Makeup Guide - "Asian Beauty"

Asian Beauty (Hardcover)
by Margaret Kimura (Author), Marianne Dougherty (Author)

This book I mentioned before in other post. I really learned a lot after reading it. There are so many different types of everything. Before I wouldn't know what "translucent" means and I'd just think that it was targeting those pale Brits who look so ghastly all the time. Now that I know what kind of shade it is, I choose translucent over other shades for foundations. I'm all for the natural look so translucent is best for me since it provides the lightest of coverage but can still even out my skin tone and make smooth the texture.

Blush Collection - Origins Pinch Your Cheeks

Origins Pinch Your Cheeks® - Coralberry $11

HOW TO USE: Dot on cheeks and quickly blend with your fingertips in a circular motion. Use alone for a light, sheer blush glow. Or, apply a light dusting of your favorite shade of Brush-on Color over it.

Ingredients:
water, myrtle leaf water, chamomile flower water, butylene glycol, carbomer, tromethamine, disodium edta, caprylyl glycol, phenoxyethanol, hexylene glycol, colors.


I love this from the first sight of opening the package. It was a shipment from an online order. The story behind it was that all I wanted was the free gifts from origins. But in order to get them I had to order something. So I picked one of the cheapest and most necessary, personally, which was something for my cheeks. I've always wanted rosy cheeks but using blush just didn't come to me naturally. But when I saw a stain form, I was excited. I was hoping that what I've read in the book would become self evident in this product. I read the "Asian Beauty" makeup guide book a year ago and that's when I learned that there were forms of the same product. After reading that book I was able to determine what I liked: translucent powder, cheek and lip stain, heated eyelash curlers, and powder forms of everything else.

Makeup Collection - Organic Wear

Physicians Formula Organic wear™ 100% Natural Origin Loose Powder - Translucent Light $14

100% natural origin loose powder, formulated with 10.6% certified organic ingredients, including safflower seed oil and jojoba seed oil to moisturize and corn starch to mattify the skin.

100% Free of Harsh Chemicals. 100% Free of Synthetic Preservatives. 100% Free of Parabens. 100% Free of GMO's. 100% Free of Synthetic Colors. 100% Free of Synthetic Fragrances. 100% Cruelty Free.

Ingredients:
MICA, MAGNESIUM STEARATE, ZEA MAYS (CORN) STARCH*, CALCIUM CARBONATE, KAOLIN, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS (SAFFLOWER) SEED OIL, GLYCERIN, GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) OIL*, OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT OIL*, ORYZA SATIVA (RICE) HULL POWDER, SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL*, CINNAMIC ACID, CITRUS GRANDIS (GRAPEFRUIT) FRUIT EXTRACT, SODIUM LEVULINATE, TOCOPHEROL, WATER. MAY CONTAIN: IRON OXIDES, TITANIUM DIOXIDE. *PRODUCED FROM ORGANIC FARMING

Officially my first makeup foundation. Well, the one before it I only used like twice so that doesn't count. It was a Maybelline Wonder Finish liquid-to-cream sorta thing in a tube and of course I made a mistake with that one. Six years ago I wouldn't know what's good for my face if it bit me in the face, if you know what I mean. Now I'm all natural-conscious about every single product and eco-friendly and etcetera. So please excuse me for having put my face through such un-healthy products. But I know I'm making a good choice with this one! It's a keeper because it literally doesn't come off on my fingers or clothes, unless I put so much on of course. The only bad thing is the cheap brush. The bristles come off all the time and so I don't think that's gonna last through the first 3 months. But it's compact so I have to use it; it comes built into the jar as you can see above. Underneath it I have other makeup which I'll blog about later. But this is the primary one for giving me the smooth and bright complexion.

Lotion Collection - Kiss My Face Hand Creme

Kiss My Face Obsessively Organic grapefruit + bergamot hand crème $9

Featuring:
Green Tea: soothing
Goldenseal: healing

INGREDIENTS:
Aqua, Organic Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract*, Organic Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Leaf Extract*, Organic Hydrastis Canadensis (Golden Seal) Root Extract*, Organic Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm) Leaf Extract*, Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower Seed) Oil*, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearth-20, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Caprylic Acid, Glycine, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Lecithin

I've actually checked all of the chemical-sounding ingredients above, and I'm happy to say that they're all good! So even though they sound like harsh chemicals, don't get too paranoid. Just use the very handy dandy ingredient glossary provided by KissMyFace.com and you'll be able to track down almost all of them. I bookmarked that by the way so count on it that you'll probably need to refer to it as often as I do.

Ao Dai - All that glitter is gold!

Miss Vietnam Universe 2008 semi-finalists
Duong Thuy Linh

Beautiful ao dai! I wonder about a silver or pearl version. Wow!

Cleanser Collection - Desert Essence

Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash $8.99

All Desert Essence formulas are animal and eco-friendly. The formulas are pH balanced and are gentle on your skin. They contain essential oils as well as pure plant and botanical extracts with natural fragrances to provide you with consistent performance.

Featuring:
Organic Tea Tree Oil, an inherent antiseptic
Goldenseal
Hawaiian White Ginger (Awapuhi)
Chamomile
Mineral-rich Bladderwrack, harvested from the sea

Ingredients:
Castile Soap, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Organic Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal) Root Extract, Hedychium Coronarium (Awapuhi) Root Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus (Bladderwrack) Extract, Cymbopogon Martini (Palmarosa) Oil, Citrus Reticulata (Petitgrain) Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil.


