Review: Lever Lux Super Damage Repair Essence

This is the final item that I recently received from iMomoko. It is Lever Lux Super Damage Repair Essence (Treatment Water). It contains nano and amino acid. It is to repair hair damaged by drying, coloring, heating and perming. It makes your hair look shiny while repairing and strengthening it. Apply a little bit on dry hair, concentrating on your ends. Style as usual.

I actually pumped out two times and it's too much for my hair. If you don't apply too much, you hair will feel silky and soft and won't feel like there is anything on there. I discovered this product from my son's girlfriend. She came with my son to visit us here in Hawaii as a surprise during Christmas and New Year. She has beautiful hair and she forgot her bottle of this product when she left. She told me that I can try using it if I wanted but didn't want me to send it back to her. She would pick it up the next time she came to visit. I blow dry my hair and flat iron it. The last month or so, I realized just how dry and brittle my hair had gotten. Out of desperation, I finally caved and decided to use her forgotten product. Wow, I was impressed! This is also when I started using Tsubaki Hair Mask for damaged hair. The combination of the two has really helped to revive my dry and brittle hair. It took a while to find the Lever Lux Super Damage Repair Essence but I finally found it and ordered it.

As a side note, I finally went to my hair dresser today (last time was in September) and told her to cut and take care of my damaged ends. YIKES! She had to cut off 4 inches or so. Plus I also got my hair bleached and colored in 3 different shades--the last time that I had it done was back in September too, although I did color my own hair twice using Palty in between. I will definitely keep using these hair products to try to keep my hair in good condition.

*Kat*

Review: Canmake Shading Powder

Canmake Shading Powder 01 Danish Brown is the lighter of the two colors that is offered on iMomoko. I had been looking for a shading powder that is just a slight bit darker than my normal complexion and something that is not a bronzer. I want to use it for contouring purposes.

I had seen a Youtube Video by Lisa Eldridge on doing natural-looking contouring and I wanted to try it. This is my first Canmake purchase and I'm quite pleased with it. The contouring powder is matte and it's nicely pigmented so you have to make sure to not load your brush up too heavily. I was using a brown eyeshadow to contour and it was definitely too dark for me so I stopped contouring. Here, I have done my nose. I don't know if you can tell the difference in the picture but in real life you can see that my nose looks more streamlined and it looks like I actually have a bridge! I used the Bamboo concealer brush by EcoTools to apply the shading powder.

Before

After

I used the shading powder to make my cheekbones seem to pop out more with a natural look to it. I used the brush that came in the shading powder case to blend upward from the hollow of my cheek to the cheek bone. I don't think that I have nice cheek bones that are prominent, however, the MUAs at Sephora always comment on how I have the perfect cheekbones and they love to apply blush on me.

Before

After

Anyway, I like what this product does. It applies easily enough and for me, gives natural shading that I like.

*Kat*

Personal: Sakura

For some reason, I really love sakura (cherry blossoms). I have not seen it in season in Japan but we do have sakura here in Hawaii in a small town. I also have seen cut branches of sakura in bloom. It is my desire to travel to Japan one year during sakura season. That would be my ultimate trip.

Sakura season in Japan has been a bit strange this year because of the strange weather patterns. The season has lasted longer than usual. My son lives in Fukushima Prefecture in a small town called Aizumisato and only now is the sakura there starting to bloom. It is late this year. In fact, last week Saturday (the 24th), they had snow again. This is a picture of what it looked like as he was drivng to work  in the morning.

He said that this year he wanted to visit one of the 3 famous spots for viewing sakura at night. He decided that it would be Takada Kouen (Takada Park) in Niigata Prefecture. After work on Saturday, he picked up his girlfriend and next door neighbor and drove to Takada Kouen. It took 3 hours to get there. He said that it was worth the drive since it was so beautiful. There were also a lot of stalls selling food and other items which added to the festive atmosphere. He recently purchased an expensive SLR camera and it takes awesome pictures. This is my favorite picture that he took at Takada Kouen.

*Kat*

EOTD Lunasol Nature Color Eyes 01 Nature Blue Review + Mezaik update

Today I decided to try out the Lunasol Nature Color Eyes 01 Nature Blue. It is the first time that I am trying anything Lunasol.

The palette itself is gorgeous. I love the colors in the palette. However, like the Shiseido Maquillage Eyeshadow, the colors come out paler than in the palette, except for the brown color. That one is quite pigmented. I actually really like the brown color because it comes out looking more like a black-gold color. For the most part though, this Lunasol palette is more pigmented than the Shiseido Maquillage palettes that I have.

