I know you guys have been waiting for the results — thank you for your patience and for making Beauty Box’s 3rd Anniversary so fun and meaningful. I really enjoyed reading all your comments and had SUCH a hard time picking my top three favourites. Please know that I treasure all of you who follow Beauty Box, and without you, there wouldn’t be our little community right here.
So……here goes….
The Grand Prize goes to Helen!
“Following on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube…Although one night you did keep me up until 3am…I was looking for some Japanese shampoo I bought from Singapore and came across this!…Beauty Box provides a little escapism from my life…I like how you show recipes in conjunction with products as this provides a very balanced (and sensible!) outlook on life. You are also quite inspiring to me the way you have set up a business in another country…”
+ Hada Labo es range trial kit (sensitive skin): foaming facial wash, lotion, cleansing oil, and moisturizer
+ Hada Labo BB Cream SPF 32 PA+++ (shade will depend on your preference; Natural Beige or Natural Ochre)
+ Mandom Barrier Repair Facial Mask HA Super Moist
+ Oshima Tsubaki Oil 40ml
+ Kikiyu Clay Bath Salts Bottle (for smooth skin)
+ Canmake nude nail polish 31
+ Chasty travel-sized perfume bottle with transfer pump
The 2nd Prize goes to Evie!
“I first found Lioness In Japan [my personal blog] and what first attracted to me was that you are a Singaporean living in Japan!…I love to read Beauty Box as it features cosmetics and skincare, although there are a lot of blogs out there that are on beauty…you show what is living in Japan like from a foreign perspective and I love your videos on making healthy drinks which I like to try out as they are simple and easy!”
+ Hada Labo BB Cream SPF 32 PA+++ (shade will depend on your preference; Natural Beige or Natural Ochre)
+ Mandom Barrier Repair Facial Mask HA
+ Kikiyu Clay Bath Salts sample (for smooth skin)
+ Mutenka Cow Brand Facial Wash (Normal Skin)
+ Mutenka Cow Brand Cleansing Milk
+ Foam net
+ Canmake nude nail polish 31
+ Chasty travel-sized perfume bottle with transfer pump
And finally the 3rd Prize goes to Justine!
“I like seeing you feature new products that you’ve added to your store, especially as you usually try them first and can give an honest review about what the product is like! I’m still trying to map out a purchase (too many choices) but it’s very convenient to have your blog for reference while I look at the store, especially as I can’t read Japanese ingredient lists or instructions.”
+ Hada Labo BB Emulsion SPF 50 PA+++ (shade will depend on your preference; Natural Beige or Natural Ochre)
+ Mandom Barrier Repair Facial Mask HA
+ Geruma Bath Salts sample (for sweating)
+ Mutenka Cow Brand Cleansing Oil
+ Canmake pinkish nude nail polish 104
+ Chasty travel-sized perfume bottle with transfer pump
I will contact you soon and do let me me which shade you would like for your new Hada Labo BB cream or emulsion. There is Natural Beige (NC15-20) and Natural Ochre (NC25-30) — if neither of these suit your skin tone, you can swap it with any other Hada Labo product that we sell at the store.
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Happy Friday to my fellow beauty junkies….Thank you so much for participating in our 3rd Anniversary Giveaway — the results will be out soon so sit tight!
The best thing about these sunscreens is that they are free of irritating additives — no fragrance, no mineral oil, no ethanol and the added bonus is their signature hyaluronic acid formula (a mix of three types of hyaluronic acid!) for keeping skin hydrated. They are both chemical sunscreens.
The Hada Labo UV Moist Emulsion SPF50 PA+++ has been my go-to sunscreen all summer and its milky consistency sits well under my makeup, in fact I use this as my primer, especially since Tokyo summer is terribly humid and I try to put as few products on my face as possible. The SPF factor is 50— WOW! I also spread this on my neck, behind my ears, chest and back and my skin has not broken out from using this sunscreen.
On it’s own, it does leave a sheen on the face but I think this is due to the fact that this sunscreen has no ethanol which has a drying effect on the skin (and causes aging in the long run!). I think that’s the trade-off when you use a non-irritating sunscreen for face.
