FANCL Christmas Coffret 2014

Like IPSA, FANCL will be releasing Meteorites-like face powder balls as part of its Christmas Makeup Coffret (4900yen). Due out at 17 October in Japan, the set includes a Nuance Up Powder, Face Powder Brush, Aqua Serum Rouge (Melty Red) and a metal tin case. The Nuance Up Powder is a mix of white (for glow and tone-up), gold (luminosity), purple (translucency) and pink (healthy color) balls. The brush is made with uncut natural hair bristles for softness. The Aqua Serum Rouge, which usually retails at 2900yen, is a limited edition shade exclusive to this set.

FANCL New Color Makeup Line-up

Fancl will unveil its revamped color makeup line on 20 August in Japan, following the renewal of its skincare and base makeup ranges in March 2012 and April 2014 respectively. The makeup line continues Fancl's additive-free concept, being free of preservatives and fragrance, and comprises 17 products ranging between 448yen and 2900yen.

Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil Renewal

Fancl will launch a revamped version of its bestselling signature product Mild Cleansing Oil (1785yen, 120ml) on 20 November in Japan. Since the MCO's last update in February 2009, it has sold a whopping 22.6 million bottles. The new version offers even speedier removal of waterproof mascaras and eyeliners and a smoother texture on skin. The gentle formula also leaves skin hydrated and does not stress the skin's barrier function.

Fancl Fall 2012 French Chic

Fancl will release a limited edition fall makeup collection on 20 August. It includes:

1. Eye Color Selection French Chic Eyes: pearl silver, gold, pink and matte brown (2900yen)

2. Face & Cheek Color French Chic Face: Contains two beige face powders and two pink blush powders with a semi-matte finish. (2900yen)

3. Moisture Rouge: in Silky Pink and Silky Page (2300yen with limited edition case sold separately at 740yen)

4. Mascara & Base (2900yen)

FANCL Survey

If you would like to try out FANCL's renowned Mild Cleansing Oil, here's an easy way to do so! All you have to do is answer a short survey and you can redeem a bottle of Mild Cleansing Oil (20ml). [Update: The survey is now closed as it has reached 300 respondents! Thank you for participating!]

Based on its "Mutenka" philosophy, FANCL is renowned for its products which are free of preservatives, fragrance and other harmful additives. Formulated with meadow foam oil, green tea catechin oil and rosehip oil, Mild Cleansing Oil most recently came out top in the cleansing category in @Cosme's 2010 Best Cosme Awards for the second year running. (@Cosme is Japan's largest beauty product review website.) It is so popular that a whopping 13,000 bottles are sold on average per day. You can read my earlier review of the MCO here.

The survey will only take a few minutes and is open to anyone residing in Singapore. The first 300 respondents who successfully completely this survey will be entitled to redeem a bottle of Mild Cleansing Oil (20ml) from FANCL. All successful respondents will receive an email with redemption instructions once the survey closes. This is limited to one per respondent.

Click here to participate in the survey.

Be sure not to miss this! The survey will close after it has garnered 300 respondents or at midnight on 5 June 2011 (whichever is earlier). Please note that you will receive the email with redemption instructions only after 5 June, and not immediately after you have completed the survey.

Robinsons Preview Sale

Here are some of the beauty GWPs that will be available at Robinsons' cardmembers' preview sale from 13-23 January. These GWPs are available to all shoppers. The extra gifts for cardmembers are those marked with "CM".

Biteki February 2011

Picked up the February issue of Biteki at Kinokuniya today as it comes with a 55-page spring makeup collections catalogue and a generous bounty of samples. The magazine retails for S$15.20 but I paid S$12.15 after the 20% members' discount. The issue also features the Best of 2010 awards, as voted by the readers.

The samples are two sachets of Fancl's new Beauty Concentrate, Air Platinum Drop Shampoo (5ml), Treatment (5g) and Emulsion (3g), Salon Deapres Shampoo and Treatment (Repairing & Fragrance Series) (10gx2), and Syoss Repair Intensive Care Shampoo and Conditioner (10ml x2). The preservative-free anti-aging Fancl Beauty Concentrate usually retails for 6000yen for 18ml (supposed to be one month's supply).

I like collecting these seasonal collections catalogues as they are a very useful reference with prices, shades and release dates all neatly listed. Elegance is not usually a brand that I pay attention to but their new Fabulous Rouge palettes look stunning. Each palette features three shades that can be mixed and layered as desired. But it would be hard to bring oneself to mess up that intricate pattern!

The two Phantom Eyes palettes feature a lace motif. The collection also includes Aurora Storm, which is a face highlighter.

