12/29/2016

Worth Every Bit of the Trouble...Butter London Scuppered

From my inability to photograph the shimmering gorgeousness of Scuppered, to trying to wipe off my finger prints from the bottle and, instead, rubbing off the top half of the t's from Butter London, it seems this post was predestined to be aptly in sync with the polish's name.

Scuppered has a bronzed-copper base, with flashes of orange, red, pink, yellow gold, and murky green duochrome brimming, with kelly green, hot pink, mustard yellow and rust orange shimmer. The formula is thin (great for layering over other polishes), but after three to four coats, it's completely opaque. I know what you're thinking, "damn, that's a lot of coats." But, ladies and gents, the finished look is absolutely gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! And, well worth the additional coats.
Another added bonus is, unlike some other glittery polishes, once dried, Scuppered has a smooth surface. I wish I would remembered having Scuppered sooner, because I would have worn in a lot more during fall. Btw, I get five days of wear from Scuppered.

I just checked Butter London's site, and Scuppered is no where to be found! WTH Butter London?! Being that I'm at the half mark, I'm going to have to ration out my usage of Scuppered. I guess we can always try ebay?!

12/28/2016

A Slip Of The Lips...Sara Happ The Lip Slip One Luxe Balm

To combat wintry, chapped lips, I repurchased an old fav, Sara Happ's The Lip Slip One Luxe Balm.

The Lip Slip has a milky ballet pink tint, with silver micro shimmer; it goes on clear and glossy, yet there is a faint pale wash on my lips. Though the texture is somewhat thick, and kind of tacky, it wears comfortably.

I really like how soft, and moisturized, the Lip Slip leaves my lips. But, as soon as I got a whiff of the balm, I immediately remembered why I stopped using it. After years of use, the balm's powdery, floral scent became intolerable.

I can't return the product, and with a 3,888 yen price tag, it's hard to throw away. At this time, I'll relegate Sara Happ's The Lip Slip One Luxe Balm to my night time lip care regime. Knowing me, I'm probably going to slather on an excess amount of product onto my lips, so I can be done with it sooner. Hopefully, the scent won't add to my existing case of insomnia.

What are your thoughts on Sara Happ's The Lip Slip?

12/25/2016

May Your Days Be Merry and Bright

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, and may it be filled with joy, laughter, and the ones you love.

While Aki is working, I, for one, will be having a Christmas movie marathon, including the classics White Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer, A Charlie Brown Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, Black Christmas, and, no Christmas is complete without, A Christmas Story.

I'll also be listening to one of my favorite Christmas Songs from one of my favorite bands, The Killers >:)

xoxoxo,
Me

12/24/2016

You Highlight My Life! Dior 001 Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer

Doir's 001 Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer is a fetching highlighter, and all I have to say is, c'est magnifique!

The words nude and air are embossed on the surface of the powder, which I couldn't wait to deface with my brush.

As I took the silver compact out of the box, I instantly noticed, and was a little bothered by. the case's lack of heft. Oh well...the magnetized lid's Dior Cannage engraved pattern is lovely, and the packaging is still sturdy. Regardless, it's what's inside that counts, right?!

A golden, pinkish-peachy champagne with neutral to warm undertones, 001 Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer imparts a gorgeous, reflective, illuminated glow. A lightweight, finely milled, silky smooth consistency, the formulation and texture is sublime. The Powder goes on like butter, without accentuating pores or surface texture, and is void of any shimmer/glitter particles. Highly concentrated with illuminating pigments, 001 can be blended out to give a diffused, natural sheen or built up for a more radiant shine. Both results give the complexion a flattering gleam, and it stays put throughout an entire workday. I love this highlighter!

12/22/2016

Pretty Obscure...Dior Vernis

Number two (of the five) nail lacquers from Dior's Skyline collection, Obscure 818 is a cooler-leaning, neutral, deep bark brown. Obscure's creme finish isn't as glossy as all my other Dior cremes, and thirsts for a top coat. Yet, once all the fixings have been applied, the polish is beautiful.

The lack of luster isn't the only snag with this vernis. Even after two coats, I still had some unevenness; which was corrected after the third application. Also, I only got TWO full days of wear when the polish began to chip to the high heavens.

I love this color, and how pretty it looks with a top coat, but the application and wear time, is a little disappointing. Guess I'll make an allowance for these faults, and wear it on days when I know I'm going to change my nail color often.

What dark brown polishes do you have in your collection?

