Weekend at Yuzanso Onsen, Kyoto

Lobby

Room:

The outdoor bath and the view of Lake Biwa (not visible in this photo is the shower area next to the tub)
Don't worry about getting naked outside because nobody can see you due to the height/location of your room

[Accommodation Plan]　Please enjoy Muslim-friendly dinner and breakfast "This plan is for Muslim."
1 "Sanyaso Room (with open-air bath)" Total  49,680JPY    
　　　男性 24840JPY * 1person(s)
　　　女性 24840JPY * 1person(s)
　　　*male 1person(s) female 1person(s)  Total  2 person(s)
[Optional charges total] 300JPY  tax included (1)Bathing tax (02/24)　　300JPYｘ1

Food:
Dinners are served quite early at Ryokans because after dinner you are supposed to relax either by bathing in the onsens/ getting a massage/ having drinks at the bar etc. We chose to have dinner at 6pm. You will need at least 1.5 hours to get through the whole course. Take your time and ask your server if you are not sure how to eat/ prepare certain dishes. They are super friendly and will go out of their way to help you out.

Each guest/group has their own dinner space so you can relax in private in the dining area. Make sure to come to the hall on time as they set the table according to the time you asked for during check-in.

So much food! Really take your time so you can enjoy each course.

Breakfast menu

We liked the furikake (seasoning to sprinkle on rice) so much that we bought a bottle at the ryokan's gift store!

Service:

Service was amazing. As soon as you check-in, a personal greeter will guide you to your room and explain the layout of the ryokan. They will ask you what time you would like dinner and breakfast to be served. Make sure you arrive on time because each room gets their own private dining area but space is limited so they use a timetable to make sure everyone has a place to eat. If you have any questions, ask your greeter and they will happily guide you on everything.

Notes

1. Have your shower before getting into the hot tub/ofuro.
2. You are allowed/expected to wear the provided cotton robes(yukata) while on the ryokan grounds with the provided slippers.
3. You are not allowed to wear anything in the shared onsen bath tubs. No one is looking at you. Everybody is busy relaxing themselves.
4. Yuzanso provides POLA toiletries which I adore! I have facials at POLA's beauty salons and use some of their products as part of my daily regimen. 
5. I booked 3 months in advance. I suggest booking at least 1 month before your date to avoid disappointment. 

Review : I loved our stay and am already planning on coming here again during the winter in 2018!

Yuzanso's official English website : http://yuzanso.co.jp/f/e/
Information on the Halal menu : http://www.yuzanso.co.jp/english/muslim/
Book here http://www2.489ban.net/v4/client/planinbound/list/customer/yuzanso/lang/4

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Review : NYX Slim Lip Pencil Lip Swatches ( 6 colours )

I have found a new love and craze - NYX Lip Liner Pencils. 

I love the finish and their lasting power. All the colours leave a matte finish except Tangeringe, which has a sheen to it. I can eat and drink and the worst that will happen is that they will rub off a bit. The darker colours don't stain my lips so taking them off at the end of the day is a breeze. Love love love it!

As you can see, my lips are quite pigmented so the colours have a different effect on me than they would on someone with lighter toned lips. I hope these lip swatches help you girls, who also have pigmented lips, make a decision when you buy these amazing lip liners.

NYX Lip Pencil 831 Mauve

I think Mauve would be great when you want some colour on your lips but you don't want anything too loud and colourful. This would also work great as a base for colourful lipsticks to really stand out on the lips. Some clear gloss on this and you have beautiful nude lips.

NYX Lip Liner Pencil 840 Rose

I'm a bit on the fence about Rose. It's a beautiful bright pink but I'm not sure if it's a good shade on my skin. I'm going to experiment a little more with this, maybe apply a darker pink lipstick on top?

NYX Lip Pencil 810 Natural

I love Natural! I think this gives a nude lip that doesn't wash me out. Because this colour is really simple, I can go a bit crazy on the eyes to balance the whole look on my face. I know Mauve and Natural look the same on my lips but that may be due to lighting. Mauve has a purple tone to it while Natural is more brown.

NYX Lip Pemcil 846 Tangerine

I have to admit, I am not a fan of the finish Tangerine leaves. I'm definitely in a 'Matte Lip Craze' right now so it doesn't really fit into my current tastes. I do like the peachy tone it has though, so I will keep it for future use.

