Latest Posts

(Another) No Makeup Makeup Look: Bright Eyes

Published by

“No makeup” makeup has a strong presence in the beauty world, and the opinion on this is split into two factions: the people who appreciate and love it and the people who don’t see the point. Over the last few months, I’ve gotten several anonymous comments about how my makeup is being “wasted” and is useless because you can’t detect it on my face. (That’s a whole other story.)

I’m personally a fan of the no makeup makeup look. There’s nothing wrong with enhancing your features and going for subtlety. Understated is good. Plus, there are actually people who can’t wear wild makeup looks to work. I am not one of those people, but I still dig these looks. Also, I don’t really feel comfortable with the thought of someone actually being able to see foundation, etc. on my face. Why on earth would you want that? I would not wish that upon the most annoying of the people I am annoyed at. I don’t really have evil foes.

Read More

Wish it were real: Rijks Muse Make Up

Published by

A few days ago, my friend Angel posted a link on my wall… and then I lost my shit. Check this out, my friends: Rijks Muse Make Up!

The Rijksmuseum is located in Amsterdam and it is one of the most well-known art sites there. It houses beautiful paintings by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Monet, among others. It’s a fairly small museum, but it’s very Dutch. I went in 2012, and it was amazing. One of the coolest things about the Rijksmuseum is their website! It is very interactive, and it has an awesome section called Rijksstudio. To celebrate Rijksstudio’s first anniversary, the Rijksmuseum launched the Make Your Masterpiece design competition where everyone was invited to create an offshoot or remix the works found in the Rijksmuseum’s collection. More here.

Rijks Muse Make Up won first place! It’s basically a fictional makeup line designed by Asnate Bockis and Rogier Arents. The “range” is inspired by 5 pieces in the Rijksmuseum’s collection.

Rijks-Muse-HR1

The makeup line Rijks Muse is inspired by the colour palettes in five women’s portraits from the Rijksmuseum collection, including Vermeer’s Woman in Blue Reading a Letter (1633) and Portrait of Alida Christina Assink (1833) by Adam Kruseman. The product line is based on three artistic techniques as they can be used to render human expression: sculpture (foundation), drawing (make-up pencils) and painting (eye shadow box). The designers say the name represents women in art: “the woman in art is like a muse.”

The winning design will be on display at the Rijksmuseum from 17 April to 22 July 2014, along with the works of the other nine finalists. The museum is also looking into the possibility of producing the Rijks Muse line for sale in its Rijksshop.

“It is a fabulous idea backed by a strong design, good presentation and a very fitting name.” Taco Dibbits, jury chair and Director of Collections at the Rijksmuseum

Rijks-Muse-HR12-1007x711

Rijks-Muse-HR13-1007x711

Rijks-Muse-HR14-1007x711

rijksmuseum makeup

Rijks-Muse-HR16-1007x711

Isn’t this just perfect? I have never been so excited about something that wasn’t real. (Lol, that’s not true, but I am pretty freaking excited about this.) I do think that I have cause to semi-celebrate, though… “The museum is also looking into the possibility of producing the «Rijks Muse» line for sale in its souvenir shop,” according to Fold.

This is probably my most-anticipated makeup collection, to be honest. I hope they end up making it… because I want everything!

Follow me: Bloglovin' • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube • Facebook

Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Correcteur Concealer

Published by

Le Metier de Beaute - Peau Vierge Concealer - Medium - Pen

Ahhh, another Le Métier de Beauté product again this week. Don’t mind if I do!

I received the Peau Vierge Correcteur Concealer in Medium ($95) in my Beauty Vault VIP March box. It’s something I’ve been eyeing for a while now, but never really followed through with, because it’s so damn expensive.

Product Description: “This luxuriously creamy concealer has the power to naturally cover flaws as it corrects them. The formula is designed to work like skincare—it encourages collagen production, diminishes the appearance of dark circles, softens lines, blurs blemishes and tightens the look of pores within a week of daily use. Light-diffusing coverage creates a smooth, luminous, undetectable finish. Broad-spectrum SPF 16 protects the skin from damaging UVA/UVB rays.”

