SK-II Clear Beauty Enamel Radiant Cream Compact and Artisan Brush Review, Photos

I first talked about SK-II's latest foundation release in my Best of J-Beauty review, but so many of you were interested in it that I decided to delve into the details! It's a phenomenal cream compact that offers medium to full coverage.

TOP 5 | My Holy Grail Powders + Recommendations for All Skin Types

I've always loved powder, but now that my skin has fully transitioned from combination to normal/dry, I have become a lot more picky about which powders I wear. I also wear far less powder than I ever have. Depending on the foundation formula and weather, I can skip powder altogether!

I usually like to dust on a little around parts that get shiny or break down faster — like between my eyes, on my smile lines, and on my chin. I try to wear powder all over my face only when the weather is hot, or if I'm filming or attending an event. After trying hundreds over the years, here are my Top 5 picks and the brushes I use them with!

Guerlain Meteorites Pearls (classic silver tin)

Guerlain Holiday 2015 Pearls (more expensive due to packaging)

Wayne Goss Face Brush

Chikuhodo Z Brush

Guerlain Meteorites Pressed in 03

Tom Ford Bronzer Brush

Burberry Fresh Glow Powder Foundation
Chikuhodo Takumi Brush
Wayne Goss Round Brush

Burberry Nude Pressed Powder

Chikuhodo Takumi Angled Brush

Armani Luminous Silk Powder Foundation

Chikuhodo GSN Brush

Chikuhodo Makie Brush

I tend to stick to my favorites because I know exactly how they perform in varying environmental conditions. None of these powders settle in my fine lines or emphasize pores and other imperfections. Here are some other alternative options, however, if you'd like to branch out and explore some different brands! A lot of these are tried and true favorites that I have played with over the years, even if I cannot wear them any more. 

Dry Skin:

Smashbox Halo Loose Powder Foundation // La Mer Loose Powder // Cle de Peau Loose Powder // Laura Mercier Mineral Powder Foundation // NARS Light Reflecting Loose

Normal to Combination Skin:

Chantecaille Loose Powder // Laura Mercier Loose Powder // Hourglass Ambient Lighting // Benefit Hello Flawless // Bobbi Brown Retouching Loose Powder // BECCA Mineral Powder Foundation

Oily Skin:

Lancome Dual Finish Powder // Dolce and Gabbana Matte Powder Foundation // Gucci Finishing Powder // Makeup Forever Super Matte Loose // Urban Decay De-slick Mattifying Powder

Plenty of women around me, whether they are friends or family, have combination and oily skin. I use them as (very willing) guinea pigs to see what I think performs well on their finicky complexions! I understand how frustrating it can be to spend money on an expensive product that may or may not work well, but makeup is a trial and error process, just like most others. Enjoy the journey and remember to have fun!

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PRO TIPS | Q&A Session with Burberry Make-up Artistic Consultant Wendy Rowe

I have been fortunate to know Wendy Rowe, Burberry's Make-up Artistic Consultant, for a couple years now. She is one of the kindest, most down-to-earth, refreshing and humble talents I have ever met! Since many of you are interested in pro tips and tricks, she was kind enough to sit down for a Q&A session. 

Your burning questions were incorporated into this interview, so I hope you find what you're looking for! Many thanks to Wendy for being so helpful and Burberry for allowing me to use their lovely photos xo

Laura Mercier Candleglow Collection + Kajal D'Orient Reviews, Photos, Swatches

Many Holiday offerings have rolled out already, but I wanted to slow down the pace with a few more new releases. Laura Mercier is holding a Friends and Family Sale right now, so I wanted to focus on her latest Candleglow Collection and trendy take on eyeliner. Check out the swatches of these fall releases after the jump!

GIVEAWAY | Win Japanese + Korean Beauty Goodies! #ASIAWEEKXRAEVIEW

As a finale to my very first series, I wanted to celebrate with a quick little #asiaweekxraeview giveaway! I apologize this post came later than scheduled, but I had family and personal matters to contend with, so thanks very much for your patience!

