I still haven't found time to photograph all my beauty acquisitions from Japan, but I did manage to shoot my Hakuhodo haul. Even though my trip to Japan was a whirlwind of events, I made it my mission to visit the Hakuhodo showroom in Omotesando, Tokyo, and I am so glad I did! The showroom is neat and pristine — consistent with the Hakuhodo tradition. The selection at IMATS is always impressive, but the entire Hakuhodo lineup was truly a sight to behold. I was in heaven! Check out the details after the jump xo
I can hardly believe it has been almost two years since my last favorite brushes video! I have garnered so much knowledge and experience since then, and my skin has been through hell and back, so my brush preferences are rather different. Since discovering the beauty of artisan brushes, I have not looked back. The craftsmanship and attention to detail oftentimes astound me, even if I've owned the brush for a year or two. Each brush is shaped by hand and the natural tips of the fibers are much finer, which ultimately lead to a much softer feel on the skin as opposed to laser-cut hairs. More details after the jump!
Dior's Summer 2014 Transat and Transatlantique makeup is undeniably lust-worthy! The warm tones and divine textures make it the perfect summer collection, and it is indeed one of my favorites. I am happy to share some limited and exclusive products in action and provide feedback on some highly anticipated new additions to the Dior range!
Unfortunately, the Dior Nude Tan Transat Edition and the Rouge Dior lipstick I used in the tutorial are no longer available! I scooped up the gold powder highlighter from the LAX Duty Free Shop, and I purchased the lipstick from Saks. I, however, still highly recommend the other Rouge Dior Nude lipsticks! If you are willing to go more pink, try Swan. These reformulated lipsticks are much better than previous generations.. good riddance to the funky taste and waxy stench!
FYI: The My Lady Cannage Blush I used toward the end of the video is back in stock at Saks!! Get yours now before they sell out again. The Addict Fluid Sticks have also been flying off the shelves since their release, and Frisson is sold out at both Nordstrom and Sephora online (though it is available through other department stores). As I stated in the video, Kiss Me and Frisson are my favorites, so definitely give those a try if you like softer lip colors!
The review ran longer than expected so I cut out the Dior Pore Minimizer pictured above, which is ideal for combination and oily skin. It does keep the shine at bay for a few hours, so I highly recommend giving it a shot if you have found other formulas too drying! The Dior is quite silky and feels luxe, though I would not repurchase it. I personally prefer illuminating primers since I have normal skin and do not have issues with extra large pores, but I occasionally use this on bumpy patches where my acne scars are still healing!
P.S. Don't forget that you can still enter the @RAEVIEW + @STYLEHAUL #MyLuxeLook contest to win a Dior IT-LINE and many more amazing beauty goodies from Chanel and Shu Uemura! One winner will walk away with the $500 prize. Please refer to all giveaway guidelines HERE!
Judging by the list below, I lost all inhibition but left no room for regrets! It was my first time abroad so I was a little overwhelmed by the incredibly vast selection in Singapore, where makeup counters are aplenty and luxury seems to be the standard for beauty. I had saved up for months, so I was in shopping heaven with the multiple department stores [Takashimaya, Tang's, Isetan, etc.] and took full advantage of the situation. I must also thank my lovely friend Leanne for guiding me though the maze of malls and for treating me to such delicious food!
Products Reviewed:
SK-II Skin Rebooster [Hydrating Gel Mask]
SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion [Large 215 mL Bottle]
SK-II Advanced Eye Treatment Film [Eye Treatment]
SK-II Compact for Emulsion Red Stempower Cream Foundation
Guerlain Meteorites My Palette with Radiant Pressed Powder, Blush, Highlighter [Duty-Free Only]
YSL Travel Selection Extremely YSL For Eyes Make-up Palette [Duty-Free Only]
Shu Uemura False Lashes in Farfallina, Dazzling Black Diamante, and S217
Shu Uemura The Lightbulb UV Compact Foundation Case & Refill in 774
Shu Uemura Tsuya Skin UV Under Base Mousse SPF 30 Primer in Peach
Shu Uemura Mika for Shu POREraser UV Under Base Mousse SPF 35 Primer in Beige
Shu Uemura Eyeshadow Quad Case and Refills in ME 906, ME 825, ME 270, ME 280
Shu Uemura G (Glitter) Eyeshadows in White Gold 311 and White Rainbow
Shu Uemura Custom Case Duo in White
Tom Ford Lip Color Lipstick in 22 Forbidden Pink
Dior Gel Nail Polish in 268 Ruban
Dior Summer 2014 DiorShow Mono Transat in 541 Pavillon
Dior Nude Tan Transat Edition Golden Shimmer Powder
Chanel Le Blanc Whitening Makeup Base SPF 35 in 20 Mimosa
Chanel Le Vernis Nail Polish in 555 Blue Boy
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Color SPF 15 in N 02
Chanel Vitalumiere Compact Douceur Powder Foundations in 10 and 20
Guerlain Maxi Lash Waterproof Mascara in Black [now available at Sephora]
Helena Rubenstein Lash Queen WP Mascaras in Sexy Blacks, Fatal Blacks, Feline Blacks
RMK Ingenious Cream & Powder Eyes Duo in 03 Purple
RMK Ingenious Powder Eyes in ME-02 Metallic Gold
RMK Irresistible Lips Lipstick in 01 Peach
RMK Gloss Lips N H-05 Holographic Orange
Koyudo F001 Flower Kabuki with Pink and Blue Bristles
Koyudo H Series Macaron Kabuki Brush in Pink
Koyudo White Kinoko/Mushroom Kabuki Brush
Hakuhodo Short Handled Exclusive B Set - J214 Eye Brush
Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 05 Ole Flamingo
K-Palette Real Lasting Tear Tank in 01 Glamorous Pink
Majolica Majorca Lash King Waterproof Mascara
The Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipstick in PK 376 became a bestseller due to a Korean actress who wore the color in a popular Korean drama, and it sold out completely. I, however, was lucky enough to spot it at the Narita Airport's Duty-Free cosmetics store in Japan! It was unfortunately obscured by all the other products on my desk, so I was not able to include it in the video.. my apologies!