NYX Lip Pencil 817 Hot Red

Merah mak ang ang ang! HAHAHA I love this shade! I think it looks really good on my tan skin. It doesn't bleed and I think my teeth even look whiter when I have this on. This + black winged lined eyes = Perfection

NYX Lip Pencil 812 Plum

The official lip colour for this Autumn. I adore how deep this colour is. I just fill in my brows and basically do nothing else when I wear this because all the attention will be on the lips so I'm not even going to bother spending time doing anything else LOL This is definitely my favourite out of all them.

I got these at either :

Amazon Japan - Rude Cosmetics . ￥477 each. It's a seller from the US so it'll take a week or two to get your stuff but it's worth it if you plan on buying more than 2 shades.

NYX Japan - Official Store . ￥800 each. Free shipping with no minimum purchase. Get yours here if you plan on getting 2 items or less. Takes 2-3 days to arrive on your doorstep.

Malaysia :

Colour Cosmetics Malaysia - website . Only RM15 each

Sephora - website . There are currently 9 Sephora stores in Malaysia. If you're going to go to Sephora, join their Card Program. You collect points, get discounts and get freebies when they have promotions. Definitely worth it!

Review : KATE Liquid Touch Powder Foundation

From the website : The KATE LIQUID TOUCH POWDER FOUNDATION formula in this foundation spreads smoothly and gives a moist finish. It stays put. It's super lustrous. The secret to irresistible skin.

I have been using this for almost 6 months now. I love it! It really does apply on smooth. It might seem a bit cakey at first but it will melt into your skin. My dry areas are also nicely covered and aren't highlighted like it would with other powder foundations I've tried.

I use the OC-D shade and it fits my skin tone pretty well. This also has SPF20++ so that's a plus. I notice that it doesn't oxidise and turn a darker shade during the day. I definitely recommend this for someone who can't be bothered with liquid foundation but wants an awesome finish to the skin.

Price: ￥2000(+tax)

Review : K-Colly Sweet 17

I've never been interested in trying out supplement products because I am big believer of getting vitamins and other nutrients through a healthy and balanced diet. Until one day when a friend of mine started talking about how K-Colly had helped her tremendously with her skin issues. Her problems started after trying out a local skincare brand that caused her skin to go crazy resulting in huge pimples that were not only uncomfortable but also painful. Of course, she immediately stopped using the skincare products and decided to try out K-Colly. K-Colly helped her skin clear up and in about a month, her skin was drastically better with about half of the pimples and irritations gone.

Because she wasn't trying to sell K-Colly to me and didn't pressure me at all to try it, I wasn't turned off. After reading a few blogposts about K-Colly reviews, I decided to give K-Colly a try.

Here is what I noticed after consuming K-Colly for about 2 months :

- my skin felt softer

- I was having some acne issues around my jaw area and the area is now completely acne-free

- my backne had reduced a lot; the acne that were already there dried up quickly and I hardly got any new ones

- my skin is less oily which results in products staying longer and better on my skin. I wear less foundation and hardly any concealer now yay!

You can consume it just as it is, 1/2 a scoop in the morning and night but it is too sweet for me so I usually mix 1 full scoop with a glass of water and drink this before I sleep.

I will probably continue consuming K-Colly but I am on my last bottle and I haven't found a stockist in Japan so I might have to stop for a while until I buy more in Malaysia HAHAHA

Anyways, if you have also tried out K-Colly, please feel free to leave your experience in the comment section below.

Review : Clarins White Plus Pearl-to-Cream Brightening Cleanser

Photo from Clarins SG

The claim : The first beauty step towards immaculate skin. This cleansing cream takes the form of a fine, abundant mousse that combines a pleasant texture with the high efficacy of a formula rich in purifying and clarifying plant extracts.

My thoughts : I love this cleanser when it starts to get colder here because my skin starts to go from oily-combination to dry-combination. This cleanser won't leave a tight and plastic feeling on my skin like some cleansers do. My skin feels soft and moisturised after using this. My dry spots become smoother and softer too. It's also pretty good at getting makeup off, though I've never tried washing off waterproof makeup with this. 

I can't say I noticed any brightening(or whitening) effect while using this but that was never my intention when I bought this, anyway.

I definitely recommend this for normal to dry-combination skin. I feel like it would be too creamy for oily skin but that's a personal preference. It also smells lovely, not too scented. This is a high-end product so the price is a little steep but this will last you for at least 4 months, easy. You only need a small pea size of product to get a beautiful creamy foam.

