engagement shoot

future bride to be: lisa q

aloha!

yes, it's a Zpalette. caking up the bride.

caking up the sister of the bride.

beautiful bride. poor photo quality, sorry!

lovely sisters.

getting my lights!

@ den salon in long beach

Halloween fun

Didn't go crazy with the cat makeup because I thought I was going to take the ears off at one point.

camax hazel *safer* circle lenses

camax is the only brand of asian circle lenses that i can wear daily. they have a higher oxygen content than most other circle lenses and aren't as thick. however, the limbal ring is still big enough to give you the emphasized "doll" look without looking alien-y.

i approve!

FYI - the "hazel" looks like grey on, and the "grey" looks like blue.

waaay too hot today

fighting water beads

currently testing: MUFE supermatteloosepowder!

i love saying the name... supermatteloosepowder! say it 5x in a row! (yes, i know it sez "mate" on the label but that's just not how we say it in the U.S.)

anyway -- i've been exploring more of MUFE's stuff after my HD seminar -- and although supermattelooserpowder isn't HD makeup, it is definitely a product that will stay in my kit (and replace my MAC setting powder). =X yes, i said it. REPLACE.

i've had this powder on for about 15+ hours and i haven't touched it up. 4.5 stars! (why not 5? i need to test it more to receive a solid 5.)

@ the MAKE UP FOR EVER pro event

didn't get to take any cool photos... but SF was definitely fun! mila, my bebe, came along. check out her blog here.

eyelash extensions @ beauteous lash boutique

not sure if i've ever mentioned it here but i had a horrible experience with my first set of eyelash extensions that i got done in singapore. they were brittle, unnaturally curly, and were really messy (LOTS of visible glue clumped together). HOWEVER, i decided to give it one more time after being referred to a new lash artist by one of my old bro-friends. (yes, a guy referred me!)


entrance to the lash boutique. really artsy decor in the hallway (you can't see it from this picture) and a calming, white/clean environment once inside.


the lash design options.

BEFORE PICTURES:

very pathetic lashes. this is probably due to everyday fake-lash wear with waterproof glue.


donde esta mi lashes?


the lash station


all taped up! wow, my foundation looks good here. LOL you can't even see my scar.


mid-process. no boogers!


closeup. these under eye pads were so soft, comfy gels.
in singapore, they straight up put medical tape on my lower lids (the really sticky kind you DON'T use on your face -- felt like duct tape).

AFTER PICTURES:



can't see the glue!


i got the J-curl lashes. these are the most natural-looking for most asians. they also have a C-curl, which is curlier; and a D-curl which is ridiculously curly. the length also varies. i got a combo of 10mm-12mm lashes.


profile shot




tight blink - indoor lighting. lashes look darker.

MORE PICS OF THE SALON:

very artsy place. here are some interesting things i saw on the way to the restroom.


they have these photographs everywhere.



alrighty -- here's the important info. kudos to you if you followed this far. the salon is called:

BEAUTEOUS
765 Baker st #H
Costa Mesa. CA 92626
(949)515-3714
**the main building is dark brown with orange writing (that says "SOLO" -- don't ask because i don't know). i parked @ the CAMP (shopping center) a block away because there was no more parking in the building's tiny lot.

LASH ARTIST: Noriko ("Nori")

PRICES:
$120: 65 individual lashes per eye
$100: 50 individual lashes per eye
**you'll probably get either of the above options if it's your first time. for a more full look, e.g., 75 lashes per eye, the price goes up to $140.

i got ~55 lashes per eye, which is full but not too crazy. they have additional pricing for more/less lashes or fills that are quite reasonable. they also do japanese 3d nail art. (btw- my lash artist also won 1st place at a nail art competition last year!)

TIME: very important!! a full set of lash extensions takes ~2 hours, so don't drink redbull or coffee before you go -- or just remember to empty out your bladder beforehand!

check out their website if you can read japanese. otherwise, just call for information. =)

amanda likes my hair

yes, i named her myself even though she's not mine! BTW, it's the ARCHED brow now! for a while, i was going through my Korean-straighter-brow look. my college arch is back!

misscakeface & friend

revlon colorstay

after sweating in the sun for 5 hrs. dewy but not melting off!

*~msg sent from an Android phone~*

product review: l'oreal sublime mousse hair dye

i LOVE foam hair dyes because application is so easy. before l'oreal came out with their sublime mousse hair dye, i was using the japanese foam hair dye (kao prettia) with OK results. i say "OK" only because prettia faded out quickly. so when l'oreal came out with their own foam hair dye, i was quick to try it. my favorite drugstore brand hair dye is l'oreal anyway (l'oreal preference).


the package comes with the typical applicator with developer, color, latex gloves, and a decent-sized tube of conditioner. i REALLY liked that they had PURE DARKEST BROWN as a color option since regular dark brown isn't always dark enough for me. i don't ever want to go black again either because black tends to become permanent if your hair is already porous from multiple chemical treatments -- like mine. no more color correction for me!

BEFORE PHOTO (3/9/11):

excuse my psychopathic expression. hahahaa as you can see, my hair was almost black @ the roots and medium brown everywhere else.
AFTER PHOTOS (3/13/11):


2.5 months later, my ponytail and my regular locks are still dark!

final words? LOVE this hair dye. it beats Prettia by FAR. if i rate this a 5, i'd rate prettia a 2. Nice n Easy also came out with a foam hair dye (which i bought but haven't tried), but it's going to be hard to beat this! L'oreal FTW!

Price: $9.99 (more or less)
Where to Buy: markets, drug stores, Target, etc.
Overall Rating: 5/5 stars
Tip: may not work as well to cover grays.

chopped it off!

revlon super lustrous lipgloss

while i wait for the hubs to get ready for our dinner date, thought i'd post pics of my new lipgloss!




revlon super lustrous lipgloss is certainly not new but it's new for me... and i think i like it! goes on creamy like butta. looks and feels like MAC cremesheen. the color i'm wearing is 'peach petal.' good color to wear over your nekkid lips or nude lipstick -- totally kim k style! the more you put on, the more milky-pale it looks. i didn't want to look too pale, so i added a touch of liner to it.

btw - i'm not sure if you can see from this webcam pic, but i'm wearing MAC pearlglide pencil liner in 'industrial' on my lower lids. it's a bluish, shimmery liner. love it!

i'm also wearing nars 'deep throat' (can they make better names? geez.) on my cheeks. it's a nice soft pink that you can layer. foundation - nothing else but revlon colorstay! it's still my favvvv. my canvas starts with revlon colorstay foundation (for combination/oily) + MAC invisible set powder + MAC fix+.

Price: $4-8
Where to Buy: any drug store
Overall Rating: 4+/5 stars
Tip: reapply every 2 hrs or so. this is not a stay-put lipgloss.