Operation Use It Up

Over July and August, I managed to use up a large number of products, plus numerous sample sachets during my trip to London. With the last quarter of the year looming, I'm finally starting to see some space in my bathroom cabinets opening up!

1. Lush Almond & Coconut Smoothie: This creamy body cleanser is targeted at dry skin but it turned out to be not sufficiently hydrating for my skin as I still needed to use a body lotion especially on my legs which are prone to dryness. It works up to a gentle lather and rinses off easily without any greasy residue. The vanilla scent is not that memorable. One plus point is that Lush gives you a free Fresh Face Mask if you bring back five of these clean pots in the UK (but not in Switzerland).

2. Lush Ayesha Fresh Face Mask: This is a re-purchase. This mask feels therapeutic and deeply cleansing for my skin, which always looks more luminous and feels ultra soft and supple after using this. One pot has enough for at least 8 uses.

3. Sofina Jenne Lotion I: This is Sofina's skincare line for ladies in their 20s. Lotion I is the "sappari" (refreshing) type for oily skintypes while II is the more hydrating "shittori" type. This did a good job of leaving my skin feeling refreshed and clean, but other than that, I did not notice any special benefits. Love the lacey bottle design.

4. For Beloved One Polypeptide DNA Resilience Lift Toner: This was the most hydrating of the three toners that I used up recently but it also makes my skin oil up a bit faster than the others. It's supposed to be an anti-wrinkle toner but as I do not have any wrinkles yet, I can't say that I noticed any significant change.

5. H2O+ Aqualibrium Marine Toner: This contains provitamin B5, mineral-rich sea salt, sea weed, sea fennel and sea lettuce to nourish and hydrate the skin. It refreshes the skin well but can leave it feeling a tad dry, so if you have dry patches, I would not recommend this.

6. Addiction Eye Makeup Remover: This biphase remover does a good job of whisking off eyeshadows and waterproof mascara without irritating or drying the eyes. It is supposed to be fragrance-free and contains rosa centifolia extract. This was a gift with purchase. It normally retails at 2100yen for 100ml, which is a bit too expensive for me so I'll be sticking with my usual L'Oreal remover.

7. Daiso Puff & Sponge Detergent: For S$2, this is truly the most cost-effective product. I use it weekly to clean my foundation brushes and sponges. It's much more efficient at getting rid of any cream-based products than MAC Brush Cleanser. I stocked up 5 bottles before moving to Switzerland 20 months ago and this is only the second bottle that I've used up. Great stuff!

8. Biore Mild Cleansing Liquid: This removes makeup effectively without irritating the skin and is very affordable, but I find Bioderma's Sensibio to be even faster to use. I usually follow up with a face cleanser just to be thorough.

9. Shu Uemura Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O: This green cleansing oil has the thickest texture in Shu's range and is really more for dry, mature skintypes. Although it works well in terms of removing makeup, I much prefer the lighter pink Fresh version. I wish Shu Uemura wouldn't keep offering only this in their limited edition seasonal collections like the upcoming Murakami Takashi holiday collection.

10. Cleansing Express Eye Makeup Remover: Aside from being very efficient and non-irritating on my eyes, it's also affordable. I would re-purchase this instead of L'Oreal except that it is not available in Switzerland.

11. Anna Sui Rose Hair Conditioner: This leaves my hair soft and untangled. I love the soft feminine rose scent but it doesn't linger strongly on my hair. I would definitely re-purchase this if it were more easily available.

12. Dove Dryness Care Conditioner: This was quite average. It left my hair untangled but not as hydrated as I would have liked.

13. Phyto Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm: Both tubes of this were received as part of sample goodie bags from my US online purchases. The clear gel helps to reduce frizz and make my hair more sleek. I don't like it enough to purchase it though.

14. L'Oreal Elseve Nutri-Gloss Crystal Shampoo: This did not make my hair any glossier or shinier but it's still good as an everyday shampoo that lathers up and rinses off easily without drying out my hair.

