What it looks like:
How much: RM40.90 (give and take RM1 to RM2) at major departmental stores and pharmacies.
From: Mentholatum Japan (yes, the same people who make Lipice).
Key ingredient: Super Hyaluronic Acid, which is said to be much more effective than normal HA.
Texture: Semi-viscous, transparent liquid. Feels slightly slippery.
Scent: Mainly unscented, just a faint watery smell of (actually) nothing. Quite natural, good if you're not a big fan of strong floral-scented skincare.
My thoughts:
I really like hydrating products, so this was a no-brainer to try out. Most of the time, I try out a product and get bored with it halfway through (partly because some don't work, and partly because I'm so unfaithful haha). But this one I finished and actually wanted (but didn't, because I wanted to try other products) to buy another full-sized one. They advocated the 'patting' method in their Japanese TV ads, though the girl seemed a bit stupid slapping her face like no tomorrow and sounded/acted/looked uber annoying after multiple times of watching the same video on Youtube.
You're not supposed to apply it with a cotton pad (like how we've been accustomed to do after all these years), the correct application method is to pour a small amount (like a 5 sen coin) onto your palm, spread it evenly and pat on your face to increase absorption. When I was really lazy but still paranoid enough to apply skincare (seriously nobody wants to pat their face when they go to sleep half-drunk at 4am) I just rubbed it on like how you apply moisturiser. I didn't see any difference though, maybe it was because I did the self-developed 'rubbing' method more than I did the 'patting' one. Sometimes I would use a cotton pad, especially if I had excess eyeliner under my eyes left over from cleansing.
My colleague interviewed the Hada Labo scientist during the launch, and apparently Japanese girls use it as a lotion mask AND ALSO apply it on their hair (as a leave-in conditioner for the ends)!! Hada Labo is really popular in Japan and Hong Kong - they have a much wider selection than what we have here (lucky them!), from anti-ageing to sensitive skin ranges. They even have refill packs (like the liquid detergent packs, LOL) so that you can reuse the same bottle.
After using the entire bottle I definitely noticed an improvement in hydration. My skin was kinda dry before that because I was plain lazy and not bothered much to put on proper skincare before going to bed, so on sloth-inspired days I was really thankful to have a product I could just slap on my face. Most of the time I just used the lotion alone (though it's not enough in the long run, obviously) and my skin was still comfortably hydrated.
The good: It really works, and doesn't feel sticky at all (products containing HA have been known to feel extremely sticky on the skin).
The bad: Packaging is a bit blah (my boss asked me why I wanted to feature a 'minyak angin' (medicated oil). Might take a little getting used to in terms of controlling the amount but nothing life-threatening.
Out of 10, I give: a full-on, unbridled TEN, because this product gave me a very good first impression, because it's effective and because I really love Japanese/Asian skincare. If I ever stop working I would repurchase this cos it's quite affordable. Whenever people ask me what toner they should get my answer is always Hada Labo, LOL.
