Be Stila my heart - Stila Stay All Day® Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Cobalt

So I am about to depart on a flight to Miami shortly but realize that to be a blogger you have to blog so here's a quickie (not THAT kind you perv).

Stila Stay Allday Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner (in cobalt color)

I am on the constant search for that inky, smooth, micro-sharp, waterproof, transfer-proof liquid eyeliner...and haven't really found it (Revlon Colorstay comes close but isn't entirely waterproof even though it says so).

So on a whim I picked Stila's in cobalt (to stick with that summer fun color theme). The results are kinda meh. I have it in black as well and the liner totally transferred to my upper eyelid. Apparently waterproof but not oily eyelid proof. But cobalt is a fun color and the stupid ad totally got me (damn you professional photoshop making that eyeliner micro line look so peeeerfect).

Add caption

So you see my very sloppy application but you get the point (I'm in a freaking hurry here). It has nice color intensity but I had to go over the line about 4-5 times. Also, the felt tip makes it easy to apply but the ink is not very smooth because felt tips don't deposit color consistently and can drag on your skin. Buy a cheapie knockoff instead and save your money for a happy meal.

Pros: very good true-to-label color, easy to apply.
Cons: expensive at $20, doesn't last long at all, you have to redo a few times to get the color intensity shown above, NOT waterproof or anything-proof really.

PSA (Pretty Service Announcement): Where to Buy Asian Makeup and Skincare

Renee's Asian cosmetics haul was from Alhambra/Monterey Park in the Los Angeles area.  But thankfully Asian cosmetics are increasingly available online from international sellers and even in regular American stores and websites. 

First, check out Skin & Tonics' guide on specialized Asian websites and Amazon and eBay sellers that sell Asian cosmetics.  I've also successfully bought from TGIWholesale.  These sellers tend to be generous with random free samples, but shipping from Asia can take 2-4 weeks and be expensive.

Second, the four American stores/websites below carry various Asian brands, which might come as a surprise.  Compared to purchasing from an international seller, they might offer these benefits (of course, it varies by store):

• free returns
• in-store testing
• English ingredients list
• fast/free shipping
• ability to use cashback programs (e.g., Ebates)
• a choice of 3 free samples

Note: Below, I focus on previously hard-to-find brands and brands that are popular in Asia.  For that reason, I don't include brands such as SK-II, Koh Gen Do, and Tatcha, which have been available through department stores and/or are not particularly popular in Asia based on the Asian beauty blogs and YouTube channels I visit.

1. Sephora.  Sephora carries the Korean brands AmorePacific and Dr.Jart+ (in store and online).

AmorePacific is a high-end brand emphasizing skincare; even its makeup products incorporate skincare benefits.  I've purchased its Color Control Cushion Compact (review coming; it's good).  Trivia: AmorePacific is one brand among many owned by AmorePacific Corporation; the others include HERA, Sulwhasoo, IOPE, Innisfree, Etude House, and Laneige and span various price points and demographics.  Because these brands all fall under the same umbrella, you'll notice similar trends and technology used across these brands, such as cushion compacts.

 

 

Dr.Jart+ is well known for BB creams and skincare.  I've tried a couple of the BB creams and, while they fall on the medium beige spectrum (when I'm typically fairer than that), the texture is comfortable and easy to blend.

2. Target.  As of this year, Target carries Laneige (in store and online).

Target carries many of Laneige's skincare offerings but not the makeup (other than the BB Cushion that I'm fond of (review coming)).  It does carry the Water Sleeping Mask that Renee reviewed.  In store, you must look carefully for the Laneige section.  Unlike, say, Sonia Kashuk and NYX, Laneige doesn't have its own signage and 1/2 of an aisle.  Look out for its white and light blue packaging among one of the lower shelves or on one of the endcaps.

 

3.  Beauty.com.  Beauty.com includes Anna Sui, Baby Foot, Dr.Ci:Labo, and Paul & Joe.  Beauty.com in general is great; it's like an underrated online-only Sephora and offers a 20%-off sale a couple of times a year.

Anna Sui and Paul & Joe are not Asian brands per se (Anna Sui is American, Paul & Joe is French), but their popularity in Japan exceeds that in America.  Mostly their makeup products are offered on Beauty.com.

Baby Foot originated in Japan and is grosser than the name implies (it's a full-foot peel intended to cause molting as graphically depicted on its website).

Dr.Ci:Labo is a Japanese skincare company.  Beauty.com carries several of its skincare products and its BB cream.  I just ordered its Super White 377 serum.

