Cle de Peau Beaute Gentle Cleansing Foam

Update Friday, March 1, 2013.

Along with the sample set containing Cle de Peau Beaute Gentle Protective Emulsion SPF20 (the US version), I also bought an older set with another 10mL 0.38oz of the Gentle Cleansing Foam, both from E(vil)bay. Judging from various internet sources, I am guessing this set is from around 2010, if not older. Their outer and inner packaging looks very different than the presumably newer set, since those have identical inner packaging as the Japanese versions from the Cle de Peau Beaute Glow Fall 2012 Mook. If you're wondering why I would knowingly buy older skincare samples when I already got a newer set, well, I bought them for the adorable little glass bottles the Gentle Balancing Lotion and Gentle Nourishing Emulsion (for night use) came in xD

The older sample set (left) includes, from left to right, Gentle Balancing Lotion 15mL/0.5fl oz. (using right now, will review next), this Gentle Cleansing Foam 10mL/0.38oz., Intensive Facial Contour Serum 4mL/0.13oz., and Gentle Nourishing Emulsion 6mL/0.20fl oz. (also using currently, will review next), versus the newer set (right) with Cleansing Cream 9mL/0.29oz., another Gentle Cleansing Foam 6mL/0.23oz., Gentle Protective Emulsion SPF20 5mL/0.16fl oz., and another Gentle Balancing Lotion 12mL/0.40fl oz.

Cle de Peau Beaute Gentle Protective Emulsion SPF20

When I was using the Cle de Peau Beaute Gentle Protective Emulsion SPF25 PA++, I noticed, and subsequently noted in my review, that Cle de Peau Beaute also has a crazy expensive, though super nice sunscreen (or so I've read), but that the US version has entirely different ingredients than the Japanese/Asian version. Since I was using the Japanese version of the Protective Emulsion, and it had some, albeit wimpy, sun protection, I wondered if that meant there is a different US version for it also.

Well, guess what, there is - this Gentle Protective Emulsion SPF20 - the note the weaker SPF and the absence of the PA rating. I actually grabbed this 5mL/0.16fl oz. tube in a sample set off of E(vil)bay because I wasn't about to drop $130 just for kicks, but a few bucks to satisfy my curiosity is okay ^.^ E(vil)bay being what it is, and I can't be sure how old these samples are. That said, since their inner packaging look exactly like the fresh Japanese counterparts from 2012, I think these probably can't be any older than 2011. I'm saying that because I also bought an older set of samples, probably from around, or even before, 2010 and those have different inner and outer packaging altogether!

The sample set includes, from left to right, Cleansing Cream 9mL/0.29oz., Gentle Cleansing Foam 6mL/0.23oz., this Gentle Protective Emulsion SPF20 5mL/0.16fl oz., and Gentle Balancing Lotion 12mL/0.40fl oz.


The US version (top row) has English on the back (duh?), versus the Japanese version (bottom row).

Aqualabel White Clear Foam

On one hand, I feel like short trips are perfect for trying out travel sized items. On the other, I know trying some brand new on my dry and sometimes fickle skin when I'm away from home is really kind of, umm, crazy. Or should I say stupid? Or both? Didn't stop me this time with Aqualabel White Clear Foam though (or any other time in the past, either...) xD

From the Meizhuang (美妝, Beauty) issue of FashionGuide Magazine TW, Fall 2012 Vol. 25, I got some nice freebies with a localized 50mL/1.7fl oz. bottle of Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Body Cream, Toms Whitening Renewal Mask which went to my mum, and a set of localized (as in made in Taiwan) Aqualabel White samples, which has 2 packets each of this White Clear Foam 2g, White Up Lotion S (Refreshing) 2mL, and White Up Emulsion S (Refreshing) 2mL. 

KenetMD Body Lotion

This KenetMD Body Lotion was part of the Hair and Body Care Travel Set I was using during a recent week-long stay at a hotel.

KenetMD Hair and Body Care Travel Set, which includes Shampoo, Conditioner, and this Body Lotion, 1fl oz./30mL each. 

KenetMD Shampoo and Conditioner

Being in town I was called in to help out at a big conference my company hosted two weeks ago. Due to the early mornings and late nights, I ended up staying at the conference site because the commute to and from home would be too much of a pain. When I got to my hotel room, I was pleasantly surprised to find a trio of hair and body care products from a brand I've never heard of before - KenetMD. I don't know many skincare and cosmetic brands out there, but in my experience it's usually something more recognizable like L'Occitane, The Body Shop, etc. So despite having brought my own toiletries, I spent my whole stay using these up anyway. Can you tell the tubes pictured are all empty? ^.^

These are convenient TSA-friendly travel size of 1fl oz./30mL each of KenetMD Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Lotion (will be reviewed in a separate post).

