FOTD featuring Hada Labo

Happy Friday!

Today I wanted to share with you a bb cream that I've been using that I absolutely love. It's v2 of Hada Labo's moist BB cream that came out years back. I loved that one too, and still love it! This version is slightly newer, came out early last year so I'm still late to the game! 

This bb cream isn't much different from the previous version. 

I love the way the BB air looks and feels on my skin. I bring it with me to travel, and i've had no issues with it. The bb cream is actually really hydrating, and the best part is that it does not oxidize over time. It doesn't turn sallow or muddy ruddy looking which I find happens a lot with Korean bb creams. This one is a bit more yellow based and stays looking quite natural.

The finish is really semi-matte but really beautiful. The bb cream in my experience hasn't enhanced any imperfections on my skin. It has a slightly dewy finish at first but dries semi-matte. 

I usually use one to two layers, and it is good enough to last for a day without other makeup on. I don't really powder my skin since it's on the drier side and I sometimes dot a bit of cream blush around my cheeks for some color. This bb cream blends beautifully with no caking that I've experienced! 

It is a bit pricey in the US, but considered a drugstore brand in Asia. I purchased it last year in store when i was looking for sun creams. I don't regret the purchase and I think it's one of the better bases out there in a sea of bb creams. I find that Hada Labo has made really consistent products and you can read my last review about my experience with the Hada Labo skincare line. My skin hasn't been more healthier, and I think it's because of Hada Labo.

Have you tried this or any Hada Labo  products?

Happy Friday, everyone! 

Review: Kate Integrate Mascara and Kate Lash Maximizer Primer

FINALLY. Freaking finally, I have found a lash method that works for me. With my sparse Asian eyelashes, it's like a science just to find a mascara that lifts, volumizes and doing so without breaking my lashes, and clumping. I honestly love my Loreal Telescopic Mascara a lot (my favorite, and HG), but i love exploring other mascaras. It's part of what makeup hoarders junkies do.

So I finally started getting into Japanese mascaras and the first one I ever tried (the one I'm also reviewing) is seriously amazing. Kate, from the global brand Kanebo, is a line of Japanese drugstore cosmetics aimed at trendy, and cost conscious consumers. Also, the fact that the quality of this mascara is so nice is a stark contrast to "just another drugstore product".

The Kate Integrate mascara has a skinny applicator which works really great in terms of lengthening. The formula is also quite dry so it won't weigh your lashes down. In fact, it is superbly lightweight in contrast to the Loreal Telescopic one. That one darkens my lashes a lot more than this one. 

The Kate lash primer is also an interesting product because the primer itself is white! It has little feathers of product that stick onto your lashes to make it look more amplified. It's like an extension of your own lashes. 

mini reviews: sunscreen, hair oil, and eye lash base

My favorite sunscreen ever. I honestly can't rave about it enough. It's a perfectly light, perfectly matte sunscreen that has an incredibly light texture that disappears almost instantaneously once on. It never feels as if I have anything underneath the makeup. Divine.

This is definitely a new favorite of mine. It's a hair oil product from Japan that seems to be quite popular in Asia. It's a very light fruity hair oil that I'll have to do a full review on later on. Smells wonderful, oil is so effective and beautiful. Makes my heavy hair feel light and bouncy. 

My new "secret" underneath mascara. It's an actual lash base that works amazingly! It's a waterproof lash base that lifts up lashes dramatically. I'll have to show a before and after! It's also a breeze to take off with makeup remover. I never bothered with waterproof products before but now i can see why Asian women love this so much. 

Eyeliner Wars: Dollywink vs. K Palette vs. Maybelline

It is pretty much a very standard staple in every woman's makeup arsenal: eyeliners! Liquid, gel, powder... eyeliner is very essential to creating a multitude of looks, whether it be an everyday look or the theatrical.

I've dabbled into liquid eyeliners in the past with a sub par experience. That was many many years ago. I would get raccoon eyes from smudging my eyes a little or my lines would look fine in the morning but I came back to a complete mess a few hours later. It seems makeup companies have heard our complaints and worked really hard to create better formulas - smudgeproof, waterproof, quick drying, you name it. Recently, I started getting back into liquid eyeliners for the sake of convenience and ease. And because there are so many in the market that I want to try, particularly the Japanese ones.