Price : RM115 at Parkson

Review : Rice Milk Soap and Tokyo Love Soap Premium

*Thoughts are my own. What works/doesn't work for me might have different effects on other people.

I wanted something new as my body soap so I decided to try the Tokyo Love Soap Premium and K Brothers Rice Milk Soap.

My experience with the Rice Milk Soap (RM5~10 depending on seller) :

First of all I want to say that I love the smell. It smells, well, like rice but with a floral hint to it. Whenever I use it, my whole bathroom will smell of it. Free perfume for my bathroom hehehe. When I first started I using it, I liked the effects. My skin became smoother and smelt nice for quite a few hours. However, after a week of using it my eczema started acting up (I get eczema on and off). This soap made my eczema worse. The area of skin with eczema would sting when the soap bubbles touched it. So, of course, I had to stop using it.

The fancy box

What the soap looks like

My experience with the Tokyo Love Soap Premium (RM65~90 depending on seller) :

After I stopped using the Rice Milk Soap, I started using this. This soap did not aggravate my eczema at all. There was no stinging or tingling sensation on the area of my skin with the eczema rash. This also smells awesome, it smells of roses! This didn't dry out my skin. I also noticed that my skin became a bit fairer and really smooth. The scent would last almost throughout the day. No need for deodorant! 

Review : Laura Mercier Foundation Primer (Oil Free)

Front and back view

I was looking for something that would extend the life of my id bareMinerals foundation during hotter days, so I decided to give this a try. My skin is oily/combo so the oil-free aspect of this primer really drew me in. I like the consistency. It doesn't feel thick and heavy. The smell is not exactly pleasant but bearable, I guess.

I wear this in the same manner I would wear a moisturiser. A little goes a long way with this. If you apply too much, it would just end up making your face oilier.

It totally feels like moisturiser so if you're the super oily type you can skip your moisturiser completely when using this

After applying this, I give it about 30 seconds to set and then I start applying my mineral powder foundation. I do notice that the foundation does last longer on my skin but it hasn't helped with the oiliness on my T-zone. I still need to blot at least once during the day but I don't need to touch up with extra powder.

I would recommend this for those of you with only slightly skin but not if you are oily/combo like me.

Price : ￥2670 (RM88)

Review : Revlon ColorStay (Oily/Combination Skin)

I've heard a lot about the Revlon Colourstay from Youtube gurus that I follow. For example :

1. Saaamage's review

2. itsjudytime's review

3. MakeupGeekTV's review 

So I wanted to try this out but Japan only carries 6 shades while in the US they get like 20 shades. Unfortunately I bought a shade that was way too dark for me on the first try, which was the 07 Toast. The lighter shade next to it seemed too pale for my skin which is why I grabbed the 07 instead. Then I had to go out and buy a second bottle, this time getting the 06 Medium Beige. As I expected, 06 was too light. 

It made my skin tone look off. I know that Malay girls sometimes like to buy foundations in a lighter shade to give the effect of having whiter/brighter skin but if you go too far off the scale it just looks hella weird. More so when your neck or arms don't match up to the colour of your face. 

What I ended up doing was mixing the 2 shades to get something that would match my skin perfectly. This was really tricky because 07 really is a strong brown shade so if I mixed in too much I'd look like I'd just come back from the beach or something. I would say that I mix in 3 parts 06 and 1 part 07. I'd mix in more of the 06 during Winter because I get a bit paler then. 

Such a big gap in the colour range. Drives me mad

I should also point out that the Revlon Colorstay comes in 2 types; normal/dry skin and oily/combination. I think this is great because these skin types make such a difference to the type of finish that you'll get.

06(top) and 07(bottom). The colour when I combine the two

As you can  see in the photo above, the consistency is pretty thick and it's not watery or runny.

Even though this foundation is catered for oily/combination skin types, it didn't keep my face matt through out the day. What it did do was stay put from morning till night, so +1 point there. Setting powder is important unless you like the dewy look.

Also, this foundation sets pretty quick so you might want to pick up your speed while blending this on to your skin. I use a M.A.C 190 brush. The brush is dense and the short bristles give me a better control of how I want the foundation to glide on. The brush doesn't leave any streaky lines after application.

I also love the fact that this foundation came with a pump, a really good pump I might add.