Please excuse the brown streak in the green swatch.

I accidently started to apply the brown there. >.<

Products used:
Mezaik Double Eyelid Stretch Fiber
Shiseido Maquillage Moisture Cream Foundation
Kanebo Coffret D'or Beauty Essence Pact
MAC Painterly

Applied MAC Neutral Pink from crease line and blended up to brow bone
Applied from Lunasol palette the blue color from lashline to crease line
Applied Brown color on outer corners and blended upward and across crease line
Very lightly brushed the green color over everything to soften harsh lines
Very lightly applied beige color on brow bone and blended downward
Applied brown shadow to line outer half of lower lashline
Applied green shadow to line inner half of lower lashline
Lined upper lashline with Bobbi Brown black gel liner
Lined outer 1/3 of lower lashline with Revlon Color Stay Liner pen
Applied Talika Lipocils to eyelashes

Note: I accidently flicked up a way longer line than I wanted to and couldn't fix it so I had to do the same to the other eye.

An update to how I use the Mezaik Double Eyelid Stretch Fiber...

I decided to try something new. Since it's waterproof, I tried applying it at night before I went to bed one night. In the morning, I washed my face as usual and prepped my face. To my amazement and delight, the fiber stayed in place perfectly. In fact, I think that it looks better than applying it in the morning. It almost seems to have "meshed" with my skin so that it looks more natural and the fiber can't be seen as easily. It saves me time in the morning. I'm also a little more careful when I wash my face in that I don't rub and stretch my eyelids like I used to before I had the mezaik applied. Oh, I also use only one fiber per day for both eyes instead of two, one for each eye.

*Kat*

iMomoko Order

I placed an order with iMomoko and received it the other day. These are the things that I ordered:

Mezaik Double Eyelid Stretch Fiber
Lever Lux Super Damage Repair Essence (Treatment Water)
Kanebo Lunasol Nature Color Eyes 01 Nature Blue
Canmake Shading Powder 01 Danish Brown

I'll do a review of each of these things over the next several days.

I wanted to share a cuter picture of my new addition. Sorry for the cat spam.

*Kat*

Personal: Newest Member of the Family

For my Christmas present, my husband said that he would buy a kitten for me. I've been searching around for a kitten that I liked but hadn't been able to find one. Finally we were able to adopt one from our local humane society. She is a Himalayan mix, only 2 months old. We named her Hime chan. Hime means Princess in Japanese. She is exactly that! We picked her up this morning and she has been just a curious bundle of energy, exploring all over the house and hasn't been shy or scared at all. She purrs easily and has a very dainty meow. She is so busy, that it has been difficult to get a cute picture of her. We are all enjoying her.

*Kat*

Manicure & Pedicure Care

I'm sure that you manicure/pedicure experts know this but I wanted to share some information that was in my local newspaper today. A professional manicurist gave some tips on how to make your manicure/pedicure last longer.

Make sure that your nails are clean, dry and free from oils and lotions. Good base and top coats are a must. Apply top coat twice a week to help maintain your nail polish. The key tip was drying time. She said that it takes a full 24 hours of curing time. It doesn't matter if you use a dryer light or quick dry--your nails will only be dry on the surface. No hot water for 24 hours. This means no bathing or dishwashing in hot water, no jacuzzi or beach for 24 hours.

Your pedicure should last anywhere from 4 - 6 weeks. Of course, how rough you are on your hands will determine how long your manicure will last. Nail polishes with glitter will last the longest. Cream polishes are the least durable.

I hope that this was informative for you. It certainly was for me.

*Kat*

Tokidoki Diamante EOTD and Reviews

One other thing that I picked up recently at Sephora was tokidoki eyeshadow quad in Diamante.  The box that it comes in is really cute and the case itself is cute. As I mentioned before, this chromatico eyeshadow palette is a limited edition item and is supposed to be a purple and plum palette. I like the fact that included in the palette is a dual-ended brush applicator and not a sponge applicator. There is also on the bottom layer a collectible charm which you can hook onto tokidoki key chains and makeup bags. Since this palette is Diamante, the charm is a diamond. (You can click on any image to view it in a larger size.)

I used this palette for today's EOTD.

