Ettusais Haul

I recently discovered this Japanese beauty brand and it might be a winner. As you can tell, I went a little crazy. With the weather starting to warm up here I'm already brainstorming ways to be more comfortable survive the coming summer. The name Et tu sais, is French for "you know what?" The brand has a selection of skin care, and focuses on incorporating skin care ingredients into their makeup to be suitable for sensitive or acne prone skin.

First I'd like to talk about the packaging. It is surprisingly minimalist for a Japanese beauty brand. I'm not saying it's pink-free but Ettusais has taken a much more moderate approach to all things cutesy and girly, than its competitors. They like to collaborate with other Japanese brands and come out with limited edition packaging which can be hit or miss. I do think the collab with Amphi, a lingerie company, is lovely!

My first Ettusais purchases were Puru Puru Serum, limited edition Princess Red rose cheek colour, and Lip Essence stick with the Amphi design. So far I love all three of these! You can read my reviews here!

Loft had a special gift bag of Ettusais summer essentials. As a side note, Loft has lots of value sets from different brands. I highly recommend checking them out. The one I bought was 1800yen, with around 5000yen worth of product! It included Aqua Splash OB, Aqua Splash UV SPF 25, BB Mineral White SPF 45, Oil Block Jelly, and Lip Essence.

Do you have anything from Ettusais? What do you think?

PS If you're interested in looking at Ettusais online, they have an English website but the Japanese one is way better, and obviously gets updated more often.

The Lust List

Every beauty lover has a list of products that they wish they had, or hope to acquire in the future. I haven't been in the beauty world for very long, so I'm lacking a smattering of luxury items and basics. What's on your list?

1. Urban Decay Naked 3. I bought my mom the Naked Basics palette in the summer but have yet to get one of my own. In many reviews of Naked 3, ladies were saying that although they really like Naked 3, it reminded them of how much they love Naked 1, which is still their favourite. Is it naive to think I can resist buying all three? Which is your favourite?

2. The MAC 217 brush. A cult classic. I've been putting this one off, and pretending that I can make due with other brushes because MAC is soooo expensive in Japan. I think the 217 is around 3000 yen ($30) and I just can't bring myself to do it (never mind that I've spent at least that much on other brushes that I hope are going to fill that hole).

3. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Blissful. (I got this blush, after I started writing this post last week, in a care package from Tyler's lovely sisters! Thanks ladies!)

4. Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation. I'm a fan of mineral foundations. They feel so much better than liquid ones on my skin. Estee of Essiebutton bought this in Canada over Christmas and was raving about it! She is my ultimate enabler. I want to buy everything she reviews.

5. Ettusais Aqua Splash UV. This is more of a practical thing on my list. I just discovered this brand and recently picked up a few of their products (new post to come!). This is a powder-in-mist with SPF 30 PA++! It can be sprayed on under or on top of your makeup. It's hydrating, offers UV protection, and helps makeup last longer! Yes please!

6. MAC Cremesheen lipstick in Crosswires. This has been described as a shade that Christina Hendricks as Joan would wear. And Mad Men reference is all I need.

I know this post is a little whiny. Boohoo! My life is so hard! Lol. 

Leave me a comment and tell me what's on your list!

My Skin Care Routine

In the past few months I've really amped up my skin care routine. I decided that I'm a big girl now, and I should be cleansing, toning, and moisturizing REGULARLY! Along with using face masks, serums, eye creams, night creams, day creams, and all those good things. I have always been good about cleansing nightly, and haven't been one of those people who are tempted to sleep in their makeup. No judgement! It's just not me. Cleansing in the morning, that's a different story.

In the morning, I cleanse with the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, tone with whatever I have around, lately it's been the Muji Toning Water, and moisturize with the Vitamin C Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 from The Body Shop. I was using a different cleanser for a while but I wanted to go back to Cetaphil. I used that cleanser for years and had great skin. I've mentioned in my videos that my skin is reacting badly to the change in climate. Canada is very dry, and Japan is very humid. I'm hoping that using it again will help my stressed skin.

