[Review] Hada Labo Perfect Gel (3-in-1 Ultra Hydrating Gel)

OMG.

I think I just found my holy grail night moisturizer /sleeping mask in this Hada Labo Perfect Gel (3-in-1 Ultra Hydrating Gel).

Most moisturizers I tried only hydrate the outer most layer, the Epidermis, leaving the inner layers still dehydrated. I really regret continuing using them, because now my skin has changed from just normal/dry, to inner dry outer oily! When I went to facials, the therapists all commented how my inner skin layers somehow are too dehydrated! Even though, the skin on the rest of my body is still pretty good. T.T MEGA SAD.

To be absolutely honest, I've seen Hada Labo a lot in Watsons and other drugstores, but was always suspicious of it, since it's a drugstore brand. I do have friends who swear by its hydrating/whitening lotion, and they also use SKII together with it. But still, I never really got around to try Hada Labo, since FANCL didn't really impress me all that much, except for its mask.

So when Hada Labo sent me this product to review, it was sitting on my desk for a good few days before I decided to give it a try.

But apparently, it is:

No.1. Sales in ‘All-in-One’ gel product segment in Japan.

Incidentally, I ran out of moisturizer, and the 3-in-1 description piqued my interest. It came in this whimsical packaging containing a super cute panda eye blind for sleeping too! I've always wanted to buy a cute eye blind but never found any to my liking in sg. This is way cute! Nice GWP Hada Labo~ ^_^

1. The Product

Hada Labo Perfect Gel (3-in-1 Ultra Hydrating Gel)

2. Price

SGD35.90 in all Watsons, SASA, Guardian

3. Packaging

The Gel cream came in a round gold plastic container in a matching champagne gold square box, sealed at the top paper flap to ensure nobody else could have opened the box before. I really love how the packaging is simple and easy to open, the container itself is a turn lid, and pretty light to carry around.

All the key information on the label is in English. Free of fragrances, mineral oil, alcohol & colorant, always good to see this. The directions are also pretty clear, it's really awesome to use this as a massage gel too if you have those Korean/Japanese laser massaging sticks I guess?

There's also Chinese label on the can itself if reading Chinese is more convenient for you.

4. Shelf Life

Not exactly sure when this was manufactured but the expiry date is March 2016, still pretty far away.

5. Ingredient List

It contains Squalane too. :) And alcohol free.

Here's a part of the official release from Hada Labo regarding the active ingredients:

3 Types of Hyaluronic Acid for deep and long-lasting moisturization:

1.  Hyaluronic Acid is able to hold 6l of water per gram, providing intense moisture to the skin when applied.
2. Super Hyaluronic Acid is able to hold 2X as much water than Hyaluronic Acid per gram, providing maximum moisturization.
3. Nano Hyaluronic Acid is able to penetrate deep into the skin, providing long lasting and deep moisture to the skin.
Collagen:
4. As the body’s collagen levels decline, the skin starts to age with wrinkles, large pores and poor skin clarity. The Hada Labo Perfect Gel contains collagen to provide firm, elastic and wrinkle-free skin.
Ceramide:
5. Skin that lacks ceramide is often dry,irritated, and often easily affected by the sun and dust in air. Hada Labo Perfect Gel help to hold and repair the surface skin cells together for a healthy, smooth skin.

Frankly speaking, I have been suspicious of any product with collagen and ceramide in it, because previously products I tried which contained them made me break out really badly, and didn't have the "plumping effect".

6. Functions

This 3-in-1 Gel works like an extra nourishing and hydrating sleeping mask IMHO? Because of my experience in TFS, I know how many companies try to market night cream as sleeping masks, but don't really have a significant impact, but this Hada Labo Perfect Gel (3-in-1 Ultra Hydrating Gel) is the real deal.

From the official release:

Hada Labo introduces the new Hada Labo Perfect Gel to replenish the skin’s moisture while you sleep.Being all essence, cream and mask at once (3-in-1), the Hada Labo Perfect Gel is also suitable for daily use with the ability to provide 24 hours deep moisturizing effect with its five main ingredients.

7. Texture / Application

This Gel cream is really much closer to a clear custard pudding like texture than a gel per-se. I love it. It feels like a smooth jelly over my skin. I simply put on a thin layer of the gel over my whole face and neck, after my SKII clear lotion and FTE, my skin instantly feels like a sponge soaking up the water particles from this gel cream after application! And also, when I wake up the next day, I could see the difference in skin texture and skin tone! It really looks more even and hydrated.

You do have to remember to wash it off with lukewarm water every morning when you wake up though!

I have been using this gel every night for 3 weeks now, and it is amazing! Coupled together with the new Cellilux mud clarifying mask (I will review this soon too!), my pores significantly look less visible, and I stopped wearing BB cream to go out, because it has improved that much.

I do feel that this cream is a little too heavy to use as a day cream, even though supposedly if you spread a super thin layer, it's supposed to be non-sticky and wearable under makeup. I still feel that it gives a little rich sheen after applying, typical of sleeping masks.