Products used:
Mezaik Double Eyelid Stretch Fiber
Primed w/MUFE HD Microperfecting Neutral Primer mixed w/MUFE Full Cover Concealer #8
Maquillage Moisture Cream Foundation OC-20
Set w/Coffret D'or Beauty Essence Pact OC-C
Cream base MAC Painterly
Highlight browbone w/tokidoki #2 (I numbered the palette since there was no color listing)
Crease line blend up to browbone MAC Neutral Pink (limited edition color)
Lashline to crease line tokidoki #3
Outer corners and in creaseline tokidoki #4
Lightly dust tokidoki #1 over entire eye
Brush eyelashes w/Talika lipocils eyelash conditioner
Line upper lashline w/Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen
Line outer 1/3 of bottom lashline w/Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen

This palette is nice. The shadows are not heavily pigmented but not too lightly pigmented either. I really didn't like shadow #1. It was glittery and the glitter fell all over the place. I believe that you can see one glitter under my eye in the picture.

I use Bobbi Brown Eyeliner gel and MUFE Aqua Eyes. These are supposed to be waterproof and both are great. I don't have too much problems with my upper lashline unless I happen to touch my eyes, then either one of them will smudge. However, for my lower lashline, I can't seem to keep my eyeliner from smudging, giving me racoon eyes and fading. I recently bought the Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen and had very high hopes for it. I used Colorstay Liquid foundation a long time ago and really liked it because it wearability was great for 10 hours or longer. I have problems using liquid eyeliners with a brush so the pen seemed like it would be good. I like the fact that it's a pen. It makes application easy for me. I don't seem to have a problem with fading on my lower lashline, which is great. However, it still kind of smudges so that I have black lines under my eyes. It's also difficult to make a flick with the pen. I can do it much more easily with the gel liner and brush.

Finally, I talked about MUFE HD Microfinish Blush the other day. I really do like this blush but again, it is quite difficult to apply for a novice. It is quite pigmented, it doesn't spread easily and it dries really quickly. One other thing that I don't like is the pump. It doesn't pump out smoothly so it's difficult to pump out just a small bit, which is all you need. Since it dries so quickly, it's best to work with a little at a time and build up the color. Because of the way I pump it out, I always have residue on my pump so today I decided to use that residue on my lips. I was told by the MUA that you can use it on your lips and eyes. I prepped my lips with Bobbi Brown Lip Balm and applied the HD Microfinish Blush #8 PDA on my lips. It looks like I used a lip stain and I really liked it.

Although it is not shown in this picture, I finished with Maquillage Glossy Perfect Rouge in RS396, which is a sheer glossy lipstick. It provided a really nice finish. Please forgive my messy application.

*Kat*

Last Sephora VIB Discount Haul

Hey Everyone! Sorry, I've been busy the last few days and last night my internet went out when I was ready to come online. >.<*  I've also been busy making various purchases here and there and will blog about them in the next few days.

Monday was the last day to be able to use my V.I.B. 15% discount coupon so I went back to take look around. I decided to pick up a back up Shu Uemura eyelash curler since Shu Uemura is pulling out of the U.S. I also picked up the new blush by MUFE--HD Microfinish Blush and MUFE HD Microperfecting Primer. (You can click on my pictures for a bigger version of it.)

The HD Microfinish Blush that I bought is #8 PDA. It is a pinky nude color. I really like the color. It's a small bottle but you really need to use only a little bit. I find it a bit tricky to apply since I don't want to rub it onto my cheeks, atlhough that may be the best way to put it on. I use a stippling brush to pat it on and then use a slanted blush brush to lightly blend it in. It looks really natural on and it lasts a long time. I took this picture late last night, approximately 15 hours after I put it on. It didn't really fade and I didn't really see much oxidization.

The HD Microperfecting Primer that I bought is in Mauve. The MUA that was helping me just happened to be the MUFE MUA and she was awesome. The mauve primer is to counteract sallow undertones. I was talking to her about how I find that using powder to set foundations brings out my fine lines as well as using concealer. I also told her that I like the Temptu but don't like to spray it on under my eyes so I need to use regular foundation to get good coverage. I told her that I thought about trying a BB cream for to help with coverage under my eyes. She said that she doesn't like to use concealers or heavy foundations under her eyes either because it does cake up and bring out the fine lines. Since I already use MUFE Full Cover Concealer, she suggested that I mix the concealer with either my moisturizer or primer. By doing that, it provides enough moisture to keep it from caking up and gives a more natural look. I still had about 1/3 bottle of the HD Primer in Neutral, I mixed up my concealer into the primer bottle and have used it for the past couple of days. I really like it! I also use it to touch up under my eyes during the day and it really feels nice. It was a great suggestion from the MUA.

