Age of Beauty: From the Belle's Dressing Table

My apologies for the slow updates!

 Without further ado, the must have products right from the dressing table of the Belle.

Hada Labo Lifting & Firming Lotion

I have reviewed this lotion quite some time ago, and I am still loving it! After continued usage in conjunction with my regular skincare, the fine lines on my neck have diminished. Retinol in the lotion helps to exfoliate and reveal healthier, younger looking skin.

Chamomile + Green tea Toner

This toner tightens skin and prepares it to absorb skincare afterwards. Chamomile soothes itchy skin. Regular usage helps to reduce dark spots associated with aging. (View my previous post for how to make this simple DIY toner!)

All too often, women are on the lookout for the miracle cream in the bottle. For me, I prefer to keep things simple. Why? Not because I do not trust modern technology, but because of the simple fact that once you start using stronger products, it is hard to go back to simpler products. So start with something simple, then gradually adjust the intensity of your routine as your skin needs it, until your skin finds the lowest concentration possible that is needed to keep it in optimum condition.

Next up, ingredients to look out for when shopping for your next youth cocktail.

Come back soon!

Whitening Galore:Stars of the Show

Before we go on, presenting to you, a photo of the current stars of the show...

Left to right- Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion,Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening essence, Hadd Labo Arbutin Whitening Milk, The Face Shop White Tree Snow Aqua Capsule Sleeping Pack, Lovemore Super White Diamond Sheet Mask

This are my current loves, for whitening. Why no mention of sunblock till now, you say. To answer that: It is important, so it deserves a separate post on its own. (As do the bath and body products.)

Watch this space, Snow Whites!

Review: Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Essence

This review has been sitting in my to do list for awhile, but I never got around to doing it since I was experimenting with other products on and off. But this product has become a staple in my routine, and for a good reason.

But first, let me get on to my experience with the product first.

Pros
-Easily absorbed, like all the other products in the range.
-Visible brightening effect with consistent usage. Skin is brightened, and hydrated rather than simply whitened.
-Scars heal more easily (I don't really get spots--touch wood---due to my obsession with sunblock on my face)
-scent free, lowering the risk of irritation 

Cons
-can be sticky if you do not pat in the product well, but the feeling disappears quickly, so no biggie
-hard to get the last of the product out, even with the pump. But opening up the bottle solves the problem.

Verdict:
So whats not to love? Pocket friendly product that works. While it does not offer lightning quick whitening results, it does seem to improve the skin texture over the long run. And the results are visible. I should know, since I've used up a several bottles of the stuff (in replacement of my beloved Clarins White HP whitening smoothing essence). For a skincare schizophrenic like me, that's saying a lot.

Review:Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid face wash

Getting older means that my skin isn't what it used to be.From normal/combination to dehydrated skin that has a tendency to turn into an oil field if I use the wrong products, I have had to overhaul my skincare routine in the past year, and thankfully have settled into a routine that works for me. But more about that later.

When my Avene cleanser ran out, I took a leap of faith and tried the SHA (Gokujyun) facial wash from Hada Labo. I was a little skeptical at first, as I had earlier tried the AHA+BHA (Tamagohada) facial wash on my finicky skin with less than desirable results. I was glad I did.

I used it for around 3 weeks before I did this review. Here goes...

Pros
-Rich texture and creamy foam that provides a 'cushion' to the skin while cleansing
-Cleanses well without stripping moisture-- thanks to the super hyaluronic acid content
-No scent to irritate sensitive/sensitized skin

Cons
-May be too rich for skins that clog easily--my friends have commented that they tend to get clogs when the weather gets too humid. But a good exfoliator usually solves this problem. So far, so good for me. My dehydrated skin seems to like it.

Verdict:
I have since purchased the full size, after using up the travel size version that I bought for my overseas trip. It works perfectly for cold weather, or overly strong hotel air conditioning. I didn't have to rush to apply my skincare as there was no tight feeling after I stepped out of the shower.

So far, no complaints from the family using this facial wash even with different skin types in the house. Simple product that does what it says. I will probably stick with it until the itch to try new products strikes me.

Review:Hada Labo Lifting+Firming Lotion

The hot, humid weather recently made me reluctant to slather on my usual cocktail of skincare products for daytime. So when the red bottle of Hada Labo's (antiaging) lotion caught my eye, I thought it was worth a try.The result? Here goes! Results based on about 2 weeks usage.

Pros:
 -Easily absorbed texture -Highly moisturizing -my dehydrated skin practically drank it up! -Gets rid of flakiness, appearance of fine lines reduced
-Skin feels bouncy and looks radiant

Cons:
 -No visible 'lifting' effect
 -Did nothing for visible neck lines
 -Caused some hairline breakouts--But then this was my fault since I over applied it to my hairline and was too lazy to tissue it off.
 -Not for sensitive skin

Verdict:
 I love this product! With once-twice daily usage, depending on my skin condition, the dry lines on my nose are almost gone. Combined with the whitening lotion from the same maker, I am sometimes able to skip my serum for daytime and go straight to moisturizer.(yes I know both of them are technically toners but his works for me. So there!)While this product may not suffice for heavy duty anti-aging, it does go a long way in prevention--its ingredient list contains goodies like retinol,collagen, and Super Hyaluronic Acid. With its pocket friendly price, this one's a keeper in my skincare regime!

Review: Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion

I am obsessed with whitening, I have to admit. Whitening products are essential in my skincare routine. Especially in sunny Singapore, this becomes even more crucial.Being genetically predisposed to getting spots (just look at my arms where I often neglect to slather sunblock), who can blame me?

Which is why, when Hada Labo launched its whitening range, I was delighted.(It is one of my favourite drugstore brands). Here's the lowdown.(review based on usage of 1 and a half bottles of usage.

Pros:
-Easily absorbed texture, refreshing feel
-Non irritating and scent free
-Brightening effect.
-Scarring is diminished
-Budget friendly

Cons:
-Not hydrating enough as compared to the original(my poor skin is very dehydrated)
-Whitening effect not obvious

Verdict:
The reason why I repurchased this was that it seemed to help keep the dullness at bay. While the effects are not as obvious as my beloved Clarins whitening range, it is pretty good value for money. It does not lighten your skin beyond its original skin tone, but it does give a sort of glow, with consistent usage. This may not be a product you can place all hopes on to lighten your skin, but it is a good addition to your whitening routine.

Coming next: Hada Labo Lifting+Firming Lotion

Review: Hada Labo Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Lotion

Hada Labo has been launched in Singapore for a while now, and the reason why I am so late to reviewing it is because I was trying to use up my stockpile of products, and also because I wanted to give the product time to work its magic. Review is based on usage of nearly one bottle of the lotion.

Something to clarify: In Japanese skincare, lotion=toner. Different from what we usually see on the labels of European brands.

Pros:
-Scent free, and simple ingredients lowers the risk of any adverse reaction
-A small amount hydrates the skin well, leaving it smooth and bouncy
-Perfect for Singapore's humid weather-with correct application, it literally disappears into the skin
-Budget friendly--one bottle lasts ages!

Cons:
-Slight tacky feeling after application which may be irritating for some, but no biggie for me since the feeling vanishes shortly.

Star Ingredient:
Super Hyaluronic Acid-2 times the moisture retention capacity of normal Hyaluronic Acid. That's a whopping 2 X 6 Liters for every 1 gram!No wonder my friend, who swears by this, has such gorgeous, bouncy skin...

Verdict:
What's not to love? I would repurchase this again in a heartbeat,except for the fact that I have found my new love(s).

Coming up next, my reviews on the Lifting+Firming Lotion and Arbutin Whitening Lotion from the same makers.