Makeup Monday: Versatility with MAC Fluidline

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Fluidline in Silverstroke. Image courtesy of maccosmetics.com

I have loved MAC‘s Fluidline since it was launched.  My first purchase was Blacktrack, which is (of course) flat black.  At first, I only used Fluidline as a a liner.  It has amazingly long staying power, and doesn’t transfer to my eyelids.  A little goes a really long way.  Normally, I apply it with the 231 brush or Billy B’s brush eleven because it is more dense and rigid.  It really all depends on the look I am going for.  Just run the tip of the brush through the Fluidline (it has a gel liner consistency)–you don’t need to use too much– then apply it as you would any other eyeliner. 

Image courtesy of maccosmetics.com
Image courtesy of billybbeauty.com

I got to thinking about it.  I am always looking for makeup that has multiple uses.  For instance, some shadows make great highlighters, and some blush hues work great on lips.  Of course, you have to make sure that the color(s) is/are safe for all areas.  I digress.  I decided to try out Fluidline as an eye base, so I purchased one of the lighter colors.  Normally, I use Too Faced or Urban Decay primers, but I figured that Fluidline had such staying power that it would probably work.  Just a little Fluidline applied to the eyelids is all it takes.  Wait just a minute, then apply your shadow as usual.  I would avoid applying any shadow right away because it may clump up, and who needs that?!  Anyway, Fluidline will ensure that your work of art stays put through it all.  You can also use any color just on the eyelid for a more subtle look.  Even though it is not necessarily cost-effective, Fluidline also works great when accenting body paint. 

Do you have a favorite versatile beauty product?

Stay beautiful!

Makeup Monday: Feeling "Ageless" with Harvey Prince

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Image courtesy of birchbox.com

I don’t know about you, but every time I smell a fragrance, something comes to mind.  For instance, Kai reminds me of spending the weekend at my grandparent’s house.  When I smell Hello (Harvey Prince), I picture a girl riding her bicycle with a basket on the front.  It’s spring/summer, and she is wearing a sundress, riding her bike down a fence-lined dirt road to meet her friends for a picnic.  One of my new favorite scents is also from Harvey Prince, properly titled Ageless.  They were kind enough to send me a roller to try out, and I LOVE it!  Ageless is a fresh, uplifting scent that is great for any occasion and any season.  It smells like fresh grapefruit with a hint of mango and very light floral undertones.  HarveyPrince.com (2015) states:

“Ageless is inspired by recent studies conducted by the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, which find pink grapefruit and mango to be the olfactory antidote to aging. The fragrant notes disguise the familiar scent of age, caused by the breakdown of particular fatty acids in your skin.”  

When I wear Ageless, I instantly feel revitalized (yes, I know that sounds odd, but I do)– I am transported to an orchard of grapefruit trees.  It’s a beautiful day along the coast, and we are fruit-picking at the local farm.  In reality, however, I am standing in the bathroom, and it’s all just a dream.  It’s long been said that grapefruit makes one look and feel younger; maybe there is something to that.  Ageless makes me feel like anything is possible!       

You, too, can have your very own mini roller!  Feel ageless all year long (or until it runs out).  Just click here, and follow the instructions.  “Limit 1 Ageless Mini Roller per customer. Offer valid while supplies last.”

Reference

HarveyPrince.com.  (2015).  Ageless mini roller EDP.  Retrieved from http://harveyprince.com/index.php/womens-fragrances/ageless-mini-8-8ml-eau-de-parfum.html#.VSwrWUaoeHl

Giveaway with Harvey Prince!

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This time, the giveaway makes everyone a winner!  I have teamed up with Harvey Prince, and all of you will get the opportunity to have your own, FREE, mini roller of their eau de parfum, Ageless ($21.00).  It is fast becoming one of my favorite scents.  The perfume is like a walk through a grapefruit orchard, with the slightest hint of pomegranate and mango, floral undertones.  It is fresh, uplifting, and will leave you feeling ageless.  All you are responsible for is the shipping/handling.  Here are the steps:

1.  Head to the Harvey Prince website.
2.  Add the Ageless mini roller EDP to your basket.
3.  Enter the code “agelessbeauty”.
4.  Continue the checkout process.

I hope you all enjoy the fragrance as much as I do.

Stay beautiful!