For those who follow this blog closely, you would know that I really dislike products that have a lot of ethanol (or listed within the top five ingredients of a product) so I was happy to have found this sunscreen.
I once used a Japanese drugstore sunscreen which had ethanol as the second ingredient on its list and spread it all over my face and hands during a picnic by the river under the sun. At the end of the day, my skin looked so dry and felt tight! My hands especially suddenly had deeper creases and lines — never again!
The Hada Labo UV Moist Cream has SPF 32 PA+++ acts as a moisturizer, makeup base, and sunscreen — this is richer than the emulsion and I think this is more suitable for dryer skin types and for colder weather. I tried this on in the thick of Japanese summer and it’s not quite suitable for my oily skin. I’m a bit hesitant to skip my moisturizer and go straight to this sunscreen but I think it’s possible seeing that it’s touted as an “all-in-one”. I would probably go back to this in winter when my skin needs more hydration.
It also contains hyaluronic acid and collagen as anti-aging ingredients to help moisturize the skin and coenzyme q10 as an anti-oxidant to help fight free radicals that damage the skin.
Since I’m a bit tanned, I chose to swatch shade No. 2 Healthy Ochre on my hand first.
It has a yellow tone to it so it’s suitable for my olive complexion.
The formula blends into my hand seamlessly and feels lighter than the original Nanoce BB Moist Cream, i.e. it’s more runny in texture.
This is my mug shot with only the Nanoce BB Whitening Essence in No. 2 so apologies if I look a little scary with pale lips and eyebrows but I really want to show you how it looks on my skin tone…
As you can see, it’s a bit lighter than my natural skin tone (NC25-30) so I would definitely need to dust some powder on my face to make it darker. The coverage is thicker than the Nanoce BB Sorbet and is comparable to the Nanoce BB Moist Cream and is highly buildable but if it’s a bit too light for you (like it was for me), I would advise you to use a lighter hand to apply this BB cream to avoid looking mask-like.
This is a shot of me with the Nanoce BB Whitening Essence with a light dusting of Revlon’s ColorStay Face Powder Compact 104 Medium. I put on some lipstick (Revlon Matte Lipstick 12 and Jill Stuart Lip Jewel 07 — my latest fave combo!) and blush to have a more complete look. For my eyes, I used Lunasol’s Modelling Eyes 01 Beige Beige. I was pleased with the overall effect as my skin looked quite natural and the BB cream covered redness and blemishes quite well, plus the high SPF factor is a winning point for me.
I would use reach for this BB cream for daily wear but it’s got enough coverage, like the original Nanoce BB Moist Cream, to make it a bit more than medium coverage. It’s definitely not a full coverage base but I find this wearable for many occasions.
Here’s a swatch of both Nanoce BB Whitening Essence No. 1 (top) and No. 2 (bottom) on my hand. No.1 Natural Ochre is suited to those with NC15-20 skin tone.
And a swatch on a white makeup sponge to show up the colours more clearly — No.1 is on the left and No.2 is on the right.
P.S.: Our 3rd Anniversary giveaway is still open for participants — lots of my ultimate fave Japanese products to be won and three winners will be chosen. Closes on Aug 31 so get over there and put your name down!
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Hi my dearies, how was your weekend? I had a lovely time but it was a very busy two days — dancing, movies, hanging out with friends, a Tokyo Bay cruise (will do a little update on this soon), plus lots of sleeping in.
Also, the entries for my 3rd Anniversary/Birthday Giveaway are still coming in, and many thanks to those who have so thoughtfully worded their comments. If you haven’t joined, go on over to the page and stand a chance to win my absolute fave Japanese beauty products (Hada Labo, tsubaki oil, bb creams etc.)!
Today, I’ve got a new goodie for you BB cream fanatics. I’m really digging this one because it not only matches my skin tone, it’s lightweight but gives enough coverage in this sweltering summer.
Oh, hello there….Introducing Nanoce BB Sorbet. It’s a BB cream in spray can — unconventional but it does work well…trust me…
It comes with a flat makeup sponge to help you apply the BB cream onto your face.
