My Winter Skincare Regime

GENIE IS BACK!!!

It's been SOOO long since I've blogged - I did become a little put off by the fact that one of my blogposts was suddenly deleted without my consent, and RSS Feeds stopped working anymore. Since then, I've been really busy with my life with the two kids, trying to find a job, my severe back pain, and MaskGenie. Most importantly, I just lacked the motivation to blog, especially not being able to find something that I really wanted to blog about and something that was worth blogging about.

In this blogpost, I'd like to talk about the products that I'm using now, after having switched to products suitable for the super dry winter climate.

Since November, I've been slowly incorporating richer products into my skincare regime. I've been using products from CNP Laboratory since summer, and it has really helped to boost the water level in my skin. During the home care facial that I had at Shiseido's as a part of the birthday special they offer for VIPs, they used a special device to check my skin, and they found that my face was highly hydrated (all thanks to the CNP Laboratory products I had been using), but my skin slightly lacked collagen.

When winter was approaching, I realised that CNP products were not moisturising enough for my skin (even after switching to a heavier face cream), so since then, I have been incorporating Shiseido products into my regime, though the first night I started using them all (I was too excited to try them all), I broke out on my forehead. This didn't stop me from continuing with Shiseido products though, but I did stop for a few days before slowly adding them back in. During the days that I broke out, I used these products:

CNP Laboratory Hydro Intensive Toner

LJH Tea Tree 90 Essence

CNP Laboratory Dual-Balance Waterlock T/U Serum

CNP Dortoray Intensive Hydrating Cream

I also used a few Dr. Morita masks to help calm my skin and soothe the breakouts.

After recovering from the breakouts, I slowly added the products into my regime, sometimes adding the emulsion, sometimes adding the toner, until my face felt stable and okay with adding them in.

I'm currently using up a random cleanser from Memebox - Awesome Aqua Whip Hug Foam Cleanser. Nothing special, doesn't clean very well and quite drying for the face especially in this weather. Will not repurchase.

 Currently using up another Memebox toner - Tosowoong Timeshift Skin Toner. It's more like a gel rather than a watery type of toner, not so moisturising, but it cleans very well and makes the cotton pad brown after swiping it on my face and neck. Will not repurchase. During the days after my Lipodermis treatment, I use the CNP Laboratory Hydro Intensive Toner instead, as my skin is very delicate then. Will consider repurchasing since this is very moisturising and gentle.

I don't always use an essence anymore (I used to use the IOPE Bio Essence Intensive Conditioning religiously, but stopped during summer), but when I remember to, or when my face reminds me that it's extra dry, I'll use the DM Intensive Hydrating Essence. The essence itself is great, leaves a slight sticky feeling, but the pump sucks. My sister-in-law gave this to me, but I don't know if I'll repurchase since it is kind of pricey. When my face is super dry, I'll apply the IOPE Essence before applying the DM one. This is my second bottle of IOPE Essence, but I'm not sure whether I would purchase a third one, since I don't use it as often anymore.

When I know I'll be putting on makeup the next day or when my face really needs that extra water boost, I'll use the Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate before using my usual serum, followed by the Ultimune Eye for the eyes. I realised that my makeup does adhere better, and my face is less dry after using the Ultimune line, but they are kind of pricey, so I'm not sure whether I would repurchase. I don't use these everyday, so I'm hoping they'll last me for a while before my next repurchase.

As for the serum, I have the most expensive serum that I've ever purchased - Shiseido's Vital-Perfection White Circulator Serum. I started with a deluxe sample, but finished that, and opened up the full size. I use two pumps of this on hubby's face, and his face reacts very well to it (did I mention that he breaks out using most products but not this one?), but I did break out on the first two times of use. I use 1.5 pumps on my face, massage it into my face, and a few times more on my cheekbones (where the hyperpigmentations are). May consider repurchasing but I'll need to save up for it.

