Lupicia Tea Part II

More Lupicia Tea hoards, both from Tokyo as well as from the Lupicia USA online store. J. and I "discovered" a few new favorites in the spring of 2016, and thank goodness the USA online store does carry many of these. I'd be upset if they didn't!

Coffret D'Or Premium Stay Rouge Comparison Swatches

Just this past March, Coffret D'Or released a brand new line of lipsticks, Purely Stay Rouge currently with 8 colors and 4 more set to be released in June. I've seen the swatches at Cosme.net and they all look sheer and translucent, just like every other Japanese lipstick out there. Bleh. What's the point?

I do wonder whether the new formula is any better than that of Premium Stay Rouge, but the new square tube packaging looks bigger and bulkier for sure.

Packaging: Purely Stay vs. Premium Stay.

***Photo from this Japanese blog.

DHC Medicated Hand Cream

Yes, it's getting warmer, but I had to bust out this 60g tube of DHC Medicated Hand Cream for the silliest reason.

As you've probably heard, pregnant ladies visit the loo more often than anyone would ever want to. I'm going on 37 weeks now (time flies!) and let's just say washing my hands 40+ times a day in an already super dry climate really takes its toll. My poor cuticles are ragged and bleeding, and my knuckles are all cracked and peeling :( Despite the warmer weather, I need a thick and effective hand cream that does more than just grease up my mitts. 

Coffret D'Or Rouge Essence Comparison Swatches

These Coffret D'Or Rouge Essence have disappeared from Coffret D'Or's official website, which I take to mean they've been discontinued and are gone for good. They haven't had any new colors for a long time now anyway.

So here's my tiny collection of four colors, RD-198, RD-204, RD-208, and RS-282. There were more colors available when I was still in Tokyo, but none of them really interested me. I preferred the mostly jelly and cream-jelly formulas for the Premium Stay Rouge anyway. Enjoy the swatches :)

All pictures taken in natural light without flash. Click to zoom.

DHC Olive Hand Cream

Finished this 55g/1.9oz. tube of DHC Olive Hand Cream a while back so here's a super short review for it.

I had this cream on my nightstand, and I put some on nightly right before going to bed. As noted on DHC's USA website, this cream is indeed unscented, however I thought it was rather greasy and seemed to just sit on top of my skin. As in it felt okay after application, but as soon as I washed my hand it was gone. Even more frustrating was that my hand felt just as dry and rough the next morning, as if I hadn't put anything on the night before. Will not repurchase.

On the other hand, I've started using another tube of DHC Medicated Hand Cream, this one I bought in Tokyo, and it's marvelous. Will review next.

Odacite Facial Serum Concentrate

Received a tiny vial of this Odacite Facial Serum Concentrate in Gt+L (Green Tea Lemongrass Radiance Effect, under the Devitalized column) from a Beauty Habit GWP a while back and finally got around to using it now.

This is a "booster," a product I've been seeing more and more of, most recently with Clarins. What you do is add a few drops into your daily dose of toner, mist, moisturizer, serum, or even makeup base or foundation for an extra boost. Some boosters can be used alone by themselves as intense treatments, like these Odacite ones, others are too concentrated and not recommended as stand-alone treatments and must be diluted with something else, like the Clarins ones.

Aritaum Shine Fix Eyes Part II

So...they released new colors for Aritaum Shine Fix Eyes and the new colors look rather interesting ^.^ I went ahead and picked up 29 Romantic Garden, 30 Pink Whale, 31 Play Mode, 34 Brown Market, and 35 Lazz Lounge, skipping 32 Mambo Mood and 33 Candy Glow because they're too red, at least they look that way from stock photos and online swatches.

***Stock photo from the interweb.

All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

Sonia Kashuk Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Colour

In the same swap that Caty sent me Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipstick 10 潤朱 (Urumishu), she generously added this Sonia Kashuk Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Colour in 23 Sheer Juicy Coral also. Thank you again, Caty!

I've read lots of raves for this makeup line available at Target but I haven't tried any. So this is my first SK product and I was totally thrilled to try it.

All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

Mara Hoffman for Sephora Collection Kaleidescape Tinted Lip Balm

This Mara Hoffman for Sephora Collection Kaleidescape Tinted Lip Balm in Wilderberry was a cart filler (what I really wanted was a set of mini L'Occitane hand creams in LE tubes) ^.^

The Mara Hoffman for Sephora Collection came out summer of 2016. There were other items but none interested me as the lip balm does. I even looked up the lip balm just to make sure it won't be a disaster. The reviews were overwhelmingly positive, so I figured it can't be that bad. And plus it comes in an environmentally friendly paper tube with a pretty geometric print. Sure, into my cart it went.
 
All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

Suqqu Extra Glow Lipstick Comparison Swatches

Here's my growing collection of Suqqu Extra Glow Lipstick, missing a few new spring releases which I suspect I won't be able to get to for a while.

I'm really happy that Suqqu has been releasing bright colors for this lipstick line. I feel the Creamy Glows, Creamy Glow Moists, and the Bright Ups have too many neutrals, nudes, and my-lips-but-betters. These Extra Glows are actually differentiating themselves among other Suqqu lipsticks, which is great!

Top row: 03 粋桃 (Suitou) Aquatic Pink, 04 彩珊瑚 (Ayasango) Bright Coral, 05 冴杏 (Saeanzu) Orange Red, and 06 紅茜 (Beniakane) Madder Red.
Bottom row: 07 瞬朱 (Syunake) True Red, 09 宵果実 (Yoikajitsu) Deep Midnight Berry, 10 映華 (Haebana) Blooming Pink, and EX-03 蜜柘榴 (Mitsuzakuro) Juicy Bordeaux.
All pictures taken in natural light without flash. Click to zoom.