Tag: cosmetics
Thursday, May 6th, 2010
The next time you’re shopping around for new makeup, beware of the samples labeled “testers’. A recent LA Times article disclosed findings from a two-year study on public makeup testers: http://www.latimes.com/features/image/la-ig-testers-20100418,0,7091657.story
When tests were done on public makeup counters in department stores, specialty stores and drugstores, they found staph, strep, and even E.Coli bacteria on makeup testers. If that doesn’t freak you out, this finding will – when they tested the makeup on Saturdays which has the most customer traffic at cosmetic counters – THE PERCENTAGE OF TAINTED MAKEUP WAS 100%.
OMG. As if you don’t have enough things to worry about like whether that self-tanner makes you look like an oompa loompa.
So how do you try out new makeup/beauty products without physically testing them? While it’s recommended that you really shouldn’t try on any publicly-tested makeup on your eyes, lips, and nose, if you still feel the need to try on that new shade of pink lipstick, here are some tips to remember:
- Make Weekday Visits: Go during the week when there are fewer customers. If you don’t currently carry one in your purse, bring an anti-bacterial hand gel or pack of wipes with you.
- Use Tester Apps: Always use plastic, disposable applicators or cotton swabs like the ones at stores like Sephora. If you’re at a department store, don’t be afraid to ask the customer service rep behind the counter.
- Use Bottled Products: Try bottled products of lotions or foundations instead of ones that are in jars or palettes so that you can squeeze or pour them directly on your hand instead of using your fingers to scoop them out.
- Scrape the Lipstick Tip: Use a disposable applicator or a tissue paper to scrape off the tip or use a tissue paper.
- Eye & Lip Pencils: Sharpen the tip using mini sharpeners.
- Use the Spray Alcohol Bottle: Use an alcohol spray bottle to lightly spray the product. Wait a few seconds for the alcohol to evaporate before testing.
- Remove Tested Makeup ASAP: Remove makeup immediately with anti-bacterial wipes or makeup remover after testing.
So if shopping for beauty/skincare products isn’t scary enough in the first place, now you’ve got some real grossness to deal with.
We all like gifts with purchases but some freebies are better left at the cosmetic counter.
Tags: anti-bacterial, applicator, bacteria, beauty, cosmetics, department store, drugstore, e-coli, makeup, makeup tester, public, skincare, staph, strep, test, tester
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Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
Packaging of eye patch from Biore (front view)
If steam heated eye masks are not your thing and you prefer something cooler for your eyes, then I think I might just have the right product for you. These individual packaged gel like eye patches from Biore, a large cosmetics company in Japan, offers a great alternative.
Instructions on the back of the eye patch packaging is self explanatory. The picture tells you where to place your eye patches.
I normally put these eye patches under my eyes like shown on the packaging (see picture) after I put on my eye cream at night. Then I sleep with it on for 6-8 hours and I really see a difference in the morning. Somehow the coolness of the eye patches make my eyes look smoother and hydrated in the morning. It maximizes the absorption of my eye cream too.
The top side is felt material and the bottom side is gel material.
It’s a shame that Biore only sells this product in Japan. I went on their website, www.biore.com and could not find this product except on their Japanese website. I wish these Japanese companies would share more of their beauty secrets and products with the rest of the world. I really love the coolness of the gel patch under my eyes and how great I look the next day!
Tags: Asia, asian, attractive, beautiful eyes, beauty secrets, beauty tool, beneficial, cosmetics, effective, eye, eye mask, eye patches, eyes, instrument, japan, Japanese, maximize, new products, oily, popular, prevention, skin, skin care, skincare, technology, tips, wrinkle free, wrinkle free eyes, young, young looking eyes
Posted in Asian Products, Masks | No Comments »
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
The best way to rejuvenate skin, according to my boss- a 50 something year-old woman, who barely looks a day over 35 – is exfoliation. Her skin is plump, bright, glowing, with very little lines. Not an ounce of flake!
I asked her what her secret was…. Good genes? Foreign products made in silence by monks? Nope: “I scrub my face like crazy with a loofah every morning under the hot shower. Scrubbing dead skin away is the key!”
So I tried it. The results? Well, lets just say I didn’t feel like going out that night. Not all of us have thick skin! But it got me thinking: there’s got to be a better way to shed the dead skin cells that are clogging my pores. And that’s when my desperate search to properly exfoliate my skin started!
Remember that whole at-home-microdermabrasion-craze? Sure, massaging my skin with pea-size beads made out of walnuts shells and ingredients I could not pronounce exfoliated dead skin. In fact, it exfoliated most of my skin away, leaving it blotchy, red and sensitized. NOT what I was looking for. Neither were all the scrubs, peels, serums and magic washcloths that followed: the chemicals in most of the products only managed to assault my skin, causing it to flare-up!
Little did I know that over-exfoliating, just like hard water, weather and pollution, is actually harmful to your skin. So what’s a girl to do?
