Shu On Halloween

An easy solution to a scary Halloween:  Colored contacts, defining & contouring facial features, and a quick sexy over the eye hand-drawn art.  And of course a pair of fabulous Shu lashes!




Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), youtube.com

Aloha And Sun Protection

Aloha! I am loving Hawaii and even more now that jet lag seems like a distant memory. It is sunny here and when it rains, it only seems to last for 10 minutes. And oh boy is sunscreen a necessity but makeup no longer one.

I have 4 different bottles of sunscreen on hand and when used appropriately, they seem to be keeping me well protected. For example, my tiny liquidy bottle of La Roche Posay Spf 30 is managing to withstand 12-o'clock sunshine and sweat without that greesy feeling. Unfortunately, it somehow messes with my mineral foundation. The Sofina Lucent Spf 50+ is a liiiiight protector which doubles as an Excellent liquid or powder foundation primer. The thing about these two sunscreens is that you must remove them completely or they could lead to clogged pores. I discovered the Banana Boat sunscreens here in Hawaii and have fallen in love with their Ultra Defense line. This stuff applies very light and is absorbed by the skin in no time. And for sun protection touch-ups on the go, I love those mists from Neutrogena's Fresh Cooling line.

Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), picture of the beautiful Waikiki Beach from waikikibeachoutreach.com

New Campaign Images H & M Cosmetics

Thought you might like to see some fresh new campaign images from H & M's cosmetics line. They are always priced right and have a fun vibe. Maybe they will be a source of inspiration for your New Years do?

DAY LOOK

I have both the eyeshadow palette (6.90 eur) and the blusher (4.90 eur) above. Both items are well worth the price and are easy-to-use colors that I reach for more often as I would like to admit.

NIGHT LOOK

Wow! Those eyes are so exotic.

HELLO KITTY

Hello Kitty craze is in H&M stores now and will be with MAC cosmetics in February 2009.

Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), hm.com

Travel & Skincare

Looking at my stash of skincare products, I realized that most of the items are from Japanese or French companies. It is not that I discriminate because I do equally enjoy products from Burt's Bees (started 1984 in Maine), MAC (1985 in Ontario), Neutrogena (1930 in Los Angeles, not in Norway!), and many more. But since Japanese skincare products tend to be light and hydrating, and, French ones tend to be rich and nourishing, it is simple to address different needs of my skin during different times of the year.

I love to take a moment to relax on the couch or lay down for a moment with a facial treatment. I know that I look silly when I do this twice weekly (BFOG tells me so), but I treasure this time to unwind and feel happy that I am feeding my facial skin.

When I get the chance to travel, I opt to bring products that have smart packaging (spillproof, one-time use and not bulky). For my visit in Switzerland, I packed my bags with these hydrating eye patches from Biore. They are very handy because a box comes with 6 packets each containing a pair of patches. They peel back to reveal a sticky gelatine-like side and the patches are shaped to fit the contour of the eyes as well.

Once placed around the eyes the gel patches feel cooling and refreshing on the undereye area. I believe that the patches are even suitable to be worn overnight. I have tested both leaving the patches on for about 20 minutes, and overnight; both yielded the same results. There is no detectable scent to the patches and once removed, they left the undereye area smoother and softer; though the result did not last. Now I have tried many eye patch treatments from different companies. While I do like them for travelling, I generally prefer creamy treatments at home because I feel that the ingredients penetrate better. To sum up, these are pretty good. They are cheaper than others I have tried (such as Chanel or Clinique) and, are equally good.

A Review of Another Biore Product

The Beauty Bowl 2008


Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use)

Mark Your Calendar- Comme des Garcons @ H&M

In stores November 13th. Comme des Garcons has collaborated with H&M to make their fashion concepts accessible to those of us who normally cannot afford the pleasure of their pieces. Don't expect current trends as you fight your way into the H&M store come the 13th. Comme des Garcons has a unique flare all of their own. The mix of their signature pieces, different fabric and pocket placements, polka dots and intelligent tailoring will make this collection one of the most saught after @ H&M.

I am especially psyched about the polka dots pieces, their men's collection and am immensely curious about their perfume.













Credit: Grayburn (Terms of Use), hm.com

Grooming For Sickies

Woah! I have really been caught in a whirlwind of activities this past week (I was at the Amsterdam International Fashion Week & played bridesmaid at a wedding) and my house currently looks as if the Tasmanian devil had run through it! But the week was so much fun, even if I was sick the whole time.

