Review: Healthy Care Lanolin Cream w/ Vit E

Name: Healthy Care , All Natural Lanoline Cream Tube
Price: Bought it locally at a discount for maybe AUD 5?
Volume: 100 gm
Website: http://healthycare.com.au/product/natural-lanoline-cream-tube-30g/ 
 


 
 
The actual name of the product is pretty confusing thanks to the packaging design and the website but I hope I got them right! I bought this during my first trip to Australian a couple of years back when i attended S.M.A.S.H.  i only bought it because it was on extreme discount and definitely didn't think highly of its cheap looking container at all.
 
However this turned out to be one of my best skincare purchase from Australia! I have gone on to finishing 5 jars haha! Sadly i didn't managed to get any on my recent trip back T.T

Gohotels (Manila) Review

Hotel Name: GoHotels
Branch: Mandaluyong (Cybergate Plaza, EDSA)
Address: UG/F, Robinsons Cybergate Plaza, EDSA cor. Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong City
Contact: +63(2) 3988788/  +63(2) 3988119
Website: http://gohotels.ph/index.php/mandaluyong
Price: 880 peso – 1388 pesos (Price varies)

 

 

Gohotels is a chain of Essential Service hotel in Philippines. They have numerous hotel chains all over the country and even in Palawan Islands. I stayed at the Mandaluyong (Cybergate Plaza, EDSA) branch last month for 4 nights when I was on my Manila YOLO Cosplay Trip. This is my simple review of the place.

Review: Benefit Cosmetics: They're Real! Push-Up Liner

I got this eyeliner from the October BellaBox. I have to admit this is probably one of my first high end eyeliner so I was understandably excited to try it out.

Photo source: Sephora

 
Before my review let's look at some information about the product from Benefit’s website.
 
 

Review: K-Palette Brow Mascara

Product info: http://k-palette.net/ebmascara/

 
In my opinion, one of the often most neglected part of makeup is making sure the colour of your eye brow matches your hair.

There's nothing quite as jarring as a head of light hair with black brows (unless you are Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones or someone equally gorgeous xD) . I admit,  I'm guilty as charged too. It's not that I don't know about the problem,  it's just that I find it too much of a hassle to tackle on normal days.
 
 
 
If you've seen my makeup videos,  you would see me using concealer, powder, elf eyelid primer (yes.), more concealer, more powder, eyeshadow and more eyeshadows to change the colour of my brows. I feel tired just typing that out,  what more doing it on normal days =_=! It's not that I'm not aware of brow mascara previously, I was just too much of a scrounge to get it haha!
 
But thanks to Japalang Pte Ltd, i finally have a chance to try it! This product was given to me by Japalang Pte Ltd for review. This however does not affect my opinions on the product.




Relle from Japalang was generous enough to give me both shades to try! Cool! Now, I can use the lighter one for Cosplays :D

Review: SexyLook Redwine Platinum Intensive Firming Duo Mask

I went to Taiwan for a short trip last month to attend a friend’s wedding. Of course as a girl, one of the most important task we have while traveling is to assist in boosting the destination’s economy. So shopping is the only way to go! Don't judge me! Most of them were souvenirs for my friends!!!

To my Taiwanese readers (don’t think I have any 8D) , I have done my part for your nation! Go you!

Anyway, on the last day of my trip, I went shopping around Shilin area since it was literally where my hostel was (read my hostel review here). Most of the shops were not opened yet except for Bubble Tea shops and Drug stores =( . Anyway, cut my bullshit short, the drug store was having a 1 for 1 promotion so I bought 2 box of Taiwan facemasks!

Photo credit: SexyLook Singapore

Review: Fun Taipei Hostel

I went to Taipei (Taiwan) for a short 4d3n stay last month and stayed at The Fun Hostel Taipei. This is my review of the place. Fun Hostel has a few branch around Shilin area so don't get confused by the different address.
 
