Shu Uemura will launch its new Nutri:nectar Gentle Cleansing Oil In Emulsion on 1 September in Japan to mark the 50th anniversary of the debut of its signature cleansing oil which was beloved by Hollywood stars such as Lucille Ball. As the first emulsion-type oil from Shu Uemura, it is designed to encourage skin turnover and boost skin's hydration levels and restore skin's balance with essential oils of lavender, oregano, sage, sandalwood and musk, plus calming acai, reishi mushroom and replenishing magnolia. This is currently available on the Shu Uemura USA site at for US$78 for 450ml.
For this Chinese New Year, Shu Uemura is releasing two limited edition Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil and Blanc:Chroma Cleansing Oil featuring traditional Chinese kite art. This appears to be exclusive to Chinese-speaking markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong as there has been no mention of it in the Japanese press or on the US website. Pic below from Shu Uemura Singapore.
Pic below from Be_Hk.
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.
According to Abe Sawako's blog Shu Uemura will launch a new Ultime 8 Supreme Beauty Cleansing Oil (4410yen for 150ml) on 19 June in Japan, with an exclusive pre-launch at the Omotesando Hills flagship boutique on 2 April. The amber-colored cleansing oil reportedly feels amazingly like cashmere on skin, and contains a blend of eight botanical oils: camellia, ginger root, shea butter, jojoba, soy, sunflower, corn and olive.
Here are the products that I've used up this month so far.
1. Cosme Decorte Essence Makeup Remover: This biphase makeup remover worked well for removing eye makeup without irritating the eyes.
2. Burt's Bees Extra Energising Citrus & Ginger Root Body Wash: This was pretty average. I didn't find the scent to be particularly refreshing or energising, so I would not re-purchase this.
3. Body Shop Moisture White Shiso Make-up Cleansing Oil: This works well for removing makeup and rinses off easily without any oily residue. The shiso scent is unusual but not unpleasant and it doesn't linger on the skin. I didn't notice any whitening effect after using this for the past month.
4. Shiseido Tsubaki Damage Care Shampoo: This works really well for my color-treated hair and rinses off easily without leaving my hair in tangles.
5. L'Oreal Liss-Intense conditioner: I think this is the same as L'Oreal Smooth Intense conditioner. It contains argan oil for nourishing the hair. It helps to de-tangle my hair but it was less impressive in terms of combating the dryness and frizziness.
6. RMK Gel Scrub: This has been reviewed here. This did not provide enough exfoliating action for me.
7. RMK UV Face Protector SPF43: RMK recently revamped its UV Face Protector and bumped up the SPF factor from SPF35 to SPF43 PA+++ while retaining the same light, citrus-scented texture. I like the non-greasy texture but it has a slight tendency to peel on my skin.
8. K-Palette Lasting 2Way Eyebrow Powder: I've been a loyal user of the K-Palette Real Lasting Eyebrow for over a year as it is so easy to use, thanks to the fine brush tip that never splays. It lasts all day on me, no matter how oily my skin gets. This is the new dual-ended version which comes with a brow powder that can be used for a softer effect but it tends to apply patchily on me, so I usually use only the liquid end. The brow liquid lasted just slightly over two months for me with daily usage.
9. Fragrance samples of Jean Paul Gaultier Classique X, Dior J'Adore, Love Chloe and Si Lolita by Lolita Lempicka. Si Lolita was too spicy for my liking while J'Adore and Love, Chloe were nice for daily wear, but I'm not sure that I like them enough to want to purchase a full bottle.
10. Kenzoki Bare Body Night Cream: Not only does this body cream hydrate well, it also has the most wonderfully soothing scent. It is a pricey indulgence but I'll definitely consider investing in it in the future.
11. Kenzoki Fresh Jelly and Gum Drops: This is supposed to exfoliate and purify the skin but the gum drops in it basically just slipped and slided all over the skin. This did not impress me at all due to the lack of exfoliating action.
