6/29/2015

The Pound Cake Of Earl Grey...Tasty Related, Not Beauty Related

For all my fellow Earl Grey aficionados, here's a tasty post to get you salivating.

I had to do a double-take when I spotted this wondrous creation in the bread section of my local grocer. I've purchased this brand's pound cake before, but was gobsmacked to find they offered it in Earl Grey.

The texture and flavor of this Earl Grey pound cake is AMAZING! I like eating it plain, but my favorite way to devour this pound cake is with a few scoops of vanilla ice cream.

The only downside to this Earl Grey pound cake is, the unease I get, fearing the day when it disappears from the shelf.

6/27/2015

And More Of Addiction's Tokyo Jazz

Finally! I have a moment to myself, my lovely laptop and am now able to post something. For those of you who blog, do you find your anxiety levels rising when you haven't posted in a while?

Look Breakdown:

Face:
Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer.
Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Medium 2 (Santa Fe).
Addiction Blush in Rose Bar 14.
Tokyo Jazz Highlighter (layers over the blush and lightly dusted all over the face).

Eyes:
Shu Uemura Hard Formula Eyebrow Pencil in 02 Seal Brown.

Dior Diorsnow UV Shield BB Eye Creme SPF 20-PA++ in 020.

By Terry Touche Veloutee Highlighting Concealer in 02 Cream (placed on top of the MAC Mineralize Concealer).
MAC Paint Pot in painterly (eyeshadow base).
Addiction Tokyo Jazz Palette:
The stormy, muted grey-plum eye shadow (all over the lid, blended into the crease, and along the lower lashline).
The muted lemony-mustard-chartreuse eye shadow (on the outer corner and blended outward).
The silvery-winter white glitter shadow (patted on the center of the lid and brow bone).
Addiction Eyeliner Pencil in 01 Blackjack (used to tightline and on the waterline).
Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Mystic Blacks Mascara in 01 Mysterious Black.
Lips:
Mac Lip Pencil in Heroine.
Addiction Pure Lipstick in Tokyo Mon Amour 008.

Look Breakdown:

Eyes:
Shu Uemura Hard Formula Eyebrow Pencil in 02 Seal Brown.

Dior Diorsnow UV Shield BB Eye Creme SPF 20-PA++ in 020.

By Terry Touche Veloutee Highlighting Concealer in 02 Cream (placed on top of the MAC Mineralize Concealer).
MAC Paint Pot in painterly (eyeshadow base).
Addiction Tokyo Jazz Palette:
The stormy, muted grey-plum eye shadow (place on one-third of the inner and outer corner, blended into the crease, and along the lower lashline).
The muted lemony-mustard-chartreuse eye shadow (patted on the center lid).
The silvery-winter white glitter shadow (in the inner corner and brow bone).
Addiction Eyeliner Pencil in 01 Blackjack (used to tightline and on the waterline).
Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Mystic Blacks Mascara in 01 Mysterious Black.
Lips:
Addiction Pure Lipstick in Tokyo Mon Amour 008.

6/27/2015

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

Six weeks and one day left in my Addiction giveaway.

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).

6/18/2015

The Private Sale...20% off Giorgio Armani

Great time to cross off those Armani items on your wish list.

6/17/2015

A Private Function...20% off Yves Saint Laurent

Perfect timing! I was able to save 20% off some items I was wanting from YSL's Summer collection.

By the way, I love everything about this promotional image.

Are you eyeing anything from YSL's Summer (or any other) collection?

6/15/2015

I Kissed The Rains...Bath & Body Works' Rainkissed Leaves Shower Gel

After finishing the last bottle of Bath & Body Works' Green Clover and Aloe shower gel, I've been searching for a scent that would come close to replacing the splendidness of this fragrance. L'Occitane's The Vert Green TeaShower Gel was the closest to the scent, but that, too, has been discontinued. And that brings us to June's Shower Gel, Rainkissed Leaves. BBW's

Rainkissed Leaves Shower Gel's fragrance notes are as follows:

Top Notes: Fresh Cut Grass, Morning Dew, Summer Rain, Crushed Green Leaves, Sparkling Grapefruit.

Mid Notes: Lush Muguet, Bright Peony, Crisp Watercress, Pink Jasmine.

Dry Notes: Musk Captive, Super Hedione (I always read Super Heroes), Fresh Transparent Woods.

BBW's Rainkissed Leaves has a refreshing, crisp, "grass after a Summer's rain" with a faint floral fragrance. I love grassy scents during the transitional period of Spring to Summer. I've been relishing in the aroma so much that, we're half way through June, and I've used up three-fourth of the bottle already (with Aki's help, of course). And, although not an exact dupe (never liked that work) for my cherished Green Clover and Aloe, I do fancy Rainkissed Leave's calming, clean, succulent fresh greenery scent.

