Shiseido

Skin Care I’ve Been Testing Lately: Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner, Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion WetForce SPF 50+, and Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil

May 25th, 2018 by Karen 21 Comments

I’ve been so gun-shy about putting new skin care on my face since my breakout in January. I haven’t wanted to upset the apple cart, but you know how it is… You’re going along, doop-da-doo, and your skin is happy ? for a while, but then it starts acting up in a certain way, and you think, Maybe there’s something new out there that I have to try.

This is a pattern I repeat over and over, LOL! My big things at the moment are 1) that my skin’s been super dry, and 2) that I’ve been looking for a new sunscreen.

Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner ($44)

Yup, I’ve been on a rose-scented kick (thank you, Trader Joe)… Can I call this $44 hydrating rose toner life-changing? I’ve only been using it for a couple weeks, so probably not quite yet, but I really dig the scent, which is deliciously rosy but not headache-inducing, and I love seeing the rose petals flit about inside the bottle.

“Tone down pores. Tone up hydration. Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner is a cleansing toner that removes impurities and refines the appearance of pores for a deeply hydrated, healthy-looking, velvety soft complexion. Infused with real rose petals, the gentle formula clears the skin of surface debris, pollution particles, and residual impurities, while leaving it feeling refreshed and prepped for the skincare ritual that follows. It also contains rosewater and rose flower oil to help soothe and nourish the skin, while angelica leaf extract and hyaluronic acid help to retain moisture.”

— sephora.com

Also, I swear that I can hear my cheeks and the corners of my mouth (which have been Sahara-caliber dry as of late) sigh with relief after I use it… Too bad it’s quite expensive.

❤️❤️❤️ 3 out of 5 hearts.

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20

February 1st, 2018 by Karen 18 Comments

Why isn’t this foundation a cult classic yet? It’s a total ? gem.

Shiseido Synchro Skin Foundation ($45) is a medium-coverage marvel of oil-free liquid foundation fabulousness for all skin types, and its thin consistency reminds me of more satiny Dior Diorskin Nude Air, which I was totally obsessed with a few years ago and still ? (pretty pricey though).

Because Synchro Skin has a livelier, less matte finish than Diorskin Nude Air, I think it looks even more natural, and I also think even better at mellowing out my pores and fine lines. So, if you’re a lady who has lived through countless quests and adventures and has the experience lines to prove it, this could totally work for you (although peeps of all ages can wear it).

It sits closely to the skin, too. Sometimes I forget I’m wearing it. And even though the coverage is medium, it’s robust enough to disguise a lot.

In this pic below, I’m wearing the foundation without powder or concealer…

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

Wearing Shiseido Synchro Skin Lasting Liquid Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20 in Golden 5 by itself (no setting powder). The lipstick is Urban Decay Spellbound.

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Shiseido Facial Cotton

September 19th, 2017 by Karen 20 Comments

The Unsung Heroes series highlights some of my ALL-TIME favorite permanent collection products from all sorts of brands.

Dang, I had my heart set on being crabby about these Shiseido Facial Cotton pads, because girl, they’re $10, and you only get 165 of them, which is craziness to me because you could roll up to Target right now and get a massive pack of 300 up & up brand cotton pads for $5.

But ugh, these Shiseido ones are so good!

I didn’t expect to be bougie about cotton pads, but I’m there, man. The Shiseido ones are the softest, most velvety facial pads I’ve ever used, and once you’ve felt their caress (it was unmistakable when they touched my delicate water lines), other cotton pads will feel like rough metal scouring pads. NO JOKE. Even Q-tips.

OK, that was a joke…but you know hear I mean’. The Shiseido Facial Cotton pads feel SOFT. Q-tips used to feel like tabby tum fur to me before I got spoiled by these.

I mostly use them to remove eye makeup, but you can use them like any other cotton ball or cotton pad. They’ll apply toners or liquid essences after cleansing, remove face makeup, and they’ll soften the edges of your blush, eyeshadow or your bronzer perfectly well.

I guess you could also use them to remove nail polish, but I won’t be using them for that. My fingers and toes just wouldn’t appreciate how soft (or pricey) they are.