Name: Fun Taipei Hostel
Address:  No.5, Xiaobei Street, Shilin District, Taipei, Taiwan
Tel: +886-2-28881112  (Overseas), 02-2888-1112 (Domestic), 2888-1112 (Public phone in Taipei City)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fun-Taipei-Hostel/209501812412459
Room type: Dormitories.  Bunk beds in separate rooms.
Price: 500TWD
Nearest MRT: Shilin MRT
Nearby attractions: Shilin Night Market & National Palace Museum (via bus)

Review: Smile Hotel Tokyo Asagaya Hotel ( Tokyo, Japan)

I stayed in Smile Asagaya Hotel during my Spring Tokyo trip and had a very good experience there.

 

Nearest Station: 1 min walk from Asagaya station
Address: 3-37-11, Asagaya-minami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-0004, Japan
Contact : TEL：03-3220-8755/ FAX：03-3220-8766
Website: http://www.smile-hotels.com/english.php 

 

 

 

 

ROOMS

I stayed alone in their single room for 4 nights. As that was the only room type I had access to, my review will solely focus on that.

 

 

The rooms are really small and only absolutely necessary walking space is allocated. However, being in space constrained Tokyo, that is something to be expected.  I am a petite Asian girl and I find the space comfortable enough for a single adult. However friends of heavier volume might find it difficult to manoeuvre around. 

 

 

 

The room includes the basic amenities such as

• A small fridge
• Cup and water boiler
• 1 Complimentary green tea sachet that is refilled everyday
• Telephone (I did not try calling out)
• Television with remote control
• Air conditioner / heater
• Small 1 door cabinet with 2 hangers
• A bathing robe/nightgown
• Towel
• Disposable slippers
• Air freshener spray
• Comforter
• Single bed with 1 pillow and blanket
• A wooden chair
• Toilet
• Shower and bathtub
• Complimentary shower soap, shampoo and conditioner. 
• Complimentary vanity pack (shower sponge, comb, toothbrush & toothpaste)

 

In front of level 2's lift is a metal rack with pillows that hotel guests can freely take to their room. Staying in level 2 itself meant I quickly grabbed a buckwheat pillow for myself the first day I checked in :D .

 

 

BEDS

The bed was a simple mattress with pillow and thick blanket but man, it was SO COMFORTABLE!

 

 

The mattress was soft but not too soft and was at the right density for both comfort and good spinal support. The buckwheat pillow also gave the sleeping experience additional points as not only does it smell heavenly, it also felt very good on my neck.

I tend to feel anaemia easily so I always have to sleep with a high enough pillow. If I don't,  I wake up with massive headache. I might have to say the bed and pillow is probably the best of all hotels/hostels I've tried, beating even 5 star hotels.

There is additional comforter in the top cabinet.

 

 

TOILET 

The toilet is tiny and feels a little cramped even for someone as small as me. However the basic amenities are in place.

 

 

There are hot and cold water for shower and  at the wash basin. Complimentary vanity items such as toothbrush, tooth paste, shower sponge and comb are provided. 

 

 

Much like most of Tokyo, the hotel also provides automated toilet bowls.

 

 

CLEANLINESS

Everything looks clean and new. Nothing to jump about ;)

 

LOCATION 

Absolutely in love with the location! The nearest JR station is JR Asagaya Station. And any hotels near a JR station is good for tourists!

 

 

On first look, Asagaya looked like an unfamiliar place for a tourist to stay in. But it is actually only 5 JR Train stations away from Shinjuku.

The hotel is a comfortable walking distance (5 minutes walk) from JR Asagaya train station and the area is a bustling little suburb by itself. Being an area where local Japanese reside in, the area is filled with restaurants, cafes, super markets, grocery shops and drug stores. Things there are generally more affordable too.

 

 

I bought most of my souvenirs from budget stores or candy stores around Asagaya (Alert: cheapskate! LOL) . I bought a lot of Japanese chocolates back as souvenirs for my family and friends xD

 

 

HOTEL SERVICE 

The counter service is available 24hours a day, which is good of course.  The hotel requires all guest to leave their room keys at the counter before going out. When they return, the Hotel guests will pick up their room key by telling the staff their room number.

To be honest I find this arrangement highly insecure. No form of identification was required to pick up the keys. What if some stalker decides to try something funny?

 

 

The hotel staffs I came in contact with were all very helpful and friendly.  Deep conversations in English would be difficult but simple directions and usual travelling questions would not be a  problem there.

