REVIEW: HADA LABO AHA+BHA EXFOLIATING FACE WASH FOAM

I officially ran out of my Hada Labo AHA+BHA Exfoliating Face Wash Foam yesterday, and I was ECSTATIC! I don't know about you guys, but every time I use up a beauty product, I feel extremely happy because: 1. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, 2. I can move on to another product, and 3. My beauty product is less... cramped (it's like, overflowing with stuffs right now). So, to commemorate this joyful occasion, I'll write a review about this cleanser :P

This foaming cleanser contains glycolic acid - a type of AHA - which is an extremely popular exfoliating ingredient. It's present in Alpha-H Liquid Gold, Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner, Pixi Glow Tonic, and many other brands. Salicylic acid - or BHA - is very common in anti-blemish products, like Origins Super Spot Remover, Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel, and Clinique Anti-blemish Solutions line. It has anti-inflammatory and pore-unclogging effects. One thing to remember when using this cleansing foam or any exfoliating products: You should wear sunscreen when going out because your skin is more sensitive towards sunlight after being exfoliated.

The good: This cleanser removed all the dirt, oil and possible makeup/sunscreen residues on my face. It also made my skin feel smoother after usage without clogging my pores or breaking me out. The product was housed in a cute yet effective and practical bottle. When I used Tonymoly Dr. Tony AC Control Bubble Foam and Etude House Baking Powder Bubble Cleansing Moist, there was always some bit of products that the pumps couldn't reach. Meanwhile, the pump of Hada Labo AHA+BHA Exfoliating Face Wash Foam successfully pushed out every last bit of liquid. I even opened the lid to look inside and there was absolutely nothing left! Like other Hada Labo products, this cleanser is free of fragrances, mineral oil, alcohol and colorant.

The bad: Despite containing AHA and BHA, this cleanser didn't replace my regular exfoliator and acne treatment. It couldn't take away my dead skin cells, unclog my pores or heal/prevent my acnes. In summer, I usually used it once a day because it was a tad too strong and stripping if used twice daily. My face felt a little bit tight if I didn't apply a moisturizer right away. In winter, I only used it once in a while when I wanted to deep-clean my face, because it could dry out my skin when used everyday. In short, I would recommend this to people with oily skin (who don't mind products containing paraben), but not to those with dry or sensitive skin.

Score: 7/10

Repurchase?: No coz I'd like to buy something which can be used twice daily. 

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MY SPRING SKINCARE ROUTINE

Our skin constantly changes because of the environment, the weather, our diet, stress, hormones and many other factors. So, in order to get the best out of our skincare products, it's important to adjust and change your skincare routine according to your skin needs. As for myself, I often have different routines for each season, and I try to provide options for when my skin is drier or oilier. Since it's spring right now, I'd like to talk about my current routine. Currently, I have combination with normal but easily dehydrated forehead and cheeks, and oily nose, philtrum and chin. Some of the products here have been reviewed on my blog, so if you want to read my detailed opinions on them, just click on their names. Other products will be updated on my blog as soon as possible. Without further ado, here are my morning and evening routines.

A.M.

• Cleanser: In the morning, my skin isn't too oily, so I just cleanse my face with Etude House Baking Powder Bubble Cleansing Moist - a super gentle yet effective cleanser. 
• Toner: I'm using SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion. This one is super expensive but it's the best toner I've ever used: it's non-drying and non-irritating, and my skin feels smooth and moisturized after applying it. However, I haven't seen any actual long-term benefits on my skin. I update later once I finish this bottle. 
• Eye cream: My current eye cream is It's Skin Brighten System Eye Cream. It absorbs quickly yet still moisturizes my eye area really well. I haven't noticed any brightening effects though. 
• Moisturizer: If I stay at home, I'll just apply Juju Aquamoist Hyaluronic Acid Essence. This essence is ok, nothing to write home about. Sometimes, when my skin is drier than usual, it isn't moisturizing enough and I have to layer It's Skin Toma Jelly Cream on top (You can see its photo in the p.m. section). If I go out, I always wear a sun block, and the one I'm using right now is It's Skin 2PM Sun Block SPF50+ PA+++. It acts as a moisturizer, sun protector and makeup-base, and I don't need to apply anything underneath or over it! It prevents my skin from getting tanned, too! Reminder: Always double cleanse when you wear sunscreen/sunblock. Otherwise, you'll get blocked pores, blackheads and even breakouts!

