Foot pad healers from Sasa

Footpad Healers

Price : ranging from 1000won to $1.60

Hello, strange. Have you noticed I have an obession with weird beauty things? The foot pad healers are one of my more recent forays into the odd.
I picked up a few,  Kokubo- Aloma in Rose,a Germanium and heating one from Sasa,  and from Daiso, a "Natural Diet" one!

I was Backpacking in Cambodia, so I thought My feet would be sore. So I thought they would be worth a try.

Inside each packet are two little sachets. Inside is a powder/granules. One side being sticky. You peel off the cover, and stick a square on the bottom of each foot.
Then your feet begin to sweat, it's oddly uncomfortable. My feet weren't warm, but I had a strong urge to wash.
After ~10 minutes, the pads have dark spots, where the sweat has soaked into the pads. And then you take them off.

Except for the sweat, they didn't do anything.... I know that they are supposed to make your feet sweat, that's the point, but It's not like they made my feet feel more relaxed, or fresher, or helped with swelling.
They were sweaty then nothing...
It was odd.
The heating one was the best, since it did heat up, which could be nice.

Other wise, I can safely recommend a pass!

Creer Beaute Salt Scrub in Blue?

Creer Beaute Salt Scrub in Blue?

40g

Last time I was ordering things from Sasa, I tossed in a couple of random cheap items. The salt scrub by Creer Beaute was one of them!

It comes in a small packet, filled with a light blue salt scrub.  It’s only about 40g. Really it’s a tiny packet, considering it is a full size product! I could buy a whole bottle of St Ives apricot scrub (150ml!!!) for less!
But that really isn’t that point is it? No one orders stuff from Sasa, or anything from Asia, because of the cost comparison. I could get lots of stuff here cheaper, but the stuff here is boring, or sucks.

So the scrub from Creer beaute…. I was disappointed when I first saw it, I mean it is tiny…. And the package isn’t re-sealable. Maybe it’s supposed to be a one shot sort of thing (probably).

Then it sat in my closet for ages! I guess I was saving it for something special…..

It wasn’t until my nose started peeling like crazy, I’ve started using retinol, and ugh, it makes my skin look gross, all peely and uneven. YUCK!
My St Ive’s wasn’t cutting it, nor was my yogurt scrub from Etude house.
I needed something heavy duty.
Something I wouldn’t normally use on my face.
So I pulled out the little packet from Creer Beauty.

OMG, my nose has NEVER been so smooth. This stuff is hardcore. My nose was so smooth it was shiny!

It was amazing.

The salt scrub has a floral perfume scent, which is pretty strong. It contains large salt granules, that are way too harsh for the face.
It is a really strong scrub, I saved my leftovers, which are perfect for feet, elbows and other problem areas.

In the end, The scrub was really worth the money. It’s a problem solver, not an everyday product, and it keeps just fine in a Ziploc bag!

Kai - Mascara Guard

Kai -Mascara Guard
Price: $4
I love random, weird, and possibly useless beauty tools....  Which is why I bought the Mascara guard.
It's a little plastic tool that is used to prevent mascara from getting on the eyelids.
It also has two different sizes of mascara combs for unclumping....

I thought it might be handy, since I occasionally ruin my makeup by the tips of my lashes, or the mascara brush hitting my upper eye lid.
Especially when I am trying to get my lashes to be as full as possible.

It sounds good in theory. The problem is i have to use one hand for the mascara guard and the other for my mascara. Which is really awkward.....
It's so awkward, that it is just easier to be careful, or at least more careful, when applying mascara.

The only real plus to the tool, are the two mascara combs on the handle.  The two different sizes are good for controlling how the lashes end up looking, a bit spiky and full, or fine individual lashes.

So this is definitely a gimmick tool, and not worth the couple of bucks I paid for it.

Hadalabo - Tamagohada daily foaming cleanser

Hadalabo - Tamagohada daily foaming cleanser
Size: 160ml
Price: 21000won at Olive Young, $12.30 at sasa

Have you heard that BHA is better than AHA for  skin care? I heard that once.... Ever since I jump on products containing BHA.
So of course I had to buy the Hadalabo daily foaming wash. HAD to. It was not optional. *laughs* I am a freak, I know.

