Review: Stippling Brush (youtube review)

Finally! A new vid. I was a bit too excited about this brush. I'm amazed at how well my foundation looks when I used this wonderful gift from the heavens. Enjoy!

I'll probably be making a tutorial on how I use the stippling brush a little later on :)

review: Missha Perfect Cover B.B. Cream

Missha 

Perfect Cover B.B. Cream

SPF40 PA+++

NO.23

（¥2150）

"MISSHA M Perfect Cover B.B. Cream offers a novel skincare concept with B.B. cream which lightens skin tone by healing visible wrinkles and blemishes with excellent skin-cover ability and prevents skin-aging through effective whitening and anti-wrinkle properties" (as it states on the product package)

--- WOW! Really? What more could you ask for?

Why I bought it:

During the summer my skin started acting up ESPECIALLY on my face. It was the worst time EVER, to the point where I cried myself to sleep every night. I'm all healed now and I'll save my skin-disaster story for another post. 

My skin was red, itchy and very flaky. I know I probably shouldn't have been using makeup on my face that time anyway but I was desperate to cover up the redness. I've read reviews on how this miracle BB cream covers redness and also moisturizes and stays moisturized throughout the day. Some people even claimed it healed their skin. Desperately seeking some kind of makeup cure, I bought it.

The product:


This product comes in 4 shades. No. 13 (milky beige),  21 (light beige), 23 (natural beige), and 31 (golden beige).  I got mine in No. 23. At the store though,  I only saw No. 21 & 23.

It comes in a pump tube which I like.

⓵ When product comes out, it's just little bit. But that bit actually goes a long way.
⓶ When you first spread the product out,
it turns into a grayish tone but soon afterwards blends into the skin tone.
⓷ It does blend well though!

The verdict:

When i tried it at the store I was sold but when I tried it on the next morning I realized it was a bit too heavy for me and the florally fragrance that I thought was nice and light smelling was a bit too strong for me.

This is just me however. I did like how it blended well with my skin tone but as for coverage, it was like other BB creams I have tried in the past.  Did it cover up my redness? Yeah, it did a little but all in all I honestly would rather stick to Maybelline's BB Mineral Mousse (my review on it here).

I bought this product during the summer time and I've only used it a couple of times. I am planning on trying this product out longer after my Maybelline BB Mineral Mousse runs out. ~

Price:✦✦✦✧✧ 
                   (Price isn't TOO bad, but I think the price could be brought down a bit. I'm guessing it's the brand.)

Coverage:✦✦✦✦✧
                    (Nothing special, but it still covers well)

Application:✦✦✦✦✧
                    (Goes on smoothly it's just pretty thick)
Fragrance:✦✦✦✧✧　
                    (I think it would be better if it was non-fragrant. It's not a bad smell but it's a bit too strong for my taste.)

If anyone has tried this product I'd love to hear your thoughts on this! 

Did this BB cream work well for you? 

Did you have the same problems as me?

If there are any other questions or you'd like to hear my thoughts on anything else about this product, feel free to ask!


UPDATE (02/08/2012)
So I gave this BB cream another chance! And I have to say I've grown to like it. The floral scent doesn't bother as much and actually, a little bit of this product goes a long way. I do start off with a primer before putting this product on. I also found that this goes on smoother (for me) when applied using my fingers rather than a brush or a sponge. 

Review: Nail Stickers

When I was still in Hawaii last year, I've seen these available to buy at my local Sephora. I've been wanting to try them ever since. I liked the idea that it was sticker. It seems very convenient because the design is already there and you don't have to struggle with the time-consuming act of designing your nails. If I had the talent and the time to design my own nails I'd probably have a blast doing it but…yeah. (lol)

I never bought them when I first saw because I wasn't about to spend $15 on something I never tried and was a bit skeptical about.

Since coming to Japan 100yen shops became one of my best friends. They have EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING at 100yen shops. Nail stickers to try for the first time for 100yen? YES PLEASE! The designs they had were all cute too. I opted for the vertical stripes :)

It came with 2 sheets, each sheet with 10 nail stickers. One sheet was enough for both my hands. 

The steps are as follows:

1. Before peeling the sticker off, place the sheet over nail with the desired nail sticker size. 

2. Once decided, carefully peel sticker and place it on your nail.

3. Press down firmly all around, especially the edges. It's okay if there is excess, you'll be filing it off later. It's very important that there are no air bubbles!

4. Once firmly on, take your nail file and in an up & down motion, file off the excess. It should easily fall off.

5. Finished!

how it looks when you file it!

all done!

