bottle I got from the same Aeon August Starter Set, and previously I posted a review for the Facial Treatment Clear Lotion, which is supposed to be used in conjunction with this essence for "best results."

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence 75mL

The August SK-II Starter Set I have comes with:

- Facial Cotton 90 sheets

- Facial Treatment Mask 1 sheet
- Facial Treatment Clear Lotion 40mL
- Skin Signature Cream 2.5g
- Facial Treatment Essence 75mL

SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion

I can't believe it's a week into November already!!! That makes it 3.5 months since I started using the SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion and this review is way overdue! This is the 40mL trial bottle I got from Aeon Shop's August Starter Set.

Each of the Starter Set goes for 6,720yen (~ US$85), however their calculated retail value differs each time since they feature a different sample product. The August set I bought has a calculated retail value of 12,252yen since it comes with a 2.5g sample of the Skin Signature Cream.

Aeon's August SK-II Starter Set: 

- Cotton 90 sheets

- Facial Treatment Mask 1 sheet
- Facial Treatment Clear Lotion 40mL
- Skin Signature Cream 2.5g
- Facial Treatment Essence 75mL

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2

I have been using this Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2 off and on since college, when my skin was much more oily and not dry combination as it is now. I picked the Lotion 2 over the Lotion 3 or 4 because, well, they scared me. Lotion 2 is chock full of alcohol as it is, with alcohol being the very first ingredient! Crazy, isn't it? This was the reason I stopped using it after going through a few bottles, first trying out the alcohol-free Mild Lotion for a while before losing interest in Clinique toners altogether. 

SK-II Starter Sets via Aeon Shop

I've been curious about SK-II for a long time, six years or so, ever since they brought Cate Blanchett on as a brand spokesmodel. Excellent move, in my humble opinion, at least it caught my attention and I usually don't even look at the ads in the magazine. Cate Blanchett perfectly embodies grace and elegance, and if that is what SK-II is aiming for, well, bullseye! The down side is that in all these years, I haven't seen SK-II offering any kind of trial or travel sets, at least not for the American market, and I wasn't about to drop some serious dough for full sizes of something I've never tried before.

Fast forward several years, and I totally forgot about SK-II. Gee, there are only about a gazillion other lovely cosmetics and skincare products out there to keep me occupied, and until I read about SK-II Facial Treatment Essence and Clear Lotion on one of Yumeko's Friday photo memes, it didn't occur to me that SK-II is a Japanese brand and, well, heeeeeeey, I was also in Japan! Yeah, talk about a duh moment. Somehow, all the ads I saw on TV, in the magazines, at the mall, etc. for SK-II promotion sets and trial kits just didn't register within the past 2 years. Double duh moment. I guess Japan was a bit of a sensory overload, even if I was none the wiser xD

Aeon SK-II Starter Set with 2.5g sample of Skin Signature Cream

The newer Aeon SK-II Starter Set with 7mL sample of Cellumination Essence EX