9/29/2015

The Truth Is Like The Sun...

Summer has finally come to its expiration date. However, this is always an odd "in-between" phase for me because, technically, it's Fall, but it's still too bright, too green, too hot and too humid (temperatures in the low to mid 80's with humidity levels around 65-94%, basically, still Summer) to don anything Autumnal just yet.

As lovely as many of 2015's Summer Collections were, I put most of the collections I purchased aside, feeling they would be better suited for this in-between phase than worn during their intended scorching season. Actually, I do that with many seasonal collections; I buy them, separate them, and then categorize them by which ever season, I feel, they inspire me the most. Does anyone else do this, or am I alone on this one?

With the exception of some pieces, Tom Ford's 2015 Soleil Summer (along with Spring) Collection is one of those that felt more Fall than Summer...yes, I see where they were going, but no.

I've broken the Soleil Collection in half, and here is the first installment.

01 Naked Bronze.

02 Black Oyster.

03 Golden Peach.

04 Midnight Sea.

I love a duo packaged product. So, I was really interested in the two-tired Cream and Power Eye Color products. As nifty as the packaging is, and as beautiful as these double-decker eyeshadows are (bottom half: a metallic cream and the top: a sparkling, glitter powder), I do have one bone to pick with them. You see, I purchased all four as soon as they were released, and it wasn't until I got them that I noticed a similarity in shades to previous TF Creme Color For Eyes I own. It wasn't until I called the TF beauty counter, and confirmed that I did indeed own three of the four creme shadows in the duos...shame on me. Both Spice (the older sister) and Pink Haze (the Jane Brandy of the bunch), are in perfect condition, but what gets me the most is this inclusion of the Spring 2015 Creme shadow. It's too soon to repromote a shade that was just released last season, and in my humble opinion, when brands do that, it boarders on laziness and lack in ingenuity. Some of these will be appearing on an upcoming blog sale I will be hosting.

From left to right: 01 Naked Bronze, 02 Black Oyster.

From left to right: 03 Golden Peach, 04 Midnight Sea.

Both creme blusher and bronzers come in this cute, white compact sleeping bag.

No matter what form it comes in, I'm all about the blush! The Cream Cheek Color in Pink Sand is a warm, pearlized peach-pink, filled with golden shimmer (basically, a pinker version of Nars' Orgasm in a cream formula). The formula has a slippery, emollient consistency, without being greasy or tacky. Pink sand is pigmented (although, I would have liked a little more pigmentation, but hey, that's just me being greedy), and has a gorgeous, luminous, sheen; we can skip the highlighter with Pink sand, but we're not gonna!

I have been wanting to get my hands on both of the Tom Ford Bronzing Powders since forever! But, I've been on this "limited Buy" on bronzers, and since bronzers are not popular in Japan, the Tom Ford Beauty counter here doesn't carry them; that has made it easier to not break my "limited buy"policy. However, when these white lacquered, with gold accent compact minis came out, I felt justified in purchasing both of the Small Bronzing Powders. Ladies and gents, can I just say that these bronzers are AMAZING! They go on heavenly, giving the face a beautiful warmth and instant definition without must effort. Gold Dust is a warm, medium golden brown, with gold shimmer and a radiant sheen. Now, the Small Bronzing Powders contain .3 oz of product apposed to the .7 oz of the Large Bronzing Powders; and, I'm okay with the fact that, both small compacts combined fall short of one large compact. But, I have both shades, and many bronzers in my collection; therefore, it will make hitting pan all the easier...hopefully!

The first two Lip Color Sheers I'm going to show you are: 05 Sweet Spot and 09 Skinny Dip (my fav of the two). Sweet Spot is a bright, warm, medium, slightly pink-orange coral, and Skinny Dip is a bronzed, warm pinky-peach with gold shimmer (again, a bronzed lipstick version of Nars Orgasm). For having "sheer" in the name, The Lip Color Sheers are quite pigmented; with Sweet Spot having a shimmery cream finish were as Skinny Dip has a translucent shimmer. Both shades are comfortable on the lips, and wear for an average of 3 to 4 hours.

From left to right: Pink Sand, Gold Dust, 05 Sweet Spot, 09 Skinny Dip.