One of the staffs even kindly printed out a train map and wrote down travel instructions for me!  Highly impressed and touched ;)

 

OVERALL  

Overall, I must say I am very pleasantly surprised by the hotel. Other than the ‘key pickup’ part which made me felt a little insecure, I really enjoyed my stay with them.

The hotel has relatively new furniture, is clean, well maintained , reasonably priced and well located. I honestly cannot ask for more!

Review: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream & Peri’s Lip Tint

I reviewed the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream & Peri’s Lip Tint! I must admit, this is my first Matte lip stick and Lip Tint and I feel pretty excited about them 8D

 

 

 

Name: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream
Bought from: Watsons x SMoochiez
Price: $16.90
Rating: 3.8/5
My Colour: Tokyo

 

 

Pros:

- Matte finish & pastel coloured.

- Very pigmented. Colours comes off exactly like how it looked in the tube

- Has a total of 22 shades! That means a lot of colour options

- Affordable. Ok, to me, this is not cheap because the local distributors marked up the price a lot more and I had to get it at $16.90 each. But for those of you who can get it at $6 (According to the website), lucky you!!

- Tokyo is such a natural and complimenting colour for me! Looks like I don’t have much lip product on

 

Cons:

- Slightly dry for sensitive lips like mine. I have to make sure I apply a good layer of lip balm (and let it stay on the lip long enough to be absorbed) before using it. To be fair, I always have dry lips and I constantly need to reapply lip balm; so it could just be my lips. For those of you with normal lips, you will be happy to know this product isn’t provokingly dry :D

- Dryness tends to emphasize and settles into the lines

- Formula seems to wear off not-so-gracefully. Like this zoomed-in photo below, the lipstick after a few hours, have worn off almost completely except in the middle where it has ‘caked’ up.

 

- Does not last as well as I would like to. I’ve worn this to a couple of Photo-shoots and  found the colours either don’t last or doesn’t really show up on photographs. Then again, It could be me licking my lips/eating  too much or because Tokyo is such a natural looking colour that it blends in.

 

 

 

Overall Conclusion:

I like it ! Despite the cons I said, I still like it. I look forward to slowly acquiring more of it!

 

 

*********************************

 

 

Name: Peri’s Tint Water (6.5ml)
Bought from: Qoo10
Price: $5.90
Rating: 4/5
My Colour: 01 Cherry Juice

 

 

Pros:

- Stains instantly

- Good pigmentation

- You can layer the colours

- Relatively long wearing and waterproof. However it will not withstand a meal

- Very affordable!

- Easy to use

- Multi purpose. You can use this as a cheek tint too

- Cute packaging

 

Cons:

- Dries too fast so you have to blend it out very fast

- Wears off patchy.

 

 

Overall Conclusion:

 

Again, I actually like it. I’ve only always used this for the ombre lip look, so my review might not be entirely fair to this product. But as a stain with a water texture, I like how flexible it can be used. I can overlay it on top of another lipstick for the ombre effect, I can use it by itself as a lip stick or I can use it to modify the colour of another lipstick.  I can also use this as a blush!

 

Review: Graymelin 100 % Pure Beta-Glucan

Name: Graymelin 100 % Pure Beta-Glucan
Bought from: graymelin on Qoo10
Price: $26.00 (+ $3.00 shipping)
Rating: 4.5/5

 

 

Introduction:

Before this, I was using Arsainte ECO-THERAPY ideal essence from TheFaceShop. Then I went on to use their  Serum with Essential. But the thing about skincare is , it has to evolve with your skin and well, unhealthy skin gets influenced by the condition around it easily. Ok, cut the story short, I felt like my serums didn’t seemed as effective anymore (It could just be me asking for too much) and I decided to try something different. 

What is Beta-Glucan?

According to the seller’s webpage; Beta Glucan is a “ Third generation New concept of moisturising ingredient”.




Basically, this product promises to deeply moisturise, brighten, tightening and relax skin. It is also free from synthetic fragrances , artificial pigments, paraben , benzophenone, mineral oil and alcohols.

How to Use?

