All posts filed under: 5 Things Friday

5 Things Friday: Japanese Drugstore Finds

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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. 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 …

5 Things Friday: My Favorite Multi-Purpose Products

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On the spotlight for today’s 5 Things Friday are some of my favorite multi-purpose products. They’re basically things you can use for more than one thing. There’s just something awesome about being able to use one thing many different ways. For the makeup bits, here are two products that can be used for the cheeks, the lips, and the eyes: the Addiction Cheek Stick and the OCC Creme Colour Concentrate. I haven’t tried the BECCA Beach Tint on my eyes, but it’s a great lip and cheek product, too. All three remain steadfast favorites in my makeup swamp. Next up, I’ve got bareMinerals Liner Shadow, which I actually primarily use on my eyebrows. It’s a great deep matte brown for both liner and shadow, too. Last but not the least, my tin of the cult favorite Smith’s Rosebud Salve. What can’t this little pot do? I don’t like it as a lip moisturizer, but I use it on dry, irritated spots and my gross cuticles. I have read many other different uses (i.e. hair wax? …

5 Things Friday: Makeup to Try This Spring

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Quite a late 5 Things Friday this week, but I really wanted to put one up so I cobbled this post together. When it comes to spring makeup, I know most people revert to pastels. However, most pastels can look horrible on some people (i.e. me), so I’ve resorted to looking for other ways to incorporate springy-ness to my looks. DEWY SKIN In this humidity, dewy skin seems to be the only option for base makeup, whether or not you wear any. Sometimes, it tiptoes over to the side of greasy, but if you’re lucky (or within the vicinity of decent airconditioning), you can keep it dewy and soft. source ORANGE LIPS This is actually not something I have tried wearing out yet, but with the bombardment of bright orange lips all over the Internet, it’s becoming more appealing. source WHITE EYELINER I think this is a soft and bold way to brighten up and define your eyes. It’s pretty simple to do, too, and matches pretty much anything else you want to do with …

5 Things Friday: Heroic “Extras”

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Todays 5 Things Friday features some extras in my routine that actually make a big difference. I call them extras because they’re not necessary steps to my routine, though they make a ton of difference. 1. MAC Fix+ This is essentially a setting spray to lock in your makeup, but you can also spray this on before makeup application or use it to apply your eyeshadows wet. I know there are many dupes around, but this is the one I have. 2. Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Lash Growth This is a pricier version of the many lash growth serums that have become widely available, but it’s the one that’s suited to my sensitive eyes and it actually works! I can do without it, but no one in their right mind would say ‘no’ to slightly longer lashes. 3. Sara Happ Lip Scrub Again, something easily duplicated with the right DIY recipe. I don’t use scrubs that often, but when I do, my lips—and lipstick application—always thank me. 4. Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream …

5 Things Friday: Fussy Lip Products That I Just Can’t Quit

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5 Things Friday, it’s been a while. I’m trying to make this series a bit more regular, but lifestuff gets in the way sometimes, you know? Anyway, I’m a self-proclaimed lazy girl, which is probably why it’s surprising that I got into this whole beauty thing in the first place. (Check out my lazy girl face here.) However, there are some fussy beauty products that I can put up with, even with all the added effort. L-R: Le Métier de Beauté Colour Core Moisture Stain Lipstick (Miami), Stylenanda 3CE Lip Lacquer (Boom)*, Illamasqua Matte Lipstick (Immodest), Obsessive Compulsive Metallic Lip Tar (Black Metal Dahlia), Guerlain Rouge G L’Extrait (Orgueil) ONE Le Métier de Beauté Colour Core Moisture Stain Lipstick (Miami) This formula is actually one of my favorites for lipsticks, but this color! It’s so unforgiving. I’m unsure as to why I picked this up, and though I like it a lot, it needs to be “matched” to the rest of your makeup and isn’t as flexible as some of my other shades. It also …

5 Things Friday: Natural Skin Care

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This week’s 5 Things Friday features some skin care items on the more natural side of things. By ‘natural,’ I just mean that they are made from relatively a few ingredients that are easily derived from nature. Kinda like a DIY, except someone else did it for me and repackaged them in a convenient(ish) manner. I know there isn’t a lot of variety here, but I think it’s a good place to start!

5 Things Friday: Sheer Lipstick

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In this edition of 5 Things Friday—which I bumped off to make room for some reviews last week—I have my five favorite sheer lipstick formulas, plus a bonus “almost made it in” one! I love sheer lipsticks; they are my first lipstick love. They deposit just the right amount of pigment for some fun and prettiness on your lips, but do without the traditional lipstick feel that deters a lot of people from using lipstick in the first place. They are also super low maintenance, which is always a plus. 1. Lavshuca Dramatic Memory Rouge in RS-01 This is a Japanese drugstore brand that I’m so happy I found on my trip to Osaka last year. This is such a great balmy texture with a sweet berry color, too. As is typical of Japanese lipsticks, this has quite a bit of super fine shimmer in it that translates into a high-shine jelly finish. 2. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy I think this is my third Chanel lipstick, but the first encounter of their Rouge …