Just spray a small amount onto the sponge. I find that it takes about 5-6 gentle sprays to get medium coverage. You can use less if you wish but I personally prefer medium coverage for any season.
This is my face with only the Nanoce BB Sorbet No.2 Healthy Ochre. I know I look kinda weird but I wanted to show you how it looks on its own without powder. As you can see, it has a slight glow to it. For those with oily complexion, you may want to dust on a bit of powder.
This is an FOTD with the Nanoce BB Sorbet No.2 Healthy Ochre topped with Revolon ColorStay Pressed Powder in 104 Medium (I’m mad about British makeup artist Lisa Eldridge’s videos and this Revlon product is one of her all-time faves — had to try it!!), Holika Holika Breeze Kitten Blush, MAC Select Moisture Cover NW25 (under-eye circles), Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clearing Concealer (for scars and blemishes), Paul & Joe Eye Gloss Duo 05, Lancome L’Extreme mascara, MAC Brow Set Beguille, Bourjois Delice de Poudre Highlighting Powder, Revlon Matte Lipstick 12 and Jill Stuart Lip Jewel 07.
I think I put a bit too much powder but it doesn’t look like it in the photo. I think I would be less heavy-handed with the powder next time because this BB cream does have nice coverage and the powder should only be dusted on to remove too shiny areas on the face.
I thought I would include swatches for Nanoce BB Sorbet No.1 Natural Ochre SPF35 PA++ so you fairer ladies will have an idea what it looks like. I would think those with NC15-20 complexions would like No.1. Be warned that as with all Nanoce BB products, these shades have a yellow undertone.
No.1 freshly sprayed on my hand. I know my skin looks so dark here but my camera probably contrasted the light color of the cream with my slightly tanned skin.
No.1 smeared swatch on my hand.
No.1 swatch on the sponge.
Some last thoughts: I loved the novelty of the spray can and there is a cooling sensation to the cream if you spray it on your skin, however, there is no ethanol in this BB cream and I only spotted an alcohol derivative three-quarters down the ingredients list. It doesn’t have that super-matte finish that BB creams with ethanol have, so it looks more like your-skin-but-better.
I find this BB cream to last well under humid conditions and I tend to look glowy after sweating for a few hours. The only thing I don’t really like about this product is that it’s quite difficult to wash the cream off the makeup sponge. I would rub and rub soap on it three to four times but there would be a slight stain left over. I have tried to spray the product onto my fingers and it worked really well. The sponge does give a more flawless finish so maybe you might want to use your favorite sponge instead of the one they provide.
Remember I was battling breakouts earlier this year? I was experimenting with loads of products in the hope of finding those that wouldn’t cause skin irritation and have since been always on the look out for additive-free skincare.
At the beginning of summer, Hada Labo came out with their new es range for sensitive skin. It promises no parabens, mineral oil, fragrance, alcohol and coloring. When I saw that they had a trial kit, I grabbed it.
The products in the kit are indeed gentle and non-irritating on the skin:
I road-tested them in really humid and hot weather so I’m not sure how they would perform in colder, dryer climes but since there is an absence of alcohol in the products, I don’t think they would be very drying at all.
I like all the products and would say the facial foaming cleanser and cleansing liquid are my faves in the range, with the moisturizer in third place and the lotion in last place.
Hada Labo es Foaming Facial Wash (click here to buy)
The foaming facial wash pumps out ready-made foam and I could tell it was really gentle because my eyes did not sting at all especially when I used my Clarisonic. I like to swipe the Clarisonic all over my face for the full minute before it stops vibrating, and with all my other facial washes, my eyes would sting from the foam sneaking under my closed lids. However, if you want a deep cleansing experience, this wouldn’t be so suitable, but if you are looking for a non-stripping cleanser, this is a good option.
The cleansing liquid is made in the vein of a cleansing oil but I think Hada Labo refrained from calling it an oil because it doesn’t feel oily. The consistency is more like a thick lotion without the stickiness. It removes all my makeup sufficiently and I was happy with it. Although for my Majorlica Majorca mascara, I had to leave it on for at least a few minutes for it to completely remove it. But if I was pressed for time, I just used a separate dual-phase eye makeup remover. But the Hada Labo cleansing liquid could remove my Lancome mascara fine.