Top to Bottom - Dolly wink Liquid Eyeliner, Maybelline Masterprecise, K Palette 1 Day Tattoo

Dolly Wink, Maybelline, K Palette

Dolly Wink - When I first saw this eyeliner at the Japanese market, I was like...omg I'm loving the polka dot design! It's cute and girly. The felt tip is really easy to control and the ink dries incredibly fast. It is not waterproof but can hold up to watery eyes. I like how you can shake the pen to distribute the ink. Retails for around $10-15 online.

Pros          
+ Sets really quickly - no smudges :)                  
+ Felt tip applicator
+ Deep black color
+ Long lasting
+ Not waterproof but holds up to watery eyes

Cons         
- Not easy to find in the States
- Flat looking color if you prefer a shiny black color

Maybelline Masterprecise  - This looks to be the American version of the Japanese pen-style eyeliners. I bought this one on a whim before Vegas to see how it'll hold up in a different environment and climate. Design wise, it looks pretty similar to the Dolly Wink - slim design, felt tip. And that is where the similiarities end - It has a glossy black sheen when applied. Some people like it matte, some like it shiny. I don't have a preference really but it does require a longer dry time, and you know with hooded eyes it's not the most ideal. The formula is not waterproof and comes off quickly with warm water. Retails for about $6-8 in stores and online.

Pros         
+ Felt tip applicator
+ Has a glossy sheen color (if you like that)
+ Easy to remove

Cons           
- Smudges quickly
- Longer dry time
- Tip was too long; a little slippery

K Palette 1 Day Tattoo - Of the two, this one has to be my favorite! Like Dolly Wink, the formula is really good - long lasting, not smudgy and has a good controllable tip. Unlike the previous two, this one is waterproof and lasts a long time. I had a hard time taking it off even with makeup remover. I didn't particularly care for the super waterproof formula because I normally don't wear waterproof anything. I liked this one because the color was exactly in between Dolly Wink and Maybelline - not super shiny but not too flat. You can shake the pen to distribute ink. Retails for $13-15 online.

Pros           
+ Felt tip applicator
+ Dries quickly
+ Perfect black eyeliner - not too sheeny, not flat
+ Lasts all day

Cons            
- Very hard to take off
- Hard to find in the States

With warm water only -  Dolly Wink, Maybelline, K Palette

I love the versatility of all three eyeliners. They all have something unique about them that's worth owning but I liked the Japanese versions over the Maybelline simply because the formulas translated better for my skin type and eye shape. Both the Dolly Wink and K Palette are very similar so if you own one but not the other, there isn't a big difference in either one to own both unless you want a super waterproof one like the K Palette. 

Readers: What's your favorite eyeliner? :)

FOTD with Canmake Nudy Glow Lip Gloss

Hello my lovely friends!

How was your weekend? I flew home to see my family for Labor Day and it was a nice quick vacay before starting work again. Going back home is like a whole different world. When I come back to the Bay Area, I'm constantly thinking what a world of a difference it is in LA. Do you ever get those feelings? 

Anyway, I've been obsessed with the Nudy Glow lip glosses from Canmake since last year when I saw them at a Japanese supermarket. I love the pretty look of nude lips with a slight pink glow. It's so classy and sophisticated for any day of the week and I think it makes a person look youthful, and carefree ;) See prior review here.

This is the shade 01 - Rose Macaron 

no lip product on - taken under dim lighting

one coat of nudy glow lip gloss

Isn't it a lovely milky pink? It's my favorite MMBB gloss. It feels really nice on my lips, and lasts about 2-3 hours. One coat completely changes my lip color! That's pretty pigmented, right? o_o

Here's the rest of the makeup I used:

MUFE Face & Body in #20 (reviewed briefly here) 

Milani HD concealer - This concealer is actually quite good! I'm surprised I don't use more often. It brightens dull areas and has a nice dewy finish.

Guerlain blusher in Rose Du Primps - Such a elegant quad! I love the soft colors. They are subtle and give a nice sculpted glow. 

Anastasia Beauty Express Brow Kit (see review here) - I pretty much use the brow kit daily. I feel the shades are so accurate. The powder is consistency is just right - less pigmented than an eye shadow but subtle enough to make my eyebrows look fuller in the most natural way.

Side note: I've been using Rapid Lash on my lashes! They've made a big difference. I have to show you guys before and after pics and a full review! 