Being that I had to attend those events meant that I had to look presentable. The key to grooming or beauti-fy-ing ourselves when we are sick is to use products that counteract common "sickie" issues such as flaky or sallow skin, as well as products that deliver results quickly. Forget about spending forever in front of the mirror!

Here are a few tips & products that helped to get me through the week:

A Hair Dryer With Extras

One that helps to dry hair quickly and gently is a god-send for a sickie. T3 hair dryers are actually infused with tourmaline which emit effective negative ions. For me, that translated to smoother and quicker results, which meant I was able to sleep in a little longer in the morning. Since I have the overnight travel version, it goes with me when I travel.

Double-Duties

My week's blush of choice is from Tarte. My shade is called "tipsy" and it is a solid cheek stain. I love it because it doubles as a blusher and a lip stain in one go!

Worn over foundation (pat on with a synthetic foundation brush), then set with a dusting of powder, this stuff lasts and looks naturally glowy. This went on the road well with me at Fashion week and it smells like divine bellinis! (I hear that Selma Hayek likes them as well).

Got mine at: Sephora Toronto

Creamy Coverage

A common problem when one is sick is flaky and/or sensitized skin. I could not be bothered with exfoliating my face as it takes too much effort, as well as it would have hurt too much on my sniffly nose.

A creamy foundation answers my call in this case and produces dewy skin that powdery makeup cannot. Because they are usually thicker in consistency, they conceal redness well; without emphasizing flakes. This one from Shiseido went with me to the catwalk shows.

Got mine at: DA Amsterdam

Easy Does It

A quick way to groomed eyebrows is by using a tinted eyebrow gel. Since they are usually quite sheer, application without a mirror is possible and easy. The one I have from Miss Helen kept my brows in place all day and lent just enough definition to my face; perfect for summer!

Got mine at: Hema Amsterdam


Extra tip:

Try to stay away from grays or fleshy pinks as these colors bring out the redness in our eyes we may have when feeling ill; making us look even more tired.

Bourjois Cosmetics - Japanese Version

Last week I talked a little about Bourjois' website in Russian and their upcoming new line of eyeshadows. But there is something really special about Bourjois' Japanese version of their website. I often prefer to view the makeup looks and pictures from there, rather than the ones written in English because it takes a slightly different perspective. One will find plenty of interesting information such as Bourjois news and history.

Collection Cosmic

The shimmer in these remind me of one of my favorite lipglosses; the Chanel Lèvres Scintillantes Chanel Glossimer (I wrote about it here). It doesn't surprise me since Bourjois is the sister line of Chanel. The predominant favorite shade for lips in Japan has to be pink. Since pinks are very popular there, I can see these ones doing very well; especially shade #29 Rose Charismatic and #39 Rose Utopic.

Alesha Dixon who won the competition on UK's tv programme "Strictly Come Dancing", is seen here endorsing the mini Bourjois.

Bourjois' Company History Page
You can find a bit of Bourjois' history (see picture above) as a cosmetics company since 1863. The ad from this time showcased a makeup set which resembled a pencil case holding all the crayola-like makeup essentials.

Credits: bourjois.jp

Bioré - Past & Present

I remember the time when I was first introduced to a Japanese brand of personal care products called Bioré. What was special was that Bioré's products were readily available in drug stores but their products had a complete different concept. One of the products that Bioré was well-known for was their pore strips. They were bandage-like patches shaped to fit on top of our nose or forehead, and were activated by moistening the skin with water before attaching them. Their purpose was to remove blackheads and more when the patch was peeled off. Sounds painful...YES it was! But I remember being obsessed with them and not listening to my facialist's words of warming. She even threatened to cancel our future appointments.

As fate would have it, I recently received the wrong product in the mail. Low and behold, it was another pore -clearing product from Bioré. A vivid image of my angry facialist popped into my mind. From what I could gather on the little box with Japanese writing, this product was made to dissolve dirt in our pores with its self-heating mechanism. The pore-cloggers would thus be easily carried off because they were softened with heat and then rinsed off with water.

My experience with this product was that it smells slightly artificial like plastic. The texture of it was a thick paste and it dried matte. The result was not drastic, however, upon inspection in my 10x mirror. The only improvement that I noticed was that my pores looked more refined.