KenetMD Hair and Body Care Travel Set, and Shampoo (left) and Conditioner (right).

RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum

Been using this full size 0.1fl oz/3mL tube of RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum off and on for the past 2 months. It came from the Dermstore Fall 2012 Super Luxe Grab Bag #4 (mistakenly identified as Bag #1 due to packing list mix up), and good thing it did, because I would never pay $50 for it!

Before we go on with the review, I want to make a couple of things clear. First off, I don't have much lashes. My lashes are short and sparse. My eye brows too, for that matter. Unlike some gals out there, I was not blessed with long lush lashes or thick dark brows. So my philosophy when it comes to my lashes and brows have always been - why bother?!? Seriously, why bother spending so much time and effort (and money) on something I don't have when I can direct all that resources and focus my energy on what I do have? So over the years, mascaras have been the very first samples/freebies I pass on to my family and friends. I have tried a few (Lancome Definicils, Hypnose, Clinique, blah...), but each time I hated how they all weigh down my whole eyes in addition to giving me spider-leg lashes. Ick. Oh yeah, and they run and smear. I just don't get mascaras, period. 

When it comes to eyebrows, it was only after hanging out with my sister in Japan that I picked up her habit of shading the brows. She just uses any dark, matte eye shadow, while I took a shot with Anastasia of Beverly Hills Highlighting Brow Kit and was thankful it worked out. But I was still only shading and did not learn to shape until my recent trip to Taipei. Let's just say hubby, me, and my sister tried our tourist luck with the glamour photography industry there, and I pretty much let the makeup artist did whatever she wanted with my brows. It was an eye opening experience in all senses of the word! My brows, while still thin and light, are now in their best shape ever!

U-Bike Taipei

Very last post on Taipei! 

I walked by this U-Bike Station everyday on Heping East Road and was always curious how it works. It's located right in the intersection of Heping East Road and Shida Road, making it super convenient for tourists and college students alike with the Shida Night Market right down the street as well as the university next door. We also found another rental station at the corner of Zhongxiao East Road and Guangfu South Road (光復南路), I suppose so people can ride their bikes down to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and the Xinyi shopping district where Taipei 101 is.

Hubby and I had imagined a whole day of biking around town on these, but between school and visitors, the next thing we knew Thanksgiving was already around the corner. And then the rain came. God, it rained, and rained, and rained. And it wasn't until right before we left Taipei did the sun came out for, like, a day. 

British Science Formulations Hair Strengthener

Been using this 6fl oz./177mL bottle of British Science Formulations Hair Strengthener for almost 2 months now. I got 2 bottles from the Dermstore Fall 2012 Super Luxe Grab Bag #2 and 4 (Bag #4 was mistakenly identified as Bag #1 due to packing list mix up), but gave one to my mum and only kept one to use.

Dermstore Fall 2012 Super Luxe Grab Bag #2


Dermstore Fall 2012 Super Luxe Grab Bag #4


Funny enough, I had to go over to Blissworld (Bliss's online store) to read about something I got from Dermstore, but according to Bliss, this Hair Strengthener is the 2nd of a 4-step treatment for thinning hair. My hair is not thinning, but who says you have to have thinning hair to use a strengthening treatment? ^.^

NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil

Got this 0.08oz/2.5g mini Nars Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil from the Sephora 2012 Holiday It Kit #2 - Best in Classic, which was one of the nicer GWP during the holiday season. 

I'm very much impressed with this formula. It's not as glossy as my beloved Stila Lip Glaze Sticks, but it's still much glossier than the vast majority of lip pencils I've tried in addition to being more pigmented than Stila. It goes on with a texture identical to my favorite Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick, super smooth and moist, if not a tad thicker and even more buttery, which is quite incredible given the fact that it's a freakin' pencil! 

All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

Coffret D'Or Eye Appeal Shadow Part II

Bought the remaining 2 palettes of Coffret D'Or Eye Appeal Shadows in Taipei also and was using them on and off while visiting my folks, whenever I got bored with Kate Wide Edge Eyes ^.^ 

02 Fairy Pink and 05 Mint Purple. All pictures taken in natural light without flash.