On a personal note, the other night my husband commenting to me that I looked like I was glowing. He said that in fact, lately I look like I'm glowing. He meant it in a nice way and not like I was glowing like a disco ball or anything. Gee, what  nice compliment. I wonder what it is that is making me look glowy--Temptu? I wasn't wearing the Temptu that day. Perhaps Miracle Worker?

And this has nothing to do with beauty at all but my Arashi Anniversary Concert DVD arrived! I am so happy! This is my favorite JPop group!

*Kat*

Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer Review

I purchased the Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer last week and I wanted to do a quick review.

It is a fomulation of gold, 48 minerals and a powerful peptide which are supposed to work together to perfect skin and give you a gorgeous, universally flattering sunkissed glow, which also minimizes the signs of aging. It has a patented hydration system that delivers all-day moisturization.

It is encased is a tin container. The really neat thing about it is that it is not like your typical compact bronzer, nor is it like a loose powder. It has a twist shaver so you can shave off only the amount that you need for a single application. This makes it perfect for traveling and is quite sanitary, in my opinion. When you open up the container, inside the lid is a mirror. (I didn't take a picture of it because the flash will reflect off of the mirror and you won't be able to see it anyway.)

I have heard that using a fan brush is ideal for applying bronzer since you can lightly apply it. I bought a fan brush from NYX but it is quite large! It does apply the bronzer nicely but now that I know how this bronzer applies, I started using my regular blush brush to apply it. A little goes a long way.

I like this bronzer because of the packaging and because it is a matte bronzer. Most bronzers are shimmery. I can't say for sure that it's hydrating but I don't feel like it's drying either. It doesn't seem to really oxidize. It hasn't caked up on me either. I will most likely buy this again.

Korean Product Recommendations?

My friends are leaving next week to go to Japan and Korea. They always buy me goodies when they go. The last time they went to Korea, they brought back some Skin Food things for me and at that time I had never heard of Skin Food. I really liked the things they brought back.

They are asking me if I have any requests for this trip. I love bath gels and body and hand lotions. I am not a mask person so I won't ask for any masks. I'm asking for any recommendations you might have. It doesn't have to be Skin Food. I was kind of thinking of trying a BB cream since it might work well with the Temptu. I need something that's good for dry, aging skin though.

*Kat*

Temptu Review--Long!

Here are my thoughts on the Temptu after having used it for a few days.

There really isn’t anything like being able to try something out at your own leisure rather than having it done for you by a MUA. The two times that I had gone into Sephora and tested this out, it was awesome and it seemed so easy to do. Reality check…it takes some getting used to. It was scary trying to open up the AIR Pod and put it onto the wand the first time. Also, removing the AIR Pod from the wand was a bit scary too. I was so afraid that I’d break something.
I tend to have a heavy hand so I have difficulty doing things that take some delicacy—like crocheting and knitting. It’s the same with the Temptu. You have to remember to keep things “airy” and light and be patient and layer. The important thing is to keep on moving. The easiest thing for me to apply is the highlighter because it’s a simple “C” motion from the top of your brow bone to under your eye. Even for the highlighter though, I have to remember not to apply too heavily. The instructions say to apply your foundation with the dial on Start and for the highlight and blush, turn your dial to Less.


After the 1st day trial, this is what I decided works best for me:
1) Need to lightly apply some of my cream foundation under my eyes. I found that I couldn’t get good coverage under my eyes with the Temptu as I was afraid of it going on too heavily.
2) Need to apply eye makeup first. The Temptu foundation is really moist and since I like the dewy look, I am only applying powder from the hollow of my cheeks down to my jawline. Because of this, applying and being able to blend the eye shadows is difficult. I also will apply my eye makeup a little darker than I normally would. I also found that I can apply the foundation much more easily and natural looking if I have the setting on Less.
3) Apply regular bronzer as usual to cheekbones. Very lightly apply bronzer to other areas. It has to be very lightly because again, it is difficult to blend in.
4) Apply AIR Pod blush. Perhaps with time I’ll be able to do my blush the way I like it to go on but for now, I will also use my regular blush to neatly apply on the apples of my cheeks. I can’t seem to control the Temptu to make it come out nicely on the apples of my cheeks.
5) Lastly, apply the AIR Pod highlighter. I also lightly spray it over my blush and over my eye makeup. When applying it over my eye makeup, it helps to soften and colors and add just a hint of glow.
The feel of the foundation depends on how heavily you put it on. I think that it has the feel of “pan” makeup if you put it on heavily. Even lightly, it is definitely something that I can feel on. With my Maquillage, I forget that I have anything on my face. However, I don’t feel like it is super heavy (except for that first day when I put on too much. YUCK!) It hasn’t clogged my pores so far, although that could be due to good cleansing—makeup remover tissues, massage gel remover and face wash with clarisonic brush.
Thought that I’d post some pictures, but here’s a big warning, ugly and scary no makeup face.