Credits: Grayburn

Shiseido Maquillage Eyebrow Fiber IN

This humble little container from Shiseido's Maquillage line holds a fiber gel/cream that promises fuller, cleaner-looking eyebrows. The tinted formula provides natural color to finish off carefully defined brows, or can be worn alone to provide a hint of color.

Where this product falls short is its overly 'wet' formulation. You know as well as I do that when either mascaras or liquid eye-liners are too wet, clumps happen and application tends to be hard to control. Another no-no is that the product has a tendency to flake off, leaving white flakes on the face. To add to the insult, it is not powerful enough to hold brows in shape all day.

I love quite a few products from Shiseido, and her sister lines. However, I am sorry to say that this particular one falls short of my expectations.


Now I need to find a new eyebrow gel that has good holding power and a polished finish. Any recs?


Credits: Grayburn

On Board Beauty

I have arrived in Toronto! My readers are so smart - Kyle and The seeker have both guessed my destination correctly!

The flight went pretty smooth and I enjoyed catching up on a few movies and tv shows. The thing that I love most about traveling is not only that I get to experience a new and different environment/culture, but that I get to pack. Something about packing my luggage really soothes me. I love getting everything organized and planning out all the beauty/cosmetics/outfits I will be needing. There is also an immense sense of satisfaction at the end of the trip, when everything went according to plan.

I believe that even if I am just sitting on a plane, I should still pamper myself. The skin lotions that they provide in flight always smell like dated perfume and are not at all moisturizing. With the dry cabin air, one really needs to bring good quality products and they all have to fit inside a little plastic zip-lock bag and be under 100ml, if they are liquids or gels. Now these are the kinds of challenges that I like!

Here's a list of the simple yet effective products that I packed with me:

In the Zip-lock bag -
1. L'Occitane Visage Eau Essentielle Immortelle Biologique (30 ml) - spray the face frequently to refresh, hydrate and indulge in the scent.

2. Tears Naturale II (15ml) - eye drops to ease dry eyes.

3. L'Occitane Elixir A L'huile Essentielle D'immortelle Biologique (5ml) - patted on my skin after I've sprayed my skin with #1, as soon as we are in the air.

4. Labello SOS lip balm (10nl) - really softens and hydrates. It stays on until I wipe it off before a meal.

5. Decleor Aromessence Baume De Nuit Rose D'Orient (2.5ml) - Extra care when I want more nourishment and protection from cabin air.

6. L'Occitane Creme Ultra Riche (8ml) - It has a comforting scent and the cream is thick yet non-greasy to treat my hands.

7. Cargo Lip Gloss Duo in Kan Kan - A huge tin containing beautifully coordinated colors for adding a natural-looking gloss to the lips. The one I brought with me has a beautiful shimmery brown with gold specks and a beige/pink with silver specks. I apply the darker shade on my top lips and the lighter shade to the bottom. I know that Cargo's glosses are faved by Madonna!

In my makeup bag -
1. Versace Powder Compact - This comes with a real hair brush that fits in the bottom compartment of the compact and the brush is wide enough to cover the face.

2. Shiseido Paper Powder sheets - Absorbs oilies and prepares my face for makeup which I apply before landing.

3. MAC Eye Kohl in Powersurge - With a great consistency and a great shade for a natural look but with a slight twist!

4. Shiseido Majolica Majorca Brow Customize Sword Cut - I cannot express how much I love this brow crayon. It's portable, it has a texture that glides and the angle-cut gives great precision for my brows.

5, 6, 7.... Hair brush, toothbrush, mints, gummy bears, Blax Snag-free elastics in transparent etc.....

I'm really interested to hear what you bring with you when you fly. Feel free to share with us.


Credits: style.com

Climax Lasting Gel UV Foundation

This foundation from Shiseido's Maquillage line is designed to be worn during Spring and Summer time. I have yet to try this foundation, but feel the need to write about it as I am intrigued by its name. Maybe it should read 'Climate', rather than 'Climax'? Sex sells. If this foundation has the ability to last through em...., you know, then I'm pretty sure that it will sell!

Reading through reviews from people who have tried it, they suggest that it has quite a dry finish. This Climax Lasting line also includes other items such as the compact foundation and a makeup base.

Credits: Shiseido

Product Focus: Majolica Majorca Brow Customize In Sword Cut

Those of you who may have read my post about the importance of having well-groomed eyebrows in "The Beautiful Brow", might have detected my underlying love/obsession for great products designed for the eyebrows. On days when I want to make-believe that I'm not wearing any makeup, I secretly always have my eyebrows done!