I admit I've been lazy with eye creams lately, I think it's because CNP Laboratory products can all be applied around the eyes, so I've been too lazy to apply other things, but seeing it's winter, that's when lines start to appear, so I decided to do something about my dark eye circles and fine lines. I was looking for Christmas presents at Fresh when I decided I want something for myself too, so I got a Christmas Set that came with a Black Tea Eye Cream, a Black Tea Cream, and a Black Tea Sleeping Mask. Despite it being an eye cream, it's very light and easy to blend. It doesn't cause milia. The full-size product is really expensive, so I'm not sure whether I'll repurchase, but if it does do something for my dark eye circles and lines, I will consider saving up for it. Before I started using the eye cream from Fresh, I tried a sample of an eye cream from Shiseido that was really rich, but felt nice and smooth after blending, and really did seem to do something for fine lines, but I bet it's really expensive just by looking at the packaging.

 

As for the night cream, first off there's the one from Shiseido - Vital-Perfection Sculpting Lift Cream. It is rich and moisturising, not oily, but its perfumey scent is really strong. After realising that my face was okay with using such rich creams, I decided to take out my long lost favourite, the IOPE Super Vital Extra Moist Cream. I used to love this cream, but there was a time after I gave birth to my second child, that I couldn't use anything heavy on my face, otherwise I would breakout. I tried it again, and my face loves it again. The only problem with this cream is that if you take too much of it, it does feel a bit oily. I now use the little spatula I got from CNP Laboratory to scrape the top layer of the cream a few times to get what I need, and this ensures I don't get too much, because you really don't need a lot! Out of the two creams, I think I prefer the IOPE one, as it's actually more moisturising, and the scent is more acceptable. As for the price, Shiseido is more than double the price of IOPE! Plus, I still have two more deluxe tubs of the IOPE, so I won't need to repurchase in a while!

I also have another cream sample that I use - A-True Darjeeling Black Tea First Anti-Wrinkle Cream, but because it is actually quite light, so I use it in the mornings instead. Light in the day, heavy at night. The A-True cream actually smells like black tea which is really nice and relaxing. Probably won't repurchase though, since Memebox products are quite hard to source.

Every night, I apply the Fresh Sugar Lip Serum Advanced Therapy followed by the L'erbolario Shea Butter Lip Balm. I absolutely cannot live without this lip balm - this is my second one! I used to have serious flaking lips, and nothing would help except this lip balm! They recently ran out at the shop, so I got their Natural Glossy Lip Balm as a spare, but it's nothing like a lip gloss that you normally think of, nothing in the cosmetic sense, instead it's like a tube filled with different essential oils, and is super moisturising to the lips! It has a slight flowery-herbal scent, but nothing synthetic.

In the mornings, I keep it simple. I wash my face with cold water. That's it, no cleansers or anything, just plain water. Then, I follow with my Tosowoong toner, CNP Laboratory Waterlock T/U Serum, Shiseido Vital-Perfection Emulsion, and CNP Doctoray Intensive Hydrating Cream or A-True Black Tea Cream. The CNP Laboratory Dual-Balance line is my absolute "go-to" for summer - I used the toner, serum, and cream from the same line during summer, whilst hubby uses the A-Clean line!

Next, I apply my CNP Doctoray Real Perfect Sunblock which has a UVA PA+++ and UVB SPF 50+, AND it has a slight tint to it (I blogged about the summer edition before, but that's the post that got deleted), but I really can't tell you enough by words how much I love this! My face is matte and oil-free all day long!

If, for some reason, my skin feels dry during the day, then I'll use a mist spray - I swear by the Recipe By Nature Spray Essence Water, but if I'm wearing makeup, I'll use the Recipe By Nature to prep my skin before applying makeup, and the CNP Laboratory Quick Soothing S.O.S. Mist over makeup. I've lost count of how many Recipe By Nature mists I've used, but it's definitely a lot, and the great thing is that it's free from mineral oil, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dye, triethanolamine, and parabens! The S.O.S mist is great as not many mists can be used over makeup, and this one can because the particles are very small, and won't leave droplets over your face after spraying. The S.O.S mist also smells of rose, but it's not overwhelming or annoying.