At night, when I need to take off my makeup, sometimes I just use the Cetaphil cleanser, but if I have eyeliner or heavy duty mascara on, I use the Shiseido TISS Deep Off Cleansing Oil (this stuff is amazing!) first, and then go in with the Cetaphil. I put a pump or two of the oil in my hand, massage it into my dry face. Then I apply the Cetaphil with wet hands and use a wet facecloth (if I have one around) to wipe everything off. I use the same toner at night. Lately, I've been using the Mineral Flowers Moisturizing Night Cream in chamomile wax and mud. It's really thick and designed for sensitive skin. Every other night I will use the Skin Food Black Sugar Perfect First Serum Gold on an exfoliating cotton pad and then pat into my skin. This serum is brightening and anti-wrinkle, and comes in the most beautiful bottle!

For spot treatment, I always keep a little bottle of tea tree oil from The Body Shop around. In Korea, I bought the Bee Venom Pink Spot which is a spot treatment specially designed for sensitive skin and soothes redness and irritation. I really notice a difference in the redness of my spots when I use this.

So that's my skin care routine! What skin care bits are you loving lately?

Thanks for reading!

February Favourites

Hello! Happy it's not February aka the worst month of the year anymore! February was a really busy month for me. I spent a weekend in Fukuoka with friends. Tyler and I went to Osaka one weekend to celebrate our anniversary (gross. I know, sorry). Because I've been so busy lately I'm doing my favourites as a blog post, instead of a video. I just haven't had time to film lately during the tiny window of time when the natural light is nice.

This month is a mix of beauty and non-beauty favs, which I think I'll do from now on.

Beauty Favourites

This month with my travelling I got a lot of use out of my NARS Orgasm/Laguna duo. Since the addition of the Real Techniques duo fiber contour brush, I have been contouring like a fiend! I have to use a very light hand with Laguna, but I think it's really pretty! Orgasm speaks for itself. Universally flattering and provocatively named, what's not to love?

I've always loved playing with different eye looks, and this month was no exception. They first couple weeks had me sporting Kate Super Sharp Liner S in BK. I wish I had BK-1, which is a bit blacker. The tip is very fine and easy to use. It lasts all day long but is easy to fix if you make a mistake when applying it. The second eye look of the month was with the Wet n' Wild Comfort Zone trio. The purpley-grey shade for the lid is perfection! It instantly adds a bit of class. The shadows are super pigmented and a great value for the money!

After researching and writing about the Bite High Pigment Lip Pencils, I was in love, and got a lot of wear out of them, especially in the shade Quince, the rose berry shade.

The Shiseido sponge cleaner is what I've been using to clean my brushes since September and it does a really nice job. 

The Love Lettuce mask from Lush is really great! My skin has been quite happy this past month. However, I don't recommend buying this mask in Japan. It's ¥1700!!! I'll wait until I'm back in Canada before I try anymore Lush masks.  

My final beauty favourite is something I've been loving for a few months but always seem to forget to include here. The Grapeseed Glossing Serum from The Body Shop has been keeping my hair healthy and frizz free since November and is a permanent staple in my hair care routine. You only need a small amount, so make sure you don't over do it otherwise it can make your hair look a bit greasy. I use it every time after I wash my hair.

Non-beauty Favourites

At the beginning of the month I finally invested in a Hobonichi! The Hobonichi is a daily planner by the Japanese company Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shimbun. Recently they came out with an English edition. I've always used the moleskein planners, but this year I decided to try something I can't get in Canada. I'm so glad I did! Watch the commercial for the Hobonichi Techo - the Japanese version - on Youtube. It explains everything!

My fashion favourite is a black blazer I got from H&M, on sale. I love the silver detailing on the shoulders! It's quite a boxy shape so I like to wear it with skinny jeans and boots.

This month I read Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card. It's the sequel to Ender's Game. Orson Scott Card being a terrible person aside, this is a really great book! I've always been a fan of sci-fi and I couldn't put this book down.

What things did you love in February?

