Love Packages

I've been really a fortunate person. This past week I received two love packages!

One was from another lovely blogger. I didn't take pictures of what she sent but I will probably be doing a review of some of the items that she sent to me. One of the things that I did receive from her was Lioele Beyond Solution BB Cream, which is my BB cream of choice right now. It was perfect timing since I was just about to order a tube. Thank you, my dear friend!

I also received a love package from my son in Japan. It is very, very rare that he sends anything although he had been telling me since April that he has to send a package home. Included in that package was yummy snacks!

I've never had that fruit dessert before. All that you need to do is mix it with milk. I'm looking forward to trying it. He also sent all kinds of chocolates but in that oval tin is Mary's Chocolates. I love Mary's Chocolates!

Also included in that box was 3 magazines. They were all from May so I guess that is what he had purchased for me in April--actually, I think that it was probably his girlfriend who bought it for me. Two of the magazines are Japanese Idol magazines and the other one is Anecan.

I've always been jealous of the fact that you can buy Japanese magazines that have gifts included. For some reason, the ones that we get here in Hawaii don't have the gifts. Anyway, this Anecan had a gift included with it. It was a Kate Moss for Longchamp Zebra print Mobile Journal. And when I flipped through the magazine, the pages opened up at Anecan's Animen and it was my favorite singer!

It's Ohno Satoshi from Arashi. Kya! He's so cute!

Also included was a cute drawstring purse and in it was two eyebrow pencils from my son's girlfriend. The white one is from Shiseido and the other one is from Visee. The Visee one is a twist up pencil on one end and on the other end is a brush. Both are brown colored eyebrow pencils.

Lastly, I have a warning of sorts....

Cooking can be hazardous for your beauty.

Seriously.

If you get queasy, I would stop reading here.




On Wednesday night I decided to cook yaki soba for dinner. I heated sesame oil up in the pan and was trying to gently put the meat into the pan when the whole chunk of it fell into the pan. As a result, it splashed oil up which hit me on my chest, chin, under my nose, side of my nose and in my eye! In all of my years of cooking, I've never had anything like this happen to me. I mean, I've been splattered by hot oil but it's the typical little splatterings from frying. Unfortunately, I wasn't so lucky this time because it was big splashes and it caused 2nd degree burns, except for the one that went into my eye. I'm fine, really, but I don't look all that great. It's rather ugly but I'm fortunate that it wasn't any bigger and worse. It already seems to be healing but I may try to go to the dermatologist to make sure that it doesn't cause any permanent discolorations and/or scarring. Here's a picture of what I look like. It's not pretty.

So, please be careful when cooking. This is actually why I dislike to fry things.

*Kat*

EOTD: Dior 5 Colors Designer 808 Pink Design

Ever since I got into Beauty Blogging, I've been finding myself buying more and more cosmetics. In some ways this is good and in many ways this is bad. The good is that it has helped me to break out of my "same old" mode and do more experimentation with different colors and techniques. It has also broken me of my all MAC mentality as I now branch out to different brands. The bad is that I'm spending more money and acquiring more products.

Dior's Fall 2010 collection has been released and I absolutely fell in love with the eye shadow palette 808 Pink Design. I think that the colors are gorgeous, and they are definitely colors that I use. This palette has 1 base color, which is the bottom left, an off-white color, 3 shadows and a liner. The only thing that I wished was that this was an all eyeshadow palette as I most likely will not use the base and the liner.

Here is the result. I did my usual Mezaik Double Eyelid Stretch Fiber and priming with MAC Painterly.

Products used:

Dior 5 Colors Designer 808 Pink Design
Dior 5 Colors Iridescent 650 Crush Glow (Summer 2010 Collection)
Dior 1 Color Ultra-Smooth High-Impact Eyeshadow 186 Ultra Violet
Shiseido The Makeup Mascara Base
K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner
Avon Wash-off Waterproof Mascara (first time trying it)

I highlighted the brow bone with the light pink color (top right)
I then used the purple color in the contour area, like so:

Please excuse the crookedness of the dots. I assure you that I applied the eyeshadow in a smooth rounded stroke.