The awesome pump(left) & the M.A.C. 190 brush

I would say that since this is a full coverage foundation it is thick and quite heavy so if you know that you prefer foundations that feel lighter then I wouldn't recommend this for you.

Blush and bronzer looks so beautiful on top of this. It really enhances the colours, so use blush/bronzer with a light hand.

Price : ￥2150 (RM70+-)

LUSH Shampoo ( Liquid & Bar ) Review

I started buying LUSH products maybe like 2 years ago, I think. I fell in love with the smell! You can literally smell the scent of a LUSH shop 5~8 meters away, depending on your nose's strength.

My current hair/scalp situation : I have medium length hair (they go down a few inches below my shoulders). My hair is quite thick and wavy with curls on the ends. I tend to have a bit of dandruff but it's not major and hardly noticeable. The hair that's closest to my roots get oily after a day of washing and by the end of the second day, it can feel really heavy. Since I wear a scarf, my head is covered around 12 hours every single day. Besides the slight dandruff and oiliness, I don't have any other qualms like split ends or whatever.

The first shampoo I tried out was the I LOVE JUICY liquid shampoo. I bought the middle sized one because I wasn't sure if it was going to do my hair any good or not.

From the website : from the US site

FEATURES

• Get fruity: Fresh pineapple, papaya, kiwi and mango juices saturate our fruity shampoo and leave hair clean, healthy and shiny.
• Take a dip in the sea: A pinch of salt adds a dash of volume and scoops of seaweed gel add softness.
• No more oil slick: You'll love juicy when you realize your once oily locks are squeaky clean and shiny.

My thoughts : It really does work. It does everything it says it will. After just one wash, my slightly oily hair near the roots felt light and fresh. It was so oil-free that it made my hair have more body and more oomph. The scent while it's still in the bottle is refreshing but once used on the head, the scent becomes a bit too chemical-ish. It's not a super bad or something but just not that nice. Hair feels great even after a day of wearing a scarf.

I've been using this for about 2 months now. I use it once a week because I don't think my head can handle it any more than that. I use the h&s shampoo in between this one. 

Price : 500g ¥2,600 / 250g ¥1,500 / 100g ¥800

The second shampoo I tried out was the Karma Komba solid shampoo. I wanted to see how effective solid shampoos are when compared with the usual liquid ones. The LUSH website recommends this one for dandruff related problems.

From the website : from the US site

FEATURES

• No more knotty business: Karma Komba is also fantastic for detangling wavy, curly locks.
• Lovely lavendin: Used in our entire Karma range, lavendin is soothing, calming, and works to calm the emotions.
• Flake bar: No, not the British chocolate. The essential oils in Karma Komba are also beneficial in keeping dandruff at bay.

My thoughts : This did not disappoint at all. It foamed up really well which is awesome because I do love at least a substantial amount of bubbles while I'm massaging my head with a product. My roots/scalp felt clean after just one wash. You can really see results after the first use. I also use this once a week, maybe even once every two weeks if I feel my hair and head don't really need it on that particular week. I bought this with the LUSH metal case and after the first wash the shampoo bar had stuck to the bottom of the case so I couldn't get it out, so when I use it I just grab onto the case and kind of push the shampoo in circular motions directly on to my hair. After I've built up enough foam, I'll massage it into my scalp for around 5 minutes. Similar to the above liquid shampoo, this does not smell pleasant. It has a really "organic" scent, if you can imagine that. I'm sure any of you that have tried organic toiletries can understand what kind of smell I'm talking about here. 

Side note :  Both shampoos, while great for my scalp and hair that's close to the roots, can be a tiny bit drying for the rest of my hair. My hair becomes a bit hard and feels plastic-like(like Barbie's hair) after using them but a good moisturising conditioner from mid-length of hair right down to the ends will help amazingly. 

Price :  55g ¥890

The Body Shop Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask Review

I have oily-combination skin so I'm always eager to try out any products that'll help out with my problems. Those problems being my super shiny T-zone, minor bumps all over my face and the occasional zit. I love pampering myself anyways, so taking time out for a facial is such a no biggie to me.

This time I decided to try out Body Shops's Ionic Clay Mask from their Seaweed line. 

I use this once a week and maybe twice a week if I'm going through an especially rough time. When I first apply it, I'll get a cool and tingly sensation. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes then wash it off. When I wash it off, it also instantly turns into a scrub because the hardened bits turn into scrubbing beads. I like the smell of this mask. It's a kind of minty and medicinal type of smell.

