All posts tagged: addiction by ayako

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? …

Makeup Inventory: Addiction Cheek Sticks

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Presenting… my latest iteration of my Addiction Cheek Stick inventory. These are possibly some of my favorite makeup bits ever, and I’m trying really hard not to buy everything from the range. If you aren’t familiar, Cheek Sticks are multi-purpose products by Japanese brand, Addiction by Ayako. Ayako was a makeup artist that worked closely with François Nars (of NARS, duh), which probably explains a lot of the brand’s aesthetic direction. Cheek Sticks can be used on the cheeks, lips, and even eyes (though they are not crease-free). In a span of a year, I have amassed five different shades, all of which I love. From lightest to darkest, I have African Sunset, Tea Rose, Rose Bar (my newest one!), Revenge (my first one!), and Suspicious. They are swatched in the same order below: The most versatile one, in my opinion, is Rose Bar, though I am able to use Revenge pretty much anywhere also. It’s just a less agreeable color than Rose Bar. Tea Rose was a fast favorite and was in rotation for …

Traveling: What I Brought Along vs. What I Should Have Brought Instead

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I have always been an overpacker. As a child, I would tote incredibly heavy bags filled with shit I didn’t need. I used to carry a DSLR, a laptop, and all my books and notebooks to school as a college freshman. Over time, I’ve learned to take only the essentials with me (usually), and on my last trip to Japan, which happened about two weeks ago, I thought I did a great job of streamlining everything—at least, when it came to my makeup bits. I didn’t want to deal with a proper base, so aside from my moisturizer, I brought along the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (review), which I’ve been setting with the Le Métier de Beauté Eye Brightening and Setting Powder (review). I’ve also got a small bottle of the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (review) and the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Palette (review) for the rest of my face. For eyes, I’ve got my MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork, the NARS NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette (review), and the Le Métier de Beauté Anamorphic Lash Mascara …

My Addiction Addiction: Spoils from Japan, 2014

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I did it again. Here are some of the things I picked up from Addiction on my last trip to Jay-pan. With the intention of possibly picking up the new quad in Departure, I ended up walking away with three single eyeshadows (Rigoletto, Sand Dune, and Truffle), a cheek stick (Rose Bar), and a lipstick for my sister (Vamp). I’m a big fan of Addiction’s Cheek Sticks, and Rose Bar brings the number I have to 5. Cheek Sticks are multi-purpose products for use on the eyes, cheeks, and lips, but I found that all of them work best as cheek products. Rose Bar is a beautiful neutral shade that’s a great deal pinker than Tea Rose, which I already have. As for the eyeshadows, which everyone knows I can’t resist, I picked up 3, bringing the total of my Addiction E/S singles to 8. Rigoletto is a beautiful sheeny pale peach. It is absolutely gorgeous. I was not ever intending on getting this, ever, except swatching it was like a revelation. I could just …

Autumn Blush Picks

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I don’t usually discriminate makeup as seasonal only, but from time to time, I get swept up by the vibe of various holidays that my makeup just follows suit. Here are some blushes that I’ve been tending to reach for lately. L-R: Addiction Cheek Stick (Tea Rose), Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush (Exposed), MAC Extra Dimension Blush (Fiery Impact), NARS Blush (Sin), Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush (Blushing Bride), BECCA Beach Tint (Raspberry), Addiction Cheek Stick (Suspicious) I tend to go neutral (to pair with a vampy lip) or with plums and berries if I want to wear a nude or neutral lip. I’ve been laying off the corals and pinks right now, but I can’t say for sure if that’s due to the seasonal changes. What blushes have you reaching for lately? Is it seasonally inspired? Do share!

Favorite Fall Lipsticks: Berries & Reds

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Here are some of my favorite fall lipsticks. Whenever I think of autumn & the holidays, my mind reverts to the vampy and the berry shades that I have. These are a bit on the pricier side, but if you don’t want to spring for a darker lip that you don’t know you can wear everyday, I’m sure you can get ideas and search for dupes if you find one that tickles your fancy. 🙂 L-R: MAC Plumful, NARS Vendanges, Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Antigone, Snoe Beauty Plum Crazy, shu uemura x Karl Lagerfeld Luxe Burgundy (LE), Guerlain Rouge G L’Extrait M69 Orgueil, Addiction by Ayako Lady of the Lake, Le Métier de Beauté Hydra-Crème in Signature, Chanel Rouge Allure in Envoutante Here they are on the lips, for a better idea of how they wear: Ol’ Reliables are Orgueil, Vendanges, Lady of the Lake, Signature, and Envoutante. Plumful is also pretty reliable, though I find that I have to be in a certain mood to wear it. Luxe Burgundy pulls too red on …

Addiction by Ayako Eyeshadow in Safari Mode

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Ah, the last Addiction eyeshadow in my possession to be reviewed: Safari Mode. This is the most gorgeous muted khaki I have ever laid my eyes on. Unlike the greens in NARS’ Paramaribo, this comes off a lot less golden. Still, it has a beautiful sheen. It’s a shade that’s beautiful when worn alone, but also looks lovely fading into a neutral base. It’s a great alternative to common browns, beiges, champagnes if you want to venture out into the world of color but don’t think you can wear blues or pinks yet. It’s also a great companion to both cool and warm tones, I think, because it’s just so… agreeable. The texture, as is usual with Addiction, is phenomenal. Safari Mode is on the outer half of the mobile lid, as well as the inner third of the lower lash line. The darker green is NARS’ Night Clubbing, another beautiful deeper green. My Addiction singles count is currently at 5, and I currently have three quads. I would love to buy more (one way …