Travel friendly cosmetics in 3 oz.

There are several online beauty retailers that give beauty junkies like me an option beyond the Sephora, Ulta, Space NK, Soap, and several others... The one I'm going to talk about is a beauty site geared towards getting travel friendly sized beauty products ranging from skincare, haircare, and even laundry products, vitamins.
Visit 3floz.com

The favorite feature of the site is the kits available based on skin type. I like this Air Repair kit - it contains a cleanser, a facial mist, eye cream, a beauty balm, and a rescue balm. A complete set for keeping your skin hydrated for air travel. This is a must-have if you are traveling globe-trotter. I'm not traveling anywhere by plane this holiday season but next year, I'm going to be racking up some trans-Atlantic-Pacific mileage and will most likely order this to carry on with me on those long 20 hour flights.

I'm also a fan that the products on their site are from brands that I covet in my medicine cabinet. Go Smile, AHAVA, Malin + Goetz, Murad, Oscar Blandi, The Laundress, Tocca, Fekkai, etc.
I'm sure that you'll find a brand you recognize within the offerings.

Beauty gifts to give the women in your life

Beauty gifts are a no-brainer to give women around the holidays as a main gift or a stocking stuffer. There are rules though. You don't want to give the wrong type of gift and there are a few things that are not good gifts to give unless you really KNOW the receiver. There are also gifts that are neutral that are enjoyed by both men and women that wouldn't offend the receiver. Think: Candles, Bath products, Lotions, Soaps, Lip Balms (non- shiny, non-sticky of course), Hair products, Tools: Combs, nail clippers, facial brushes, etc., and of course remember the packaging is important too.

Here are my favorite gifts for the women in your life.

1) Mom
My grandmother and mother taught me at a young age that skincare products is very important in maintaining a youthful skin as well as staying out of the sun.
I'm giving my mom some awesome beauty products..

Stila in the light palette
Retail $39

I am obsessed with Stila eyeshadows and this is a beautiful palette. Stila's eyeshadows are really long lasting and I always use it as a under eye make up base to make my eye make up last all day. The colors in this palette is beautiful!

I've taught my mother how to do make up several times but she always goes back to her way of doing make up (mom, if you're reading this - you better listen!) so this palette will be a fool-proof way of keeping the make up beautiful, youthful, and simple. I also like the no smudge eyeliner that comes with the palette.





2) Sister (younger sister)
My little sister is still in 8th grade and very much not into wearing make up. She does like to curl her lashes though, unlike me, she is blessed with gorgeous feathery long lashes.

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
Retail $19

The cult favorite eyelash curler among make up artists and beauty junkies alike. I've been using Shu Uemura eyelash curler for about 8 years and cannot see myself switching anytime soon unless there is an eyelash curler that is better for straight Asian lashes.

This would also make a great stocking stuffer!













3) Best Girlfriends

Anything that has really pretty packaging, universal, smells delicious, luxurious ingredients but doesn't break the bank... here are some of my faves. (Also great as stocking stuffers!)


Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment
Retail $22.50

Fresh came out with four colors that stem from this original in the past few years. However, this is the best one to get. With its luxe buttery texture, lemon-y scent, and pretty packaging - you can't help but constantly reapply dry winter lips with it.

I got my mother and my boyfriend's mother hooked on this lip treatment. It is really amazing! I also like that its not sticky or glossy so men can also use it.









Origins Peace of Mind on the spot relief
Retail $11

If you've ever set foot inside at an Origins store and the sales associates give you a temple massage with this product placed on your temples and behind your ears - you know that this stuff is so relaxing!

Give this to your overworked friends and coworkers!
Extra points if you pair it with a scalp massager...











Head massager by Kikkerland
Retail $3.99

I have a scalp massager and it is especially good when you've spent all day staring at the computer. The best part about this massager is that you don't have to rely on anyone else to massage your scalp.

A cheap thrill but the rewards are priceless!

Christmas Wish List

I always drool at the products and gift basket beauty options that come out every holiday season. This season is no different. Here is my list...



1) Stila Holiday Dream Palette
How can you not love the presentation of this palette? All the colors, the packaging, and variety of eye shadows and blushes with an added bonus of an eyeliner.
This palette is $39.
This would also make an excellent beauty gift for the girl who loves make up.




















