Kanebo Media Moisture Foundation, and a FOTD using all Japanese products

Hello everyone! :) Having a good midweek thus far? Mine has been nothing but hectic. You know those long work days.. *sigh* But you know what? I discovered one of the best foundations ever, something I'd def repurchase over and over just because it's that amazing. I was distraught with my MUFE Mat Velvet because it just didn't work for me for whatever reason. But I am sad no more!

If you are not familiar with Kanebo, they are like a mother brand to many other luxe brands like Coffret D'or and Kate. Media is like their drugstore brand, definitely more affordable than Coffret D'or.This foundation is rich and hydrating and gives off a healthy supple glow. I love that it's in a jar, although not the most sanitary but certainly very pretty to look at. The feel of this foundation is so decadent, rich and creamy with a supple, luxurious feel. It's hard to describe this without it sounding like it's too good to be true, because it seems just that :) With so many pros, it's bound to have a downside. Being that's a full on moisturizing foundation, people with normal to dry skin will really appreciate this foundation while those who are are trying to stay away from products that cause them more oil will probably pass on this. 

I got this in shade OC-D1 described as "Healthy Natural Color". There are only 4 shades to choose from and since I consider myself darker than many Asians (maybe?), I chose the 3rd darkest shade o_o It goes on a little darker than my natural skin color... but it's not so noticeable. This is my first "Asian" foundation. I might go and purchase OC-C1 which is described as "Natural Color". 

Here's my FOTD using the foundation:

I used it on my face and neck, but I can see the color difference now o_o 

Here's the breakdown:

Pros

1. Highly moisturizing, non irritating for me (also scent free!)

2. Full coverage, accentuating nice supple skin

3. Affordable - $12 on Adam Beauty (HK website where I bought it from)

AdamBeauty is a HK based retailer that sells a ton of Japanese makeup for really affordable prices. The cool thing is that postage and shipping is included! You just have to pay $2.00 to register your package (like a DC#) and that's it. The wait time is kind of long, 2 weeks or so, but you can upgrade that I'm sure :) I haven't had any bad experiences with them, and I hope to never have to.

Cons

1. Shade selection - only 4 to choose from o_o

2. Needed to blot more often

3. Nestled in a jar. They should have the option of a sanitary pump for travelers

Above: After a whole day at work, around 5pm-ish. The sun is setting, and I blotted 2-3 times during the day. 

Here are the makeup products I used! 

Shiseido Luminizing Face Color in RD401 (Orchid) - It's a pretty rosy coral pink color that brightens the cheeks. I'm so in love with this blush! 

Lavshuca PK-3 Lipgloss - Another brand from Kanebo ;) It's a jelly-like baby pink color :) 

So that sums up my day look =p I'm smitten by the Kanebo Media foundation and will likely purchase it again, hopefully in the correct shade this time.

What are your favorite Japanese cosmetics? :)

Review: MUFE Mat Velvet+

Hey everyone! Did you all have a good weekend? Mine is continuously fleeting, as usual. I was at the Gay Pride festival this weekend in SF. It was tons of fun! Love being around others like myself. I felt happy and sated :)

I wanted to review MUFE's Mat Velvet+ for awhile now since I've acquired it for over a year =p It is supposed to be a long wearing foundation (oil free, water resistant) that evens out skin tone and keeps your skin matte and non oily.

I threw away the box awhile ago already and the foundation doesn't say which shade it is anywhere...! It's a smidge too tan for my skin now. I used to wear tanner on my face a yr ago... (lol, i know) and i outgrew that habit now because it's too much work to maintain. No more facial tanner, no more any tanner. I just try to be content with my skin tone now =p

My thoughts about this foundation? Unfortunately, not a huge fan. I know a lot of people swear by this foundation, but it just doesn't work for me. There is some ingredient in there that irritates my skin and causes me to be an oily mess in 2 hours. And it's supposed to be matte? Even my dewiest foundations don't do that.

Sorry for the horrendous picture o_o I get these weird bumps on my cheeks everytime I use the foundation. It drives me crazy! It's probably the Cylopentasiloxine (type of silicone) in it, being that it's the first ingredient before water O_O 

I really wanted to like it more but this foundation was just mediocre at best.