**Limit 1 Ageless Mini Roller per customer. Offer valid while supplies last.**

While I was Away

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I know I’ve been away for a couple of weeks.  I’m still recovering from whatever this bug is that’s going around.  I also lost someone very close to me, and it still hasn’t really sunk in.  Every day I keep thinking that this person is going to call, and that it will have been a horrid April Fool’s joke…but I know it’s not.  This person was my aunt.  Not by blood (we’re cousins), but I consider her my aunt.  She had done so much and had been such a huge supporter of everything I ever did.  We had planned to take a trip together over summer like we did–oh it’d have to be about 10 years ago now.  If there is something I have learned from her passing, it is to really step up and take care of myself.  While I do not have (and hope to never have) diabetes, it does run in our family.  So does heart disease and cancer (thanks genetics), and she passed from diabetic complications.  For those of you out there who are diabetic and do not manage it, please do.  The outcome is not worth it!  Your life means something to someone, and if you are too lazy or just plain don’t care, it’s very selfish.  I’m not saying that my aunt didn’t take care of herself on purpose or that she planned this, because she didn’t.  I am saying that if you have any sort of health problems, make sure to stay on top of it.  See the doctor(s) regularly and tell them EVERYTHING, even if you think it’s insignificant. 

Sorry for the rant.  I realized that I was probably not making sense anymore and needed to stop.  At any rate, I am back now, and will have a couple of posts per day to make up for the past couple of weeks.

Stay beautiful! 

Jet-setting in Style with ZUCA

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Pro Travel. Image courtesy of zuca.com

One of the best purchases I have ever made was my ZUCA ($295.00).  I’ve had mine for almost 10 years, and it looks nearly brand-new.  So far, it has been with me on every trip, from the States to Japan, and everywhere in between.  Since I only travel with carry-ons, this is the perfect travel companion.  All of my clothes fit (I use SpaceBags to save space) as does my toiletry bag, shoes, and anything else I need.  The fragile items go in my backpack.

Pro Travel w/ Inserts. Image courtesy of zuca.com
Image courtesy of zuca.com

 ZUCA is super lightweight due to the aluminum-alloy frame, and no matter what the terrain, it is easy to pull.  The only downside is that it does not have 360-degree wheels…but it couldn’t.  If it did, there would be no way to sit on it!  I love the fact that I can use it as a seat anywhere.  No chair?  No problem!  It will support up to 300 lbs.  The main insert bag is removable and washable.  Not all ZUCA bags are carry-on compliant.  The artist is, and has the following dimensions:  19.5” height, 10” width, 13.5” depth.  There are several styles to choose from:  Mini, Pro Travel, Flyer, Pets, and more!  ZUCA comes with a cover (not pictured) and inserts (pictured above) that will fit clothes, computer accessories, and anything else you plan to take in your carry-on.  There is also a TSA-approved clear bag for all of your liquids.  There are a plethora of accessories, such as coolers, rain guard covers, etc. in various colors and designs.

Another product I love from them is the Artist backpack ($139.00).  It is a functional way for MUAs and hairstylists to tote their tools.  There is even a place for hot tools (i.e. hairdryers, curling irons, etc.) on the side pouch.  All of the makeup, brushes, etc. that I need to take on location fit in the backpack.  It conveniently fits on top of your ZUCA.  Each Artist backpack comes with two inserts that are perfect for organizing your kit.  Yes, ZUCA is expensive, but they last.  Prior, I had three other rollers that did not last but maybe a year.  They also have a warranty, so be sure to register your product(s). 

Image courtesy of zuca.com

Image courtesy of zuca.com

  

Growing Up Hapa

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Image courtesy of pinterest

Okay, I know the term “hapa” was not originally meant to be a positive term, but it honestly doesn’t bother me.  I never thought that growing up as half Japanese and half White would be a plus until I was older.  Growing up I was surrounded by kids who were “whole”.  They were White, Black, Hispanic, you name it, but very rarely did I encounter anyone who was mixed.  As a child, I remember being asked, “What are you?” and being told, “You’re weird.”  That had a profound affect on how I identified, and did a number on my self-esteem.  I was never a “whole” anything, and I so desperately wanted to be like everyone else.  My bestest-best friend is also mixed, but she moved away when we were still in grade school.  It also didn’t help that my White side was far less accepting of my being mixed than my Japanese side (I’ve always felt more connected to them)…not all of my White relatives, but many of them.  This is going to sound incredibly racist, but large groups of White people freaked me out, even when it came to family reunions.  Luckily I no longer have that problem.  My brother looks White, but since I don’t I was always told I “looked weird” by some of my White relatives.  Of course, being young I didn’t understand that it wasn’t me who was weird; it was them.  My experience being mixed led me to write a literature review in undergrad that focused on the effects of being mixed on adolescent behavior. 