2) T3 Singlepass Whirl Wand

No this is not some kinky vibrating device. This is a curling wand that is perfect for longer hair to create beach sexy hair or classic finger curls. I love the T3 technology and my 1.5" inch flatiron is used for making big waves in my hair. T3 irons are the only ones that seem to be able to give me long-lasting curls on my slippery, super fine Asian hair.
Retails for $160 - I think this is a little steep but definitely cheaper than getting professional blowouts every time you want long-lasting beautiful curls.








3) Nagauta Kabuki Brush Set

How beautiful is this brush set!?!?! If I received this under the Christmas tree, I would feel like a refined Geisha performer applying make up for a performance every time I would use this. I love that this comes in a Bento Box and is held in place just so perfectly. NARS is one of my favorite make up lines ever!
$225 is the steep cost for this beauty but it is definitely well worth it to feel like a Geisha princess everyday :-)












4) White Gold Detoxifying Crystal Salt INA crystals

Bathing in white gold!?!? Wow. The ultimate luxurious bath.
"This deep penetrating detox bath contains minerals small enough to penetrate the cells and be absorbed to help the body expel internal toxins accumulated over time through pollutants in the air, alcohol and processed foods. The White Gold Crystal and the detoxifying essential oils of basil, fennel and juniper cleanse deeply whilst improving the sense of well-being." - Space NK besteller
This sounds great after a month of indulgence in food and drink.
Retails for $85








5) Muscle Relief Bath Soak Life NK

Ok, I said that this was going to be a wish list not a must-have list or an already-own list. I couldn't help myself but put this product on this list because I LOVE THIS BATH SOAK! I'm a sucker for Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary combination scents. I've been taking baths almost every day since the temperatures have dropped. I use this bath after rehearsal and I always feel so relaxed and start my wind down.
I have found my go-to bath product! (I also like Fresh's Sake bath but I'm not always in the mood to feel detoxified in a "ofuro" hot bath.)
Retails for $30 so its pretty affordable!

Happy Thanksgiving & Hi-Def

Fall wedding season and holidays are here - I've been getting booked more frequently this fall. I've also taught several private make up lessons and had wedding guests come to my studio for make up applications. I like it when people come to my studio to get their make up done because my back doesn't require a pummeling on the massage chair for hauling my kit around the city. I also have my entire kit here so the possibilities are endless.
I'm very thankful for the space and location I now have my home studio in. The windows let in a lot of light.
I had a client early this morning come in to have a make up lesson and prep her on how to do make up for HD TV and Film. One of the most important aspects to HD TV, Film, and Photography is how the light will hit your face. HD doesn't lie and will always look scary if you apply make up with a very heavy hand. It brought to my attention the importance of products that work. One of the best things to put on the face is a good mattifying primer. The last thing you want is looking like a flashlight on TV. Check out Givenchy's Mister Mat. This is a good mattifying primer for that T-zone. Another favorite HD product is Make up Forever's High Definition Microfinish Powder - a little on the messy side but an excellent product b/c the powder is so fine, gives a translucent finish, and gives a smooth surface.
The best make up for HD is the airbrush foundations by Kett, Obessessive Compulsive Cosmetics, and Temptu - I like the watery, fast-drying, and natural looking finish these foundations give applied by the airbrush gun, brush, or fingers. All three of these brands are available online. If you don't have access to these brands or they don't deliver to your location, you can try Make up Forever's HD Finish Foundation. Apply with a light hand and only add extra coverage where you need it the most and blend everything well!

Thanksgiving and my birthday is coming up this week so Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

The brush that cleans your face

My face broke out really badly mid-September and I'm still recovering from the after effects - not quite sure what is going on but I have dry patches, splotchy patches, and an area of my face where there are break outs! (ick!)
Off to Sephora I went to try to find something that would deep clean my face so all the nasty stuff would just leave my face alone. I've always been curious about the Clarisonic brush but definitely turned off by the price tag. The makers of the Clarisonic brush came out with a smaller and cheaper version (still pricey in my opinion!) of the Mia. I decided to give it a try because I was tired of seeing problem spots on my face. I purchased the Mia last month and all I can is that this brush provides exfoliation so should be lightly applied throughout the face otherwise it can cause to much abrasion and cause sensitivity. (I learnt that the hard way...) I only use the Mia once every 2 days now b/c and don't apply any pressure. I just glide over the areas with the brush. This method seems to be working the best.

