Japanese Hair Straightening, Hadanomy Collagen Mist

A few weeks ago, I mentioned I was going to get some hair consultations for Japanese hair straightening. I went to a few and I finally did it today!! :) I've done it twice already, but it feels like a new experience every year. The Japanese hair straightening method uses chemicals and creams with a higher pH to completely re-texture the hair. The whole process involves:

1. The stylist washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo to get any hair product or residue out of your hair and scalp, following a chemical solution that straightens your hair - SMELLS SO BAD! Yuck!
2. You sit with the chemical on for about 40 mins or so before the stylist washes it off and dries your hair
3. Stylist meticulously uses a hair straightener to straighten hair in small sections. Very small sections! It took her nearly an hour and a half to straighten my entire head =p This is the signature Japanese method. The hair straightener works with the chemicals make the hair straight.
4. Stylist applies a smoothing cream that keeps the straight hair "locked"... leave on for 40 mins before washing off.
5. Blow dry and DONE! End results took about 5 hours, and my straight hair should last for 8 months to a year :) My hair now is healthier, despite the chemicals used. She snipped the ends, and ta-dah! :) Newish hair.  The only setback is that I can't shampoo my hair for 3 days!! Which means I can't go to the gym! :( 


    BEFORE:

    AFTER:

After getting my hair done five hours later, I went to buy some groceries and saw the SANA Hadanomy Collagen facial mist! Yes, another one :) A little while ago, I blogged about the Vitamin E Facial Mist (see my review here). The Hadonomy Collagen Mist has 250 mL of product, about 8.5oz! It's a BIG bottle. The Body Shop Vitamin E one has about 3.3 oz and that one is HUGE.

 Collagen is basically a protein that is found in skin tissue, ligaments and tendons. It keeps your skin's elasticity strong and supple while repairing from the inside. When you get older, you lose a lot of your natural collagen, which is why they have creams, lotions, pills and injections to make up for it.

Quick review: They claim to have 1000mg of collagen (probably in the whole bottle, not one spritz) and has a citrus-y smell. There is a little sticky residue from the collagen, but not greasy on the face one bit. The spritz thing does not emit a thin mist, but more like a spray which is kind of weird, because it feels wild on your face. LOL. Other than that, I have no complaints so far. I'm going to aim for a more thorough review in a few weeks :) The SANA Hadonomy line also has collagen lotion, cream and sheet masks to its collection :)

Mulberry for Target

Remember how this bag was all the rage a few months ago and every blogger was blogging about it? I wasn't too crazy for it but it kind of grew on me. I just wished it had a zipper closure, but for $12.48, who can complain?! Way better than the $50 price tag. God bless Target :)

I've been crazy for headbands lately. I'm on a quest to find more! As usual, I hoard like no other. I'm browsing through the ones w/bows and satin ties and faux pearls! Headbands are fun, aren't they? It's too bad I got into it kind of late!

Home made Tuna :)

Body Shop's Vitamin E Facial Mist

 I've been using this mist for a month now and I am so in love with it! :) Other facial mists include Shu Uemura, Evian, MAC and a million other ones on the market. I haven't had the chance to try any of those yet, but I was able to try this one over the holidays with all the sales going on.

What I absolutely love about this mist is that it's hydrating and a real pick-me-up. I toss it in my work bag and gym bag and spritz it on my face throughout the day. I mist it on when I'm bored, or whenever I feel tired. The awesome spray applicator releases a very fine mist that conserves a lot of product! :) It doesn't disrupt your makeup because this mist can also be used to "set" your makeup as well. With makeup on, it makes my skin feel really hydrated, refreshed and plump when I pat on the excess gently on my face. Without makeup on, it feels moisturizing and refreshing. It doesn't make me feel greasy or anything, which is a big plus. I've tried this brand called Claudale or something... and I remember it leaving a greasy residue on my skin. Oh, and the smell of this mist is divine! It's a nice rosewater smell. So feminine, but not too sweet. It's the perfect balance of rosewater and a floral bouquet. It's just perfect. The smell can be a bit much for some, but I find it light and refreshing.

In summary, here are some of the pros and cons:

PROS

• Hydrating, refreshing mist - a true pick-me-up
• Spray applicator releases a very fine mist - conserves product
• 3.3 FL OZ (100ml) - 5" high - Small enough to fit in a purse :)
• Price may be a little steep at $16.00 per bottle, but they have sales throughout the year
• Smells of rosewater! 
• Vitamin E - balances and restore the skin's moisture

CONS

• Face price 
• Plastic bottle - Glass would be more luxe huh? :)

I can't really list any cons since I really like this product so much :p What do you all think of facial mists? Would you use them or are they a waste of time? :)

Goodnight! 

CVS Goodies!

I went to CVS after reading about the semi-annual clearance all you bloggers are talking about!! I was so excited when I saw all those yellow stickers on my favorite Revlon lipsticks and glosses! Eek! I was like fatty at dim sum.

Revlon: Pink Afterglow, Lilac Pastelle, Lilac

I was surely enticed by the lilacs. Not sure why, but I am so drawn to these lavender shades :) And as always, here are some swatches and lip close ups. Might I say, the lipstick formula is wonderful. It penetrates into your lips like a true balm w/the exception of pretty color!

No flash

I also noticed that if you want to make your lip color more "true" to the shade, wear a lip base. I tried that too. I used Nivea's A kiss of Protection on my lips before applying anything else. It creates a white-ish cast on your lips just like a concealer would, but this has some moisturizing properties. 