I found it in Olive Young, my source for all things Japanese in Korea.
I paid a hefty 21000won for it ($21!!!).  It has since shown up on sasa for only $12.30US. *sobs* I could have bought 2 for that price (Well, almost....)

The ugly packaging is a complete turn off for me.... It's just blue.... So boring!!!! Don't you think??
But I do appreciate the pump, it's hygenic and convient.
Inside the bottle is a liquid, that turns into a foam when you use the pump.
This is something I really like, a foam without aerosols!

Sadly the foam is useless. It doesn't remove make-up well at all. I do use a cleansing oil usually, so this isn't a big deal, and the Hadalabo cleanser does a good job of removing the cleansing oil.
But teh weird thing is, the cleanser really doesn't cleanse....
It starts out as a foam, so it doesn't emulsify. It just sits on the skin until the bubbles dissolve.

I have tried sooo many ways to get the cleanser to work. I have tried, with makeup, without makeup, with cleansing oil, without cleansing oil. Rubbing it with my hands, rubbing it with my silicone face brush, using more, using less, leaving it on while i brush my teeth, washing it off immediately, using it everyday for a week straight.
To no avail. My skin does not feel clean after I use this cleanser.

I don't want a cleanser that makes my skin feel tight, or squeaky clean. I do want a cleanser that doesn't strip my skin. But this cleanser does nothing!!! Nothing!!!!

Shisedo Tsubaki Shampoo and Conditioner

Shisedo Tsubaki Shampoo and Conditioner

Living in Japan was a mess.... At least where my hair was concerned. I worked in a very conservative environment, I had to wear a suit everyday. But my hair refused to be conservative.
It was dreadful, all frizzy, and partly curly, sticking this way and that..... I felt UGLY.
i mean it was bad enough that I felt like I was going to melt, in a full suit in the middle of the summer.
But every morning I would fight with my hair. On optimistic days I would carefully straighten it into a smooth sleek do. Only to have it a frizzy mess by the time I walked the two blocks to the subway station.
On more pessimistic days, I would tie it tidily back, A look which is not particularly flattering for my face shape.
Only to walk to the subway, and Still end up looking like a complete mess.
Then I would get to work, with my gorgeous Japanese co-workers, and feel like an Oaf.

If you have ever been to Japan, you might be familiar with the feeling. (Korea's not like that though).
My co-workers, wonderful people that they are, never commented.

This quite long tirade is leading somewhere.
To my discovery of Shisedo Tsubaki Shampoo and Conditioner.

It was available at just about any drug store. Conveniently at the one nearest my apartment. So one day, when I was about done with one of the other shampoo's I had bought, I picked this set up.
I'm pretty sure I was swayed by the Shisedo name. Though the shampoo and conditioner  were in fact quite inexpensive.

The first time I washed my hair, I noticed a difference. My hair felt soft, but light and free.
Other Japanese hair care had my hair both oily and frizzy.....
This was different. It helped tame my hair, by really moisturizing, but it was very light.

When I straightened my hair, it stayed straighter, and frizzed less.

I love this shampoo and conditioner set. It was so perfect for my hair, facing humidity, then air conditioning. If you are in Japan, or Korea, pick it up. If not, try sasa.com :)

Cosmetex Roland - Eye treatment Cream

Cosmetex Roland - Eye Treatment Cream
Price : Less than $9

This is the second item I've tried from the really inexpensive Japanese Brand ; Cometex Roland.
I was much less disappointed when I opened up the eye treatment cream, than I was with the Face smoother by Cosmetex.
Which is odd, because the Eye treatment cream is quite possibly the most austere product container I have ever seen.
Look at it, it's just white, with it's name.
For some reason, I kind of like it.....
The box the tube came is the opposite though, very designed and shiny.
I think the discordance between the packaging (product versus display), is in part because it is a cheap brand, but I suspect it is an immature brand, still trying to find it's niche.

Inside the white tube is a very simple white cream. Which is dispensed perfectly and sanitarly by the very narrow spout.
I actually love how little product comes out at a time.
Don't you find that most packaging dispenses too much eye cream? And I hate pots of eye cream, it gets under my nails, which is wasteful and unsanitary.