Apply this after using your toner and before your moisturisers. Just drop a suitable amount onto your palm and then pat it into the skin.

Packaging

The packaging is predominantly black and white and reminds me very much of Kiehl’s products; very science and doctor-ish lol. The bottle seems to be made from some high quality plastic instead of glass which is a is made out of glass (according to my mom lol) but it feels very durable and not overly heavy. As I mentioned in the video, I like the packaging as it emits an image of quality , professionalism and trust (LOL, machiam buying insurance) and makes for a good gift idea.

Texture & Colour:

50% viscosity, nice runny texture that isn’t too watery. Product is clear in colour with no fragrance.

Absorption rate:

Gets absorbed into the skin very fast, especially on dry skin.

Effects on the Skin:

Intensely hydrates without greasing up the skin. Did not break out my skin nor irritated it.

Pros:

- Intense hydration
- Affordable
- Does not irritate the skin
- Absorbs very well
- The seller ships and deliver very fast!

Cons:

- none

Overall:

Overall, I give this product 4.5 /5 stars. I really like this product and can’t find anything bad to say about it. That said though, this serum won’t allow you to replace your usual moisturisers with it. You will still need your usual gels, creams and sunscreens to take care of your skin.

According to my Qoo10 purchase record, I bought the product on the 26th March and received it on the 29th March evening. Talk about efficiency! The product came bubble wrapped in a small cardboard box . The delivery guy called because nobody was at home and he stuffed the box into this little gap around my door haha.

Review: Maxi Eyes SpectroFlex (Lilac Purple) Contact Lens

Name: Maxi Eyes SpectroFlex (Lilac Purple) Disposable Contact Lens
Bought from: An optical Shop
Price: $25 -30 (2 sets) *Prices vary*
Rating: 3.5/5
Diameter: 14
Prescription: Available

 

 

 

 

 

This is my first pair of Maxi Eyes Contact lenses. I’ve been hearing good stuffs about the lens from a couple of my Cosplay friends for a long  while but I never got around to trying them.

 

Colour:

The colour is amazingly pigmented even on my boring black iris. Both photos of me below have not been colour edited. Of course, the actual colour differs on different people and depending on the surrounding light, the lens can look almost black. But up close and in real life, the colours still stands out and brings a touch of mysticism  to the overall look.

 

Diameter:

The Diameter of the lens is only 14 , which means it doesn’t have any iris enlarging effect. That however, does makes it look more natural and more suitable for Male cosplays.

 

 

Comfort:

I have relatively sensitive eyes. When I first wore the lenses, I felt very uncomfortable. I had to take it out , run it under the tap (OMG super bad habit, please don’t follow my example!) and put it back in again.  However, Yuanie who was wearing the exact same lens (without prescription) felt it was super comfortable.

To be fair, discomfort from contact lenses can come from many things. For one, it could be micro dirt or fibres that were stuck on my fingers that then transferred to the lens and made my eyes tear.

I started wearing the contact lens at around 4pm and ended my day near 11pm. The contact lens didn’t feel too annoying throughout the day =)

 

Price

Yuanie helped both of us get this contact lens because we were cosplaying twins and we tried to be as twin-like as possible by using the same contact lens, lashes and wig. According to her, she bought it at Hougang Mall for around $25 - $30 for 2 sets. That was a promotional price so the actual purchase price can vary. However I am under the impression that it is cheaper than the usual freshkons or Freshlook lenses you find in Singapore.

 

 

Overall:

Overall, I’m pretty satisfied with the purchase. For a monthly disposable, it is a little pricey compared to lenses you purchase online or from Malaysia. But if you’re in a pinch and desperately needs a good pair of coloured contact lens then Maxi Eyes is highly recommended. Compared to Freshlook or Freshkon, the retail price is much lower.

Review: Hada Labo Perfect Gel (Koi-gokujyun)

Name: Hada Labo Perfect Gel (Koi-gokujyun)
Bought from: Watsons
Price: $38.90
Rating: 3.5/5

Qoo10 Review: TrendFactory mini handbag

Item name: OB041 Korea style candy color shoulder bag mini bag handbag messenger bag cross bag 6 color
Bought from : trendfactory
Price: $18.00 - $3.10 (discount) = $14.90 (final price)
Rating:  4/5

 

Review: Evangelist BB Cream + Tokyo Luxey Invite!