12. Steam Cream: I think this is the 3rd or 4th pot I've used up! It works well for combating the dry patches on my limbs but in humid weather like Singapore's climate, it can feel oily on the skin.
13. Philosophy Mimosa Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath: I like trying out Philosophy's shower gels just for the interesting scents. This is supposed to have a champagne and citrus scent but it smells more like sweet orange candy to me. It lathers up well and doesn't dry out my skin.
14. Chanel Hydra Beauty Serum: This new serum by Chanel is too heavily fragranced for my liking. It absorbs quite well but after about an hour or two, my skin gets oily again.
Shu Uemura recently launched its new Fresh Pore Clarifying Gentle Cleansing Oil, incorporating new technology and ingredients for more effective cleansing action and a "zero oil" sensation. It comes in two sizes, 150ml (S$62) and 450ml (S$138). The Fresh Cleansing Oil is based on the Natural Origin HPO ("High Performance Oil") System. Compared to the previous formula, the new Fresh Cleansing Oil results in 50% higher removability of waterproof mascara. It also helps to hydrate the skin and minimise the appearance of pores, leaving skin feeling smoother and more moisturised.
The Fresh Cleansing Oil contains the following key ingredients:
Safflower oil: Rich in linoleic acids, which are important for skin nutrition, cell renewal and maintenance of skin's barrier function.
Jojoba oil: an emollient agent that helps to support skin elasticity and suppleness.
Squalene from olive oil: has a high spreadability that helps to easily remove sebum.
Sakura leaf extract: This has anti-bacterial and skin soothing properties.
Cherry extract: Contains natural AHA to exfoliate skin and minimise pores
Lipo HA: A salicylic acid derivative that provides more effective exfoliating action than salicylic acid.
I found the new Fresh Cleansing Oil to be efficient at melting off all of my makeup quickly. While it still feels like an oil on my skin, it does feel quite light textured and it rinses off easily. There isn't as much visible emulsifying action compared to the other Shu Uemura cleansing oils, but this doesn't seem to affect its efficacy at removing makeup. Out of habit, I still follow up with a facial cleanser as I like my skin to feel thoroughly clean at the end of a day.
Shu Uemura's cleansing oils have actually been a staple in my skincare regime for many years. I've used up at least 2 bottles of the previous Fresh Cleansing Oil. I'm currently still using up my bottles from the Tokyo Kamon Girls collection featuring illustrations by manga artist Moyoco Anno.
I usually purchase the larger 450ml bottles as they work out to be more cost-effective than the 150ml bottles. Fancl appears cheaper at S$33 for a 120ml bottle but four bottles of that will still set you back S$132. A 450ml bottle of Shu's Cleansing Oil usually lasts me about 3 months with daily use. Their cleansing oils are indeed expensive but they do work very well. You can also purchase them at cheaper prices in airport dutyfree in Singapore and other East Asian countries. For example, Shu Uemura's prices at the Narita airport dutyfree are about 20-25% cheaper than the normal retail prices in Japan.
The bottle on the left features calligraphy by the late brand founder, Mr Uemura, while the pink bottle on the right is from the Shu by Ai Yamaguchi collection in 2006.
For this month, Shu Uemura is offering a 20ml bottle of the new Fresh Cleansing Oil at all its counters in exchange for any empty/used cleanser worth at least $35. This offer is while stocks last. Do also check out their Facebook page for news on product launches and promotions.
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.
Managed to finish another slew of products recently so I'll review them quickly before sending the containers for recycling.
1. Steam Cream: I finished my first Steam Cream that I purchased in Tokyo! At just 75ml, this can did not last very long as I was using it as a body moisturiser. The skin on my legs have become much dryer as I get into my 30s. The Steam Cream absorbs easily and keeps my skin well hydrated without stickiness. While the texture was divine perfection in the dry and cold climate of Tokyo back in early April, but in Singapore's hot and humid weather, the Steam Cream does leave a discernible layer on my skin. It's not as heavy as Body Shop Body Butter but it is definitely more emollient than Body Shop Body Puree.
