All posts tagged: japanese cosmetics

Quickie: Canmake Powder Cheeks in PW05*

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The Canmake Powder Cheeks* is a powder blush that is probably always in the shadow of Canmake favorite, the Cream Cheek. As a fan of the cream formula, I had high hopes for this product. Recipients of the November BDJ Box got a chance to try this, since it was included in that month’s box. PW05 is a super pale peach shade with a smattering of very fine golden shimmer. You can see here that it is quite pale and borders on dangerously ashy territory on my recently tanned skin. Swiped on the cheeks, though, it’s quite nice. Because of the shimmer, it lends a pretty, subtly warm sheen to the skin. It certainly isn’t the most pigmented blush on the market right now, but it’s something that’s easy to wear and pull off. The texture is silky and quite buttery, but it’s not a soft blush. Compared to the Cream Cheek, it is definitely not as pigmented. Here I am wearing the Canmake Cream Cheek in CL01, which is one of their shimmer-free jelly-ish …

FairyDrops VolumeBurst Mascara (Film Type)

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Here’s a quick review of FairyDrops VolumeBurst Mascara (Film Type), which I got way back in April when I went to Japan. I only opened it fairly recently, as I was trying to finish up some mascaras before cracking open a new one. Predictably, I was super excited to use it, but I quickly found out that the formula was way too goopy for me. Dejected, I set this aside and didn’t really reach for it all that much, but determined, I wanted to see if I could make it work for me. FairyDrops is kind of like an elusive unicorn, especially for mascara-lovers in the Western side of the world. To my knowledge, very rare shops carry (or have carried) this brand, but those who have tried this favored it over other mascara formulas. I randomly picked this one up, without knowing which type it was, but the VolumeBurst mascaras don’t seem to be the most raved-about formulas from the FairyDrops range. I think these mascaras are identifiable by their weird, caterpillar wands, comprised …

shu uemura Stage Performer Instant-Glow Immediate Radiance Skin Perfecting Cream

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What this product is is a mouthful! This is actually my sister’s but we sometimes borrow each other’s makeup bits. She has a lot of base and concealer-type things, while I have an abundance of eyeshadows, so it works out. Anyway. This is the freaking best. We were at the shu uemura counter because my mom was replenishing some skin care items that she tried out and liked. And then this caught our eye. I don’t normally stray away from the color makeup offerings, but I saw this and I thought it was a new product. A review I read of this said that it’s usually stashed with skin care. My sister and I were so amazed at the luminosity it provided. Out of the tube, it looked a lot like The Body Shop’s BB Cream that I used to have—a white cream with brown particles suspended in it. I suppose they’re pigments that kind of “explode” upon blending, lending a bit of tint and color to your complexion. Blended out a little, the sheen …

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 …

shu uemura Glow On Blush in Soft Mauve 225

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Here’s a tricky little bugger. I bought the shu uemura Glow On Blush in Soft Mauve 225 after seeing it on a beautiful blogger, who sang it praises and I WANTED THAT GLOW. I wanted it! Unfortunately, I forgot to take into account the difference in our skintones, hers being quite pale. I am not pale. So. There. I had such a big problem with this blush, because it was so light and didn’t want to show up, no matter what I did. Enter, the Illamasqua Blush-Up Brush: It’s a dense, stiff brush that is just perfect for people like me who insist on wearing too-light colors. Ta-da! Aaaand here is a very heavy swatch: Soft Mauve 225 is a really pale lavender and it looked to be like the impossible dream. I don’t get a “true-to-pan” color on my cheeks, obviously, but I like the effect it lends. I’ve yet to try it under a cream, neutral base, but I’ve worn this mixed with other blushes, to great results. The blush itself is a …

Quickie: Addiction by Ayako Cheek Stick in Suspicious

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Ah, the last Cheek Stick I have in my possession—Suspicious. This Cheek Stick is not like the rest. It’s a little bit on the dry side and can take a bit if work to blend out. Still, it’s a gorgeous one to have if you sometimes like to have a deeper flush on the cheeks, with a but if a contour thrown in. Like most of the Cheek Sticks I own, it has no glitter or shimmer; Suspicious is just a delicious deep burgundy red. For the initiated, Cheek Sticks are multi-purpose products that you can use on your cheeks, lips, and eyes. I only like them on my cheeks, but for that purpose alone, they are amazing products. On the face, it’s not so severe-looking and you can definitely wear it out without drawing too much unwanted attention, though I find that it is also great for drama if that’s something you might be looking for. Because of the drier texture, I wouldn’t use it on my lips except over a heavy layer of …

Majolica Majorca Mascara Smackdown: Lash King vs. Lash Expander

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My first foray into mascaras included the Majolica Majorca Lash Expander. Since then, I’ve tried one other Majo Majo mascara, Lash King. They’re two of the mascaras that have worked well on my stubborn Asian eyelashes, but how do they compare against each other? Let’s start with the wand, which is one of the most obvious differences. The Lash Expander has a double-sided comb with teeth that are spaced differently—one side to pack on the mascara and the other to separate the lashes. I don’t find them to be anything special, really. When I use the separator side, my lashes do separate but they become spindly, too. I prefer the wand of Lash King, which looks more like the traditional mascara wands out in the market today. It’s a long, fibrous brush that’s tapered at the end. It can be a challenge to maneuver but nothing that’s exceptionally hard. I like how this coats my lashes more. Lash Expander Frame Plus 12 (Blue) Here is a photo I’m which I use the Lash Expander in …