Name: Evangelist BB Cream
Bought from: TokyoLuxey
Size: 40g
Price: JPY 3,990 (US$ 41)
My Rating: 3.5/5

 

Introduction

The nice people from Tokyo Luxey invited me to an introductory session last month and generously gave each of us a bag of goodies to try out.  Chie-san enthusiastically raved about this BB cream from beginning to end and apparently, this product is a 2 year Winner for Best BB cream on Cosme (leading Japanese beauty and cosmetics website).  OOohh~ I feel excited already *_*

Okay, on to some product stats!

PRODUCT INTRODUCTION

An award winning “3D” BB Cream that combines all-in-one makeup functionality with skin-care from ingredients such as placenta and EGF.

PRODUCT FUNCTIONALITY

Use this BB cream and you will enjoy smooth, natural-looking skin, due to the cream’s splendid “concealing” ability, as well as skin-care benefits that come from its beauty ingredients, such as placenta and EGF. Although this new BB Cream will help you to create 3D make-up effects, it is so light that, soon enough, you will even forget that you are wearing it!

SALES RECORDS / ACHIEVEMENTS

•- Sold 10,000 bottles in four-and-a-half months - from May 15, 2010 until the end of September

•-Sells 2,000 to 3,000 bottles monthly through ecommerce alone

AWARDS / CREDENTIALS

•- No.1 BB Cream for 2 years running on the leading Japanese beauty and cosmetics website, @Cosme

•- No. 1 best selling product in the “Make Up” section of Japan’s leading ecommerce site, Rakuten

•- Best-selling product in two divisions of Amazon’s Health and Beauty section (moisturizer and pore concealer)

•- Featured in 30 magazines

 

 

Review: Curél Makeup Cleansing Gel

I tried this in autumn Japan last year when I went to bunk over at a friend's place to save some accommodation money. Awesome friend enthusiastically introduced this product to me, sharing how good and easy it was to remove makeup. She even did a live demonstration xD


You use it on dry hand and face. Just put some in your palm and gently massage the whole face. Rinse off thoroughly.  You can continue to use a facial cleanser afterwards to remove dirt and sebum.
  


Name: Curél Makeup Cleansing Gel
Bought from: Borrowed from a friend’s stash!
Size: 130 gm
Price: SGD$`19.80
My Rating: 2/5

Here’s some information about the brand.

“ About:
Curél - Fundamental Solutions for Sensitive Skin
Mission:
Curél's Approach to Safety of Usage
- Hypoallergenic
- Fragrance-free
- Colorant-free
- Alcohol free *
- Clinically tested on sensitive skin
- pH balanced
*Applies to all face products & selected body care products
Description:
Japan's No. 1 Brand for Sensitive Skin* is now available in Singapore!

Curel Singapore hopes to free Singaporeans with sensitive skin problems, with solutions from face and body to scalp and hair. Live with confidence and peace of mind, 365 days a year with Curél.
Formulated from Kao's extensive dermatological science research, Curél's hydrating and moisture retaining ceramide care targets the actual causes of sensitive skin and provides highly effective solutions to improve skin conditions. Curél's range of products also contain Eucalyptus Extract that vastly enhances the skin’s ability to produce ceramide naturally so sensitive skin stays moisturized longer.

*Based on INTAGE Inc SRI data, Curel is the No. 1 brand for sensitive skin in Japan from Oct 2009 to Dec 2011 “

info from:

https://www.facebook.com/Curel.SG/info

Packaging

Its packed in a simple and efficient tube packaging and Tube can stand by itself.  I would have preferred a pump container but I guess this isn’t too bad either. The back of the tube has a size indicator for the amount of product to use each wash. Naiiise~~~ =)
 

Texture

Came out like normal facial cleanser or toothpaste actually.  Gel like consistency and transparent in colour.

Effects

I'd say it removes the makeup pretty averagely but I guess i was too absorbed by the uncomfortable tingles in my eyes to observe more.  While rubbing the gel into my face, it became very evident that this product is not for me.
 