Tips: 

Before applying stickers, add a coat of nail polish or base coat onto your nails. It will help the sticker stick better and also create a protective barrier against the sticky adhesive.

After applying stickers, apply a top coat to seal the sticker in place.

If the stickers that you bought are EXTREMELY long, you may be able to cut it in half creating even more stickers to use in the future! :)

My thoughts:

Would I buy it again? I definitely would! Despite it being 100yen, these were pretty good! I've gotten many compliments and people never suspected the to be 100yen. 

The verdict:

Price: ✦✦✦✦✦ (Because it was 100yen, definitely a perfect score!)

Longevity: ✦✦✦✧✧ (It was nice and pretty for about a week or so but like any other nail polish, it eventually started chipping. Maybe the more high end nail stickers will last longer.)
Convenience: ✦✦✦✦✦ (Timesaving! Easy and no liquid mess or yucky smells! You also don't have to deal with drying time)

also got this cute headwrap from a 300yen shop!!! i just wanted to try it out and I love it so far~
Good for my lazy days ;)

review: MAYBELLINE PURE BB MINERAL MOUSSE

MAYBELLINE PURE BB MINERAL MOUSSE (spf30)

Ultra Light Texture

about ¥1680

Quite recently, a lot of hair dyes in Japan are turning into foam dyes to make it easier and less messy to dye your hair. I guess the foam craze caught on with makeup as well. Maybelline came out with a BB mousse recently and it's been getting a lot of attention. BB (blemish balm) creams are generally "healthier" to use for your skin rather than regular liquid foundations that can clog your pores. 

Why I bought it:

Aside from seeing this product being advertised everywhere with a number one ranking, possibly being a makeup revolution and it being sold out at every drug store I go to, I decided to buy it because the liquid foundation I was using at the time wasn't agreeing with my skin. I've used BB cream before and my skin seems to do better with it. So seeing all the pros that this new BB cream had to offer, I had to try it. The weather in Japan (especially in Kyoto) is very intense and right now we're in the middle of summer so I wanted a foundation that will at least let my skin breathe a little.

The product:

I was really surprised when I first tried it. It was definitely something new! The can's nozzle was basically like a mousse-can nozzle. Don't let the moussy texture fool you, it looks very light and airy but a little bit of it goes a long way. At the drugstore I only saw one tone (Ultra Light Texture). I don't consider myself light skinned but this BB cream eventually blends well into your skin tone. 

The verdict:

The way it comes out light and airy is exactly the way it feels on your skin. It feels really natural and so far I've sweated in it, wiped my face, worn it for hours and my skin faired pretty well with it! It doesn't smudge onto clothes either which is a major plus. The only con (for now) is that I think I still have to master the amount of mousse I need for perfect coverage but I know I'll be repurchasing this product again! 

Price:✦✦✦✧✧ 

Coverage:✦✦✦✦✧

Application:✦✦✦✦✦

My Top Picks from ViVi (2/2011)

What I've noticed for this month's trends:

✦ lots of knits! ...oversized ones!

✧ neutral colors. some occasional splashes of colors here and there. Don't be afraid to mix your browns with blacks! You don't know how many times I hear that it doesn't match. I personally always loved it. Just do it :) They are both neutral colors! Black matches with everything, right ;) ?

✦ knee high and ankle socks. **I think this only works depending on body type & the way you wear it to compliment your body type. But I'll go into that later.**

✧ Oxford shoes and wedges! I've always been a fan of oxford shoes and wedges, so it's nice to finally see oxfords in the Japanese fashion scene.

✦ Argyl, checkered and leopard prints

✧ Light, fresh makeup 

✦✧ REMEMBER: These are my own opinions, so if you don't agree with anything don't bash me with hateful comments, they'll just be deleted. My opinions are based off of personal experiences and observations. Your opinions matter to me at the same time, so if you disagree that's fine! Let me know your opinions too :) ✦✧

scans from jmagazinescans <--- thank you!

I don't really have much to say for this but I just wanted to share the differences. "カラフル (colorful) Tokyo VS モノトーン (monotone) Kobe". I guess that's a good sign for me because my closet is full of monotone "colors" (lol) and I'll be in the Kansai area in about a month! I love how they added a splash of color with the red bags! I totally would do that.

Personally, I'm not loving the checkered mini skirts. I think it's tacky :\ What do you guys think?