15. Kose Seikisho Mask White: This sticky thick black mask is not for wimps as peeling it off is invariably a rather painful experience and it takes off fine facial hair (not all but some) along with flakey skin bits and pore clogs. I find Biore strips to be more efficient at pulling out pore clogs but I like that I can use the Seikisho mask all over my face for a thorough de-clogging. I will probably re-purchase this at some point.

16. RMK Gel Scrub: This is gentle enough on the skin to be used daily but I don't find it to be particularly effective. This sample tube lasted just two uses.

17. African Botanics Marula Firming Botanical Body Oil: This is supposed to help firm, tone and nourish. I liked how it moisturised my skin and absorbed quickly without leaving an overly greasy residue but I didn't notice any firming effect (not that I really expected any).

18. Philosophy Peppermint Bark: I had high hopes of this but the mint chocolate candy scent was too heavy on the cloyingly sweet chocolate note and not minty enough for my liking. Like other Philosophy shower gels, it does not leave a strong fragrance on the skin although in the shower, it is rather strong.

19. Philosophy Gingerbread Man: This turned out to be much nicer than I had expected thanks to a refreshing fizzy top note. I would re-purchase this except that I still have more than a dozen Philosophy shower gels to get through.

20. Sally Hansen Fast & Gentle Polish Remover: I picked this mainly because it was one of the cheapest in the drugstore and by a reputable brand. It's alright for the price and still requires some elbow grease to remove glitter polishes.

21. Coast To Coast Rainforest Invigorating Body Exfoliant: This is my favourite product from this brand, due to the wonderful sweet citrusy scent. It gives good exfoliating action too.

22. Stila Lipglaze in Raisin: Very easy to wear berry shade with a bit of shimmer, this feels a bit sticky on the lips. The amount of product is miniscule and one could easily use this up in 1-2 weeks with daily use but at least they are a lot cheaper than they used to be (thanks to being made in China) when Stila was one of the hottest makeup artist-driven brands around.

23. K-Palette Lasting 2Way Eyebrow 02: A daily staple, I've re-purchased this countless times as it's still the most durable and easy to use brow liner for me.

Operation Use It Up

Here are the products that I finished up in June.

1. Nude Hydrating Water is a rose and vanilla water mist with prickly pear extract and probiotics to calm and refresh skin. I found the scent quite odd though, not exactly what I expected of a rose mist. This refreshes my skin without leaving it sticky but it is no longer available as Nude has undergone a revamp of its products and packaging.

2. For Beloved One Extreme Hydration Toner was more moisturising compared to the Nude lotion. Frequently, I would use just this and skip moisturiser if my skin is not feeling dehydrated. It does not leave any sticky feeling.

3. Suqqu Face Refresher R also does a good job of leaving the skin feeling refreshed and clean but it didn't seem special enough to warrant the £35/5250yen price tag for the regular 150ml version.

4. Cleansing Express Cleansing Lotion (Sebum) removes makeup quickly and effectively with just a few swipes of the cotton pad. It is also very easy on the pocket so replenishing it doesn't break the bank like Shu Uemura's cleansing oils. I usually follow it up with a face cleanser as I prefer a thoroughly cleansed feeling. It doesn't work that well with waterproof mascara so I use a separate eye makeup remover.

5. Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil whisks off all makeup in a jiffy. This is slightly thicker than the Fresh (pink) version but not as thick as the A/O (green) version. I also always follow this up with a face cleanser.

6. L'Oreal Gentle Eye Makeup Remover is a biphase remover that works effectively without irritating my eyes. An affordable staple that I don't stray from.

7. L'Oreal Smooth Intense Instant Smoothing Serum helps to keep my hair manageable and frizz-free. It absorbs quite quickly without making my hair look greasy.

8. Lush Snow Fairy shower gel is released only every holiday season. The sweet candy scent takes some getting used to. It also contains shimmer particles but these get rinsed off pretty much immediately.

9. Murad Vitalic Energizing Pomegranate Moisturizer SPF15 made my skin oil up within an hour so I won't be repurchasing this. The 30ml tube lasted over a month with daily use.