In that post, I realized that I had only mentioned one of my favorite eyebrow crayon but did not formally introduce you to it. Meet Majolica Majorca's (MM) Brow Customize in Sword Cut. Out of all of the different styles available from MM (i.e. sword cut, super slim & powder), my favorite has got to be the sword version. It features a slanted automatic tip which requires no sharpening and the formula is the right consistency (not too soft, creamy, dry or stiff) to fill in the brows easily and naturally. The eyebrow crayon refill is sold separately from the holder (which has a spool on the other end, see picture), which I think is an added bonus. Since MM is a Japanese brand under its big sister, Shiseido, the shades available are unfortunately only suitable for those with medium-red to light-black hair.

Now, the reason that I am telling you this is because I have recently become friends with a makeup artist, who is not shy about giving me makeup advice. I actually do really enjoy constructive criticisms. We were having drinks at a posh bar, when my friend suggested that I darken my eyebrows. So, because of him, I have now moved onto the darkest of the available MM shades (in BB680).

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SHARE YOUR OPINION:
What is your favorite eyebrow product (please reference your hair color!)?
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Since MM is not widely available outside of Asia, those of you (and me) who are interested in this product can find it on many online webshops. The holder plus the refill cost me about 10 euros, shipping included.


Credits: Grayburn

How To Use Imju Fiberwig Mascara?

Emails have come through my inbox from both haters and lovers of Imju Fiberwig Mascara. Some rave about the length that they get from using Imju, while others diplomatically rant about the difficulty they have with it. I am a lover of this durable, lash-lengthening mascara and here is how I use it:

1. Apply a mascara base to curled lashes (my personal favorite mascara base is Kanebo's Kate Mascara Base).

2. Apply a thick enough layer of Imju Fiberwig to cover up the mascara base. Let dry.

3. Build length on your lashes by applying Imju Fiberwig to the tips of your lashes over and over again. By concentrating only on the tips of your lashes, you are building length by attaching the fibers there. Alternate between your left and your right eye until the desired length is achieved.


It is scary how much length this mascara gives. At times I have to 'snap' off the extra length because they are just too long. No clumps, just long lashes that blow in the wind!


Credit: imju.com

Pink Dejavu Fiberwig Mascara - Special Edition

LE Alert!

For all of us who are Dejavu Fiberwig Mascara lovers, a limited edition has been spotted on Plaza Style in new packaging. These are so far only available in Japan but may soon start to float around Ebay, I should think. If you spot this limited edition item in your part of the world, drop a line here and let us know!


Credits: plazastyle.com

My Favorite Mascara has a Partner

I stopped my search for my ultimate mascara last year when I found the Imju (it's called Dejavu in the US) Fiberwig Mascara. Now you must have heard me talk about this mascara many times. So I won't bore you with more details about how wonderful it is.

The smaller mascara that you see here next to my Fiberwig is it's cuter partner called "Tiny Sniper". The smaller brush and its bent shape allows easier application of mascara to lower lashes. It lessens the risk of me poking my eyes out or accidentally smearing mascara on my lower lids. It is definitely alot easier to work with because of the angled narrow brush. Just like its bigger sister though, the "tiny sniper" is made with the same genius formula that I have found to be totally element-proof. For me, element-proof means that it withstands outdoor activities in cold and warm weather (i.e. shopping on a crowded Saturday afternoon) and indoors as well (i.e. discotheque, and exercising). I will bring them both for a swim this summer when I hit the beaches!

T'Estimo Grande Shine Eyes - A Palette to Remember

Cosmetic companies are starting to understand and realize consumers are pickier and know what we want. We want convenience and portability without sacrificing anything on the aesthetics. Products should deliver results fast and without alot of fuss!

Look at this beautiful eye shadow compact from T'Estimo (a line from Kanebo) for example. It comes with everything we need for eye makeup application. It even comes with instructions on application (see picture below) conveniently on a transparent piece of plastic. The plastic fits on top of each section to illustrate their application. The compact itself is silver and light purple with a latch that clicks when shutting.

I got the compact in 01, which is beautifully shimmery (without grittiness), as well as suitable for a natural everyday look.

Numbers on the application sheet:

1 - (pale cream) this one is an eye shadow base. It gives something for the shadows and liners to adhere to and helps them stay put longer.

2 - (pale pink with shimmer) this is applied next, to areas of the eye you would like to highlight. Most of the time, this is applied above the lashline up to the crease.

