Cure Natural Aqua Gel

This Cure Natural Aqua Gel was all the rage when I was in Japan. Not only it was pricey for a peeling gel (2,650JPY/250g pump bottle), it was always sold out at my local drugstore. There was always some kind of info-mercial about it on TV, with ladies gushing about how awesome it is. Of course I was curious what the hype was all about, but at the time I was preoccupied with Tabibijin Tea Peeling Gel, which lasted for a long long time. So I didn't get around to buying this Cure one until right before going home. I bought mine in a 2-pack via Amazon JP, which does have better pricing if you're curious yourself and you live in Japan ^.^ (I'm not affiliated!)

My Favorite Mannan Gel Peeling

Can you believe it took me a year and a half to finish my bottle of Tabibijin Tea Peeling Gel?!? And I was using it liberally too, 3 pumps once a week for face, neck, and décolletage! Before I left Japan, I seriously thought about getting another bottle, but as I huffed and puffed through the last of it, I was actually glad I didn't buy more. Despite having thoroughly enjoyed using it, I was just as happy to finally be rid of it LOL!

This 5.1oz/145g bottle of My Favorite Mannan Gel Peeling was its replacement. I've been using 2-3 pumps of it weekly since January and have only gotten through, umm, may be a fifth. Argh. At this rate it's probably going to take me another one and half year!!!

Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Peeling Gel

I first read about Robin Niu from Rouge Deluxe's Kose's Talk Show with Niu Er post. At the time, I was one week away from moving to Japan and trying a new Taiwanese brand was the last thing on my mind. But I'm in Taipei now and seeing Niu Er's skincare brands everywhere naturally makes me curious. Since I needed a peeling gel at the time, and Watsons was (and perhaps still) having this promotion for buy one get one *almost* free (see below), I picked up this Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Peeling Gel to try. 

Super Aqua Detoxifying Peeling Gel

I got this Missha Deluxe Sampler back in the late spring/early summer and even after several trips, both within (Shizuoka, Nikko) and outside of Japan (Seattle, and a few home visits), I still haven't finished the 20mL tube of Super Aqua Detoxifying Peeling Gel in the set! 

Missha Deluxe Sampler

Left to right: travel sizes of Super Aqua Detoxifying Peeling Gel (20mL), Deep Cleansing Oil (18mL), Luminous Color Lip Gloss (2.5g), Perfect Cover B.B. Cream #23 (10mL), and B.B. Boomer (10mL).

Tabibijin Tea Peeling Gel

My sister and I bought this Tabibijin Tea Peeling Gel sort of on a whim after trying it at Oedo Onsen back in December.

Growing up in the land of facial scrubs, the common peeling gels in Asia are unfamiliar to me, which makes the purchase of this Tea Peeling Gel even more of an impulse buy ringing in at 2,100yen (about $25) a bottle. But my sister and I both tried it at the onsen and it was interesting, and plus there was a 3-pack for 4,200yen, which is like getting bottle for free. So we bought it, me one, her one, and one for our mum ^.^

Good thing this 3-pack is also available Tabibijin website (in Japanese), because I started using this peeling gel weekly about 2 months ago and am now considering buy backups. In short, I like it. A lot.

Laneige Strawberry Yogurt Peeling Gel

Laneige Strawberry Yogurt Peeling Gel is actually a very misleading name. To make it worse, it was categorized as a mask. When I first saw it, I immediately thought of those peel off masks, only this one would be strawberry yogurt scented. Sounds yummy, right?



I guess I was so excited I bought it before reading the how-to-use instructions carefully, and it turns out to be an exfoliating scrub instead :( Not that I don't like scrubs, but I was really disappointed when I realized I wasn't going to get to peel anything off my face. The instructions on Sasa.com says to:
- Apply an amount of 2 cm in diameter to clean and dry face
- Massage for 1 minute then rinse off with warm water
- Use 1 - 2 times a week



What I found interesting is that the peeling gel itself isn't exactly a gel. It's more like a pudding in texture with fleshy pinkish granules that are supposed to disappear during the massaging process. The strangest part is that as soon as you start massaging the gel onto your face, the gel starts to ball up and becomes like a grainy scrub, all the while the pinkish granules disappear! The only thing I kind of don't like about the gel is that the scent leans more towards the yogurt rather than the strawberry, i.e., the scent is a bit too yogurty and sour for my taste. Either way, my skin was really soft and well moisturized afterwards, so I guess it works well.