First my eyes started to sting and I quickly wash them (WHILE I was still cleansing). After I finished cleansing, i assumed everything was fine and I went on to apply my usual Insolution sheet face masks.  After I removed the face masks my skin started to feel dry and itchy and redness around the mouth started to appear. 
 
Though I cannot remember exactly which InSolution mask I used, it was definitely something my skin was used to. Henceforth I am under the impression that my skin can only be reacting so violently towards the Curel Makeup remover .
 

Price

My first encounter with them was free but I did see a lot of pharmacies in Japan selling them. I honestly cannot remember how much they cost there but some google research tells me Singapore sells it for $19.80. That’s pretty expensive compared to the quantity you’re getting.

Then again, a small amount can go a long way since this product will foam up on your face.

Pros

Works very well for my friend who, according to herself, said she has sensitive and dry skin. The product doesn't require cotton pad to remove makeup so I guess the convenience factor is a plus.
 

Cons

It react to my skin (which is combination , sensitive and dehydrated) instantly . My skin became slightly red after one wash.
 
To be fair, it might be due to my skin's already declining condition (skin was not adapting to Japan’s dry climate well and was starting to dry out, itch and become sensitive) that such a reaction happened but the gel felt harsh on my skin and I'm not sure if it was cleaning as well as I'd like. If it could react to me , there is the possibility it could react to you too. But then again, everyone's skin is different so it might work for you. I’m sorry if I  sound contractive haha!!

Overall

Overall to cut the story short, the curel makeup remover gel is not as mild as it says. Even though it is meant for sensitive skin, it reacted to mine instantly. I guess it removes the makeup fairly well though i needed an extra pump for around the eyes. That’s pretty unfortunate since the brand philosophy seems like such a great direction but since it reacted to my skin, this is a product i will not be touching again .
 
I must disclaim again that everybody’s skin is different and what works (or don’t work) for me might have an opposite effect for you. I hope you found this review useful. If you are a fan of the product, please feel free to comment and share your experience.

Review: Snailstreet Snail Cream

Name: Snailstreet Snail Cream
Bought from: http://www.snailstreet.com.sg/SnailStreet-Cream.php
Size: 50g
Price: SGD$55
My Rating: 3/5 

 

 

Introduction

I admit, I bought this product because of the endless raves I’ve been seeing online about the regenerative power of Snail Creams (though not all necessarily directed to this brand). Some bloggers reviewed that they notice a significantly softer and smoother skin after using this the night before.

Before I proceed, here’s some obligatory product description to let you know what the product is supposed to do.

 

SnailStreet Cream delays the aging process of skin tissues and protects against the oxidative action of free radicals. It also significantly improves the elasticity, firmness, density, and texture of the skin and enhances the proliferation and functional capability of fibroblast cells. Snail Street Cream is an approved moisturizer that delays the aging process of skin tissues & protects against oxidation action of free radicals. Ideal solution for spots, blemishes, acne, wrinkles & fine lines.

The Snail Cream is formulated using 86% snail secretion filtrate extracted from the Helix Aspersa Muller species. Clinical studies confirm that this snail secretion filtrate contains some of nature’s greatest dermatological treasures in their natural forms:

• Natural Allantoin
• Natural Collagen & Elastin
• Natural Proteins
• Natural Glycolic Acid

 

Benefits:

• Improves elasticity, firmness, density & texture of the skin

• When cream is applied to fibroblasts (cells that synthesis collagen), it enhances the proliferation & functional capability of these cells

• Keeps skin soft & helps heal troubled or acne skin
• Helps regenerate damaged skin & prevent dryness

• Brightens skin, soften wrinkles & treats fine lines

• Softens scars and smoothes stretch marks

 

How to use:

• Apply cream to clean skin twice a day - In the morning and at night before sleep
• When applying to face, cleanse well before applying Snail Street Cream
• Softly pat your face with fingers
• Can be used on the face before applying moisturiser or makeup

 

Ingredients:

Snail Secretion Filtrate, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol , Glycosyl Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Methylparaben , Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Batyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lecithin, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Lanolin , Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylparaben , Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Dimethiconol, Fragrance, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide, Arbutin

 

Packaging

The packaging is a simple plastic jar with a pink lid. There is a layer of ‘stopper’ lip under the pink lid. Nothing to complain about and nothing to squeal about. I ordered it online from snailstreet.com.sg and it came …actually, I cannot remember how long it took to arrive. I’m guessing it was a week but I cannot remember because I bought mine in early 2013.  Took me so long to review it because I was really really busy and because I wanted to have more time with the product before reviewing it.