4. Drugstore.com.  Although related to Beauty.com (you use the same shopping cart when shopping at both), Drugstore.com has a different return policy so I'm mentioning it separately.  Drugstore.com sells skincare products from Hada Labo, a Japanese company, in its "International Beauty" section.  There's a wide range of products from Hada Labo's original line as well as its more recent Tokyo line.  (Hada Labo's Tokyo line is also available on Ulta.com).

Bonus entry: Walmart for selling Taiwanese My Beauty Diary sheet masks.  I'm not one to encourage anyone to go to Walmart though.

Lastly, check out Musings of a Muse for her regular reviews of various Asian makeup and skincare products (interspersed with American products).  So helpful when you can't see a product in-person before buying.

Happy shopping!

HD Baby One More Time! Makeup Forever HD Foundation Invisible Cover Foundation

While I'm on a roll and shared this site with the Facebook world, I wanted to quickly review Makeup Forever's HD Foundation, the product that everyone wants to yap about.

Here's my non-madeup face. I know it looks like a cat's ass right out of the shower but be patient!

So I'm lucky to have pretty smooth skin with no zitz, scars, or craters. This is from years of dedicated pampering so it's not like I didn't work for it! Just cuz you're born tall doesn't mean you can play in the NBA mmmkay?

Right after this I moisturized and slapped on 1.5 pumps of the Makeup Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation in Shade128 (Almond). I used the unscientific method of applying with my hands, no tools. The salesgirl at Alcone NYC (a profession makeup artist store for stage, film, and special effects makeup) did a swatch test. This was a shade darker than I need, but summer is here so I might as well do the "tan" look. It matched my darker forehead but my cheeks are a shade lighter.

Here are the bottle and swatch on the inner side of my left arm.

And voila, look at that almost flawless face. Slightly more attractive than a cat's ass. NOTE: I did NO PHOTOSHOP on this image. For real, my Photoshop is fking broken, groan. No blur filters, no funny smoothing. There is no makeup here except for the foundation. You can see much more evenness in terms of freckling and redness & other coloration. I don't know why I have random fibers on my face...probably from the cat.

 

 Kitty APPROVES!

Pros: medium coverage that you can build. I don't need additional concealer under this. Very good light refraction which creates evenness and flawless ness in light and on camera. Doesn't rub off as easily as some brands (like YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat which stays on anything my face touches)

Cons: expensive at over $40 per bottle. It sits rather heavily on the face and you can feel it. I don't wear foundation often so I just want to wash it off right away. It doesn't contain any sunblock. 

Tofu Infinity and Beyond! - Moritaya Tofu Yogurt Pack (Tama no Koshi)

On this gorgeous Sunday...also depressing Sunday cuz most of us have to go back to work tomorrow (URGH) I decided to do a cheerer upper by slathering on the Moritaya Tofu Yogurt Pack. Again, in one of my previous posts I said that "pack" is another name for mask. This is something I just understood recently, how provincial of me.

So fermentation is a big deal in Asian cosmetics. We (not Angela and I,  but the Asian cosmetics folks) handpick and ferment stuff in barrels like they are nice fine wine. And of course what better example of fermentation than tofu? Through the coagulation process, salts, enzymes, and good acids are added so perhaps these can aid in making your skin glow like a shiny silken piece of white tofu...?

The container is so deliciously cute that I didn't mind the $27 price tag (for 4.8 ounces of mask! Compare this to brand-name Kiehl's which is $25 for 5 oz jar). And the texture...oh the lovely white, creamy-yet-jiggly texture made me wanna slap copious amounts on my face right there in the aisle.

Here's the container

 

Don't you just wanna put this mask on? It looks good enough to eat!

After 5-10 minutes you wash it off with water. I use a bit of foam cleanser and rub vigorously because this stuff clings. It also leaves a very very slight sort of smoothing film (like how your hair is super slick after hair conditioner rinse out) on the face which I don't mind. It leaves skin extremely soft and almost fluffy to the touch. It is absolutely SILKEN. Now this effect is temporary and I don't notice any drastic "brightening" effect, maybe a little. Then again, I don't expect masks or any sole skin care product to perform miracles. It's definitely a nice splurge and a fun way to spend 5-10 minutes on a lazy afternoon.

Pros: Lovely packaging, The silken cream texture just makes me feel like it's nutritious for my skin. Super natural ingredients (listed below). It's very cooling on the skin (I put it in the refrigerator since it has natural ingredients that could spoil. This has the added benefit of making it nice and cold for summer days). Silkening effect on the skin.

