It's interesting how much your skin care products change over the course of the years. I still remember having no knowledge about the importance of skin care products as an early teen, basically almost never removing my make up after a long day of school. Imagine what that did to my skin..

All of my current products I've bought in Japan but I'm going to do my best to find them on the web for you. Of course, the Clinique eye cream is an universal product and you'll probably find it at any local drugstore.

The first thing to take into note is that I don't like a heavy load of products on my skin in the morning - I like it fresh and cold. Therefore, these are the products that I use everyday but not every morning and night. I prefer using the heavier products for night time, making sure that my skin gets to catch up with the nutritions lost throughout the day.

Morning routine

Gentle Moisturizing Face Lotion
I don't have a ton of time in the morning and so I'd like to keep my routine quick and short. I always start by washing my face with lukewarm or cold water to wake myself up a bit. After that I take about two to three drops of this fresh and uplifting face lotion from Makanai, which I also have a review on here. Surprisingly, it's the only one out of the whole mini kit that I still use to this day. I love the smaller size because I can bring it with me whenever I travel and it's super quick, absorbing into your skin in seconds so you can get on with the make up in no time.

Makanai is a Japanese cosmetic brand founded in 1999 to give you natural beauty products. Their products are cruelty-free and made out of natural ingredients such as soy beans, black sugar and rice bran. If you ever have the chance to visit a Japanese drug store or department store I'd recommend looking out for their products, as it's easier to try and find the products that will suit you the most when you have the products available in hand, rather than on the web.

Sekkisei Herbal Gel 
If I have more time on my hands in the morning I also like to use this tiny little bottle of herbal gel from the brand Kosé. It's not as heavy as the night product that I use, but still leaves my skin moisturized and healthy on the more dry and cold days. I apply a tiny bit on my face and then let it sit for a few moments before applying make up. I'd like to also go over with a lip balm before doing the make up part, but as I'm sure you already have a favorite lip balm I didn't think it too important to include it in this blog entry.

Evening routine

All About Eyes
All hail this eye cream! Probably my favorite product by the Clinique brand that I keep going back to whenever it runs out. I still opt for the smaller size as I don't leave without it if I'm staying somewhere. It literary takes two seconds to apply and really helps with my under eye dark circles. I used to have a huge problem with bags under my eyes and they've improved (as I'd like to believe) so much thanks to this product, since I've continued to use it for approximately two years now.

Of course, I apply this after I've properly washed my face and removed all the make up. A little bit goes a long way, which is something I continue to say about skin care products. This little bottle lasted me more than 6 months last time, so it's definitely worth the amount you spend on it, as it's a little bit on the pricier side.

Sekkisei 薬用 雪肌精
Undoubetly the hardest one to find on the internet. However this is definitely one of my holy items, if you can call it that. After all the washing and scrubbing of your face this is like a wave of clouds on your skin (I promise!). It took me a while to pick this one out as there's a whole range of stuff you can choose from, which I love, however this is the one that was recommended to me. It almost feels like a face mask and has thicker texture to it than a morning skin care product, but it's not as heavy as a night time face cream which I feel is heavier. If you'd compare yoghurt and milk to each other in regards to texture this is definitely the milk product, and it has a lovely and mild scent too! It's water-based and contains products such as Korean Ginseng.  If you're interested in the brand you can check it out here.

"Suppresses melanin production to prevent age spots and freckles from sun exposure, as well as dryness and other skin problems."

Butter Handcream
It doesn't matter if I need to quickly run out the door or jump into bed I always use this one at least twice per day. Coming back home to brisky Stockholm from the humid days of Tokyo this was a bring-home essential. It's too big to be carry-on handy but I think that encourages me more to use it before going out to fight the days of wrinkly hands and fingers. This has been my favorite hand cream since the day I started using it, hands down, and it's available in stores both in Tokyo as well as New York. You know when you use a hand cream and your skin just sucks it all up in like an hour? And then it's back to a desert of a hand again. This doesn't do that, fortunately. It's long-lasting and has a nice, smooth texture which I like. Sabon is also a brand that only uses natural ingredients in their products. Thumbs up for that!

I think all of these products really suit me, as I'm always on the go and in need of something that is high quality but quick and long-lasting. They all work well for me, and I hope that through this blog entry you might find a skin care brand you'd like to try out. Your skin is so important no matter what age you are, so let's take care of it.

