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!
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!
Even though my subscribers have asked me for daily vlogs, almost all my days consist of work and Beau. Yes, that's it. There's really nothing glamorous or entertaining about my everyday life! I wear glasses and sit in front of the computer or my camera. That's why I always emphasize that Instagram and Facebook and other social media outlets are merely a highlight reel. It's not real life. But this month was unusually different! I actually had something to vlog about!!
Firstly, a lot of you have been asking about my weight loss. It's hard to believe, but it's all thanks to changes in my eating habits. I do walk Beau a few times a week, but I haven't been to the gym at all. Basically, I eat less meat and more vegetables + fruit. I try my best to have fresh juice every day. Since it was taking up so much time and costing a lot of money either way, it was time to invest in a juicer.
I chose the Omega first, but I purchased the Hurom thanks to my friend (another enthusiastic juicer) Derek's recommendation. Now that I have had a couple weeks to try both, I decided to return the Omega and keep the Hurom. Although the Omega is easier to clean and creates less foam, I think the Hurom juicer creates tastier, purer juice. It's also significantly quieter.
The Hurom does not struggle with hard veggies like beets or carrots nearly as much as the Omega does. If you are looking for a multi-tasking juicer, try Omega. If you're a strict juicer as I am, try the Hurom! It takes me 30 to 45 minutes every morning to prep the produce, make the juice, and clean the Hurom, but my new health-conscious routine has definitely been worth the effort!
My jaw felt tender and sensitive early on this month, and it was then that I realized my bottom left wisdom tooth had broken the surface. I was talking to my friend Stacey about how hard it is to find a good dentist, so her dentist's office gave me a great referral to the doctor I booked with. My phenomenal surgeon was kind and efficient. The surgery cost me an arm and a leg, but it was worth every penny because the entire process only took 2 hours - incl. x-ray, consultation, prep, sedation, surgery and post-op home care chat).
I was expecting the worst, but thanks to his skilled hands, I experienced only minimal swelling. My wisdom teeth were impacted and touching the nerves, so another dentist warned me that I could even have nerve damage with the extractions. Dr. Park (he's in Santa Monica) reassured me that I would be fine, and I'm so happy that I will go back to him if I ever need oral surgery again.
Now for my super quick trip to Miami! I was there to attend the European Wax Summer Goddess Model Finale, so it was my first outing since my chemical peel and wisdom tooth extraction. It felt great to curl my hair and wear makeup again! It wasn't nearly as hot as the first time I visited Miami, but I was sweating at the event nonetheless. A lot of you commented on my Instagram selfie that my skin looked better and asked for a strobing tutorial, so I have duly noted that request!
And since I've never shown the contents of my awesome Tumi makeup bag, I figured this vlog was perfect opportunity to share! I switch it up depending on where I'm traveling to, but staples such as my concealers and false lashes are always ready to go in this case! I never use everything I carry, but like I mentioned in the video, I bring more because I like having options. I know I never got around to reviewing my ADDICTION eyeshadow palette, but I will try to purchase the new colors and swatch them for you.
You might have noticed my Anya Hindmarch case in my Rimowa carry-on luggage, but I've talked about it many, many times now. I use it to store my liquids such as skin care and hair care as well as face masks. Check out my Tokyo vlog if you want to see what I pack for long flights!
Since I couldn't include all the Tokyo beauty goodies in my new haul video, I decided to share some here! Lots of you requested swatches of the gorgeous cobalt blue Chanel Vibrato nail polish. Yes, it is similar to Dior's Sailor, but the Chanel formula is better. Some cobalt blues can be tricky to apply but Vibrato is silky smooth and creamy without feeling heavy or clumpy. Perfect in 2 quick coats. I highly, highly recommend it! I swatched it next to ADDICTION's Blue Moon, which is more navy in real life and has a slightly translucent jelly finish (as seen below) that is prone to bubbling. I love Blue Moon nonetheless, but Vibrato is brighter and barely requires any clean up around the cuticles because it's that easy to apply. If you live in the USA, don't fret because it is rumored to be released in the United States in September!
ADDICTION on LEFT (ring finger). Please forgive my super dry cuticles! I need to go get a manicure.
A couple of you asked how much less Commes de Garçons PLAY clothing is in Tokyo. I will update this post when I find the receipts. I stashed them away for safekeeping but forgot where. I believe I saved approximately 20% when factoring in Los Angeles tax. It's not a bargain by any means, but it is significantly cheaper considering that CdG Play never goes on sale! The quality is worth the splurge. I do know for sure that the clothes at Uniqlo were half the price of everything they charge in the USA. I bought tees for $5 apiece and awesome comfy pants for about $25 each! Even budget buys like Uniqlo in Japan are so much better in terms of quality — and fit for shorties like me — than your run-of-the-mill Forever21 items (which are absurdly overpriced these days). In general, clothing that is worth the money is hard to come by now! I was lucky enough to go right as the sales were starting, so I also found a few skirts at a steep discount.
I also visited lots of toy and anime shops looking for Naruto plushies, but the convention had just passed so everything was sold out! I purchased mini figurines instead, so once I find a place to display them, I will share a picture. I got lots of random goodies like handmade house slippers and some more Totoro merchandise as well as a slew of drugstore products like salon pas for my backaches! I also stocked up on Dollywink lashes and hair goodies from Honeycé as shown in the video, and as usual, lots of mascaras and eyeliners. I will share my favorites here on the blog soon!!
It has been a couple months since my trip to Tokyo, but I can't stop missing it. Instead, I will have to settle for dreaming of when I can visit again and share all the incredible beauty purchases I made! I saved up for months because my wish list was a mile long. Now, makeup shopping in Japanese department stores is a time-consuming adventure so prepare yourself! Swatching seemed to be highly discouraged, and there is strict 'no returns' policy. The sales associates will open up every box to confirm that you are taking home the color(s) you requested. More details after the jump!