Other products that I use every now and then:

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner
I actually like its predecessor more (I blogged about it here), but this one is still pretty good and convenient to use. Not suitable for sensitive skin.
CNP Laboratory Deep Enzyme Powder Wash (click here for the review)
Absolutely love this powder wash - it's very gentle, yet it cleanses and minimises pores.

CNP Laboratory Anti-Pore Black Head Clear Kit (click here for the review)
I absolutely swear by this blackhead set, and would definitely recommend it to others! After using the first mask, all the impurities really float to the top, and it doesn't require much effort to squeeze out the blackheads using a blackhead extractor!

Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask
Started using this recently. There's no need to apply night cream before using this mask, only requires a thin layer, and leaves face feeling super moisturised - probably will not repurchase due to the high price tag.

I also use lots of different masks - sheet masks, sleeping masks, and wash-off masks.

That's a lot of CNP Laboratory products as well as the newly added Shiseido into the family! I must say that my face really does look flawless and has a glow after incorporating Shiseido products into my daily skincare regime! I also have a Lipodermis treatment done every 3-4 weeks, and I've noticed that my skin is back to being flawless, as well as my pores being slightly minimised. The only downside to these treatments is how painful they can be - it's like a facial scrub, but much more intense, and much more painful! Will talk more about them later in another post.

I used to be reluctant to use and eat products made in Japan, especially after the radiation leak, and having heard several stories from friends and families about the side effects and things that happened to their close friends after visiting Japan and everything, but nonetheless, one day I decided to try some of their makeup products since I've heard many good things about their products, and that's when I received some of their skincare samples to try, and I absolutely fell in love with the results! By the way, I love their makeup products too, but those will have to wait for another post.

As you can see, the Shiseido products that I have are mainly in sample sizes. Shiseido gives out many samples to try, and I have yet finished them all, so I haven't purchased anything in full size other than the serum. The only thing I don't really like about Shiseido's products is probably the perfumey smell and the high price tag to them, but other than that, Shiseido is awesome and I'd definitely recommend this brand to friends and family! Shiseido always comes out with these trial packs, and they're a great way to be able to try everything! Shiseido HK also has a VIP programme, so that's even more samples to try, as well as having birthday treats and discounts! What's more is that they even have samples for loose powder and other makeup items! Look below at the photo where the tub on the left is the loose powder in its full size, and the one in the middle is the deluxe size, and the deluxe also comes with a small puff inside the container! This loose powder is the best I've used, like seriously!

Okay, so that's a fairly long post with lots of products and lots of photos. I hope to see you guys soon in my next post, which hopefully won't take another 6 months to write.

Thank you for reading, and have a nice day!

If you guys have any questions about the products, please comment below :)

REVIEW: GINSENG HEALTH PATCH (KOREA)

So I've been really lazy with blogging recently, but I thought this deserved its own post here, because it really works!

Some history about me...

I injured my back from ice skating over 10 years ago, and I guess it never recovered properly. Back then, I couldn't even sit properly at school unless I used a cushion! I saw both Western and Chinese medical practitioners, and I thought I recovered, as I didn't feel anymore pain. The pain suddenly hit me a few years later when I was in New Zealand, and it was so painful that I couldn't even walk properly.

 I've sought all kinds of medical help, including acupuncture, Chinese massage, acupressure, Chinese medicine, physio, yoga, and other pain relief patches (Tiger Balm's warm plaster does a good job to relieve pain temporarily), but nothing had really done any long-term change. Having constant back pains has disrupted my sleep, and it's one of the main reasons why I joined yoga, but even so, yoga only gives me temporary relief.

I suddenly came across this product whilst looking for masks for MaskGenie, and I decided to try it. There were a few reviews on this product, all saying how good it was.