It's been almost 6 months since I last did a beauty favorites so I thought I'd update this blog with some recent faves that I've been loving throughout June. I hope that you've been having a lovely summer so far!
Let's have a look at the recent summer essentials.

Hair Oil Mist 

First up we have a fragrance hair oil mist by Fernanda. I picked this up at the end of last month as I was getting tired of using a cream product for my hair and I was in need for something easy and quick to apply. I've never tried a fragranced hair product like this so I was very intrigued when I stumbled upon it.

It has a nice, general floral scent and works very well when I'm rushed in the morning but still want to apply some shine to my hair. During summer time my hair gets extra frizzy so this is very handy for those super humid days. As always, I try to avoid spraying it on my bangs (which I've recently acquired) to avoid them from getting greasy quicker than necessary. However, it works really well for the ends of my hair and the roots. Just a few, quick sprays will do!

Butter Hand Cream

Sabon, is a brand I've recently discovered and totally fallen head over heels for. Especially this butter hand cream with delicate jasmine. Sabon was originally founded in Tel Aviv and offers various bath and body products. It's a little bit on the pricey side but the quality of this butter hand cream is at the top of my all time favorite high quality hand creams. When I tried this out at the store in Naka-Meguro, Tokyo, I knew I couldn't go home without it. 

Why I enjoy this product so much is something that can be related back to my trust in brands like Lush. It's a stable brand which you can rely on, who uses natural ingredients to create their products. Simply speaking, you invest your money in a product that works. Sabon is a brand I'll keep going back to, as they have, like Lush, not let me down yet with their products. 

This hand cream has a lovely subtle scent of jasmine and contains passion fruit oil. Even just a little bit goes a long way! I'd recommend this to anyone who has really dry skin and is looking for a new hand product.

Non Chemical UV Moist Cream 
Being born with very sensitive skin I can't remember how many times I've burned my cheeks, nose and forehead throughout the summers. What I've learned though, is to be generous with the sun screen after all my sunburns, especially on my face. I went into the Loft store the other day, looking for a convenient, on-the-go product to easily throw in my purse when needed. This is the one I picked up and I've really enjoyed using it throughout the past month! It works well for hands and body and the packaging is cute and simple too which always is a plus. If there's one thing to remember about summer - it's to protect your skin from the sun and its UV rays.

Moisturizing Face Cream

Entering the month of June one product that has continued to keep up with my expectations on it is the face cream from Makanai, which I've mentioned in a previous post as well. Somehow this product have found its natural place into my every day routine, and has become somewhat an essential. Out of all the benefits like relaxing my skin and leaving a perfect amount of moisture after application, what I really enjoy the most is the scent, funnily enough. It's such a subtle and natural scent which really picks you up in the morning and leaves your skin feeling refreshed. 

I'll definitely be buying the normal sized version when I run out of this one. For anyone looking for a Japanese skin care brand they haven't tried before, I'd highly recommend giving this brand a go! You can read my previous post about the Makanai Mini Skin Care Set here. 

Honey Dew Heartful Pure Eye Color 

I bought this eyeshadow as well as a matching lip color a few months back, and even though I'm planning on doing a review on this brand (Vecua Honey), so far so good! I was looking for some neutral eye shadow colors and to say the least these have been a very nice addition to my make up collection. It's perfect for every day use as well as for more formal gatherings, or for just adding some shine to your cheeks. As you can see, the petite packaging is one of the cutest I've owned so far and it's just such a lovely theme throughout this entire beauty brand. 

Vecua Honey is a Japanese brand which creates their products from natural ingredients such as honey, flowers and fruits. The sweet packaging might not suit every person out there, but it's definitely a high quality brand which gives focus both on giving their products nice designs as well as protecting your skin from everyday harmful pollutants. You can read more about them on their website here. 

This month brought both discovery of new brands as well as continued beauty favorites. Whether the packaging design matters to you or not, to search for products that contain natural ingredients is something I'll continue to consciously do in the future as well. As we grow older, protecting our skin is something that doesn't stop being an important part of our well-being. A happy skin means a happy soul, at least for me. Which means taking care of it, especially during the hot summer days. 