I really fell for this one on the shelf. But now that I'm reading the reviews on drugstore.com, I am a little bit nervous. Apparently, many reports the product to be very drying after use and if I am going to use this I really need an ultra moisturizer. Again, the search for that one moisturizer. But the good thing about this cleanser is that most people say it clears up their acne. So there you go. Even though I don't have an acne problem, this still seems like a good idea.

Lip Balm Collection - Savannah Bee Company

Savannah Bee Company 100% Natural Lip Balms

no artificial colors, no petroleum-based ingredients, no parabens or preservatives and no synthetic frangrances


Untinted Beeswax Lip Balm stick $4
Ingredients: coconut oil, beeswad, sweet almond oil, pecan seed oil, shea butter, safflower seed oil, propolis extract


Untinted Mint Julep Beeswax Lip Balm tin $4
Ingredients: coconut oil, beeswax, sweet almond oil, pecan seed oil, shea butter, safflower seed oil, spearmint leaf oil, peppermint oil, lavender oil and other natural flavors, propolis extract, spearmint leaf oil.


Untinted Honey Lemon Beeswax Lip Balm tin $4
Ingredients: COCONUT, BEESWAX, SWEET ALMOND OIL, PECAN SEED OIL, LEMON PEEL OIL, SAFFLOWER, VITAMINE E, PROPOLIS EXTRACT and Shea Butter.


I loved their tins but then it was a little bit unsanitary so the second time around I got the stick. And for a brief moment I used it for my lips but the rest of the time I used it as a face moisturizer. I decided to do that because it wasn't greasy and absorbed quickly. Plus, I still haven't found that "perfect" moisturizer! As for the tins, my mom likes the mint julep but I'm all for the honey lemon. They were on sale for $1 at Bath & Body Works during the semi-annual sale.

Lip Balm Collection - Canus

Canus Organic Lip Balm
$2.50
Canus Organic Lip Balm contains goat’s milk, a natural product that is also a highly effective skin moisturizer

Organic, petroleum-free base moisturizer

Contains organic ingredients:
- Virgin olive oil
- Soybean oil
- Comfrey leaf
- St. John's wort
- Goat’s milk
- Rosemary leaf extract
- Beeswax
- Spearmint essential oil
- Calendula flower Oil
- Hemp seed oil
- Vitamin E

Ingredient	Why is it there?	Where does it come from?
Virgin Olive Oil	Adds body to product, good carrier for essential oils, possibly stimulates the production of collagen and elastin	Olive Tree
Beeswax	Forms protective barrier on lips, reducing moisture loss and drying, some skin softening properties	Busy Bees
Organic Soybean Oil	Emollient; High in Vitamins A, E and K	Soybeans
Spearmint Essential Oil	Fragrance	Spearmint
Comfrey	High in Allantoin which helps to heal chapped, cracked skin	Comfrey Plant
Calendula	Soothing antiseptic, anti-inflammatory	Marigold Plant
St. John's Wort	Anti-Inflammatory	St. John's Wort
Organic Hempseed Oil	High levels of Essential Fatty Acids; Improves water retention by the skin	Hemp Plant
Goat's Milk	Moisturizing Properties	Goats
Vitamin E	Antioxidant, acts to preserve the balm	Cold Pressed Seeds and nuts
Rosemary Extract	Natural Preservative, Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Oxidant	Rosemary Plant

And the best thing is... the only ingredients in this lip balm are the ones described above... nothing more!

If this proves to be a great product, I will consider looking for the SPF 15 version which was not sold at my local Longs but is online at Walgreens. The only downside is the smell. I don't like it very much. It has a very distinct weird smell, like too much bitterness or spearment or something.



Active Ingredients: Octinoxate (7.5%), Oxybenzone (3%) (Sunscreen)

Inactive Ingredients: Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Organic), Beeswax (Organic), Soybean Oil (Organic), Spearmint Essential Oil, Comfrey Leaf, Calendula Flower, St John's Wort, Hemp Seed Oil (Organic), Goats Milk, Vitamin E, Rosemary Leaf Extract

Lip Balm Collection - Noah's Naturals

Featuring:
Almond Oil, Beeswax, Sunflower, Avocado, Candelilla, Vitamin E, Aloe Vera, Rosemary, Cucumber

Essential Ingredients:
Sweet Almond Oil - An extremely absorbant oil that is a terrific all-around
Vitamin E - Nature's perfect antioxidant ~ wonderful skin healing properties

Ingredients:
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Natural Flavor, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Extract.

No Petroleum
No Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
No Parabens
No Propylene Glycol
No Artificial Colors

The Heavenly Thread

Theme: Red heavenly thread

Motif: pink-red ribbon

Colors: white, shades of blue-silver, red accent

Inspiration: "Last Friends" Japanese Drama by Fuji TV

I recommend this drama because Ruka is so cute.

Myanmar Temples of Bagan

Photographed by Darren Melrose http://www.darrenmelrose.com

I wish to go with Mr.Root to this place one day - Myanmar - to see the temples of Bagan at sunrise and sunset.