Scary no makeup face. I am only wearing moisturizer, sun screen, eye cream and primer

Put on cream foundation under eyes and did a really bad concealing job on my darker spots

Applied Temptu foundation

Applied powder foundation from hollow of cheeks to jawline

Lightly dusted on Smashbox Halo Hydrating Matte Bronzer on cheeks

Applied Temptu blush (Hey! I actually did a good

job and didn't have to apply regular blush to the apples of my cheeks)

Applied Temptu highlighter on upper cheeks and above brow bone

End result (still scary!)

The weather hasn’t been the typical humid weather so I still have yet to test the wearability of it in humid weather. So far, it seems to last just as long as my Maquillage cream foundation. I usually touch up my foundation a bit under my eyes and just above the cheeks. I find that I have to do the same with the Temptu. I’m fortunate in that most days I can be home by 2:30 so I can do my touchup then. There are the touchup brushes but I have heard that they streak and when I tried it in the store, I did find that it did streak. I really didn’t like those retouch brushes. I also think that it takes a little longer to put on my foundation with the Temptu but it’s not that much longer. It might also be due to the fact that I’m still a novice using it and that with time, I’ll get faster with the application process.
Overall, I really like the Temptu so far. I think that it is definitely a great product to use for a night look. I know that I will still use my cream foundation but will also use the Temptu. I may even combine the two—cream foundation and AIR Pod highlighter. I really do like that highlighter since it gives me a nice bright glow.
If anyone comes to Hawaii, I’d be glad to let you come and play with it. I can then take you to Sephora to buy it. Yeah, I’m an enabler. =P
Just remember that this is what I found works for me. It may not necessarily be best for you.
*Kat*

Creative Ideas

I often use items that are not ordinarily used for that purpose. My recent discovery is makeup related. I don’t know about everyone else but my poor makeup bag that is in my purse is bulging! I have been trying to streamline it and cut down the bulk. Since I’ve started using a cream foundation, I was trying to figure out a way to carry it around with me. You can buy those little travel jars but it’s still pretty bulky. I discovered contact lens cases! I don’t wear contacts, never needed to wear glasses until the last couple of years (and I don’t wear it anyway) but only for reading. It’s not bulky and I can carry just enough for touchups.

So in the picture, I have what the case looks like, then the next one is it cut in half, and the last one shows the foundation inside. Note that I rounded the front corners so that it doesn’t poke. It’s perfect! I think that I will load it up so that it’s pretty full and then use it that way for my daily makeup routine. I want to see how many days it will be good for because then I can determine how many I will need to load up to take on trips. I’ve been thinking that I can also use more of them to put in my eye cream and cream moisturizer. This is especially great because they are compact enough that you can pack it and put it in your carry on bag. No more worrying about your important skin care items in case your luggage gets misplaced. I’m thinking about some other creative uses for some other things and if they work out I will post again.

Mai knows that when I travel, I like to be prepared and carry all kinds of different things with me.
Do you have any creative ideas? I’d love to hear about them.

Another Sephora mini haul

I went to Sephora again today to check out the MUFE HD Microfinish blush. Unfortunately, it's still not in my local store. I was told that the Ala Moana store has it but I don't want to travel there.

I checked out the Smashbox section again and didn't see the Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer so I figured that it hadn't come in yet. The MUA asked me what I was looking for and when I told her she looked into that magic drawer and there it was! She said that it wasn't out yet since the display wasn't ready but I could go ahead and purchase it.

Then I spotted the tokidoki display. The tokidoki line must be really popular because most of the items were out of stock. I wanted to get the Cromatico Eyeshadow Palette - Diamante (purple) because this seems like the colors I would use the most. It is a tiered compact in which the 1st tier is the lid (haha, isn't that the case for all items? Well, it's a decorated lid with the tokidoki design), the 2nd tier has the eyeshadows and applicator and the 3rd tier has a charm. I'm not into tokidoki items but this really caught my eye, especially since it's a limited edition item. Unfortunately, ALL of the palettes were out of stock. Adios appealed to me too since I'm more of a smoky gray person but the lighter colors were quite light and shimmery. There is supposed to be a shipment tomorrow so I will try to check back tomorrow evening or Thursday afternoon (if I get my taxes done in time).