12/19/2016

Vanilla Bean, Bean, Baby...Sara Happ Lip Scrub

In keeping with my current vanilla kick, once I finished my Sara Happ Peppermint Lip Scrub, I repurchased, and got Vanilla Bean. Vanilla Bean smells and tastes (although not edible), amazingly delicious.

The little brown box packaging is so adorable, and these just make the best stocking stuffers.

Sara Happ's Lip Scrub is a staple in my lip care regime, especially during winter. I use this exfoliator in the morning, and evening. With a small amount spread on my middle finger (there's no rhyme or reason as to why I use this finger, it's just the one I use), I work the product onto my lips in circular motions. The scrub is abrasive enough to remove flakes, or any other surface level imperfections. When the product is washed off, a balmy residue is left over; but, I feel this acts as a barrier, locking in and giving added moisture. Afterwards, my lips are soft, smooth, prepped and primed for the driest matte lipstick.

What do you use to exfoliate your pout?

12/18/2016

Return to Sender!

I marked my calendar and, for over two months, I've anticipated the December 2nd release of Givenchy's Holiday Palette Collection.

I was away on vacation, and scheduled the delivery date on the 18th, the day of my return. Knowing there would be packages awaiting me, I was excited to get home.

As I opened the compact and gazed unto the products, I thought, "what the @#$%!?"

I didn't care for the power foundation included in the palette. The two lip/cheek shades looked promising, but I was more interested in the eye shadows. However, the shade that made me want to buy the palette has gone through puberty or something, because it's full of bumps!

I mean, I placed my order directly through the counter. If you've ever been to Japan, and bought makeup, you'll know that the SA's always open and show you each and every item purchased. Did the person handling the order not inspect the palette? If they did, how could anyone find the appearance of that shadow acceptable?

All the girls at the Givenchy counter are lovely, and for a brief moment, I thought "oh well, I'll just keep it. But, the more I looked at the shadow, I just couldn't keep it. I'm sorry, but all the products in the palette are travel sized, and for 8,856 yen, as much as I love you Givenchy, heck NO!

I thought of ordering the palette online, but what if I have the same problem? Japan's return policy on makeup (everything for that matter) is: they don't have a return policy. You buy it, it's yours. Fin! Hopefully, the palette is still available at the counter. If not, sadly, it'll just be a return.

Have you ever received beauty product in unpleasing conditions?

12/15/2016

Vanilla Showers...Sabon Shower Oil

For December's body wash, I chose Sabon's Vanilla Shower Oil. Sabon has a way of giving all their fragrances a luxurious, delicate sophistication, and this month I'm all about the brand's ambrosial Vanilla scent. An exquisitely, finespun, redolent scent of vanilla; I couldn't wait to bathe in this shower oil! Actually, this shower oil was the key reason why I purchased Giovanni's Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub. I thought the marriage of the two scents would be glorious, and they are! I feel and smell exceptionally delicious when I use both of these products. I truly adore Sabon's Vanilla shower oil, and, although it can be used year round, I partially like using it during the winter season, and it's my first step to get me into the holiday cheer.

12/12/2016

Keep Watching The Skies

My credit card hasn't even cooled down from the last Dior Backstage Studio transaction, and another boutique exclusive, limited edition, well-edited, petite collection has been stealthfully launched.

All items in the photo above were Backstage Studio exclusives: 511 Comete and 581 Eclipse Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadows, the 008 Dior Label Healthy Glow Complexion Enhancing Palette, and the 009 Dior Label Glowing Colour Blush Palette, are all from the Summer Shine & Glow Collection. However, I wasn't feeling these shades or finishes for Summer, so I put them aside for use during the fall and winter seasons. 007 Pink Sunset Dior Addict Lip Maximizer was an Isetan Shinjuku Backstage Studio Boutique exclusive. And, I want to say 762 Tout-Paris Dior Addict Lipstick was a limited boutique exclusive as well, but I just can't remember...damn you memory for falling me!

From left to right: 511 Comete, 581 Eclipse.

The Dior Fusion Mono Eyeshadows are perfect for one-stop-single application on the lids. The shimmery, multidimensional contrast of these shadows defines the crease beautifully, while giving the appearance that another shade was used to add definition.

From left to right: 008 Dior Label Healthy Glow Complexion Enhancing Palette, 009 Dior Label Glowing Colour Blush Palette.

I'm really obsessed with collecting all these Dior Label face/blush palettes. I don't know what it is, but I just love looking at them. I will do a post show casing all the ones I own.

762 Tout-Paris.

While both, 007 Pink Sunset and 762 Tout-Paris, are pretty shades in their own right, pairing them together really does make me feel "pretty in pink."