The other products, like the Shu Uemura Premium a/i Cleansing Oil — can be ordered online — and the Clarins Water Comfort One-Step Cleansing Water($35 USD) is available at department stores. Last but not least, the Lancome Absolu Essence/Serum Foundation in 130 Ivoire is another Asia exclusive that I had to cut out due to time constraints. I have heard hit and miss reviews of this product, but it is one of the few full coverage serum foundations available! I will keep you updated if any of you are interested xo
The Sigma F25 Tapered Face Brush has always been my favorite Sigma brush style, and I have accumulated nearly a dozen different variations over the years. The luxurious Copper Extravaganza version featured here, however, simply happens to be the the best of the F25s in my experience. Not only are the copper ferrules very unique (rose gold color), the bristles are quite soft and layered well — especially for the affordable price of $33 USD. The slightly pointed tip and rounded flat sides make this the ideal large powder brush, whether you want to apply powder foundation around the eyes and nose or bronzer into the hollows of the cheeks. I love that this brush style provides control and gives exact placement of product. Check out more details and the giveaway after the jump!
March was a long yet productive month, and as usual, was full of beauty discoveries! I did my best to include as many fresh and brand new releases as possible, but I included some classics like Armani's Luminous Silk as well as St. Tropez's tanning products for good measure. Also, I included a couple more makeup brushes at the end of the video since the reviews are so highly requested! I realize that many of you are waiting on a Hakuhodo brush guide, but I am planning to hold off until I purchase the rest of the brushes on my wish list. My SUQQU Face Brush was finally delivered from Selfridge's after a few months of sitting on the wait list, so you can look forward to seeing a feature here on the blog in April's Favorites video! If you have any other review requests, please feel free to list them in the comment section below xo
Ever since developing an obsession with luxe Japanese-made brushes late in 2012, I have slowly and painstakingly acquired all sorts of gems. Tools may be an investment, but they make a world of a difference in ease of application. The Wayne Goss Face Set ($265 USD) was finally released on Beautylish last month, and I am thrilled to share that it has exceeded my expectations. These brushes build upon Wayne's first collection and are larger since they were designed for foundation, contouring, highlighting, and everything in between. Check out the individual break downs and brush comparisons after the jump!
I always look forward to The Makeup Show! It is a beauty trade show, much like IMATS, but it has a more intimate feel. I was not able to take as many photos as I had hoped, but you can always take a look at my thorough Photo Diary from last year's show HERE! Today, I will focus on sharing my haul goodies, especially since many of you have continued to ask questions about Hakuhodo brushes. I expanded my collection quite a bit, so check out my new babies after the jump!
It is a very exciting weekend for beauty fiends, as IMATS has finally reached Los Angeles! I was fortunate enough to shop on Pro Night yesterday, so I picked up some fabulous goodies. I am saved up as much as I could for Hakuhodo brushes, and I am overjoyed with the performance of the styles I have chosen. Still, I wish I had been able to purchase more!
Don't forget to check out the IMATS Exhibitor Map so that you know exactly which booths to head to. Sunday is a tough day to shop since lots of top sellers will be sold out, so go prepared with a wish list and prioritize your time! MAC was selling all their Pro goods at 20% off, and you may use your Pro Card for additional discounts if you have one that is up to date. Plastic only, must pay tax. Now, Hakuhodo never offers discounts, but I was happy enough that I did not have to pay taxes on my purchases. Don't forget to swing by Velour Lashes and stock up on the best luxury false lashes on the market! I already hoard mine but never hesitate to buy more whenever I get the chance because I'm nutty like that. Last but not least, visit the far left end of the makeup arena to purchase Parian Spirit brush wipes and Violet Voss cosmetics glitters and rhinestoned accessories.
I threw in some non-IMATS goodies by Tom Ford and Urban Decay at the end, so I hope you'll enjoy the variety of products featured! Some new, some Holy Grail.. I promise it's worth the extra few minutes of your time! And if you're attending IMATS tomorrow, best of luck and happy shopping! xo
