Cheap Make-up Shopping

Warning: Cheap, but I didn't mean $1!

                     

     I don't wear that much make-up but I can never leave the house without a blush on the cheeks. I invest on really good blush-ons. I buy from the famous brands and I buy it at the high-end department stores. 

     But yesterday, I thought of checking out my favorite store "It's Demo (it's a one stop shop for women!)." Tried some make up and the next thing I knew, I was at the cashier's.

Here are the breakdown:

1. Lip Essence by Ettusai's! They have a collaboration with Disney so I chose Snow White over Mickey Mouse. Details about the product click here.

Cosme is a prestigious Award giving body for Make-ups here in Japan.

Was it worth it?
YES! It is not oily and definitely moisturizes your lips!

                            

                          

2. Kabuki Brush by Revlon. I like it because it is small and it has a small pouch so it is hygienic.

Was it worth it?

I am on the fence for this, because I thought of using this for the blush-on that I bought however..you need to read no. 3!

3. Cheek Color by Ettusai's. I love the color when I tried it on. It is very natural on the cheeks. The powder is soft that when I tried it today, I dont have to worry about putting too much because the color is  light.

       

So when I got home I realized that it comes with an original puff and I didn't know. That is why I was on the fence on buying the kabuki brush. Big lesson learned, always check the box!

                         

Was it worth it? YES! I definitely got the value for my money because I will be using this everyday for the rest of Spring :)

4. Eyebrow Pencil by Ettusai's. Ever since I dyed my hair brown, I didn't really have no choice but to "color" my eyebrows as well for that natural look. I bought a new liner because my old one was too light that I always have a hard time "drawing" my brows. It's always a make it or break it moment!

Well, it's the store's best seller so I couldn't go wrong!

Was it worth it? YES! The liner was easy to use for an amateur like me!

     Overall, I am very happy with my purchases even with buying the kabuki brush. I could still use it for my loose powder or even for the cheek color. It is a must-have for your make-up on the go. :) I realized that I bought mostly from Ettusai's. I didn't know that after I finish writing this. 

Check out their Japanese site:

http://www.ettusais.co.jp/ja/main

Their English site:

http://www.ettusais.com.sg/

I died and went to heaven!

      Henri Charpentier (Shaur PAHN' t'yih)  is my favorite pastry shop in the entire Japan! They are popular for their macarons and madeleines but hey their cakes are to die for! So today after an entire afternoon of shopping with my mother in law, I've decided to try some of their valentine cakes  for our tea time!

           

perfectly placed

zoomed!

tea time at home after a full afternoon

It melts in your mouth!

Was it worth it?
I have to admit it's a little pricey but for special occasions, it's ok to splurge! But the price is at par with most cake shops and you could get to indulge at the comfort of your own homes! So yes it was!

Visit Henri Charpentier at 2 convenient locations in Sogo and Takashimaya Department Stores here in Yokohama City. 

Visit their website at:

http://www.henri-charpentier.com/

that EXTRA bag

What I love about Japanese magazines are the freebies! From bags, caps, make-up kits, mufflers, name it they have most of it! Of course one or two items per magazine only! I wanted to replace my embroidered tote bag that my mom gave me. I carry an extra tote bag to work to balance off the weight of my main bag. So today was my day because I found that "extra bag!"

Was it worth it?

YES! For ¥690, I have a copy of Steady Magazine to find out about the latest trends and I have the cutest tote bag! It's an Anna Sui after all! :)

Grab yours now, go to your nearest bookstore!

Was Versace for H&M worth it?

     After learning about the collaboration, there were only 3 items in my list that I wanted so badly! I kept these pictures saved in my phone for 2 weeks. 

MyWishlist

     When I was inside the H&M store waiting with my yellow group (4th group to go in) to shop for 10 minutes, I saw that the belt was a thick one. Had it been thin, I would have put it in my shopping bag. I thought that I wouldn't use it as much. So I scratched it from list.  Then some items caught my eyes.

Here are the list of the items in my shopping bag that made it to the cashier:

1. THE must-have bag from the collection. This  bag is very Versace. I loved that the size is just enough that you can bring to a cocktail party. The material is suede. I just have to make sure that it'll be properly stored. The chain's color was almost tarnished even if I haven't used it yet. Was it worth it? YES! Very Cheap for a Versace bag! My bag closet is so colorful.