Bath & Body Works' Rainkissed Leaves Shower Gel is an online exclusive scent and retails for $11.00; but, with the semi-annual sale underway, it's on sale now for $4.00.

6/14/2015

All that Jazz...

Apologies for the lengthy absence, but I've been working six (sometimes seven) days a week and I've had no time to post anything.

With the rain season in full swing, and as I twitted some time ago, I love the contrast of Purple on overcast days. Inspired by the weather, and the bouquet of Iris I received, here are a few looks I wore using the products from Addiction's Tokyo Jazz 2014 holiday set (as well as other products from the brand).

Waste not, want not (more, in my case), the photos of the set were taken months ago.

Out of all the past coffret bags, this is probably the most fetching and useful. The Clutch's man-made material feels durable, and the zipper closure makes for great storage or a cute makeup bag.

Keeping with the brand's sleek, minimalist packaging aesthetic, slightly askewed shape (a detail I appreciate, and adds greatly to the joy of holding), and engraved ADDICTION logo surface, the Tokyo Jazz palette has a beautiful twist with its deep blue-violet cover. Inside the palette you have four eyeshadows and a highlighter; all shades are exclusive to the set. Also included in the set is an eyeliner pencil in 01 Blackjack.

The narcissist within me commends the palette's thoughtfully-sized mirror.

I can never resist any palette with a purple shadow; and that lemony-mustard-chartreuse shadow in the upper corner could not be denied!

Tokyo Jazz Palette eye shadow swatches

From left to right:

A soft, muted lemony-mustard-chartreuse with micro-shimmer and a satin finish.

A warm, silvery-winter white glitter.

A vivid, violet-purple with a matte finish.

A stormy, muted grey-plum with micro-shimmer and a satin finish.

From left to right: 01 Blackjack Eyeliner Pencil, 03 Shikibu Liquid Eyeliner, Tokyo Jazz palette Highlighter, Rose Bar 14 Blush, Tokyo Mon Amour 008 Pure Lipstick.

01 Blackjack Eyeliner Pencil: a matte coal-black.

03 Shikibu Liquid Eyeliner: a blackened-plum.

Tokyo Jazz Palette Highlighter: a semi-matte, pale white-pink.

Rose Bar 14 Blush: a matte, dusty plum-pink.

Tokyo Mon Amour 008 Pure Lipstick: a deep purple-violet.

Look Breakdown:

Eyes:
Shu Uemura Hard Formula Eyebrow Pencil in 02 Seal Brown.

Dior Diorsnow UV Shield BB Eye Creme SPF 20-PA++ in 020.

By Terry Touche Veloutee Highlighting Concealer in 02 Cream (placed on top of the MAC Mineralize Concealer).
MAC Paint Pot in painterly (eyeshadow base).
Addiction Tokyo Jazz Palette:
The matte vivid, violet-purple eye shadow (all over the lid and blended into the crease).
The stormy, muted grey-plum eye shadow (along one-third of lower lashline).
The muted lemony-mustard-chartreuse eye shadow (blended along three-fourth of the lower lashline).
Tokyo Jazz Highlighter (in the inner corner and brow bone).
Addiction Liquid Eyeliner in 03 Shikibu (on the upper lashline).
Addiction Eyeliner Pencil in 01 Blackjack (used to tightline).
Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Mystic Blacks Mascara in 01 Mysterious Black.
Lips:
Addiction Pure Lipstick in Tokyo Mon Amour 008 (applied as a stain).

Look Breakdown:

Eyes:
Shu Uemura Hard Formula Eyebrow Pencil in 02 Seal Brown.

Dior Diorsnow UV Shield BB Eye Creme SPF 20-PA++ in 020.

By Terry Touche Veloutee Highlighting Concealer in 02 Cream (placed on top of the MAC Mineralize Concealer).
MAC Paint Pot in painterly (eyeshadow base).
Addiction Tokyo Jazz Palette:
The matte vivid, violet-purple eye shadow (all over the lid, blended into the crease and along the lower lashline).
The stormy, muted grey-plum eye shadow (blended into the upper lashline).
The silvery-winter white glitter (softly patted on the center of the lid, in the inner corner and brow bone).
Addiction Eyeliner Pencil in 01 Blackjack (used to tightline,and blended into the upper and lower lashline).
Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Mystic Blacks Mascara in 01 Mysterious Black.
D.U.P Eyelashes in 906.
Lips:
MAC Lip Pencil in Stripdown.
Addiction Pure Lipstick in Tokyo Mon Amour 008 (applied as a stain).

After 10 hours of wear.