Look Breakdown:

Face:
Tom Ford Skin Illuminator in 01 Fire Lust (applied under foundation and as a highlighter).
Diorskin Nude Glow Hydrating Makeup in 031.
Tom Ford Bronzing Powder in 01 Gold Dust.
Tom Ford Cream Cheek Color in 01 Pink Sand.
Eyes:

B & C Browlash EX Water Strong W Eyebrow in Grey Brown.

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer in NC30.
By Terry Touche Veloutee Highlighting Concealer Brush in 2 Cream.

MAC Paint Pot in Utterly Becoming (eyeshadow base).
Tom Ford Cream and Power Eye Color in 01 Naked Bronze:
The cream shadows applied on the lid, blended in the crease and lower lashline.
The powder shadow patted on the lid and lower lashline.
Tom Ford Eye Defining Pencil in 03 Metallic Mink.
Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Mystic Blacks Mascara in 01 Mysterious Black.
Lips:
Mac Lip Pencil in Stripdown.
Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer in 09 Skinny Dip.

Look Breakdown:

B & C Browlash EX Water Strong W Eyebrow in Grey Brown.

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer in NC30.
By Terry Touche Veloutee Highlighting Concealer Brush in 2 Cream.

MAC Paint Pot in Utterly Becoming (eyeshadow base).
Tom Ford Cream and Power Eye Color in 03 Golden Peach:
The cream shadows applied on the lid, blended in the crease and lower lashline.
The powder shadow patted on the lid and lower lashline.
Tom Ford Eye Defining Pencil in 03 Metallic Mink.
Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Mystic Blacks Mascara in 01 Mysterious Black.
Lips:
Mac Lip Pencil in Stripdown.
Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer in 05 Sweet Spot.

9/24/2015

She Sells Shisas By The Seashore

This cliff is suppose to resemble an elephants's head...can you see it's trunk?

Hey guys! Sorry for the recent lack of posts, but Aki and I just got back from our impromptu trip to Okinawa for Silver Week (which ended yesterday). It's past Midnight, and I have an extremely early day tomorrow, so, goodnight and see you tomorrow :)

9/17/2015

Help Me, Help You...Tom Ford Show Me The Pink Nail Lacquer

Warning: this is not one of those happy, praising nail polish post. As a matter of fact, this post is anything but favorable for Tom Ford's Nail Lacquer, Show Me The Pink.

Show Me The Pink is right! Even the name forebodes the farce that is this polish. In the bottle, Show Me The Pink is a warm, milky, nudish- pink loaded with silver shimmer; but on the nails its a warm, milky, pinkish peach with silver shimmers, that would rather sparkle in the bottle than on the nails.

I can deal with the shade difference from bottle to nails, but what I can't accept is a horrible formula from a 3,996 yen nail lacquer. Show Me The Pink's formula is thick and a little goopy; thus, making the application problematic, and troublesome, with streaks and unevenness...even after three carefully applied coats, I can still see some unevenness. Whenever I wear Show Me The Pink, I'm always put off by the troublesome application that I haven't bothered to take account of when I begin to experience any chipping; maybe after the third day?

I'm not sure who I loath more: the horror that is Tom Ford's Show Me The Pink Nail Lacquer, or myself for purchasing it! If this polish hadn't cost so much, I would throw it away.

9/15/2015

Last Day At The Beach...Bath & Body Works' Perfect Beach Day Deep Cleansing Hand Soap

Having never tried any of the Bath & Body Works' hand soaps, during their semi-annual sale, I picked a few of the limited edition Summer scents.

When I read bergamot in Perfect Beach Day's scent description, I did not need to read any further and immediately added it to my virtual cart.

I also picked up the Soap Sleeve in Scrolls to give the bottle a little more flare.

Perfect Beach Day has a "beachy" fragrance blend of coconut, melon and bergamot. Sadly, the bergamot is overpowered by the coconut, and melon. After washing my hands with this deep cleansing hand soap, they smelled as if I had washed them in a coconut-tangerine juice that was left out overnight. I'm not sure if this is a good thing, but, overtime, I grew to tolerate the scent. Although the scent was off, the microspheres provided minor exfoliating, and left my hands clean and soft.

I'm going to add Bath & Body Works' Deep Cleansing Hand Soap in Perfect Beach Day onto my "products to never try again" list.

9/11/2015

Into The Mystic...Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Mystic Blacks 01 Mysterious Black Mascara

Without hesitation, I can say my favorite high-end mascara brand is Helena Rubinstein; and one of my most beloved is the Lash Queen Mystic Blacks Mascara.

