Pretty much everyone who knows me are aware of that fact I really don't like the sun! If constantly hiding away from sunlight isn't a big enough give away, 5+ bottles of sunblock on my dressing table alone should be a pretty big hint. I'm very picky when it comes to sun creams, however, I've clearly been very impressed by Kanebo AllieSPF 50+ PA+++ UV Moisture Gel, because I'm already on my third tube =p
This UV Moisture Gel is normally available in 25g and 60g tubes, but, in 2013, Kanebo increased the amount of product in the larger size by 50%, so you're getting 90g for the same price. Even better value for money!
It offers SPF 50 and broad spectrum protection against both UVA & UBV rays.
The texture is featherweight like a light creamy gel, absorbs pretty much instantly, and sits well under foundation. Zero white cast, zero stickiness. Unlike some sun creams I've tried in the past, using this around my eye area does not irritate my eyes at all. Plus in Japan, it was even voted the number 1 sun cream of 2012! Best part is that it contains no parabens, mineral oils or fragrances - perfect for sensitive skin. Seriously, you need this!
It retails for ¥2800, and is available from Adambeauty.com.
I was literally halfway through a different blog post, when the Parcelforce delivery guy knocked on my door with a package from FromJapan! So I'll save the post I was in the middle of writing for another day. I'd briefly introduced FromJapan in a previous post, and wrote about how I always go through them for Japanese goodies. No Rilakkuma this time though; I decided to get a few more makeup items from Naturaglace, as well as try out the popular Japanse mineral makeup brand Only Minerals (オンリーミネラル).
- Only MineralsAqua Lift UV Mineral Sun Protect SPF 50+ PA+++ - Only MineralsMineral Blush in Sakura - Only MineralsFoundation SPF 17 PA++ in 05 (guessed my shade) - Naturaglace Eyeliner Creme Chocolat BK1 - Naturaglace Rakuten Exclusive Summer Shine Gold Set (includes NaturaglaceHighlight Sorbet PK1 and Eye Color Jelly GD) - Plus some samples from Chomotto Beaute Will play with these over the next few days/weeks, and report back at some point! I also grabbed the limited edition base makeup brush set from Chomotto BEAUTE - these brushes are a collaboration between Chomotto Beaute and the (super high quality) Japanese brush brand Hakuhodo.
I've wanted some Chomotto brushes for a while, but the sets released prior to this always had at least one brush that I didn't like. Hakuhodo is widely regarded by many as the best brushes you can get - apparently even better quality than SUQQU's - I'm very interested in as to whether their collaboration brushes live up to the hype!
This set includes a foundation brush, concealer brush and an angled face brush - I will have uses for all of them. Also included is a metallic pink storage pouch.
I love how the brushes all have hot pink handles ❤ I'm not much of a brush person in that I don't collect brushes and very rarely buy brush sets if they contain any brushes I don't need, but I'm really looking forward to finally trying these out!
I'm really not a morning person; almost always grumpy when woken up too early. However, I didn't mind one bit when Parcelforce brought my eagerly awaited FromJapan package at some time past 8am this morning. FromJapan.co.jp - a Japanese proxy shopping service I honestly love these guys, having used them for two years to purchase items from mainly Rakuten and Amazon JP, as well as other Japanese websites. My emails have always been answered promptly with professional curtsey, and packages were always sent out the next (working) day once they've arrived at the FJ HQ.
Their fees are the cheapest I've found too - shipping to you is at cost (though you get 3%, 5% or 10% discount on EMS based on your membership rank), and the handling fee is only 200 Yen (≈£1.30) per item up to a maximum of 800 Yen (≈£5.30) per individual store. If you don't like/want to use EMS, you can choose other shipping methods such as Fedex, SAL, Air Mail etc. If you make payments by card, there's also a 5% "system usage fee" which is to cover costs charged by card companies. Still, compared with other Japanese purchasing services who charge 10%-15% of the order value, often with a minimum service charge, this is by far the most cost effective way to purchase Japanese items.
Read on to find out what came from the other side of the world... Group photo!
Rilakkuma stickers and deco pens - some of the ones I wanted were sold out
Rilakkuma & Korilakkum Happy Picnic plush storage baskets - a bit too tall for pens, but it can also be used to store for makeup brushes and skincare products.
