Beauty Talks @ KOSE Sekkisei Trial Kit

Hello pretties! How's your February so far?
I can't believe February is coming to end and almost the beginning of March.
I fully agree that this year seems to be going way too fast again!
I seriously wish there are more than 24 hours in a day so that I can achieve a little bit more.
Anyway, for today's post, I would like to share my beauty experience with KOSE Sekkisei Trial Kit with you all!
If you have been reading my blog, you shall notice this is my first beauty post after I shared so many stories about foodie, events and travels.
I hope you will enjoy my beauty journey that are gonna start from here!



I like and I enjoy trying all types of skin cares because trying new things help me to know the differences as well as make the right choice for me.
It also means that I seldom stick with a specific brand for more than 3 time purchases. #hehe
Another reason is because I believe that your skin will get immune after it getting used to certain products.
All this while, I have been using different counter brands such as Laneige, Haba, Lancome, Nature Republic, The Face Shop, Innisfree, Belief and so on.
My mum and my sister always get jealous as their skin is more senstive than me whereby they aren't dare to try any products with any brands. #oppss



Kose always give me a feeling of refreshing, maybe because they have simple and clean concept lol.
This is one of the counter brand that I wanted to try for long time, another one is H2O.
Thanks to Kose and Butterfly Project for sending me such a good opportunity!



Kose Sekkisei launched since 1985 in Japan.
It's skin care products are world-famous for the women with the helps of attaining bright, glowing radiance, and translucent skin.
They created it's recipe based on an age-old ‘beautiful translucent skin recipe’, which is gentle yet effective from the power of Oriental Herb extracts that carefully-selected from about 100 different plants.
This year, with the big reveal of Sekkisei's star products, Kose Malaysia introduces the all-new 5 star products which come together in it's special edition trial kit for first time user who want to feel and see.
If you are a fan of Kose, I believe this would be a great "investment" for your skin care ranges!



Well, before we start all the step by step of the full kit, let's spend 2 minutes to watch the unboxing vlog that I especially made for this post. #hehe



Wait no more! Let's kick start! #excited



Step 1:
Start your skin care routine with Sekkisei White Liquid Wash (140ml @ RM131.40).
It helps to clean your skin without washing off your skin moisture as the ingredients of Taurine-based Cleansing Agents helps to keep your skin hydrated, while the Rubus Suavissmus Extract enhance your skin dullness and soothes UV damage.



For me:
I used facial soap when I had pimples problem in the past.
This liquid wash gave me the same feeling like the facial soap because it foam up easily by a bit of water added.
It doesn't have a good scent, yet a more natural soap smell.
Dispense 1 to 2 pumps on your palm and add water, gently lather until foam forms, massage onto your face before washing off throughly
1 pump is good enough for me, which I believe a bottle of 140ml can last for at least 2 months or more. #helpsavemoney



Step 2:
Sekkisei Lotion (200ml @ RM180.20, 360ml @ RM275.60) is the skin toner that our skin cannot leave without.
It's the best seller with more than 48 million bottles sold since it released 30 years ago.
The lotion contains 100 types of oriental plants which helps to balance out skin's moisture levels, prevents dullness, and soothes redness.



It can either used as a face toner by pouring a few drops onto a cotton pad and pat gently on face, or as a face mask by placing bihadagoyomi mask.



For instant hydration, you can use the bihadagoyomi mask, which is a quick lotion mask.
It offers 10x higher moisture that instantly brightens and rejuvenates your skin.



Fully soak the lotion mask with Sekkisei lotion into the cap, place onto clean face for 5 to 10 minutes and follow by the Sekkisei Emulsion, no rinsing is needed.



For me:
Honestly, loving this so much! It helps to hydrate my skin a lot!
I like this type of lotion because of it's super fine watery texture.
This type of watery toner is so useful for me to reduce the redness on my face and calm down my sensitive skin by placing few facial cottons with toner on it.
My skin gets sensitive during my menstrual period, so what I usually do is pouring the toner on the facial cottons and place each of them all over my face.
By having this bihadagoyomi mask, it can simply replace the old method that I used! #thumbsup



Step 3:
Follow by the Sekkisei Emulsion (140ml/RM191.80) which has it's ingredients of Inula Britanica Flower, Chinese Pearl Barley, Paeonia Albiflora Root, Melothria Heterophylla and Angelica.
It has quick absorbing moisturizer which works deep into skin, preventing freckles, dark spots and dryness.