Mineral Mate

We all love Mineral make up but its so messy. The solution is the Mineral Mate. You can also use it as a sanitary mixing palette (esp. fun for make up artists!)
As a make up artist, I am constantly custom blending colors because I believe that every person is unique and the colors on a person's face should be customized to suit them and if there isn't a color that is just perfect then make it yourself! This versatile palette allows me to play with highly pigmented colors and then mix it with a different texture such as a clear lip gloss to make a truly customized color.
I recently also used Mineral Mate to put my brush cleaner solution so I can clean my brushes. Prior to the mineral mate, I used a ceramic cup filled with the solution but the problem was that the brushes would get drenched in the solution and take forever to dry. With the mineral mate, it was just enough solution to clean and disinfect but also didn't drench my brushes so I could use the brushes within 5 min. of drying on a paper towel.


Products in this review were given to the blogger by Minerals Mate. All opinions belong to the blogger.

I would love to feature a picture of your make up bag contents in my beauty blog. Please email me a picture of your make up bag & contents. Pick out your favorite product and tell me why its your favorite! alaine83@gmail.com

My favorite item from my professional make up kit is my airbrush machine!
I love it because it creates the flawless beautiful skin that we all dream of without the cakey feeling of regular make up. I use the Kett Cosmetics and Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics for my airbrush.

Fashion's Night Out 2011

After last year's craziness with Fashion's Night Out, I picked a few stores to head to this year. It just so happens that I picked Beauty stores b/c as you know, I'm pretty much a product junkie when it comes to make up and skincare. I love to find out what is new and what brands are break through finds.
The break through product I found this evening that is special to Fashion's Night Out is Nars silver eye liner "Via Crispi". I had it on my hand and it is a bright silver. Amazing pigment! This would be a product that is perfect to brighten up the eyes for the holidays, date night, party, special event, etc. Place this eyeliner in the inner corner of your eye for a subtle pop that is not overpowering or too dramatic for day time.

I also stopped in Fresh and VMV Hypoallergenics to check out their products.
Fresh came out with a new lip balm in their Sugar line, appropriately titled Passion. It is a beautiful subtle red that is flattering on most skin tones because it gives just enough flush. How can you not love an addicting lip balm like Sugar and add that with a subtle color. I'm a big fan of tinted lip balms because it is moisturizing and not sticky at all. They have Rose, Plum, and Honey as their Sugar lip balms. You also cannot deny the fact that the packaging of Fresh products is absolutely gorgeous. If you looked in my bathroom, you would see the soap dishes I purchased from Fresh on sale, a bottle of Sugar Lychee fragrance, Sake bath, Sugar Lychee sugarbath cubes...
VMV Hypoallergenics is a fairly new brand for me. I tried the hypoallergenic spray deodrant and it didn't sting my underarms! My underarms are fairly sensitive when it comes to deodrants and the skin gets irritated but this one didn't seem to irritate me so I'm going to try it. I was also curious about the mascara because it smells like pie! The brush looks non-clumpy, I always have my eye out for an awesome mascara that doesn't require me to take a plane trip/train/bus to Canada/Europe/Asia for my beloved Shu Uemura mascaras. So far, I've only found the Origins brand mascara works for me that is available locally in the US. I received the mascara as a free gift last night as part of Fashion's Night Out and can't wait to try it!

Think girly: Pink Lipstick makes a comeback

Its been a while since my last post... I haven't really been excited about too many things in the beauty world.
I've been a subscriber to Allure Magazine for 5 years now and I was reading the Feb. issue. There was a highlight on pink becoming the new red. I was skeptical at best b/c pink lipstick was what I wore as a kid. (I loved a bright fuschia lipstick in my mother's make up drawer and wore it around the house very often!)
Pink lipstick also conjures up memories of the bright cosmetics that were so "in" during the 80s. But then again, the 80s have been making a comeback the past few years so its not surprising that pink lipstick will be back. I scoured the aisles of Sephora looking for the perfect pink and I found two lipsticks. No. 38 by Make Up Forever and Schiap by NARS.
The Sephora store I visited didn't have No. 38 anymore so I purchased Schiap. Love the bright color against my pale skin tone (I'm pale w/ very pink undertones but I'm Chinese and supposed to have some yellow undertones too but its not very dominant). I love how it just brightens up the face. Just like a beautiful red lipstick, pink lipstick can also brighten up the face.
Pair pink lipstick with beautiful dewy skin, black mascara, and highlighter on the cheek bones & brow bone. Add more drama by adding a black eyeliner in the cat-eye fashion or to add more fun, use a navy or deep purple liner!