to INFINITY & beyond.. thanks to Kosé Singapore!

[Sponsored Review]
I’m thrilled to bits today to share with you the new whitening products that I’ve received from the Infinity Kosé range, thanks to the folks from Kosé Singapore.

And how did this opportunity come about?  Turned out that they were looking for 8 female bloggers to review their latest whitening series.  Some of my primary concerns as I age are having dull, blemished and sagging skin, and I’ve tried many products out there to brighten my skin as signs of ageing start to show.  So I decided to try my luck and lucky me, I was one of the 8 female bloggers picked by omy.sg and Kosé Singapore to be amongst the first in Singapore to try these out.

I’ve never really used Kosé products.  When I used to live in Tokyo, I recalled briefly using the Sekkisei Lotion Excellent and the Seikisho Mask White which I really thought was effective for clogged pores.  My girlfriend still swears by this product to this very day.  So I was pretty excited to be given this opportunity to try out their Infinity Kosé series that’s targeted for women in the mid-30s and beyond or women who are noticing sagging, wrinkles or lack of firmness in their skin.  BTW, I happen to belong in these 2 categories.  ;p

[Image credit: Kosé]

[Infinity = Infinite Beauty]

This highly functional range from Kosé promises to give one a sure feeling of effectiveness with instant improvement of skin colour, texture and elasticity.  One’s beauty is said to be renewed every day.  Wow!

Kosé has boosted the series with these 3 new anti-aging products added alongside their popular Infinity Kosé series this March:
a. Infinity Kosé Realizing White Lotion XX (160ml): S$110
b. Infinity Kosé Realizing White Serum XX (120ml): S$110
c. Infinity Kosé Deep Protection UV (30ml): S$54

Revealing the ingredient used to erase spots deep down: Kojic acid

The star ingredient of the INFINITY XX series, Kojic acid, is the smallest whitening agent that penetrates deep into skin to crush spot-creating melanin. It was discovered as a whitening ingredient years ago because Japanese sake brewery workers were found to have smooth, fair and flawless hands thanks to the fermentation of koji. [Source: Kosé Singapore]

The powerful properties of Kojic acid:

• Kojic acid inhibits melanin production and eradicates blemishes;
• Helps prevent dark spots and freckles caused by the sun;
• Anti-aging and hydrating ingredients combine to create firm, elastic and translucent skin.

In addition to the popular whitening serum Infinity Kosé Realizing White XX [a whitening serum launched in 2011 ], the all-new Lotion XX and Serum XX is compounded with the active whitening agent, Kojic acid, generated from the power of fermentation.  It’s said that one is able to enjoy its immense whitening power as the Kojic acid is able to penetrate deep into the skin, stamping out stubborn blemishes from the root to create beautifully clear and resilient skin.

Now, let’s take a look at the products that I’ve been given to try.

Achieve instant clear whiteness with Realizing White Lotion XX:

Infinity Kosé Realizing White Lotion XX is a Kojic acid whitening lotion that helps deliver whitening ingredients to all corners of the skin and saturates it with moisture, giving skin a translucent glow thereafter.

Bringing about radiant brightness and resilience with Realizing White Serum XX:

Infinity Kosé Realizing White Serum XX is a whitening emulsion that delivers Kojic Acid to the skin, locks the whitening ingredients within the skin for effective brightening action.

Product features:

• A whitening lotion and emulsion that effectively cares for various types of blemishes, creating bright skin that is clear from deep within.
• Even on skin that’s hardened by UV rays or dryness, the highly compatible base softens the skin and penetrates from deep within, effectively targeting the melanocytes
• Inhibits melanin generation, preventing blemishes and freckles caused by sunburn.
• Strong whitening effects added with anti-aging care effects.
• Creates elastic skin with firmness shine and translucency.

And for those who have been following my blog for a while now, you must know that I’m a huge advocate of using sunscreen!  I couldn’t be happier to share more about this amazing Deep Protection UV product that Kosé Singapore has added into the products given.

