The Kanebo Seasonal Sale 2015 is on next week!

If you haven't already heard, the Kanebo Seasonal Sale 2015 is happening next midweek!

Date: 22 & 23 April 2015 / 10am - 7pm
Where: 83 Clemenceau Avenue #01-35 / 36 UE Square 

My Japanese ex-colleague is all of a flutter~ =D

Past season sales had prices starting from single digits for much of the Kate range and go up to about 70% for the more expensive brands! With my limited spending power now, that sounds really good~ (insert Homer Simpson slobber here)

Still a week to go but~ Happy Shopping Ladies!!

Recall of Kanebo Whitening Products

Are you using any of the whitening products under Kanebo?

Image from The Japan Times

Kanebo released a statement on Thursday(yesterday) that it would be recalling 54 of its products after receiving complaints about white patches appearing on some users' skin. There are reportedly 39 cases of these complaints and 15 of the 39 showed no improvement even after discontinuing product usage.

After some investigation, they suspect that it may be due to an active whitening chemical called 4HPB (4-Hydroxyphenyl 2-Butanone), named Rhododenol by Kanebo, thus sparking this recall across its Asian markets.

Japanese cosmetics products are generally very safe and of good quality and this active ingredient has in fact been tested and cleared for use by Japan's health ministry according to Kanebo.

I was unable to find the full list but several reports have the list of to-be-recalled products sold in Singapore:

Brand: Kanebo Blanchir Superior

• White Deep Clear Conditioner I
• White Deep Clear Conditioner II
• White Deep Clear Conditioner III
• White Deep Milky Conditioner I
• White Deep Milky Conditioner II
• White Deep Night Conditioner I
• White Deep Night Conditioner II
• White Deep Mask
• White Deep UV Day Protector

Brand: Impress

• IC White Lotion I
• IC White Lotion II
• IC White Emulsion I
• IC White Emulsion II
• Granmula Lotion

Brand: RMK

• Skintuner Brightening Light
• Skintuner Brightening Moist
• Intensive Brightening Essence

I like Japanese cosme products so naturally, I have quite a few that are under Kanebo, all without incident. I was actually quite tempted awhile back to purchase the RMK Skintuner (>__<);;  It's quite unfortunate, this negative publicity for Kanebo...'cos even though there were only 39 reported cases, it IS Japan.

Hope none of you had any bad reactions to these products!

Full article from Channel Newsasia HERE.

Full article from The Japan Times HERE.

KATE Spring/Summer 2013 Collection~

Goldfish Eyes doesn't sound very pretty but in this case, it is! It's just so nice and shimmery~~ *___* And the gorgeous Kuroki Meisa is just....gorgeous. (*____*) It's also nice how it's not too Spring/Summer-like y'know? I'm not a fan of pinks and greens and blues etc cos I just don't know how to work with colour (especially pastels) on my eyes so it's nice to have a label that's consistent throughout the seasons~

 

I spotted the new range up for sale some weeks ago and was uber tempted to get this, the Teary Drop Liner!!

 

It's super slim (typical of a Kate eyeliner), dries in seconds and the tester I swiped on my hand stayed really well! Available in pink and beige:  

I really like the beige one! It's like a pearly golden shade that's not too in your face~ BUT I had to stop myself because I'm heading to Japan tomorrow for my yearly 'pilgrimage' and it'll be cheaper there! ^O^ Can you imagine the beauty haul from Japan? *spins around* And no husband to drag me out of the drugstore!! Matsumoto HERE I COME!!! *waves a shopping list* 

 

Check out the KATE Official Website for the rest of the Spring/Summer collection!

 

all images from KATE

Wanna be Forever Young~ =P

I'm not going to lie. I like falsies. I think they're fine, and a girl can use 3 pairs at the same time if she wants. No hating here. ^_^ I seldom use mine though. But I'm guilty of buying boxes of them whenever I get the notion that I want to put more effort into my makeup!

I just broke out a box that's been parked in my drawer for months! Glad I managed to get them on in just 1 try and that they're quite natural though thicker than what I used before~

Love the flushed look my Blush by 3 (Sleek Makeup) palette gives~ LOVE! Love the natural lip from L'Oreal's Shine Caresse~ LOVE! Love the enhancement to my lower lashes from Maybelline Lashionista~ LOVE! lol lots of love in this post hahaha~

This was also the first time I used the Kiss Me Heavy Rotation Perfect Eyeliner which didn't disappoint! No smudging despite being both outdoors n indoors for the next 5 hours~ Blush by 3 held up very well too~ No touchups (not even lipstick after dinner) for the 5 - 6 hours I was out and this is what I beheld when I got home:


Barely a budge from my makeup! ^__^

Products used today are:

Details:

• Kate Powderless Liquid for Cover - Ochre-D / OC-D
• Sleek Makeup Blush by 3 - Lace (used Crochet, first shade from the left) Review coming up!
• Maybelline Lashionista
• Kiss Me Heavy Rotation Perfect Eyeliner N - 02 Deep Brown
• L'Oreal Shine Caresse - Venus
• Edward Bess Ultra Slick Lipstick - Sundown
• Hollywood False Eyelashes - TP008

In case anyone was wondering how the Edward Bess Ultra Slick Lipstick fits into the whole equation, I used it as a lipliner that day, lining my outer lip then dabbing inwards before blending with the Shine Caresse. ^__^ It's my attempt at mimicking a youthful pout =P Did it work?

Have a good weekend everyone! xoxo

2012 Best Finds - Top 8

In a few hours, 2013 will be upon us! A New Year: new beauty finds, new fashions, new foods, new friends (maybe) =P At my age, one doesn't make friends easily. But I digress.