What I did end up getting was a single Cromatico eyeshadow in Killer Candy, which is a royal purple pearl. It was one of the few colors that was available. I was also looking at Skeletrina, a bright cobalt pearl. Killer Candy reminds me of a color that I used to wear a long, long time ago. I'm not sure if it's something that I could wear now at my age but it sure is nostalgic.

I also picked up a comb which I need to use for deep conditioning my hair.

Here's a picture of swatches of the two items that I bought. Sorry, the coloring didn't come out very well. Killer Candy is a nice color.

The Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer is matte, which is what I wanted. You really can't see the swatch except that where I have it looks dirty. I tried it on my face and it looks good. I like the fact that you can shave off only what you need so it's neat and tidy. I thought that it was supposed to be sheer and buildable but it is actually quite pigmented so not as buildable as I thought. I wanted it more for a contour powder but I definitely have to use it strictly as a bronzer. On Sephora's website, it says that it is a "revolutionary formula that imparts a gorgeous, universally flattering sunkissed glow and dramatically minimizing the signs of aging. Unlike most powders that are dry and cakey, Halo Bronzer's patented hydration system delivers all-day moisturization for a radiant, healthy complexion. Twist the shaver to get perfect amount of powder you need for a single application and apply to the cheekbones, forehead, and to the bridge of nose and chin for a radiant bronze glow. The formula is free of oil and talc. Research Results: Clinical studies show that 10 minutes after application there is a 33% decrease in the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes. After 6 weeks of use, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles are reduced by 67%." Hmmm...I don't think that I'll use bronzer around my eyes. Oh well, it is a good bronzer though. Since I only did a quick try on, I can't say for sure whether or not it is something that I would purchase again. I wanted something matte because I was looking for more a sheer, natural-looking powder that I could use as a contour powder.

*Kat*

Sephora Mini Haul

I was going to wait awhile to do this post but I really couldn't hold it in any more. I went shopping at Sephora on Saturday and used my VIB 15% off coupon. It's a mini haul but an expensive one. Yup, I got it! I got the Temptu! I will have to do a detailed review later after I've used it for awhile So far, there are definite positives and negatives to it. But the negatives may just be a matter of getting used to using it.

I got the Temptu system, #5 Beige AIR Pod Foundation, #403 Washed Rose AIR Pod Blush and #302 Gold AIR Pod Highlighter. I am debating whether or not to get #303 Bronze or #304 Copper highlighter to use as a bronzer but will hold off for now.

I wanted to get Smashbox HALO Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer but it is not available in Hawaii yet. I know that I can order it online and still use my 15% off coupon but since I have never tried this product before, I'd like to play with it before deciding whether or not to buy it.

The good thing about this VIB 15% off coupon is that you can use it over and over until it expires on the 19th so I still have some time to decide on some other things that I may want to buy.

*Kat*

Miracle Worker 5th Week Update

The 5th week of using Philosophy's Miracle Worker has ended. I won't bore you with pictures because it seems that everything is status quo.

After using it for 5 weeks, I will say that definitely my skin is brighter and seems much more elastic. My pores are barely noticeable and some of the deeper creases in my face have just about disappeared. There is a definite improvement in the overall appearance of my skin. I really do like this product. However, the main reason why I started using this product is because I wanted to get rid of my freckles. I think that it probably faded away some of the small, light ones on my nose but the darker ones didn't seem to have been affected by it. About 2 weeks ago, I started using the sample that I received from Ichibankao of Cosme Decorte Whitelogist Spots Concentration. I had read some good reviews of this product. It really does work! My darker spots have lilghtened. I'm hoping by continuing to use this, it will lighten even more. I do have to be realistic and can't expect that it will completely disappear, although that would be wonderful if it happens. This product is expensive though so I have to really think about whether or not I want to purchase it. I'm also curious about Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum. I've heard that this is really popular.

3 more weeks and I'll be done with Miracle Worker. I asked the MUA at Sephora if this is a product that I can continue using or if I needed to take a break from it for a while before using it again. They said that it was completely up to me. I could continue using it as a preventative treatment. I could use it only a couple of times a week if I wanted. I will probably buy it again and use it. It has really worked miracles!

*Kat*

The Eyes Have It

This will be a 1 - 2 - 3 punch post. LOL! It is long so I hope you can last reading through it all.

I don't wear mascara often any more. I used to wear it all of the time in my 20's but somehow, I don't think that I look that good wearing mascara any more. Perhaps I have to curl my eyelashes differently now. I should try curling just the tips instead of starting from the lashline. Anyway, the mascaras that I do have are usually the kind that comes in sets so they are little ones and that size is perfect for me. Back in January, there was a Beauty Insider special at Sephora so I picked it up. It's called Dior Best in Show Mascara Duo.