3 - (chocolate cream with shimmer) this is applied into the crease to give our eyes more depth. It can also be used on the lower lashline.

4 - (deep brown) this is a cream eye liner which can be used on the upper and lower lashline.

Brilliant right? There is no more juggling with different jars and applicators of bases, shadows or liners. To top all of this off, the compact comes with pretty good quality brushes. Eventhough I personally don't use sponge eye shadow applicators, the fine-tip eye liner brush in this compact is one of the best I've used.

Now I want to hear from you what you favorite shade of eye shadow is and which one(s) are you wearing today?


Credit: Grayburn

My Week with Sofina (the cleansing oil)

If you have followed my struggle of finding an alternative to my beloved Shu Cleansing Oil, you would know that it hasn't been an easy one. The story of my struggles can be found here in 3 parts:

Do I Stick With My Shu?

Looking back - My Years with Shu (the incredible cleansing oil)

Dilemna over Facial Cleanser

So now here we are folks, it has been almost a week since I started using the Sofina's Cleanse Make Clear Oil. It is quite a lovely cleansing oil and quite similar to the one from Shu. Sofina's texture is a little bit thinner and it smells like delicate flowers. It's makeup-removal ability matches that of Shu's.

After my weeks of experimenting, I am back with the cleanser of my life. For me, Shu is decidely the best there is out there. There are good reasons why I've been with my Shu cleanser for many years. It does exactly what it promises and it never disappoints. Shu will always be my first serious cleanser and I shall never stray again.

Dilemna over Facial Cleanser

...........the next chapter on my dilemma over facial cleanser

So it has been almost a week that I have been experimenting with the other cleanser. If you've missed the first two parts of the story, the first and the second are available here.

Yes ladies, I'm officially two-timing!

The new cleanser's name is Softymo Oil Cleansing Gel (aka SOCG). It comes in a large orange squeeze-tube. The texture of the cleansing liquid is something between a thick gel and an oil (exactly as the name implies). When spread on the face, it feels first like vanilla pudding then it turns into an oil after massaging it in. What I love about oil-based cleansers is that I can indulge in a daily dose of facial massage. Contrary to what everyone thinks, oil cleansers are not at all oily, after it has been rinsed off. I have heard quite a few miracle stories of how it helped alot of women with acne-prone skin, as well as ladies with dryer skin types.

This one isn't the one however. It left my skin moist because it left behind a film on my skin. Eventhough a toner following the wash fixed that easily, clinginess is not a good characteristic unless we're talking about dresses or suits. Although my skin looked more luminous after one wash, it actually took two washes with SOCG to remove my waterproof mascara. I will reserve this for days when I am not wearing much makeup.

In the meantime, I still have another (Sofina Cleanse Make Clear Oil) waiting for me to try on.

My experiment continues.......

Kose Astalution -More Power in Skincare

This orange bottle holds a liquid containing Astaxanthink extract. An extract that has been shown to have 150x the antioxidative properties over the trusty vitamin E. This extract, a carotenoid from the carotene family (oh yes carrots! and other things such as salmon and some forms of yeast), may be able to prevent oxidative damage when our skin is exposed to UVA.

The formula itself is light (runny liquid) yet very hydrating because it has an impressive list of water binding ingredients as well as hyaluronic acid (which temporarily plumps the skin with moisture). Do be careful though as this runny liquid really is quite orange in color.

I have experienced no stinging or irritation whatsoever with this essence. My skin feels boosted with moisture and I am also happy with easier makeup application because it smooths my skin.

Kose's excellent line of products can be seen on their website.

Adding Antioxidants To Your Shower

Karin Herzog's Chocolate Therapy - Body Happiness

Kanebo Kate Gel Eyeliner - Another thing that is Going into My Purse

A creamy eyeliner from Kanebo's more rebellious sister line "Kate", comes in color choices of shiny black, black, shiny purple, purple and brown.

Kanebo calls this a gel eyeliner but it really has creamy consistency. It comes packaged with a good quality square tip eyeliner brush, but I personally prefer a finer tip. The texture lacks slipperiness so it doesn't glide on as easily as I would like. However, I find that it does a very good job at filling in brows because of its staying power and the dry-cream consistency. The brush and the glass pot duo travels very well as they are small and light. They are certainly going into my purse for my brow touch-ups!

Why I love Kanebo Kate's Mascara Base