Thorough UV care to maintain a youthful look with Deep Protection UV:

The damage caused by UV rays does not stop at blemishes and freckles.  Photoaging symptoms such as wrinkles and sagging are in fact largely caused by UV rays as well.  The Infinity Kosé Deep Protection UV thoroughly guards mature skin from UVA and UVB, the culprits of photoaging, with the highest SPF/PA levels made available for the first time in Japan.  The revolutionary emulsion-like formula protects the skin’s translucency, firmness and resilience.

Product features:

• Powerfully protects the skin from UVA rays (which burn the skin and gradually reduce its resilience) and UVB rays (which cause redness/inflammation), both of which are primary causes of photoaging
• With the highest SPF/ PA protection available from Japan (SPF50+/PA+++)
• Spreads smoothly over the face and hydrates, fitting closely over the skin creating a strong, even film

Can it be true?

Now my dreams of having radiant skin might just come true, thanks to these new products sponsored by Kosé Singapore.  I’ve already started using them and will be reviewing the products within the next 2 weeks.  So do keep a lookout for that. 

Like it then try it!

Wish to try out a sample-size version of the Infinity Kosé Deep Protection UV?  Now you can!

Kosé Singapore will be launching a Facebook App on 15 March that allows all Facebook users to receive free miniatures of their products.  All you need to do is simply ‘Like’ the Kosé Singapore Facebook Page, register your details via the app, share the news with 10 friends and finally, select your favourite location to pick up the sample.

There are a total of 1,000 Infinity Kosé Deep Protection UV to be given away, so get your hands on one today!

Can’t wait?  Then buy it!

Or if you are just as impatient like me, then you don’t really want to miss out this promotion that Kosé Singapore is having as part of their launch of new Infinity Kosé products.

Enjoy an exclusive 10% introductory discount on these items:
a. Infinity Kosé Realizing White Lotion XX (160ml) at S$99 (Retail price S$110)
b. Infinity Kosé Realizing White Serum XX (120ml) at S$99 (Retail price S$110)
c. Infinity Kosé Deep Protection UV (30ml) at S$49 (Retail price S$54)

You can also purchase the award-winning Infinity Kosé Realizing White XX at S$148 and stand to enjoy a 15% discount off any 2 of the new products from the Infinity Kosé range.

So much going on over at Kosé Singapore, don’t miss out on the action! 

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Disclaimer : lady J’s musings received 3 full-sized products from Kosé Singapore. No monetary rewards were given. All views expressed are purely of my own.

Comin’ up: A sponsored series by Kosé Singapore

Dream of ageing gracefully with clear and radiant skin? 

Well, that’s one of my dreams for sure!  I’m in my 30s and one of the things that I worry about ageing is having dull and sagging skin.  Thanks to Kosé Singapore, my dream might just become a reality.  Stay tuned for a 3-part series coming up as I join a couple of Beauty and Lifestyle Bloggers to review the latest products from the Infinity Kosé range. 

[Photo credit: omy.sg]

A beauty-box give-away!

Happy Valentine’s Day to you all! ♥

And I can’t think of an apt way to mark the occasion by spreading some love ♥ around. 

So you know those beauty boxes that I signed up?  Turned out I never did use those samples!    So instead of letting them go to good waste, I thought it would be nice to offer one lucky reader these beauty goodies.

In this little beauty box give-away, you will be receiving:

• 80ml Essential Nuance Airy Shampoo
• 80ml Essential Rich Premier Shampoo
• Yadah Lip Crayon (Paraben Free)
• Erabelle Mizu Therapy Mask (worth S$26.75)
• 1.5ml Moisture Shiso Whitening Serum from Body Shop

There will only be one winner for this give-away and all you need to do is to leave a comment below.  (Entries without an email address will be disqualified.)

This give-away is only open to readers in Singapore and will close on 19 February, 2013 at 9.30pm.  The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be announced by 22 February, 2013.  (Item will be delivered by post.) Contest is now closed.

Good luck!

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The above items belong personally to lady J’s musings. No monetary rewards are given to promote the brands nor items.

Wear Sunscreen: Sunplay Skin Aqua UV Moisture Milk

As I mulled over how to write this post, I thought I share with you one of the songs that come to mind almost immediately.

