Anna Sui Haircare Kit

Released earlier in June, this Anna Sui Haircare Kit caught my eye due mainly to the glittery gold case. I purchased it from Gooddealer.com where it retails for US$39.61 (versus the Japan retail price of 3675yen). It includes a Rose Hair Shampoo (60ml), Rose Hair Conditioner (50ml) and a Hair Shampoo Brush. Everything is made in Japan, save for the pouch which is made in China.

The pouch is very well made with a large metal rose charm on the zip. The interior is lined in black, with a slip pocket under the lid. The size (15.5cm x 10cm) is roomy but still small enough to function as a convenient travel case.



I love the sweet rose scent of both the shampoo and the conditioner, which work well with my dry hair. The conditioner has become a fast favourite as it leaves my hair detangled, soft and frizz-free with just a subtle rose scent. It also rinses off easily without making my hair feel greasy or weighed down. The 50ml/1.7oz tube is barely enough for 10 applications though. Beauty.com stocks the regular size (7oz) for US$24.

The shampoo brush is cute and sturdily made but I have to admit that I do not use it regularly as it's just faster to use my fingers for a good scalp massage.

Below are the ingredient lists.


Overall, it was pretty pricey considering that the shampoo and conditioner will probably last a maximum of two weeks with daily use but I have no regrets purchasing it as I adore the pretty case and the products did work well with my hair. The shopping experience with Gooddealer (based in Hong Kong) was also smooth and my items arrived well-packaged with a good selection of samples thrown in.

Operation Use It Up

I just did an "empties" post less than two weeks ago but somehow, I managed to finished up another bunch of products recently. And yet, it seems like my cabinets are still stuffed to the max!

1. Lancome Blanc Miracle Foundation: This was good for daily use, especially when I am in a rush. (Read my earlier review here.) However, this was replaced in April by Maqui Blanc Miracle which contains purple ‘liquid light essence’ pigment and salicylic acid.

2. The Body Shop Satsuma Body Lotion: This was lying around half-empty for too many months to count. When I finally got around to finishing it, half a bottle was gone in less than two weeks. It is very light textured and non-greasy, perfect for the humid summer months.

3. Bliss Steep Clean Deep Pore Cleanser: This claims to help reduce the appearance of pores, excess oil and shine through a double enzyme blend. It contains salicylic acid and ascorbic acid. I liked this as it feels very gentle on the skin and leaves skin feeling clean and supple. It did not keep blemishes away completely or prevent pores from getting clogged but no cleanser does that for me.

4. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel: This paraben-free cleanser works well with my Clarisonic Mia, cleansing thoroughly without stripping the skin. Not sure if I will re-purchase it though as I still have a few cleansers to use up. The ingredients list is below.

5. La Mer The Radiant Infusion: This 15ml bottle lasted about three weeks with daily usage. Now that it's summer, this is all I use to prep my skin after cleansing and before applying foundation. It absorbs well without leaving any greasy or sticky feeling, and helps to combat the skin flakes that I sometimes get. Not a fan of the scent though.

6. L'Occitane Cherry Blossom Hand Cream: This has a delightful sweet floral scent that is not too cloying. It also gives immediate relief to my hands, which are prone to peeling as I wash my hands quite often. I always try to keep a tube in my bag.

7. Essence Nail Art Nail Polish Remover: Super cheap and does the job reasonably well, although glitter nailpolishes are still pretty tough to remove with this.

8. Philosophy Bubbly Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath: I was not a fan of the light champagne and orange scent at first but it grew on me, and now I find it quite refreshing. It lathers up very well, great for use with a bath lily.



9. Nivea Color Protect Conditioner: This keeps my hair relatively soft and tangle-free but I've since switched to Vidal Sasson Premium which I find to be more hydrating.

10. The Body Shop Rainforest Moisture Hair Butter: Given the name, I expected this to be very hydrating but it did absolutely nothing for my hair. I would not re-purchase this for sure!

11. Lush I Love Juicy: Lush's zany descriptions always make their products sound irresistible. This has a light green citrus scent and cleanses well, but it does leave my hair slightly dry. Not sure if I will re-purchase it.