BIG KNIT SWEATERS! ❤ I'm in love with that comfortable look! A nice big sweater and leggings or stockings.  Very VERY simple but so おしゃれ (oshare: trendy) at the same time! *referring to the bottom right* For choosing shoes to go with this coordinate: If you opt for flats, I'd stay away from round toe flats! Flats with a point (not too much point!) will bring the look together. Heels and wedges are good! I don't know how I feel about knee high boots I think it would be a bit much. Ankle boots would work better in my opinion.

Love the middle coordinate and the coordinate to the right! Tucked in tops are a big trend now also. For girls with more curves, a waist belt will help bring everything together! I love love love mixing blazers with shorts! 

LOVE the top left coordi! And the one next to it (grey sweater)

KNEE HIGHS! I adore knee highs and ankle socks! But there are rules I think girls should follow! I myself am a petite curvy girl so I do know that my thighs are a bit on the larger side and also I have shorter shins. For girls with shorter legs: PLEASE DO pull the knee highs PAST your knees! It will give the illusion of a longer leg! Stopping the socks below your knee will just make your short legs look even shorter. Shoes play a HUGE part also! STAY AWAY from wearing knee highs with FLATS. A heel will bring this look together! If you're not  comfortable with wearing flats, get a flat with a pointed toe (again, not too pointy). The pointed toe will help give the illusion of a longer leg as well :) 

Bloomer shorts: love! I'll own a pair one day! The shoes are love too, but I'm not sure how I feel about a chunky heel. I've seen chunky heels emerge ever since the summer of 2010 but I still don't know how I feel about them. I guess being short (and personally trying chunky shoes myself) I realized it does nothing to help my appearance. My legs are thick and short, so by wearing a heel that is also thick and short (or tall), it does nothing to enhance. I would have gone with a skinnier (not too skinny!) heel or wedges.

Fresh makeup! 

I agree with these "Beauty Best 3": 

"Cat eyeliner", "bright lip" and "nude eye x pink cheeks"

Freshfaced with a touch of makeup here and there is a DEFINITE MUST for this month's trend. Especially with all the prints going on and the heavy knits you'll be wearing, the last thing you need is a fully caked on face to clash with everything! Also, it shows a classier you. It's also a perfect symbol for a fresh start to this new year!

❥ Lastly, THANK YOU TO ALL MY NEW FOLLOWERS! You guys are awesome and I hope my blog will be useful and entertaining for you :) ❤

Coordinate for 1/2~1/3/2011 & pics from 1/4~1/5/2011

1/2/11

Everything pretty much from Charlotte Russe except:

Shoes: Nine West

White watch: from my mama

1/3/11

Fedora: Island Sweetie

Bird top: Pineapple County

Shorts & necklace: Charlotte Russe

Bag: vintage Fendi

YES i'm wearing hair extensions! My hair is long enough to wear them again! Sometimes with certain outfits, long hair just looks better :)

& some pics from 1/4/2011 (Monica's Bday). We went to Toma's Karaoke by University of Hawaii.  It's a very famous karaoke place for college students.  Song selection is great (from American and Asian artists) and the staff treats you like family. Plus you can BYO-whatever! The only thing is that they keep changing their prices so now it's a bit pricey so going as a group is your best bet. Parking is also limited so it's best to carpool! For more info on Toma's click here!

 *Yes, I'm wearing my extensions yet again!*

The morning after we decide to head down to Lanikai Beach and snap some photos and enjoy what Hawaii has always offered us: beautiful beaches! We opted for summer clothes and no extensions (for me!) because the weather was perfect!

More on Lanikai Beach here.

Had lunch at Teddy's Bigger Burger (on the Windward side)!  I also wrote a small review on this burger joint (the Waikiki one) here.

This time around I ordered the Veggie Burger. It was soooooo gooooddd!! I want to try the Turkey Burger next!  And they also recently just opened a new one by University of Hawaii too, right across Toma's Karaoke!

Review: Palty Hair Color & Palty Hard Bleach

With winter coming to a close and spring around the corner, it was time to change my dark winter hair color into more of a sunny, spring tone!

My hair color before. It was pretty much a deep dark brown but it looks black.

I went to my local Don Quijote to pick up my usual Lucido-L hair color in the imported asian goods aisle but this time I had my eye on Palty. They had two choices: hair color dye boxes or bleach boxes. I have a thing about bleaching hair knowing the damage it does so I opted for the regular hair color that comes in the pink boxes. I bought Palty hair color in Caramel Brown. *Keep in mind that these dye boxes come with Japanese instructions only*

I had high hopes for this hair dye to color my almost black hair back to my usual copper tone color but was disappointed with the outcome.

