9/14/2012

Having an Ookla Hair Day!

Yesterday, after work, I decided to pay my hairdresser a visit and get my ends trimmed. While we were catching up, she talked me into doing this new conditioning hair treatment. I was reluctant at first, because I don't like having my hair cut while it's wet, but she quickly assured me that she'd blow dry it first, which made me even more apprehensive because people here don't know how to handle my hair once it's wet. That's why I always go to the salon with my hair already blown out... I can't get a decent blow dry in Japan!! But, I ignored all past blow dry experiences in Japan as well as the voices screaming "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!" and went on a leap of faith...after all, she has been cutting my hair for the last five years.

After the treatment, she blow dried my hair with her fingers...HUGE mistake!! This works for straight hair, but my hair requires a round brush. I was cringing in my seat. I wanted to remain optimistic, hoping she knew what she was doing, and the turnout would be different...I was wrong. Now that my curls were blown out to a giant, frizzed-out Afro puff, she finished it off with a flat iron...sigh...will I ever learn?... :(

She cut my hair in the frizzed out mangled condition that it was in. I'm almost afraid to see what it will look like once I blow it out myself.

The moral of this story is: Just say NO!

And here is the final look...the Olsen twins have nothing on Ookla and I :P

Liz of no makeup Ookla the Mok

Any salon mishaps you would like to share?

Looking gorgeous (or not) one lipstick at a time.

9/12/2012

China Glaze's Four Leaf Clover

Summer's not over yet! So, here's a hot weather favorite of mine: Four Leaf Clover!

Four Leaf Clover is more vibrant in person.

Four Leaf Clover is an insanely gorgeous, teal-based, bright, glossy, kelly green creme polish. If you can get your hands on this nail lacquer, BUY IT!! I've been wearing Four Leaf Clover for the last three days and I can't help but stare at my hands. It's a standout color for summer and St. Patty's day :P

By the way, Four Leaf Clover is available at foryoursalon.com, for $3.89. I've ordered from this site several times, and I can vouch for great customer service.

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

9/11/2012

Stealing Beauty: Loft's False Eyelashes Display

Sorry for the dodgy pictures, but you understand :)

Loft is a chain of stores found in Japan that offers a hodgepodge of merchandise, including: household goods, kitchenware, luggage, bags, mobile cases, toys, snacks, stationary, cosmetics, and much, much more! I LOVE shopping at Loft! I can spend hours in there...and I do :P

I went to Loft yesterday and took some photo's of their falsies selection for my Stealing Beauty Series, enjoy :)

What brand of false lashes do you love?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

9/09/2012

Two Looks, One Make Up For Ever 'La Boheme' Palette.

Hey dolls,

Here are two looks I created this weekend using products from Make Up For Ever's 'La Boheme' Spring 2012 Collection. Although this is not a review per-say, since a majority of these items are no longer available, I will briefly write about them, for those of you how many want to hunts them down and add them to your collection :)

La Boheme Baked Eye Shadow Palette.

The La Boheme palette is limted edition, but still available at sephora.com and on sale for $25.00. These eyeshadows are on the sheer side, but that's not always a bad thing guys. Sometimes it's nice to have a soft wash of color on lids, and baked eyeshadows usually do a great job at achieving lovely subtle luminous looks. But for those who want more color, these eyeshadows can layered, or used wet to intensify pigmentation. Also, these baked eyeshadows don't fade, blend out beautifully, and give a gorgeous luminosity to the lids. I've really been enjoying this palette this week!

La Boheme Gypsy Aqua Eyes Pencil.

Gypsy Aqua Eyes Pencil was another limited edition item. It's no longer available on Sephora's website, but you may still be able to find it online. Gypsy performed like all the other MUFE Aqua Eyes Pencils, waterproof, long wearing, and smudge-proof. I do have to say that I did find Gypsy's formula to be a bit drier than other Aqua Eyes pencils.

Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in Folk.

Folk was love at first application! This lipstick is extremely creamy, glossy, and hydrating. Folk's slick formula applies a beautiful wash of color on the lips. Unfortunately, Folk is no longer available through Sephora.com, but I did find it on gurumakeupemporium.com (they do ship internationally!).

Now here are swatches of the La Boheme Baked Eye Shadow Palette:

From left to right: Lagoon Green, Vegetal Green, Beige.

Lagoon Green: A pastel aqua with aqua sparkles.

Vegetal Green: A pastel spring green with multi-colored sparkles.

Beige: A soft beige-flesh color.

Fom left to right: Parma Purple, Brown, Coral.

Parma Purple: A pastel lavender with grey undertones and silver and pink sparkles.