These are the two best selling Dior mascaras. Diorshow volumizes and is supposed to make your eyelashes plush and everday glam. Diorshow Black Out  is intensified with ultra-black khol pigments. It gives you a little more "oomph" and lots more drama. There was included a "Backstage tip". First put on a layer of Diorshow and then layer Diorshow Black Out over it. You're supposed to go from elegant to extravagant in an instant.

Diorshow

Diorshow Black Out over Diorshow

The Diorshow Black Out does add much more to your lashes. Both of these in the set are not waterproof although there is a waterproof version.

Note: My eyelashes are very straight and need to be curled. In order to hold the curl, I have to use waterproof mascara, which I don't really like since it's difficult to take off. There used to be a long, long time ago, a really good curling mascara but it was discontinued and I can't find another one that will work as well. I could just use the mascara without curling my eyelashes and it would curl my lashes upward perfectly. Now if I want to use non-waterproof mascara, I use this wonderful product which holds my eyelash curl. It is Shiseido's The Makeup Mascara Base. I just brush this on after curling, let it dry a bit and then can use any mascara.

I posted about receiving the Mezaik Stretch Fiber earlier in the week and have been using it for the last few days. I really like it! I'm finding it easy to use. It does take a little while to put it on in the morning but it stays on all day without any problems. You're supposed to use one for each eye but I can stretch it out enough and use one on both eyes. I don't use it on my whole eyelid, but approximately half - 3/4 of my eyelid. Probably the scariest part is cutting the ends since you're working close to your eyes and lashes. It's best not to use liquid/cream/gel foundations over it and cream eyeshadows.

Eyes totally closed

Eyes looking down

If you look really carefully on one eye, you can see a tiny speck of the shiny fiber but it really isn't a problem. Other than that, doesn't it look very natural?

I wanted to show you what it looks like with makeup on so I'll also turn it into an EOTD.

Foundation: Maquillage Moisture Cream Foundation UV, OC20
                      Coffret D'or Beauty Essence Pact, OC-C ((Powder foundation)
Eyeshadows (all MAC): Painterly Paint Pot as cream base
                                          Samoa Silk
                                          Magnetized, Hypnotizing, Altered State (These from Sorceress Set)
Eyeliner: MUFE Aqua Eyes Pencil OL
                Bobbi Brown Black Gel liner

Eyelashes: Talika Lipocils, eyelash conditioning gel

I mentioned that you shouldn't use cream foundations or eyeshadows over the Mezaik but I like to use these to help hold my eye makeup. I patted foundation and cream eyeshadow base above and below the Mezaik Stretch Fiber, carefully avoiding getting any onto the fiber. Samoa Silk from crease to browbone. Hypnotizing on eyelid to just barely above crease (onto the Mezaik Stretch Fiber). Altered State on outer 1/3 of eyelid to above crease and blended all the way upward over entire eye. Magnetized as highlighter on brow bone and gently and lightly blending downward toward crease. Waterline outer 1/3 of bottom of eye with MUFE Aqua Eyes pencil. Lined upper eyelash line with Bobbi Brown Black Gel liner. Instead of mascara, I usually use Talika Lipocils eyelash conditioning gel. Besides conditioning my eyelases, it also helps to take away any powder eyeshadow clinging to my lashes. Now you can't see the stretch fiber at all.

Eyes fully closed after applying makeup over Mezaik Stretch Fiber

Looking down after applying makeup over Mezaik Stretch Fiber

*Kat*

Quick Post

Some unexpected things have been happening so I haven't had a chance to do any updates that I've been wanting to do. (5 week Miracle Worker progress, mascara review, some Sephora stuff) Will update when things kind of calm down.

As I've mentioned before, my oldest son lives in Japan but I try not to ask him to haul products for me since he's really busy, he's a guy and would have a difficult time trying to buy some things and it's difficult for him to ship it out. When he went to Japan a few years ago, he went shopping for me with a friend, who is like a brother, and they said it was pretty embarrassing for them, two guys, to go shopping for the Japanese idol items that I wanted them to get. LOL! (Yes, I love the Japanese actors and singers.) However, now he has a girlfriend (she is a Japanese national and doesn't really speak English) and she was really sweet and sent me a couple of Maquillage items which I had posted about earlier. I had asked about applying the eye shadow since it's too light for me and I also asked her about her eyebrow pencil that she uses. I wanted to share with you a part of my son's email because it was so funny to me.

