Mini reviews: Lumene dual-phase makeup remover and Vichy micellar water

Lumene dual-phase makeup remover: thumbs down. It burns!

Thumbs up on the Vichy micellar water - works well and gently.

Mini Review: BareMinerals Lash Domination

Love the brush!  It coats lashes and separates them nicely.  But what's the point of a formula that smears?  Is there a waterproof version of this?

Revlon Colorburst lipbalm in Rendezvous

Pigmented!  This is a bright orange!
The only thing is that I think it is rather drying.  We'll see how it feels tomorrow.

Where can I find sesame sticks that aren't too salty?  So far the stuff in the grocery stores is really salty!

Dick Page explores cities around the world

There's this fantastic series of videos published by Shiseido in April where Dick Page shows his favorite spots around a few cities:

The cities:
* Dick Page takes Paris
* Dick Page Discovers Hong Kong
* Dick Page in New York City
* Dick Page in Tokyo

The full list of Shiseido Dick Page videos.

Lip colors that flatter

I didn't realize it until swatching my lipsticks on white paper, but it turns out that all the colors that I find unflattering are mauve shades.

• Nivea Fruity shine in Pomegranate - a sheer mauve.
• Revlon Balm Stain in Honey 001 - a medium pinkish mauve.
• L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Plush Plum (219) - a cool mauve.
• Lancome Color Fever 306 - a decidedly purple mauve shade.
• Maybelline Moisture Extreme Toasted Almond (210) - even this seemingly brick red-like shade definitely has tendencies towards mauve and away from berry.
• Maquillage Glossy Perfect Rouge RD224 - a bright pink mauve.

Warm roses like Dior Addict Lip Polish in 002 and YSL Golden Gloss in Praline - these I can handle. Warm pinks like Maybelline Water Shiny Gloss in S01, I can handle. I like berry shades too, although right now I lack one.

But mauve makes my skin look sallow, and I'm finally getting rid of them.

I can also confirm that I don't have a proper peach/orange lipstick in my lipstick wardrobe. I plan to seek out Lavshuca Dramatic Memory Rouge in OR-1 to fill this spot.  I also lack a proper berry/wine shade.  Lavshuca Dramatic Memory Rouge RD-2 might be good for this, but it might be too much on the mauve side for me.  A bright watermelon wouldn't go amiss either - I have a red Nivea care gloss that fills this spot at the moment, but I haven't got a lipstick yet.  I'm eying Lavshuca Dramatic Memory Rouge RD-1 for this.
Can you tell that I have Dramatic Memory Rouge on the brain?

reflections on 2012

In General

I'm trying to just get things done, so that I can spend more carefree time on the fun things.  I'm also trying not to over-think things.
* do more vegetable cooking (first up, Ars Aromatica's lentil white bean soup)

* Start on the Chinese

Someday

* Learn to make scallion pancakes (Saveur.com recipe)

* figure out how to make those Bretagne-style galettes

I hope I never develop a gluten allergy.  I'm sure I'll survive, but it would be really sad at first.

Old Favorites

I still love Yves Saint Laurent Golden Gloss.  The messy packaging is annoying; gloss collects around the opening of the container.  However, it's an easy, no-fail glamorous gloss that I look great in.  I have #2 Golden Praline, and the gloss and shimmer are just right for evenings when you want to feel fabulous but not over-the-top.  The color is a totally wearable soft rose, and I enjoy the scent, personally.  When I use it up, I'll want another one, but I won't let myself until I use up my ridiculous stash of glosses.

Saying Goodbye To

I love the festive but wearable Fasio Melting Glossy Rouge RD441, but the lasting power is average-to-poor, so I don't think it's worth repurchasing.  I do love the color though, so if I don't find a replacement in a better formulation, perhaps I'll revisit this decision.  For now I'll just layer one of my many sparkly glosses on top of Addiction lipstick in Last Scene.

New Favorites

Hands down, the most amazing makeup release was Shiseido's Camellia Compact, sadly limited edition to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the brand.  A real pity that it was limited edition.  I have not yet been able to mar the pristine surface of this blush/highlighter, but I will, I swear.

I am still in love with Lavshuca Dramatic Memory Rouge lipstick - BE-2 is my default work lipstick.  Don Quixote offers a small discount on certain Lavshuca products, so I will pick up one in red once I use up a few other lipsticks.

I am quite impressed with the eyeshadow palette in the Lavshuca Pure Blossoming Eyes Limited Edition Set.  I got the PK Pink Variation, which is a bit too warm for me, but the texture of the eyeshadows is fantastic!  If they put out a color variation that I like, I may have to get a Star Decoration Eyes.  However, I have too many neglected eyeshadow palettes; I probably should try a different brand.