Pros

1. Gel-like formula, comfortable to use

2. Wide range of shades 

3. Medium to heavy coverage, dries very quickly

Cons

1. Not nearly moisturizing enough

2. Accentuates lines and some imperfections on face

3. Makes my skin more oily than my other foundations & bb creams

It's $34/1oz on Sephora.

Have you gals tried MUFE Mat Velvet+? What are your thoughts on this foundation?

NYX Luscious Lips: The Perfect Everyday Colors

I'm so excited to share with you guys a super versatile lip palette. I am normally not a fan of lip palettes because they always seem to be dry-ish and not all the colors are wearable (usually way too dark), but the NYX one is a winner - moisturizing and pretty colors. More than pretty, they are suitable for whatever, whenever. Plus, it's sleek with only 5 colors and small enough to tote around. Who knew?

I've had this palette for awhile now, maybe 6 months ago when I ordered from Cherry Culture, but never got around to using it because of my other lip stuff in rotation. I had it in my office for awhile before I dug it up recently. It def comes in handy during after lunch touch ups.

They are mostly nudes with one pinky color. 

Sorry for my bad swatches. Can you see how smooth and silky they are? LOVE IT! 

This is the very right color on the palette. I think it is a little too nude for me and makes my lips look muddy. I also wish they'd name their colors so I don't have to be like "at the very right" or left.. I could number them but whatever ;) I didn't have any other clear pics with the other colors. I will soon enough :)

I also want to share with you all my very first Jill Stuart item!! 

Jill Stuart Lip Balm Tint Color in the Strawberry flavor. I opted to get a blush but I really wanted something like this because I am a totally lip balm junkie and I am smitten by the pretty packaging. And because the blushes were over $60+... ='( 

Here is the lip balm in all its glory. It smells fantastic, faintly of perfumed strawberries. The packaging looks nice but it doesn't feel like something that should cost over $30 with shipping o_o The madness! I didn't do a swatch because it is not a tinted lip balm like they say. It's a sheer balm with pretty smelling strawberries. It was most definitely a splurge but a pretty splurge at that. 

Any JS fans here? :)

Goodnight all! Be back soon!

My First Lush Product! Lush Ultrabalm is as balmy as it sounds - A Review

Lush is everywhere these days, but especially on blogs! I can't help but see people reviewing bath bombs, body butters and face creams all from Lush. Being the easy to convince person I am, I sought out to try something beginners level before divulging in the world of their bath and body stuff. That and their handmade things have expiration dates so I can't go too crazy without finishing my surplus of things at home first. So I decided that the Ultrabalm would be best. I mean, no one has enough of balms right?

Ultrabalm is a body balm that is intended as an all purpose moisturizer to protect, heal and relieve problems in your skin. It's suitable for dehydrated skin (elbows, anyone?) dry lips, cuticles,anything. I even use it to tame those pesky flyaways in my hair and to seal in my eye cream at night. Since it's made without petroleum or mineral oil, there is no greasy residue left behind. The balm completely absorbs and the only feeling you get is the softness on your skin :) Yay for that!

It looks like a pot of lard huh? It's actually a solid texture but it just melts at the touch of your fingers. This is probably because the first ingredient is jojoba oil (organic). The scent is a little strange... I get the hint of birthday cake vanilla with an herbal bouquet. Not the most pleasant but doesn't linger at all.

 It costs $12.95/1.5oz (45g)  at their official website. Not a bad value for the amount of balm you get because a little goes a long way, but you have around 14 months to use it before it expires. A good idea would be to separate them into smaller pots to have it be more travel friendly so you can really stretch it out but still have it with you everywhere.

My overall thoughts is that this is a good quality balm to have around. You have to be vigilant to use it in a short amount of time, but  since it's very multipurpose, it's something to have in case you do need it. Better for me to have it than without i guess ;) I alternate this between my beewax salve one from Burt's Bees. It's probably not suited for people who are afraid of germ harboring tin containers =p

Enjoy your weekend everyone!! :) Talk to you all soon.
What are your thoughts this balm or Lush in general? What is the next thing from Lush I should try? :)

