Product Review : Naruko Lip Repairing & Smoothing Lip Balm Set

Hello! I'm not super hardworking but I've decided to blog here and there while I'm free :D Also, very very unfortunately, I have the habit of purchasing items online whenever I am feeling a little down. Retail therapy is super bad for health okay, online retail therapy counted as well! So... I kinda have a lot of products on hand... *Briefly considers burying credit cards and ib device*

Anyway, I got lip balms! I'm very anal when it comes to lip balms because I have super dry lips. They're so terrible that using any lip products, balms included, can cause them to peeeeeel. Then I'll end up looking sick with pale dry lips :/ So ever since, I've constantly been on the hunt for newer and better lip balms. I was purchasing something for my mom and decided to add this to the cart as well.

Introducing the Naruko Lip Repairing & Smoothing Lip Balm Set!

Well I'm don't need so many lip balms and given a choice I would go with the pink one! Just cause it's pink. But it comes in a set anyway so...

Pardon my mentos xD I was trying to get better lighting with my mentos container! Very simple packaging, just like your usual, average lip balms? (But I like pink :P)

The pink one's called the Vitamin ACE Ageless lip balm and the purple one's called the HA Intense Hydrating lip balm. As you can very obviously see in the picture, the pink one contains a yellowish balm that looks a little... Not so appealing. Whereas the purple one contains a creamy looking whitish balm that looks normal I suppose?

Here you can see their functions and ingredients.

L - HA Intense Hydrating Lip Balm / R - Vitamin ACE Ageless Lip Balm

As you can see, or not see (lol), the HA Intense Hydrating Lip Balm (Purple), looks like nothing on the lips. It's good for prepping the lips before lipstick application. Probably will not change the finish of your matte lippies but I can't say for sure as I don't own any matte lippies. Works well with the lip stains I own. HOWEVER, over application will give you a whitish film on your lips. You don't want that so remember not to spam. As much as I'm obsessed with lip products, I often do not like feeling anything on my lips or accidentally tasting/consuming my lip products. This lip balm feels almost like nothing on my lips, making me feel more at ease. This product contains fragrance but it's very mild, just a herbish lavenderish scent?

For the Vitamin ACE Ageless Lip Balm (Pink), it has a glossy finish. It's not obvious in the picture but obvious in reality. You can safely spam this on if you desire the finish to be more glossy. I usually use this when I'm going out without any other lippies or at night before bed. I find that this balm is a lot more moisturizing than the purple one and it glides on a lot smoother :/ It improves the appearance of fine lines because of the glossy finish and have not noticed any significant difference in my lip lines. I prefer this pink one to the purple on because it hydrates my lips a lot better and keeps it from peeling or shriveling up. This smells similar to the purple balm with the addition of a slight menthol scent. Don't ask me why :/

To conclude, there's no need for a comparison as these come in a set haha. Either way you'll still get both and you'll wanna use both unless you're super rich and don't mind just using the one you prefer. If sold separately, I'll get the pink one. I have not seen these at Watsons thus I assume that they're only available online at Naruko's website HERE for $7.90 (Not inclusive of GST I think). Also, it's mentioned that for best product quality you'd wanna finish this within 6 months after opening. Time to spam spam spam!

HA Intense Hydrating Lip Balm (Purple)
Moisture level : ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ (Average lip balm :/)
Scent : ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ (Nothing pleasant or unpleasant)
Texture : ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ (Feels like nothing but doesn't glide on very smoothly)
Overall : ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ (Just... An average lip balm?)

Vitamin ACE Ageless Lip Balm (Pink)
Moisture level : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (Very very moisturizing!)
Scent : ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ (Nothing pleasant or unpleasant)
Texture : ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (Glides on smoothly but one star off cause... I just don't like feeling stuff on my lips.)
Overall : ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (Better than the purple one, get this! [But you can't choose lollol])

It's worth getting if you're not as picky as me, about $4 per lip balm? Would work better for people whose lips aren't as extreme as mine.

Love,
Domo ❤

Disclaimer : This product was purchased by yours truly and reviews are as always, 101% honest!

Product Review : VOV Daily Fresh Mask in Ice Aloe, Sake Nori and Sakura Honey

Hello Domokies! Long time no review :/ But but I've been hardworking and taking piccies so I suppose more will be up soon~

For now, I'll be sharing several masks reviews with you, starring the Daily Fresh Masks from VOV. Do note that as I'm compiling 3 different masks reviews in one, it will be quite picture heavy.