REVIEW | My Must-Have Foundations + Powders for Fall 2015

Now that Fall has arrived, it is time to start rotating our makeup as well as our clothing, shoes, and fragrances! My skin's condition does not vary much unless I'm flying often, but since I have normal to dry skin characteristically associated with cooler weather, I wanted to recommend these eight base makeup products this season.

Nordstrom just launched their first customer interactive Foundation Finder, so give it a whirl if you have tried all my favorites already! It will allow you to filter product results by skin type, coverage, finish, or a combination or all three. I've been tinkering with it for a week now, and the recommendations have been surprisingly accurate! My picks sorted by coverage after the jump xo

HAUL | Makeup + Skin Care from S. Korea!

Today's #asiaweekxraeview installment will be dedicated to a Korean beauty haul, one of the most highly requested videos during this series. Korea is a unique beauty space because the brands and products are still catching up to Japan's prestige labels and variety of goods. But I truly loved shopping in Korea because I was able to discover many brands I had never even heard of or had only seen online via bloggers! 

I have to hand it to Koreans because the majority of skin care and makeup is significantly more affordable than Japanese brands, but the quality is still excellent. I am very impressed with Piccasso (lashes not brushes), Vidi Vici (everything), O Hui (skin care), and Aritaum (unbelievably cheap) — chosen based on overall performance + price. And yes, Sulwhasoo cushions are still my favorite, despite having explored the best of Hera, Iope, etc.

K-beauty "road shop" brands like Tony Moly are super affordable!

Of all the luxury and high end and drugstore/budget brands I learned about and tried on my Korea trip, I felt those 5 brands were the most exciting and had the most to offer. The haul is long, and the sun was setting as I filmed, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless!

M A K E U P  W O R N

Burberry Powder in Porcelain

Sulwhasoo Brightening Cushion

Vidi Vici Concealer + Blush

Louboutin Rose du Desert Lipstick

ADDICTION Eyeshadows

Burberry Liquid Eyeliner

Burberry Blush in Earthy

MAC Upward Lash Mascara

Shu Uemura Eyebrow Pencil

Wayne Goss The Brow Set

Hair:

T3 Micro SinglePass 2 + GIVEAWAY

Plaid:

Rails LA Button Dress in XS

Also, please watch my S. Korea Travel Vlog above in case you missed it! It was a surreal experience to visit the birthplace of my grandparents for the very first time. I feel so much more connected to my Korean roots since my trip, and that is largely the motivation behind all these K-beauty posts. I hope you've enjoyed my first series and don't forget to come back again tomorrow for an international surprise!! 

R E C A P

K-Beauty Brow Tutorial  / /  K-Beauty Pro Tips + Secrets  / /  Best of K-Beauty in America

Japanese Beauty Exclusives  / /  Tokyo Shopping Guide

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TOP 5 | K-Beauty Pro Tips and Secrets for Perfect Skin + Makeup

We are winding down #asiaweekxraeview with a highly requested Korean skin and makeup guide. After seeing a few professional makeup artists in action during my S. Korea trip, I gathered some valuable information about how K-beauty's glowing skin and effortless makeup is achieved. Even though the "no makeup" makeup look seems easy, it's deceptively complex because a restrained hand requires more training and practice. 

REVIEW | Best of K-Beauty + Sephora Giveaway

Today's #asiaweekxraeview post will be dedicated to the K-beauty trend in America! I am so proud and excited to see small Korean beauty brands' growing presence on one of my favorite beauty sites. Sephora has made many strides to become a cutting-edge retailer, but I'm most happy that they have been the first to fully embrace K-beauty and are working hard to make Korean beauty products more accessible to Americans! Let me walk you through my favorite products after the jump xo

TUTORIAL | K-Beauty Straight Eyebrow Tips + Wayne Goss The Brow Set

I've recently made the transition to straight brows! Many of you have left comments on YouTube and Instagram telling me how much you love the change, so I filmed a tutorial to show you how I've flattened my arch to mimic the signature K-beauty look.