Cons: It doesn't do a whole lot in terms of whitening/brightening. But for such a gentle mask, I didn't expect it to. Definitely nice and natural for sensitive skin*. It's expensive at $27 for such a small container (granted you don't use a LOT at once). You can get it for $15 if you're in Japan.

*Sensitive skin is a term oft-used by many, sort of like saying you can only eat gluten-free. I guess nobody wants to see themselves as having INSENSITIVE skin but it's a narrowly defined term which over 50% of the population of women misuse. Sensitive skin doesn't mean being extra oily or breaking out or getting craters often; that's just bad luck. I have angry measles-like RASHES that multiply like plague colonies if I touch anything with sunblock, or arbutin, or any of the 21 ingredients often used in makeup that is on my allergy list. So STFU fake sensitive skin people. OK done ranting.

Ingredient List: Water, rice bran oil, glycerin, hydrogenated brassica napus alcohol, pentylene glycol, caprylic/capric trigyceride, stearic acid, polyglyceryl-2 disostearate, dipotassium, glycyrrhizate, phenoxyethanol, carbomer, potssium hydroxide, tocopherol, hydrogenated lecithin, honey, soymilk ferment filtrate, lactoferrin, perilla extract, butylene glycol, soybean seed extract, natto gum, yogurt filtrate, royal jelly extract, titanium dioxide, silica, alumina, squalane, dextrin palitate, carrot root extract, alcohol, fragrance

Angela in Wonderland: Dior Addict Fluid Stick in 575 Wonderland

Dior Wonderland, that is.  Dior's latest lip product is the Dior Addict Fluid Stick, a glossy stain with pigmentation buildable to the equivalent of a lipstick. 

I have the color Wonderland (575), a warm and bright pink-red.  It's definitely a look-at-me shade.  Because it sticks around (ha, see what I did there)--fading evenly to a soft, satiny stain after 2-3 hours--I like this for a bright or deep lip that's low maintenance once it's on.  On the lips, it feels like a smooth, cushiony, and thick lip gloss and gets tacky over time.

 

Now there are some high-maintenance aspects to this.  First, when applying, it's hard to apply an even layer along the lipline using the doe-foot applicator.  I recommend using your finger to smooth out the color along the lipline.  Just remember to wash your hands because that stuff gets everywhere.  Second, spend the first 5 minutes after application wiping excess off your teeth and checking the mirror obsessively.  After that, you're good to go for several hours.  Note that it's definitely a gloss: it never dries down, so beware of eating, drinking, and wind.

Here I'm wearing one coat, which actually looks brighter in real life:

And here I'm wearing two coats for maximum impact:

 

Speaking of wonderland, here is my current favorite thing in wonderland . . . Choo Choo Cat!

Snow Water & Sleeping Beauty - Laneige Snow Water Sleeping Pack_EX

So on my cross-country flight back from LAX-JFK, I merrily dove into experimentation with Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_EX. I had seen this advertised in Asian malls and supermarkets before but the name never stirred excitement until now. Phoebe from Image Cosmetics (inside that Asian plaza on 500 N. Atlantic) said it is awesome, and I tend to believe and like her as a salesgirl. For those unfamiliar, the term “pack” means a mask. Not all masks are made alike. Some are wash-off, some are peel-off, some are actually leave-in moisturizers. Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_EX is pretty much a light moisturizer made to be left on overnight.

It has over a thousand reviews on Amazon at 4.5 stars. This is a significant achievement for a beauty product due to the vast degree of variance between different people’s skin. Also, bad skin can be like obesity. Few products will cure it completely and the afflicted have a tendency to blame their troubles on anything they try, unless it delivers a miracle like the birth of Jesus.

So I had the luck & pleasure of spreading out across three plane seats with my Squadew mist and Laneige jar. I washed off all makeup, sunblock, and moisturizer before misting with Squadew and applying the Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_EX. 

The verdict? Skin is extremely smooth and it has an overall firming effect. However, it is…not as moisturizing as I’d hoped for an airplane ride. The altitude and the extreme drying effect of cabin air has countered the awesome snow water sleeping beauty effects. So I applied it again after three hours. Soaked up fast, firming and smooth, still not as moisturizing.

