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Review: Shiseido Fullmake Washable Base

Shiseido FWB Fullmake Washable Base*

You’d be forgiven if you’re slightly confused as to what this product does. Whereas the name may be in English, it doesn’t make much more sense than FWB. Well Shiseido can be forgiven as this skincare product is aimed at the Japanese market. This is a base for your make-up, that will help it stay put, but also easier to remove. It also claims to nourish skin, whilst evening your skin tone and improving lip colour. I decided to give it a go as I love Shiseido, and the idea behind this.
Pros:
+ Easy to apply
+ Fragrance free
+ Non-sticky formula
 + Kept my make-up in place
+ My foundation washed off easily

Cons:
– Doesn’t work on waterproof make-up, such as eyeliner/mascara
– Left a mark when I got a spot of water on my face during the day

Notes:
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I put this on in the morning, but it applied easily with no fuss. The base is fragrance free, which is always a plus for a face product in my books. The product has a texture between a cream and a gel, and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. I wore this over a few days and my make-up did stay put each day. Although on one of those days I happened to splash some water on my face, and it did leave a visible mark on my foundation, but it wasn’t too big. When it came to washing it off, now that’s when I got excited. There are a whole bunch of instructions on how to apply and wash this off to get the best out of the product, and they’re definitely worth reading – at least I read them. You can read them here. So after following the instructions I noticed that my foundation had come off my face and was mixed in with the water droplets on my skin. It’s hard to explain, and it looks a bit odd, but it works! It removed my eyeliner and mascara…to the rest of my face, but then this doesn’t work on waterproof make-up, which makes sense. You do need a cloth or cotton pad to remove the make-up…or you could maybe stick your head in the sink, but I’d recommend the former. I was impressed with how my foundation removed so easily, and it left my skin ready for a good cleansing. It definitely makes the removal of make-up, and your skincare routine a lot easier. For around £11, this isn’t a bad price and is up there with some well known British brand primers – but then this does a bit more than that. I’d consider purchasing this, for all of its benefits, because it does exactly what it says on the tin tube.
You can purchase Shiseido’s Fullmake Washable Base at Lunatu.
bloomzy /

Review: Canmake Lip Care Essence

Canmake Lip Care Essence

This is a product I’ve kept hidden from you all for a while. But I can’t be selfish any longer, so I’ve decided to review it for you. Canmake are a Japanese drugstore-equivalent beauty brand. They can be found in most stores across Japan that stock beauty products. They are also available in some stores across other parts of Asia, and online. The collections are usually very well priced for the quality of the goods. I’ve been using Canmake products for around 6 years now and I love them.

Pros:
+ Very moisturising
+ Helped when I had chapped lips
+ Great base for lipstick
+ Cute packaging
+ Can be used as a gloss

Cons:
– Sticky

Notes:
As an avid user of lip balms I wasn’t expecting much from a gloss lip care product. Yet Canmake have won me over again with this one. This gloss is an amazing all rounder product that works great for general lip-care but is also good as a base for lipsticks, or to get a natural gloss look on lips. It can be sticky, like all glosses, so probably best to avoid wearing it on a windy day – trust me, I know from experience. However it has kept my lips chap free, and even helped when I had chapped lips recently. It’s a great size so it would fit into any handbag easily, but there’s plenty of product. It leaves my lips hydrated, soft and smooth, and doesn’t stay sticky for too long. It’s worth mentioning that this has a very very light pink tone to it, and there is also a cherry toned one. This was bought in Japan for a very reasonable 680円 (around £4.10). You can buy this particular product online but unfortunately like most imported products, prices have been hiked up.

You can buy Canmake’s Lip Care Essence on eBay and at YesStyle.

bloomzy /

Review: Essential Nuance Airy Japanese Hair Mask

The Essential hair masks are a product I’ve been wanting to try out for a while.
When I say a while, I mean I’ve had this on my list for several years now. Crazy, right?
Even when I was living in Japan I never got round to actually trying the hair masks out.
Well I finally decided to buy one of these from Alpha Beauty Store a few weeks ago.
There are a couple of hair masks in the collection, and I went for Nuance Airy.
It claims to give damaged and limp hair a new lease of life, with a light and bouncy feel.
Naunce Airy is specifically aimed at helping those with coloured/heat styled hair.
It aims to repair the last 15cm of your hair, but you can use it over all of your hair.
After washing your hair and towel drying it, pop this on for 5mins and then wash off.
You can use this 2 to 3 times a week, when washing your hair.
Pros:
+ Smells amazing
+ Left my hair soft & silky
+ Adorable packaging 
+ Good for coloured/damaged hair
+ Lots of product