10. Phyto Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm is a clear, slighty watery gel that helps to tame the frizz without stickiness or stiffness. I don't think I'll repurchase this as I prefer the L'Oreal serum.

11. Three Balancing Emulsion (Enriching) has a strong scent of essential oils. It absorbs quite nicely and hydrates my skin without irritating it.

12. Paul & Joe Brightening Serum helps to hydrate my skin without making it feel sticky. I haven't used it long enough to notice any brightening effect though.

13. Lunasol Watery Makeup Base is exactly as the name suggests. The light watery texture is similar to RMK Makeup Base. It doesn't offer any coverage but helps to hydrate the skin and smoothen it for easier application of foundation. It also does not make my skin extra oily.

Can't believe half the year has already flown by just like that! Here's to a more productive second half :-)

Operation Use It Up

The first month of the year has already flown by so quickly! Managed to clear out another bunch of beauty products from my stash this month. I've been trying to use up the dozens of samples that I've accumulated in an effort to de-clutter.


1. Garnier Fructis Color Resist Shampoo: This worked well with my dry hair and didn't make my scalp itch like the Essential Damage Care Rich Premier Shampoo did. I can't say how well it does in retaining the vibrancy of colored hair as my hair had already lost much of the red color from my last color job in October.

2. L'Occitane Citrus Verbena Shampoo: I love the refreshing verbena scent. It does contain sulfates but it didn't leave my hair excessively dry or tangled. It feels light enough to be used as a daily shampoo.

3. Nivea Color Protect Conditioner: This worked well enough for leaving my hair detangled but I still need to use a serum in the mornings to get rid of frizziness. Again, I can't say how well it protects hair color.

4. Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Bath & Shower Gel: I adore the lush, romantic rose scent of this entire line. Would definitely re-purchase except that I still have tons of other C&E bodycare products to use up.

5. Lancome Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover: This takes off eyeshadows usually in just one or two swipes of the cotton pad but with more stubborn mascaras like Anna Sui Perfect Mascara, it requires quite a bit more effort. It doesn't sting my eyes.

6. Perricone MD Citrus Face Wash: This works up a mild lather and cleanses well without stripping the skin or making it feel tight. However, I didn't quite like the scent.

7. Bifesta Moist Cleansing Lotion: Bifesta is the new brand name for Cleansing Express, which is made by Mandom. This is an excellent and very affordable alternative to cleansing oils if you are averse to oil in your skincare products. It removes makeup quickly and thoroughly, although I still prefer to use a separate eye makeup remover. I usually still follow up with a gentle face cleanser out of habit although this is a cleanser and toner in one.

8. H2O+ Clearwater Shower & Bath Gel: This lathers up lightly and doesn't dry out my skin. The light fresh scent doesn't linger strongly on the skin. I don't like this enough to want to repurchase it.

9. BareMinerals Purifying Facial Cleanser: This feels gentle on the skin and cleanses well without leaving it dry and flaky.

10. Cosme Decorte AQ Gentle Pure Washing Foam: This is a very watery, mild cleanser that doesn't strip the skin but it stung my eyes incredibly badly so I would not re-purchase this.

11. Kenzoki Melts On Contact Face Gel: This leaves my skin feeling hydrated and soft without being overly-greasy. The scent is also very soothing and calming.

12. Cosme Decorte Moisture Liposome: My skin just drinks up Moisture Liposome, which works well for prepping the skin before applying foundation. It is very expensive though, so I may not re-purchase it for awhile.

13. Chanel Hydra Beauty Serum: Like most Chanel skincare products, I find this too heavily fragranced and not exceptional in terms of its performance.

14. K-Palette Real Lasting Eyebrow: This is the only makeup product that I regularly use up every three months. It is super easy to use and gentler on the skin than most eyebrow pencils. This is the old version without the eyebrow powder.

Operation Use It Up!

Managed to used up another batch of skincare products this month! It feels good to send these off to the recycling bin.