Now…I had put the Laneige on last night as the last step before my regimen and my skin had the best feeling EVER. My skin was supple, soft, smooth but firm, and NO OILY T-ZONE which I’d gotten every morning since I hit puberty. I also have tiny (barely noticeable) bumps along my jaw line; a condition known as keratosis pilaris which is caused by genetics. The bumps shrunk to imperceptible size in the morning.

So I am convinced that this should the last step as a “sealer” after the other lengthy layering steps. If you have oily skin this is a nice light hydrator for summer. But for combination skin and for the winter, it won’t be enough. These were the steps last night:

1.       History of Whoo oil cleanser

2.       Skinmedica Foaming ABA/HBA exfoliating cleanser

3.       Moritaya Yogurt Mask

4.       Skinmedica Lytera lightening cream (I’d been trying to get rid of freckles for years and this was prescribed by the dermatologist)

5.       History of Whoo toner

6.       History of Whoo balancer

7.       History of Whoo lotion

8.       History of Whoo eye cream

9.       Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_EX

Pros: Great for oily T-Zones. It has no oil in the ingredients and no allergens I know of for my skin. Beautiful softening, firming, smoothing effects that all moisturizers strive for. Cheap at $23 compared to my other cosmetics.

Cons: Not all-in-one solution for night time moisturizing or for those who need a little extra help with dry skin. The product is in a scoop-out jar set up which can harbor bacteria (but I like being able to clean out the product to the last drop).

Ps: this is an obvious suggestion, but gel masks and leave-in moisturizing masks are great for long flights which cause oily T-zone and dry skin. I also pack a small face mist (like Squadew or any softener from SANA) to hydrate and refresh. A couple of sprays can make your transcontinental coach seat feel like an express spa.

P.s: behold (most, but not all) of my haul from the California Asian cosmetics mecca known was Alhambra/Monterey Park area.

My Lips from the Star (Using Laneige Serum Intense Lipstick in LR07 Love Me Pink and Tony Moly Tint in Cherry Pink)

While Renee works her way through the animal kingdom, let me share some lip looks that I'm drawn to lately.

I was briefly am still obsessed with the Korean drama "My Love from the Star" (also known as "My Love from Another Star" and free on Hulu and DramaFever).

Story aside, I loved taking in the characters' makeup looks.  Cheon Song-Yi, Korea's sweetheart, sported full-on bright lips in a rainbow of feminine colors: cherry red, deep red, orange, hot pink, violet pink, coral pink, . . . gawgeous.  Her best friend/proverbial bridesmaid, Yoo Se-Mi, sported the very-popular-in-Korea gradient lip, usually in orange or peach tones.

Here I show you three different lip looks inspired by "My Love from the Star" and all those beautiful Korean stars with hateably glowy and clear skin.

*Note: Today was overcast so all of the photos came out dull and cool-toned.  I edited them to try to show the true color, but I don't think I captured the brightness and richness of the colors. 

1. Over lightly moisturized lips, pat on a suuuuper light layer of foundation (I used a BB cushion).  Stop here if you like corpse lips.

2. Apply a bright color in a "rosebud" shape to just the inner lips: two petals on the top lip and one wide swipe on the bottom.  I'm using Laneige Serum Intense Lipstick in LR07 Love Me Pink, a clean bright pink without venturing into fuchsia territory.

 

3. Blend towards the edges with a fingertip.  The edges should remain color free.  Ta-da!  You have a skin-to-color gradient lip like Yoo Se-Mi (Look 1).  This look is meant to make your lips look smaller and cute and dainty.

 

4. But as my friend says, I've got a lot of lip real estate.  And I like to take advantage of that.  So for the next look, apply the lipstick all over, straight from the tube.  Et voilà!  You have Cheon Song-Yi's look, pouting at Do Min-joon (Look 2).

5. The next look is a light-to-dark gradient lip (Look 3).  I've heard this look attractively referred to in a Cantonese YouTube video as a "bleeding" lip.  To me, it sparks images of a freshly satiated vampire: sexy, dark, and a little rock 'n' roll depending on the degree of contrast between the colors.  For this look, choose a deeply colored lip stain in the same color family as the all-over lipstick and apply to just the inner lips.  I'm using Tony Moly Tony Tint in Cherry Pink, which looks blood red in the bottle but swatches a deep cherry red.

6. Blend the color by smacking your lips together.  Use your fingertip if you want, but it will get stained.  And shazam!  (I'm running out of exclamatory, revelatory words.  So glad there are no more looks.  I would have resorted to ::jazz hands::) 

Finally, here are the products that I used.  Again, the color and intensity are a little off.  I'd say the top photo is more accurate.