I hope you all have had a productive and rewarding year! I can’t believe it has been 5 years and a half since I wrote my first post! Massive thanks for your support — RatzillaCosme has now had well over 6.9 millions pageviews this year alone, so I consider the product information I provide and my personal recommendations to be a huge responsibility. I try to cater for a wide audience, but ultimately, I write about the things that I have my interest piqued and recommend products that I’d actually use.
There are plenty of recommendations if you browse through the review section as well!
HELLO OLD FRIEND
I love the feeling of rediscovering an old favourite. Kose’s Medicated Sekkisei Lotion Excellent was a staple in my normal skincare routine years ago before I started this site. They are 2 versions of this, one is domestic (Japan-only) and the other is for export, and their ingredients and packaging designs are slightly different. It very well could be just a conditioned response, but Japan’s version seems to pack a much heftier punch when it comes to getting the skin clearer, brighter, and more refined. It’s an old tried-and-tested favourite that works fast on small blemishes, red marks, flaky patches, and lacklustre complexion! The watery lotion is 200ml. Both versions are on Amazon.com for US$54+.
IT’S A GROWER
Kao’s new Nivea Sun Protect Plus Creamy UV Essence sunscreen was released early this year. I wasn’t wowed by this at first (you can read my full review here), preferring its previous version which is significantly more moisturising or typical mattifying milk formula, but I must say that this is a bit of a grower. At first, I couldn’t really “get” the cream texture yet completely matte, dry finish that was going on, but now I love it! It combines the ultra-light, mattifying quality of sunscreen milks with the ease-of-use of daily use formula. Its substantial texture makes it much less drying in cooler months and also easier to apply generously.
EYE OPENER
Budgepoof liquid eyeliner that’s easy to use sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? But ’tis true. The Flow Fushi Moteliner Liquid Takumi is infamous in Japan. It’s really incredibly good! I feel half the battle of drawing a stable, smooth line with liquid liner is finding the right pen. Moteliner‘s octangular shape gives hand a much better grip the standard round variety. Its brush tip is developed by brush-making craftsmen in Kumano (it produces most of the brushes made in Japan), and it has just the right amount of firmness to create amazing precision in one swoop! It goes on so, so smoothly and the colour doesn’t fade throughout the day at all. This eyeliner doesn’t budge one bit, not until you remove it under very specific conditions. You can swim in it, trek through the Amazon rainforest in it — it won’t move so long as you don’t apply warm water and then rub!
KEEP IT CLEAN
Minon are one of that few brands that I trust to be neutral and unaggressive, and their MINON Amino Moist Clear Wash Powder launched early 2015 has quickly made way into my travel skincare essentials. This enzyme powder face wash specifically targets dry, sensitive skin and helps to eat away dead skin cells and other impurities, but there’s no feeling of dryness or tightness after rinsing. It’s a fantastic fresh, non-aggravating face wash for skin that can be prone to congestion but also sensitive and aggravated at the same time.
SMOOTH SAILING
Another new skincare discovery in 2015 that has become a permanent fixture on my bathroom shelf is the Paula’s Choice Resist Weekly Retexturizing Foaming Treatment 4% BHA, which I wrote about in its own full page review. Its smell leaves a lot to be desired, but this may be the most effective BHA that I’ve tried to date. Just one full pump every 2 to 3 nights is all I need to keep my pores clean, skin cleared and more toned. It costs US$35 from Paula’s Choice. Use code “PRBHA16” to get 20% off your order and free standard shipping to North America (expires 2016/05/30). You can also get US$10 off first order over US$15 — no code necessary, it gets added automatically using the link HERE.
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Do you have the ingredients for the Sekkisei lotion mentioned in this post? Trying to figure out if the one sold in Singapore is the same as the domestic Japanese one.
I discovered your page after I became obsessed with YuskinA and I’m super intrigued!!! Man, so many products, so little time. I’m new to the Asian Beauty realm but I want to learn more. I’m currently using Dr. Jart Black Label BB and AmorePacific Enzyme Peel. I love both, but I would like to try the skincare routine mentioned in one of your blogs (with lotions/toners and serums.) My skin is on the dry side and I do have bouts of eczema. I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks so much for doing this! This blog is my guilty, procrastination pleasure!
Hi! Your blog is so informative!! I’m looking for a facial sunscreen with at least SPF 50 PA++++ for my DRY skin. (Very dry). I do wear a moisturizing foundation/BB/CC cream. But it n days that I don’t, I still need a moisturizing SPF. Brightening/whitening properties are always a bonus since I’m very fair skinned. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Have a wonderful day! Amy in New York.
