Kao Essential Nuance Airy Shampoo, Conditioner & Treatment

Kao´s Essential brand is admittedly one of my favorite haircare series but oddly I haven´t reviewed anything from it yet, just referred to this brand in other haircare reviews!
 
I think the Essential range is one of the more affordable but excellent Japanese haircare brands..no wonders as this is from Kao who also makes my favorite Asience haircare range...the Shampoo and Conditioner retail for a bit over US$4 on Sasa whereas the Treatment will set you back around US$6. If you get free shipping that´s quite affordable if you ask me.
The Essential haircare is made for damaged hair but is split into 2 different ranges for giving a different finish to your hair style. That´s quite a new concept as mostly haircare brands offer various lines for oily, damaged, normal, dull etc hair but this time you get 2 different varieties for damaged hair but for a different finish.
The Nuance Airy range comes in pink packaging and should give you a "light & bouncy" hair whereas the Rich Premier products in the orange packaging will give you "smooth & managable" hair.
Both lines contain high purity honey and milk protein, the masks also contain shea butter. The mainly advertised ingredient in Nuance Airy is wild rose essence whereas Rich Premier cointains sunflower oil. 


Each range offers shampoo, conditioner, treatment, mask and a serum, I tried everything from both ranges except for the serums. Shampoo and conditioner come in 2 sizes/each (200ml/550ml in pump bottle, available from alphabeautyuk on eBay). I do believe there is also some "Treatment Water" but haven´t tried this either and it´s not listed on the Kao SG website.
You can check the Singapore website out here. Seems the brand is getting a kawaii revamp in April, can´t wait to see what they´ll release!


So, finally on to the actual review =P. 
The Nuance Airy products feature a pretty (pearly) pink packaging ranging from light (shampoo) over medium (conditioner) to darker pink (treatment).
The items are nicely scented with a fruity floral fragrance so my hair smells really good when using these products.
The Shampoo has a pearly pink color and lathers nicely whereas the Conditioner and Treatment are creamy products. 
The Treatment contains 2x more of the "High Purity Honey and Milk Protein" and it feels even more nourishing than the Conditioner.


The Nuance Airy range is definitely a rich haircare making my dyed hair very soft and smooth. It´s not as heavy as the Rich Premier range but it´s still definitely a very nourishing haircare range. I honestly can´t tell if the Nuance Airy products are better in creating a bouncy and airy hairstyle but anyway, it´s a fantastic haircare brand as my hair gets so soft and shiny and it doesn´t weigh my hair down or make it limp so probably the bounciness-promise is true.
I usually use the Shampoo, follow with the Treatment (3-5 mins), then finish with the Conditioner (1-2 mins) though I think that´s not the correct order however I can achieve the best results using it this way. 
I think the correct order is shampoo -> conditioner OR treatment but rules are there to be broken, right?

I also use the Ultra Honey & Shea Butter Mask in both the Rich Premier and Nuance Airy versions but will review them individually.

Overall a great haircare range, much better and more affordable than e.g. the Ma Chérie Moist range from Shiseido which was quite a disappointment for me.


Rating 5/5

Kao Liese Iron Make Collection Rich Straight & Multi Arrange

I love using either the flat iron or the curling iron on my hair. I know it´s tough for my dyed hair but so far it survives everything well hehe =D

Back in April I got couple of bottles of spray from Liese´s new Iron Make collection made especially for using with hot iron tools. There are 2 types: 
-Rich Straight for the flat iron
-Rich Curl for the curling iron (I didn´t get this one yet)
-Multi Arrange for both uses

The Rich Straight spray comes in a cute blue-striped bottle. The spray dispenser makes a relatively fine mist so a few sprays are enough to make my hair a little damp but not too wet for styling. It smells nice (floral and fresh) and initially feels a little sticky which is another reason why one shouldn´t spray too much of this on the hair. 
According to Alphabeautyuk on eBay from whom I bought this this contains heat protection, keeps hair in place like a hair spray and makes hair soft, straight and smooth. It contains stretch polymers to help keep the hair straight.

I really love this stuff! It´s really the best styling aid to get my hair completely straight in a few minutes. My hair is pretty straight but with a light wave which can look untidy quickly but a few spritzes of this stuff and some strokes with my flat iron give me super silky soft and shiny straight hair. 
Afterwards I just use a little of wax for straight hair and a couple of sprays of a hair gloss spray (both from Liese, too).

I am on my 2nd bottle now and will repurchase.

Rating 5/5

The Multi Arrange spray in the rainbow-striped bottle however is one of those multi-purpose items that doesn´t work well for either purpose. 
It smells like the Rich Straight but when I try to use this with my flat iron my hair still doesn´t get as sleek as I want. I don´t know why since I use a good flat iron but this spray just isn´t doing the job.
Also for the curling iron it´s not perfect, I very much prefer my spray from Lucido-L which does a much better job.

