Beauty related posts.
I’m finally in the position to do a review on this palette, since I used it exclusive for the entire 2 weeks I was on vacation, as it was the only eye shadow product I packed with me. š
The Tarte Tartelette Tease palette normally sells for $25 but I bought it during the April VIB sale for $21.25. It contains 6 shades, each weighing 0.85g for a combined total palette weight of 5.10g
I’m really back-logged with my posts as you can see, as this was meant to be posted before I left for vacation, but I didn’t have time to take photos. Ah well, better late than never! š
So I wasn’t really planning on doing much makeup shopping before my trip but I’ve been finding some AMAZING stuff at Winners! I just couldn’t NOT buy this stuff:
Burberry! Armani! Nars! Paul & Joe! Nail polishes from the newest collections! I couldn’t even fit everything into the frame. Ā š Ā I’ll start off with the craziest (aka the best!) things:
This post is sooooo late. I posted about the Body Shop Flash Sale back on May 11th – it was a one day sale for 50% off on makeup. I bought the makeup items that same day but didn’t get around to posting it until now… only 6 weeks later! š Ā Last week I also got 2 more items as they were having 50% sale on clearance items. So in total, these are my recent Body Shop purchases:
Yup, more nail polishes, what else is new? š Ā More details on what I got…
I’ve fallen into the trap of ordering Avon again. They’ve got the cycle down pat: when I receive my items, they always include the latest Avon catalogue – and of course, I always flip through the catalogues – who doesn’t like to look through a mini magazine of makeup? Here are my recent orders:
I ordered these in May and received them when I returned from my trip.
Ok, back to regular programming on the blog for a bit. I’m really backlogged from my May posts. I did a bunch of makeup hauls right before my vacation that IĀ need toĀ catch up on before the end of the month so I can get back into my groove. š
LancĆ“me isn’t a brand that I normally get too excited over, and I’m not sure why. But one fateful Sunday in late May right before my vacation, I went into Shoppers Drug Mart to buy some shaving gel for the SO and stumbled upon a beauty event where there was a live DJ and mocktails being served. They were having a bonus points weekend and there was also a gwp at LancĆ“me. So I ended up with these:
Yes, yet another palette! What’s happening to me?! Ā This was a completely unplanned beauty purchase. I blame the lychee mocktail they plyed me with. š
Today I’ll discuss some of my observations and experiences in shopping for makeup in Japan. Hopefully this will help someone out there who might be taking a trip to Japan.
First thing. There are SO. MANY. BRANDS.
It’s overwhelming! In an average Canadian drugstore, there may be about 8 key brands. In Japan, there’s at leastĀ doubleĀ that amount. And some of them look so similar, it’s hard to distinguish between them (cue joke about how all Asians look alike š ) I spent some visits in the beginning just surveying my options and noting down potential buys without buying anything – I didn’t want to buy things I’d regret. As far as I know, there are no returns on makeup in Japan.
Yeah you were all waiting for this, weren’t you! š
Personally, I didn’t think I went completely overboard with makeup shopping. For one thing, I was supremely worried about wandering around Tokyo at night by myself to go shopping. Why I had to go shopping in the evenings was because my days were filled with sightseeing! And then,Ā by the evening, I was so tired from walking around all day, I didn’t spend too much time shopping. Ā Also, I was shopping rather critically: lots of Japanese makeup is super sparkly and sheer. If it wasn’t something I’d truly use, I passed on it – so that left me with a more narrow band of items I’d spend my money on (not to mention, haul home). Ā Here’s what I got:
CANMAKE
ā¢ Marshmallow Finish Powder in MO Matte Ochre and MB Matte Beige Ochre
ā¢ Cream Cheek in #05 Sweet Apricot and #14 Apple Cream Red (I swear I had another shade in my basket but it didn’t make it home with me!)
ā¢ Gokubuto mascara (volumizing)
ā¢ Gokunobi mascara (lengthening)
ā¢ Colourful Nails polish in #33 Pink Glitter
ā¢ Lasting Multi Eyebase WP (eye shadow primer)
I had some ideas of brands I’d want to look at when I was in Japan. I originally glossed over Canmake as being too girly for me. But it turns out their products are quite well reviewed and very reasonably priced! I ended up researching a lot on @cosme awards (which seems to be the Japanese makeup Bible) to find out which items to try and several of these were award winners. I do wish I’d gotten more cheek products – they have so many cute ones to choose from.
I’m a very light packer when it comes to makeup during vacation. I’ve learned over the years that I end up not using at least half of what I pack when I give myself too many options. While on holidays, I essentially stick to one makeup look. Ā Here’s my makeup menu for the next 2 weeks:
ā¢ Lorac Behind the Scenes Eyeshadow primer
ā¢ Shiseido Sheer & Perfect Foundation in O20 – I debated about which foundation to bring (the Vincent Long Water Canvas was a contender) and this one ultimately won out because it contains SPF, wears well, and can be applied with fingers.
ā¢ Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector – the glass pot is too cumbersome to pack with me so I’ve scooped out a little bit into this tiny sample container (review here)
ā¢ Shiseido Natural Finish Cream Concealer in #2 Light Medium – I also debated about which concealer(s) to bring. At first I was going to bring a separate one for under eye and another for general face concealing. This one is a good all-around concealer – I don’t love it for under eyes but it’s workable. Unfortunately, I think this concealer is discontinued.
ā¢ MAC Chromagraphic Pencil in NC15/NW20Ā – I compromised by bringing a concealing pencil – I like this concealer pencil for pinpoint concealing and it’s handy for highlighting the brow area or inner eye.
While I tend to pack light for my makeup, I don’t skim when it comes to skincare when I travel. Ā I amĀ fastidious in my skincare regime and I still maintain separate products for day and night time.
This is why it’s important for me to hoard travel sizes of my favourite products when I find them! If not, I just decant them into travel size containers.
Just a few months ago, I’d never met another blogger but then I met fivezero! šĀ And just this past weekend, I met THREE more bloggers! Ā I met Jodi of A Brash AttitudeĀ andĀ Cat of MyLipAddiction, and then Polished and Inspired!!! š® Ā And of course, we didĀ some makeup shopping! š Ā Here’s my collective haul:
Nothing is more fun than shopping for makeup with other makeup addicts! š
stash matters 