 

Texture & Absorption

Looks opaque white in the jar but comes out slightyyyyy sheer . I find it a little hard to describe the feel of it on the skin but … I guess you could say I could feel the slime xD It’s not the gross sort of slime-iness though (thankfully!) but it has more of a gel like consistency than cream. It is also slightly fragranced.

 

The absorption rates really depends on the amount of product you use but I feel that the rate it gets absorbed into the skin is pretty average (Maybe the problem is in my skin =_=; ) . Overall, it tends to be on the greasy and sticky side for me.

 

Effects on the skin

I found it hard to notice any difference in the elasticity and texture of my face. I found my skin drying out uncomfortably halfway through the day in an Air-con environment. In case you are not aware,  I have sensitive dehydrated skin that will immediately alert me if it doesn’t like anything I put on it or if they dry out. If they become too dry, my allergy kicks in and I start to have redness and bumps which leads to itch and flakes.

 

I found out that this product, despite its’ name,  is really more a complimentary skincare product than the Holy Grail Moisturiser it had been marketed.  Maybe my expectations were just too high.

 

I don’t know about you but I tryyyy to minimize the amount of products I put on my face. If I put moisturiser, I’d rather not have to apply another one. Perhaps this is a product meant to specifically keep aging at bay. 

 

Price

$55 for 50ml is steep!! Especially since the product is purchased online, you’d expect it to cost lesser.

 

Overall

This product seemed to receive pretty positive reviews online however I was not fortunate enough to experience that. Not that it did any harm to my skin of course, it's just not as miraculous as I hoped. I had acne scarrings when I used to use the product regularly but I didn’t notice it healing any faster than usual. Maybe the healing and repairing effects takes a while to kick in but I don’t know… any product that doesn’t immediately improves (or de-prove) my skin just makes it hard for me to observe and justify the purchase.

 

So in short I give this product 3 star out of 5. Mainly because it’s really more a complimentary product than a life saving sort of moisturiser. I think it is best used with another hydrating moisturizer to boost the skin but that unfortunately, decreases the value of the moisturizer because I can't use it alone. 

 

It is also very expensive for a product that doesn't belong to some well known brands. And compared to other snail cream i find online, this is exponentially more expensive. 

 

Overall it's a nice product that is suitable for people who are keen to have something to repair the skin everyday and wants to keep signs of aging at bay. However I don’t think I will repurchase this product again as the cost vs benefit of this product was just not doing it for me.

Hostel review: Hostel Mundo (Kyoto, Japan)

Name: Hostel Mundo
Address: 596 Tenbin-cho Shimodachiuri agaru Higurasidori Kamigyo-ward, Kyoto city, Japan 602-8105
京都市上京区日暮通下立売上ル天秤町596番地
Tel: +81 75-811-6161
Email: backpackers@hostel-mundo.com
Website: http://en.hostel-mundo.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hostel-Mundo/107791299276658

Nearest Bus stop:  Horikawa shimodatiuri (Take Bus number 9 or 50 from JR Kyoto Karasuma-chuo-guchi Bus bay B1 or B2 )
Nearest Railway: JR Kyoto Stn or JR Enmachi Stn
Nearest Attraction: Pretty close to Arashiyama
Price/night : varies according to date & room type (1667 Yen – 3500Yen)

 

Rooms:

 

They offer 4 beds dormitory and Private rooms of various sizes. None of them have toilets attached and all the rooms have tatami mat. 

Check out their website for more details. 

 

For my stay, I stayed at the only single private room and really liked it. Most of the room is tatami mat flooring with some wooden flooring. Your bed is a Japanese mattress (futon) you have to lay down yourself before you sleep. 