The cream itself is very very light, more a liquid than a cream. It also absorbs quickly and thoroughly.
Not absorbing quickly or thoroughly enough is certainly an issue with a lot of other eye creams (Not a big one, but still...)

As for effectiveness. Its absolutely wonderful.
Well, it is wonderful if what you want is a moisturizing and super light eye cream.

I don't feel it treats dark circles, or fine lines.
But, It is soooo gentle. It has no discernible scent. It also never irritates my delicate eyes.
I think this is a wonderful eye moisturizer.

Cosmetex Roland -Face Smoother

Cosmetex Roland -Face Smoother
Price : ~$15
Size : 130 grams !!!
For a bit of a change in Pace, I shall review some Japanese products. I love Japan, I lived in Kobe for awhile. But since most recently I have been living in Korea, my reviews have mostly been of Korean Products.
But I do have a bit of an addiction to sasa.com
Which is where I found the "face smoother".
I quite enjoy the name. How blunt is that? Sometimes with products from Japan ore Korea, the English name can be quite..... interesting. Like tony moly's 'Egg pore' or Holika 'sugar syrub gloss'

I bought the tub of face smoother from sasa for about $15.

When it arrived, I was kind of disappointed. I mean look at it. The plastic tag that is part of the sanitary seal is kind of cute. I have no idea why there is an animation of the statue of liberty, but I like it.
But look at the actual package..... It's so bland. A plain white tub, with a teal colored sticker....
Blah.

So I open it up,  inside it is a thick white cream, embedded with ex foliating particles. They are small, and fine. Very very similar to At home micro-derm abrasion kits.

And that's precisely what it is, a large pot of microderm abrasion cream.
At first, I used it once or twice, but I was thoroughly unimpressed.

So I put it away, and didn't come back to it until I was on a mission to use up some products. I began using the face smoother often, partly in an attempt to use it up, partly so I didn't have to go out and find a good exfoliant (I was having an awful time finding one I really liked).

And I began to appreciate the face smoother. First it was the scent. Inially it was too lemony, too lemon cleanser.  But it mellowed, and while the scent still is more furniture polish than lemon grass, it's not off puting.
Then I began to notice how well the exfoliating particles rinsed away, and how smooth my face was after wards.

Plus when you consider how little product comes with at home microderm abrasion kits (One of which cost me $20+, versus the face smoother which weighs in at a hefty 130 grams and cost me ~$15. It is in fact a really good buy.

But the real change came when i started to take it in the shower with me.
The water from the shower, melted the product a bit, so it wasn't as thick.
With it thinned out just a bit, it was creamier, and worked better.

It has become my go to exfoliant.
I finally saw beyond the drab packaging, to the really wonderful product inside.

Anessa (Shiseido) – Mild face sunscreen

Anessa (Shiseido) – Mild face sunscreen

SPF 46 PA+++

Price (for full size) 48,000won ($48)

I am madly in love with Anessa sunscreens! They are amazing, and amazingly expensive!
I received a deluxe sample of Anessa mild face sunscreen along with a full size of Anessa Ex.

Surprisingly the Anessa MFS is totally different from the EX or Pearly!!! It’s a runny cream, with a light texture, but it feels nothing like the other Anessa sunscreens! In fact it feels like a regular, chemical sunscreen. So this particular one lacks the qualities that I LOVE in the other Anessa sunscreens.

But on its own, it is lovely. It’s super light, and absorbs into the skin beautifully. It basically just disappears. It does leave my skin soft, but not nearly as soft as the EX.

It doesn’t leave a white cast, and feels very very light, invisible in fact. It also completely lacks a greasy after feeling. Nor does it clog my pores.

It is a really lovely sunscreen, but…. I don’t feel it is worth the price. Most sunscreens are under $20. Even nice expensive ones don’t usually get up to $50, especially considering it only contains only 60ml (for the full size!)
I feel the EX and Pearly are worth it, because they are unlike any other sunscreen I have ever encountered. They are basically in a class of their own. The Mild face sunscreen is lovely, but it’s just an expensive variation on a common theme.