Brown: A rich chocolate brown with copper sparkles.

Coral: A soft peach with silver sparkle.

From left to right: La Boheme Gypsy Aqua Eyes Pencil, Make Up For Ever Blush #10 (swatched for color reference), La Boheme Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in Folk.

Gypsy: A dark, bark-brown.

Make Up For Ever Blush #10: A soft peachy-pink.

Folk: An ultra glossy, slightly pinkish, red-coral.

Here are two looks I wore this weekend :)

Products used:

Face:

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

Nars Skin Smoothing Face Prep.

Shu Uemura Hard Formula brow Pencil in Seal Brown.

Make Up For Ever Blush #10

Eyes:

Mac Mineralize Concealer in NW20.

Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer.

Mac Paint Pot in Rollickin' (apply a sheer layer on the lid).

Make Up For Ever La Boheme Baked Eye Shadow Palette:

Lagoon Green (applied all over the lid and lightly in the crease).

Coral (used to blend out the edges of Lagoon Green).

Beige (in the inner corner and brow bone).

Brown (used to line the upper lash line).

Vegetal Green: (applied long the lower lash line).

Make Up For Ever La Boheme Gypsy Aqua Eyes Pencil (used to tightline and along the lower lash line).

Smashbox Lash DNA Mascara.

Lips:

MAC Lip Pencil in Stripdown.

Make Up For Ever La Boheme Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in Folk.

Products used:

Face:

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

Nars Skin Smoothing Face Prep.

Shu Uemura Hard Formula brow Pencil in Seal Brown.

Make Up For Ever La Boheme Baked Eye Shadow in Coral (used to highlight the bridge of the nose and cheek bone).

Make Up For Ever Blush #10

Eyes:

Mac Mineralize Concealer in NW20.

Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer.

Mac Paints in Mauvism (apply a sheer layer on the lid).

Make Up For Ever La Boheme Baked Eye Shadow Palette:

Parma Purple (applied all over the lid and lightly in the crease).

Brown (used in the crease, blending upward into the inner brow and along the lower lash line).

Coral (in the inner corner and brow bone).

Make Up For Ever La Boheme Gypsy Aqua Eyes Pencil (used to tightline and along the upper lash line).

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Pencil in 23L (on the waterline).

Smashbox Lash DNA Mascara.

Lips:

MAC Lip Pencil in Stripdown.

Make Up For Ever La Boheme Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in Folk.

Did you buy any of the items from the La Boheme Collection?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

9/08/2012

Just Wanted to Share...

Hey guys,

Just wanted to share this image my sister emailed me :)

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

9/05/2012

A Summer's Lament, Illamasqua Nail Varnish

Today's mani is Illamasqua's Nail Varnish in Lament.

Natural light.

Lament is a bright, watermelon-coral with a glossy creme finish.

With flash.

Although Lament's formula runs a bit thick, it applies easily, without any streaks. This nail lacquer is a 2 to 3 coater, depending on how thin it's applied. Personally, I prefer the way Lament looks after three coats, and that's how many I'm wearing in the photo's above. Lament is such a gorgeous and fun polish for Summer..pure love :)

Lament nail lacquer retails for £13.50/ $14.00 (0.5 FL OZ/15 ml) and available at Illamasqua.com and Sephora.com.

What are you wearing on your nails at the moment?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

9/04/2012

Running on Empty: August Empties!

Sorry for being a few days late :)

Redken Smooth Down Conditioner: is one of my all-time favorite conditioners. I was on the Redken website and saw it has been discontinued and replaced with Smooth Lock. Based on the reviews I read from the website, many people are NOT happy with the change. I've yet to try Smooth Lock, but I'm starting to feel a little panicked...if it doesn't workout, I'm going to have a major hair crisis!

Tsubaki Head Spa Conditioner: I rotate between this and the Damage Care line conditioner; it leaves my curls looking smooth and defined.

N4 High Performance Hair Care: This was a gift from the amazing Ari from a passionate obsession. I really liked this reconstructive masque and I'll definitely repurchase.

Tsubaki Daage Care Treatment: This is a great conditioning treatment! I use it once a week, and my hair loves me for it! Always repurchase.

L'Occitane Sorbet Verbena Exfoliating Shower Gel: I really enjoyed how smooth and refreshed my skin felt after using this shower gel. But, unfortunately, it's limited edition and I'm almost done with my second tube :(

L'Occitane Honey & Lemon Delightful Cream: I enjoyed this body cream, but it too has been discontinued.