I love the liquid blush Cream de Cheek released by Majolica Majorca last year.  I haven't bought any of them yet, but I will definitely be picking up the red RD411 at least.  I'm also tempted to buy the new Clear series of Cream Cheek blushes from Canmake, especially the lovely red.

Clothing

This year I spent a good amount of time editing my closet, however, it is far from finished.  Of course, any fun closet should evolve over time, so the concept of "finishing" is a bit inaccurate, but I am not happy with my closet as it currently is.  Wardrobe Oxygen and Ars Aromatica have　really gotten me thinking about the concept of editing my wardrobe.  I particularly like Wardrobe Oxygen's office wear posts.  I am also being motivated by The Minimalist Mom's journey in minimizing her wardrobe.  More and more, I want to look good without putting effort into it, which often means buying clothing that is comfortable, looks good, and is easy to coordinate.  I've thrown out a lot of awkward clothing this year!  It makes me sad to waste money on clothing, but it's necessary to move forward and cull out the items that waste my time.

I've judiciously indulged in this year's massive New Year sales, picking up some necessities and adding 3 pieces to my work wardrobe.  However, I still lack some basics such as a black coat and suit.  I'm also debating whether to buy a new winter scarf - my silk scarf has seen better days.  Perhaps I will hold out until next year.

I'm breaking in some new winter shoes; I do need to add one casual winter shoe option.  I don't know where to find good quality shoes in my size at a reasonable price in Tokyo.

Cosmetics: what's working for me October 2013

Lipgloss: After years of evaluation, I've come to the conclusion that Dior Addict Lip Polish #2 is an excellent, high-quality product.

• Thin, non-goopy formula; I can feel it on the lips but it's not sticky at all
• Glossy!
• After several years, the product hasn't gone bad yet

It's not pigmented, but it adds a pretty flush, and looks flattering worn alone or layered over other products.

I am also a fan of the following eyeliner products:

• Integrate Kira Wink Gel Liner, which I own in the limited edition GY800, a lovely, complex grey with flecks of purple
• Pixi's Endless Silky Eye Pen, which I picked up the kit for.  I am enjoying Sage Green and Oyster Glow quite a lot.

Neither product smudges after setting, and have smooth formulas that are easy for me to use.  The one annoying thing is that Integrate makes their interesting colors limited edition, but there's always Pixi if I run out.

I also use Make Up For Ever's Aqua Eyes pencil liners, but they do smudge slightly on me, so I'm not really sold on them.

In terms of what's not working for me:
Kiss Me heroine make volume&curl mascara decidedly smudges on me.  Probably time to throw this one out!

In other news, I've been trying to weed out my makeup; strictly culling out the products that are difficult to use or don't look good by themselves on me.  This is a task that requires true discipline, as I cling to:

• Canmake Cream Highlighter: too glittery for me, but I can't just toss it, can I?
• Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color SV810: a gorgeous color that is just a bit too cool for me
• Clarins Colour Quench Lip Balm #14 (probably discontinued): a lovely bright orange that is just a bit bright for me, but sheered out is wearable.
• Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Shine SS WH 003: sparkles and glitter in a transparent base - a bit too loud for me to use often
• banila co. banila Kiss in 04 Raspberry Jam (probably discontinued): a lovely bright white-based pink - again, just a bit bright to wear as-is, but sheered out is lovely, and the formula is very comfortable
• Shiseido The Makeup Perfecting Lipstick P12 (discontinued): a unique true brown-purple that looks gorgeous sheered out or as a stain, but just isn't a color I can wear every day.  Still, this is something I'm definitely going to hold on to!
• Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited WH 001: a white lipstick to lighten those lip colors that are too dark; however it just adds too much white, rendering anything rather pasty and unwearable.  Perhaps I haven't learned to use it properly.

Bad experience at the makeup counter

I spent too much time fuming about my experience last night at the Laura Mercier Counter in Mitsukoshi Ginza, so I'm going to just vent here and move on as fast as possible.

I've never spent much time at the Laura Mercier counters in Tokyo, mainly because there are so many other flashier brands.  And after yesterday, I don't think I'll be inclined to go near one for a long time!

