Nivea Sun Protect Plus UV Creamy UV Essence SPF50+ PA++++

Just finished this 50g tube of Nivea Sun Protect Plus UV Creamy UV Essence SPF50+ PA++++ so here's a review for it.

Note this is the 2015 formula in the white tube and bottle (top row) and has been discontinued, replaced by the 2016 formula in blue tube and bottle (bottom row). There's also a new Mild formula that's alcohol-free in the mint green bottle (bottom row), which I'll review when I get to it.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel SPF50+ PA++++

Update Monday, July 18, 2016.

A couple of recent encounters at the drugstore:

1. The big size of both this Watery Gel as well as the Watery Essence new formula with SPF50+ PA++++. I bought both for hubby as he loves the lighter gel for the summer and the slightly more moisturizing essence for the fall and winter.


2. The limited edition "Cool-type" formula for both the Watery Gel and Essence. Bought the Cool-type Watery Gel for my sister. Like hubby, she prefers the lighter formula, and she also likes the tingling, cooling sensation from the added menthol, which I don't (I don't like anything unnecessary in my sunscreen).

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Original post Tuesday, December 1, 2015.

Hubby has been a fan of Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50+ PA+++ since we discovered it back in 2012. Given my oily t-zones, it didn't work for me at all but was great for him with normal skin. Three years later and he's game to try something slightly new, this 90mL bottle of Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel SPF50+ PA++++ ^.^

Canmake Lip & Cheek Gel SPF24 PA+

I'm not sure why, but it took forever for these Canmake Lip & Cheek Gel SPF24 PA+ to show up at the drugstores in my neighborhood. I didn't see them around until December of last year, with some stores not getting them in until January of this year! By then, I'd already gone elsewhere for them--Rakuten!

There were 3 colors released initially, 01 Strawberry Mousse, 02 Apple Mango Parfait, and 03 Raspberry Float, with 04 Blood Cranberry being limited edition. That said, as of this spring, 04 was brought back (by popular demand?) and is now in the permanent line-up. There's also a brand new color just released: 05 Cherry Fromage, which I probably won't see in stores for a few months. Sigh.

All pictures taken in natural light without flash. Clickable = zoom-able.

Canmake Cream Cheek Part VI + Clear Series

Finally, the newest installment of the Canmake Cream Cheek: a 14 Apple Cream Red in the regular line which I'd hunted down last fall, and a CL08 Clear Cute Strawberry in the Clear Series released this past spring.

All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

Lupicia Tea

So...living in Japan for the third time means it's time to get into a Japanese-brand tea, as in Lupicia Tea. Ha. I like Nihoncha (Japanese tea, 日本茶) and other traditional teas too, but most of the time I prefer my milk and sugar with tea. Oh woops, did I just say that out loud?

I've known of Lupicia for a long time. When hubby and I were in Yokohama back in 2010, there was a branch in the Yokohama Station we used to walk by all the time. I stopped by a few times back then but was unwilling to try new things. When we were living in San Francisco, there was even a branch downtown (unfortunately closed now, according to the official Lupicia USA online store...) but I didn't care much for it back then either. Now our nearest location is on the B2 floor of the Ginza Printemps.

Below's my collection so far, which I'm afraid will only grow given the seasonal releases. I started out with these 6 tins--I hate that they're round, by the way, quite difficult to store, but this is my only complaint when it comes to Lupicia.

Mizuho Brush

I'd been curious to try a Mizuho (瑞穂) Brush, so when Citrine reviewed hers I mentioned I was tempting to get the pink pencil brush myself. And then what do you know, a few months later, that very brush arrived in a small swap along with the Butter London Cheeky Cream Blush Ruby Murray and two L'Oreal Paris Infallibles in 556 Smoldering Plum and 800 Bottomless Java. Thank you, Citrine! ^.^

 

Tabibijin Super Hyaluronic Acid Lotion

Having finished up Kokutousei Moisturizing Lotion, I started using this 150mL bottle of Tabibijin Super Hyaluronic Acid Lotion. It came in a set along with the Super Hyaluronic Milk, which I'm almost done with also. 

Three Flash Performance Eyeliner Pencil

Finally, finally, finally got around to using my Three Flash Performance Eyeliner Pencils. The thing is, I've already swatched them with the store's indoor lighting and did all the ooohs and ahhhs. I even described their colors and whatnot, so this post is pretty much to confirm the obvious that these eyeliners are awesome and I love them. 

All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter

Picked up this 90mL/2.7fl. oz. of The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter thinking it was a cleansing cream. Turns out it's a cream-to-oil cleanser. Oops.

Quick rant on the packaging: it sucks. I wonder why they think it'd be a good idea to put a cream-to-oil cleanser in a wide and flat round container with a twist cap. Because it's really hard to open, and then once the stuff got onto your hand, it's impossible to close. What's the logic here? I don't get it!

Lunasol Shinjuku Isetan Exclusive Feathery Smoky Eyes and Full Glamour Lips Swatches

So I happened to be in Shinjuku yesterday and decided to stop by Isetan to see if they have store samples of the Lunasol 2016 fall collection. To my luck (or misfortune, depends how you look at it), they did.

Of course the first thing I asked to see was the exclusive Feathery Smoky Eyes EX01 and Full Glamour Lips EX08. I nearly drooled when I saw them--they're gorgeous, though be forewarned, they both are also very warm-toned, reminiscent of autumn's orange-red. Seasonally appropriate, I suppose, but not for everyone.

Feathery Smoky Eyes EX01 and Full Glamour Lips EX08. All pictures taken in indoor lighting without flash. Click to zoom.