Anessa (Shiseido) – Perfect UV sunscreen EX

Anessa (Shiseido) – Perfect UV sunscreen EX

SPF 50 PA+++

Price 52,000 won ($52)
Size : 60ml

This is the sunscreen I mentioned on my Favorite skincare of 2010. But honestly, this is my favorite sunscreen EVER!!!

I reviewed another Anessa sunscreen – perfect pearly (Which I had bought while living in Japan). EX is similar, it’s just not pearly. I bought it at Olive Young, it’s basically like a Watson’s/Boots/Shoppers, except without the Pharmacy. I’ve only ever seen the stores in Korea, and they sell mostly Japanese (and some foreign items).

It’s my go to place for Japanese things, when I am in Korea (which my boyfriend finds hilarious).

But Olive Young is SO EXPENSIVE! But Anessa was expensive even when I bought it in Japan. *sigh*

Seriously though, if you can afford it, or you have sensitive skin, this sunscreen is worth it.

It is so gentle and lovely. I am certain it’s more like zinc oxide, and physically blocks UV. Rather than the chemical sunscreens you can usually get at the drugstore. I certain that’s why it is so awesome.

Like Anessa's pearly sunscreen, EX comes in a bottle with a small squirt top. There is a bead inside, to mix things up when you shake the bottle. I always shake it before using, but even my old Anessa pearly has never clumped of separated, and it's 3 years old now... (I had a little left and I forgot about it!)

My skin is really sensitive to sunscreen, and sunlight.  Sometimes sunscreen makes me break out in a rash (*euck* I know.) but not Anessa.

 It doesn’t leave a white cast, or clog my pores, or make me sweat(some sunscreens do, it’s really weird).

As you can see from the picture, it is very runny. It's a liquid, not a cream like most sunscreens. It is also super light.
When it dries, it doesn't leave a greasy layer on the skin, like I sometimes find with other products. Instead it dries almost matte. It's odd, because a lot of things that make the skin feel matte are really drying. This isn't. 














It makes the skin feel smooth, and matte, but soft and not at all dry. It reminds me a little of that soft dry feeling of baby powder. But it's not dry or powder.....
The matte finish makes it amazing as a makeup base! It actually helps my makeup last in the hot Korean summer ;D

Best of all makes my skin feel SO soft. Like my skin is brand new. It feels better than after a good exfoliation. It's sooo smooth I find my self stroking my own cheek (*creepy*)
It’s basically magical.

Wonderfully it came in a package with a few freebies! Korean brands are amazing about giving samples, but Japanese brands are hit or miss. If you buy expensive sets, or magazines, sure you get awesome freebies. But I rarely get anything with a single item.

Majolica Majorica

Majolica Majorica - Bk999
Price:

I Love Mascara. I think I might have mentioned that before... Maybe...
This though, it the best, most wonderful mascara ever.
My old stand by, cheap and reliable was covergirls Lash Blast.  I have discovered, that for my lashes a comb, or silicone brush is better than a traditional brush.
But until I picked up the Majolica mascara I wasn't toally sold on the comb. They generally work well, but it's rare to find a mascara that is actually exceptional/
This mascara is exceptional.

The comb despoits color evenly, extending the lash tips, while sperating and thickening. The result after one good swipe, beautiful, thick long lashes.
It only takes a swipe or two to be perfect, any more and clumping will eventually happen, as is true with any mascara.
However, unlike other mascara's you really don't need to keep swiping. Hell, I look like I have false lashes on after two swipes.
It's perfect.
And the mascara formula is both very darkly colored and wet enough that it does dry out, in the tube or on the lash (so no lumps...).

The only fault of the product, is it's staying power. It's intense. The mascara stays on FOREVER! No regualr eyemake up remover is match for it. It's definitely the most difficult to remove mascara I've ever encountered. I have to use a heavy duty mascara remover, and sometimes I will still find traces the next day, or two days later....
But I've cried and sweated, and rubbed my tired eyes in this mascara, and it doesn't budge. It's fail safe.
I love the Majolica Majorica mascara.
Love love love!