Rating 2/5

Adambeauty haul & Aube Couture Designing Mascara in BK611

I got this haul from Adambeauty and really love the goodies I picked up this time around (I am usually happy with what I order anyway lol)...

I got:
-Lunasol Coloring Cheeks in 08 Medium Pink (new for fall, I got refill, case and brush)
-Coffret D´or Beauty C Curve Eyes in 06 Smoky Brown (new for fall)
-Aube Couture Designing Mascara in Bk611 (black)...review below!
-Kanebo Freshel Moist Lift Moisture Gel
-B&C Aqua Way Super Off liquid
-Naris Up Memotia Refresh Eye Gel
Also got some hair elastics from Kai (US$1 for 2 pieces) as they are really some of the best hair elastics I know =)

I am somehow on a mascara kick these days as I just refuse to believe that my beloved and discontinued Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour Neo can be the only excellent mascara on this planet... and I am open to try out more brands these days and found the Esprique Precious Heart Graphical Mascara to be a pretty good mascara. 

Adambeauty has the Aube Couture Designing Mascara listed in his special section as it normally retails for HK$200 but is now reduced to $145/US$21 (I believe it comes in some special store sample packaging or so so it´s cheaper) ...

If Google Translate works correctly this mascara is a thickening, lengthening and curling formula so it pretty much has all the things a girl needs from her mascara =) I believe it says the slim brush is perfect for grabbing even the smallest lashes to create a fan of beautiful lashes.
BK611 is a really nice deep black even though it looks a bit gray on the pic of the brush. That´s probably the flash. I am not quite sure if this contains fibers but at least I didn´t see any sticking out or falling over my cheeks after application. 
The slim brush really helps in getting close to the lash line and to define short lashes (like the one on the lower lids).
I really love the slim pink and silver tube as it looks feminine and elegant.

For me this mascara is absolutely amazing! I used it on bare, uncurled and unprimed lashes which is something I NEVER do. I wanted to see if the mascra can really hold its promises, especially the curling part. And with just 2 coats of the mascara my lashes look almost like falsies! I even didn´t use any sort of eyelash comb but the result is really just perfect. All I used was the mascara and nothing else.

I do have quite dense and long lashes with a natural curl to start with but this mascara just gives a real wow-effect!
I have to whisper this now but I think this is at least as good as my HG mascara...maybe even better! Shh!!

This removed easily with just cleansing oil so I suppose it might be a bit water-resistant but not waterproof.
Before:

After:

Retails for 2200 Yen (about US$27) but as I noted above I got it for US$21 shipped.

Rating:5/5

Kao Liese Smooth Hair Cocktail

I love trying all sorts of haircare-sprays but honestly many of them don´t do anything in terms of hydration or nourishment... The sprays with 2 phases (to be shaken before usage) usually work better as they have a bit oil/silicones and give smooth results however they can end up being too heavy.

I actually purchased the Liese Smooth Hair Cocktail from eBay a while ago for my daughter as the spray is specifically targeted to smooth frizzy and tangled hair and her curly very heavy and thick hair really gets tangled so quickly so brushing is a pain for her when I don´t use something to smooth her hair.

This spray is definitely a wonderful item for tangled hair and gives shiny smooth hair. It consists of 2 layers, one liquid one like a moisture milk so just shake and spray this onto towel-dry or dry hair (don´t overuse though as it migth make hair limp and a bit sticky). What I love about this fruit-scented spray is that even later on during the day hair stays detangled and smooth so it´s not just a temporary thing just for brushing.
Also good for my dyed hair even though it doesn´t get tangled easily =) 

The cute pink iridescent bottle contains 140ml which lasts a while in my experience.

Sasa started to stock this for US$6.40 a while ago so I got a backup there since the first bottle is nearly empty. Also available on eBay if you do a search. 

Rating: 5/5

Kao Bioré U Body Wash Moisture

I discovered the Bioré U Body Washes back in April when I ordered the one in Yasuragi Green. That one is still my top favorite body wash as it smells sooooo good and doesn´t dry out my skin (like the Naive Body Soaps from Kracie). I even got the refill of the Yasuragi Green which I used already!

Some weeks later in May I got another version, the Moisture Body Wash in the bottle with the orange label. 
Again this is the large size with a pump which contains 580ml (lasts for really long for me, about 2 months with daily use but since I have about 4 different huge pump-bottles of body wash in my bathroom it can last longer) and which turns out to be an economical choice because I can refill it (refill of course is cheaper) and after all even if I pay the jacked-up eBay price the long-term price for me is ok.