2. Sala Shiny Arrange Wax: Both my mother and I loved this as it helps to keep our hair neat without any crackly stiffness. The light wax is very easy to work with when mixed with a bit of water. Sala is a drugstore haircare brand by Kanebo. The Sala hair wax line has been revamped since I purchased this so this version is no longer available but you can probably find a very similar product to this in the current line-up.
3. Sala Repair Hair Pack: I brought this along on my Hawaii & Tokyo trip to use as a daily conditioner. It helped to keep my hair soft and manageable without any buildup. This has also been revamped since I purchased it.
4. Jill Stuart Sugar Body Scrub: I purchased this as part of the Bath & Body Collection from last November. I find that the sugar melts too fast so you get less than a minute of really good and thorough scrubbing action. The 60g pot lasted only about six uses for me. The floral scent was a tad too sweet and tweeny for my liking.
5. Kiehl's Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion: This helps to dry out blemishes effectively so I use this when I get breakouts, especially on my forehead and cheeks. It is too astringent to use twice a day, so I only use this when I need to treat acne.
6. Kiehl's Olive Fruit Oil Nourishing Shampoo: This is formulated with olive fruit oil, avocado oil and lemon extract to restore shine and softness to dry, damaged hair. It cleansed quite effectively and rinsed off easily without stripping or leaving my hair in a tangled mess although I still need to follow up with a conditioner.
7. City Girl Nail Polish Remover: Just a cheapo $2 nail polish remover. It worked alright but wasn't particularly outstanding. I can't even remember where I bought this!
8. Body Shop Spa Wisdom Polynesia Lotus & Frangipani Flower Body Puree: This is perfect for Singapore's humid climate as it absorbs quickly into the skin without any greasiness at all. The scent is quite light and not too sweet, generic or cloying.
9. Body Shop Spa Wisdom Polynesia Lime & Coconut Shower Gel: This contains small scrubby bits to help exfoliate the skin. It cleanses well and doesn't strip my skin. I can't really smell the lime note in this though.
10. Shu Uemura White Recover EX+ Brightening Cleansing Oil: Very effective at removing makeup including waterproof mascara but I did not notice any significant whitening or brightening effect.
11. I Nuovi Purify Skin Cleansing Gel: The clear gel has an almost jelly-like texture. This cleanses well and gently without stripping the skin.
The fourth design in Fancl's popular Princess Design Series of Mild Cleansing Oil features a Snow White illustration by German artist IRMA. This will have a limited production quantity of 290,000 units. This is not yet available in Singapore but has already been released in both Japan and Taiwan.
I picked up this Dove Oil Foam Cleansing on my last trip to Japan. As some of you may know, cleansing oils are very popular in Japan for their excellent makeup removal properties, especially for waterproof mascaras which just melt off with cleansing oils. For ladies who don't like applying oil of any kind to their face, the Dove Oil Foam Cleansing offers the impressive makeup removal power of a cleansing oil in a light airy foam.
This has been a big hit in Japan, with one million bottles sold within three months. It's very affordably priced at around 1000yen for 155ml in drugstores. For those of you who are eco-conscious, you can now also buy it in refill packs. On 23 July, Dove will release a limited edition Go Fresh version which has a mandarin orange scent. Sounds absolutely delightful!
Do check out the TV ad on the Dove Japan website here!
Shu Uemura will launch a revamped version of their iconic bestseller, Cleansing Oil Classic, on 5 September in Japan. The new Cleansing Oil Advanced Classic (2940yen for 150ml, 7875yen for 450ml) promises to be even more effective in removing all traces of makeup, including waterproof mascara, while increasing the moisture level of skin.
Pics from the press event from Voce magazine's website.
