There is no better way to gauge the efficacy of your skincare than with an analysis from an actual skin-analysis machine, and I gleefully accepted the chance to do just that when I was given 30 days' worth of SK-II products to trial on my skin, in collaboration with Clozette and SK-II.

I went in for a skin analysis before I started using the products (gosh, it wasn't good), and then after my 30-day trial, I went back in to test my skin out again. You wouldn't believe the results...so I'll show them to you:

 Here are the products I used during my 30-day trial:

Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil http://bit.ly/1s46spq

Facial Treatment Cleanser http://bit.ly/1slXtP4 - a gorgeous foaming cleanser that I love to use on its own, or sometimes with a facial brush. It really helps to cleanse my skin of dirt, impurities and makeup (after I use the cleansing oil first, of course!).

Facial Treatment Clear Lotion http://bit.ly/1k0VGM7

Facial Treatment Essence http://bit.ly/1nx2Kiq - still the star product of the SK-II skincare range. I absolutely adore the FTE and what it has done for my skin. All you need to do is pour a few drops onto the palm of your hand, then apply to your skin in patting motions. I have more radiant, more luminous, and clearer skin thanks to this product!

Facial Treatment Mask http://bit.ly/1o5gy72 - this is a great mask to use right before an event or a night out when you know you're going to be photographed (or maybe because you want to impress a special someone!), because it is soaked through with gorgeous, skin-loving ingredients, and it really does give your skin a noticeable boost in radiance and luminosity. LOVE it!

If you're keen on getting your skin age analysed, here's how you can locate a store near you and sign up for one!: http://bit.ly/sk-ii-store-locator. And if you're interested in finding out more and immersing yourself in the world of SK-II - visit their Facebook page here!

I'm sure a lot of you have heard of the brand Kosé. If you haven't, it's a Japanese brand famous for its whitening and brightening essence - the Sekkisei lotion.

I was lucky enough to be able to trial the lotion recently, and am now sharing my review of it, along with pictures and tips on how you can transform this essence into a hydrating mask.

Product

The Kosé Sekkisei Lotion is a lightweight, cooling liquid that comes in a medicinal-looking blue bottle with a white cap. It smells refreshing and slightly floral, with a tinge of that astringent smell that can sometimes sting your nose if you get too close.

Packaging

The blue bottle that houses the lotion is sturdy, and made of a plastic material. It is heavy and well-made (as is the cap), and feels luxurious despite the fact that it isn't a glass bottle. It looks very authentic because the feature of the bottle is the large Chinese text printed down the centre of the bottle. The silver tip of the cap also makes the bottle look very luxe.

Performance

My first use of this product was as a hydrating and brightening mask. I was given these mask sheets (they look like large tablets, and can be soaked in any essence to act as a mask. You can buy them at Kose counters) to use, and basically just poured the lotion out into the cap, where a line is marked to show you how much to pour. I then popped the mask sheet, sized perfectly for the cap, into the liquid, and waited for it to expand. Once it expanded, I simply opened up the mask all the way, and applied it to my face. It doesn't take too long for the mask to absorb into the skin - after about 10 minutes, the lotion had fully absorbed into my skin and the mask sheet was almost dry. I then applied whatever was left in the bottle cap onto my skin using my hands and a patting motion - and I was done!

The results were immediately visible. My skin was a touch brighter, and it looked plump and radiant. The mask also helped me soften a couple of blackheads near my nose.

Japan Beauty Week

If you want to experience the Kosé Sekkisei lotion for yourself, come to the Japan Beauty Week where Kosé will be exhibiting their products, as well as bringing in their resident international makeup guru Mr Dobashi, to share with you makeup trends ans application techniques. I will also be at the event, sharing my experience with Kosé and hopefully to meet some of you guys there. If you want to grab a goodie bag containing the famous Sekkisei Mask (pictured below), then make sure you come over and visit their stand at Japan Beauty Week! For more information about JBW, click here.

Hey everyone, Happy Chinese New Year! I wanted to post this on Friday, but the internet was being difficult and so I could only finish the upload yesterday. This is a simple look I put together because of a pair of gorgeous lashes I purchased from the Essence Cherry Blossom Girl range.

Here are a couple of pictures of the finished look.

And here is the video!