Category: Makeup

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Chic Cheek – Lavshuca Dressy Glow Cheek blush

New amazing makeup brand alert: Lavshuca. I want Lavshuca everything. I compulsively dropped this into my shopping basket while doing the binge cosmetics trip in LA and what a find! This is perhaps the TOP makeup item I’ve discovered this month. And I’ve purchased a lot of shit.
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At $20 and a tiny container you would think it’s overpriced and nothing special. But this blush. Oh my this blush. First the container is exquisite. It comes with a puff with a little ribbon loop to hold on one finger, a separator so that the powder doesn’t get all over. Everything is embossed with pink lace (including the surface of the blush powder) AND the color is magnificent. One pat on the cheek and you’re ready to go. Such intense color and pigmentation. Continue reading “Chic Cheek – Lavshuca Dressy Glow Cheek blush”

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Good Vibrations: Vibrating Foundation/BB Cream Puffs + Review of ElishaCoy Puff

^Hehe, BB cream puffs . . .

A couple of years ago, I purchased some vibrating makeup puffs. At the time, vibrating puffs were fairly trendy in Korea and were packaged with BB creams and foundations in sets. During my recent Asian cosmetics shopping spree though, I hardly saw any vibrating puffs. However, there are plenty of options on eBay and other websites.

01 ElishaCoy Make-Up Artist Digital Foundation ReviewThe big advantage that vibrating puffs claim to have is the ability to smoothly blend and apply foundation/BB cream/skincare in light, even layers–especially compared to finger application. Check out HopeInABlog’s comparison of various puffs for more info.

02 ElishaCoy Make-Up Artist Digital Foundation Review Continue reading “Good Vibrations: Vibrating Foundation/BB Cream Puffs + Review of ElishaCoy Puff”

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More Cushion for the Pushin’: Laneige BB Cushion & HERA UV Mist Long Stay Cushion Reviews

01 Hera UV Mist C21 Laneige BB Cushion Light Review Laneige BB Cushion in Light ($34) and HERA UV Mist Cushion Long Stay in C21 (Cool Vanilla Cover) are basically sisters. They’re nearly identical in shade and finish: a peachier NC15 and a satin finish that remains a little sticky unless you powder over it. The coverage of both is buildable to medium: capable of evening out skintone, covering redness, and softening (but not concealing) the look of spots.

This is one of the rare instances where Renee and I have the same item. Renee has the Laneige BB cushion in a slightly darker shade. She likes the even, natural, and luminous finish and the light to medium coverage.

05 Hera UV Mist C21 Laneige BB Cushion Light Review

Continue reading “More Cushion for the Pushin’: Laneige BB Cushion & HERA UV Mist Long Stay Cushion Reviews”

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It’s Getting Warm in Herre: Lunasol EX02 Warm Coral Collection Eyeshadow Palette Review

I may or may not have squeed when I saw this Lunasol eyeshadow palette from Lunasol’s 15th Anniversary Summer Eyes collection. (Spoiler alert: I squeed.)  EX02 Warm Coral Collection contains five beautiful shimmery shades. What drew me to this palette were the orange and pink shades. Browns, taupes, and beiges are usually what make up a natural eye makeup look, but interestingly, the trend in Korea calls for light pink and orange instead. After seeing some Korean tutorials and ads using pink and orange eyeshadow, I have to say that I see the light.

01 Lunasol EX02 Warm Coral Collection Eyeshadow Review
Taken indoors. Colors are accurate, but the full shimmery glory is not revealed

Continue reading “It’s Getting Warm in Herre: Lunasol EX02 Warm Coral Collection Eyeshadow Palette Review”

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Hit me Babyface One More Time – It•s Skin Babyface Petit Pact

Asian cosmetic packaging is so damn cute. It’s not always the fanciest or most sophisticated, but it’s always so miniature and nicely compartmentalized. Gets me every time.