Hada Labo es Moisturizing Milk (click here to buy)
The moisturizing milk is great for night-time only as it’s on the heavy side for my oily combination skin. For sleeping in air-conditioning, this moisturizer was great for hydrating my skin and didn’t cause any breakouts at all. I also tried it as a day moisturizer and my face got way too oily. The reason why I think it’s on the thick side because I do feel a slight film on my skin in the morning when I wash my face, quite similar to when I use a sleeping mask gel.
I put the es lotion in fourth position because I personally prefer very thick moisturizing lotions before I go onto the moisturizing step. This is very watery and it does suit extremely humid weather when you need minimal hydration and especially if you are layering on products before putting on makeup.
Hello my dearies, have I got a wonderful surprise for you…Yes, it’s another Beauty Box giveaway but this time we’ll have not one, not two, but THREE prizes to be won. I put together these beauty “hampers” of all the favourite things I love in Japan beauty-wise. This is a big ARIGATOU to my readers who have supported me for the short while Beauty Box has been on the Internet. I know there have been past giveaways and not everyone got to win but since there will be three winners, the chances are higher this time.
I’ll also talk about Beauty Box’s history in detail later on in the post but for those of you who just want to see the goodies to be won, here they are…
Grand Prize
+ Hada Labo es range trial kit (sensitive skin): foaming facial wash, lotion, cleansing oil, and moisturizer
+ Hada Labo BB Cream SPF 32 PA+++ (shade will depend on your preference; Natural Beige or Natural Ochre)
+ Mandom Barrier Repair Facial Mask HA Super Moist
+ Oshima Tsubaki Oil 40ml
+ Kikiyu Clay Bath Salts Bottle (for smooth skin)
+ Canmake nude nail polish 31
+ Chasty travel-sized perfume bottle with transfer pump
2nd Prize
+ Hada Labo BB Cream SPF 32 PA+++ (shade will depend on your preference; Natural Beige or Natural Ochre)
+ Mandom Barrier Repair Facial Mask HA
+ Kikiyu Clay Bath Salts sample (for smooth skin)
+ Mutenka Cow Brand Facial Wash (Normal Skin)
+ Mutenka Cow Brand Cleansing Milk
+ Foam net
+ Canmake nude nail polish 31
+ Chasty travel-sized perfume bottle with transfer pump
3rd Prize
+ Hada Labo BB Emulsion SPF 50 PA+++ (shade will depend on your preference; Natural Beige or Natural Ochre)
+ Mandom Barrier Repair Facial Mask HA
+ Geruma Bath Salts sample (for sweating)
+ Mutenka Cow Brand Cleansing Oil
+ Canmake pinkish nude nail polish 104
+ Chasty travel-sized perfume bottle with transfer pump
Giveaway Rules:
♥ Must be a follower on Twitter and Facebook. If you are also a follower on Youtube, that would be a bonus. Please let me know where you are following me in the comments section.
♥ Tell me why you like Beauty Box and what you would like to see more in future (videos, hauls, reviews etc) in the comments section of this blog post.
“Come join Beauty Box’s 3rd Anniversary Giveaway: 3 beauty hampers full of Japanese beauty products to be won! htpp://www.beauty-box-online.com/3rd-anniversary-birthday-giveaway-3-prizes”
- please let me know the link where you have shared this. If it is on Facebook, add me!
♥ The deadline is Aug 31 2011 midnight Tokyo time
♥ I will draw the winners based on their comments (look at #2). Make it interesting for me (and everyone) to read!
Drum roll please……I love the Hada Labo BB Emulsion so much that I decided to sell them in the Beauty Box Store. This series of BB creams has no fragrance, parabens, mineral oil, and ethanol which is a major plus point for those who are sensitive to the aforementioned ingredients.
Natural Beige is lighter than Natural Ochre and both have yellow undertones so this may not suit those with very pink undertones. If you’re a mix of both, this BB cream could still work for you.