I've been living in Japan for 8 months now, but I still hadn't gotten around to trying a Japanese skin care brand. As the days started getting warmer here I found myself in the section of a department store one day, looking for sun lotions and after sun products. I'm naturally always on the look-out for the simplest packaging and then I stumbled upon Makanai for the first time. It's a beauty brand which focuses on making natural and cruelty-free products. The simple packaging sold me, but the products made me fall in love.

Since it's my first time trying this brand, I only bought the mini skin care set just to try it out. Here's my first review of the products that came with the set.

Each product doesn't seem to have it's separate link on their website so if you're interested in any of these products you can click here!

Makeup Removing Cleanser & Gentle Moisturizing Skin Lotion
First up we have the makeup removing cleanser and the skin lotion. The makeup remover is very gentle and so not really meant to remove tougher makeup like mascara or eye-makeup, however on other parts of the face it's very effective. It's all natural ingredients so it doesn't feel like it dries out your skin that some makeup removers tend to do. I'd recommend using this as well as a dedicated makeup remover for your eyes.

The skin lotion contains a lot of botanical ingredients and so it feels very refreshing and moisturizing. It doesn't leave your skin too greasy or too dry, and that's perfect when living in such a humid country as Japan. I especially enjoy using this in the mornings, as it really feels fresh and nice and wakes me up instantly. A little goes a long way!

Moisturizing Gold Beauty Oil

My favorite out of all of these products! It's not just a pleasure to the eyes with its cute gold petals but it's a very lightweight, pleasing oil. During summer time, the worst thing I know is oils that make your skin feel greasy and dirty, and unfortunately many oils do. But with this I actually long to put it on my face as it's just such a delight. 

This oil also contains a lot of botanical ingredients similar to the skin lotion, which perhaps is why I enjoy it so much. Even though this is a small size bottle, a little goes a long way with this one as well and you don't need more than just two drops. 

Nourishing Face Cream

After you've used the makeup remover, facial soap, lotion and beauty oil this is your last stop in the skin care routine. It feels tight on my skin but never sticky, and the same with the other products - a little goes a long way. That seems to be the theme of these skin care products, but recently I've really enjoyed this face cream during the recent warm days. It supports your healthy skin with natural ingredients and keeps it soft and clean. The scent is also very pleasant which is nice. Out of all of these products this is probably the one I'd consider buying a bigger size of. I definitely recommend this one!

Brown Sugar & Horse Oil Facial Soap
To be honest, I've only used this twice. Not because I don't like it but because I always tend to forget to bring it with me. Maybe that's just not only me? I don't know how many people are used to cleaning your face with a soap, and in a sense it feels weird to do so. However, it's so creamy and nice that it doesn't feel weird at all, and it leaves your skin feeling like you've taken that last layer of makeup off. I've really enjoyed this soap so far, I think it just takes some time getting used to it. 

I'm really intrigued by the story of this beauty brand, and I'm looking forward to learn more about it and also about cruelty-free beauty products. It's a new era, and even if a small step goes a long way, I think it's a new and fun area which I haven't explored yet. To find a brand that I like at the same time as it's being cruelty-free is a win win for me. The scents might not suit everyone but for me it does the job, and so far I'm loving it!

If you have any other cruelty-free recommendations, let me know! 

Walking into the new year of 2018 I'd like to take a last step back into the last month of 2017 and let you know what I've been loving in December. It's a small bunch but oh so very dear to me. 

The focus in December was probably as you can see, nails and the festive side of this month. Today I have two nail products to showcase as well as some glam for that holiday season of 2017. Let's have a look. 

Gabrielle Chanel 

My absolute favorite beauty product of this month. I've been eyeing this thing at three different airports and when the Chanel store popped up beside me in a department store here in Tokyo I saw it as a sign. Knowing I've wanted this perfume for a while now it was the perfect match. I feel like the scent is so me and the packaging simple and gorgeous, almost representing the New Year and its fresh start. I'd say it's a very florally scent, containing different types of flowers such as Jasmine and Grasse Tuberose. I could go on and on about this product, so I'll stop here and simply share this quote about the name of the perfume which I find very inspiring. 

"The name tells a story. The story of Gabrielle Chanel. The story of the woman before she was Coco, the designer. A rebel at heart, Gabrielle freed herself to become the woman she wanted to be. A woman as radiant as the fragrance she inspired." 
You can find the showcasing of the perfume here. 