For me:
I heard from my friend said before that Chinese Pearl Barley can help to brighten our skin.
So, after applying it for a week, I can see my skin complexion is brighter and the small little dark spot that I had a week ago has diminished. 
But, I hardly feel the moisture content in this emulsion as I sleep in the air-conditioned room until the morning, so I always need extra moisture.
In this case, I will apply extra layer moisturizer at nighttime to retain sufficient moisture in my skin.
The texture is very fine whereby you won't feel stick, also it has a natural smell without any strong fragrance scent.
They said apply 1 to 2 pumps on a cotton pad and sweep over skin but I actually used it straight without any cotton pads. #lol



Step 4:
Sekkisei Clear Whitening Mask (80g/RM94.30), is a gentle peel-off mask that helps to remove dullness and dead skin cells, brightens and hydrates at the same.
It includes Chinese Quince extracts which inhibits sebum production, blend of oriental plant extracts deliver supreme whitening benefits. and nano-sized black powder allows the mask to spread easily.
 

For me:
I tried it without any exfoliate products since it said it has the function of removing the dead skin cells.
And, I am  impressed with this "charcoal" mask result as I can feel my face is fresher, cleaner and my skin tone is lighter too!
What you need to do is just spread it across your face and peel it off after it dry (about 15-20 minutes).



I suggest you put a bit more, a more thicker layer because it will help you to peel off much easier.



Conclusion:
#1 It's easy to handle and gentle to my skin. 
#2 Since I do not like to apply too many steps for my skin care routine, so this Kose Sekkisei kit is so right for me since it only has simple 4 steps. 
#3 I like how fresh, how pure the products are through the smell, the texture they have.
#4 It's difficult to tell from the pictures it helps to improve my skin but I am happy that my beautician was surprised with my skin complexion although I skipped 1 month facial appointment with her. #lol
#5 No side effect for me!


It’s never too late to begin your beauty journey towards a beautiful complexion. 
Get yourself a Kose Sekkisei special edition trial kit at only RM99 (GST included), which includes the following: 
#1 Sekkisei Whit Liquid Wash (20ml)
#2 Sekkisei Lotion (100ml)
#3 Sekkisei Emulsion (70ml)
#4 Bihadagoyomi Mask (3 pieces)
#5 Sekkisei Clear Whitening Mask (10g)
#6 Exclusive Setsuko Pouch (kimono or city chic style)


Hippo and Kose are sending all loves to you all!
Thanks for reading this blog post and I hope you enjoy the review!
Till then! XOXO



For more information about Kose Seekkisei and it's new special edition trial kit, you can visit:
Kose Malaysia FB: https://www.facebook.com/kose.malaysia
Kose Malaysia Website: www.kose.com.my

Day 7 @ Hippo x Turkey < Blue Mosque . Basilica Cistern . Topkapi Palace >

Here comes the final blog post about my trip in Turkey.
It was an exhausted day because we had to fulfill the last three attractions in Istanbul before we flew off to Malaysia in the late evening.
Lucky that I felt so much relaxed instead of tired on the last day, that's probably because I could't wait to eat and taste the Malaysian food so badly!
If  you want to have an idea about the food in Turkey, you can visit the blog post here. :)


Blue Mosque is another famous historical mosque to visit in Istanbul.
It's a big mosque which was built from 1609 to 1616 and still widely used as a mosque everyday.


While visiting the mosque, be sure you wear an appropriate attire whereby no singlet, short pants and short skirts at all.
Besides, all ladies need to prepare a cover for the head; you can wear a long scarf like I did to wrap over your head. 


The mosque has a strict security check upon the entrance.
You are required to take off your shoes and put them in a plastic bag that provided at the entrance since this is part of Muslim tradition while entering the mosques.


This is how you look like after covered yourself and without the shoes look. #lol



The mosque is known as Blue Mosque because of the blue tiles surrounding the walls in the building.
It also known as the only mosque with 6 minerals in the world.


Check the visiting schedule before you plan your visit at Blue Mosque as it closes at each praying time for the Muslim prayers.
We arrived there at mid morning which just the right time for visit. 


It's very crowded inside the mosque since there is no entrance fees. 
However, you will feel peaceful and calm when you are inside the mosque because all visitors are required to remain quiet and cannot use camera flash.
Anyway, the mosque is pretty clean although it is popularly used as an active mosque.