Looks like your average clay. It's not.

I love this! I think it really has helped reduce my oiliness and when I use it on top of zits, those zits get smaller and go away quicker too. 

My dry/normal spots like my cheek area, don 't get dried out or feel stretched after using this, so that's also a plus.

I've had this tube for a few months now so I think it's not expensive for how much product you're getting.

Price : ￥2940

...

id bareMinerals Foundation Review

I got this on eBay a while back and this is what I whack on my face every morning before I go to school, if I haven't overslept at least. 

It came in a cute little bag with a ribbon :)

I got the shade Golden Medium and this comes with SPF 15, which I love. Some protection is always a plus. I've been using this for a few months now and it hasn't broken me out. When I fist apply it to my skin, it can look a bit too powdery but after a minute it'll kind of 'set' into the skin and leaves a natural matte finish. I have normal-combination skin and when using this my T-zone still gets shiny but it's nothing that a blotting paper can't fix.

                                         

Application : I use a kabuki brush. On school days, I don't wear primer and instead just some sunscreen underneath.

Coverage   : Medium. 

Finish         : Natural matte.

Pros :

- blends easily

- doesn't cake up

- comes in lots of shades

Cons :

- no major setback that I can think of

Price : Can't remember around ￥3200, I think.

Note : the new packaging comes a more controllable sifter so it won't get all over the place and makes it more convenient for travel.

If you have any comments about your personal experiences using this product, don't be shy to share in the comments section :)

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation Review

I've never used a foundation before opting instead to just stick with my mineral powder foundation but lately, I've been wanting to give them a try so I bought this. 

Note : Seeing as how it's Summer right now and was Summer during the time I used this foundation, my skin in combination-oily. I don't really get acne anymore though my skin does have a few tiny bumps and minor discolouration. 

I bought shade 53 Light Beige, which was the darkest shade the store had. There were only 3 shades anyway. Such a disappointment. It doesn't match my skin tone perfectly. I come off like 2 shades lighter but because my setting powder is my correct skin tone, the end product looks okay. Even though it is a gel foundation it doesn't look matte so if you're like me and have oily-combination skin, setting powder is a must. I love how this foundation smells. It says that it has vitamin-rich fruit therapy so I guess I'd describe the smell as being sweetly fruity. After a few hours, I notice that it'll get patchy around my nose area. I've been using this for about a month now and it hasn't broken me out. 

Application : I use a stippling brush. I wear a primer underneath to help it last longer.

Coverage   : Medium
Finish         : Dewy

How it looks on my skin after a strokes. It'll look better once blended out evenly

Pros : 

- blends easily

- smells awesome

- hydrating

- comes with a good pump

Cons :

- not recommended for oily skin, better for normal/dry skin types

- can start to get patchy around T-zone area

- only comes in 4 shades in Japan and they all kind of look the same, which I think is just ridiculous 

Note for girls who wear scarves : Setting powder is a must because without it the foundation will rub off on your scarf/hijab. 

Price : ￥2100

If you have any comments about your personal experiences using this product, don't be shy to share in the comments section :)

The Body Shop Lily Cole Shimmer Cubes Palette 24 Review

Before I went back for a bit of a holiday in Malaysia, I went shopping in Shibuya, Tokyo and I dropped by The Body Shop there. I was tired after a few days of sightseeing so I decided to try their facials(will have a post of this up later). After the facial was over, they even do your makeup using The Body Shop makeup items. In my opinion, their mineral powder foundation is nothing to rave about, their concealer/highlighter didn't provide enough coverage for my panda eyes but their shimmer cubes eye shadows were awesome.

Palette 24

Pros :

- you get a lot of product for a reasonable price

- the colour payoff is satisfactory. It's not as pigmented as MAC eye shadows but I think that's a good thing because sometimes you can put too much and look clownish.

- it lasted throughout the day. 

- the packaging is cute

Cons :

- the powders are not as soft to the touch as MAC eye shadows

Look at how much product you're getting !

The colours on my fingertips

Price : I bought mine in Malaysia so it was RM79. In Japan it's ￥2940.

Verdict : I like it and would recommend it.

Plus, here's a video with a tutorial using all four of those awesome colours.

If you have any comments about your personal experiences using this product, don't be shy to share in the comments section :)