P.M.

• Makeup-removers: I first remove my eye makeup with Bifesta Cleansing Sheet Moist. It's able to take off most of my Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour Volume On Mascara. I then use Bifesta Cleansing Gel to take off my sun block and/or my base makeup.
• Cleanser: If I don't have any makeup or sunscreen on, I just use Etude House Baking Powder Bubble Cleansing Moist. On days that I do wear sunscreen and/or makeup, I reach for Hada Labo AHA+BHA Exfoliating Face Wash Foam. It completely removes every makeup and sunscreen residue on my face. However, don't use it if you have dry or sensitive skin because it's quite strong.
• Toner: SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion.
• Eye cream: It's Skin Brighten System Eye Cream.
• Moisturizers: First, I aplly Juju Aquamoist  Hyaluronic Acid Essence, then layer It's Skin Toma Jelly Cream over. I really like this cream as it's lightweight and moisturizing. They are not moisturizing enough on their own, but perfect when combined together.
• Lip Balm: Finally, I moisturize my lips with Nivea Essential Care. I love it: cheap and cheerful :) You can read more about my beauty tips for lips here.

SPECIAL TREATMENT

- For extra hydration: When I feel like my skin is drier than usual, I'll add Hada Labo SHA Hydrating Lotion into my routine. I apply it after my toner and before the essence. It helps lock the moisture into my skin and when I wake up the next morning, my skin is no longer dry.

- For deep-cleansing/exfoliating: When my skin is congested and bumpy, I apply The Body Shop Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask. It gets rids of my blackheads and the bumps under my skin, as well as deflates my acnes and unclog my pores. However, I have to moisturize my skin well afterwards, otherwise, I'll wake up with dry skin the next morning. If you have dry skin, I don't think it's a good idea to use it.

That's all for my skincare routine. It may seem long but it only takes less than 5 minutes. And please remember to drink 1.5-2 litres of water per day as well as maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, because what you eat/drink and how you live will really show up on your skin, and skincare products can't solve all the problems if you don't take care of your body first. 

REVIEW: HADA LABO AHA+BHA EXFOLIATING FACE WASH

I really had bad luck with cleansers last year. I went through a series of super harsh cleansers, starting with Tonymoly Clean Dew Tea Tree Seed Foam Cleanser and Tonymoly Clean Dew Olive Seed Foam Cleanser, following up with It's Skin Skin Healthening 5 Cereals Cleansing Foam and It's Skin Skin Moistening 5 Flowers Cleansing Foam. I was determined to find a gentle yet effective cleanser, and after doing some research, I settled on Hada Labo AHA + BHA Exfoliating Face Wash.

(Click on images to see description, directions and ingredients)

Price: SGD$12.90

My opinion: Despite all the research I'd done, I was a little bit nervous at first because, come on, how could a self-claimed exfoliating face wash be gentle? Well, I couldn't be more wrong. I used it for the first time when my skin was damaged because of Tonymoly Pore Cleansing Brush and it didn't dry out my skin or irritate it in any ways! Instead, my skin felt smooth and looked brighter! It was gentle enough to be used twice a day. I didn't see any exfoliating effects, even though it contained alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It did, however, helped my acnes heal faster, possibly thanks to the salicylic acid (aka BHA - beta hydroxy acid) in it. One tube lasted 3 months with daily usage, which was quite good considering the price. If you decide to use this cleanser, make sure to use a sunscreen when you go out because the exfoliating ingredients (AHA and BHA) can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. I used Skin79 VIP Gold Collection Super+ Beblesh Balm as my sun protection and it worked well enough.

Pros:

- Affordable

- Free of fragrances, alcohol, mineral oil, colorant and SLS

- Gentle

- Help heal acnes

Cons:

- Contain paraben

- Make skin more sensitive to the sun

Repurchase?: Yes but not immediately because I think I like Shiseido Perfect Whip Foam more.

REVIEW: HADA LABO SHA HYDRATING LOTION

Hyaluronic acid is a popular ingredient in cosmetics nowadays. It is present in a lot of famous products, from high-end ones such as Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair and SK-II Advanced Eye Treatment Film to more affordable options like Indeed Labs Hydraluron and It's Skin Hyaluronic Acid line. So what is hyaluronic acid? It's basically a substance that we have a lot when we're young, but as we get older, it naturally decreases. One of its functions is to keep skin moisturized and plump, and that's the reason why many beauty brands use hyaluronic acid in their moisturizers and anti-aging treatments. I've tried a few of hyaluronic acid-contained products, and the one I'm impressed with the most has to be Hada Labo SHA Hydrating Lotion.

This is Hada Labo's most well-known product. They claim that one bottle is sold every 2 seconds in Japan! On a side note, Hada Labo is currently being endorsed by Maeda Atsuko, AKB48's former member ^^ My bottle was manufactured in 2012, that's why it looks different from the one in this CF.

Description: Despite the word "lotion" in the name, this is basically a toner that you use after washing your face. However, in stead of using a cotton pad to apply it on your face, you have to pour one or two drops onto your palms and press them on your face until the lotion is fully absorbed. This lotion contains 3 types of hyaluronic acid: nano hyaluronic acid, super hyaluronic acid (this is what SHA stands for) and hyaluronic acid. They work together to hydrate your skin and lock in moisture, thus making your skin smooth and soft.

Ingredients: Water, butylene glycol, glycerin, PPG-10 methyl glucose ether, methylparaben, disodium succinate, sodium hyaluronate, hydroxyethylcellulose, succinic acid, hydrolized hyaluronic acid, sodium acetylated hyaluronate

As you can see, it does contain paraben. However, it is completely free of fragrances, mineral oil, alcohol and colorant.

Size: 170ml

Price: SGD 22.90 (I bought this in Singapore)

My opinion: Last spring and summer, my skin was so dry due to taking antibiotics and over-exfoliating (I used Tonymoly Pore Cleansing Brush everyday, stupid me T-T). My skin didn't absorb anything and it remained dehydrated and red for several months. Wearing makeup was a pain because it emphasized every dry patch on my face! Using this in conjunction with It's Skin Power 10 Li was what saved my skin! I just poured one drop onto my palm, rubbed my palms together and lightly pressed them onto my face until the stickiness went away, which took about 1 minute. After a week or so, my skin came back to its normal state. However, after that I had to stop using it as it makes my skin oilier as well as creates some little bumps under my skin and blackheads around my nose. It's perfect for autumn and winter though, and I find myself reaching for this whenever my skin feels a little bit dry. Currently I'm using it with It's Skin Power 10 VE and I love this combo as it makes my skin feel super smooth and plump ^^ If you use this, please keep in mind that this is NOT a moisturizer and you need to follow up with another serum/essence/cream/gel to hydrate your skin.

Longevity: I've been using it on and off since July and I still have more than half the bottle left, so this should last for about a year.

Pros:
- Hydrating, smoothing and plumping
- Affordable
- Long-lasting
- Free of alcohol, mineral oil, fragrances and colorant

Cons:
- Unsuitable for oily skin in hot weather
- Contain paraben (which isn't a problem for me)

Verdict: 9/10

Repurchase?: Yes, yes, yes ^^