Pollack Roe

It is not fresh. It is frozen but heck frozen is better than nothing. I got it from Hanarum Korean Grocery Store in Karama. 500grams for 25.00AED. Sharing for those who are interested.

Family Mart

Family Mart ~ the new Korean grocery store in Karama. Near Lamcy. Walking distance from Japanese grocery called Dean's Fujiya.

Innisfree Makeup

Not my photo. Got it from the website of Innisfree and I am not sure if this is a permanent collection or limited edition/ Sharing because I found Korean makeup to be more affordable compared to US and other Western brands. So if ever in the future I will be needing a makeup again, Innisfree will be one of my choices. All good shades of neutral, eh?

I finally got some TFS Green Tea 🇰🇷

Not all the products are included in the photo and my morning skin care routine starts after taking a shower. And of course on shower cleansing of the face is included too.
⭕️ Toner ~ but not to be confused with the Western toner. Korean toner or Japanese lotion/conditioner. Whichever is available.
⭕️ Serum
⭕️ Emulsion

⭕️ Moisturizer
⭕️ Sunscreen
⭕️ Primer ~ optional
⭕️ BB Cream ~ optional
⭕️ Make Up ~ optional

Now on the photo. The Face Shop is the only Korean brand or Asian brand readily available in the UAE market. But honestly this baffles me a lot. I mean UAE and USA are both rich countries. But then USA has so many choices of products. Whatever is the new thing or fad anywhere in the world they seem to have an access to it. While it is the complete opposite in the UAE. For example the world has gone crazy over the Speculoos Paste. It came to UAE market only when the madness died down and people went back to the good old peanut butter. A friend told me maybe it has something to do with halal. But then I am not talking only about food. I am also talking about cosmetics and skin care products. Fine we have some here but only the most expensive.

 

Some might say BUT Missha and Skin Food are available too! But the word I mentioned was 'readily' available. I heard about Missha and Skin Food shops but I have never seen one. You know UAE has 7 emirates. And they tend to know only Dubai and Abu Dhabi. So since it is only The Face Shop basically they don't have to compete with any other Asian or Korean brand and so they can name their price. People will take it or leave it. And so Janes like me cannot afford their prices the whole year round. I have to wait for them to go on sale but even on sale the prices will not really drop down that much. So I finally got my hands on the TFS Green Tea line when the sale has started.

 

The Face Shop Green Tea Waterfull Serum ~ I got it last December 2016 for 59.00AED and still that is quite a lot of money when I am seeing Japanese skin care products in Amazon Japan in much lesser prices. But I purchased it anyway as I was itching to try out their serum. It delivers and as I write this I am about to finish the bottle. No plans of repurchasing anytime soon. As I am still searching a cheaper Japanese alternative.

 

The Face Shop Green Tea Water Waterfull Toner and Serum ~ each bottle on sale price is 45.00AED and I got it this month only when they continued the sale due to DFS. Still expensive as the Japanese conditioner I purchased last November from Amazon Japan was the same amount but the quantity is 500ML. In the end I am happy with the performance of Green Tea Line but I still have issues about it due to the amount. I want to be beautiful but without breaking my bank account.

Asian Products at Emirates Coop in Dubai

Loreal UV Protect 2016

This is the new version or should I say 2016 version of Loreal UV Perfect sunscreen. Okay I am not sure that this is the 2016 version but all I know is this is the upgraded version. The old one was PA+++ only while this new one is PA++++. I got it from Safeer Hypermarket after the Christmas. Photos overload.

I have taken load of photos for those who are interested and wants to know what it looks like as well as to share the information on the box. But my camera was acting weird and so the result was the first photo.

This line of Loreal sunscreen is made in Indonesia and made specifically for Asian market. So I am not sure if this is available in western countries like US and Europe. I am not entirely sure but there seems to be a restriction of sunscreens in the US as opposed to Asia and Europe.

This was the reason why I became interested with the Loreal UV Protect. As I purchased my first Loreal UV Perfect based on this reason. That it has been tested under dermatological control on Asian skin. I think the main concern of Asian is we are prone to have uneven skin tone than western people.

What the product promises to do

More information about the product

Top of the box

And I don't know what R stands for

SPF 50+/PA++++ Long UVA

Tube of 30ML

Old and New packaging

Usage and Expiration

Old and New Packaging

Expiration (Old Packaging)

Patents Pending

The cream of old and new are the same

The top cream is Laroche Posay Anthelios Cream while down are both Loreal old and new packaging. La Roche Posay is yellowish and thicker.

