A Stroke Of Luck...O.P.I Lucky Lucky Lavender Nail Lacquer

I've been sitting here, at my laptop, for the last hour (yes, an hour), trying to write the color description for O.P.I's nail lacquer in Lucky Lucky Lavender.

Based on the name, one would expect a light purple with a bluish tinge. However, Lucky Lucky Lavender is a pinky-bluish-light purple, which I think puts it on the lilac shade of the purple family spectrum. ARGH!!!!! This is really doing my head in! In any manner, whichever way you want to classify this shade, it's a very pretty color, and a nail lacquer I enjoy wearing in Spring.

Don't Forget To Wash Your Hands with Cherry Blossoms

In keeping with my recent posts, here's Sakura Kaoru's Cherry Blossom Fragrance hand soap. I found this hand wash, at a little boutique I frequent, in Shin-Ochanomizu.

In the bottle as well as lathered on the hands, this soap has an amazing cherry blossom scent, Yet, during mid was, the scent turns into this off-putting, plasticky-soapy redolence that lingers on the hands...big disappointment!

Needless to say, I'll probably only use this hand soap to wash off makeup swatches from my arm, given I can't bear the smell on my hands.

Tasty Related, Not Beauty Related...Sakura Edition

 These Sakura flavored Dacquoise cookies are absolutely divine! 

Besides the beautiful cherry blossom scenery that comes with Spring, I also look forward to all the Sakura-flavored treats that come with the season.

 Sakura flavored (and shaped) marshmallows.

 Not sakura flavored, but these Strawberry jam filled marshmallows are yummy.

Nori with cutout sakura petals. Who knew onigiri could be so fashionable.

A sakura flavored gelatin with azuki beans and cream. I've never had this before, but I'm excited to try it.

 Sakura flavored Jelly beans!

 I like all three flavored, but I think the black tea with cherry blossom is my favorite. 

A little taste of wonderfulness in a jar. Loving adding a spoonful (or two) of this to my yogurt. 

What Spring treats do you enjoy? 

Enabling Your Beauty Habits...Addiction By Ayako Giveaway!

Yup, it's time for another giveaway! And this giveaway is all about creating your own Addiction palette, and then some.

The Prizes (all items are paid for by moi):

One Addiction Compact Case II.
Four Addiction Eyeshadows.
One Addiction Blush.
One Addiction Cheek Stick.
One Addiction Lipstick.

What you have to do and how to increase your chances to win (same method as one of my older giveaways):

1. All gorgeous members (via the members section on the blog) automatically get one entry. So, don't forget to click the "Join this site" button.

2. In the comment section, please write what items you would choose if you won. This will earn you two entries.

3. If you blog about/or tweet this giveaway, you'll earn another three entries into the hat. (please link the post in the comments, thank you!).

The Enabling Your Beauty Habits Giveaway ends on August 9th, 11:59 (GMT+9).

I hope you enjoy this giveaway, good luck to all and I'm looking forward to reading your comments.

Happiness In Bloom...Bath & Body Works' Japanese Cherry Blossom Shower Gel

Hey Guys! For the last five days, I've been hosting my friends Rob and Lulu from Australia. Sadly, they left back home today.

vcfdf I've written about BBW's Japanese Cherry Blossom Shower Gel before (read here), but I wanted to show you the newest change in packaging.

Bath & Body Works truly did a stellar job in bottling the fragrance of Japanese Sakura. During the end March/ early April, as all the Sakura trees are in full bloom, the Cherry Blossom Shower Gel is always an "April must" for me.

Additional bonus Spring yukata fun/cherry blossom pictures:

Aki and I at my special place. 

 Taken five days ago when I was working near Meguro River. 

 Still in Meguro. 

Taken before the weather reverted back to it's overcast (can't swatch a thing!), cold, rainy self. 

Pigments Of The Imagination...THREE Shimmering Color Veil Bijou Box 01

When it comes to Pigments, people either love them for their wide-range of uses or dismiss them for the extra care they require when working with them; personally, I love them!