The room has an electronic fan and an air conditioner that functions as both a cooler and a heater. There is a small wooden table, a foldable chair with no legs and a table lamp. There are 2 electrical outlet but no cabinet. The only thing to hang your clothes is some wall hooks.

 

Beds:

 

The futon mattress was thick and comfortable and the quilts kept me toasty. But I'm picky with my pillows and found theirs a little too soft so I slept with a scarf under it.

 

Toilets:

There are around 2 toilets and a  single shower room at the back of the building where all the sinks and mirrors are located. Hair dryer is available and you can bath anytime you want. One thing I quickly noticed in the chilly autumn was that there was no heater in the washing area. That made every wash up session a teeth chattering period for me. 

 

Cleanliness:

Satisfactory and nothing for me to jump on :)

 

Amenities & Facilities:

Hair dryer available. The kitchen with microwave , stove and hot water is available for all guests to prepare their meal. Coffee and tea is available the whole day.  Take note that Credit Cards are not accepted.

The lights out time seemed to be 11pm. I haven't tried going out of the place after lights out though so I'm not sure how things work. 

 

Breakfast:

 

No food is provided but there are 2 supermarket around (most notably Fresco that is along the main road) and you can get a lot of prepared food at pretty affordable prices.

 

 

Staff & Misc:

 

I stayed there for only 2 nights but very much enjoyed the coziness and Japanese setting of the place. 

 

The staffs were friendly and Midori-San was nice enough to lend me a towel. They own a big black dog called Tidus too and he was very obedient.  For the 2 nights I was there, there always seemed to have some sort of gathering at the living /common room .

 

Travel Directions :

 

Getting to the place can be a little confusing especially if you are coming after dark. From JR Kyoto train station, go to the bus interchange ( it's right outside its main entrance) , take either bus 9 or 50 from bay B1 or B2 and alight at Horikawa shimodatiuri. According to them, the journey usually takes about 24 minutes.

Your landmark for alighting is Fresco; a supermarket with red signages on your right side. 

 

To see the above Google map, click here http://goo.gl/maps/YcSdk

Walk down the small road on the left and keep going until you spot a bicycle shop on your  right . It's really hard to spot it after dark but I guess you can look out for a shop with a mirror signboard going vertically down in the middle. That's the bicycle shop. On seeing it, turn right and Hostel Mundo is the 3rd building on the right. They usually have a small red light in front of the porch. 

 

 

Overall:

 

Every night the guests would gather in the living room to chat or have a party. The vibe going on every night is fun and enjoyable, highly suitable for travelers who enjoy mingling with others. Unfortunately for me , I never managed to hang out with them because I was always busy with something in my room #foreveralone. And I could hear their joyous bustling loud and clear much to my dismay ( I'm so missing out T_T! ). 

Like many of the other reviewers on hostel.com I agree that the walls are thin and does not trap sound well.  Towels are not included and it was not stated but midori-San was nice enough to lend me one T. T

To be honest, the location of the hostel is not exactly the best. The nearest JR station is Enmachi and you have to take 2 bus to reach it (220yen from Horikawa Shimodachiuri to Horikawa Marutamachi then 220yen to Nishinokyo Enmachi ). Enmachi the station itself is so well hidden it took me a loooooooooong time to find it =_=; I did however, discover that Hostel Mundo sort of have a straight bus to Arashiyama!

If you stay at Hostel Mundo and intends to go to Arashiyama for a day, you can  walk to Bus stop Horikawa Marutamachi (just a few streets away), take bus 93 and it would take you straight to the heart of Arashiyama (Bus stop Arashiyama Tenryuji-mae) . One important point though, Arashiyama is outside of the Kyoto City Bus One-Day Pass zone so you cannot use that. The bus ticket  should be 240 yen, which is slightly more expensive but worth it for the time and effort saved. Some websites did highlight that during weekends or holidays, Bus should be avoided due to traffic jams.

The entire building is made to look traditional and authentic which is its main attraction to me. If you are traveling in a group I highly recommend the private rooms because they looked so spacious and comfortable. Toilets are not ensuite but for the price, authentic Japanese setting and space, I'd say its a good deal !