Sana Hadanomy Collagen Mist & Cream

You might know that my absolute favorite skincare line is from Rosette (review here). I felt I wanted to add something to my winter skincare though and this super cute Hadanomy Collagen skincare from Sana just kept popping up in all the online shops so I thought of giving it a try. 

Of course what sealed the deal for me were the cute pink bottles... you know which kind of shallow creature I am, don´t you? =X

There were 3 or 4 items available at the time I purchased these 2 products but now there is also a series of masks available (and I actually tried them but didn´t really like them that much).
I purchased the Collagen Mist and the Collagen Cream to add to my daily skincare regime (cleansing or double-cleansing at night), Soys Lotion Rich, Soys Milk).

The Hadanomy Collagen range contains of course micro-sized collagen (1000mg...per ?), honey extract, hyaluronic acid and acerola. The products are free of mineral oil and colorants and have been allergy-tested.
The Hadanomy products are scented, to me it smells like rose and something fresh blended in...orange or lemon perhaps.
As I said packaging is simply cute, very sweet pink with white lace design printed on, made of a high-quality plastic.

The Mist contains 250ml and retails for 900 Yen...that´s quite affordable given the good amount you get. It´s a liquid with a slightly viscous quality so it´s not completely runny like water but it´s much thinner than my Soys Lotion Rich which more reminds me of a liquified gel.

This is a spray-on toner (aka lotion in Japanese beauty terms) to be used after cleansing but before moisturizing. I am not a big mist person but I started using this regularly 2x a day before my Soys Lotion Rich and I just love the extra kick of freshness. To me it´s not a vital step in my beauty routine but I use it nonetheless =)

This is also a nice prep for sheet masks, as it´s always recommended to use a toner before applying one of them.

The Cream (100g for 1000 Yen) is actually more of a gel-cream than an actual cream. This is nearly only moisture but I believe low in lipids so on its own it´s not rich enough for me and my skin feels tight and uncomfy. However when applying this after my Soys Milk this is an excellent moisture-booster and skin-softener perfectly suited for the dry and cold winter weather.

My skin stays perfectly hydrated and looks plump and radiant when using this skincare routine.


I have been using the Hadanomy range for about 5 weeks now in conjunction with the Soys line and have not encountered any sort of adverse reactions so I suppose it´s very suitable for my skin (allergic reactions or irritations never occur later than 2 weeks after starting to use a new product on my face, usually this shows in just a few days).

Overall I am very happy with these products. The Mist isn´t really a necessary product since I already use another toner but I enjoy using it and there is nothing negative to say about it at all. The Cream is excellent and a welcome addition to combat the current temperatures. It might be too much to use this on top of the Soys Milk in summer though. 

Rating:

Mist 5/5

Cream 5/5

Kose Junkisei Prime

Some time back in December/January I decided it was time to try out yet another range of skincare =X I found those super pretty dark red bottles from Kose's new Junkisei Prime range pop up on eBay so I decided to get the whole lot. I know now that there are various lotions and more stuff in the line but I got a complete set of skincare for me.


What attracted me was:
-surely the pretty bottles/jars (love the deep pink red color!)
-good price (between US$14-22)
-target age group of late 20ies - mid 30ies (yup, 28 fits)
-"exotic" look with all those cute Japanese letters on the products
-ingredients contain Chinese herbs (sounded yummy!)

So I purchased the following items from eBay (AlphabeautyUK):
-Junkisei Prime Cream Wash, 130g
-Junkisei Prime Oil Cleanser, 180ml
-Junkisei Prime Lotion, 200ml
-Junkisei Prime Milky Lotion, 150ml
-Junkisei Prime Cream, 40g
-Junkisei Prime Eye Cream, 20g


I've been testing the range for about 3 months now so I feel qualified to review it =D Most of the items are now at least 1/2 gone =D
All items carry a really refreshing herbal scent that's really delicious!

-Cream Wash:


The Cream Wash comes in a pretty squeeze tube which contains 130g. That's quite a good size in my opinion.
It is a gentle foaming cleanser (needs a bit water to lather up) and I really like to use it alone in the morning. I also use it to follow the Oil Cleanser. However in combination with the Oil Cleanser my skin doesn't feel 100% clean (I'll explain later why).