From left to right: 511 Comete, 581 Eclipse swatches.

511 Comete: a shimmery, neutral, pale yellow gold-champagne.

581 Eclipse: a shimmery, cool-toned, tarnished bark brown with a flash of maroon in certain angles.

008 Dior Label Healthy Glow Complexion Enhancing Palette swatches.

008: A vanilla cream with a yellow-gold sheen border, a pale nude background, and Dior lettering in an orange-based, pale sepia. Blended together, all three shades create a gorgeous burnt, brownish-orange with a golden sheen.

009 Dior Label Glowing Colour Blush Palette swatches.

009: A vanilla cream, with a yellow gold sheen border, the I and R lettering in a warm, midtone-strawberry pink background, and a yellow-toned, pale strawberry pink D and O lettering. Blended together, all three shades create a delicate, yellow-based, pale pink with a hint of a golden sheen.

I'm a little "what happened" with the mixed shade results of 009. I'm not sure what sleight of hand was performed at the counter, but when SA applied 009(mind you this was during summer and I was sporting my summer shade), it gave my cheeks a pretty pink flush. Howbeit, at home, it barely shows up; I have to use a smaller blending brush, and focus solely on the background shade, and either the D or O, to recreate that pink flush.

From left to right: 762 Tout-Paris, 007 Pink Sunset swatches.

762 Tout-Paris: a warm, yellow-based, mid-tone pink with bubblegum pink shimmer.

007 Pink Sunset: a sheer, mid-tone pink.

Look Breakdown:

Face:
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer.
MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 in NC30.
Dior Label Healthy Glow Complexion Enhancing Palette in 008 (applied as a bronzer to warm up the complexion. Also, used as a blush topper, and highlighter).
Dior Label Glowing Colour Blush Palette in 009 (mixed the background and O shade, and applied on the apples of the cheeks).
Eyes:

B & C Browlash EX Water Strong W Eyebrow in Grey Brown.
Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil in NSA.

Bare Minerals Well-Rested (to set concealer).
MAC Paint Pot in Utterly Becoming (eyeshadow base).
Dior Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadow in 511 Comete (blended onto the inner corner, one-third of the inner lid and lower lash line).
Dior Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadow in 581 Eclipse (blended into the inner crease downwards to the outer corner and three-fourth of the lid and lower lash line).

ADDICTION Eyeliner Pencil in 09 Rabbit Hole.
L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in black-brown.
Lips:
Dior Addict Lipstick in 762 Tout-Paris (applied on the lips in a tapping motion).
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in 007 Pink Sunset (layered over the lipstick).

Out of all six of these products, 511 Comet and 581 Eclipse Fusion Mono Eyeshadows and the 008 Dior Label Healthy Glow Complexion Enhancing Palette were my favorites; 007 Pink Sunset and 762 Tout-Paris coming in at a close second; and, 009 Dior Label Glowing Colour Blush Palette coming in third, due to the extra effort needed to get a flush of color.

12/03/2016

Saturday Night Special...Dior Nuit 1947

I have a ton of shades like Dior's Nuit 1947, but one can never have too many vampy polishes.

Nuit 1947 is a rich, vampy, marooned, wine red that deepens after an hour of wear with an almost blackened, brownish-purple-wine coloration. What sets Nuit 1947 apart from all the other similar shades in my collection is the sparse, "better-grab-your-microscope-because-it's-in-there" dark pink shimmer, and its lush, crelly, but more on the "jelly side," finish.

One coat gives a pretty pellucid, yet pigmented, wash of color. Depending on your application, a second coat can reveal some slight unevenness; yet, a third coat is just right, delivering a faultless, rich, dark color, with an ultra glossy finish. I couldn't remember the wear time of Nuit 1947. But, I've been wearing it for four days now, and I just got my first chip on the nail of my left ringer finger.

11/27/2016

Wash Up & Smell The Chocolate...Giovanni Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub

It's been ages since I've seen anything from Giovanni, a brand I would usually see at Walgreen's. So, I was even more surprised to find the brand was sold over here. I found the Giovanni Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub (9 oz/ 260 g) at Cosme Kitchen for 2,808 yen, but they were sold out; which turned out to be a happy inconvenience, because I found it on Rakuten for 1,400 yen (shipping included). Three cheers for that savings!

I have to begin with the scent of this sugar scrub, because it's that amazing! The rich, sweet, nutty-chocolate scent of Giovanni's Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub is scrumptious! The scent is not synthetic, nor saccharin sweet, it just smells heavenly. Whenever I open the tub, I can't keep my nose out of it; I just want to dip my finger into the scrub and eat it. If you're a chocoholic, you are going to go mad for the scent.