1. Body Shop Shea Shower Cream: I started using this when my skin was feeling very parched and flaky, and it worked pretty well although I still needed to apply a body moisturiser afterwards. The scent was quite ordinary and not that appealing to me so I doubt I will re-purchase it.

2. Body Shop Banana Shampoo: The yummy sweet banana scent was my favourite thing about this shampoo, which was a classic favourite that was brought back last year as part of the Body Shop's Originals collection. It's not as moisturising as Tsubaki shampoo, but at least it didn't leave my hair tangled.

3. Body Shop Banana Conditioner: Again, I love the scent but it's not as good as Japanese brands like Tsubaki and Asience in terms of moisturising power.

4. Cleansing Express Eye Makeup Remover: Very affordable and melts off virtually all my eyeshadows with just one light swipe. It can also remove most mascaras although the more stubborn waterproof ones require a bit more soaking against the cotton pad. This is already the second bottle that I've used up!

5. Kate Somerville Clearing Mask: This contains kaolin clay to absorb oil and impurities, plus phytic acid to lighten post-acne scars. Sadly, I didn't notice any significant results after using this mask.

6. Cosme Decorte AQ Clear Solution: This "Clarifying and Softening Fluid" works quite well as a toner after cleansing to refresh skin without any trace of stickiness. But when I'm in a dryer climate, following up with a separate moisturiser is a must.

7. Shu Uemura White Recovery EX+ Brightening Cleansing Oil: This melts off all makeup effectively, including the most stubborn waterproof mascaras, but it tends to leave my eyes feeling irritated and dry so I try not to use it to remove eye makeup unless necessary.

8. Clarins White Plus HP Intensive Whitening Smoothing Serum: This was a free sample that I picked up recently. I liked the light texture which absorbed readily and didn't make my skin oily. However, I didn't use it long enough to judge if it is actually effective at brightening up my skin tone.

9. RMK Face Protector SPF31: This was another deluxe sample received as part of a GWP. I love the light non-greasy texture which feels cooling upon application and absorbs almost instantly.

10. Urban Decay Clean & Sober: This is the second of two bottles that I received as GWPs at Sephora last year. I wouldn't purchase it as it stings my eyes and I don't think it cleanses as effectively as Shu Uemura cleansing oil or Cleansing Express Cleansing Lotion.

Operation Use It Up!

Managed to use up another batch of products in August :-) I have enough bodycare products to last me well into 2011, which is why I'm staying far far away from the ongoing Body Shop warehouse sale at Suntec!

1. RMK Creamy Soap N: This is the second deluxe sample tube that I've used up. Although it lathers well and leaves skin thoroughly cleansed, I would not purchase it as it stings the eyes.

2. Shu Uemura High Performance Cleansing Oil Fresh: A true classic, this literally just melts everything off.

3. DDF Glycolic 10% Toning Complex: I had high hopes for this in helping to prevent acne breakouts but it didn't really do wonders for me.

4. Essential Damage Care Rich Premier conditioner: This was excellent for softening and detangling my chemically-treated hair.

5. Cleansing Express Eye Makeup Remover: Very effective at removing eye makeup without stinging the eyes. The full size bottle lasted me about two months.

6. Body Shop Neroli Jasmine Shower Gel: Typical of Body Shop's shower gels, this has a soft floral scent and lathers very well. It can be a tad drying.

7. Body Shop Rich Plum Hand Wash: Love the rich fruity scent of this hand wash. If it is re-released for the holiday season this year, I'm definitely stocking up!

Operation Use It Up!

Managed to use up more products over the past month. Again, it's mostly bodycare and skincare although I am *this* close to finishing my RMK Powder Foundation EX.

Lush Snowshowers Shower Jelly: Love, love, love the fresh elderflower scent of this! Unfortunately, it is released only for the holiday season each year. The tofu-like wobbly jelly can be tricky to handle in the shower as small bits tend to break off and next thing you know, they are all over the floor.

Avene Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser: This is a good basic every day cleanser that does not strip the skin.

Cleansing Express Cleansing Lotion: One of the fastest, most effective makeup removers I've ever tried! Best of all, it is water-based so if you are averse to using cleansing oils, this is a great option to explore.