Canmake Cream Cheek

Canmake Cream Cheek -
Price 600yen ($6+)Most people familar with Japanese cosmetics will be familar with the drugstore brand Canmake. I generally don't pick up their things, because they always look so tiny for the price. But after hearing that the cream blush is good, and being entranced by the pretty peach color, I picked it up last time I was in Japan. The packaging is really small, it's bigger than a dollar coin, but not by much....
Inside is a dense cream blush.
A dense, BEAUTIFUL blush.

This is my absolute Favorite blush ever! It is just gorgeous. Seriously gorgeous. It's super pigmented, but super blendable. I take the tinest bit on a finger tip, and rub it ontop my cheeks. I can totally build and adjust the amount of color to my liking. 
And oh the color, it's just gorgeous, it's bright, but not too bright, it's sweet but not childish. It's peach but not orange.
It's jsut too beautiful. I'm tempted tp buy 5 and hide them away, in case this color is ever discontinued. It is just that gorgeous. Everyone should have one.

Kate - gel eye liner

Price : 14.95 at alphabeautystore

Size: 2.5g

Not so long ago there were generally only two options for eyeliner, pencil of liquid. For the longest time I used a soft black pencil, creating a smudged eye look rather than a line. I used to like how it looked, but a nice clean line looks so much more posh and professional.

But liquid liners are f*ing hard to use. I now, am more than capable of using one to create a nice even line.

Unless I’m in a hurry, or distracted, or my hand accidentally slips.

At least with a pencil, there is never that much mess…

I’ve been using Kate’s Gel liner for about 2 years now. I’m on my fourth order.

This stuff is wonderful.

Like all gel liners, it creates a finish somewhere between that of a pencil and liquid.  But with total control, and greater flexibility.

The liner is a good dark black. It applies smoothly. The little included brush is of good quality, and applies the liner in a narrow, even line.

And if you screw up, it is pretty easy to fix.

Kate’s liners in particular stay on all day, no flaking, and once dry, eye rubbing/ light crying doesn’t affect it.

I have tried a few other gel liners , but keep going back to kate. It’s lasting power is the best. 

The only issue I have is it dries out pretty quickly. It’s usually unpleasantly dry before I even finish the pot, and I wear the stuff just about every day.

Since I think the dryness of the liner is part of what gives it such good staying power (oilier/ wetter liners almost always smear/fade easily), I’m ok with it.

The price is not super cheap, but its not expensive either. And it’s comparable to far more expensive brands.

It’s my absolute favorite, so if you can find it, buy it!

Silver and Gold

This review is totally different than the Black liner.

I hate these liners. Since I’ve had such success with the black liner, I thought, yay more colors.

No.

The liners are flaky. Like little chunks of gold or silver leaf. It’s weird, and they are big flakes. It applies flaky. So you have to sort of pat…. Like applying gold leaf if you’ve ever tried it.

The effect once on is very silver, and very gold and they do last nearly as long as the black.

But I tend to end up with flakes in my eye! 

This sucks!

Don’t buy them!!!

Dariya Magic Sheet 

The Dariya magic sheets are basically like flat Velcro rollers. They are designed to hold the hair back while you wash your face, or do your makeup.

... Unecessary right? *laughs* kind of...
I used to just you a headband or put my hair back in a pony tail. 
But they looked cute... 
Damn, I can’t resist cute packaging.

Anyways, they are actually nice to have around. They do a much better job of holding the little short fringe hair than a head band. 
They also don’t mess up a hairstyle.
I always end up with a pony tail line... Which I hate, because no amount of styling gets rid of it.
Plus, if you are doing you make up, they do help prevent you from accidentally getting stuff on your hair.
I generally set my foundation with loose powder, and the finly milled stuff can certainly drift off teh brush.