The simple, yet stylish, frosted, asymmetrical plastic packaging is very eye-catching. I really enjoy the way the surface and shape of the tub feels in my hand.

Loaded with crushed cocoa beans, walnut shells, and essential oils, the scrub has a thick, grainy texture without feeling coarse on the skin. Frankly, on wet skin, I found the granules would quickly dissipate, causing exfoliating to be too gentle for my liking. Thus, I'll pat the myself off with a small towel, leaving my skin damp, not wet, to get my ideal exfoliation action. Afterwards, all dead skin has been buffed away, leaving my body smooth, polished, with an edible scent. Also, the sugar scrub has a warming effect as soon as it you start rubbing it onto the skin. Sadly, the sensation soon disappears after a few seconds into exfoliating.

Giovanni Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub contains 100% vegetarian ingredients (sugar, crushed cocoa beans, kukui nut, shea butter, vitamin e, aloe vera, and so on) is not tested on animals, and is free of parabens, lauryl, and laureth sulfate.

I really enjoy the Giovanni Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub and would recommend it, especially during Fall and Winter.

Have you tried Giovanni's Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub?

11/25/2016

There Is Always Something To Be Thankful For...

May you and your family and friends be blessed this thanksgiving, and throughout the year <3

Thanksgiving isn't celebrated over here, and I was too busy this year to order all the foodie necessities to prep for it. So, enjoy that extra serving of everything for me!

11/23/2016

Celebrate With 20% off b-glowing

Start your Cyber Week savings early with 20% off purchases of $50+ at b-glowing. Brands excluded from the promo code (but not gift with purchase offers) are: Bliss, Dermablend Professional, Egyptian Magic, Jack Black, Kai Perfume, Paula's Choice, and Rodin Olio Lusso.

Don't forget the promotion is valid through 10:59pm CST on 11/29/16.

I'll mostly likely be repurchasing and stocking up on the Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum. I love that stuff.

11/23/2016

One Shade of Earl Grey

When Butter London released their Steampunk Ball Collection (my fav collection from the brand to date) back in 2014, I was absolutely besotted. I'm enamored with all things steampunk, and I feel in love with the promotional images, exterior packaging, all the polish shades, and their names. Basically, I had to have everything from the collection (minus the lip and polish sets).

The mini sized Earl Grey (Finally, a polish named after my beloved tea) was an exclusive shade in the collection, and featured in, both, the Gilded Gears and Gears set and Gadgets Ultimate Lacquer Trunk. Don't you just adore the names?!

Earl Grey is a shimmery, metallic, silvered-graphite grey, with a "dirty" tinge that gives the shade this beautiful depth. Not exactly the color I would have envisioned Earl Grey to be, it's still a pretty shade. The formula is wonderful, and fully opaque in one coat, with minor streaking; but, this is corrected after a second application, and top coat. The wear time is also excellent, with a full six days of wear.

Although it's been two years since the Steampunk Ball Collection was released, I just checked online, and a majority of the sets can be found online via ebay and other retailers.

11/22/2016

'Cause I'm The Duke Of Earl Grey...Tasty Related, Not Beauty Related

Life just keeps getting better and better; my life in Earl Grey, that is. Guys, I have to share with you this recent Earl Grey foodie find.

Twice a week, I make it a point to pop into the Kaldi (a coffee and imported foods shop) that's in one of the stations on my commute home. Kaldi is the only shop in Japan where I have been able to find Swiss cheese. Last week, as I was combing the jams and perserves aisle, my eyes couldn't believe what they were seeing, "Is that Earl Grey? No. Wait, it is! It is Earl Grey!"

L'EPICURIEN'S Earl Grey confit has a sweeten Earl Grey flavor with jelly-like consistency, and it is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! Although not an artificial flavoring, the confit is sweet. However, the sweetness doesn't overpower the prominent Earl Grey taste. I've had it on toast or on an English muffin by itself, over butter, cream cheese, with yogurt, cream of wheat, oatmeal, and in my tea as a sugar or honey substitute; I've even had it in small spoonfuls, and all of these ways have been delish! I wish we had ovens in Japan, because I would love to make jam-filled butter cookies with it.

I think everyone I know is going to get a jar of L'EPICURIEN'S Earl Grey confit for Christmas, because it's that good!

11/21/2016

Parts Of A Duet...Dior Diorblush Light & Contour Sculpting Stick Duo 001, 002, 003

It's a shame the Dior Diorblush Light & Contour Sculpting Stick Duos, from the Fall 2016 Skyline Collection, are limited edition, because this dry-skinned girl is very fond of them.