The BB Emulsion Natural Ochre suits my skin perfectly and I’m an NC 25-30 (though probably 30 in summer). There is no annoying white cast and this could be the answer to those who love BB creams but have darker skin tones. Another winning factor for me was the high SPF — SPF 50 PA+++ is what I’m looking for in base makeup.
Although I’m a huge fan of mineral makeup, I found that my skincare did not sink into my skin quickly enough with the increasingly humid weather so dusting powder on my face just did not work out if I was in a rush. In came the Hada Labo BB Emulsion to the rescue — I also realized that it sits very well on my Hada Labo Hyaluronic Moist Essence EX and Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clearing Moisturizer and gives a glowy finish. I don’t put any loose powder on top and I’m good to go.
It comes in a shake bottle and you do have to give it shake before using it or the liquid comes out a bit separated.
The nozzle is hygienic which I like…
And here’s the swatch of the BB Emulsion Natural Ochre. I tried the BB Cream version and it just feels a bit richer to me so I think I would only wear it if I need heavier coverage or when the weather gets colder.
See how it blends seamlessly into my skin? I have a strange skin type (oily, due to dryness, and acne-prone) and this suits me really well. The BB emulsion is like a super-light tinted moisturizer so I feel like my skin is being hydrated at the same time (my Clinique moisturizer is too light to be used on its own in early summer; maybe possible in the depths of intense heat and humidity) so another plus point.
If you can read Japanese….This label just says it is free from parabens, mineral oil, fragrance and ethanol which is what Hada Labo as a brand always promotes in their products.
After using this daily for a week, my skin hasn’t broken out so I will continue with this gem all through summer, I reckon.
Perhaps the only downside I can find in this product is that you have to be careful of what type of skincare you use under it. I find that with a gel-like moisturizer, it doesn’t work because it would ball up on me (i.e. creates eraser-like shavings) but this is a similar problem I have found with other liquid foundations so I don’t this it is unique to this BB cream.
Hi my lovelies, I’ve got a giveaway for you — it’s been a long time since my last giveaway and I just want to thank all of you for your support. Please watch the video because I talk about why I love Mandom Barrier Repair sheet masks.
As a side note, when I first spotted this brand, I was like, “Why is there a baby on the packaging?” Actually if you strip away the plastic cover, the products all kinda look like this…
I think I care more about what’s inside a bottle than the outside — it’s gotta work!!
There are going to be TWO winners this time because I’ve got a set for dry skin and another for normal skin.
Dry Skin Products
From left to right: Mandom Barrier Repair Facial Foam, Baby Moist Lotion Super Moist, Facial Mask HA Super Moist (5 sheets), Baby Moist Cream
Normal Skin Products
From left to right: Mandom Barrier Repair Facial Foam, Baby Moist Lotion , Facial Mask HA (5 sheets), Baby Moist Essence
How to join:
+ Leave a comment below, stating which set you would like and be a subscriber to my Youtube channel, or be a follower on my Facebook page or Twitter (or all three).
Before I wrap things up, I’d like to introduce a couple of new products at our store from Mutenka Cow Brand. It’s a line of skincare that is affordable and free from parabens, mineral oil, fragrance, and coloring so it’s suitable for those with sensitive skin or who want to use products that are additive-free. I am loving them and I hope you’ll give them a go, too!
Mutenka Cow Brand Cleansing Milk. Click here to buy.
Tip: Click on File and then Download Original and you can save a copy onto your desktop immediately.
You guys know I’m all about “you are what you eat” from my Beauty Elixirs E-Book, so it’s no surprise I’ve got a salad recipe one for you. I’ll teach you how to whet your appetite for fresh, raw, nutrient dense salads that will be satisfying and tasty. There are no teeny tiny bland salads in this book — I make glorious abundant bowls of goodness.
What you can expect from this FREE e-book:
+ Why bother making salads?
+ How to make an amazing salad
+ 7 quick-and-easy recipes plus 3 bonus side salad recipes
+ Tips & tricks on how to take these salads to the next level
+ Easy-to-follow, easy-to-use recipe book that will help you willingly eat more fresh raw fruit and veggies
I made a video to show you how to make a gorgeous salad from this handbook so kick back and watch it right here:
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