First up, the VOV DFM in Ice Aloe.

Basically this is just supposed to be a hydrating and soothing mask. We all know the properties of Aloe by now don't we?

Here you can see how to use it. I personally leave my DFM masks on for 20 minutes. Do take note that this mask contains alchohol and fragrance so if you have sensitive skin you might wanna be more cautious. I did not experience any stinging sensation whatsoever and the fragrance was just a light floral scent.

The mask comes with the eye flap thingy so it's a bonus that you don't have to use a separate eye mask? The mask fits almost perfectly on my face, except for my bulbous nose :(

If you wanna continue surfing the web like me, you can always just fold the flap downwards like so.

Here's a picture of the serum from this mask. It is very thick and gel / jelly like. Upon contact with skin + rubbing / massaging, the gel like consistency becomes watery and absorbs fully into the skin without any sticky or oily residue.

L - Before / R - After

Skin felt soft and smooth after usage. The leftover essence was easily massaged into the skin and as mentioned earlier, no oily film or residue. No stickiness detected either. However, the skin around my cheeks felt a little tight. I am unable to explain why but my skin did not feel dry or agitated. Tight feeling disappeared after following up with my usual skincare routine.

Texture : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (Absorbs quickly)
Effectiveness : ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (It did what it was supposed to, just a star off for the weird tight feeling.)
Scent : ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ (A very acceptable scent, neither extremely appealing to me nor overwhelming.)
Overall : ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ (A decent mask for almost all skin types, not sure about those with sensitive skin though.)

Now for the Sake Nori Mask.

Basically a brightening mask!

*Not sure if this is true but I've once read that sake agitates those with sensitive skin. I however do not have that and thus am unable to confirm for you.

L - Before / R - After

I apologize that my pictures do not do this mask justice :/ If you can see, the lighting for both seems a little different and I am still working on it. This mask in reality made my complexion brighter, softer and smoother! If I'm not mistaken, my dark eye circles are a little less red / puffy? The serum for this mask is the same as the aloe once so I'm not going to repeat the picture. The absorption rate is also the same as the aloe one, with no sticky or oily feeling. The scent is also something floral... (What a relief cause I ain't no want my face smelling like sake :/)

Texture : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (Absorbs quickly)
Effectiveness : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (I love the brightening effect :D)
Scent : ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ (Floral is too meh for me.)
Overall : ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (It's quite a good mask! Worth a shot.)

And lastly, the Sakura Honey one. I was most excited about this one due to the beautiful pink packaging!

Sooooo pretty and girly and appealing!

Mask shape is the same for all "flavors" in case you're wondering.

A different texture for the essence! This one is a little more runny than the previous two masks but still quite thick.

L - Before / R - After

Love this brightening and soothing mask! If you squint at the picture, you'll notice a little spot on my left cheek. It's alot less red after using this mask and face was brighter! I personally felt that this was even more moisturizing than the previous two masks as it took awhile longer to sink in and my face felt more... Nourished. I was hoping for a sweet honey kinda scent but sadly, this is once again floral. I have nothing against floral scents! I just prefer fruits~

Texture : ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (Absorbs well but takes a longer time to sink in completely.)
Effectiveness : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (Brightening as well as soothing.)
Scent : ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ (Floral again...)
Overall : ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (Y)

SUMMARY

I've always loved the VOV masks even before I was sent these for reviewing. I'm however guilty of purchasing only the fruity ones like the Strawberry / Tomato / Grape(Am not sure if it's called grapes, forgot alr). I super heart the strawberry one in particular because it smells sweet and amazing~ Recommended if you're a fan of sweet fruity scents. I was also sent a pomegranate one to review but I didn't have time to use it till the 7th month and honestly I'm a lil afraid of taking pictures of myself in case something (someone) else shows up.

Out of these three I've reviewed, I'd recommend getting either the Sakura Honey or the Sake Nori one as they're more unique and they hydrate my skin as well. I prefer my masks to have a whitening / brightening effect as my complexion is always dull. The aloe one is probably more for people who want to soothe agitated skin only.

These are available at Watsons for $2 each and they come in 15 types! So choose according to your skin's needs :D

P.S. You can find their FB page HERE! Also, they'll be having a buy 5 get 1 free promotion at Watsons from 15-28 August!

Love,
Domo ❤

Disclaimer : These masks were sent to me for reviewing purposes by Essential Nature (Thank you!) but do not affect the honesty of the review in any way. Please remember that not everyone has the same skin so effects will vary.