I never chose (and still don’t choose) friends based on race/ethnicity.  We are all human; you get along with some people and others, well, not so much.  The first time I was told that I couldn’t be friends with someone because of my ethnicity was in high school.  By that time, I could handle people thinking I was weird for being mixed.  I was not, however, ready for that kind of racism.  Of course I knew it existed…I just didn’t think it would affect me.  There was The Hapa Project awhile back, which I decided to participate in while it was at JANM (Japanese American National Museum).  They took a Polaroid, and asked us to answer:  “What are you?”  I thought, “…human, of course!”  In the process that is life, I have learned to accept and love the fact that I am different.  I have also learned that I am “whole”.  I am 100% hapa and 100% American! 

Hopefully those of you who are struggling will know you are not alone.  If you are mixed, have you experienced anything like I did?

The End of Downton Abbey

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Image courtesy of PBS.org

I am so sad to see reports (this one is from PBS) that Downton Abbey‘s last season may very well be its 6th.  I don’t think that Julian Fellowes, nor anyone else, thought it would become such a successful and influential series.  Downton Abbey has become a global phenomenon.  While I can see the series go on indefinitely (and who wouldn’t want to see how the family changes up into the 21st century?) I can understand why it may take its final bow.  It can be good to “quit while you’re ahead”.  Rarely does a show make you feel a part of it.  I don’t know how to explain it, but when I watch it, I feel like I am emotionally invested even though it is television program.  Maybe it’s the writing or casting, I’m not sure; it just has this air about it. 

Downton Abbey has shown all of the changes in fashion, language, dance, gender roles, hierarchy, and the change in how households were run.  Even though it is not a historical drama, the show does a good job of making sure that everything is as historically accurate as possible.  It is so interesting to see how major events sculpt the future, and how each character adapts to change.  Each character has his/her own way of coping and handling situations, whether it is destructive or constructive.  Unlikely friendships have formed, love is in the air, and who knows what’s to come?!  While it would be wonderful to see the series last and lead into the 2000s, sometimes it is better to end on a high note. 

It has been exciting to see the lesser-known cast members branch out.  Michelle Dockery acted alongside Liam Neeson in Non-Stop, Lily James is now known for her lead role in Cinderella with Sophie McShera as Drisela, and of course Alan Leech has been involved in several projects.  Even if this will be their last season, I am hopeful that they will have a reunion special in the future.  It would be great to see where all of these characters are later on down the line.  What will become of the downstairs staff?  What about the engagement of Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes?  Will Mr. and Mrs. Bates have children?  Will Dr. Clarkson step in and profess his love for Isobel, or will he let her marry Lord Merton?  How will life be for young Sibbie and George?  What will happen to the estate?  Will Thomas ever find love and accept who he is?–I have a love-hate relationship with this character because of his actions, but have such sympathy because he can’t just be himself.  I guess only time will tell.  

What are your thoughts on the series possibly ending?

Wellness Wednesday: Let’s Talk Periods

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Some things should be kept private, but this is an exception.  Until recently, there wasn’t much talk on what we experience during periods.  “Aunt Flo(w)”, “rag”, “The Red Tide”, call it what you will…nobody likes periods.  Okay, maybe they are, in general, a relief to get at times, but overall, they suck.  I, personally, experience low back pain and a sore chest.  There are times when my back hurts so much that even laying down is uncomfortable.  My chest swells and is so sore that it hurts to just take a shower or wear a bra (so glad they have padded sports bras now!).  I will never forget an experience I had one night at Disneyland.  My “twister” and I were walking towards the Jungle Cruise.  It was quite crowded, and this guy next to me was talking to his girlfriend.  He said something to her and stretched out his arm, whacking my right in the chest.  I grabbed my chest and thought I was going to pass out…He looked over, eyes as wide as saucers, and couldn’t be more apologetic.  His girlfriend hit him, asked if I was okay, and gave him a ration of crap.  Anyway, I couldn’t fully blame him.  There were a number of factors, but it still sticks in my mind.  