As much as I love these shades and enjoyed using them, the eyeshadows are not as buttery as their sister shadows in the permanent lineup. Additionally, I found if my lids were having a more than usual dry spell or if they were not primed, the matte violet-purple shadow would apply patchy. When I saw the highlighter, the first thing that came to mind was that it would look chalky on my normal/dry skin; surprisingly, it didn't and once applied, the micro-shimmers seemed to disappear, leaving a nice brightening effect. The eyeliner pencil, in Blackjack, has a creamy consistency that applies and blends well, doesn't budge, and is extremely black; can't ask for anything more.

There are two more Tokyo Jazz looks that I need to upload, but the man is pressing me to help him with something. So, if I have time, they'll be up tonight or tomorrow.

5/30/2015

Smoke On The Polish...Addiction Deep Purple Nail Polish

Total fail on the photo of the bottle above. I just couldn't capture the magical shade in this bottle.

Wowzers! It's been over a year since I posted an actual Addiction product on the blog...Shame on me!

Addiction's nail polishes are some of my favorite lacquers on the market. The colors are gorgeous, they wear extremely well, and they are INSANELY glossy.

Deep Purple 040 is a jaw-dropping, royal purple with amethyst and violet micro-shimmer, and equally stunning iridescent flashes of violet-pink and russet-orange-cooper. Golly (bringing that word back), such a remarkably beautiful shade; how can you not fall in love with it?! And, can you see how absurdly shiny Deep Purple is? I'm not even wearing a top coat, and my nails have this "buffed and waxed showroom car" shine. Deep Purple is so shiny that my camera was having a hard time focusing.

Without a doubt, Deep Purple is one of my favorite shades in my entire collection.

5/27/2015

20% Off Lancome Friends & Family

Has anyone seen/swatched the Lancome French Paradise The Blue Coral Summer 2015 Collection?
If so (or not), what are your thoughts? I was thinking of purchasing a few items from the collection, and Lancome has now given me a 20% incentive.

5/26/2015

Pinwheel, pinwheel spinning around...Guerlain Poudre De Soie Illuminating Powder Silk Shimmer

I have a affinity for a number of things, and pinwheels are a definite fascination; they remind me of my youthful Summers in Chicago as well as one of my favorite childhood tv shows of the same name (and if you watched Pinwheel, you're awesome!). Moreover, I'm enamored by their imagery and symbolism in Japanese anime and art. Pinwheels evoke a flurry of emotions of being charmingly delicate and jubilantly whimsical, and yet, they conjure up this sorrowful, melancholic, haunting adolescent beauty; but hey, that's just how my skewed mind works.

So, I just about rocketed off the sofa when I saw the piece de resistance from Guerlain's Blanc de Perle Spring 2015 Collection, the Poudre De Soie Illuminating Powder Silk Shimmer on Isetan's online store; a visual masterpiece of a illuminating powder, this was one highlighter I just couldn't refuse!

I found the choice of packaging odd and unfitting of the artistry of the enclosed product. The semi-pearled, extremely pale ballet-pink, plastic casing feels a little cheap, and lacks weight. It reminds me of Mary Kay packaging from the 1970's.

Let's take a moment to admire the heart-stirring work of art that is the Poudre De Soie Illuminating Powder Silk Shimmer.

The only plus side to the packaging is the case's childproof-fashioned, twist off lid and base grooved-ring, locking mechanism. The mechanism's snapping sound secures your investment from any unwanted topless incidents.

Guerlain's Poudre De Soie Illuminating Powder Silk Shimmer has an intricate, Japanese-inspired origami pinwheel center, with a traditional Seigaiha-patterned background...extraordinary, isn't it!

Poudre De Soie is a peachy-rose gold with microscopic shimmer. The color is fairly neutral and would be flattering on most skin tones. Befitting it's name, the silk shimmer has a finely-milled, silky smooth texture that melds magically onto the skin. The finish is not frosty nor shiny, but has this wonderful iridescent, luminous glow. I've used this illuminating powder dusted all over my face and as a highlighter, and I'm smitten with both results; just make sure to use a soft fluffy brush or a fan brush when applying all over the face. Finally, the Poudre De Soie is unscented, which saddened me, because I love Guerlain's trademark violet-scent.

Guerlain's Poudre De Soie Illuminating Powder Silk Shimmer Contains 10g / 0.35 oz and retailed for 8,424 yen. I don't remember if this was released outside of Asia, but if not, hopefully it will make its way to your shores one day.

Extra Pinwheels pictures below.

Aki and I circa 2009. I made the pinwheel in the photo above. Also, I'm not sure if you can tell, but my hair is an eggplant purple; may go back to that color in Fall.

I took this photo last Tuesday when I was in Harajuku. I believe this is the Tommy Hilfiger store; I parked in front of it, for some time, just watching the three larger pinwheels in the center move. It didn't cross my mind to take a video of the window display until I was on the train home...d'oh!