Anyway, I love the Moisture Body Wash as much as the Yasuragi Green because it smells really good, too, similarly fresh but a bit softer and creamier. Texture-wise the Moisture Body Wash lathers up to a soft foam which is really gentle and makes my skin soft and smooth without drying it out. 
Overall highly recommended and I purchased a refill for this soap, too =) I got mine on eBay where you can easily find this when doing a search.

Rating: 5/5

Summer 2010: Aube Couture Designing Shine Eyes in 534 (Brown)

For the summer season 2010 Aube Couture released a new line of eyeshadow palettes called Designing Shine Eyes. This is the first time since the brand (Aube) was revamped and renamed to Aube Couture in late 2008/early 2009 that there is a new range of eyeshadow palettes.


I like the previous version called Designing Eyes very much as the colors are very wearable and finely milled with a subtly shiny finish.
The new Designing Shine Eyes come in neutral colors but with a very shimmery super sheer eyeshadow to layer on top of the other colors for additional sparkle and glimmer.


The palette case looks the same as in the older version however the pink color is now darker. The layout of the eyeshadows is the same but the liner shade at the very right is now missing therefore there is a circle on the upper left corner containing the glitter shadow.


The main difference I notice between the new and old version is that the Designing Shine Eyes palette I got is way more pigmented than its predecessor (the 3 colors...the glitter shade is really sheer). It really has kick-ass pigment for a Japanese brand!
The colors are also more shimmery, more like the limited palettes that came out for Xmas 2009!
The shadows are silky and last very well, all in all very high-end quality!


I got color 534 which is the brown quad available. In total there are 5 colors to choose from. To be honest it´s not my favorite brown combo as it leans towards warm and muddy but still it´s a good pick.


I got mine from Ichibankao but they are closed right now. I would check out Mihokoshop or maybe Goddealer. I believe Adambeauty doesn´t stock this product (yet).


Retails for 3700 Yen (for 3.2g of product). To open the compact please push both sides and the cover will flip open.

Kao Prettia Bubble Hair Dye in Dark Chocolate (new formula)

Kao decided to revamp their popular bubble hair colors from the Prettia range and Japan Beauty gave me the opportunity to test a color of my choice. You can see the range on Japan Beauty here.

The boxes have a different look and the bottle containing agent 2 now only contains 60ml compared to the 80ml of the previous version.
The new formula also has a new scent, more fruity than before I think.


The amount of color you get is still easily enough to cover my head evenly however if you have very long hair and used to use 1 bottle you might have to consider purchasing 2 now instead.


There is still a rather pungent ammonia smell but the color seems to be overall as gentle as before and the dyeing result is nice and even.
I picked the color Dark Chocolate as I was in the mood to cover the reddish hue of my hair so the outcome was a pretty rich neutral chocolate brown.


I did the dye about a week or so ago and with daily washing it looks pretty much the same as it did after I dyed my hair.

The only let-down for me is the leave-in hair-treatment which is included. It somehow makes my hair sticky and with a dirty feel. It smells definitely nice but i don´t like the overall result it gives.

Before:


After:


On another note: As I said before I was terribly busy with my studies and just couple of days ago I did this horror-exam (the most difficult and the hugest one of my studies!) really with an excellent result so I am happy and relaxed now and will return to blogging regularly.
I am going to be in Egypt from July 23rd to September 1st so I will attempt to post some pics from my trip and continue reviewing stuff I take there with me =)

Kao Bioré Aqua Rich Watery Mousse Water Base SPF 50+ PA+++

I told you I was on the ultimate hunt for suncare items recently and among them a few products from Bioré. I recently got more into Bioré after neglecting this known sub-brand of Kao (one of the big Japanese companies) for some time. The variety of Bioré products allover the world seems to vary greatly and so far I am only interested the products available in Japan and other parts of Asia (not interested in the US and local stuff, sorry!)


The Aqua Rich Watery Mousse Water Base SPF50+ PA+++ is a very effective sun protection and can be used as makeup base.
This comes in a 33g squeeze tube with a slim nozzle which in my opinion makes it very comfy to use this product.


The Watery Mousse Water Base has a strange texture. It looks like a normal cream but when you spread it you definitely get the mousse-part about this.
This feels moisturizing and gives a very soft feel to my skin. It´s not overly rich or heavy so it´s perfect for summer or hotter climates.


This contains hyaluronic acid and extracts of lemon, grapefruit and orange and carries a light fruity scent.
This makeup base/suncare is not tinted and doesn´t leave a white cast on my skin at all.
The Aqua Rich Watery Mousse Water Base seems to keep my makeup in place but in general my makeup seems to stay fresh all day long unless it´s a very hot and sweaty day and then normally no base can preserve its freshness when it just melts off =)


I got mine from Adambeauty for US$12.50. The retail price is not printed but my guess is that it would be somewhere between 1000 and 1200 Yen.