The product that I'm going to review today, is the
Ginseng Health Patch from Korea.

The idea of the patch is it stick it onto a part of the body which feels painful or tired. I forgot to mention in my review on Instagram that the patch feels slightly warm after application.

Each patch is like a thin sticky piece of paper that smells strongly of ginseng, and has many small black dots in the patch. Each patch is 9.5cm x 13cm in size, which is not particularly large, but I managed to stick it on the most painful part, and it still worked for me. It is recommended to use the patch each night for three days consecutively, even if your body doesn't feel painful or tired anymore.

On the packaging, it shows the places (acupressure points) where you can stick the patch.

The patch is very thin, but it adheres to the skin very well, and the corners do not roll up. It's not obvious under clothing unlike other pain relief gel patches. After taking my shower at night, I waited for 30 minutes before sticking on the patch. There is a Chinese belief that you need to let the "wetness" (濕氣) inside the body out first, otherwise the "wetness" will just build up, and cause even more discomforts.

I couldn't understand any of the instructions on the packaging (and there's not much information online), so I assumed that I had to peel it off in the morning (after 8-10 hours) like any other pain relief patches, but I just realised it does say "24 hours" on the packaging, so perhaps you're supposed to leave it on all day. When I peeled it off, a little of the plastic had stuck onto my back, and I had to rub it off.

After the first night, I felt that my back wasn't as painful anymore already, but I continued to use it for two more nights to get optimum results! My skin isn't super sensitive, so after the first night, my back didn't feel itchy. By the third day, I was really amazed to see that my back was not painful at all anymore, and I've never felt so good before! My skin, however, did start to feel slightly itchy after using the third patch. It's been one week since using the patch, and my back still feels perfectly fine!

I did, however, try the patches on my thighs which had muscle aches (from an intense yoga session), but the patch didn't seem to be effective at all.

I'm super satisfied with the results, and I hope they're not temporary, but even so, I'm a happy girl again, and I can finally get some good night's rest!

Rating: 9.5/10

Thank you for reading, and have a nice day!

REVIEW: CNP LABORATORY ENZYME POWDER WASH

During my CNP Laboratory haul, I got a free bottle sample from the shop, and my, it's quite a big sample with quite a lot of uses.This is the first time I've tried an enzyme wash, but I've heard many great things about it before.

I feel that the traditional Korean peeling gels aren't really effective, as I've tried rubbing the peeling gel on different surfaces (including the stone bench top), and the same rubber pieces still appear. I've also been told many times that scrubs are too harsh for the skin, especially if you have thin and sensitive skin like me.

So here I am with my powder wash. It's not the first powder wash I've tried though, as my first was with a Japanese brand, Fancl. The difference between the two, is that the Fancl required the use of a sponge to foam up, whereas this enzyme powder wash foams up with water alone.

So, back to business, this is the
CNP Laboratory Deep Enzyme Powder Wash.

Full Size Product: 70g 

Ingredients

Mixed fermented complex (pomegranate fermented extract, pu'er tea fermented extract, bean fermented extract), green tea EGCG

Product Description

Plant originated protein decomposition enzyme cleanses old impurities deeply.

Creates smooth skin texture.

Enzyme removes dead skin cells on skin surface to activate turnover period and create healthy skin.

Fine lather exfoliates without burden to the skin

Skin remains moisturised skin without dryness after cleansing

Contains niacinamide and rice bran extract for dull skin improvement to brighten the skin.

Enzyme in the powder wash activates the best among 35-40 degrees.

No additives, artificial colours, talc, benzophenone, mineral oil, alcohol, silicon, sulfate, surfactant.

How To Use

Pour a moderate amount into your palm and add some water.

Add some water to create enough lather.

Apply the foam all over the face, and gently massage.

Rinse off with warm water.

Apply 2-3 times a week depending on your skin condition.