La Roche Posay Anthelios Cream

Shiseido Senka Mineral Water UV

Old and New Loreal UV Perfect

I checked out Google about the sunscreen line of Loreal in Asia. It turned out that in Indonesia it has 5 variants. But only Loreal UV Perfect made it to the UAE market. Anyway that only downside that I can say about it is not being waterproof. But it is good for every usage. It does not leave white cast on the face. Moisturizing enough that if you lack in time no need to apply a separate moisturizer. Not greasy. Over all applying it just feels like you are applying a normal day time face cream. Works perfectly with my other skin care products and make up. And that's all. If ever something along the way comes up regarding this product I will surely update it here.

Just want to share about Japanese sunscreens. There has been a rave about Japanese sunscreens. But they are not available in the UAE market. And so last November 2015 I decided to order online. I made an order through Desert Cart now the thing is it has been 2 months but still I haven't received Shiseido Senka Aging Care UV Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ and I don't know or understand why. I trust Desert Cart , I mean they are not a bogus online shopping. They were able to deliver my other orders on time except this one. 

Because of this experienced I turned to Ebay. Ordered some Japanese sunscreens (Biore and Hada Labo). But they are using EMS which said to take up to one month. Now it is more than one month but still nothing from UAE Empost. Feeling frustrated, made an order again to Amazon Japan since they are very fast when it comes to shipping. And they should be by the way since their shipping fee is expensive. I ordered the same brand of sunscreen that I am not yet receiving from Desert Cart. And guess what? My orders from Amazon Japan is delayed. What's up with this Shiseido Senka Aging Care UV Sunscreen? Seems like it is hard to get a hold of it.

Checking again Desert Cart, if you will order Shiseido Senka Aging UV Sunscreen now you will get it after two months. I don't usually curse but then WTF? Will I get mine after 2 months? Even if I placed the order 2 months ago. This really boggles me because the other Japanese sunscreen and products will not take this much time. What's up? What gives?

'Beautiful makeup starts with beautiful skin' - Anon

Current Sunscreens ☀️

Don't get me wrong as I am still advocating for minimalist and frugal lifestyle. This kind of lifestyle meaning you will consume less as you will need less products. You will only be sticking to the basics in life. And so then if I am aiming for that kind of lifestyle why the heck do I have 4 sunscreens at the same time? Well because (1) time and experiences has proven to me that a sunscreen is the best anti ageing one could use and (2) Asian skin especially Filipinos with brown skin as we grow old our main skin concern would be having uneven skin tone. I cannot turn back the time and make the sun spots on my face go away but then I can now prevent them in spreading. Also to other parts of my body. (3) I'm trying different brands to see which one will suite me perfectly depending on my needs. So here are my current sunscreens and my mini review.

📍 Loreal UV Perfect PA+++ ~ I got this last year when I was still in the hoarding phase of my life. I do not even know back then that it is a sunscreen. I only realized later. I'm trying to think of something negative about it but I can't think of any, except that it is not waterproof. This is especially made for Asians and manufactured in Indonesia. I believe that in other parts of Asia they have it in waterproof version. There are at least 5 variants but only 1 made it to the UAE market. No idea if they plan on bringing in the others. I will continue the good points of it next.

 

📍 Loreal UV Perfect PA++++ ~ My other Loreal sunscreen was about to finish and so when I was doing a grocery at Safeer Hypermarket a day after Christmas I saw this one and this is the new version so I bought it. Now the good points of Loreal UV Perfect: First it is available in my area I just need to cross the street. Second this is the cheapest. Actually if you are in Safeer Hypermarket you will notice that this is the only brand of sunscreen they have. The amount is no more than 50AED and if may still be expensive but if you will compare it to other brands in the UAE market then you could say that so far this is the most affordable. No white cast. Not greasy. Sinks in to the skin easily. Compatible with all the other skin products and make up that I am using.

 

📍 La Roche Posay Anthelios Cream ~ The most expensive sunscreen I own. I don't think I will repurchase any sunscreen from this line anytime soon. This is the thickest of them all. It is slightly greasy if compared to Loreal UV Perfect and Muji. It sinks to skin easily but then it has a tendency to ball up. It is not compatible with some skin care products I am using as well as make up. So I'm just using it for my neck and the rest of my body. And before I forget to mention this is waterproof. Perfect for swimming. As when you go on swimming you will not need make up and other skin care products on the face. 

 

📍 Shiseido Senka Mineral Water UV ~ This is the most affordable sunscreen I got if you will not include the shipping fee. I bought it online from Desert Cart. This is the lightest of them all. Just like a milk. And this waterproof as well. Loreal 2016 may have a higher PA than this but I like it better as it gives off a matte finish. And faster to sink in than Loreal that I can apply immediately my moisturizer and makeup.

 

I am bringing them all with me so I can reapply through out the day. And I don't mind bringing them all since they are all light. I would have wanted to rant more about the sunscreens in the UAE market but then that would be for some other time as I have to go now. Ciao!