Aube Couture Designing Stay Rouge in RS334

I already reviewed my Aube Couture Designing Stay Rouge in PK134 a few days ago (click here).


The other color I scored on eBay recently is exactly the kind of shades I like. Texture-wise it´s rather moist and a bit glossy (probably more than PK134) and very sheer. It dries down only a little so it stays on decently but not overly long.


The color RS334 looks a little scary at first as it´s a rather blue-toned plum shade however it´s sheer so it gives that perfect tint to my lips.


I know this was a short review lol! But I am typing too much nonsense usually anyway =P

Kao Bioré U Body Wash Yasuragi Green

By now I have switched all my beauty products incl. body care and hair care to Japanese (and some Korean and Taiwanese) brands. Perhaps I am just a sucker for the exotic-ness of those products but I personally feel that Japanese beauty products are just the best ones one can get =)

There are several big bottles of various body soaps up for grabs on eBay (I wish Sasa would stock more body washes as that´s one of the few areas they don´t really cater well!). Alphabeautyuk has (or had?) the Body Soaps from Kanebo Kracie Naive for good prices so I picked up 5 bottles (and some refills) of those (which means I should have like 2 years worth of body soaps from Naive now!). I like the Naive ones but none of them really smells very fresh, more on the fruity or floral side, so I got a big bottle of Kao Bioré U Body Soap in Yasuragi Green from another seller (a little expensive if you ask me!).


Anyway, despite that stupid and over-hyped ash cloud and SAL shipping the Body Soap (which I ordered along with a few items from Kosé Softymo) arrived within just 12 days from Japan!

The Bioré U Body Soap Yasuragi Green comes in a huge 580ml bottle with a pump dispenser. In my experience this amount would last for about 2 months with daily usage!

The Body Soap has a pale green color and smells really yummy...a fresh blend of green tea, lemon and herbs. A perfect treat for summer as the scent is really refreshing! I think I will have to order a refill and take this to Egypt (I´ll be there from approx. 20th of July-end of August).


This doesn´t dry out my skin however it doesn´t leave it moisturized either. Just clean and with a nice scent. I always follow up with moisturizer anyway but if you have dry skin you should probably look for something more moisturizing like a shower oil or a shower cream. While my face is really dry and sensitive my body skin is normal and not sensitive at all so I am enjoying this body wash very much.

Available also as a refill if you have a big pump bottle already The refill contains only 420ml though.

I got mine on eBay from kawaiikimono for US$14.99 plus SAL shipping (which means the package will be treated like economy mail in Japan and my country but will be shipped from country to country by plane... in my opinion it´s pretty fast and quite a bit cheaper than Airmail especially for heavier items!)
I see Amazon.com has some Bioré U soaps, too!

Kao Bioré UV Daily Care Gel SPF28 PA++

I am currently on a sunsreen kick =) I always use sunscreen on my face and body, even on my hands as for me it´s a really vital step before heading out of the door.

In winter I usually just rely on the sun protection of my foundation or base (normally around SPF15-20 or so) but now as it´s turning warmer and having in mind that I will stay about 5-6 weeks in Egypt I decided to haul some sunscreens to be on the safe side.


I got a few bottles of body sunscreens which I mainly use on my arms, hands and neck as I am not someone who´s wearing clothes bearing lots of skin... I always wear long pants and my shirts´ sleeves usually reach below my elbows =) Very boring, I know!

Anyways, I got this green bottle of UV Daily Care Gel from Kao Bioré for US$11.50 from Adambeauty and quite like it!


You get a smallish bottle (120ml) of a milky gel in a green squeeze bottle. If you plan on using sunscreen on your whole body the bottle won´t last you an eternity but if you just use it on certain parts it will be good for quite a while.

The gel is very lightweight and easy to spread.... I am not sure if the coverage can be sufficient that way but I didn´t get any sunburn or something and was out the whole day so I think it´s fine.
The UV Daily Care gel has definitely an alcohol smell to it which vanishes quickly and leaves a fresh scent behind, sort of like a Cologne.
It´s not sticky at all so after like 3 minutes I totally forget that I am even wearing sunscreen!


This has an SPF of 28 PA++ which (in my personal opinion) is enough for the moderate sun-rays here but for my trip to Egypt I stocked up on several products with SPF50+ PA+++ (e.g. from Kosé Softymo´s Q10 line).


I am pretty sure this is not waterproof so it´s a good choice for using when you are just out in the park, go shopping etc.

Here is the lineup of Bioré sunscreens. I will soon review the Aqua Rich Watery Mousse Water Base and the UV Mild Care Milk.