Miscellaneous Rilakkuma goods - Rilakkuma soap dispenser, spoons, key covers, mini salad forks, and a Korilakkuma 3DS stylus.
I'd been searching for a cute pen sized 3DS stylus for my 3DS XL to no avail, until I stumbled upon this Korilakkuma stylus, and it is perfect! ❤
Rilakkuma bags & pouches - Rilakkuma plush pen case/makeup pouch, small Rilakkuma & Korilakkuma keyring pouches, mini Korilakkuma backpack.
The Rilakkuma & Korilakkuma plushes are actually bags too! Mine won't be carried though =P they'll just be on display in the house.
The mini Korilakkuma backpack makes a great temporary storage case for my Samsung NX1000 - replacement for my old Sony T90P. You know it's time to upgrade when your phone takes better photos than your dedicated camera
After months of deliberation between pink Samsung NX1000 and pink Sony NEX-3N, I went for the former partly because I love the shade of baby pink, the fact it comes with a matching lens, and for warranty purposes I didn't want to import the pink Sony.
Even on smart shoot mode, photos taken by the NX1000 (Rilakkuma pictures in this post) are so much better. I still need to play around with settings since this is my first non point & shoot. I guess I could go read the manual, but I haven't even installed it, and besides, figuring it out on my own would be much more entertaining - assuming I don't break the camera in the process!
A little snug, but it does fit!
Rilakkuma in a bunny costume and Rilakkuma with strawberry on his head, in a cupcake - you can even remove him and place pens etc in the cupcake instead.
And Korilakkuma mirror - so so kawaii ❤
Last but not least, Naturaglace makeup items - I have another FJ order on the way containing a couple more, so will wait for those before I write a full post about them NaturaglaceFoundation Creme Rich SPF46 PA++ NaturaglaceHoney Rouge Naturaglace UV Base Milk SPF43 PA++
***Pic heavy post!*** Having tried various different Japanese magazines, I can say with certainty that Biteki is my absolute favourite. I like it so much that I took out a 12 month subscription via JP-Books. I love Biteki because not only is it heavily beauty oriented, it also focuses on general well being, is edited beautifully and I always learn something new from every issue. Although I don't fully understand everything, I like to think that by buying this magazine, I'm doing my bit to support the Japanese magazine industry Out of my monthly magazines, the only ones I keep for future reference are Japanese (Biteki, Maquia, Sweet, Ageha, Bea's UP); the rest go straight into the bin as soon as I'm done. The Biteki September 2013 issue features a 56 page booklet (released biannually, I believe) containing upcoming Autumn/Winter makeup collections, as well as a best selling Little WitchMote Mascara which has apparently sold over 2 million units in Japan!
I love the makeup looks in Biteki - always clean, refined and very elegant.
There are even facial and posture improving exercises!
Healthy recipes (must try making some of these)
The Autumn/Winter 2013 makeup collections booklet with freebie Little WitchMote Mascara
The booklet features Autumn/Winter makeup collections from both Western and Japanese brands.
Since Chanel uses parabens, the only product of theirs I use is their nail colours which, surprisingly, is 5 free - no formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, DBP (dibutyl phthalate), camphor and toluene. But I won't be purchasing any of their Autumn 2013 polishes, as I'm not a fan of dark coloured nailes, and I probably already have something very similar to 589 (the only one I like) in my polish stash.
Love the look of the Lunasol & Kanebo CHICCA collections. Would quite like to try CHICCA if they don't contain parabens.
SUQQU used to be one of the brands I was literally obsessed about, but sadly I stopped visiting their counter when I decided to use natural/organic products, or at least, products without parabens. Love the look of that Hanaazuki palette
Jill Stuart always releases ridiculously pretty colours as well as packaging!
The smaller collections are featured towards the back of the booklet, including Mary Quant, Za, Canmake, Chifure, Naturaglace and Cezanne, many of which I've never even heard of.
Slightly disappointed that one of my favourite natural Japanese makeup brand Naturaglace only has one palette (that I'm not interested in) this season.
If constantly hiding away from sunlight isn't a big enough give away, 5+ bottles of sunblock on my dressing table alone should be a pretty big hint.