This weekend, I bought the Laura Mercier mook, which came with a generous voucher for a little fan brush, a small sample pot of powder (perhaps the brightening powder), and a sample tube of hand cream in one of the 4 permanent scents (other than Creme Brulee).  It's been a full 2 months since the mook came out, so my visit yesterday was very late for trying out the voucher, but I went to the Laura Mercier counter at Mitsukoshi Ginza 三越銀座 and inquired.  They'd run out of the other items but the sales assistant (SA) offered me a sample of the hand cream if it was okay with me.  I selected Coconut Almond to try.  She asked if I'd like anything else, and I said I'd like to try out the brightening powder ”パウダーを試したいんですが。。。”.  She misunderstood me and repeated quickly that they ran out of it a month ago at Mitsukoshi so they didn't have any samples left.  As she'd already said they ran out of it, I had actually meant that I wanted to try it out directly at the counter, but I was rather taken aback by her repetition of the previous information and her polite implication that I was being too persistent.  Since she apparently hadn't been asking if I was interested in other products, I was a bit confused as to what she was actually asking for, so I asked if there was anything else I could select; I suppose this reinforced her impression that I was stupid.  She went off and got me the sample hand cream; I thanked her, and then went to poke around the displays.  However, it seemed like she wanted to get rid of me, as she followed me around, ignoring the other customers browsing, and replied to my questions as if I was stupid ("We have two types of concealer, one for under the eyes, one for in general"), so I gave up in the face of her hostility and ran off to find shelter at the Suqqu counter.

The Suqqu SA was so nice in contrast!  It was a great balm to my wounded psyche.  She showed me swatches of the quads and offered to apply the eyeshadows on me.  As I had lost the desire to browse, I politely declined and said I'd come back when I had more time, and she offered me a flyer, telling me that they would have new products out in Feb.  The ladies at Laduree were also charming and friendly.  They have the sweetest uniforms.

A month ago, when I had a voucher for a mini nail polish at Addiction, the Tokyu dept. store SA was super gracious, even though I didn't have time to shop around and try out products then.  So I really don't understand the attitude of the Laura Mercier SA.  It's a pity, as I like the Mercier approach to makeup, and the markup of the products in Japan is not as obscene as other foreign and domestic brands.  However, I would rather have avoided the whole unpleasant experience instead of getting the free sample of hand cream.

On the bright side, this has totally killed my desire to continue shopping during the new years sales, so my wallet is happy.

I ended the day with some fruitless clothing shopping and a stop at the Pandan Leaf Cafe in Printemps Ginza.  The egg tarts and rare cheese tarts are excellent!  The kaya toast is pretty good too, but it's quite different from what they serve in Singapore (toast is thicker and not as crispy at Pandan Leaf Cafe).

Maquillage fall collection - Moisture Rouge

I tried on the tester for Maquillage's Fall collection with Alexander Wang today. I love trying out brand new testers. I wiped it off afterwards in a futile attempt to not completely contaminate it for other customers. Isn't it funny that the fall collection goes on sale July 21st? I'm definitely not in the mood for fall right in the middle of summer!

The limited edition red RD536 Moisture Rouge is very pretty. It's a sheer red (being Sheer Type), but pigmented enough that it's quite distinctly a red lipstick (faintly on the berry side), but not too strong to prevent it from being easy to wear. However, the color does sink into dry spots on my lips. So far it's been an hour and a half and the color is staying on pretty decently. I'm rather tempted to buy it, as it is quite a wearable red. I must admit that it is a bit cooler than I would like, as I'm looking for a more neutral red. Still, it's quite wearable and I think it suits me.

I'm also tempted to buy the dual mascara/liquid eyeliner in green released by Maquillage this summer. They're not limited edition though, so I'll wait 'till I use up (somehow!) my Kanebo Lunasol Geminate liquid eyeliner, as the fun colors are really only appropriate for after work.

mini review: Heroine Make Mascara Volume and Curl

Overall: meh, not for me.  Mascara that smudges just isn't acceptable.  Fibers can be irritating if not smoothly applied.

Pros: Holds curl well, fibers do help build volume.  Fairly easy to apply formula.

Cons: The fibers can get clumpy if you're not careful.  On rainy days, definitely smudges.  Fibers were irritating my eyes when I applied the mascara in a hurry.

The brush is pretty big - I can't decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing.  I think I prefer tapered brushes - this one is shaped like a dumbbell - big on both ends.  It worked pretty well though.

mini review: Heroine Make Mascara Volume & Curl

The big brush is a bit unwieldy, I find it difficult to apply without clumping.  It certainly holds a curl though.  Heroine Make mascaras are popular, but they just don't seem to work to my taste.  I suppose I prefer formulas that are less clumpy.

Shiseido Limited Edition Camellia Compact

I want this Camellia Compact from Shiseido!

It's gorgeous! And it's sold out on Shiseido's online shop! Argh.

Update: I called my nearest Shiseido counter, and they still had 1 unit! So I reserved one, and dashed over during lunch.

The friendly saleslady applied it on me so that I could see how it looked. It's lovely! Swirled together, it's a lovely soft red; a natural flush that suits my coloring very well. It's a soft blush - the included brush picks up pigment quite easily. Although gold sparkles are visible on the pristine blush, it seems to be mostly an overspray, as the tester they used didn't show nearly as much of the scattered gold sparkles. The white is a soft, shimmer-less white that does not seem excessively pigmented - the SA didn't need to blend after applying this powder to my skin.