"...I don’t know if American women do this

as well, but she was saying Japanese women all use this powder for
their eyebrows. They draw in half of their eyebrows with the pen, and
then the first half (the half closest to the nose until the midpoint
of your eyebrows) they finish off with this powder. It gives it a
natural look supposedly.....ahh this is hard to explain but she told
me to tell you for your eye makeup, to use your makeup as you always
do, but above that right under your eyebrows to use the whiteish one
as a highlight? I have no idea what I'm talking about so trying to
translate her explanation is very difficult.

OR she said to apply your normal eye makeup and then in the
アイホールlightly apply a lighter shade of makeup. And then above that use
the whiteish one that she sent as a highlight like I explained above.
Anyways I can’t explain this at all so I am sending a picture that we
found:

http://www.ningyo-katayama.com/file/42/img007045566.jpg "

Anyway, I could just imagine his face as he was trying to translate and type it out and all of it was totally foreign to him.
 
Ack! I just realized that I completely changed the format of how this post was written. Oh well, I guess that perhaps I'll give up on writing it in the 3rd person format.
 
Have a nice weekend everyone!
 
*Kat*

Mezaik, Shiseido Tsubaki and Sephora

Today Kat's order from iMomoko came in. It was for Mezaik Double Eyelid Stretch Fiber. She had read about this when Shihoco had blogged about it on her blog (PLadge Blog). It sounded very interesting so Kat just had to try it.

Kat was born with monolids and during her junior high school years had tried using what was popular back then--scotch tape--to form a crease in her eyelids. However, it wouldn't work on her lids. What she discovered was false eyelash glue. That worked wonders and she used it day and night for several years. She was fortunate in that her eyelids kept the crease without having to use the glue any more. However, within these last couple of years, the crease has been fading and some days she is back to monolid. When there is a crease, oftentimes the ends are really drooped down so she started gluing her eyelids again.

After a few mistakes, she finally figured out how to use the stretch fiber. She will have to use it for a few more days to get a good feel as to how this will work out but so far it seems to be great. The fiber is really thin and is invisible when put on. Since the eyelids are not glued together, it looks very natural. It is supposed to be waterproof so that you can bath and swim in it. She tested it out by putting gel foundation and cream base on and then put on her eye makeup. So far so good.

Kat has realized that her hair has gotten really dry and damaged looking. She decided to try Shiseido's Tsubaki Damage Hair Care Mask. She was all set to place an order with Sasa but went to Don Quijote to pick up some zarusoba. She decided to check out the Japan products section and found the hair care mask there. It was less than a dollar more than at Sasa so she picked it up. It will take several applications before her hair gets the full benefit of the product but after this one use, her hair does seem less dry.

In today's email, Kat received Sephora's V.I.B. All-Access Pass which is good from April 8 - 19. This is a 15% off coupon! Temptu?

Target Shopping

Kat was reading on some other blog and that person visited Hawaii and went to both of the Target stores on Oahu. While Kat lives in between the two stores, she has only been to one of them...once. Her impression at that time (which was a year or so ago) was that it was okay. She wasn't impressed. She decided to go today to check it out and again, it was the same reaction. Part of the problem is that things that she does like, mainly shoes and clothes, they don't come in her size. However, she did find a few things and is quite happy.

She bought 3 (yes 3) shrugs/short sweaters. Kat totally loves these and has quite a collection of them already in a variety of colors. (Sorry Mai, there wasn't any in the color you've been looking for.) She also found one pair of sandals that actually was in her size! She bought an Ecotools brush set. She has heard a few good things about this brand so she wanted to try it out. Although you can't see it in the picture well, she bought a retractable double eyeshadow brush by Sonia Kashuk. Never heard of this brand but the brush seemed interesting. She had seen online that Target sells Hello Kitty nail polish but there was none at the store. She was quite disappointed in that. She picked up a NYC nail polish. It was cheap and in trying it out, it's not that good.

Kat received her order from Ichibankao today. She had ordered the Coffret D'or Beauty Essence Pact. In light of her different experimentations though, she has decided to discontinue using powders. She is trying to decide whether to keep this or to sell it.

Kat really loves Hello Kitty and today the Hello Kitty Cafe opened up in the Pearlridge Mall. She went to check it out this evening and you really can't call it a cafe. It's more like a mini bakery. There were cute items for sale but expensive. She bought the chocolate mousse and it was delicious but the fudge in it was a bit rich and sweet. The yogurt cheesecake was yummy. It's more like a pound cake.

Don't remember what this is

Yogurt Cheesecake