Tip 1: Put some water to the powder, and rub against the face for a scrub effect. *Avoid the eyes

Tip 2: Rub the powder to wet nose to remove sebum and blackhead.

Tip 3: Mix the powder to your usual facial cleanser for a richer lather and deep cleansing effect.

You only need around a penny size worth of product to work with. There's a slight fruity scent, but not artificial or too overwhelming. It foams up easily with water, but it may feel slightly beady at first when the powder is still dissolving. The powder only foams up slightly, as it does not contain any foaming agents. After rinsing the foam off my face with water, I instantly noticed that my face felt super soft, smooth, and pores were minimised. My face did not feel dry afterwards.

There were so many uses out of the small bottle that I still haven't finished my bottle yet, though I went to buy myself a full size product during the Mother's Day promotion. I use mine at least once or twice a week, and have loved it since! I'm really loving CNP Laboratory so far!!

Rating: 10/10

Thank you for reading, and have a nice day!

REVIEW: OSEQUE HIGH-END TOUCH SPF34 PA++

This product has been continuously showing up on my Facebook news feed, so as a beauty blogger, I knew I had to get it!

This is the Osèque High-End Touch in shade 21 Light Beige. This product was also mentioned in the "Get It Beauty 2015", hence its popularity.

The Osèque High-End Touch comes in two shades:
#21 Light Beige#23 Natural Beige

Volume: 30ml

Product Features
Soft and fantastic colour
Soft moisturisation all day long
Colour which improves the beauty of all types of skin tone
Youthful skin with dazzling sparkle
Contains new material RonaFlair® (sapphire structure)
Fine wrinkle hiding effect using light diffusion
Expression of 3D facial features
Moisturising and nourishing makeup
Contains propolis, fermented bifidus lysate
1 bottle of essence for reinforced nourishing powder
Makeup and skin care at the same time
Convenient applicator
Roller type for easy and convenient application on curvy facial features
No lumping even after multiple applications
Sebum control for maintenance of balance
Moisture upon application, with fluffy finish
Sebum control for refreshed makeup all day long
Whitening care with blemish elimination
Wrinkle care for firm skin
Sunlight and UV ray blockage (SPF34, PA++)

Major Ingredients

Lorna flare (synthetic sapphire) , propolis extract, non-seafood appetiser for fermentation, six kinds of plant callus culture extracts (green tea, cactus, rice, tomato, carrot, lotus).

It comes in an elegant and sleek, black plastic bottle with a roller applicator. The lid (and even the shape of the bottle) reminds me of Chanel's products.

The roller applicator is perfect for lazy people like me, as there's no need for foundation bases or brushes or sponges anymore; however if you don't like the idea of using a roller on your face, you can easily pop off the applicator and apply it with your hands or usual applicators.

When you press the button on the side a few times, the foundation will leak out, so that you can easily roll it over your face. It does, however, get a little messy if you press the button too many times, and too much foundation squirts out at once. Sometimes, the foundation doesn't roll onto the roller applicator, so you may need to use your finger to wipe it off the applicator to put onto your face, then to use the roller applicator to blend.

The Osèque High-End Touch comes with skincare benefits too ~ anti-wrinkle, whitening, and SPF34, so it's not just an ordinary foundation! 

How To Use
After using your usual moisturiser, press the switch on the container, and roll the roller puff evenly onto the face. Press the switch several times so the contents are squeezed upwards. To wash the puff, old the puff and pull upwards to detach.



If you have trouble getting the foundation on the corners of your nose, you can try dabbing the applicator onto the area instead of rolling it on.


If anyone is interested, I did a tutorial & review video on the Osèque High-End Touch. I just realised that it's a pretty long video (oops!).

COMPARISON: OSÈQUE High-End Touch vs. JENNY HOUSE Perfect Skin One Shot Cover Stick Foundation

In the first photo, I only applied the Osèque High-End Touch onto the left part of my face. If you look carefully, you will see that my dark eye circles are less dark, but it didn't really change the colour of my skin. There are no obvious differences yet. 