Cons:
– Won’t smooth out frizzy hair

Notes:
The Essential hair mask lived up to all of my expectations. First off, can we please talk about how gorgeous the packaging is? I’m not a fan of pink but this is adorable and definitely lives up to the high standard set by Japanese packaging. The product itself has a rather buttery, thick texture to it. It’s not unpleasant and actually makes it a lot easier to handle. The shea butter and honey in this means that it smells amazing whilst you’re wearing it, and the smells lasts long after you’ve washed it off too. I thought it might weigh my fine hair down slightly, but that wasn’t a problem at all. It left my hair soft and silky feeling, although it didn’t stop my hair from frizzing…but then not much does. It’s also worth mentioning that I had my tips bleached a couple of weeks ago, so they were a bit dry but this At £9.58 this isn’t cheap, but there is plenty of product to go around. It’s definitely something I’ll be buying again. 
You can purchase Essential’s Nuance Airy Hair Mask at Alpha Beauty Store.
The store may be closed for the first week or so of February due to Chinese New Year.
bloomzy /

Review: DHC Liquid Eyeliner EX Pen

Liquid eye liner is one of my must-have beauty products.
I use it in my everyday make-up so it’s important I have a good one.
Recently I was recommended a liquid eyeliner pen by Japanese brand DHC.
I love Japanese beauty products, and DHC, so of course I had to try it out.
Pros:
+ Applies easily
+ Love the packaging
+ Good staying power

Cons:
– Smudges during wear
– Needs to be used with a primer

Notes:
I really wanted to like this and to start with I did. I noticed that some of the liner had smudged (transferred) from my upper lid but I thought that may have just been because I didn’t use primer on the first wear. I prefer not to have to use a primer but I understand that some products just need it. Yet when I wore it using primer it still smudged. I really don’t know how to work this liner, as the person who recommended it uses it everyday and had no problem with it. I guess I’ll have to just try another primer. On the plus side, this applies well and seems to stay, despite the smudging. On top of that the packaging is simple and cute, and the pen itself is great for carrying in your handbag. I’m on the fence about this one. Price wise it’s on the higher end of what I would usually pay at £16, so I’ll definitely be giving it another try before I give up entirely.
You can buy DHC’s Liquid Eyeliner EX at Beauty Mart.
bloomzy /

Challenge: STEAMCREAM

A few weeks ago I was sent a small package from STEAMCREAM*.
They wanted to set a few bloggers a fun little challenge using their product.
The aim was to use the STEAMCREAM in several ways, as part of your daily routine.
It was to show the versatility of the product and to prove that it isn’t just another old moisturiser.
When my pack arrived, honestly, I was a little dubious as I stared at my ‘ingredients’.
I love natural ingredients being used in beauty products but I wasn’t entirely sure I could do it myself.
Well thankfully I proved myself wrong because I managed to create 3 separate products with my STEAMCREAM.
Oat exfoliating mask, bb cream, and sugar body scrub
All 3 of these only involved mixing a product (foundation etc) with the STEAMCREAM.
It was so simple that it didn’t take up much time at all, which was great as I’m always in a rush.
My two favourites though had to be the exfoliating oat face mask & the invigorating sugar body scrub.
My skin felt super smooth, moisturised and calm (some products can upset my sensitive skin) afterwards.
The BB cream didn’t work out that well for me, but I never have been a big fan of tinted moisturisers etc.
Still, I would say that this challenge was a success, even though I had my suspicions to start off with.
When I first discovered STEAMCREAM I thought it was just another moisturiser.
Well luckily for me, I was wrong. It’s a whole lot more than that!
Visit STEAMCREAM to purchase a tin, and have a go at your own challenge.
Alternatively, you can buy it in Selfridges, John Lewis and from ASOS.
bloomzy /

Video: Hyper Japan 2013

I’ve made a small video with some footage that I took at Hyper Japan 2013.

Unfortunately this was after my camera died so it was all taken on my iPhone.

Even so if you watch it in 720p HD you will still get the full effect.

Enjoy!

bloomzy /

Photo Diary: Hyper Japan 2013

Here is the first post from Hyper Japan 2013.
This post is very photo heavy, so I’ve hidden it under a cut.

Japanese inspired nail art @ Sanagi Atelier – website

Angelic Pretty, Japanese cosmetics, wigs, toys, accessories and more @ Dreamy Bows – website
This stall was also run in conjunction with Tofu Cute – website
Handmade jewellery and accessories @ Roxie Sweetheart

This is just a small collection of photos I managed to take before my camera died.
I was impressed with the selection of Japanese fashion and cosmetic stalls on show this year.
Of course I love the culture and food sections equally, but I wanted to focus on the fashion/beauty.
I’ve placed a little info and credit under some of the photos, so you can shop online for yourselves.
Keep an eye out for a special Hyper Japan 2013 Youtube video coming soon!
Which stall looked the most interesting to you?
If you went which was your favourite stall this year?