The bag and the dust bag

tarnished  :(

 2. THE Accessory. Looking at it from where I stood, I was already thinking where I'll wear it. The price was affordable. So in a heartbeat, i put it inside my shopping bag. But there was a problem when I got home. The lock was very hard to open and close. I will have to bring it back to the store. Maybe I didn't know how it was supposed to be opened and closed. I just hope it is not a factory defect or else, I will be crushed! They cannot replace it with a new one because this accessory has been sold out. Was it worth? NO because of the lock problem. Still keeping my fingers crossed!

I love the box!

How beautiful!

Just the right size.

I couldn't close the lock! It was too hard :(

3. The Shiny Shimmery Dress. I thought that this dress would be nice to wear when I looked at it from afar. I just didn't know where to wear it. But I know there's always an occasion for this. It was not as pricey than most dresses and it has really great material. So I put in my shopping bag. When I got home and tried it, it was kinda lose on the top part. I immediately called my friend in the Philippines if she was interested to buy it from me. She gladly said yes! She will be using this in the after-party of her wedding. Was it worth it? YEEES!

This dress is party ready.

4. THE Japanese-ISH leggings. I love the festivity of the colors of this leggings. I grabbed 3 leggings actually but I let go of the other two. My friend Gervin said he couldn't imagine me wearing the other leggings. So i let it go :) But this one was worth it!

5. THE ULTIMATE LBD. It's the most expensive dress I ever own in my life. As Nina Garcia said in her book, The Little Black Book of style: "A style icon knows how to invest in "the bones" (the classic trench, the little black dress..) and builds from there." The most compensating of it all is the FIT! I cannot wait to wear it, soon! 

the Versace logo on the button

IF I HAD EXTRA MONEY TO SPLURGE:

The jacket to satisfy my pet peeve and the fur vest because it was so elegant.

IF ONLY IT WASN'T SOLD OUT AFTER 45 MINUTES

It's a shirt for men's but this can be paired with anything.

     Most establishments here in Japan would always wrap the paper bag with plastic when it rains. H&M didn't at that time. Since it rained so hard that day, the paperbag was soaked! Thank goodness I made it home and all my purchases safe and dry.

Torn!

     It was an ultimate shopping "semi-spree" ever! It was a fun experience but I will not be doing it again anytime soon.

Versace for H&M- the aftermath

I am proud to say, I WAS THERE! Lined up at 9AM under the pouring rain, just to try my luck on getting some pieces in my wish list. THE best collaboration ever for H&M to date! I am glad that I took the advice of my friend, Gervin who is an expert in hauling. He said that Ginza's H&M flagship store has a higher possibility of having a shorter line compared to that of Shibuya's and Shinjuku's. And he was right!

H&M staff giving instructions

Most people lined up as early as 5am,who knows even earlier.! I am lucky that for coming in 4 hours later, I was part of the 4th group to enter the store. 30 people per group, they have 5 minutes to wait and look then 10 minutes to shop. So most of us already knew what to do buy. We were to get a maximum of 7 items only and no 2 pieces of the same kind.

the yellow group

at 9:30AM, the line after me has reached the 2nd block

at 10:15AM, I was standing infront of the store

at 11:30, we were already out, very HAPPY!

Never in my wildest dreams, coming from my humble beginnings that I would be able to shop for a brand that was just far fetched for an ordinary girl like me. The Versace for H&M was a dream collaboration. It is every fashionistas must-haves to have some in his/her closet. I splurged and at first I asked myself if I deserved it all. After my peptalk with my friend, YES, I DESERVE ALL OF IT! I worked so hard for my family and that I need t reward myself too. So yey! Happy me! Advance Merry Christmas to me and to all of you.

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Two days later, I checked out H&M Shibuya, curious on what's left.

              

mostly colorful ones

that girl flaunt her new Versace for H&M leggings

what's left from the men's collection

I am happy that everything that I bought from the collection were sold out after just 1 day! It was worth queuing for 2 hours even if it rained cats and dogs that day.