Hand and Nail Treatment Cream

Next up we have the first nail product of this month which is by Clarins. I picked this up at the sales after Christmas and was surprised on how well it worked on my nails. This past month I've had troubles keeping my nails strong and healthy and they'd break every week which has never happened to me before. This has been my saviour for those nail breaking days and has really both strengthened and moisturised my nails as well as my hands, which tend to be extra dry during the cold winter days. The scent is discreet and lovely, and I'd recommend this to anyone having problems regarding dry skin or weak nails. 

Color Fit-Rogue Lipstick

In the shade PK 823 which you can find at any drug or make up store in Tokyo. It's my first time trying Fasio, which is a Japanese make up brand. In need for a new lipstick for the holiday seasons I stumbled upon this lipstick, which was a good balance between a red shade that wasn't too red for me, as I usually only apply nudes or darker shades of red to my lips, but still satisfying in my desire for a red lipstick in time for Christmas. This is a flirty lipstick that goes well with anything from casual gatherings to formal Christmas dinners. 

O!Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara 

By Marc Jacobs. While my Dior mascara has served me well, sometimes less is more, and therefore I went on a hunt for a more subtle mascara. Despite its name it's actually giving less volume than the Dior one, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's what I was looking for and I wasn't disappointed. Thanks to the design of the product it's very easy to apply, lasts all day and doesn't clump. The mascara is formulated with essential oils, Vitamin B5 and C to really condition and care for your eyelashes, which is a plus when you use mascara almost on a daily basis. I highly recommend this product and so if you're looking for a new mascara that gives you a natural look as well as long lasting lashes throughout the day and weather, this is the one for you. 

Spin the Bottle

With the reds, glitters and golds that comes with Christmas and the New Year's, I needed something to calm me down. I've also always loved the Essie nail polishes, as I feel that they've always been really high quality products and has never done anything else but satisfy me. As soon as the Christmas days were over I went and bought this nude one, which is a flirty and sophisticated nail polish that will certainly give you a touch of glam. If you're like me that needs some nudes and monochrome colors after the holidays, this is a very nice option.

Love Light - Blinded by the Light

Speaking of glam here's my favorite highlighter of the month and of 2017, which is a sweet shimmering highlighter by Too Faced, a make up brand I've heard so much about and I finally went and bought one of their highlighters when I was back in Stockholm. This shade is very "pearly" and beautiful. It's such a high quality product and I've used it every day since I purchased it. The packaging is adorable and sweet and reminds me of being a teenager again, which puts a smile on my face when I walk around carrying this heart-shaped treasure in my bag. 

I hope you've had a wonderful holiday season! Thank you for reading and supporting this blog in 2017, it means the world to me. I'm looking forward to seeing you in 2018 as well! 

My new Daniel Wellington Watch! I've been longing for a more petite watch for a while now and as Christmas rolled around the corner I thought it was the perfect time to get myself a new watch for Christmas. So let's take a look.

As I was on the hunt for a more feminine and petite watch I immediately opted for the Petite Bristol watch which is a big contrast to my Sheffield. The dial is completely black except for the rose gold bars, which is something completely new for me and a nice, interesting touch. 

Even though this is a much more feminine watch than the one I've used for quite some time now, I still feel that despite Bristol's smaller size it's still a statement with its black dial and chocolate brown strap. It would definitely have been more "safe" if I had gone with the white version, but as I was looking for a little bit more than that this was a perfect choice for me. 

Let's have a look at the Sheffield one as well. (Which I need to buy a new strap for, as you can see. It's quite worn out).

Of course, the Bristol watch is like the Sheffield one water resistant. My Sheffield one is a 36 mm dial while my gorgeous new one strikes at its tiny 28 mm. Both goes well with basically any outfit and it goes almost without saying that that's one of the biggest reasons why I always turn to Daniel Wellington when I look for a new watch. The Sheffield one is a classic that goes with any event or occasion while the Bristol one complements any outfit with a feminine and modern statement. I love them both and am looking forward to being able to mix and match these with different outfits on a daily basis. 

The Daniel Wellington watches has been huge the past years. While being aware of this I still find it important to support brands from Sweden, or any smaller company in general. With today's mass productions and cheap products I think it's important to support the companies and brands that truly create for the customer and not just for gain, with high quality that will last a life time. 

If you have any small brands that you love, please let me know! I love discovering and supporting smaller brands.

Happy Holidays!