-Oil Cleanser:


The Oil Cleanser comes in a super pretty clear honey-colored bottle with a red pump dispenser. The oil itsels is clear and thick-ish.
This is probably the worst cleansing oil I have come across. It feels sort of waxy and is really hard to wash off. I always feel it leaves a residue that is only removed with a harsher cleansing foam. The Cream Wash doesn't have the strength to remove this!
All in all this gets a fat nay.

-Lotion:


The Lotion is a liquid unlike the thicker slightly gel-like texture other Japanese brands' toners sport. I actually like the Lotion because it is very refreshing and helps in removing residues from the Oil Cleanser though not completely. If I use this after the Cream Wash alone or when I use a better cleansing oil the lotion is perfect though.
Even though this is definitely a little adstringent it is not too harsh for my sensitive/normal-dry skin.

-Milky Lotion:


The Milky Lotion comes in a pretty red plastic bottle. It's a very runny lightweight moisturizer to be used between the Lotion and the Cream or without the cream if your skin isn't too dry.
It gives a fresh kick of moisture and will probably be enough for summer. I believe this and the Lotion are also available in extra moisturizing formulas but I haven't found them on eBay so far. I think I am fine with the regular Lotion and Milky Lotion though as my skin isn't that dry.

-Cream:


This is a lighweight cream with good moisturizing power. It makes my skin soft and smooth. It comes in a pretty red jar.


The Cream was the first product I got and I wasn't sure if it irritated my skin. The first 2 weeks I used this (in combination with other products and then with the other Junkisei Prime items) I found more red bumps on on my cheeks than normally (I nearly always have a few of them around).


I continued using the Cream though and my skin returned to normal. I think my skin just took some time getting used to this item.

-Eye Cream:


The Eye Cream comes in a small heavy jar with cute adornments on the cover (I think this is the only item packed in glass). The Eye Cream is a lightweight moisturizer for the delicate eye area and makes a great base for eye makeup. Concealers glide on smoothly when I am wearing this.


I don't have real wrinkles yet so I cannot say how good this is in fighting/preventing them.
Like the other items this is lightly scented but it doesn't irritate my eyes at all.


All in all I am pleased with the Junkisei Prime range. I am not that sure if I'd repurchase though as there are so many nice skincare lines out there to try out =P And after all the Junkisei Prime items don't really improve my skin, they just keep the status quo.

Etude House Sprout Recipe Calming Mild skincare trio

Currently I am a bit on a skincare kick so a series from Etude House formulated for sensitive skin had to be mine =)


I have to admit that I am really pleased with Etude House's skincare and I own most of the Moistfull collection now (and the Mist is on the way, too!) which is a really great range.

Here's a pic of my current Moistfull stash:


I already reviewed the Moistfull Special Kit some time ago which I am happily using daily but I have to say I am very content with the Calming Mild skincare range, too!

The Etude House Sprout Recipe Calming Mild range consists of 3 products that are meant to be used together. I don't know if there are more items but I could only find the 3 I purchased.

Step 1 - Ready Foam:
This is a great cleansing foam. It makes a lot of very silky dense lather and doesn't feel drying at all on my skin. I think I like this even better than my Skin Food Milk Mania Foam as this one can be a bit drying.


Step 2 - Setting Toner:
I am not really a person who uses toner (since my Clinique 3-step skin fiasko). However I wanted to complete set and this is a nice toner that's not harsh or smells like alcohol.


Step 3 - Finish Lotion:
This is a lightweight moisturizer but still feels rich enough for me. I think this alone is good for normal to slightly dry skin-types, drier skin-types might want to use a richer moisturizer on top.


The toner and lotion come in pretty iced glass bottles. While they look really nice I think glass bottles aren't convenient in the bathroom as they might break easily when dropped. Also I prefer I can squeeze the bottle instead of tapping it over 100 times to get more lotion out.
The cleanser comes in a hygienic squeeze tube.

All 3 items carry a very mild soft fragrance that's very pleasant.

Each item contains 150ml. I am not sure of the retail prices but most Etude skincare items range in the 7000-12000 Won range (About US$7-12). I paid US$7 for the foam and US$13.50/each for the toner and lotion which is a fair price I'd say.