The silicone "double ritual brush" is the rock star of mascara wands. The dense "brush" side has five rows of varying size elastomer bristles that evenly coat the lashes, from root to tip, giving dramatic volume and fullness; the "comb" side defines, separates, and creates a "lash-liner" effect.

As per the description on the packaging, Lash Queen Mystic Blacks formula contains setting and texturizing agents, designed to accentuate the lash line...mission accomplished. The consistency is creamy, slightly thick, slightly wet, and intensely concentrated, pigmentation.

This mascara is the amalgamation of having a, perfect wand and formula; enhancing the frame of the eyes by achieving full, lengthened, bold,"people will think their falsies" eyelashes.

This mascara is an amalgamation of having the perfect wand and formula; enhancing the frame of the eyes by achieving full, lengthened, bold, "people will think their falsies" eyelashes.

Helena Rubinstein's Lash Queen Mystic Blacks Mascara come in one shade, 01 Mysterious Black, and retails for 5,184 yen.

9/11/2015

Clarins Friends & Family Event

Save up to 25% off on clarinsusa.com. Offer expires at 11:59pm PST on 09/23/15.

9/11/2015

Feeling Amorous

Due to bad "swatching" weather conditions (I have photos of the products and looks, but I need to swatch most of the items), my "End of Summer" beauty collections countdown is moving along at a snail's pace. Apparently, this week, we may have three typhoons; so, I don't foresee much improvement in the weather.

I preferred the shade selections, and the two finishes (frost and matte with sparkles), of the stylo eyeshadows from this season's Mediterranee collection than the ones from 2013's L'Ete Papillion de Chanel.

From left to right: Azulejo 117, Olivine 137, Lumiere d Ete, Amorosa 487.

I almost didn't get Azulejo 117; I'm getting up there in age, and I'm not sure how long I can sport the aqua blues. However, when I blended Azulejo out on the back of my hand, I fell for its gorgeous murky green sheen. I though is would look pretty layered over Olivine 137, a murky, medium sage green with sparse aqua blue sparkle. When applying directly from the tube, Olivine dries very quickly. So, I found the warmth from the tips of my fingers made blending a little easier.

Amorosa 487 is a muted, rosewood-brown with gold micro-shimmer. Of the four Rouge Coco Shines released in the collection, Amorosa is my favorite; I have a thing for brown lip products.

Look Breakdown:

Face:
Diorskin Nude Glow Healthy Glow Complexion Enhancer in 001.
Diorskin Nude Glow Hydrating Makeup in 031.
Chanel Lumiere d'Ete Illuminating Powder.
Chanel Joues Contraste in 54 Rose Dust.
Eyes:

Shu Uemura Hard Formula Eyebrow Pencil in Walnut Brown 07.

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer in NC30.
By Terry Touche Veloutee Highlighting Concealer Brush in 2 Cream.

MAC Paint Pot in Painterly (eyeshadow base).
Chanel Stylo Eyeshadow in Olivine 137 (all over the lid, blended into the crease and lower lashline).
Chanel Stylo Eyeshadow in Azulejo 117(layered over Olivine 137 all over the lid and lower lashline).
Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Gris 35 (used to tightline and on the waterline).
Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Mystic Blacks Mascara in 01 Mysterious Black.
Lips:
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Amorosa 487.

9/05/2015

A Dip In The Mediterranee...Chanel Le Vernis

I have a ton of products to swatch, and I've had nothing but gray skies and rain for the last two weeks; any day now, my neighbors will be an audience to my interpretive, anti-rain dance.

Mediterranee 707 is a mesmerizing, muted, medium teal-blue with a beautiful glossy, creme (slightly jelly) finish. The formula for Mediterranee is spectacular; it applies smoothly, flawlessly, and, most astounding of all...it's opaque in one coat! Although this vernis can stand alone with one coat, out of habit (and, joy in applying), I applied two.

Another great feature of Mediterranee 707, is its six to seven day wear time. I'm not sure what magical unicorn juice Chanel is putting in their most recent polishes, but the brand is winning my heart back.

9/03/2015

LORAC 35% Off Labor Day Sale

I'm trying to be good, and curve my makeup spending, but I keep getting all these darn promotions in my inbox! #officiallythrowinginthetowel

LORAC's Labor Day sale will end at 5:00pm PDT on September 9th, 2015.