In the second photo, I am applying the Jenny House Perfect Skin One Shot Cover Stick Foundation onto the other half of my face.



If you look carefully in the photo below, you can see that my dark eye circle is concealed better on the right hand side. I do have quite a few moles (as shown in the photo above), but the small one below my eye is not as obvious anymore. The Jenny House Stick Foundation does a better job at concealing dark eye circles and small moles.

On the left: Osèque High-End Touch

On the right: Jenny House Perfect Skin One Shot Cover Stick Foundation

As you can see, with the photo on the left, the pores on my nose are not obvious, whereas with the photo on the right, the foundation seems to be stuck inside the pore. The Jenny House Stick Foundation is obviously more dry, as it is, after all, not a liquid foundation, hence sinks into the pores, so until the nose starts creating oil, the pores will still appear to be powdery. So, in this case, the Osèque High-End Touch seemed to do a better job at making the face appear poreless! As for the fine lines under the eyes, I think both give similar results, but Jenny House's Stick Foundation is slightly better, due to the better concealing function.

Overall, I think the Jenny House Perfect Skin One Shot Cover Stick Foundation still wins. The reasons are:

1) It's in the form of a stick, so it won't leak or spill, so it will be easy to carry around.

The button on the Osèque may accidentally be pressed when put inside your handbag, so it may leak.

2) The design is really convenient, as my hands don't get dirty your hands at all.

The Osèque can get quite messy, and you may need to use your hands to apply the foundation onto your face, before using the roller applicator.

3) It gives more coverage, so I don't even need to use a concealer unless I have a pimple or something big to cover up.

The Osèque gives a more natural look, so its coverage is very low.

4) It leaves my skin matte even after a whole day outside.

The Osèque doesn't make my face oily, but the finish is more dewy.

5) The retail price is much cheaper than the Osèque (Jenny House is selling for USD25, whereas the Osèque is USD33).

Overall, the Osèque High-End Touch is a good product if you don't need much coverage - it gives a natural look for everyday wear. The colour stays and doesn't wear off until you wash it off with makeup remover. It is very light-weight, isn't drying for the face, and makes your face look brightened. The bonus is that it contains many natural ingredients, as well as a serum included, so that it is not only a foundation, but also a skincare product. The main downside of this product is still its applicator, as it can get a little messy.

Rating: 8/10

Thank you for reading, and have a nice day!

REVIEW: HITACHI HADA CRIE CM-N8800BF

Back when I had little-to-no followers, I did a blogpost comparing the Clarisonic Mia2 and the Hada Crie that my sister-in-law bought, but as I was pregnant at that time, I was unable to test out the Hada Crie for myself, and as time went by, I never got around to purchasing my own, until one day, hubby's friend told me he owned one and he could lend it to me to play around with. I borrowed it so that I could do a blogpost comparing it with another device that I purchased, but after a few uses of that device (and a lot of procrastinating), that stupid device stopped functioning, so I didn't get around to blogging. Recently, my sister-in-law told me that she stopped using her Hada Crie, and said she could give it to me, so now, I can play around with it again.

In my previous post about the Hada Crie, which was about a year ago, she stated that she really loved using her Hada Crie. Things, however, have changed since then. She told me she used to use her Hada Crie everyday, and at first, her skin was amazing, but after a few months after using, she broke out. She's not sure whether it's because of the Hada Crie or other reasons, but she started having really sensitive skin, so she stopped using it. She also stopped going to the beautician she used to go to, as she suspected that it was one of the factors causing her breakouts. The thing is, I've taken up her package at her beautician's, and so far, I'm really enjoying the service there. So she has now accepted the fact that her skin is SUPER DUPER sensitive, and she now has to be super careful when trying out new things.

Okay, so I'm finally able to do MY OWN REVIEW on the product!