Please meet Marie Louise’s Restoration Clear Gel. First of all and most important, this exfoliating gel is actually hydrating and nourishing, thanks to ingredients such as desalted deep sea water, glycerin and algae extracts, known to help the skin retain moisture. It literally melts as your skin absorbs it, dry grains gently (and that’s the key word one should look for in all products) lifting away impurities and dead skin. Once they have ceased to appear and have been rinsed off with warm water you are left with a bright and pure complexion. Since it’s gentle enough, you can use it more often; this regular regimen will allow your skin to absorb all the benefits your moisturizers, masks and serums have to offer, thus making them more effective! It will also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles- after all, it’s no secret that the cleaner your skin is, the younger and healthier it looks!
Just remember: you shouldn’t need sandpaper to get results!
Tags: Asia, asian, attractive, beauty products, beauty tool, beneficial, cosmetics, effective, ingredients, japan, learning, maximize, new, new products, new tools, oil, oily, oily skin in the afternoon, popular, prevention, Santa Monica Daily, serum, shine, shiny skin, skin, skin care, skincare, sparkle, sunscreen, technology, tips, tool
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Sunday, November 29th, 2009
Like so many girls, I realized how important our eyelashes are a long time ago. The difference between having curly and straight lashes makes a dramatic difference for my eyes, since mine are not the biggest in the world. Let’s just say that I definitely get more compliments when my lashes are all dolled up and curled, with an application of mascara. In a way, I feel like it is my shield and sword, where it gives me more confidence to go out and face the world…lol…
Therefore, in order to achieve the perfect set of eyelashes, I have bought infinite numbers of eyelash curlers. From Shu Uemura, heated, plastic to metal eyelash curlers, I spent countless dollars on trying to find the right one. Right now, I have two favorites that I would like to share with you. One is for use at home and the other is so little and convenient that I can carry it in my bag everywhere I go.
1. Excel Eyelash Curler
Excel Eyelash Curler (39mm)
Excel Eyelash Curler
This 39mm eyelash curler is wide enough to capture all my eyelashes (even the ones at the corner of my eyes) at the same time. The design of the angle of the eyelash curler allows my eyelashes to curl at a beautifully natural degree. I curl my eyelashes twice, and I find that most effective. The first time is before I apply mascara, and then a second time after my mascara dries. With this technique, my eyelashes stay all curly and natural for a really long time. The best part is that it doesn’t break my eyelashes at all. =)
2. Compact Curler for people on the go
Compact Curler
side view
My friend was actually the one who discovered this and recommended it to me. I fell in love with it right away. Even though it doesn’t capture all of my eyelashes in one squeeze, it is so compact that I can’t leave home without it now. My eyelashes look so natural after I curl it with this. The best part is that I can use this at the end of the day without applying new coats of mascara and my eyelashes still appears curly and natural. This is definitely a good buy since it costs only around $5 dollars in the US.
Tags: Asia, asian, attractive, beautiful eyes, beauty, beauty instrument, beauty tool, beneficial, cheap eyelash curler, cosmetics, create big eyes, curly eyelashes, effective, eyelash, eyelash curler, eyelash curler on the go, eyelashes, eyes, instrument, Japanese, large eyes, mascara, new, new products, new tools, popular, skin care, skincare, small eyelash curler, sparkle, technology, tips, tool
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Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
So… did you figure it out? Here it is again:
And here is what it is (source: http://web2.sasa.com/SasaWeb/eng/product/viewProductDetail.jspa?itemno=103563902002#):
description: Be Creation Body Double Roller is consisted of 2 rows of V-shaped rollers, which enables perfect contact with fat-prevailing areas like tummy, thighs, shank and hips. It attacks fat by boosting metabolism for firm and slim figure.
how to use it:
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For tummy: massage in “W” movement
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For legs: massage and push in upward direction
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For hip: massage and push in upward direction
And here’s what someone said about it:
| looks good. look forward the effect |
|
Tags: Asia, asian, beauty, beauty accessories, beauty products, body roller, body-shaping, cosmetics, fat burning, firm, firming, Japanese, Korean, massage, metabolism, online store, rollers, Sasa, shop, skin care, slim, slimming, store, trends
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Friday, October 23rd, 2009
FINALLY. SaSa is now here in the US! I’m not sure how long ago this took place, but Sasa.com now not only caters and ships to the US market, but for orders over $75, shipping is free!
For those who frequent the huge stores of anything-you-need-in-the-beauty-category in Asia, yay! For those of you who are not familiar with who or what the heck Sasa is, just imagine, a Sephora store, but with hair, skin care, make up products and accessories (my favorite part!) from Europe, US, AND also Japan, Korea, HK etc. I have always wondered, with the growing interest surrounding Asian culture, and the solid Asian-American consumer base, why there wasn’t a “Sephora Asia” or something here. Well forget my idea of “Sephora Asia”…. cuz Sasa is here, and if they continue their huge success in Asia, they’re here to stay and spread.
My favorite part of Sasa.com are actually the unique and innovatibe beauty accessories that Korea and Japan comes up with. For example, can you guess what this is and what its purpose is?
What is this?
I’ll tell you in a few days. =)
Tags: Asia, asian, beauty, beauty accessories, beauty products, cosmetics, Japanese, Korean, online store, Sasa, shop, skin care, store, trends
Posted in Asian Products, News, Products | No Comments »