My eyebrows are naturally faint and sparse and grow very slowly, so creating a straight shape is still an ordeal. Luckily, the Wayne Goss Brow Set and Shu Uemura's iconic eyebrow makeup makes the transformation possible! More tips and tricks after the jump!

TOP 10 | Best of J-Beauty Review

We continue Asia Week with a top ten edit, specifically for all those who have been waiting to hear about Japanese beauty exclusives! Narrowing down this list to just ten products was much more difficult than I imagined, but I truly believe this review will steer you in the right direction when shopping in Japan. I've spent an obscene amount of money on testing phenomenal, mediocre and even downright awful products since my first trip to Tokyo this year (in January), so I'm going to share what I've learned and highlight the most memorable of the lot. Get ready for J-Beauty heaven after the jump!

TRAVEL 101 | My Tokyo Shopping Guide ♡ Beauty, Food, Duty-Free + more

Let's kick off Asia Week with a shopping guide! After 3 trips, I am now familiar enough with Tokyo to share where to find the best product selection. Tokyo remains my #1 destination for makeup and skin care, especially for exclusives and ultra luxe brands. The language barrier can be intimidating, but sales associates in Tokyo are always so accommodating and have, for the most part, always gone the extra mile to help me.

REVIEW | T3 Micro SinglePass 2 and Convertible Collection + GIVEAWAY

I've used T3 Micro for over a year now, and I have fully converted all my tools with good reason. I was first introduced to the brand through my hair stylist. Since then, I've met many other celebrity stylists like Danilo, who rave about the lightweight blow dryers. T3 Micro has, however, stepped it up a notch! They revamped their SinglePass straightener and introduced a new line customizable clip/clipless curling irons. Check out my favorite combination below!

T3 SinglePass 2 1" Styling Iron

T3 Twirl Convertible 1.25" Curling Iron

T3 Whirl Trio (Wand + 3 Barrels)

› T3 Polished Curls Clip Barrel 1.25"

› T3 Tousled Waves Tapered Barrel

M A K E U P  W O R N

Sulwhasoo Brightening Cushion in 23

Burberry Blush in Earthy

Burberry Liquid Eyeliner

MAC Paint Pot in Nice Composure

MAC Upward Lash Mascara

Shu Uemura Eyebrow Pencil

Shu Uemura Brow Palette in 02

Louboutin Lipstick in Bengali

Now it's time for the giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a brand new SinglePass 2 Straightening and Styling Iron. Please note: you must complete all five entry requirements in order to win. Good luck! xo

Giveaway powered by Hellowave

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REVIEW | September 2015 Beauty Hits and Misses feat. K-Beauty!

I am so incredibly excited to share this Favorites episode with you because I have some big news. Starting tomorrow, my blog and youtube will be dedicated to ASIA WEEK! I will post daily content (yes, for an entire week) dedicated to best of Japanese and Korean beauty. Stay tuned!!

And although I've rekindled my relationship with primers and have discovered a new "hair bestie" aka the best curling iron set-up, I did run into 2 powder compacts that really failed to impress me. I also reveal top Korean makeup artists' secret to beautifully groomed brows.. Please watch the video below to hear about the best and the worst of September Beauty! 

Products Reviewed:

Christian Louboutin Lipstick in Bengali

Shu Uemura Smooth Out Primer

YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer

Burberry Fresh Glow Powder Foundation

Burberry Nude Glow Pressed Powder

Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion in 23

Sulwhasoo Brightening Cushion in 23

Sulwhasoo Compact Powders

Shu Uemura Eyebrow Pencil

SUQQU Eyebrow Pen

T3 Clip Barrel 1.25"

Makeup Worn:

Sulwhasoo Brightening Cushion in 23

Laura Mercier Lip Parfait in Papaya + Guava

Burberry Blush in Earthy

Burberry Liquid Eyeliner

MAC Paint Pot in Nice Composure

MAC Upward Lash Mascara

Shu Uemura Eyebrow Pencil

Shu Uemura Brow Palette in 02

Blouse:

Ruffle Detail Polka Dot Silk Shirt

Hair:

T3 Twirl Convertible 1.25" Curling Iron

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