So to quote one of the famed lines from Baz Luhrman’s ‘Everyone’s free to wear sunscreen’ song – “If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.”

I’m feeling a little nostalgic here but indulge me as I walk down memory lane.  Growing up, I used to be one of those little girls who would admire other little girls who had freckles on their noses or cheeks.  I swear it’s because I watch too much of the 80′s hit TV show “Small Wonder”.  Vicky the robot has the cutest freckles and I secretly wished that I had some on my face too!

[Photo taken off the web]

Well, I later found out that freckles are not quite as cool as I thought they look.  One can either have freckles as part of their genetic make-up OR the formation of freckles is triggered by exposure to sunlight.  Although freckles are not a skin disorder, but it’s said that people with freckles are more susceptible to the harmful effects of UV-radiation.

Yikes!  That’s when I started to wake up and began religiously applying sunscreen on my face before heading out.  These days, I’ve begun to apply sunscreen on my body too in order to protect my skin from being too over-exposed by the sun’s scorching rays.

I was recently invited to try out the new Sunplay Skin Aqua UV Moisture Milk SPF50 PA+++.  I was quite excited to test the new and improved product for I have been a regular user of Sunplay products when I head to the beach.  I love the quirky design plus how compact the bottles of sunscreen are, making it to travel with ease.

So what do I like about the new Sunplay Skin Aqua UV Moisture Milk?  Well, loads actually.  For one, the new Skin Aqua is ultra light.  The watery liquid texture is comfy and absorbs quickly without giving a white cast.   Best part?  It is non-greasy that gives  a matt powdery finish for the perfect make-up primer.   Great for my combination skin-type.

You will also be pleased to know that Skin Aqua is fragrance, color, alcohol and oil free, and is suitable for all skin types.

That’s not all!

Skin Aqua has Solarex-3, a revolutionary formula with 3 comprehensive levels of UV defense which protects skin from surface to deep within for long hours. Super hydrating too!

How does the new generation Solarex-3 protect?  Here’s how:

1. Long Lasting, Superior UV Protection: Advanced photo-stability with the highest UVA & UVB protection for long periods of safe sun exposure. UV rays are reflected away like from a mirror.
2. UV Anti-Aging Protection: Two powerful anti-aging ingredients, RonaCare Exotin and French Golden Algae, help to prevent pigmentation and wrinkles from surface to deep within.
3. Intense Hydration (Dryness Protection): Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen & Vitamin E intensely hydrate and lock-in moisture for long hours, so skin stays refreshingly moist.

I was extremely pleased to learn that the new Skin Aqua is enriched with Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen.  Both products that I swear by now and that helps to keep my skin hydrated throughout the day.

Another plus-point for this product?  You can use it both on your face and your body!  Hey, remember, your body also needs protection from those harsh and harmful rays so no excuses not to slather the sunscreen on when you now have a 2-in-1 product that you can easily carry around.  

Before I end off this post, would like to leave another piece of advice from the song – “Trust me on the sunscreen.”  If there is one thing I don’t leave the home without, it’s sunscreen – the most important part of my beauty regime for the day.

You can get the SUNPLAY Skin Aqua range  at Watsons, Guardian, Sasa, Unity and other major department stores.

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Disclaimer : lady J’s musings received a full-sized bottle of Sunplay Skin Aqua UV Moisture Milk. No monetary rewards were given. All views expressed are purely of my own.

Organising 101: Making sense of chaos

See that long white table there?  That used to be my dressing table.  It used to be clutter-free but obviously, that has changed.

It now looks like this – housing some of my prized possessions, along with a couple of prints and knick-knacks on the dresser.

The latest addition to my dresser is of course the glass pedestal and dome stand which was a recent purchase from Pottery Barn.  They finally ship to Singapore now!  Yippee!  Aside from using as a display for sweets, this stand also comes in handy to display my arm candy.  I featured the glass jar previously.  Don’t trash those pretty ribbons that you may have received when you purchase the item.  It just may come handy.  In my case, I threw a couple into the glass jars to create more colour into the mix.

And over on the other corner, we have my beauty corner where all my perfumes and cosmetics are displayed or cleverly disguised in a quirky box.