 

Here's a look back on my favourite finds this year! Almost all the items have repeat purchases so you know I really like them~ Just click on the product names for the respective reviews!

(Note: Item listing is in no particular order.)

1 - The Konjac Sponge *click*

For replacing unneccesary cleansers in my routine and starting my skin on the route to recovery and balance, clog-free!! And so cheap!

 

2 - Biore SaraSara Powder Sheets *click*

The best wet tissue with a fragrant powdery finish for muggy days, post-workout or for a quick freshen up before stepping out!

3 - Mentholatum Organic Certified lipbalm *clickity click*

After trying to many different brands and methods, finally a lipbalm that keeps my lips moisturised and chap-free in all climates, even the -20degree winter~ Best part is it's organic too!

 

Check out the other 5 candidates after the cut! ^__^

My Skin But Better - Kate Powderless Liquid for Cover Foundation

I've had this wonderful little bottle in my beauty drawer for a little over a month now and honestly nearly forgot to review it because I have the attention span of a goldfish >_<

Kate Powderless Liquid for Cover (30ml) - S$34 at Watsons

Foundation is very important to me. It's like the foundation of a building, very important when you start construction! A good foundation sets a good canvas for the rest of your makeup. Or at least that's how I feel =)

First off, I really like the packaging! Small and light! My previous liquid foundation came in a elongated glass pump bottle, not the most outdoor-friendly especially for rough types like me ^__^v The pump is also quite easy to control after getting the initial air out of the way.

A look at the back-of-the-box info:

I bought the Ochre D (OC-D) which turns out to be a PERFECT PERFECT match for my medium fair skin =D I previously bought the Kate BB Gel Cream in OC-B, which gave my face a slightly more radiant colour after evening out with loose powder but OC-D is perfect without any powder tweaking~

A look at the hand swatch:



See? Perfect match!!

Now on the face:



From Left: No makeup >> 1 layer of Kate Powderless Liquid >> added spot layering of Powderless Liquid for more coverage

Absolutely love it! Application was a dream even though I read that for some users the liquid settled in the stated 15sec so they found blending a tad rushed but it was fine for me. The Powderless Liquid is light and doesn't leave any oily or sticky feeling, with a fairly matte finish. Coverage was good, medium but buildable, and held up very well for my 10 hours out. Nicely done Kate!

In short, Kate Powderless Liquid for Cover:

• comes in a nice lightweight black & beige pump bottle, approximately palm-sized.
• the pump is easy to control, you're not likely to accidentally end up with a blobby mess.
• product spreads and blends easily, though dilly-dallying is discouraged due to the 15sec setting time =p
• used about 2 pumps for my whole face
• liquid settles quickly into a fairly matte, powdery finish with no oily or sticky feeling developing throughout the day, a slight shine did emerge after about 5 hours though
• no need for additional dusting of loose powder
• coverage is sheer to medium and buildable for light concealing
• product holds up very well on my combination skin, for almost a full 12 hours both in and outdoors

Basically, I love love love this~~ Really gave me the my-skin-but-better look!

Have you tried the Kate Powderless Liquid for Cover? Did you love it did you did you? =D

December FOTD - Everyday Junkie

Why, I do believe this is my first Face Of The Day post? *^_^*

I've always loved the all-over nude look but was never able to get a nude lipstick that didn't settle into my liplines too much and wasn't a lip gloss. Everything was always too matte, too glossy, too dry, too gooey...etc >__< But all that's history with Edward Bess's Ultra Slick Lipstick. Everything is just right with this lippie. Incidentally, this's the product that shot his makeup label to fame!

December FOTD - Everyday Junkie

Using the usual base stuff i.e Kanebo Freshel BB Cream, bareMinerals loose powder, Kate eyeliner, Maybelline theColossal Volum'express mascara and ZA brow pencil. (Oh yes! I just got my eyebrows threaded today! LOVE freshly threaded brows sooooo much~~~)

Colour from:

note: colours are a tad more pinkish in the photo

The h&m eyeshadow palette was very cheap, less than 10 euro. Only used the 6th and 8th shades, which are a deep rose gold and shimmery milk chocolate shade respectively, to line and shade my eyes. My new elf warm bronzer was only S$9.90 and EB lipstick was a S$19 score on the Luxola sale! =D

So that's my December FOTD, you like? =)

Looking Fresh with Kanebo Freshel High Cover Base

As you've noticed by now, I have a definate weakness for Japanese brands. I was on a Kanebo Freshel kick earlier this year but only used the BB cream, Cleansing and Whitening Cream >_< Luckily I keep the Kanebo Freshel stash right up front of my beauty drawer and I eventually got to using the High Cover Makeup Base which I'd bought from Phuket~ I haven't seen it in Singapore but I'm pretty sure you can get it in Thailand, Taiwan, HongKong and Japan(duh).

Kanebo Freshel White C Makeup Base High Cover
Approx S$20 overseas (Original Price 1,000yen)

I have high anticipations for this as I'm also a big fan of the Freshel White C BB Cream!

A look at the back-of-the-box info:

As usual, a general translation was the best I could do T_T

So how does this high cover makeup base perform?

KATE Mineral BB Gel Cream - Is it a gel or cream?

You're no stranger to BB Creams by now but I think this is a fairly recent addition in Singapore...just launched in May 2012~ I was really drawn to the idea of a BB Gel =)



S$25.50 from Watsons

This discovery comes after I've been using my Kanebo White C BB cream faithfully for almost a year which is really good too but when I noticed the almost S$10 difference (Kate is a makeup sub-brand under Kanebo btw), I had to try it!