Cle de Peau La Creme U vs Shiseido Bio-performance Advanced Super Restoring Cream

When I was in my late 10s to early 20s, I always dreamed to have CdP skincare or makeup products. I would save money for a long time to buy one CdP's product and felt so happy the whole day.

The more products I try, the more I understand that the more expensive does not mean the better. Everything depends on marketing and how a company present the products images to other people.

The higher end products does not necessarily mean the best ingredients inside, they may use better ingredients but it does not mean it can work wonders to everybody's skin.
   
   I used creme de lamer and cdp la creme and I do not think they are awesome. They are
   pretty good moisturizers, but it does not mean they can work better than medicines which solve      all types of skin problems.

   A moisturizer from Olay or Loreal Paris can work much better than other more expensive        creams. Paula Begoun has taught us a lot from her books.

  As everybody knows, drugstore cosmetics by Loreal can contain the same ingredients as Lancome's as they are from the same company. Same thing as Cle de Peau and Shiseido, both of them have the same mother-Shiseido.

Therefore, Shiseido has so many products to be the dupe of CdP, and the moisturizer is no exception.

CdP la creme retails at 550 CAD plus tax while Bio-Performance Advanced Super Restoring Cream is at $140 plus tax. The price difference is crazy and huge. Does a $600 moisturizer work better than $100 moisturizer? I am not sure.

The texture of both cream are almost the same. CdP is slightly oily while Shiseido is slightly sticky. If you have very dry skin, you may need to warm your shiseido cream with your finger tips before applying onto your face; with CdP, you can just apply it on without any problem.

Does CdP la cream work wonders? No. The claim is however so big. But when your skin is in a really bad condition, better not to use it at all. It will irritate your skin like nobody's business. Does it hydrates well? Well, when your skin is in normal condition, it's enough. When your skin is super dry, no way. You will end up waste lots of products and still feel dry and itchy on your skin.

The bio-performance advanced super restoring cream seems to have the same problem. It works only when skin is in healthy and normal condition.

Why do I need to spend lots of money on products which only work with my skin on certain conditions? I don't know. For the name? For the packaging? For that you can be bragging to your friends and relatives?  I really do not know.

Review: Sana Pore Putty Makeup Face Powder Spf 30 PA++

Sana's loose powder was one of the very first makeup products I had when I started putting makeup on myself.  I remember the loose powder was very pale with shimmery. It seems the loose powder had been discontinued because I cannot find the same thing anywhere. 

This product looks like the pressed powder version of the old loose powder I had. 

The powder is pale with fine glitters. When you touch the pan, you feel the powders are creamy and very smooth which gives you an illusion that it's very hydrating. However it was slightly dry for me if I put too much onto my face. 

The powder has light to medium coverage. You can use it as a touch up powder because of its coverage and spf. 

I am not sure if it is the same thing as the loose powder I used to have years ago because this powder seems to be drier and more pigmented.  But it for sure can be a good sun powder for those who are sensitive to liquid sunscreen because it has both uva and uvb protection.

Review &Swatch: Guerlain Meteorites voyage exceptional pressed powder 01 mythic VS media Bright Up Pressed Powder 01 clear (dupe?)

Guerlain's Meteorites voyage powder is probably one of the most popular products in the world. It looks amazing on the skin. The price is amazingly expensive as well. I always hope I could find a dupe for that. It seems the dream comes true when one day I browsed a shopping site...


I bought Media Bright Up pressed powder (left side of the bottom photo)which cost a fraction of Guerlain's Meteorites from Adambeauty and found it works amazingly good as well.

I put Media's powder in The Body Shop's pressed powder case while Guerlains' Meteorites fits into Clinique's Almost powder makeup case. 

So, do not throw away the case immediately! They can be very good houses for your next pressed powder refill. 

Look at the swatches of both powders on my fingers. Media is more opaque while Guerlain is on the sheer side. 

When I blend them into my skin. 

To sum up, Media can be a good dupe for Guerlain meteorites if I apply it with a light hand. 