A single pad can remove all of my eye makeup and face makeup, then STILL have enough oomph left to apply toner.

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Hello From Tokyo! Shiseido Online Skin Care (and Tote Gift With Purchase) Available Now Through August 27th

August 18th, 2017 by Karen 4 Comments

“Hello from Tokyo!” says my tote bag.

Um…I wish I was saying hello to you from Tokyo. Instead, I’m waving to you over the interwebz from my cluttered hallway while holding this Shiseido Hello Toyko tote.

The cute characters in the print remind me of those gummy candies at the Asian store.

Ooh! — what if the tote came with peach gummy rings!? That would be awesome.

It’s an online exclusive gift-with-purchase available now on the Shiseido website, and you get it, along with a skin care sampler set with extra big sample sizes, with any $75 purchase (excluding gift sets).

There are four skin care sets to choose from, too (but only the one tote). There’s one set for fine lines, another for brightening, one for fading dark spots, and a set for clear skin.

Most of Shiseido’s products are available on their website, so there’s a lot to choose from. One thing I use and love is their Ibuki Quick Fix Mist ($25). It’s a setting spray to keep greasy skin in check.

I also love their face and body sunscreen — the one in the blue bottle. It’s lightweight, isn’t sticky, and it photographs well.

I think their lash curler is pretty good, too.

The Ibuki Smart Filtering Smoother ($23), Synchro Skin Foundation in Golden 5 ($45) and Facial Cottono ($10)

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The 3 Best Makeup Setting Sprays to Stop Your Face From Melting Off in the Heat

June 21st, 2017 by Karen 27 Comments

The best setting sprays for hella hot weather!

It’s hot today in the North Bay (or, as we say in the Bay Area, it’s “HELLA hot here right now”). It’s a heat wave.

Weirdly, it’s been way hotter here in Novato than it was in Hawaii last week.

Super hot and super sweaty. Currently, my house is like an armpit, so baby and I are going to escape to air-conditioned pastures in a bit, but before we go, let’s talk makeup setting sprays…

When it’s hot like this, they’re a must for me, and here are a few I love.

1. Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix O2 ($30)

The best all-rounder. You can probably guess that this one’s my fave because — look, there’s only a teeny bit left in the bottle! 🙂 It doesn’t matter what type of finish I’m wearing (matte, dewy, glittery, shimmery, whatever!), it holds on to everything and keeps it in place.

I can sweat like crazy — even rub at my eyes or touch my face — and it keeps whatever I’m wearing from melting off or disappearing.

make up for ever mist fix — Note to self: restock this soon,
as in almost immediately

Also, I think Mist & Fix is the best spray for applying shimmer eyeshadows, glitter shadows and/or loose pigments with a wet brush because it’s almost like a lightweight liquid glue. It doesn’t leave your lids or your face feeling tacky or anything like that, and yet somehow binds those shimmery or glittery particles to the skin.

2. Urban Decay Chill ($31)

The best for dewy skin looks, and you know I’m all about that dewy skin. 🙂 I think Chill is the best spray for that type of look.

It’s weird, but there’s a very fine line between dewy skin and skin that looks oily, right? A little shine is good — great, even! — but too much shine starts to look greasy. Chill walks that line without crossing it, and it feels fab, too. There’s a slight cooling sensation, so when you spray it on a hot day, ah… It’s so refreshing.

Did I mention that it creates the finest mist ever? The droplets are finer than those of the other the sprays I use, and it’s a wide mist. A single spritz covers a lot of area.

3. Shiseido Ibuki Quick Fix Mist ($25)

The best for keeping shine in check. I use this spray when I do matte looks or when my combo skin is oilier than usual. It has what Shiseido calls an “Anti-Shine Complex” to keep greasy spots in check, and dang if doesn’t werk! When I use this, I feel like my skin looks like it did in the ’90s (from what I remember, haha) — uber-matte, with no shine whatsoever.

The mist kinda bugs me, though… Sometimes big droplets hit my face in random spots, but other than that, it’s good stuff.

Stay cool in the heat, babe!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen