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Kanebo TIFFA suncreen SPF50 PA+++

i decided to try this product out after reading a couple of reviews comparing it to Shiseido's Ultimate Sun Protection Face & Body Lotion SPF 55 PA+++, which is my HG sunscreen. (I like the face & body version better because it's thinner/more lotiony feeling than creamy, and because you get more product for your money.) but... since i love trying out new products, i decided to give my HG a challenge with the Kanebo TIFFA sunscreen. i bought two kinds -- the TIFFA Silky Look and the Regular. (it comes in Regular, Silky, and Pearl.)

first impressions: omg, the bottle is so small (25 mL)! i knew how many mLs were in the bottle when i was ordering it, but it was when i actually had it in my hand that i realized how small it was. lets just say it's VERY airline friendly. LOL

application was very smooth. i have to agree with other reviewers that it's very similar to the Shiseido Face & Body SPF50 PA+++. TIFFA is actually a little bit more watery in my opinion -- its almost like latering your face with whole milk. but as with almost all sunscreens, there is an intial stage of greasy feeling as you're putting it on. HOWEVER, this disappears in less than a minute, leaving your face ready for primer and makeup!

overall, its a very good sunscreen but i'm not sure if it beats my HG. the performance is equivalent to the Shiseido (which says a lot). the price, however -- not so sure. Kanebo TIFFA costs approx $10 for a 25 mL (0.845 oz) bottle. Shiseido Face & Body costs $37 for a 3.3 oz (97.6 mL) bottle. that makes TIFFA slightly more expensive per oz/mL than Shiseido if you do the math. the only other thing to consider is - since TIFFA isn't readily available in the U.S., you may end up spending more for it w/ shipping costs from overseas companies (e.g., sasa.com).

the verdict: i like it but i'm not going to go out of my way to buy it if i run out. i'll restock only if i find a uber good deal online.

Price: $9.90 -11.00 (minus shipping)
Where to Buy: sasa.com, ebay
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Tip: good for people who normally don't like wearing sunscreen!

NOTE: just to refresh your memory about what SPF, PA, and +++ mean:

all sunscreens in the U.S. indicate a sun protection factor (SPF). SPF is a measurement of how much protection the product offers from UVB rays (the rays that cause sunburn). A few sunscreens (mostly asian brands) also list a "PA" ranking, which refers to the amount of protection you're gettting from UVA rays (the rays that cause aging and long-term skin damage). PA rankings are listed as PA+, PA++ or PA+++. The more +'s, the more protection from the harsh rays.** For my full shpiel on sunscreen and SPF, check out my previous sunscreen post.

(content edited from mayoclinic.com)

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Kao Essential Damage Care Hair Treatment

i bought this conditioning treatment when i was in singapore earlier this year because i didn't want to use the conditioner from my hotel. during the time when i was there, KAO was advertising their new Essential line at almost all of the subway stations in singapore. i guess their marketing efforts worked because i bought it! not only was it well advertised, it was cheap! (approx $7 SG, which is roughly $5 USD.) and guess what ladies (and gents), this thing works!



what i liked about this product was that it completely untangled my hair in the shower (that's what its supposed to do, however) and it made my hair soft and manageable out of the shower. i felt like it infused and coated my damaged hair. it also smelled good; you may think this isn't a selling point, but it is. i've tried KAO's Asience treatment before (recommended by a hairstylists) and it smelled yuck! the Essential treatment works just as well as the Asience, and smells better!

there is a shampoo and conditioner that goes along w/ the treatment, but i think the treatment is more worth it if you're not going to buy the whole set. (read miss eki's review on the shampoo and conditioner -- she likes it!) my hair usually does fine w/ certain drugstore brands for shampoo/conditioner (and in asia, this IS a drugstore brand), but if i want to buy an affordable treatment for my chemically treated hair, this would be towards the top of my list.

let me clarify -- this isn't the best-ever hair treatment (and i haven't yet found one that is), but its just as good as the other good treatments i've tried. if you want to start taking better care of your hair, or if you want to find a cheaper alternative to your current hair treatment, it's definitely worth a try. =)

Price: $5 USD in asia, $11-12 in US
Where to Buy: amazon.com, japanese markets
Overall Rating: 5/5 stars
Tip: try it if you're overspending on other treatments (like pureology)!

**coming soon - what NOT to get for your hair**

bloomies keeps me coming

ok, this post isn't about makeup but i just want to rant about how much i LOVE bloomingdale's. bloomingdale's is awesome because they have all these great promotions that keep you coming (e.g., $25 off $100 purchase, extra % if you spend $_). i've been going every week, and just last weekend, i went 3 days in a row! (well, that wasn't just to shop but to exchange something they didn't end up having in stock.) i'm not a heavy spender but when it comes to good deals, i'm game.

my friends think i'm crazy (and if you're my friend reading this right now, you're probably shaking your head). but check this:


i've been eyeing this scarf since i spotted a pink one @ the south coast bloomies. charcoal, however, is better -- more versatile. regular price is $40. not bad for bloomingdale's but kind of pricey overall for just an acrylic scarf, considering you can probably find something similar @ forever 21.

BUT... what do i find in my email this morning? FREE money from bloomies! yes, FREE. its their promotion called "Mystery Money" where they're giving various amount of $ out (ranging from $10-$500) to all of their email subscribers. i only got $20 (which i'm reading on several shopping forums is the average), but it's still free money!

so how much did i get the scarf for?

yup, you read correctly! $13.25

it was already 30% off, and with my Mystery Money ($20) and the remainder of a $15 gift card i got from spending $100 in-store earlier this month, this lovely scarf will be around my neck for the price of one shot of patron in hollywood. hehe

LOVE IT.

foundation, foundation, foundation!

ahhh i did it again! i bought myself another foundation. to my defense, however, i only buy the full-size versions of the ones i really want. so here's the newest baby to my collection:


Make Up For Ever HD in #120.

i've been wanting the MUFE HD foundation for a long time but couldn't get myself to shell out $40 for it. (but thanks to the $15 off $35 sephora coupon, it found itself in my line of goodies.)

MUFE HD is a great foundation for everyday wear. contrary to belief, i don't consider this is a full-coverage foundation. they say you can layer it on to full, but according to my full-coverage standards, it only meets to moderate. MAC Studio Fix Fluid, however, meets the full-coverage cakeface award.

the thing i liked most about this foundation (when i reviewed it back in july) was its staying power and oil control. i have combination skin, but lately, i'm getting more oily in the PM hours than before. this foundation is good for the ppl who have my skin type.

my current lineup of fav foundations include:
* MUFE HD (light-mod coverage)
* MAC Studio Fix Fluid (full coverage)
* DHC Q10 Cream Foundation (full coverage)

any questions? email me @ misscakface@gmail.com or msg me. =)

FOTD: everyday cakeface and my new haircut

ok, this selca pic makes me really korean. lol
(if you're wondering what "selca" is, it means "self" + "camera.")


brows: mac eyebrow liner strut (twist-up crayon), mac boutique brown
eyeshadow: mac boutique brown (upper and lower lids), mac dazzleray pigment (inner corners)
liner: k-palette 1-day tattoo, make up for ever aqua eyes #01
blush: nars orgasm (you can't see it too well in this pic)