Review: Sana pore putty BB Mineral Powder spf 35 pa+++

(photo courtesy: adambeauty.com)
This mineral powder is too dry for my normal skin in the summer.

This compact comes with the powder, mirror and a puff. There's only one shade and the shade is light ocher. It's best for nc 20 to nc 25 skin.

The powder is quite creamy. Since it has such a creamy touch than dry feel to it, I though it would be moisturizing for the skin. To my surprise, it's quite dry for my skin. At this time of the year -mid August in Canada, my skin is in normal condition. If I do not moisturize enough before applying this powder, it accentuates dry flaky spots on my skin.

The finish is not very matte nor glowy, it's just in between. The finish reminds me of the covergirl clean whipped cream foundation.

The staying power is quite good, it does not transfer.

The coverage is medium. I do not recommend to use the puff to apply the powder if you are going to use it as a foundation. With the puff it gives light to medium coverage; with mineral powder foundation brush it can build up to full coverage.

Overall, this powder is best for people with oily to combination skin. I am sure it can keep your oil on the bay in the summer. Plus, it has spf 35 protection, you can add it on top of your sunscreen and it will give better protection from sun.

Reveiw: KATE Concealing Cover Powder Foundation

(photo courtesy: Adambeauty.com)
Japanese foundations are famous for their coverage and sun protection facts. I always use a liberal amount of sunscreen before any makeup. It seems that Japanese powder foundations are usually get alone well with any sunscreens. This Kate Concealing Cover Powder Foundation is no exception.

I remember years ago when I bought Kate powder foundation first time, I was not very impressed by its quality. The powders were chalky and the shade did not match well. The foundation seem to oxidize.

Kanebo Corporation has been improving a lot over the years with with every products, especially their drugstore foundations (Note: Kate is owned by Kanebo). Somehow Kanabo has become one of my favorite Japanese cosmetics company. The powders become creamier and softer. The shades matches better and the rate of oxidation is almost zero.

The shade I got this time is BE-C. It's matches perfectly with my skin tone. I also got a OC-B, will try it later.  Japanese BE shade has a truly yellow under tone, which conceals the redness and imperfections very well. I also found the BE hue to be lighter than OC tone.


The finish of this powder foundation is a satin finish. It's not as powdery or matte looking like other powder foundations I have tried. It gives you a youthful and healthy look. The staying power is excellent, never oxidize, no transfer and it stays on face for more than 6 hours.

I have a normal to dry skin in the winter and normal to combination in the summer. At this time of year in Canada (I started using this powder foundation from May to August), this powder foundation performs well on my skin. I am a lazy person to do touch up and I don't not feel I need do it most of the time. This powder foundation does not require me to touch it up either.

I don't  feel dry when wearing this powder foundation at all. Japanese powder foundations seem to be more moist and cater to more different skin types, while most western brands powder foundations are for oilier skins.

I tried to use Olay sensitive moisturizer spf 30, Clarins mineral sunscreen spf 40 and Loreal ombrelle spf 50 before applying this powder foundation and they all work well with this powder foundation.

I apply this powder foundation with TBS extra minerals powder foundation brush and it gives a flawless finish in 30 seconds.

Overall, I am very pleased with this powder foundation. I wish KATE does not discontinue this powder foundation soon.

Review: Shiseido Super Refining Essence

(image from http://www.ca-e.shiseido.com/sc/product/view.asp?S=11304)

I like shiseido's airless pump packaging for serums. It's more sanitary to use.

This essence is categorised as serum. The texture is between liquid serum to cream. It's more towards to light gel cream texture.

The cream feels very emollient on the skin and it's absorbed quickly. I can use it either alone or with cream. When my skin is not dry, I use it alone and it works well for me. Non greasy at all so I use it before my Clarins sunscreen.

It has some ' shiseidoish' floral fragrance in this product. I am not fond of this smell not do not hate it either. Just wish it was fragrance free.

It makes my skin smooth and radiant as it claims. I am not sure if it reduces the wrinkles because I do not have any. It keep my skin hydrated whole night and I wake up with glowy skin.