Not to go into too much detail, but I figure I’d give a synopsis of what my body goes through.  The week prior is when the chest soreness and low back pain starts.  First, it’s there, but not too noticeable.  As the days go on, the pain gets worse.  I haven’t had cramps or headaches associated with periods in probably 20 years, which I am grateful for.  Once things start to flow, my chest soreness lessens and the swelling begins to subside.  However, I can’t say the same for my back.   In fact, as I type this, I keep hoping this grossness goes away.  It will in a week.  I am fortunate because it is only heavy the first 3 days, then it’s almost nothing for the rest of the week.  Oh, and did I mention I gain 10 pounds (and insane bloating)?!  It’s ridiculous.     

So many women I know experience heavy periods the whole week, and have days where they can’t even get out of bed.  I have been so lucky to not have it that bad, and can’t imagine what that is like.  I used to use Pamprin or Midol, but they don’t work for me anymore.  One way I help alleviate the effects of the symptoms is through yoga.  It sounds weird, but all of the stretching and relaxing really helps, especially with the back pain.  The type of pad also helps.  I really like the Target brand (ultra thin, with wings, of course!) because they stay put.  We are so lucky to have options.  I remember when they only had those huge brick-like pads…they were awful.  Anyway, does anyone remember the curved tampons?  Those were to the only type I used, and when they were discontinued, I never used them again.  When things become spotty, I love the always brand liners because they have adhesive all around and conform to you.  I also keep some wipes on-hand because you never know when you will need them.  Kudos to all women who survived periods (and those who still live) without all of these wonderful products.  I don’t know how they did/do it!    

Image courtesy of target.com & always
Image courtesy of target.com

  

Image courtesy of target.com & always

 always says, “Have a happy period,” but it’s difficult.  How do you cope?

Makeup Monday: Billy B’s Makeup Brushes

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Image courtesy of beautylish.com & Billy B Beauty

So, I wrote about the Billy B makeup brushes when I first purchased them years ago (I want to say it’s been about 10, or near it).  Now that is has been awhile, I thought I would update you on whether or not they are still kickin’.  Billy Brasfield (Billy B) is an amazing makeup artist who made a name for himself, and has worked on a plethora of celebrities throughout his career.  He has also been an inspiration to countless aspiring MUAs, and I love his work.  

Anyway, he had (literally) just come out with these amazing makeup brushes, and those who attended the seminar were the first to be able to purchase them.  From what I remember, they sold out.  Anyway, I have used them on photo shoots and sets, and they have not fallen apart yet.  Each brush is very well made, lightweight, and the short handle makes them very travel-friendly.  The retractable lip brush has a wonderful enclosure, so you can rest assured that junk won’t adhere to it.  The brushes are numbered 1-13 (in the order below), and my favorites are 8 and 9 because of their versatility.  I can line, shade, highlight, contour, you name it, with those two.  Of the brushes, the number 3 has started to lose its bristles, but it has had a lot of wear.   Aside from that, they look the same as the day I purchased them.

Over time, you learn what does and does not work.  For instance, nobody really needs an extra large powder brush…what on earth would you need it for, aside from dusting the shelves?!  Okay, maybe if you’re doing body work, but still, it’s not a necessity.  The density of Billy B’s brushes are damn near perfect, and each brush can be used to create a wide array of looks.  Most brushes are labeled something like “Foundation”, “Eyebrow”, “Highlight”, etc., but that doesn’t mean it can be solely used for that purpose.  I can’t tell you how many brushes I have that have some sort of label, which I never follow.  One of my favorite brushes to use on lips is actually marketed as an eyeliner brush.  That is why I love his number system, and why he chose that sort of labeling.  It allows the consumer to decide how s/he will utilize each brush.  These invaluable tools are available on beautylish.com.

 

Mr. Billy B!  Image courtesy of Billy B.

Today is a Beautiful Day!

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The sky from right out my front door

Today, “sunny Southern California” isn’t so sunny…at least, not yet.  It is quite overcast, and I love it.  It’s one of those, “I should go to the beach!” days.  Most people find it gloomy, but it is a welcome change from the 90-degree weather we have had lately.  Maybe I will go to Disneyland…or just head out for a stroll.  At any rate, I wish I was outside.  I am not, by any means, a fan of cold weather (and yes, I mean 65 and below), but this is lovely.  Maybe it’ll be a good day after all.