Review: SANA Hadamony Collagen Mist

What it is: A toner with 1000 grams of collagen in a convenient spray bottle. It also contains hydraulic acid and is free of mineral oil. It is a toner, but the Japanese refer to it as a facial lotion and should be used before moisturizers and creams.
Texture: When sprayed onto the face, it is not exactly all water. It's like the consistency of jello before it cools down or like watered down emulsion. The collagen makes it a little sticky, which I personally like because it feels so rich and luxe for your face :)
Scent: Rosy, fresh citrus smell
Strengths: Works very effectively after cleansing and is very hydrating. The texture of the mist is weighty and lotion-like. Not necessary to have but a definite treat for the skin. One bottle lasts for a long time... I've had this spray since late January!
Weaknesses: None at the moment. 
Packaging: The mist is housed in a very cute pink bottle. Very pretty to look at, very Japanese. The spray nozzle is convenient and is a no brainer to use. 
Price: Approxiately $12.99 for 8.45oz (250ml) at various online shops and Japanese markets. 
Overall: Although it's not an important step in my skincare routine, I think this works especially well when you leave it in the fridge and use it after cleansing your face. I just leave this mist in there and use it 2x daily, def fresh feeling and stimulating for your face in the mornings. Because it is affordable, it's a definite repurchase for me! 

Urban Decay Naked and Weekend Fun

Happy Tuesday everyone!

I finally got my hands on the Naked palette!!! I wasn't after it like crazy but it was def on my mind. I'm so glad I did because a palette like this is a serious multitasker. I can't imagine not having this now! I love seeing it in the morning all gorgeous in all its purple glory. I got the one with the brush because it's what a palette should have and it retails for $26 alone!

I'm sure you've all seen tons of swatches online already. It is the way it's been described - colors have awesome payoff, no fallout and totally awesome neutrals.

I know I look a little crazy with the scarf thing. It was one of those bad hair mornings =p Not my best picture but ah well. I tried out some of the eyeshadows and Dark Horse is one of those really lovely browns that I think I'll be using a lot. Please ignore my undone brows =p

I'm wearing Stila Little Black Dress gel liner, Loreal Telescopic Mascara, Lancome Star bronzer, and Maybelline Pink In the Afternoon lipstick. I haven't been wearing any foundation these days because I felt like my skin needed to breathe and revive itself.

This past weekend I also went kayaking! It was my first time and it was totally fun and really tiring! You won't believe how sore my arms are right now from all that paddling. 2 1/2 hours out at sea (at the wharf, really) and paddling alongside boats and other sea enthusiasts. I had a grand time looking at the amazing sea otters in their natural habitat.

Me in my kayak gear

Mom and baby

Santa Cruz

Deals and Steals: ELF Mineral Makeup $15 for $35 worth of Makeup!

Groupon has an awesome deal today for ELF. Good time to try it when it's over 57% off :)

Check it out here!
(http://www.groupon.com/deals/eyes-lips-face-san-jose)

You can also join Groupon for free here. That is a referral link, so if you end up buying something, I'll receive a credit. By no means do you have to click on my link to join, you can sign up for free at Groupon.com
If you're not familiar with Groupon, they offer daily deals in your city at a discounted rate, usually 50% or more - everything from movie tickets to dining to events (I went Kayaking this weekend because of a Groupon I bought!)

Similarly, LivingSocial is also another one I rec. Here's my link: LivingSocial.They have pretty awesome deals as well.

Let me know if any of you are planning to buy something from ELF or hoping to try :)

Spotlight: R&R Blushes!

I know this is totally late but I can't help not posting about these babies. Rock and Republic blushes are by far the best blushes ever - aesthetically gorgeous with intense pigmentation and pure luxuriousness. Can't seem to get enough of them. They were on sale at Hautelook a few months ago and I was so sad I wasn't able to get any of them! They were only $20 each (orig $40) and people had various coupon codes so we could get them for less than $10. I'm now buying them on eBay o_o They've been discontinued sadly. I wish I knew why because they are of top notch quality. Top notch.

I own Immoral and X-Rated. Immoral is an intense orange coral with no shimmers. X-Rated is a bright red, hot pink blush also with no shimmers. I wish I owned more and i am on a hunt to get them so if you know anyone selling them, please let me know! =)

X-Rated

Immoral

I love these madly. I think these blushes will last for a lifetime, truly. These swatches were done with a light swipe. I think a stippling brush or fan brush would be very appropriate since the pigmentation is so dense :)

Here's my FOTD - 

Products I used:

Face

Clarins Everlasting Foundation in Ivory - Do you guys want a review of this foundation?