It retails at $88 CAD plus tax for 50 ml. As a department store serum the price is quite reasonable. But it works nothing fantastic on my skin, (actually there's no skin care products work that way so far) I think I will find something else works the same way with cheaper price.

Review: SHISEIDO The Skincare HydroNourishing Softener

(photo credit to thebay.com)

I got this in a gwp. It's in average not bad toner. It's hydrating and can be used like light serum when my skin is not dry. It has a nice scent to it. But nothing fancy. It's very similar to lancome tonique confort. This one is more expensive, 140 ml for$44 CAD plus tax while lancome has 200ml for $35 CAD.

Review: SHISEIDO Eudermine Revitalizing Essence

(photo credit to thebay.com)


After trying so many lotions (toners), this is nothing special to me.

It may be a great product in 19th century--Shiseido claimed it to be introduced in 1897.

It is not a revitalising essence to me, it's just pure lotion with hydrating function. It does not dry out my skin, but does not work wonders like other toners that I reviewed in my blog.

It has a scent which I am really fond of. But that is the only thing that I like.

It's on the pricey. The essence toner retails at $78 plus tax for only 125 ml.

Review: SHISEIDO Refining Makeup Primer

(photo from thebay.com)

I got this in a gwp. I must say I am happy to get it free because it does nothing for me.

First, It has no SPF in it. I know the US version has SPF in it. So it cannot be used as sunscreen.

Second, the tint-colour does not match me. It's a Asian brand, and I think it is supposed to have some shades match Asian skin tone, which is usually olive and yellow base. However it appears very pink and red on my face. It does not look natural on me at all.

Third, it's so dry for my skin. I may be able to use it in the summer time. I do not want and I do not need any primer to absorb oil from my face.

The only advantage this primer has is probably the good coverage. It evens out my skin tone ( strangely in a pinkish tone) and covers well the imperfections.

Overall, it's not a product for me. It can be best oily skin with pink skin undertone.

Review: KATE mineral powder foundation spf15

The powder foundation has a light to medium coverage and can be built up ( but not to full coverage). The powder is smooth and silky. It has SPF 15 in it.

I am very fond of this product because the performance is average among Japanese powder foundation.

It's not cheap. It costs around $15 USD for refill only.  I can find better choices with a cheaper price.

Review: Lunasol FUSING POWDER FOUNDATION spf 20

(photo from adambeauty.com)
It's one of my favourite powder foundation. Sadly it's only available in Asia.

Lunasol is a department store brand, it belongs to Kanebo's higher end products.

This powder foundation has a very creamy and silky texture. When I apply it on I do not feel it's powder on my face. The powder does not suck the moisture or oil out from my skin, instead, it keeps the moisture inside of it. So it's best for dryer skin types.

The coverage is superb. Really good coverage, yet the face does not look flat after applying it on.

The shade I use is yo02, it matches my skin tone perfectly.

The longer I apply it on, the more beautiful my skin looks.

It has a similar finish as Albion's powder foundation, but the lunasol powder stays longer and better on me.

I wish there's kanebo counter available here.

Review: SHISEIDO Revital Cream Science AA Ex

(photo from thebay.com)

This cream retails at $260 CAD plus tax for only 40 ml!!

One of the most expensive creams I have ever had.

It works as it claims--filling skin with rich moisture. It supposed to make you look younger. It's targeted at 30+ customers. I am in my mid- to- late 20s so I do not know if it boost the collagen ( I know we lost it everyday). But it does work wonderful as a moisturising night cream.

I do feel the texture better than bio-performance ones. So do the scent. The packaging is as elegant as most Japanese skin care products.

However I do not think it's worth the money to buy a night cream for such high price.  Benefiance wrinkleresist 24 works the same way and is about 4 times cheaper!

Review: SHISEIDO White Lucent Brightening Serum for Neck and Decolletage

(photo from thebay.com)


This serum retails at $75 CAD plus tax with 75 ml.