I bought all three duos, and I really love how lightweight and portable these chubby, dual-ended, contouring and highlighting sticks are.

I'm really impressed with how pigmented this product is, especially the contour end. The texture of each is exceptionally creamy, and glides on the skin without a hitch. whether using my fingers, a brush, or even sponge, both products are very easy to blend, and meld into the skin. The contour shade blends down to what Dior says is a "matte finish." However, I'm more inclined to call it a semi-matte because it has beautiful, understated sheen. The highlight shade gives a shimmery radiance to the skin, and can blended out, or built up, to your personal level of glowy satisfaction.

From left to right: 001, 002, 003.

001 Soft Contour: a light tan and champagne. Both shades have rosy undertones.

002 Medium Contour: a deep camel with subtle yellow undertones, and a peachy-pink champagne.

003 Intense Contour: a deep cognac and a cool, brownish-champagne with a swirl of yellow, pink and mauve undertones. This shade is really gorgeous and possibly my favorite of the highlighters.

The Diorblush Light & Contour Sculpting Stick Duos are meant to be used along all the areas where you would sculpt and highlight the face. But, I also like using both ends on the lids as a shadow or an eyeshadow base, and for those of you brown blush lovers, using the contour shade as a blush. Actually, I was wearing the darker shade of 002 as my blush yesterday, and was complimented, and asked what I was wearing on my cheeks from all the SA's at every counter I visited (which was all ;P).

What are your thoughts on the Diorblush Light & Contour Sculpting Stick Duos?

11/13/2016

An Attraction Towards The Abstract...Dior Abstract 522 Vernis

Apologies for the, somewhat, out of focus photo. For the life of me, I don't know why, but my camera wouldn't cooperate. And, after taking 600 photograph this bottle, not one turned out well.

A cozy, chic beautiful shade for autumn, Abstract 522 is a warm, rosy-camel with a lovely, shiny, creme finish. The formula's creamy consistency applies smoothly, without any hassle. One coat gives a uniform, solid color, but two coats deepens the shade, matching the bottle perfectly. I've worn Abstract several times, and it wears for an average of 4-5 days.

If there are any camel polishes you love, I would love to know them.

11/10/2016

I Wasn't Going To Eat It...Les Merveilleuses Laduree Honey Liquid Body Soap

I dislike going for long periods of time without blogging. But, Halloween is always a busy time for me, and with my birthday following suit on November 4th, the festivities have only now begun to come to an end.

On November 4th, when Laduree released the bulk of their 2016 Holiday Collection, I had every intention of buying the limited edition, three-toned, petal Face Color Rose Blush, the Makeup Coffret III (not the gaudy, female bust brush holder), and the Honey Liquid Body Soap. Be that as it may, when I got to fool around with the products at the counter, I was underwhelmed, as stuck with my lone purchase (the Honey Liquid Body Soap).

I loved last year's limited edition Violet Liquid Body Soap, and thought Honey would be just as great.

At the counter, the body soap smelled of a delectable honey. Yet, upon use, a flower scent emerged as well. The delicate blend of these two fragrances is very appealing.

Just like the violet body soap, Honey lathered very well, left my skin feeling cleansed, and not dry nor itchy. In spite of that, my skin doesn't feel as smooth as usual, and it feels a little tight, as if I washed with Rain X. Somewhat of a disappointment, because I really liked the scent.

10/31/2016

A Halloween treat...Lauren B Beauty The O.C Nail Couture

This year's Halloween manicure was created using Lauren B Beauty's Nail Couture, The O.C., and these cute festive 3D rubber nail art sticks I got at LOFT.

The O.C. is a vibrant, amped-up candy corn orange. The formula is on the more fluid side, but it still packs a pigmented punch. Applying effortlessly, and solid color in to coats, the only issue I have (and it's a minor one) is I wish the brush splayed out a tad more.

It's been a while since I've worn one of my Lauren B polishes, but I remember them wearing for a good amount of time (3 to 4 days).

I own for Lauren B Beauty Nail Coutures, and after reacquainting myself with The O.C., I don't know why I don't own more; Something I'll be remedying very soon.

Don't these 3D Rubber nail art stickers add and adorable spooky touch to the manicure?! All you have to do is, carefully, peel them off (ruined a few being a savage), and stick them onto your nails. I applied a top coat over the design to add a layer of protection. 3D nail stickers are perfect for those novices of nail art, like myself.

What did you wear on your nails this Halloween?