Behold the Babyface Petit Pact which is a mini compact powder. It’s only about 2 inches in diameter! Great for nights out when you have to fit your massive phone, credit cards, ID, and makeup refresher staples into a teeny clutch. Don’t get me started on chicks with big purses at bars and lounges.
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Continue reading “Hit me Babyface One More Time – It•s Skin Babyface Petit Pact”

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My Laneige Serum Intense Lipsticks from Another Star: Review of YR25 Neon Orange & LR07 Love Me Pink

I first grew curious about the Laneige Serum Intense Lipsticks because Cheon Song Yi (Jun Ji Hyun) applies shade YR25 Neon Orange in one episode of “My Love From Another Star.”  In that episode, she’s shown sitting at her vanity with the whole range of Laneige Serum Intense Lipsticks organized before her, and she selects this shade to wear before meeting up with Do Min Joon.

So naturally, I bought the exact same lipstick.  While I was at it, I picked up LR07 Love Me Pink.  01 Laneige Serum Intense Lipstick YR25 LR07 ReviewThe lipsticks have a creamy texture that melts onto your lips.  The finish is moist and shiny.  Coverage is medium and buildable to full.  Due to the creamy texture, lasting power is just so-so. Continue reading “My Laneige Serum Intense Lipsticks from Another Star: Review of YR25 Neon Orange & LR07 Love Me Pink”

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Lash Out! – déjàvu Fiberwig Extra Long Mascara

I almost never wear mascara. I used to…until several incidents where I over-crimped the lashes on one eye and all of them broke off and stuck onto the curler. It looked like my sleeping eye was on the curler!

But enough about that fiasco. Occasionally I will try a new mascara because I am inspired by an ad or because I need a new product to be excited about. Most of the time the overpriced tube of mascara (Estée Lauder lash lift mascara-discontinued, Dior Show waterproof, Max Factor, etc) gets tossed into my 2×4 foot makeup bin.

This is the next one: déjàvu Fiberwig Extra Long mascara. I got a combo set which came with a tiny tube for the bottom lashes. Squee! Cute!
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Continue reading “Lash Out! – déjàvu Fiberwig Extra Long Mascara”

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Top Korean Beauty YouTube Channels

In no particular order, below are my personal favorites that I’ve come across for keeping up with Korean beauty products and trends (good reviews and swatches, frequent posting, well produced). My method for discovering Korean beauty gurus on YouTube is quite haphazard, so I welcome your comments on your faves.

I did briefly consider posting everyone’s “My Love from Another Star”/Cheon Song Yi tutorials, but instead I picked some of my favorite videos spanning different looks and topics.

Updated March 2015

1. Meejmuse (English)

Jen used to live in Australia and teach children but is now a K-style reporter for Arirang TV in Korea. Blogger turned TV personality? An inspiration to us all.

Her TV segments (also in English) are assembled in a playlist under her username. For example, care to learn about men’s makeup?

2. So Young’s Beauty Room (Korean w/ English subtitles)

So Young’s videos showcase a lot of the latest trends in makeup. Continue reading “Top Korean Beauty YouTube Channels”

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You Go, Curl! Best Lash-Curling Mascaras for Hooded/Asian Eyes

After extensive (and expensive) trial and error, I’ve narrowed down the universe of mascaras that hold a curl the best. Hint: They’re not Chanel, Dior, Lancôme, Fiberwig, Josie Maran, Revlon, . . . I could go on. Even mascaras that specifically claim to hold a curl cannot always pass my stringent test.

01 Non Lash Curling Mascaras
All no go! Actually, the Fairydrops and Fiberwig might have been OK at curling but not consistently enough to warrant a recommendation

Maybe I’m asking for too much. I rely on my mascara to lift my hooded eyelids, which sliiiightly enlarges my eyes (relatively speaking; no one’s going to mistake me for a tarsier).

01a Best Lash Curling Mascara
A great mascara can hold up hooded eyelids, creating a (small) faux crease. My real crease is tucked underneath my eyelids.

Well anyway, if these work for me, they will surely work for ordinary lash-glamming needs. Continue reading “You Go, Curl! Best Lash-Curling Mascaras for Hooded/Asian Eyes”