At 4200 yen, it was easy to purchase. I'll just cross some other blushes off of my lemming list. It also comes with a flat soft brush in a separate light plastic case.

On my lemming list is the Zen White Heat Edition limited edition eau de parfum; a very wearable white floral. It's sold out online, but definitely still available at counters. It's certainly more interesting than the Maquillage holiday perfume, which seems to be a forgettable fruity floral.

On the inaccessible lemming list, there's a limited edition fragrant camellia oil Koyu (dead link: http://www.shiseido.co.jp/koyu/) made from the famous white camellias of Goto island off the coast of Nagasaki, Kyushu. Goto is also famous for their delicious Goto udon - prepared with camellias. The Shiseido oil, labelled Euthrixine (dead link: http://www.shiseido.co.jp/koyu/history/index.html) as a nod to the 1898 hair oil launched by Shiseido, smells delicious - white camellias, according to the SA - but being an oil, the fragrance does not last. A soft whisper is lingering an hour after applying. Camellia oil can be used to moisturize the skin and add shine to the hair. Sadly, this particular oil will set you back 10,500 yen, which is a bit difficult to justify.  Despite the price, it seems popular, as the counter I visited only had one more unit left to be reserved.  Reserved!  Not even actual stock, but reservation spaces!
2013/01/07 update: Sadly and annoyingly, Shiseido seems to have taken down their pages for Koyu, but you can still see an image at Elle Japan.

It's pretty dangerous to work near a department store.

Kumanofude Select Shop Ginza Branch 熊野筆セレクトショップ銀座店

Just an update with more information on the cosmetics and calligraphy brush brands carried by the Kumanofude Select Shop Ginza (熊野筆セレクトショップ銀座店). Located on the 2nd floor of the TAU Hiroshima Satellite shop in Ginza, it carries about 470 different types of brushes.

Among the brands that are carried:
Kyukasangyo
Koyudo
Tanseid
Chikuhod
Nakamura
Mizuho Brush

Phone: 03-6228-7813
Hours: 10：30～20：00

http://www.fude.or.jp/j/kobo/selectshop_ginza.html has a nice map to the store.

Glossybox Japan September box

Last month's Glossybox was quite a disappointment - small samples from brands, some of whom I'd never heard of.

This month's box is a bit more generous - a sample kit of BareMinerals, and more generous samples from a few brands.  Also a perfume sample of DSquared2.  As I love perfume samples, this is fun.  Amazingly, I've never tried BareMinerals either!  The Japanese pricing is off-putting, but I'm happy to finally get a chance to try one of the pioneers of "mineral makeup."

I'll update with comments and pictures when I can.

Happy October First!  The typhoon passed and the weather right now is lovely.  Chance of rain in the evening though.

Update: photo of the contents:

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

The Revlon balms have arrived in Japan!  They've brought 6 colors here, for 1260 yen each.
Citrine, RougeDeluxe, and Worship at the House of Blues have good reviews for this product, so I'm quite curious to try them out.

I will probably hold off on purchasing them in Japan, as the current exchange rate means that they're charging the equivalent of 16 USD for one, when ulta.com has them for less than 6 USD right now! 

Argh, I may have to place an online order. Because, I haven't enough lip products, y'know?

FYI: silica is different from silicone

Silica is silicon dioxide. Silicones are produced from silica.

Not to be confused with the metalloid chemical element Silicon.

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicone

Nanoce BB moist cream

I could be wrong, but I think this Nanoce BB moist cream (no.2 healthy ochre) is breaking me out a bit.  Of course, it could be the Allie sunscreen that I'm testing out too, but I'm definitely seeing a few more pimples than normal.

It's too bad, as I rather like the coverage level of this cream.  It's definitely better than Hada Labo bb cream at covering up redness and dark circles.

peach lip concealers

Note to self: peach lip concealers wash me out terribly - straight brown, beige or orange shades flatter me much better than beige-pink - too much pink just isn't good.

Still, the concealers are good for softening my too-orange and too-pink lipsticks.

I'm tempted to go through all of my cosmetics and divide them into 2 piles:
1) can't live without
2) everything else

And then rotate the category 2 stuff weekly at work.

It can make for surprisingly fun combinations.

New Chikuhodo shop in Ginza, Tokyo

Wow, Chikuhodo has opened up a counter in the Kumanofude Select Shop (熊野筆セレクトショップ) located on the 2nd floor of the Hiroshima Antenna shop in Ginza!
The Japanese informational page
It looks gorgeous; I should drop by and gaze at the lovely brushes.

Iman, trailblazing while retails lag behind

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2012/06/iman-black-women-do-buy-liquid-foundation.html