This weekend, I used THREE's Shimmering Color Veil Bijou Box in 01(5,940 yen) from last year's holiday collection, for a friends weekending on Saturday and a Sunday outing.

After removing the paper cardboard sleeve, you have this cute, sleek, black satin makeup coffin (that's how I interpret it). Actually, the box is of pretty good quality with magnet closer.

Inside the little black coffin are three (0.9g) Shimmering Color Veils in shades: 29 Ice Blink, X02 Pink Topaz Gisele (exclude to the set), and 38 333 Dreamers. 

From left to right: 29 Ice Blink, X02 Pink Topaz Gisele, 38 333 Dreamers.

29 Ice Blink: a matte snowy-white with micro glitters. 

X02 Pink Topaz Gisele: a refined glitter with reddish-burgundy pink based and violet, pink, silver and gold micro glitter. 

38 333 Dreamers: a grey based, bluish-lavender with silver, pink, blue, and purple micro glitter and a shimmery finish.  

The photo below are swatches of the lip and cheek products I used in both looks. 

From left to right: Color Veil for cheeks 23 emotional Rescue, Velvet Lust Lipstick 12 Scarlet Noir. 

  

Look Breakdown:

Face:

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Santa Fe (Medium 2).

THREE Shading Wand (to lightly contour).
THREE Color Veil for cheeks 23 emotional Rescue.

Eyes:

Browlash EX Water Strong W Eyebrow in Grey Brown.
MAC Mineralize Concealer in NC30 (placed under the eyes).

By Terry Touche Veloutee Highlighting Concealer in 02 Cream (placed on top of the MAC Mineralize Concealer).
MAC Paint Pot in Utterly Becoming (eyeshadow base).
Too Faced Shadow Insurance in Candlelight (on the lid).
THREE Shimmering Color Veil in X02 Pink Topaz Gisele (all over the lid and lower lashline).
THREE Shimmering Color Veil in 38 333 Dreamers (in the corner outer crease and lower lashline).
THREE Shimmering Color Veil in 29 Ice Blink (in the inner corner and brow bone).
THREE Flash Performance Eyeliner Pencil in 08 Eye On (smudged out on the upper lashline, used to tightline and on the waterline).
MAC In Extra Dimension Lash Mascara.
Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Sexy Blacks Mascara in 01 Scandalous Black.
Lips:
THREE Velvet Lust Lipstick in 12 Scarlet Noir.

Look Breakdown:

Face:

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Santa Fe (Medium 2).

THREE Shading Wand (to lightly contour).
THREE Color Veil for cheeks 23 emotional Rescue.

Eyes:

Browlash EX Water Strong W Eyebrow in Grey Brown.
MAC Mineralize Concealer in NC30 (placed under the eyes).

By Terry Touche Veloutee Highlighting Concealer in 02 Cream (placed on top of the MAC Mineralize Concealer).
MAC Paint Pot in Utterly Becoming (eyeshadow base).
Too Faced Shadow Insurance in Candlelight (on the lid).
THREE Shimmering Color Veil in 38 333 Dreamers (all over the lid, blended up into the inner crease and lower lashline).
THREE Shimmering Color Veil in X02 Pink Topaz Gisele (patted on the outer corner).
THREE Shimmering Color Veil in 29 Ice Blink (in the inner corner and brow bone).
THREE Flash Performance Eyeliner Pencil in 08 Eye On (smudged out on the upper lashline, and used to tightline).
THREE Flash Performance Eyeliner Pencil in 02 Eye Believe (on the waterline and smudge along the lower lashline).
MAC In Extra Dimension Lash Mascara.
Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Sexy Blacks Mascara in 01 Scandalous Black.
Lips:
THREE Velvet Lust Lipstick in 12 Scarlet Noir (patted on the lips and worn as a stain).

X02 Pink Topaz Gisele and 38 333 Dreamers were the main reason I purchased this set, but I loved layering and mixing all three of the Shimmering Color Veils.