There's still tons of product left, and I really think for 30$+, this is a mega awesome night cream to have.

Verdict 

Pros

Deep hydration and texture

Great for massaging

Really works to penetrate deeply into skin and plump up skin

Saw results within two-three weeks of use

Cons

A little too heavy to use as a day cream

No spatula?

Recommended for: 
- Everyone who needs hydration!
- Especially for ladies working in dry office environments suffering from inner dry skin, this is a MUST!
- Ladies who are seeing ageing signs, this really plump up the skin
- Those who want to have hassle free skin care

Not Recommended for:
- Those who dislike gel texture for moisturizer
- Those who will forget to wash it off the next day

Special thanks to Hada Labo, EK Media, and Elfaine for providing this opportunity to try Hada Labo for the very first time!

I am sold. ^______________^

[Review] Skinmiso x Wishtrend T-zone Serum

The first signs of aging starts before the age of 29.

I'm 28 this year, and I'm already starting to feel panicky because recently, I found visible pores in the patch between my cheeks and my nose! Something like this part here... ㅠ.ㅠ

And blackheads, white heads are becoming a real issue on my t-zone too. My skin has always been on the dry side, but ever since I moved to Singapore, it has adjusted to the humidity and became more combination, dry (inner dry but outer oily on the T-zone).

Many of us rely on black head peels to regularly remove black heads. However, when we do so, our pores are opened and widened, not many remember to tighten and close up the pores to prevent impurities in the environment from entering the skin and irritating it. That's why sometimes, certain people say that black head peels actually lead to bigger pores. It's not the peels that's the issue in my opinion; it's the fact that they forget to tighten the pores after they yank the black heads out of the skin that widens pores.

A few years ago, I started using a combination of different serums for different purposes (hydrating, firming, whitening, clearing spots, pore tightening). I love my pore tightening serum from Korea's derm, but it's running out... T.T So when Wishtrend sent me this T-zone serum from Skinmiso, I was hoping this would be a good replacement for my pore tightening serum.

1. The Product

SKINMISO T-ZONE SERUM

2. Price

USD34.99 on wishtrend.com

3. Packaging

With a simple light blue on white color motif, the packaging looks clean cut. I wouldn't say it looks very expensive just from the packaging because there is no inner angled flap holding the nozzle bottle in place, however there IS an reinforced thicker paper inside the box, so the box doesn't feel too flimsy. The glass bottle itself is a fat cylindrical bottle, pretty cute looking and looks like it can last a long time.

I love nozzle drip bottles. Better control of amount, and you feel like a chemist. Nuff said.

The side of the box that is in Korean. Basically translates into the following:
(1) Functions of the serum: 
- To tighten T-zone pore and boost elasticity
- Also helps to whiten the skin

(2) Directions: 
After toning the skin lightly, use an appropriate amount of the serum and softly spread onto the t-zone skin, tap lightly all over the skin until fully absorbed.

(3) Things to take note of: 
The usual, stop using immediately when the product doesn't suit the skin; when red spots, itch etc occur. Keep in a cool and dry place. Don't use on broken skin etc.

4. Shelf Life

Produced on 6th May 2013, and expires two years later on 2015.

5. Ingredient List

YAY lots of plant/floral extracts, no wonder there is a hint of floral smell that seems quite natural. (list taken from wishtrend.com)

6. Functions

(taken from wishtrend.com)

+ Pore Tightening

+ Pore Purifying

+ Control Excessive Sebum

+ Skin Elasticity

+ Actualize Velvet-looking skin 

7. Application

Here we put the serum to the test! tinyceci first tried it out on the back of her hand to test for texture. It actually feels pretty watery and not very thick, and absorbs very quickly into the skin. Skin really feels mattified on first use. 

tinyceci has been using this serum for two weeks. Whilst it does tighten pores and matifies the skin (the oil control on t-zone is pretty awesome), tinyceci's new facial beautician/the lovely lady boss Veronica commented that my t-zone is oily but so dehydrated from the inside, she was having SO MUCH TROUBLE getting the blackheads/whiteheads off my nose! ㅠ.ㅠ(from Nourish Naturally, go check them out! I think this is one of the few facial/nail salons in Singapore that has awesome quality facials with a personal touch.)

Lesson learned: I should have used a blackhead remover first (as recommended on the site) and then a deeply hydrating serum before using this SKINMISO T-zone serum. I'd imagine it to have much better effects next month! Maybe I should try these two as well~ ㅋㅋㅋ

Verdict

Pros

Feels very nice on skin

Easy to apply with nozzle drip

Really matifies skin

Skin feels soft and even without bumps from pores

Unisex, get your boyfriend, brother or dad to use this to get rid of strawberry noses

Quite a lot of product in the bottle, will last at least half a year to a year

Cons

YOU MUST exfoliate and remove all blackheads, whiteheads first for best results

Recommended for: 

- Ladies and Gents with oily T-zone, big pores, uneven skin texture

- Those who need better control oil/sebum production under makeup

Not Recommended for:

- Those who have completely dry skin 

Want to try this product? 

Check out the wishtrend site!