I’d take a look at NOV UV Shield EX https://www.ratzillacosme.com/sun/nov-uv-shield-ex/, Mentholatum Sunplay Super Block https://www.ratzillacosme.com/sun/mentholatum-sunplay-super-block-2013-formulation/, and Shigaisen Yohou UV Cream 4+ https://www.ratzillacosme.com/sun/shigaisen-yohou-uv-cream-4/.
I don’t have your skin type, but these are fairly well rated and popular among those with very dry skin.
Thank you so much! I’ll be sure to check them out today! What a quick reply, too!! Thank you. Have a great day!!
Hi there! I have been following your blog journey since about a year now and it has been so helpful and inspiring. I especially love your ‘Top Beauty Picks’ posts. I was wondering if you could recommend an eye cream or gel for me. I’m 17, so I’m not sure if some products might be too aggressive or not suitable for my age. My skin is fairly dry and quite sensitive. I was also wondering if you have any suggestions for a mild moisturiser or even gel for young skin? Thank you very much in advance! (=^ェ^=)
Thanks so much for your support!
Skincare products that are targeted toward older or mature skin just have a richer, thicker formula, sometimes with a few antioxidants added in — they’re perfectly suitable for all ages.
I honestly think most eye creams are just overpriced face cream in much tinier packaging. I’ve tested countless eye creams over the years and I haven’t found any benefits over using my regular face products around my eyes.
Thank you very much for your reply, it was very helpful! (^-^)
Thanks for this post. I always love reading your top beauty picks. You should do them more often! 🙂
I personally only use a moisturiser if I feel my skin actually needs it, more so because I really don’t care for multistep routine — there’re plenty of things I’d rather be doing than slathering on product(s) that make little difference on my skin. There’s absolutely no harm in continuing using them daily though!
The moisturisers I reach for the most tend to be relatively simple and bland as I get my antioxidants, brighteners, etc. though my lotion and serum.
Okay, got it. Thank you again. 🙂 I hope that you will never get tired of helping people around here. Means so much. Keep it up!
Thanks so much for your support!
What you’re doing means so much more. Least we can do is support what you love doing. 🙂 I hope to meet you one day in person.
Just last question please. How do you suggest I do my routine? Products are Sekkisei lotion, obagi c20, Paula’s Choice retinol & bha 4%. Thank you!
I have all these products and I personally use them like this:
– Sekkisei Lotion → Obagi C20 (Day or Night)
– Sekkisei Lotion → PC Retinol (Night only)
– PC 4% BHA → PC Retinol (Night only)
– PC 4% BHA (Night only)
My routine greatly varies each day, but those are the combinations I do if I’m mainly using the products mentioned.
Thank you so much! Will try this. Can’t wait to give you an update. Thanks again.
Any recommendations for dark spots (melasma and or freckles)? I have combination skin. Oily in the t-zone. Currently using SKII cellumination essence, essence & aura brightening serum. Looking for aleternatives. I hope you can help me. Tried using the Sekisei white bottle lotion & moisturizer. What’s the difference with the blue bottle lotion?
Sekkisei Supreme (white) is supposed to be more hydrating and more brightening than the blue Sekkisei series, and said to be ideal for trouble-prone skin — it’s nowhere close to being as popular in Japan tho. The Lotion Excellent (what I use) is the “premium-level” that has a more concentrated formula than the regular lotion and Lotion Enriched (blue bottle, white cap). Personally, I feel using a proper sunscreen daily is the best treatment and line of defence against dark spots, especially if they’re exacerbated or induced by UV — using brightening products with inadequate sun protection is taking one… Read more »
Thank you so much for your reply. My mom lives in Japan and I always go to your website for recommendations. I’m using the Melano CC as serum in the morning in lieu of the SK brightening serum. I also ordered Paula’s Choice Resist BHA and retinol. Planning to use them after I consume what I’m using now. Just finishing my SK and switching to other products that are not so expensive and hopefully more effective than the ones I use now. I religiously put sunblock everyday based also from the top products you recommended. Read from previous years that… Read more »
While there’re peer-reviewed studies and plenty of anecdotal evidence online showing Pcynogenol is effective in treating melasma, I’d make sure to consult your trusted doctor before taking it regularly long term (as with any supplements)!
And also best sunscreen for oily skin that’s also ok under make up? Currently using Biore face milk pink bottle and the aqua rich. Thank you.
I’d considering switching to a physical sunscreen if you have or predispose to melasma. Even just the heat caused by the mechanism of a chemical sunscreen can trigger/darken spots.
What sunscreen can you recommend? In the country I live in it’s very humid and hot. Is it ok if I use the vit c in tha am and retinol (every other day) in the evening or I can use vit c & retinol together in the evening? Any great moisturizer/s you can think of? Again, I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to answer my never ending questions. 🙂 Big help!
You can use separately or layer them together, depending on your skin and what else you also using in your routine.