Using the center deeper pink, I applied it from inner corner to outer corner of eyelid, from lash line to just above the crease.
Next I used the same purple color and applied it from middle of eyelid to outer corner of eyelid and blending it upward toward the contour area. I also blended the center to blend the pink and the purple together.
I applied Ultra Violet in the outer corners of my upper eyelid in a sidewards "V" to add depth and give it some "pop".
Next I used the beige-pink color from the Crush Glow palette (bottom left).

I applied it in the area marked by red dots and blended it towards the outer eye area.
I did this to soften the purple color in that area. The beige-pink color is more like my skin tone. I like to use colors like that in that area to soften and make it appear more natural.

I curled my eyelashes with my Shu Uemura eyelash curler and applied the mascara base.
Lined upper lash line and outer half of lower lash line with K-Palette eyeliner.
I then applied the Avon mascara to my upper lashes only.

The mascara I bought because someone that I know just started selling Avon and I wanted to help her out. The mascara was okay, it didn't flake on me (yay!) and it did come off easily. I can't tell you for sure if it comes off with just washing because I always use the Neutrogena Makeup Remover towelettes and Noevir's Deep Cleansing Massage Gel to remove my makeup before I wash my face.

The final result, looking down.

For some reason, my lower lashes seem really long! Is it the Trish McEvoy Lash Enhancer that is working? I'm not sure.

*Kat*

Product Review: Clean Anti-Bacterial Moisturizing Hand Cream

While I am not a sanitary freak, I have, in recent years, been more aware of trying to keep my hands germ free, especially when the H1N1 virus was running rampant. Purell has been my product of choice. What I don't really care about it is the fact that there is a lot of alcohol in it. Alcohol is drying, which isn't great for your skin. There is a moisturizing formula of Purell but I still feel it is harsh.


On Saturday afternoon, Mai and I met up and went shopping at Ala Moana Shopping Center. We met in front of Sephora. I wanted to do some shopping in there to pick up a few items for our give away.

While I was standing in line waiting for my turn, I saw Clean Anti-Bacterial Moisturizing Hand Cream. It sounded very intriguing to me. According to the Sephora website, this is a hand hydrator featuring Safety Derm germ-fighting technology, for continuous 4 hour anti-bacterial protection. It cleans 99.9% of germs upon contact and keeps killing bacteria for up to 4 hours.

It is formulated with Benzethonium Chloride, Avocado Oi, Grapeseed Oil, and Jojoba Oil. What it is NOT formulated with is sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, triclosan, propylene glycol, mineral oil, animal ingredients, or alcohol. It is also not animal tested.

The suggested usage is to squeeze out approximately a dime-sized amount and massage into hands. Reapply every 4 hours for all-day protection.

I picked up the product, made my purchase and walked out. Mai and I tried it out right away. Upon the initial application, I was impressed. It was definitely nice and hydrating feeling. There is no scent at all. It really felt like I was just putting a hand cream on instead of something that is anti-bacterial. It is absorbed into the skin quite nicely and doesn't leave a greasy feel. I'm not sure if it really does protect you for 4 hours, especially if you wash your hands often. I do not apply it every 4 hours as recommended but I do apply it when I feel that I need to clean my hands. I am very happy with this product.

On a side note, I was really surprised at the checkout counter at Sephora. Sitting there by the register was a display of Fiberwig mascara! Yup, they are selling the mascara!

*Kat*

Secret Thank You Give Away Winners

When we reached 15 followers, I had wanted to do a thank you give away but procrastinated on it. Yesterday Mai and I got together and did some shopping. I bought some final items and we came back to my house. Our requirements for this give away was to be a follower of our blog and to have at least made one comment. We didn't do any announcement of this give away because we wanted it to be a chance for our current 16 followers who chose to follow us for their general interest in our blog. Thank you to each of you for following us.

We were very scientific and we put everyone's names into a bag and shook it up. We drew each person's name to get their ranking order. After we had everybody's ranking, I then went to random.org and had the True Random Number Generator pick our winners. We had a first place wnner and 2 runners up.