It only comes in two shades, Fraise/Cool and Medium. Much to the chagrin of my fellow BVV subscribers whose skin colors don’t fit in that spectrum. I think it’s kind of weird that LMdB has been sending complexion products (the Face Kaleidoscope, this concealer and the powder in April), when they have specifically stated they would not. Luckily for me, they have all worked on my skin. Read More

5 Things Friday: Japanese Drugstore Finds

Published by

Today’s 5 Things Friday (which I hope I will follow through on forever and ever) features some finds from a handful of Japanese drugstores on my last trip to Tokyo/Osaka. If you have never shopped around a Japanese drugstore, you have never known real joy. (Just kidding.) I think you can tell that I really held back this time around. These are actually pretty practical finds, except for the lipstick… so I’m pretty proud of myself. Heh.

5TF - Jap Drugstore

I actually have six things here, but let me explain. I picked up the MUJI Nail Polish Remover, which are basically just packets of sheets doused in nail polish remover. My polish was driving me nuts, so I was happy I saw these at a Family Mart! I think they might be acetone-free; the formula was definitely more oily than alcohol-y. Next up is the Suncut Water in UV Protect Essence, which is just facial sunscreen. They have an abundance of these. I just picked one up with a high SPF.

I got a 2 for 1 deal the KATE Super Sharp Liner, which Tellie loves (I think?), and these lip products (lip essence in stick and gloss form) from Ettusais that are both cute and have SPF.

My only lipstick purchase! Whaaaat. As much as I love Japanese drugstore lipsticks, I find them to be so similar to each other. This one, Chifure in 240, was cheaper than most of the ones I normally look at in the drugstore (¥ 500+ compared to ¥800-¥1000+), but the color is super pretty. Here’s what it looks like on:
RBR Shadow Play - Face 2

It’s a mostly matte mauve with a bit of very fine sparkle that I don’t even see, except for in the tube.

Anyway, that’s it! I was looking at a lot of other things from great brands like Visée, Canmake, Lavshuca, Kate, Kanebo, Media, Maquillage… I could go on. But, you know, restraint. I must restrain myself. And I think I did. 🙂

Follow me: Bloglovin' • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube • Facebook

Sephora + Pantone Universe Alchemy of Color Face Palette

Published by

Sephora + Pantone Universe - Alchemy of Color Face Palette - Packaging

The Sephora + Pantone Universe Alchemy of Color Face Palette was gifted to me by Klarisse (along with super cute book plates) a long time ago, and I had just gotten a hold of it a few months ago because of scheduling conflicts. This was released back in 2012 (Tangerine Tango was the color of the year)… so, you know, I doubt you can still get this at Sephora. Still, I wanted to share this thoughtful gift, so here we go! Read More

Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Lash Growth Serum

Published by

LMdB November 2013 Box - Peau Vierge Lash Growth

Call me skeptic.

I had practically zero hopes that this would work out for me, despite getting my hands on it. The Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Lash Growth Serum was included in the Beauty Vault VIP Box for November and it’s nearing its last few swipes now, so I thought I ought to review this already.

At $95, this would not be a product that skeptic-me would ever consider in a million years. I can think of literally a hundred things I could buy with $95 instead of this. But, if you’re on the market for a lash growth serum that works and is easy on the eyes, so to speak, look no further.

I have unspeakably short lashes that didn’t hold a curl. Or, I should say, I had them. This is partly why I didn’t use to bother with mascara. What was the point of attempting a Snuffleupagus?

Eye - Front

Eye - 34

I have to say that this is a total game-changer. I use it every other night—since I found a previous lash serum/treatment to be drying—but this is actually so mild that it can be used every night. I just brush it on my upper lash line, and the killer part is that it made a difference on my lower lashes, too. These pictures were taken with the lashes curled, with no mascara.

I kind of dread running out of it, but I’ve got a much cheaper “lash tonic” on the side, waiting to be used. I just hope that it works just as well as this one.

Le Métier de Beauté is cruelty-free. It is available on Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Net-a-Porter, Beauty Bay, and Le Métier de Beauté. These links are affiliate-free.

Follow me: Bloglovin' • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube • Facebook

Graduation

Published by

I got a request for a graduation makeup look, so here’s an attempt. Just a disclaimer: I don’t think I wore a lick of makeup on my graduation day from uni, which was over four years ago. Here are some photos, to humor y’all.

15691_373984300591_3005418_n

(I didn’t style my hair either. Lol. Basically I just didn’t care; I just wanted to get outta there!)

15691_373984280591_7287500_n

And a swanget face with Marb, who I miss and haven’t seen since 2010. 😦

I did not show up for my high school graduation. (I watched She’s the Man in Glorietta instead.) So, you know, I don’t have a lot of experience under my belt, but here’s to trying! I’m going to put together a look that I feel like I would have worn that day if I gave a crap. Read More