My Makeup Brushes

These are my brushes. The cups are from Daiso. So cute right?! Starting with the eyebrow spoolie near the top and going clockwise the brushes are:

Sonia Kashuk spoolie brush #127
Real Techniques duo-finer contour brush
The Body Shop eyeshadow brush
Real Techniques stippling brush
ELF concealer brush
The Body Shop blusher brush
Real Techniques duo-fiber eye brush
Real Techniques blush brush
Quo liner/brow brush
Real Techniques duo-fiber face brush
Quo all over shadow brush
Only Minerals foundation brush
The Body Shop eyeshadow blender brush

Review: Maybelline Japan Cosmos Hyper Shadow and Kate Real Create Eyes

Maybelline Japan Cosmos Hyper Shadow in BR-1 Luna Brown

These are mixed pigment, marbled, baked eyeshadows. When I bought this I thought it would be identical to the (get ready for a really long name!) Maybelline Eye Studio Colour Pearls Marbleized Eyeshadow Duo, which I have in Persuasive Plum. Both are marbled, baked eyeshadow duos. The duos come with gorgeous colours that are perfect for each other. It  I bought Persuasive Plum in Canada last summer and wore it non-stop for about 2 months. I love the colours, the pigmentation, and how blendable they are. They're super easy to work with. All that being said, I might prefer the Japanese version. 

My only complaint with the former is that I have to be careful of fallout, especially with the darker shade. The Japanese formula seems to be a bit firmer, which makes for less shadow in places I don't want it. I might actually prefer the Luna Brown, but I'll have to use it more to see if it's true love, or just a fleeting flirtation.

Kate Real Create Eyes in BR-3

An 5-shade eyeshadow palette with "clear soft-transmitting colors and deep monotone colors for creating deeply contoured eyes." I really like shimmer shadows, and boy am I in the right country. It's actually a challenge to find a shadow (or any kind of makeup) that won't light you up like a disco ball!

 Let's start with the packaging. I love it! It's pretty and a visual departure from other drugstore eyeshadow palettes. The palette comes in a little plastic package which has visual instructions on how to use the shades to create a look. It would have been nice if this was printed on the back of the compact instead. 

You might have noticed that there are five shades, but only swatches for four. The palest shade, in the top left corner, is a shimmery cream shadow that is supposed to be used as a primer base for the rest of the shadows. I tried it and it's absolute crap. It made the shadow crease so much! The powder shadows work better without it. I think it's a great idea but the execution fell way short. They should have left it out and made the purple shade in the middle bigger because I'm gonna hit pan on that shade way before the other ones!

I really like both of these shadows, and would recommend the Maybelline one for sure. I think the formula, pigmentation, etc. of the Kate powder shadows is great, but next time I would go for a palette without the cream shade.

Have you tried and shadows my Kate or Maybelline Japan? What do you think?

Too Cool for School

I featured two of these products in my January Favourites video. First I would like to talk about the packaging because seriously! It is amazing! Who doesn't want dinosaurs or a sketched cityscape on their makeup?

Too Cool for School Dinoplatz-eye Krrrayon Stick in #2 Swing with Me
The colour is a rosy gold with little gold flecks in it. I like to use this with the Canmake Lasting Multi Eyebase WP because it can crease a little if I wear it all day long. That being said I think this is a great eyeshadow. I really like eyeshadow sticks because they're really convenient, quick, and don't make a mess. This eyeshadow is really long lasting. There is a little smudger on the bottom which I don't normally use; I prefer to use a brush to blend. But I think this product is perfect for travelling, and would use it then.

Too Cool for School Dinoplatz Lost Identity Lip Colour
They advertise it as both a lip stain and a lip balm, but I think it's more of a stain. It doesn't dry my lips out but it's not ultra moisturizing either. The colour lasts much longer than the moisture! One added bonus of this colour changing formula is that it doesn't leave a pink mark on your wine glass (which I actually don't mind) This lip crayon is perfect for creating that gradient lip effect that's so popular, especially in Korea.

Pumpkin Sleeping Pack
One of the benefits of buying beauty in Korea is all the free samples, which I have raved about before. These were some of those samples. For anyone who doesn't know what a sleeping pack is - I had to look it up myself, so you'll get no judgement from me - it's something you put on right before bed, after all your other nighttime skin care products. It's really rich and sinks into your skin overnight, making your skin soft and plump. These are especially good for winter, when it's so dry. I did like this, but two uses is just not enough to decide if it's something I would purchase a full size of. It did make my skin feel nice.

When I go back to Korea, I will be picking up a few more products from Too Cool for School! Do you have anything from them? Any you would recommend? Leave me a comment!

Bye x