R&R Immoral blush

Mac blot powder

Eyes

Wet n' Wild Greed Palette 

Loreal Telescopic Mascara

Lips

NYX Indian Pink Round Lipstick

Smith's Rosebud Salve on top

I noticed I don't use a very complex amount of things. It's too complicated to think in the mornings. I also hardly use eyeliner but I'm going to start incorporating them into my daily looks.

Hope you're all enjoying your Friday! It looks like kayaking is going to be scheduled another weekend since it's going to be foggy and in the 60s in Santa Cruz.

Thoughts on the R&R blushes? Do any of you not like them? I want to hear your thoughts! :)

Talk to you all soon!

Something about Sunscreens & Sun Protection

Hi everyone! Happy Friday! I can't believe half the year has flown by already. I was going to go kayaking this weekend but the weather's kinda iffy and rainy o_o

So... sunscreens! Yes. This post will be dedicated to sun protection since the warm weather is rolling around and adequate protection is key to keeping your skin from aging too quickly. Here's 5 of the ones I currently have on rotation depending on the weather.

Neutrogena Healthy Defense spf 50 - This moisturizer/sunscreen duo is an easy find anywhere, in store and online. I got this at Target and have gone through multiple bottles of it. It's a lightweight sunscreen designed to be light enough so you can still wear makeup over it. The good thing about this sunscreen is that it sinks into skin fairly quickly and feels invisible. It has a smell of a floral bouquet and may be kind of strong smelling. Remember to shake it well. There is a little ball inside that makes a sound when you shake so you know that it's mixing up the liquid well.

Cancer Council sunscreen spf 30 - One of the best moisturizers ever! If you like the feel of Eucerin or Aveeno's sunscreens (spf 15 or higher), this is nearly identical in texture. This is an Australian brand that I was really lucky to try because I won it in a giveaway :) Since I started using it, it is the perfect morning time moisturizer that is also cooling (aloe vera is one of the ingredients) and light. The texture is less watery and absorbs into skin much more faster than the Neutrogena one. I wish it was more readily available in the US. It's a wonderful sunscreen.

Garnier UV Protect spf 50 - I bought this sunscreen on a blogsale originally to try it. It's my first Asian drugstore sunscreen and i was hearing pretty awesome raves about it. This one is a little different because it's also a color correction. The one i have is purple which is supposed to fix sallow looking skin. One of the best multitasking products are color correctors in sunscreens. When I use this, it gives my face a little more color which I need always :) This moisturizer is on the thick side, perfect for cooler weather because it helps your skin retain the moisture that it loses when it's chilly out. I really like it and I'm looking to try more Asian drugstore sunscreens. I know there's a ton out there =p

Here are two of my Shiseido sunscreens - one for face & body and the other one strictly for the face. The PA sign is additional protection from your skin getting dark. UVA/UVB protects against sun damage, but the PA is protection against UV rays that cause darkening of the skin. The + signs are the level of protection (the higher the better).

Face & Body spf 60 PA+++ - This one has a very nice texture, a lot like the Neutrogena one. It's very liquidy. If i lay it down uncapped, the lotion runs out of the bottle. It's also meant for the body too, but I only use it for the face because it only has 3.3oz of product and is kind of expensive ($30+) so I want to make it last as long as I can ;) It has the usual Shiseido sunscreen smell which is quite strong (floral spa-ish, daisy, hard to explain). Absorbs into skin very well and very moisturizing. It feels light and airy and is a definite luxury on the skin (for me at least!)

Facial sunscreen spf 55 PA+++ - This sunscreen keeps your face matte and is thick and goopy. Very similar to the Garnier one. I use this also on days when it's cooler simply because of its thickness. I don't necessarily prefer this sunscreen all the time because it's hard to wear makeup under but it gives that ultimate protection I think all the other sunscreens lack. It keeps my skin looking even and non oily for a good 4-5 hrs. The smell is quite strong and kind of lingers. Both Shiseido's are like this unfortunately.

I've tried many sunscreens in my lifetime and I believe some of the best are at your local drugstores. I really like the Neutrogena ones and the Cancer Council one. Shiseido is more of a splurge for me but not a must. I like any lightweight sunscreens that absorb easily so you can get on with your day.

What are your favorite sunscreens? :)