The color did somewhat show but it wasn't the color I was expecting it to be. It colored my hair exactly as it said it would in the back but well MY THINKING was that all Palty hair dye would contain some bleach for your hair.  I realized it was basically just a hair dye. 

Conclusion:

Price: 3/5 (It's an imported product so it was pricey. Around $12. Original price is 750 yen which is about 9 AUD.)

Application: 5/5 (very easy to apply. I love Japanese hair dye applicators! For longer hair, I'd recommend buying 2 boxes)

Outcome: 5/5 (It did it's job as to dying my hair exactly what the back sample hair colors indicated.)

Hair Damage: 5/5 (It did not damage my hair at all. It also helps that the hair dye does include a packet of Tsubaki Oil to wash your hair with.)

So not having the hair color I originally wanted I returned to Don Quijote and spent a lot of time contemplating on the Palty Bleach boxes. After lots of thinking I finally left purchasing...TWO boxes. I purchased Palty Hard Bleach in Gold Brown & Lucido-l in Caramel. I purchased both because I was still skeptical about using the Hard Bleach and because I usually have good outcomes with Lucido-l anyway.

When I got home I sucked it up and decided to go with the Palty. This time instructions were a bit different (since we're dealing with bleach this time) and you could also choose the kind of lightness you want depending on how long you leave it.

You can either leave it in for 15min or 30min.

I decided to leave it in for 15 minutes. Within minutes of application I could definitely see a change in color happening! I was excited! The outcome was exactly what I hoped it would be and once again, what the box said it would turn out to. I kept my Lucido-l unopened hair dye in storage for next time I need a touch up.

Conclusion:

Price: 3/5 (Around $13. Original price is 850 yen which is about 10 AUD.)

Application: 5/5 (very easy to apply. I love Japanese hair dye applicators! For longer hair, I'd recommend buying 2 boxes)

Outcome: 5/5 (It did it's job as to dying my hair exactly what the back sample hair colors indicated.)

Hair Damage: 3/5 (Since this was a 'Hard Bleach' it did do some damage to my hair. Especially the first couple of days. My hair had that straw effect and looked very dry. But with proper care my hair came back to it's healthy state in a couple of days!)

AFTER COLOR TIPS FROM ME:

Would I recommend Palty? I definitely would. I've gotten SOOOO many compliments on my hair color and sometimes people can't believe that it's a box color. Also, I would recommend Palty, Lucido-l, etc. to people of asian ethnicity because these products were definitely made for asian hair! I do notice that a lot of the American hair dyes I used to use before (Revlon, Lo'Real, etc) NEVER turn out the way I wanted and leave my hair looking like BLAH. The only one I would consider good are the Garnier brands.

To deal with the damage that I did receive from the bleach though, I make sure to take my vitamins but I also condition my hair with a conditioner that contains vitamin e and coconut oil <---- these help out A LOT. I do find that Nexxus conditioners always save my hair! Specifically the Humectress line! It's infused with both vitamin e & coconut oil. I've also heard that Hot hair treatment with Tsubaki Oil helps too but I haven't gave it a try yet. Keep in mind too that I do EVERYTHING to my hair when I style it (blow dry, flat iron, hair products) and by taking care of my hair after the bleach I was able to get my hair back to its healthy state again.

SO GOOD LUCK EVERYONE! :) Any other questions, feel free to ask! 

BY THE WAY:

It's Monica's birthday today! Gonna go to karaoke tonight and get our druunnkk onnn!

Stress Pimples?...and freedom from Finals Week!

OMG I'M OFFICIALLY FREE FROM THE STRESS OF FINALS! If I may, let me start of by saying I TOTALLY ACED MY FIRST FINAL (JPN318). It was a 30 minute one-on-one Japanese conversation with my sensei. That was probably the longest one-on-one that I had with any of my senseis that was to be graded! After it was over, she told me how I did and finally told me that I received an 'A' for my oral!
My last exam was for JPN302 which actually wasn't AS easy. I wasn't the only one who felt that way though so I don't feel as embarrassed.

BUT IT'S ALL WORTH THE PAIN BECAUSE MY WIFEY IS COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS IN 5 DAYS! Rilakkuma is getting reunited with her Korilakkuma! I'm sooooo excited!

OKAY SO...PIMPLES!

Not only did I get my monthly gift a week early, monthly gift hormones + stress from finals week and other things = PIMPLES PIMPLES PIMPLES! What to do for a quick fix?