Our 1st place winner is...

.....BV!!! Congratulations! This is what you'll be receiving:

Our 1st runner up is...

.....Jess!!! Congratulations! This is what you'll be receiving:

Our 2nd runner up is...

.....K! Congratulations! Here is what you'll be receiving:

You'll also be receiving some other things that are not in the pictures.

Thank you to everyone for showing an interest in our blog!

*Kat* and *Mai*

Using Mezaik Double Eyelid Stretch Fiber--Kat's Way

I was born with monolids, droopy monolids. In fact, I was told that I looked like Droopy Dog, who is actually a basset hound.

Fast forward 13 years or so and I started searching for a way to make my eyelids double. It was popular at that time to use scotch tape/magic tape to double your eyes. The look of this is similar to the Eye Charm Tape, where it is quite obvious that you are wearing tape. You need to cut the scotch tape/magic tape to shape and to fit your eyes. Unfortunately for me, it didn't work and I didn't like the feel of it on. I ended up discovering false eyelash glue and used that to double my eyelids. This was a very, very long time ago and I'm not sure if double eyelid tapes and glues were even being manufactured in Japan at that time. After using the false eyelash glue a couple of years day and night (yes, even when I slept), I discovered that my eyelids would stay doubled. A few years ago, my eyelids started falling and with age, even if they were still doubled, they were getting droopy again.  Out came the false eyelash glue again. I also discovered that there were now double eyelid glues available so I purchased one and tried it. It didn't work as well as the false eyelash glue for me though. Several months ago, I read on a blog about the Mezaik Double Eyelid Stretch Fiber and decided to try it. I had read reviews and there were more people who didn't really like it than who liked it but I still decided to go for it. I'm so glad that I did because this has been wonderful for me. I would like to share with you my way of using it. It differs a little from the instructions on how to use it but not by much.

Tools needed:

Mezaik Double Eyelid Stretch Fiber
Application Stick (comes with stretch fiber)
Cotton pad
Small, sharp scissors
Tweezers

Close up of the stretch fiber

As stated in the instructions, use a cotton pad to gently cleanse your eyelid area to remove dirt and excess sebum.

There is an applicator stick included with your purchase and I think that you can use that stick to find and kind of mark where you want to make your crease.

Gently pull the stretch fiber apart. The instructions say to pull it to the length that best fits your eye shape. You are supposed to use one stretch fiber per eye but here's where I deviate from the instructions. I pull it as far apart as I can because I will use the one stretch fiber for both eyes.

Firmly place the stretch fiber on your eyelid where in the desired creaseline. I try to place one end of it closer to the outer end of my eyelid crease. Use the applicator to adjust the fiber if necessary. Again, you are supposed to use the stretch fiber on your whole eyelid but for me, I usually use it on the outer 3/4th of my eyelid.

Using a very sharp, small scissors, cut the stretch fiber at your inner eye. I initially used a really sharp craft scissors but it was much larger than a cuticle scissors. Since the blades were quite long, I accidently cut my eyelashes on the inner corner of my eye. I was very sad, so please be careful not to cut your eyelashes!

Please keep in mind that all the while you are doing the above, you are still holding in your other hand, which is not your dominant hand (if you are right handed, then your left hand and vice versa), the other half of the stretch fiber. Using a tweezers, grab the end of the cut end of the stretch fiber. Place that end first onto your other inner eyelid and keep it held down there while you firmly place the rest of the stretch fiber onto your eyelid in the desired creaseline. Use the applicator stick to adjust the fiber and to also press it into place.

Using the scissors, you can now cut off the two outer ends of the stretch fiber at the desired end point.

I usually apply the Mezaik on my eyes at night right after I finish showering and washing my face. At that time, it is clean and free of oils. I also find that when I sleep with it on, there is the added benefit of my not having to spend time in the morning to put it on. Sometimes I do have some trouble getting it on and I would feel quite rushed in the mornings if that happened. I also find that when I sleep with it on, it seems to blend into my skin. I do my nightly skincare routine at night after I apply the Mezaik but have to avoid applying any lotions or creams onto the area where the stretch fiber is. In the morning, I usually don't wash my face with facial cleanser since I feel that it is still clean and I would wash off all of the skin care benefits from the night before. I do rinse my face off well with water and go ahead and do my daily morning skincare routine, again avoiding the area with the stretch fiber.