Conclusion
Yeah, okay, they aren’t a beauty essential. But they were cheap, and I like ‘em. So :P

Anessa perfect pearly sunscreen
SPF 50 PA+++

Price: US 15.75 from alphabeautystore

I hate North American brand sunscreen. I am allergic to something in some, but no all sunscreens.
When applied to my face, certain sunscreens with make me blotchy, and purple, and I feel as though I’ve been burned.
It drives me Nuts. I try to wear sunscreen every day. I’m super pale and super paranoid about skin cancer.
But when 90% of sunscreens out there do bad things to you.... It makes it a chore.
So for the past 5 years I’ve tried nearly every sunscreen out there.
And discovered that there are two basic forms of Sunscreen, physical and chemical.
The physical sunscreens, like Zinc oxide don’t bother me.
It’s the chemical ones that make me uncomfortable.
But since walking around with a big slab of zinc oxide on my face... not so practical (Unless Clown was my choice of profession)
so onto chemical sunscreen. I’ve discovered that the thicker the consistency of sunscreen, the more it irritates my skin.
So those thick cream beach sunscreens.
I REFUSE to touch anything of the sort.
So as you might expect, a lot of lower SPF sunscreens work better for me. Like SPF ... useless.
Anyway, eventually I have found a couple of NA brands that work for me, Neutrogena Moisture – SPF 15.
Plus sheer cover mineral make-up has an SPF value...
But while I was in Japan, I ran out of all the safe sunscreen I brought with me.
I then attempted to buy sunscreen there, hoping I wouldn’t have to have stuff flown in (ah drama).
And out of all the brands I tried; only a couple bothered me.
Wait what?
Back home, I can only find a couple that don’t bother me, yet here only a few do...

Japanese sunscreen and NA sunscreens are very different.
In NA, they are generally very thick, very heavy creams; whereas in Japan they are very running liquids.
I think the difference is Sunscreen here is meant mostly as beach ware. Meant to be applied everywhere. And even though lighter facial sunscreens are becoming more and more popular they still maintain their roots.
Whereas the Japanese lines are meant for the face, and designed to apply lightly under make up!

The Anessa sunscreen is a drugstore brand by shisedo. It seems expensive at 15.75US (It’s cheaper in Japan of course...) especially when the size I have is only 25ml. This is tiny. Especially compared to my Neutrogena 120ml. But honestly it applies so well, and you need so little that they both take almost the same amount of time to use up!

So the Anessa perfect pearly sunscreen is a super runny liquid with an SPF of 50 PA+++!
It is lightly pearly but not sparkly. So it applies beautifully under makeup, leaving a soft slightly luminous finish.
It dries almost immediately. Plus it’s not greasy/oily at all. It makes a very good base for apply further make up application.
It doesn’t seem to make further make up slide off, or reduce the lasting time.

So if you have the opportunity, switch to a Japanese sunscreen, do it! They are a little more expensive than the usual drugstore sunscreen, but the quality and lasting power makes it worth it!

Face washing brush
This is my all time Favourite face tool.
It’s a soft little silicone brush. The package says “Pore-clogging debris and excess skin oil on your entire face are refreshingly dropped”
*laughs* I love that “refreshingly dropped”…
Anyways it’s designed to fit between two fingers, and it’s very comfortable to use.
It’s a huge improvement on just rubbing my cleanser all over my face.
What you do is place the cleanser directly on the brush, and wash your face, the cleanser never needs to touch your hands.

The brush is soft and super gentle, it doesn’t tug or pull at the skin at all.
Which is good, because face cloths (my previous cleaning method…) do. Cloths tend to be rough, they pick up dirt and bacteria easily.
In fact, if you use the same face cloth to wash your face a couple of days in a row (even just to rinse off…) you can get a build up of bacteria, causing acne.
*sigh* It’s happened to me, back before I knew anything about the proper washing methods…
So if you can find one of these little brushes, buy it! ( I have 4 in different colors…)          
                            

My package from alpha beauty shop came today!!!!
I ordered it on the third of August, and it arrived today the 14th. That’s precisely two weeks…
Which considering it travelled from Hong Kong to the East coast of North America is quite a trip.
Hell, I order stuff from the other side of the country and it takes longer.
So what arrived is the juju Hyluranonic acid serum, the Softmyo Q10 powder wash, the Anessa Pearly SPF 50 and the Suisai powder enzyme wash!
Some of these I’ve used before and these are only refills… But I’m still weak with excitement!
Reviews will follow shortly.

Intro

Welcome to my blog, where I rant and occasionally rave about 
various beauty and skin care products.

I have a mad obsession, join me, despise me, criticize me.... it's 
all the same.

-Mack