So how does your dresser look?  Neat or as chaotic as mine? ;p

Updates will be a little slower for the next week or so.  Work has taken over my life for now, but I’m really excited about one new project for the blog.  So, stick around won’t you?

Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion

I was pretty much over the moon when I saw this email inviting me to review the Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion! Why?  I love the products from Hada Labo.  Ever since S recommended the all-time best-selling Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Hydrating Lotion, there has been no turning back for me.  I’ve gone on to get the little sis a Hado Labo a starter kit and she thinks it’s pretty darn good as well (given the pocket-friendly prices).

I know that Hada Labo has recently launched the Arbutin Whitening Lotion which I’ve been wanting to try so this invitation to test this product definitely came in timely. 

What’s the difference between this new product and the Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Lotion?

The Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Range promise to give users three benefits in just one step.  With two new added ingredients – Arbutin and Vitamin C along with Hyaluronic Acid, Hada Labo’s Whitening Range also allow users to gain fairer, moist and bright skin.

So what exactly does these two ingredients do to boost clearer and fairer skin?  Well, Arbutin is an extract from the natural bearberry plant that is said to have effective whitening properties to enhance skin fairness and help fight dark spots.  Dull skin is then renewed to reveal clear and fair skin.  Vitamin C also enhances the skin’s fairness and repairs dry, dull skin caused by exposure to UV rays.

My skin has been looking a little dull and tired of late so I’m sold at the promise of fairer, moisturised and brighter skin with this product and I couldn’t wait to test-drive the item!

Originally, I had wanted to do this post with a step-by-step pictorial guide of me testing out the product.  BUT… I’m a little shy of taking close-up shots of myself especially with my bare-naked face…so a pic of me testing out the product on my hand will do for now till I summon enough courage.

How does this product compared to the Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Lotion?  I really liked that the Arbutin Whitening Lotion is a lot lighter in texture.  Just 2-3 drops is needed for my whole face.  It’s also easily absorbed into the skin with just a couple of pats around the face to lock in the moisture.

Skin feels moisturised almost immediately and all prepped up for the next stage of my skincare regime.  I usually follow through with serum, day/night cream, etc.   Ever since I went on Hada Labo’s Hydrating Lotion regime, I stopped using toner for I found that it tends to dry my skin.  The lotion, on the other hand, helps replenish the moisture loss that my skin so badly now needs.

This is now a new favourite in my beauty regime.  Using only the finest and purest ingredients without unnecessary addictives, colourant, alcohol, fragrances and mineral oils, one can be assured that Hada Labo’s Whitening Range stays true to its PERFECT X SIMPLE brand philosophy.

The Hada Labo Whitening Range consists of four products with a price range of S$21.90 to S$31.90:
1) Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion
2) Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Essence
3) Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Milk
4) Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Mask

And you can get your beauty fix at Watsons, Guardian, Sasa, Fairprice, Unity and other departmental stores nationwide.

A little something for you!
Want to try the product before buying?  Now you can.  Simply redeem a FREE 20ml travel size bottle of Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion* over at Hada Labo(sg) Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/hadalabosg).

Redemption starts only from 1st November 2012, so save the date!

*Whilst stock lasts.

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Disclaimer : lady J’s musings received a full-sized Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion from Hada Labo. No monetary rewards were given. All views expressed are purely of my own.

Get fresh!

I first learned of this brand probably from R over at Girl on the Ave but I only truly started getting acquainted with fresh on our recent trip to New York where I picked up 2 coloured lip treatments and a mascara.

I love the heavenly scent that’s not to overpowering when I slather the coloured lip treatment on my lips.  It moisturises, protects, smoothes the lips while leaving a subtle pink or rouge tint.  What’s not to like?  No wild guesses there for the lippies became a staple in my make-up pouch.

Couldn’t resist picking up more goodies from fresh recently.  Looking forward to bath time with this Sugar Lychee Shower gel that invigorates the skin without drying it overly.  Plus another new lippy to add to the collection!  This time round, I got one of the latest colour – Coral Lip Treatment which is a juicy coral tint. I love coral lippies; somehow they tend to brighten up the skin and it’s a happy colour to look at too.