You can then go ahead and apply your makeup as usual but do not use any cream eyeshadows or creamy/oily type of eyelid primers. I like to use MAC Paintpot in Painterly as a primer but I carefully apply it above and below the stretch fiber. I did try applying Painterly over my whole eyelid area once as a test and the stretch fiber ended up unsticking from my eyelids.

You can barely see the stretch fiber if at all.

One thing that I did find helpful in keeping the stretch fiber invisible after you apply your makeup is that if you apply it in the morning, rinse your eyelids off after application. The stretch fiber is sticky, which helps it to adhere to your skin. Rinsing your eyelids off after you finish the application helps to take away any remaining tackiness that is on the exposed stretch fiber. The stretch fiber is waterproof so it will stay on your eyelids.

As a side note, I think that using the Mezaik Double Eyelid Stretch Fiber is probably easier for me because I already have a crease that was created from using the false eyelash glue a long time ago. I use the stretch fiber now because my double eyelids are "falling" or becoming un-creased (is that even a word?) and is starting to droop at the outer corners. I use the stretch fiber to deepen my current crease but also use it to lift up the droop at the outer corners. Shihoco from Pladge says that she uses the double eyelid glue at night and the Mezaik in the morning. It could be that if you are completely monolid with difficult-to-crease eyelids, you may not be as successful with the Mezaik, but I'm not sure.

Pros:
Creates a natural-looking crease
It works wonders for me

Cons:
Not available from a wide-range of sellers online
Can be pricey
Needs to be kept free from oil-based products

I purchase my Mezaik Double Eyelid Stretch Fiber from iMomoko.

I hope that this was informative.

*Kat*

2 Week Update--Challenge: Trish McEvoy Lash Enhancer Nighttime Conditioning Treatment

Sorry that this is a day late but I was so exhausted yesterday evening.

This is the first update since I started using the lash enhancer on June 21st. According to the Trish McEvoy website, it states that in just two weeks of daily use, one can experience as much as a 25% increase in volume. My Dior MUA told me to give it three weeks.

I have used it every night. It is quite easy to do and doesn't take a whole lot of time. I don't detect any scent. I don't seem to have any adverse reactions nor is there any stinging sensation when I apply it to my lashline.

Eyelashes on June 21st

Eyelashes on July 5th

Lower lashes on June 21st

Lower lashes on July 5th

I didn't curl my eyelashes or use any mascara during the two week period. (I rarely do so on a daily basis anyway.) I find that when I wear my sunglasses when I'm wearing mascara, my eyelashes get stuck on the lens when I blink. However, I decided to do so for this challenge.

Using Dior Show Mascara

(this was taken way prior to June 21st)

 

Using a light coat of Estee Lauder Illusionist Mascara

7/5/10

7/5/10

It's a little difficult to tell because it all depends on how I curl my lashes and what mascara I use. For future reference, I'll try to use the same mascara.

So what do you think? I don't think that there has been any increase in volume although it may be just a tad longer. I really want volume more than length.

Since my Dior MUA told me to give it three weeks, I'll examine my lashes again then. I'm not sure if I will do an update at 3 weeks or at 4 weeks. I was originally planning on doing it every 2 weeks. What would you like me to do?

Thanks for reading!

*Kat*

Happy Fourth of July and FYI

To All--Happy Fourth of July! I hope that all of you in America enjoy your long weekend!

I've not been around much because

1. My son is playing in a soccer tournament this long 4th of July weekend and
2. I haven't really had anything to blog about. Haven't done any purchasing and any EOTD and/or FOTD is same old, same old. I haven't been doing anything interesting.

I will be posting on Monday/Tuesday a two week update on the Trish McEvoy Lash Enhancer, as promised. I also have a couple of other things that I'm thinking of but won't mention in case it doesn't pan out.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying reading everyone elses' blogs.

*Kat*