The cover designs of these Ayura Blooming Sweet Colours and Blooming Fresh Colours palettes are so pretty! It's a pity that Ayura is no longer available in Singapore.

Cle de Peau's new ad visual featuring actress Amanda Seyfried.

The Majolica Majorca spring collection introduces two new Cream Pencil Liners and a limited edition Lash Expander Frame Plus mascara in BR666 (red-toned chocolate brown).

Jill Stuart again goes for an avalanche of pinks. I really wish that they will change the model soon! Jill Stuart's earlier ads looked much more romantic and sensual.

And as always, Addiction stands apart from the rest of the Japanese brands in its choice of shades!

Clarins and YSL

I think the Lancome collection is going to be very successful as all the items are just so pretty to look at.

NARS surprises with a Shrek green Soft Touch Shadow Pencil.

FANCL Mild Cleansing Oil and Facial Washing Powder

When FANCL first debuted in Singapore several years ago, it quickly became well-known for its groundbreaking preservative-free skincare. FANCL is best known for its Facial Washing Powder and Mild Cleansing Oil (popularly known as "maru kure" in Japanese). Currently, you can find the limited edition "Ballet Dance" MCO in the FANCL stores in Singapore. The illustration is by Japanese fashion illustrator, Licaco. FANCL recently sent me the Dance series for me to review.

The MCO (in the pink pump bottles) is formulated with meadow foam oil which helps to dissolve keratin plugs and absorbs the dirt in pores, green tea catechin oil to fight free radicals, and rosehip oil for countering skin inflammation and stress. It retails at S$33 for 120ml. It is recommended that you use 2 pumps each time. (The pic below shows 1 pump's worth.) Simply massage it all over dry skin, emulsify with a bit of water at a time and then rinse off.

As its name suggests, the MCO feels quite mild and yet effectively removes all traces of makeup, including all of my mascara and eyeshadow. The oil is not overly watery but it's also not so viscous that it takes forever to rinse off. After emulsifying, it rinses off easily with just a few splashes and leaves my skin feeling clean. There was no need for me to use a separate eye makeup remover as the MCO took off everything. Some overly rich cleansing oils leave a film on my skin but MCO did not. It also did not sting my eyes. I've been a regular user of cleansing oils for many years now as they are the most effective and efficient at melting off all traces of makeup without tugging at the skin.

For ladies who would like to try out the line without committing to the full size, there is the Perfect Washing Set (S$28) which includes a MCO (60ml), Facial Washing Powder (25g) and a foaming ball.

After rinsing off the MCO, I followed it with the Facial Washing Powder. The Washing Powder has a polyamino acid formulation that helps to remove dirt and sebum while helping skin to retain moisture.

To foam it up, simply wet the ball, pour half to one teaspoon of powder onto the small indent and then squeeze the ball repeatedly while cupping it in both hands. Using both hands helps to catch all the foam and prevent it from dripping down.

Et voila! Then just transfer the foam onto wet skin, massage it in and then rinse off. The foam is creamy and dense, so it doesn't drip all over the place. It rinses off very easily and left my skin clean and supple without any dry patches. The Washing Powder retails at S$26 for a 50g bottle. Or you can save a few dollars by buying two bottles at S$48.50. The limited edition "Samba Dance" Facial Washing Powder (in the regular and "light" versions) with the yellow packaging will be available in local stores from 26 November.

Alternatively, you can also use the Facial Puff R to foam up the Washing Powder and then massage it onto the skin.

It is recommended that you do the massaging motion from the centre of the face in an outward direction for one to two minutes (step 5 in the diagram below). This helps to improve blood circulation and revitalize the skin.

Here are the ingredients lists for the MCO and Facial Washing Powder (click to view in full size). Both the MCO and Facial Washing Powder are good for one year after the manufacturing date BUT after the bottles have been opened, the MCO should be used up within 120 days while the Washing Powder should be used up within 60 days.

To help you keep track of the expiry date, each bottle comes with a small sticker for noting the opening date and the expiry date.

You can view FANCL Singapore's website here.

Robinsons Members' Preview Sale

Robinsons will be holding a members' preview sale from Wednesday 12 May to Thursday 13 May with tons of beauty GWPs and special buys galore. There will also be the usual 20% discount on toiletries and health supplements, plus makeup brands such as Bourjois, Neutrogena, Revlon, Silky Girl, St Ives, ZA Cosmetics.








To celebrate its 75th anniversary, Lancome has lined up several mega value sets that will be available from Wednesday 12 May to Sunday 23 May.

Robinsons Beauty GWPs

Just received this flyer from Robinsons with various beauty GWPs for next Wednesday 28 April. The additional gifts marked with "CM" are for Robinsons cardholders.