All posts tagged: japanese cosmetics

Addiction by Ayako Lipstick in Lady of the Lake

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The last lipstick I got from Addiction is one that nearly got away. It’s called Lady of the Lake, and it’s from the “C” or Color range. I managed to get one per line (sheer, pearl & color), by happy accident, so I can’t wait to use them more and make comparisons as to their longevity, etc. This was going to be “the lipstick that got away.” I already had my eye on Gold Fish and Super Woman, but the lady at the counter saw me swatching the darker shades (that were apparently in the sheer range) and suggested this shade. I asked if I could try this on because I was on the fence about it, and let me tell ya—it was a long process. I think the Japanese have such a high regard for hygiene. They sat me down in front of a mirror, and scraped a bit of lipstick on a spatula. Then, she prepped my lips (which I wish I had gotten) and carefully drew on the super creamy, super pigmented …

Addiction by Ayako Lipstick in Super Woman

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Next up from Addiction is another lipstick (as you can see, I reused the packaging picture I took of Gold Fish’s) called Super Woman. This is part of their “S” or sheer range. Super Woman looks like a scary, intimidating red in the tube. I am shit at determining whether a red is blue-toned or yellow-toned. I used to think I could but there have been way too many times where I go “that’s obviously a blue-toned red” and then some (more learned) jerk says it’s actually yellow-toned. But there. It’s red. That much I know. This is a very heavy swatch of Super Woman. As can be expected from a sheer lipstick, this goes on quite lightly but can be built up to the color that you see on this swatch. When I swatched this at the Addiction counter, my eyes grew wide in delight and I knew I had to get it. I don’t find very many wearable reds, and they usually lean towards purple or plum, so this was sort of a …

Big in Japan: Drugstore Finds, Part II (Tools)

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This is the second installment of my Japanese drugstore makeup exploration. It’s not the most exciting one, because it’s about tools! I’ve “divided” my other purchases into drafts and there are two more coming up so I hope you watch out for those. 🙂 On to the post! MUJI Face Lotion Sheets It took all of my strength (not really) to not buy these here and wait until I was in Japan, where Japanese products are way cheaper. These little capsule things are compressed absorbent sheets of paper that fold out into a scary face mask when you drown them in some sort of solution such as a moisturizer. I don’t have a facial lotion, so I tried one of these out with my MUJI Toning Water, and holy cow! It made such a difference with how moisturized my face felt! Compared with how I usually use my Toning water—just a soaked cotton pad wiped all over my face—this method made my face feel softer and more moisturized. A++++ for me. Majolica Majorca Eye Reset …

Addiction by Ayako Lipstick in Gold Fish

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I did not mean to buy lipstick from Addiction. I was on the look out for their Cheek Sticks and Lip Crayons. On the last day of Japan, though, I somehow wandered to their counter while waiting for Barby and Isa, and picked up this shade and then I had to have it… and two other shades. (But more on those later.) Addiction’s lipsticks are housed in a shiny black plastic and angular tube. You can see the NARS influence even here. Though the iconic rubber packaging is absent, the thin minimalist type is an obvious influence. For now, let me express my love for Gold Fish, a pinky-gold color. If you’ve been reading for a while, you’d know how much I get suckered in by names. Slap a clever, pretty name on a product and there is a 50% chance that I will buy it. Luckily, Gold Fish lives up to its cute name. Gold Fish has a sweet, salmon pink base and almost imperceptible gold flecks. At least, on the tube. Swatched, though, …

Big in Japan: Drugstore Finds, Part I

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One of my favorite places to look for makeup in Japan was your regular ol’ Japanese drugstore. Before leaving, I made a list of things to check out at the drugstore. After a few trips here and there, I’ve found some of my favorite ones (so far). The thing is: the selection at the drugstore is so massive, but it’s so hard to come across a product that sucks. Here are some of the ones I got myself, nevertheless! I decided to just do quick reviews and split them into three or four parts. I’ll save the massive reviews for the more expensive items I ended up getting. 🙂 Lavshuca Dramatic Memory Rouge Lipstick in RS-1 Oh, Dramatic Memory Rouge, how I wanted to hoard you. I saw these first at Kate’s swatch post, and they were on the top of my list to try. I have never owned a lipstick tube so frilly as this: Of course, I gravitated towards the deepest, rosiest shade there was. This is in RS-1, which is a rosy-plummy …