Some of you out there may know about this, but for those who don't, this is my go-to to minimize pimple size and redness.

Here is some info on tea tree oil: here!

How I use it:

Whenever I get a really stubborn pimple that I just can't get rid of, or when pimples start popping up like crazy and I feel like I'm being invaded, I simply take a Q-tip, dip it in the oil and then dab some over the pimples. (Never re-dip! One dip is good enough to use once)

I usually put it on after I wash my face. Do make sure that your hair is tied back! And be prepared for a strong medicinal smell. Because of the smell I usually just do it during bedtime. To me, anything during night time is effective because that's the time your skin repairs itself. I sometimes use it in the morning (if I'm desperate). 

First time users, dab a little on your arm to see if you have any skin reaction to it.

Results:

In the morning my pimples are practically gone and the redness disappears! 

Where to buy:

I bought my ORIGINS brand Tea Tree Oil at Target for about $8. You don't necessarily have to buy the same brand, this is just the brand I use. 

Before using tea tree oil, I tried:

And honestly for me, IT DOES NOT WORK. Instead, what I find in the morning after using it is MORE pimples! And the original pimple gets bigger in size :(. If it works for you, then that's good for you :)! 

Other things to consider:

✧ Always keep your makeup brushes clean! I usually deep-clean my makeup brushes every week with Sephora's anti-bacterial brush cleaner. It's about $6.

✦ Keep your finger nails clean!

✧ Try to lay off heavy foods like fast foods during stressful times.

✦ Water, water, water!

✧ Try to destress yourself!  Take a breather and smile :)

✦ Use a different towel aside from the towel you use for your body to dry your face.

✧ Get your sleep! That may be hard to do during stressful times but always think about the hours of sleep you'll be getting.

Anything else you'd like to add to that list, comment away! I'd love to hear how you deal with stress and pimples. How was everyone's Finals Week? For those who are done, JOB WELL DONE, now go enjoy your winter break! For those still taking finals, HANG IN THERE! 

Eyelash Collection (Dolly Wink, Missha)

DOLLY WINK No.5 ("Real Nude" bottom lashes) These bottom lashes are surprisingly really comfortable. This was my 2nd attempt at trying them on (I'm still perfecting my bottom lash placement). Just as the name of the lashes imply, these lashes are "nude" I guess meaning that they are for more of a natural look.
These lashes were also given to me by my wifey, Monica❤
I used the Dolly Wink eye lash glue that was provided in the package.

DOLLY WINK No.4 ("Feminine Style") This style of lashes fan out towards the ends.  Reminds me of cartoon eyelashes like on Daisy Duck. Very feminine! As much as I wanted to like these lashes, these lashes were so-so. I guess they don't really match on me. I'll probably try to wear these on top of another pair of eyelashes. Caution when pulling off the old glue: the lashes come off quite off the clear strip very easily.

UNKNOWN BRAND No.0501 (bought at the dollar store) These lashes surprised me! I love how full they look. I still can't read the brand of these eyelashes though. I even tried to search for the kanji in my japanese dictionary but came up with nothing! These lashes were comfortable also. My eyes usually get watery from wearing certain eyelashes, but I did not have that affect with these! I'm definitely going to be buying more from this unknown brand.

MISSHA DOLLY EYELASH C-306 
These lashes were just as amazing as the ones above. A bit more exaggerated but still good enough to wear on a daily basis. I prefer the full look. I do want to try these lashes on top of another pair. I bought 2 other styles in the Missha brand. I haven't got around to trying them on yet though!

CONCLUSION:

There are many things I like about Dolly Wink and a few things I don't like. I like and at the same time I don't like how the Dolly Wink eyelashes are *too* natural feeling. It's great that they are very lightweight and they feel like your own lashes but I feel that for certain styles of Dolly Wink, it makes it a bit harder to put on.

The cheaper brands that I bought (Missha and the unknown brand) They were firm and they kept it's shape. Even though they aren't as natural feeling as Dolly Wink, I somewhat felt more secure with the other brands. What are your opinions (to anyone who owns any of these)?

Playing around with the bottom lashes. 1) Wearing them 2) Took one side off 3) Mustache time!

That's it for today's post. Sorry for the picture qualities. I like things to be uniform but I've been busy with school (semester is almost over) and work (holiday rush!) so I had to take pictures of me wearing the lashes whenever I actually did where them out. Let me know you what you guys think! Opinions, suggestions, anything! :)