Hada Crie CM-N8800BF by Hitachi (HK$2190 = US$292)

Please note that this model is equivalent to CM-N820, but the plug is a Hong Kong plug instead of the two-legged Japanese plug, hence the different model number.

This is an ion cleansing with moisturising support device.

Key Features:

Made in Japan

Pore Cleansing & Moisturising

3 Operating Modes: Cleansing, Moisture, and Mask

Titanium Head: Prevents allergy

Dimple design which allows you to use thicker toner-type products

Can use with your regular toner, lotion, and mask

AC/Rechargeable: can be used when travelling

3 power levels selection

Auto-stop function

Items inside the box:

White Hada Crie unit

Hada Crie holder

2 cotton rings to keep the cotton pad in place

Charger

Summary Card (in Chinese)

User Manual

How To Use:

1. Before first use, charge the device for at least 8 hours.

2. You must remove all makeup before using this device.

3. There is a contact plate (for ion induction) at the back of the device, and you need to wrap your hand around to device to "complete the circuit" in order for your device to work.

4. Push the on/off button to turn on your device.

5. Push "MODE" to select what you want to do: Cleansing, Moisturise, Mask.

The default setting is at Cleansing.

6. Push "LEVEL" to select speed. For first time users, it is advised to use the lowest speed. The default level is at Low.

7. If you are on the Cleansing Mode, place a cotton pad on the titanium plate and snap the cotton ring over it. Slowly soak the cotton pad with your toner, and massage onto your face. The device will stop after 5 minutes.
8. For the Moisturise Mode, you can either pour your moisturising toner onto a cotton pad, or if you are using thicker products, you can just add the products directly onto your face, and massage with the device.
9. For the Mask Mode, you can either apply the products directly onto your face or apply a face sheet mask, and glide the Hada Crie directly over the mask.

The way to massage is to either glide the Hada Crie onto your face, or by making circular movements on your face.

The way to glide the Hada Crie onto your face:

9. Place the device on your face and it will start vibrating.

10. The device will turn off automatically after 5 minutes.

11. Do NOT wash the device with water as it is not waterproof!

You can experiment with different cotton pads, but the cotton pads I use when I use the Hada Crie, are the ones by IOPE - they are big enough to cover over the Hada Crie, feel silky, and work very well with the Had Crie, though they do tend to tear more easily. This is the cotton pad after 5 minutes of it massaging over my face and neck (it's actually my neck that made it so black).

If you're still unsure of how to use the Hada Crie, don't despair, because I did a video just for you guys!

The HadaCrie that hubby's friend lent me is the older version, CM-N810.

The differences between the N820 and the N810:

1. The new edition no longer has the "Micropat" mode
2. The ion plates now have a dimpled design
3. In the "Moisture Up" mode, thicker products (i.e. gel or emulsion type products) can be used without a cotton pad
4. The contact plates (for ion induction) have moved from the side to the back
5. The duration of the full course (all modes) is reduced from 20 minutes to 15 minutes.

I think the products that you can use for each step is quite confusing, so I tend to stick to these for easy remembering:

Cleanse - toner

Moisturise - essence/serum

Mask - face sheet mask

I know you can use a toner for the Moisturise Mode, and you can also use the serum for the Mask Mode, but I don't like to confuse myself!

I think the Hada Crie is great with its cleansing function, as it feels so satisfying to see the cotton pad so dirty, despite cleaning my face with the Clarisonic Mia2 everyday already! The other functions are so-so, as I haven't really noticed anything WOW to my skin yet (I have noticed my face to look brighter, but I don't know whether it's because of the Hada Crie or the masks I'm using). The fact that I got my device for free makes the product more worth while, otherwise if I had to pay for it myself, I'd probably not be so keen. The other thing I don't really like is that each step takes 5 minutes, so it's actually quite time-consuming - you can stop it any time you want, but the full procedure takes that long! Hubby really hates the vibrating sound - haha!

That's it for today. Thanks for reading and watching :)