For me it's a waste of money to buy this serum. It does nothing like it claimed.

It clams to reduce the apperance of age and sun spots, but it does not. It does not even even out skin

It claims to provide generous moisture. No, it does not do it at all. After applying the serum, my neck and palms start feel dry.

Actually I doubt if it's skin care. To me it's more like makeup than a skincare product because it has some sparkle in the serum (they call it as 'light diffusing properties' ). I mean it's better to put this serum before going out for party.

However, I cannot even use it as a makeup primer because it does dry out my skin.

Thoughts on Japanese toner (softener, lotion) and other higher end toners

Japanese toners are more than toners.

Most toners work as a cleansing lotion after washing face, but Japanese toners seem to be doing more than that.

Most of the Japanese toner I have tried are very hydrating. Some of them are in light serum consistency such as Shiseido nutriperfect and future solution softeners.

The toners I have tried with serum feel are Lancome tonique confort, Estee lauder re-nutriv softening lotion and Estee lauder nutritious energy lotion.

Review: SHISEIDO Future Solution LX Concentrated Balancing Softener

(photo credit to thebay.com)

This softener is more than a softener.

It feels like a light serum. I normally apply it without cotton pads. It's very hydrating. In summer time I do not even need a moisturiser afterwards.

However it has a very strong scent. Though I do not hate this smell, I do not enjoy it either.

It retails at $98 CAD plus tax for 150ml. If you use it as a serum, it cost less than other moisturising serums. However you can find a dupe for it. Shiseido Benefiance nutriperfect softener has the same function, cost a lot less and with less scent.

Shiseido Ultra Sun protection Lotion spf 50

(photo credit to thebay.com)

I wish I could like this sunscreen, because it's so affordable comparing to other higher end sunscreens, it retails at $49 CAD plus tax for 100 ml!

The sunscreen is like it claims, very water resistant. Except being affordable and water resistant, I cannot find other pros in it.

First, the scent is so overpowering that I can still feel it before I remove my makeup at the end of the day. I do not mind some smell in cosmetics when I apply it on my face. But I do not want to feel it whole day. The scent makes me feel sick.

Second, it seems not compatible with any of my powder foundations. I normally do not use makeup base. I apply sunscreen and powder as my everyday base makeup. If I apply any powder foundation right after this sunscreen, the powder foundation becomes cakey and not easy to blend; if I apply powder foundation sometime after apply this sunscreen, it makes my foundation look a lot more thick than it should be.

So the best way to use this sunscreen, is to apply it alone on the body instead of face (or neck).

I really wish to like this sunscreen, because it has bigger size than other (department store) sunscreens. But it always makes problem for me when I apply it on my face. Otherwise it has such good value and sometimes I can get bonus with buying it.

Review:Kanebo Kate Powder Foundation SPF 20 PA++

(Photo credit to Adambeauty.com)


This is an older version of Kanebo Kate Powder foundation. I know newer version was released early this year. I also have mineral pressed powder foundation from Kate. Will review it later.

It's a powder foundation stored in a dark case. Kate is Media's sister, they both are from Kanebo. Personally I prefer Kanebo's powder foundation over Shiseido. Sadly there's no Kanebo counter in Canada, but nowadays we can always get almost everything online.

The quality of Kanebo's drugstore brand products are high enough to please people who prefer to use higher end products. If I do blind testing on some of Kanebo's drugstore brand products, I may not be able to tell if they are from department stores or drugstores.

This powder foundation is a little bit dryer than Media's powder foundation. It's better for summer use. The coverage is slightly higher than Media's powder foundation. I have no complain about the staying power. It never transfers.

I am not sure if it controls oil because I do not have oily skin. But if it's a summer powder foundation, it is supposed to be able to do oil control. People with combination to oily skin may need some  touch- ups on t-zone in very warm summer days. Though I am ok with no touch ups.

However the price is highter than Media's powder foundation. The refill (11.5 g)its own is around $14 USD.

It works better than Kanebo's Freshel powder foundation but no too much difference between Kate powder foundation and Media.