L'occitane Olive Tree Organic Radiance Cleansing Foam: Another discontinued product, and I understand why. I love using foaming cleansers during Summer, but this cleanser was torture to use. It did a good job at cleansing, but I noticed no "radiance", and the scent was awful, god awful!! This is the first product from L'Occitane that I've disliked.

MAC Fix+: Yup, gone through another bottle...what can I say? It's been hot :P

Dry Idea: Be kind to those around you, deodorize :)

Sebastian Laminates Drops: It was a tragic day for hair when this line was discontinued. I LOVED the Laminates line. I stocked up on these babies, but I'm down to my last three bottle.

Sebastian Laminates Gel: This is my FAVORITE product for curly hair! Just like the Laminate Drops, I stocked up on cases of this hair gel. I purchased any size tube I could get my hands on.

Chanel Precision Sublimage Eye: This is a good eye cream, but I'm not sure I'd repurchase.

MAC Select Moisturecover: This is a great under-eye concealer, and I will always repurchase.

Chanel Precision Sublimage: A good face cream, but just like the Sublimage eye cream, I'm not sure I'd repurchase.

Colgate Maxfresh: Don't offend anyone with bad breath! My favorite toothpaste :D

Delon Premium Cotton Rounds: Got these in a pack of four from Costco...yes, we have Costco here :)

Honorable mentions: I have a bag full of samples, so my goal is to use everything up.

Dior Hydra Life Pro-Youth Sorbet Eye Creme: I was able to get five days used from this packet. After five days, it didn't do much to moisturize, and I found it to be too heavily perfumed. I can never understand the purpose of adding fragrance to an eye creme? I probably won't buy it in the full size.

Shu Uemura Whitefficient Clear Brightening Gentle Cleansing Oil: I recently purchased some items from Shu and the SA gave me a bunch of these sample cleansing oils. I got two uses out of this packet. I'd purchase a full size of this oil cleanser.

Billy Jealousy Liquidsand: Billy Jealousy is a men's skin care line, but I'm an equal opportunist, so I gave this exfoliator a try. I got two uses, and I really liked it. I would purchase a full size, and this time, I'd share it with Aki...Maybe :P

Bliss Triple Oxygen +C Energizing Cream: This cream left my skin feeling soft and moisturized, but I can't remember much else. I may purchase a full size

Korres Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturizing & Brightening Cream SPF6/ For normal to dry skin: I like the way this moisturizer felt on the skin, but I don't think I'd purchase a full size in the near future.

What did you use up in the month of August?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

9/04/2012

L'Occitane's Citrus Verbena Shower Gel

September's shower gel is Citrus Verbena, a stunning, zesty, lemon-citrus fragrance. After showering, I feel clean, invigorated, and the scent lingers on my skin for quite some time. Citrus Verbena is a staple Summer fragrance that I'm never without! If you love lemon scents, you have to try Citrus Verbena!

What are you showering with this month?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

9/03/2012

Kate Powderless Liquid for Cover Swatches

The Powderless Liquid for Cover foundation is part of Kate's Fall 2012 Collection. I really like that the bottle is plastic and comes with a pump, making it travel friendly. This foundation is available in 6 shades, comes with an SPF of 20, and retails for ¥2,100 ($26.79).

From left to right: BR-C, OC-B, OC-C, BE-C, OC-D, OC-G.

Below is a photo of me wearing the Powderless foundation.

The shine on my face is actually me beginning to sweat...Just thought I'd share that with you :D

Products used:
Face:
Kate Powderless Liquid for Cover in OC-D (for reference, I'm NC25-30 in MAC).
Eyes:
Nothing.
Lips:
John Masters Organics Lip Calm.

The Powderless Liquid for Cover foundation applies well, is streak-free, and gives the skin a natural (if that's possible) semi-matte finish. I found the coverage to be light to medium (you can build up the coverage). Since the foundation contains an SPF, there is a slight, white overcast on the face when using flash photography. Ironically, the shade that matched me perfectly was OC-D...you just have to laugh :P My only issue with this foundation is that I did find it a little drying on my forehead (I have normal to dry skin). Oily skin types will enjoy this foundation as well as those who are looking to skip the step of powdering their face.

What foundation have you tried recently?

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.

9/03/2012

Stealing Beauty: The Les Merveileuses Laduree Beauty Counter at Mitsukoshi Ginza

Hello lovelies,

I decided to start 'Stealing Beauty', a series of Guerrilla-style photography posts of cosmetic counters throughout Japan...maybe the world!?

To christen this candid beauty venture, here's a photo I took of the Laduree counter in Mitsukoshi Ginza.

Hope you enjoyed the first installment of my stealing beauty series :DD

Looking gorgeous one lipstick at a time.