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil: Also removes all makeup effectively. I still have three 450ml bottles to go through!

Narcisco Rodriguez For Her Shower Gel: Cleanses well but does not smell as good as the perfume.

Asience Hair Treatment a: This leaves my hair soft and manageable but overall, Shiseido's Tsubaki conditioner remains my favourite.

Feels good to declutter and put these out for recycling!

Cleansing Express Cleansing Lotion

This week, I've been trying out Cleansing Express Cleansing Lotion (Bright Up) to remove my makeup instead of my usual Shu Uemura cleansing oil. This was provided by Mandom Singapore for me to review. The Cleansing Lotion line comes in four types: Moist, Sebum, Agecare and Bright Up. They are non-rinse, water-based formulas that help to cleanse, tone and moisturise in one simple step.

Here's the product description and instructions.

For ladies who are not keen on cleansing oils, the Cleansing Lotions are an excellent alternative because all you need to do is douse a cotton pad with the lotion and wipe your makeup off, without having to massage and emulsify like with cleansing oils. It is fast, simple and effective. Another plus is that the lotion is free of parabens, oil, preservatives, colouring agents and alcohol.

I was able to clean off most of my makeup with just one cotton pad, and then I used a second cotton pad to ensure that there was no makeup remaining. The pic below shows the first cotton pad which all the removed makeup. The second cotton pad usually looks much whiter and cleaner. Although the instructions advise that there is no need to rinse as the cleansing lotion contains moisturising ingredients, I still follow up with a gentle face cleanser in the shower as I like my skin to feel freshly clean (but not stripped, squeaky clean). I have not noticed any significant brightening effect but my skin is already quite fair.

The travel size bottle I received (looks like 50ml size) is already half empty after five days' of use. The full size is 300ml and retails for S$18.90 at Watsons, Guardian Pharmacy and Sasa. (The Moist and Sebum versions retail for S$16.90.)

Here's the ingredients list.

Cleansing Express Eye Makeup Remover

One question that I often get asked is how to remove makeup, in particular waterproof mascaras like Majolica Majorca mascaras. My usual recommendation is to use a cleansing oil to remove face makeup, as these simply melt the makeup off. As for eye makeup, while a cleansing oil will also do the job, I usually prefer to use a separate eye makeup remover to ensure that I get every trace of makeup off my lids and lashes. Recently, I have been using Urban Decay Clean & Sober which is supposed to be gentle enough for the eyes but I found that it actually stings my eyes a little.

So when Mandom Singapore provided their Cleansing Express Eye Makeup Remover for me to review, I was curious to see how it would compare to other eye makeup removers that I have used in the past. It is a bi-phase remover, similar to those by L'Oreal and Lancome. You have to shake and mix the oil and water layers before applying with a cotton pad. Below are the product description and instructions.


True to its name, the Cleansing Express Eye Makeup Remover works extremely quickly and effectively. With just one gentle wipe of the cotton pad soaked with the remover across my lids, about 95% of my eye makeup (including virtually all the eyeshadow) was removed. It only took a few more gentle dabs to completely remove my eyeliner and mascara. I tried this out over several days with a variety of mascara brands, including Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour Volume On, Lancome Virtuose Precious Cells, Heroine Make Curl & Long (waterproof) and Maybelline Pulse Perfection Waterproof mascara. It was able to remove all of them effectively without any need for vigorous rubbing. Just gently press the cotton pad against the lower side of the lashes for about five seconds and then gently wipe upwards.

I was surprised to find alcohol to be at the top of the ingredients list but the remover does not sting my eyes or leave my eyelids feeling dry. There is also no oily residue, which you sometimes get with other bi-phase eye makeup removers.

At just S$12.90 for 145ml, I recommend checking this out if you are looking for an affordable and effective eye makeup remover that works quickly even on waterproof mascaras. You can find the Cleansing Express line at the "kawaii corner" in Watsons stores as well as in Guardian Pharmacy and Sasa.