 Flash

It's a subtle step to apply the balm, but the difference speaks volumes. I like like both! It's a neat little trick that I learned from those Japanese magazines =p

What about you, dear readers? Concealer or balm for you? Or skip the base and go au naturale? :)

My silly Bacon enjoying her space heater :)

Review: Lady & Skin BB Cream

Remember this post about Lady & Skin cosmetics from Korea? I wasn't able to find any info about it on the internet... which is odd because you can find EVERYTHING online =p Well, I still haven't found anything, but it may be translated wrong in English or exclusive to the country...or... I don't know? Well, I'll be the first to review it then!

Okay, so... as I've mentioned before, my  mother's friend gave it to her during her friend's trip to Korea. She doesn't use makeup so she gave it to me to try. It came in a gift set with a powder and lip gloss. But I am just going to touch on the BB cream today.

It comes in a very generic squeeze tube. I don't mind the simple packaging because it makes it easier to travel with. I wonder if they have BB creams that come in foundation jars? That would be so luxe, wouldn't it?

Honestly, the formula is great! Better than Lioele's Beyond the Solution BB cream because it's sheer and has a pearly finish. I just start with a pea sized amount and smooth it onto my face before  patting it on gently. I really like that it's lightweight and easy to use. I mean, BB creams are not hard to use... but you don't need the brush when you have fingers :) I like all sorts of textures, but the sheerness of this BB cream is enough for daytime. While it's lightweight and sheer, the cream is also really opaque and has really good coverage. See the swatch on my wrist? I found it that to be opaque enough for me :)

The scent is also really pleasant. It's got a nice, Asian shampoo/body wash smell. The good kind! :) A little fruity, a little bit of floral. It's smells nice and doesn't linger.

One pro about this BB cream is that it has SPF 37 PA++, which is an odd number, but I can't complain. It's one of those all-in-ones :) I really like this BB cream a lot, but I'm not sure how I'll ever be able to find it. Well, if I do find a site or some info, I'll be sure to update for those who are interested :)

I've been obsessed with the Bobby Brown eyeshadow palette that I won from Ping's giveaway :) She was a MUA for Bobbi Brown and grew a love for the cosmetics. One thing is for sure, I really REALLY like the palette!

I love it! The colors complement everything! They are not overbearing, unwearable shadows! My love for neutral shades have now been justified. This palette is a must-have! I'm so glad it is in my collection because it sleek, and the colors pack a punch. You don't need much to add definition to your eyes. I've been wearing this to work a lot lately and I'm really loving how the dark colors enlarge my eyes and the highlight colors add definition. What is your take on Bobbi Brown cosmetics? :]

Geeky glasses O_O

I was looking back on my old photos here and I am so embarrassed to see how crappy all my photos were when I first started blogging. I'm probably going to re-review many products including the Lioele Beyond the Solution BB that I've also been using. I wasn't particularly happy w/my review, because the swatches and photos did not reflect how it really was. My camera now is a lot better at capturing the images with the correct lighting! :) Yipppeee for that!

I trust everyone is having a good week so far? :)

Yum! Grape juice after a long day :)

Spotlight: Rimmel's Airy Fairy Lipstick

Rimmel's Airy Fairy lipstick has been quite talked about in the blog world hasn't it? Because I love lipsticks, and because I love nudey shades, I was yearning to try it. I picked it up at Target and fell in love with it. Wow, this is a gorgeous lip shade and I am so happy that it's getting so much attention.

With Flash

What is is: A nudey pink lip shade w/a subtle gold sheen.

Upon first application, the formula feels really lightweight. REALLY lightweight. Lighter than any lipstick I've ever tried, including NYX's circle lipsticks. As for moisturizing agents, there is very little, but enough to not feel balmy or glue-like. Up until now, I've only been a fan of creamy formulas, but I don't think a creamy lipstick can make your lips look as natural as this one :) I can't get over how nice the shade looks! The gold sheen is really luxurious. Pair it with a clear gloss, and it'll look gorgeous! :)

This lipstick is not really long lasting. About 3-4 hours if you don't eat, drink or talk! LOL I guess it may last longer if you blot with a translucent powder, but I've never that technique before.

The smell of this lipstick is candy-like. It doesn't bother me at all. It's not too overpowering... it's kind of a light, sweet scent. I'm sorry I can't be more descriptive! :p

 No Flash

With that, my next want is Revlon's Soft Nude. The only thing is that it's sold out everywhere! Darn. My quest is to get it... the best part of the want is the hunt, right? ;)

What are your favorite nude colors and why? :)

My favorite nail color of the moment is Revlon's Lilac Pastelle. It's so wearable, and  lovely. Suitable for any occasion but when I want to feel extra special, this nail color really brightens my day :)

Alright everyone,I'm going to sign off now. I'm still getting adjusted to my work schedule after coming back here.

Happy New Year!

I am finally back home from a few days of visiting my family in Socal. I had mom's home cooked meals all week, met with some childhood friends and took my mother shopping. I had an awesome time revisiting my room and everything that's still in the same place as it was when I left. I didn't want to leave this morning but I know I have to get back to my reality. On the upside, I came back to my needy cat, my warm bed and a whole bunch of parcels that arrived during my time away. Online shopping is addicting!

Since I am not much of a "resolutions" person for the new year, I decided to embark on a photo-a-day journey. I was inspired by many bloggers' 365 photo project since last year. You just basically take a picture of something each day that you find meaningful, whether it be someone you met or something you ate. By December, you will have many memories to look back on that would've otherwise been forgotten. I'm going to be ambitious and try to do it, and hope I don't get discouraged along the way *crosses fingers*. Anyone else participating in this? I'd love to see yours.

Soft boiled egg - LOVE!

So here's to new ventures! Let's be optimistic and vigilant this year :) Cheers!