Category: Makeup

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Back to the Fuchsia

So it’s Friday night and instead of partying my ass into oblivion, I thought…”I MUST update my new fabulous blog that no one reads.” Because I have a commitment to this, see?

One of my favorite finds from last summer is fuchsia lips. Or maybe it was two summers ago. It’s now being reincarnated as “orchid” which is a little more purple, but it’s the same color family. It’s equivalent to the red lipstick of summer. Unlike coral, it cannot be mistaken for red lipstick. It’s sophisticated yet daring. Universally appealing yet more updated than red. It’s a flash of color on your lips. And you can get away with wearing no other makeup. It’s fking poetry!

My lazy ass is too…well, lazy, to do a bunch of crazy pics so you will be the basic three shots. Here are the steps:
1. Line with Revlon Colorstay lip liner in “Neutral”
2. One coat over lips of Mac lip primer

3. Two coats of Smashbox’s”Fuchsia Flash. I used the pointy tip of the lipstick to draw the edges of the mouth.(http://www.sephora.com/be-legendary-lipstick-P304704)

Continue reading “Back to the Fuchsia”

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Office Face

Umm, so yeeeaaaahhh, I’m gonna need you to put on some more lipstick . . .

Today I bring you all the pink things in my office.  (And actually, I missed some scissors, tweezers, and lip gloss.)

Above, see them posing seductively next to my hawt pink pens (OK, so the Dr. Grip is really mauve).  Now check out some sizzling swatches. Continue reading “Office Face”

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The Dior Lip Show: Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm Review

Time for another Dior lip product . . .

01 Dior Lip Glow

I’ve been using Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm ($32) for so long that I remember when it was only $28.  (It goes up a dollar about every year.  ::grumble::)

I stock up on these during Sephora’s sales.  It’s also currently 10% off at Nordstrom through Tuesday (June 10th) as part of a big beauty and perfume sale (which includes newly released products such as the Dior Addict Fluid Sticks–see my review–and Dior Addict It-Lash mascara and eyeliner). Continue reading “The Dior Lip Show: Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm Review”

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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).

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).

 1d415-img_3216a5751-img_3215 Continue reading “Be Stila my heart – Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Cobalt”
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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): Continue reading “PSA (Pretty Service Announcement): Where to Buy Asian Makeup and Skincare”

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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.

Continue reading “HD Baby One More Time! Makeup Forever HD Foundation Invisible Cover Foundation”

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My Lips from the Star Tutorial a la Cheon Song-Yi / Jun Ji-Hyun (Using Laneige Serum Intense Lipstick in LR07 Love Me Pink and TonyMoly 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 (played by Jun Ji-Hyun), 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 (played by Yoo In-Na), 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.

Continue reading “My Lips from the Star Tutorial a la Cheon Song-Yi / Jun Ji-Hyun (Using Laneige Serum Intense Lipstick in LR07 Love Me Pink and TonyMoly Tint in Cherry Pink)”

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Mascara Must-Have: Anastasia Lash Genius Review

Hi, world and Google footprint!  Angela here.  I like to think I’m the softer side of TheDurianGray BeautyandtheCat. . . we’ll see.  It’s the first day, and I’m still up at 1am blogging.

For my first post, and because it’s freakin’ 1am, I wanted to start off with something simple and easy to photograph.  So today I’m introducing you to a little known item that I can’t live without: the clear waterproofing topcoat for mascara.

The title of this post is a little fib as it’s not a must-have for everyone.  But it sounded better than “Mascara Must-Have for a Narrowly Defined Demographic and Just Optional for Everyone Else.”  If you read on, you might recognize yourself as a member of that lucky demographic, and if so, this just might be life-changing info.

You see, the bane of my makeup existence has always been my hooded eyes.  Sometimes referred to as Asian eyes (even though many Asians don’t have them) or monolids (which are actually different), hooded eyes mean that my poor lashes are constantly touching my upper lids.  The constant friction and oils from my skin inevitably cause the melting of any mascara within an hour.  Yes, even waterproof mascara.  Yes, even after applying a great eye primer (Urban Decay Primer Potion) and powdering the area.

So what’s a mascara-loving girl to do? Continue reading “Mascara Must-Have: Anastasia Lash Genius Review”