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.

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter Part III

Ulta offered a decent GWP back in May, just the right excuse I need to pick up the 4 new Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter as well as the Nivea Lip Butters I spotted from Citrine.

Ulta GWP May 2013. All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter Part II

I finally finally got to the rest of my Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter ^.^ So far, I've collected 18, with the exception of 30 Fig Jam (too brown) and 60 Gumdrop (too pale), plus the 4 new colors, which I will post next.

I have already reviewed 001 Pink Truffle, 025 Peach Parfait, 045 Cotton Candy, 050 Berry Smoothie, 070 Cherry Tart, and 085 Sugar Plum in detail, along with their texture and wear, etc., so there will only be color descriptions in this post. I will say, though, that there are many colors in this batch that are just utterly unwearable for me. It's too bad, but I expected this, sort of. After all, it's a range of 20 colors and some are bound to clash, but I guess I was hoping to be able to wear more. Oh well.

Lancome Creme Douceur Cream-to-Oil Massage Cleanser

Almost through with this 60mL/2fl oz. deluxe GWP tube of Lancome Creme Douceur Cream-to-Oil Massage Cleanser. Having been introduced in summer 2011, it was promoted as a part of the Nordstrom Spring 2012 Cheek GWP. However, I'd been away until fall 2012 and couldn't get around to using it until now. Oh well.

Despite the prevalence of oil cleansers in Asia, they've only come around to main stream American consumers within the past few years and even then, quite slowly. I do admit that the stigma of "oil" as something "icky" and problem-causing is pretty hard to dispel. In my own case, it took me a year in Japan to work up the nerve to try an oil cleanser. My first was DHC Deep Cleansing Oil back in the fall of 2007 and it was only with the Oil Cleansing Method the year after that my fear of oil was gone for good. Since then, my religious daily use of Japanese sweat and water resistant sunscreens has a huge role cementing my loyalty to the oil cleanser camp. So a cream-to-oil cleanser from Lancome? Bring it.

The Nordstrom Spring 2012 Cheek came with Renergie Lift Volumetry 15g, Volumetry Eye 7g, both of which went to my mum, Color Design Lipstick in Fashion Icon, this Creme Douceur Cream-to-Oil Massage Cleanser, Visionnaire Advanced Skin Corrector 7mL (will review next!), and Tonique Radiance 50mL/1.7fl oz. Despite what the screencap lists, I received slightly different items my GWP, not that I'm complaining, mind you ^.^

***Screencap via Nordstrom.com.

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.

Japantown, San Francisco Part II (Picture heavy!)

A long overdue follow up for SF Japantown, since these pictures were taken back in April-May T.T

I'm loathed to say this, but the Japanese food at Japantown leaves little to be desired. How ironic that it's Japantown, and you would think there are things reminiscent of Japan food wise. But nope. What you see may resemble Japanese food in appearance, and with the exception of a couple of okay places, the rest are either meh or down right disgusting.

Canmake Candy Wrap Lip Part III

I was so excited to add to my collection of Canmake Candy Wrap Lips the 2 newest colors 10 Mauve Bonbon and 11 Fleur Honey. However, not being in Japan means not seeing these in person, which means I have no idea what I'm getting, which means there will be some hit and miss involved.

All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Cheek Tint

These Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Cheek Tints are sad, long-forgotten, and neglected victims of my moving about for the past few years. They were updated, and much improved I must add, version of the much crappier Beauty Rush Pool Party Lip & Cheek Pop, all of which dried out within a mere 6 months' time even with my meticulous care in storage. I originally bought them just to see how they would fare in comparison to the older version, but I never got around to even open them up and try :( In other words, these are now very old, long discontinued and no longer available, and this post is more of a "tribute" than a review.

From left to right: Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Cheek Tint Just Peachy, Mon Cherry, and I Pink I Can. All pictures taken in natural light without flash unless otherwise noted.

The Body Shop Lily Cole Lip & Cheek Dome

I was eyeing these limited edition The Body Shop Lily Cole Lip & Cheek Dome for a long time, since they came out last spring! But of course, I was in Japan at the time and couldn't get them until I moved home in the fall, by which point they were on sale, which I guess made the wait somewhat worth while? ^.^'

Unfortunately, as soon as I received them, I very much regretted getting them. I had seen pictures online but couldn't really picture the actual bulkiness of the packaging until I held them in my hands. You see, the product protrudes at the top and is housed in a curved cylinder, roughly two-inch from the bottom to the top of the twist-off clear domed cap, and 1.5-inch in diameter. The packaging makes them quite bulky and difficult to store or carry :(

20 Pinch Me Pink (left) and 21 Crazy for Coral (right). All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39, San Francisco (Picture heavy!)

After afternoon tea at The Rotunda, we walked through Chinatown again before hopping on the historic cable car, the Powell-Mason line, to head down to Fisherman's Wharf. 

The cable car was totally awesome! If you are ever in SF you should try it at least once. There are 3 lines: Powell-Mason, Powell-Hyde, and California. The Powell-Mason line goes to and from Market/Powell streets and Fisherman's Wharf. The Powell-Hyde line also goes to and from Market/Powell streets and the Aquatic Park at Ghiradelli Square, east of Fisherman's Wharf. Basically, both Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde lines will take you north-south to the pier and back. The California line goes east-west from Van Ness Avenue, through Chinatown, and the Financial District.