Review: Kanebo Media Treament Pact AIII Spf 20 Pa++

(Photo credit to adambeauty.com http://www.adambeauty.com/showitem.php?itemtype=detail&itemid=me-tpact&brandid=22&language=EN&agentid=2&productid=1&brandSubid=&groupid=1&catid=22)


Kanebo Media always offers high quality products with very very affordable prices. I have foundations and eyeshadows from the Media line. It says the blushes are great as well.

The Pact cost $13 USD (refill+case), the refill is 11.5 g.

The powder is stored in an elegant blue case. Very small and portable. It reminds me of Shiseido's high end line, Cle de peau, which has the similar blue case for powder foundation.

The powder foundation is very creamy. It's with great coverage as well. Good for dry skin. It's a powder foundation with good performance in coverage, pretection and staying power. It does not cause break out. The only disadvantage is that I hit the pan in around a month. I do not know if it's because the powder is more buttery than others. But I like the performance and the reasonable price. Would recommend to those who with budget and first time powder foundation users.

Reveiew: Kanebo Freshel powder foundation spf 30

There are two types of (pressed) powder foundation in Kanebo Freshel's line. One is the brightening one with spf 30, pa +++, while the other is the moisturizing one with spf 25, pa++.

This product has been released for many years. It's a drugstore brand with very affordable price. Personally I do not believe in any brightening effect in cosmetics, but I like the high spf in it.

Japanese and Korean powder foundations are famous for their high spfs. I do hope western brands can do more variety of powder foundation products with spf.

The powder has very high coverage with somewhat thick consistency. I am not sure if it's the right way of describing powder. But this powder is quite heavy. Even if I use brush to apply it lightly, I can feel its thick coverage.

If I put very emollient cream such as Clinique moisture surge underneath, it can make the makeup look a lot heavier. It looks like I top this powder with  many layers of cream foundation underneath.

I do not know if any person like this type of heavy makeup look nowadays. Like I said I prefer high coverage powder. I appreciate the medium to full coverage the powder offeres. But I do not want to look I have many makeup on but actually I have only a layer of powder foundation.

I think the powder foundation looks the best to apply on its own without too much skincare or sunscreen under it. It can actually work as sunscreen, cream foundation, concealer stick and powder --all in one in a powder.

It's a nice powder when I am in a hurry, without even 1 minute to apply sunscreen before it. But I still prefer to apply sunscreen before going out. The powder can also be good alternative makeup for those who are allergic to any type of liquid sunscreen and foundation.

With the very reasonable price (around $12 USDfor the refill) and large size (11g), and great coverage with high spf, Freshel powder foundation can be the best choice for anyone.

Review: Shiseido The Makeup Perfect Smoothing Compact Foundation

It seems that this item had been discontinued here in Canada in 2012. But it is still available on the US website. The US version has Spf 15 in it while Canadian version has none.

I feel the smoothing compact foundation is the mixture of Clinique almost powder makeup and Dior flawless compact. It has the glitter in the pan like Clinique and the same buttery and creamy texture as Dior.

Among all the shades, Shade O20 seems to be the best match to my skin tone while I20 looks a little bit darker and more pink than O20. Both shades look a little bit darker than my skin tone when first applied on. Nonetheless, this illusion does not last long. After an hour or so, the powder beautifully melts into my skin, and both shades look very natural on my face.

The smoothing compact has as high coverage as Cle de Peau’s powder foundation. It actually performs very similar to (maybe even better than) Cle de Peau. It does not dry my skin and the lasting power is superb. In my view, it’s a hydrating powder for normal to dry skin.

The finish is matte in the first few hours, after 4 hours of applying, my skin looks glowy (but not oily at all) as if I have highlighted my skin.

The refill cost around $38 CAD plus tax. The price is almost one-third cheaper than CdP. If you prefer the finish of CdP’s powder foundation and do not want to spend that much, the smoothing compact could be a dupe for it—they are born to the same mother Shiseido, after all.