And that concludes it! That's pretty much a look that I like to do whenever. The point of this was supposed to be centered on the pretty pink lip gloss, which I think is still dominant in the overall look :)

Do you gals use any products from Canmake or any other drugstore Japanese cosmetics? And in price to quality, how do you think it compare to drugstore makeup from the US? 

Happiness in Bottles

Am I the only one that thinks this bottle is just stunning...? ;) The bottle and the design.

This was gifted to me from one of my good friends earlier this month for my birthday, and I've been wearing it nearly everyday!

The scent is described as having traces of breezy rice flower, warm coconut milk with drops of mandarin and jasmine petals. It's truly a sophisticated scent, quite complex and absolutely divine. There's a tad of sweetness underneath the warm coconut musk. Love!

And the bottle design as described on the site:

"Our Lollia signature screened glass bottle with Margot Elena's prettiest pattern yet: Imagine peeking through a window Chinoiserie bird & branch on front, blossoms fully wrap and fancifully view-through to an opened bird cage on back."


I love the simplicity of this perfume - it just exudes elegance. When I get close to finishing this up, I'm definitely going to check out the other fragrances from Lollia. You can view their site here :)

In other happiness in a bottle news, I also purchased from another beauty blogger the Sunkiller Perfect Strong BB cream with SPF 50+ PA+++ (crazy name).

It's a pretty amazing tinted moisturizer in my opinion because it feels way too thin to be labeled as a bb cream however, the extreme claims (contains hyalauric acid, collagen and Lipdure) make it so. Whatever it is,  I still love how it covers. I've been using it for a week straight and haven't had any skin irritations from it. They also claim to use ultra fine nano sunblock which explains how liquidy it is.

Honestly, I really really like this! I'm surprised at how smooth it feels on my skin and how incredibly light it is.
If you're looking for really sheer coverage and are more concerned with having a high SPF, this is something worth trying. The only con is that it's hard to find outside of Asia, but if you're into online shopping it's all good!

Find it at Sasa here, and on Amazon here.

What are your bottles of happiness? =D

Thrifty Makeup Removers

Makeup removers have been known to be one of the best investments for your skin! I am pretty thrifty when it comes to buying them though, because I've seen many inexpensive ones that do a fantastic job. Better than fantastic because they're affordable and easily accessible. Who doesn't love that?!

Here are three of my picks:

 Sephora Waterproof Makeup Remover, $6.00 for 1.69oz, $9.50 for 4.2oz is a plant based eye makeup remover that has a dual oil and water phase that you have to shake up to use (much like the Lancome Bifacil, but much cheaper). It's really gentle on the skin, and good for people with sensitive eyes and/or contact lens wearers.

Before: Lipstain, waterproof gel liner with glitter, waterproof mascara, lipstick

Most of the makeup came off after using 3 cotton squares. It's highly unlikely I'll ever wear this much makeup ever. But I guess I have some sense of security knowing that I could. It's ideal for eye makeup but it's pretty good with everything else.

Biore Cleansing Oil, $13.99 for 5oz is a Japanese drugstore cleansing oil that removes everything! Unfortunately, the Biore products in the US and Japan are so incredibly different! The ones from Japan have the cutest packaging and cool formulas. This one has a fruity scent, but not really bothersome or strong.

To use this oil, you dispense a few pumps into your hands and massage your face dry. Use a little water to emulsify the oils, and the makeup should slowly come off. Rinse off and follow with a gentle cleanser. 

I never appreciated cleansing oils until recently. I never understood how to use them before, but once I learned how, I realized how wonderful it is... everything comes off!

Took off some of the remaining residue that the Sephora one couldn't pick up. I cleaned the left side of my arm. 

And finally, here is the most thriftiest of thrifts! Brace yourself for.........

Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Yep! You've probably seen this on Youtube and in a vast amount of beauty blogs, discussion boards and whatnot. But olive oil is truly, truly the best one to use. Not only is it affordable, it's also super easy to find. 

I get the Extra Virgin bottle because it is the most readily available one in my grocer and is of the highest grade for olive oil, but you can choose fancy schmancy ones like Extra Virgin that's cold pressed, 1st pressed, which basically means that the oil was never heated to a certain temp making it the most meticulous method of extracting the oil. 

This was like $7.99 or something. Do the same as you would with a cleansing oil and be surprised! 

These are all amazing makeup removers and equally as good as the pricier ones. I'm looking at you, Shu Uemura!

Goodnight!

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? :)