Addiction Elvissa Dream Spring 2014 Eyeshadow Finger Swatches

 From left to right: 3AM, Dizzy Love, Private Beach. 

No visit to Lake Town is complete without a trip to Cosmeme. Two weeks ago, Cutiefishball requested swatches of Addiction's Spring eyeshadows. Luckily Cosmeme has an Addiction counter.

3AM: a semi-frost vanilla with a soft yellow gold sheen.

Dizzy Love: a frosty ivory loaded with silver flecks.

Private Beach: a frosty nude-champagne loaded with gold and silver flecks.

From left to right: Morning Squall, Meeting at Dome, Cafe Mambo. 

Morning Squall: a frosty lilac with gold and silver flecks. 

Meeting at Dome: a dusty lavender-taupe with micro multicolored sparkles. 

Cafe Mambo: a dirty olive with a satin finish. 

Out of the six eye shadows, I found the flaky texture of Dizzy Love and Private Beach to be disappointing/problematic. You'll definitely need to invest in a product like Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter glue and use a patting motion to prevent fallout. Meeting at Dome, Cafe Mambo and 3AM were instant loves. Morning Squall is also beautiful, but it also suffers from a slight flaky texture. 

Okay beauties, I have a very bad cold/fever and I'm starting to feel drained. I have a job tomorrow, so, I'm going to call it an early night and hope I feel better in the morning...cross your fingers for me. 

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

Stealing Beauty: Etude House at Lake Town

Can't believe my last Stealing Beauty post was in November. Popped into Lake Town today, and took a covert photo of the Etude House boutique in the mall.

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time. 

You Never Forget Your First Frost. Suqqu Blend Color Eyeshadow EX-17 Hatsushimo

Already one month into Spring and I'm still waiting for the weather to kick-in. Most days have been cold, gray, and rainy. I'm not complaining because it's keeping the creepy crawlies at bay.

I thought the shades in Suqqu's Blend Color Eyeshadow in EX-17 Hatsushimo would pair perfectly with the gloomy, rainy weather we've been having.

I love Ex-17 Hatsushimo and I think the palette works beautifully for Spring. 

Suqqu Blend Color Eyeshadow EX-17 Hatsushimo.

From left to right: Balancing Cheek 02 mukuge, Creamy Glow Lipstick Moist in EX-12 Benihiwada.

Look Breakdown:

Face:

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Santa Fe (medium 2).
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette (all three shades mixed together).
Suqqu Balancing Cheek in 02 mukuge (the dusty rose-coral shade).
Eyes:

Shu Uemura Hard Formula brow Pencil in Seal brown.

MAC Mineralize Concealer in NW25.
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder #1.
Suqqu Blend Color Eyeshadow in EX-17 Hatsushimo:
The satin pink eyeshadow (all over the lid and up to the brow bone).
The dirty pewter-olive eyeshadow (blended lightly on the lid into the inner crease up to the brow and the lower lashline).
The sparkly violet eyeshadow (blended into the outer corner).
The dark midnight blue eyeshadow (used to line the upper and lower lashline).
The shimmery light pinkish-peach eyeshadow (in the inner corner and lightly dusted on the brow bone).
MAC Eye Kohl in Blooz (to tightline and on the waterline).
Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara in Jet Black.

Lips:
Mac Lip Pencil in stripdown.
Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipstick Moist in EX-12 Benihiwada.

Look Breakdown:

Face:

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Santa Fe (medium 2).
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette (all three shades mixed together).
Suqqu Balancing Cheek in 02 mukuge (the dusty rose-coral shade).
Eyes:

Shu Uemura Hard Formula brow Pencil in Seal brown.

MAC Mineralize Concealer in NW25.
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder #1.
Suqqu Blend Color Eyeshadow in EX-17 Hatsushimo:
The dark midnight blue eyeshadow (all over the lid into the crease and the lower lashline).
The dirty pewter-olive eyeshadow (patted on the middle of the lid over the dark midnight blue and the lower lashline).
The sparkly violet eyeshadow (in the inner corner).
The shimmery light pinkish-peach eyeshadow (Used to blend out the dark midnight blue in the crease).
MAC Eye Kohl in Blooz (to tightline and on the waterline).
Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara in Jet Black.

Lips:
Mac Lip Pencil in stripdown.
Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipstick Moist in EX-12 Benihiwada.

What palette have you been enjoying this week?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

Chutney Is Marvelous! O.P.I Black Cherry Chutney Nail Lacquer

Although we're in Spring, I just can't bear to part with my dark nail polishes. Besides, I like the contrast of "Spring" makeup looks paired with a dark manicure.

Black Cherry Chutney is a captivating blackened eggplant with red, magenta, and purple micro-shimmers. I love this color, but I'm a pushover for vampy, almost black nail lacquers.

What are some of your favorite blackened purple polishes?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

Google+, I Won't Argue with You Anymore!

Domo at laptop belongs to jennawoestman.files.wordpress.com

Disclosure: when it comes to computers, gadgets and gizmos, I'm the absolute worst! Honestly, I'm not the brightest highlighter in the palette. And, as much as I'm repelled by technology, I believe the feeling is mutual. Amongst my inner circle, I'm infamous for my lack of technological know-how; so much so, that my closet friends were surprised (then laughed) when I told them I had a blog...they're so supportive...

