Have A Holly Jolly Christmas!

I'm not dead yet! (if you know the origin of this line, you're awesome!) I want to wish all of you, especially those who stuck with me during my little lapse of posts, a very Merry Christmas.

For the last few months, I've had a very hectic work schedule. But, hey, I rather be busy than broke! Also, my personal life has been demanding, and to quote my beloved The Smiths, "I started something I couldn't finish"...in one day; and that has been a major reason for the lack of posts this week. I'll get into the details of my not-so-little home project once I've finished.

The Romance Of Leather Wood...Giorgio Armani 703 Nail Lacquer

Giorgio Armani's 703 Leather Wood was my very first nail lacquer from the brand; sparking  a "gotta catch 'em all" obsession.

703 Leather Wood is a bronzed-brown with magnificent duochrome flashes of copper, russet red, yellow ochre, and murky moss green; it's as if all the Autumnal shades where gathered, swirled together, to create the quintessential nail lacquer for Fall.

Not to be outdone by the color, 703 also has an excellent gel-like formula. The application is smooth, even, and it provides an ultra glossy, perfectly solid, color in one coat.

The longest period of wear time before experiencing signs of tip wear has been 7 days; not bad at all, since I work with my hands and can be a little beastly...but, in a good way.

If you're looking for the perfect Autumn nail lacquer, look no more! You need Giorgio Armani's 703 Leather Wood in your life!

Giorgio Armani Nail Lacquer retail for 2,916 yen and contains 6ml.

Il Maestro 506

One lipstick that has gotten a lot of action lately is Giorgio Armani's limited edition, Asia exclusive Lip Maestro shade in 506.

Giorgio Armani Lip Maestros are my favorite liquid lipsticks, and 506 has the same velvety, soft, mouse-like texture and amazing pigmentation as the other permanent shades.

Inspired by the bright pouts seen on K-dramas, 506 is a beautifully bold, deep, reddened-raspberry shade meant to compliment and brighten Asian skin tones; however, I feel 506 would flatter just about any, and all, coloring.

I bought 506 back in July, and I'm not sure if it will ever make its way to Western counters, but who knows?...fingers crossed, maybe one day. If you don't feel like waiting on the possible chances, I checked, and found, several are sold on ebay. 

Visions Of Sugar Plums...Bath & Body Works' Plum Moscato & Almond Harvest Shower Gel

From my vault of bathing products, December's Shower Gel is from 2014's Fall Collection: Plum Moscato & Almond Harvest.

Plum Moscato & Almond Harvest Shower Gel's key notes are: 

Plum Moscato, Toasted Almond, Blackcurrant, Lily Blossom, and Vanilla Woods.

The Plum Moscato and Blackcurrant are the most prominent notes, giving the shower gel a wonderful chilled, sweet berry scent without being overbearing; whereas the accents of Toasted Almond and Vanilla Woods provide a underlying warmth. 

I want to say Plum Moscato & Almond has a similar fragrance to one of the shower gel's in the permanent lineup, but I can't put my finger on it...maybe Dark Kiss? However, the note of Toasted Almond gives this shower gel its own festive twist, all the while, giving me visions of dancing sugar-plums this Christmas season. 

Rockin' Out with YSL's Fall 2015 Rebel Metal Collection

I feel as if I'm always bitching about the weather, but October and November were a total bust!; it was hot and humid, and now the temperature is finally cooling down, but it's still as humid as a freakin' rain forest. Are any of you in Tokyo or anywhere in Japan, struggling as much as I am?

Anyway, moving onto a more pleasant topic and makeup with an edge, YSL's Fall 2015 Rebel Metal Collection. I picked up the Metal Clash Couture Palette, and the Rouge Volupte Shine lipsticks in 35 Fuchsia in Grunge and 36 Rouge in Rock.

The exterior casing resembles sheet metal, with the YSL logo textured in pyramid studs and covered in a rubbery plastic, is a punk rock girls dream come true.

Isn't the color combinations of the Metal Clash Palette sickening?! The palette offers three finishes: a glittery satin, two satins, and two shimmery shadows.

Swatches from left to right:

A medium camel-gold with gold shimmer.

A pinkish-lilac.

A reddish-pink-burgundy with flashes of lilac.

A red-based chocolate brown.

A deep, red-based plum.

All five shadows are richly pigmented, apply and blend exquisitely!

I have a love-not-so-much-like relationship with YSL's Rouge Volupte Shine lipsticks; at times, their scent can be a little much for me to handle.

From left to right: 35 Fuchsia in Grunge, 36 Rouge in Rock.

35 Fuchsia in Grunge: a bright, pink-fuchsia with purple undertones.

36 Rouge in Rock: a bright red with orange undertones.

Neither of these shades are what I would normally gravitate towards during the Fall...and having grunge and rock in their names, I expected edgier shades. Nonetheless, they pair gorgeously with the Metal Clash Palette.

Look Breakdown:

Face:
Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer.
Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Medium 2 (Santa Fe).
Yves Saint Laurent Creme de Blush in 07.
Les Merveilleuses Laduree Shimmering Pressed Powder in 103 (dusted all over the face).
Eyes:

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

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer in NC30.
MAC Paint Pot in Utterly Becoming (eyeshadow base).

Yves Saint Laurent Metal Clash Couture Palette:
The pinkish-lilac shadow (patted on one-half of the lid).
The burgundy shadow (blended inward on one-third of the outer lid and lower lashline).
The plum shadow (blended in the outer corner, and over the eye liner used on the upper lashline).
Lancome Le Crayon Khol in 11 Cafe Serre (on the upper lashline, used to tightline and lightly placed on the water line).
Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Feline Extravaganza in 01 Black Black.
Lips:
Mac Lip Liner in Heroine (softly blended all over the lips).
Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine in 35 Fuchsia in Grunge.

Look Breakdown:

Face:
Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer.
Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Medium 2 (Santa Fe).
Yves Saint Laurent Creme de Blush in 08.
Les Merveilleuses Laduree Shimmering Pressed Powder in 103 (dusted all over the face).
Eyes:

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

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer in NC30.
MAC Paint Pot in Utterly Becoming (eyeshadow base).
Giorgio Armani Eye & Brow Maestro in 10 Mahogany (all over the lid).

Yves Saint Laurent Metal Clash Couture Palette:
The chocolate brown shadow (on the lid and slightly blended into the crease).
The gold glitter shadow (patted over the chocolate brown shadow).
The burgundy shadow (blended into the crease and up to the inner crease).
The plum shadow (blended in the outer corner, and along the lower lashline).
The pinkish-lilac shadow (on the brow bone and inner corner).
Lancome Le Crayon Khol in 11 Cafe Serre (on the upper lashline, used to tightline and lightly placed on the water line).
I'm wearing a pair of falsies from a Japanese brand that I just discovered and am loving. I can't find the box, but I will do a post on them.
Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Feline Extravaganza in 01 Black Black.
Lips:
Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine in 36 Rouge in Rock .

Did you pick up anything from the Rebel Metal Collection?