Since this place still acts as a mosque, not a museum like the Saint Sophia; hence you are only allow to walk at the specific area (some areas are closed for the worship). 
I think spending about 30 minutes would be more than enough for looking up and taking pictures. 


Do not missed out the lovely Sultanahmet Park which lying between both Blue Mosque and Saint Sophia.
It's a good relaxing park for a short walk and also provides a beautiful view of the two famous architectures!


Here's the Saint Sophia that I visited on the 6th day.
You can visit the blog post of this museum by clicking the link here


Look at the stunning Blue Mosque that stand behind me! Beautiful!


In Istanbul, we walked a lot from one place to another place as all attractions stay pretty close to each other.
Plus, the traffic in the big city is always very busy, so we saved a lot of times by walking. 
After the walk at Sultanahmet Park, we continue our next attraction at Basilica Cistern.


Basilica Cistern is a big underground water reservoir among the public which was built to provide water to the city of Istanbul in the ancient times.
The huge place was constructed by using 336 marble columns.



It has a bit of haunted feeling as the whole place is very dark with some small lights all over the water. 
So, be careful with your steps!



Make sure you walk all the way to the end to see the two Medusa heads.
Both heads are supported by big columns with one head positioned upside down, and another one tilted to the side. 


The visit at Basilica Cistern makes me feel like I was in another world and times because of the atmosphere setup. 
Well, it's not easy to get a good shot inside the underground because it is too dark.
Thanks to our tour guide's advise for getting this best shot after all! #nyek



Topkapi Palace is the final destination before we headed to the airport.
It's the largest and oldest palace in Istanbul, which was also one of the major residences of the Ottoman Sultans for almost 400 years.
That's the main gate which they named it as Imperial Gate.



It's a very huge place whereby I think it's good to spend your time here for at least 2-3 hours.
The place is nicely surrounded by a garden and has divided into many sections such as courtyards, administrative, education, galleries, chambers, kitchen and so on.



It's good to read the full map to allow you to see the big picture before you start your long journey inside the palace.



This is the Gate of Felicity, located at the second courtyard, which used to hold the important ceremonies by the Sultans.



The Palace kitchen is on the right at the Gate of Felicity.
There are numerous Chinese porcelain, super big sized pots, kitchenware, and giant fireplace are displayed inside the huge kitchen.
Besides, the kitchen also showed the culinary culture that served for 400 years ago.



The tile works everywhere at the halls were beautifully made and surprisingly they all are still well preserved till now.




Likewise, the golden doors and windows inside the palace were still well maintained and shiny as they were after so many decades!



If you have enough time during your visit, you can queue for the famous treasury that lies at the third courtyard.
It's the Spoonmaker's Diamond which they said it's the world's biggest diamond.
I skipped this section as the queue was very long at anytime, so me and my parents choose to spend my time at the other courtyards for a more relaxing afternoon.



You will find the last courtyard is facing to the sea with beautiful view.
The public toilet and some cafes are all located around there.



The golden rooftop which stays somewhere at the Baghdad Kiosk.



For me, it's a kind of luxury place to visit because of the rich heritages from several decades.
It's definitely one interesting place to visit as you can use your imagination to imagine how luxury the life that the Ottoman Sultans had, and how the people lived and ran over the place in that time.



There are so much to share about the Topkapi Palace as it is too big to explore more and more.
And, I hope my pictures tell a good story of this place.



Me and my parents felt so grateful that we had created many good memories in Turkey finally!
Before departing to Turkey, everyone told us it is not safe to travel there due to it's unstable condition, thus we felt so thankful that our trip was smooth with no mischief in any how. 
It was definitely a spiritual experience for me to see and learn so much history at this lovely country.
Honestly, I wish to travel to the beautiful Istanbul again in future as I believe there are still so much for me to explore! 



A big thanks to our driver for the 8 days driving around Turkey.
Thanks for ensuring the safe and comfortable journey for us!



And a big applause to our professional tour guide, Mete who has extensive knowledge and history background and was willing to share all he knows with us.
What a treat to have him as our tour guide with his fluent English explanation and his funny personality!



Last but not least, end the final post with my outfit of today:
Inner sweater: Korea
Outer: Korea
Jeans: Bangkok
Handbag: Grand Bazaar, Turkey
Boots: TaoBao