Domo playing (I like to think he's screaming at it, I know I was) on the laptop. Image from sophiepetunia.blogspot.com

Okay, now that I've sat down, taken my stress pill, and recovered from my mini "trouble uploading images, not being technologically savvy and having no idea how to fix it" meltdown, I can calmly explain the issue. Apparently, I have Google+ (never signed up for it, don't know what it is or does, etc). In the Settings column of this evil Google+, under Photos and Videos, there is a feature called Auto Enhance, which automatically enhances photos and videos. This (insert curse-word of your choosing) feature was distorting the color of all the images I was trying to upload for the last three days. Yes, I'm not ashamed to admit that it took me three days to figure what the problem was (which for me, is quite an accomplishment); I rewarded myself with some online beauty purchases :)

Hopefully, this anxiety filled and panic attack-driven experience can help those who may encounter the same problem.

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

Who Said Size Doesn't Matter?

My best friend back in Miami just sent me this pic of one of my Nordstrom orders he received. Such a vulgar sized box for (although precious) a single Chanel nail polish.

I remember Nordstrom once (maybe twice) sent my 3 complimentary samples in their own box, similar in size to the one in the photo above...such a waste!

Btw, Can't wait to paint my nails with Chanel's Coup De Coeur.

Have you ever experienced the same thing with over-sized packages?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

When I Was Just A Little Girl...

 My mother had a thing for keeping me in pigtails. 

I thought it would be fun to get together with some of the bloggers that I love and show you what we looked like when we were younger.

Lucky for me,  I had some of my childhood pictures here that were used for my wedding video from a few years back.

I was born and raised in Chicago, I grew up during the 80's, and, I must say, I had an awesome childhood; we had the best cartoons and toys!

Those cursed pigtails again! 

I was in no way, shape, or form shy growing up; I was very talkative and sociable. I would love performing for whomever I could get to watch. Singing duet with my sister (who is fifteen months older) to Grease or Little Shop of Horrors, and the highlight of the evenings performance was me recreating the dancing sequence to Michael Jackson's Thriller...Not much has changed :P 

A makeup virtuoso.

As far back as I can remember, I've always been into makeup. And, as with most girls, my introduction into the world of beauty was my mother. I remember watching in awe, as my mom would get ready for evenings out with my dad, or other events. I would emulate what I saw in my coloring books by shading in eye shadow, blush and lipstick on all the characters. Wanting another form of media, I moved onto my dolls. Using my markers, I would alter eyebrows, change the color of the lids and lips, and for blush, I'd smudge whatever color I used with my index finger. Finally, I made a kamikaze drive into my mother's vanity. Needless to say, there were many casualties amongst her Estee Lauder lipsticks and palettes. 

My kindergarten graduation.  

I believe this was taken at my friend Eddie's Apartment. 

With rosaries in hand, the photo above is me at 17, getting ready to paint the town black at the Kitchen club. A Gothic night club that was located at the Coconut grove, but has since hopped around to several different locations. Here's a fun fact: I used to design and make my Gothic dresses. At the high school I went to, there were only 5 of us into Gothic, Industrial, and Punk Rock music. To this day, I have a soft spot for messy, smoked-out eye shadow, dark lips and the smell of clove cigarettes (btw, I don't smoke).

Why did this picture upload all blurred...anyway, here's a picture of my sister and I, when she came to visit me three years ago. 

Please check out the ever-so-amazing Mrs.BellyHead's post here. Mrs.Belly is one of my blogger crushes, and everyone should subscribe to her! Lipstick Boulevards I'm waiting for your link, and hopefully Ms. Drivel will join in :)

This post is open to anyone who wants to do it. If you do, and you please post the link in the comments :)

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

Frozen Cherry Blossoms...Tasty Related, Not Beauty Related

OH MY GOD! Haagen-Dazs has outdone themselves with their 30th anniversary Sakura Flavored ice cream. Another flavor released for the commemoration was Rose, but I'm not keen on rose flavors or scents.

There's a thin, sakura-flavored jelly on top that is also swirled throughout the sakura-flavored ice cream. By the way, unless you shop at Costco (which only offers vanilla, chocolate and, I think, cookies & cream), this "modest" sized ice cream cup is the biggest size of Haagen-Dazs you can get in Japan. Anyway, back to the ice cream, it's so, so DELICIOUS! I'm going to have to stock my freezer like the husband did in Sleeping with the Enemy with this divine frozen treat that's "made like no other."

Do you have Seasonal limited edition Haagen-dazs Flavors in your country?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

The Scent of Spring Looms in the Shower...The Body Shop Sakura Shower Gel

I've said this numerous times, but, Spring really is the best time to visit Japan (especially Kyoto). Bath & Body Works' Japanese Cherry Blossom is my favorite shower gel to use in April. Unfortunately, we don't have BBW in Japan. So, being a lover of all things Sakura, I'm eager to try The Body Shop's Sakura Shower Gel.

In the bottle, the shower gel has a genuine Sakura scent. However, when bathing, it turns into this perfumy, glassy-sakura hybrid. It's not bad, but I would have preferred if the shower gel had smelled more like it did in the bottle.

The Sakura Shower Gel has a nice, light fragrance, lathers nicely, and leaves my skin feeling clean.

The other day I went to a Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) party and here are some photos from that day :)

What Sakura Products (fragrances, food, etc) do you enjoy?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.