Paper Love

The other day, I was able to snatch up the Paper + Craft book for half off its original price at Anthropologie.

Since then, I've become enamored by paper crafts and stationary.
I was at the print shop for my wedding invitations this afternoon and the owner introduced me to this beautiful vellum gift wrap - currently out of stock at Paper Source - to incorporate into my wedding favors.

I've become completely consumed by these printable party invitations. (They're embossed!)

Kitteh Love

Look, everyone should know by now that cats RULE the Internet.

They're cute, cuddly, silly, and smart!

Below is one of my favorite Internet cats, Cooper. He knows how to play dead, rollover, and beg. Is there anything he CAN'T DO?!

Go check out Sweetfurr's blog and youtube for more photos (& videos). 


Be overwhelmed by kitteh-love.

Dr. Ci;Labo

//As somewhat of a "follow-up" post to the previous one regarding beauty (outer, mostly)...//

I was flipping through a local Japanese lifestyle magazine the other day when an advertisement for a Japanese beauty product stopped me in my tracks.

Developed by Yoshinori Shinoro, M.D. from the Dr. Ci;Labo Research Institute, this miracle product called Aqua-Collagen-Gel, apparently functions as an all-in-one skin care regiment.
I, previously having worked for Shiseido, was firmly ingrained with the philosophy of using separate, individual products to maximize the benefits of each. For the average to newer client, his/her regiment consists of mainly 3 or 4 products: a cleanser, softener, moisturizer and/or eye cream. For the devoted client however, his/her skincare regiment would include all of the aforementioned products along with the additional makeup remover, 1 or 2 serums, a separate moisturizer for nighttime and daytime, sun protectant, etc.
If you have already read my post from the previous day, you probably have noticed that I have a 7-step skincare routine! (If you think that's plenty, consider the super-faithful Shiseido clients who religiously include masks, massages, and facials into their skincare.)

When it comes to self-care - whether it's making sure that I make time for exercise or not forgetting to apply eye cream twice daily - I'm unabashedly lenient. In other words, I'm pretty lazy and lackadaisical. So you could only imagine the temptation of this Aqua-Collagen-Gel! It would cut down my routine from 7-steps to 3!

Its product description is as follows:

Aqua-Collagen-Gel Super Moisture is Just one application (Toner, Milky lotion, Beauty Essence, Brightening Essence and Makeup Base) after washing your face and you're finished. 

I'm not too certain to what "beauty essence" refers. Perhaps it has the function of an anti-wrinkle essence?

What's even more attractive are the three different options for varying skin types.

 (Clockwise from L: normal to dry skin, loss of elasticity/sagging, sensitive skin, spots/dullness)

My pick would most likely be the pink jar - for sensitive skin.

$52-107 a pop, you can get yours here!

Beauty Rituals

Hello...

Just to share some of my favorite skincare products and my daily skincare routine. (I've always wanted to do one of these posts...)

All (with the exception of one or two) products are of Japanese origin and were purchased at department stores or Asian supermarkets.

(L-R): Neutrogena Oil-free eye makeup remover, Gyunyu Mutenka Cleansing Oil

Removal.

**For Nighttime: This is the most important step in beginning your skincare maintenance routine. Make-up MUST be removed prior to cleansing face. I'm pretty sure a large percentage of girls neglect this step believing that a single facial cleanser can both cleanse and remove  make-up. This, however, is rarely the case! First I remove my eye make-up, with the Neutrogena Oil-free eye makeup remover, which is extremely popular - and appropriately so - in the beauty blogosphere + Youtube. Then I remove any facial makeup (foundation, concealer, blush, etc.) with the Gyunyu Mutenka Cleansing Oil. It's gentle and frangrance-free. Perfect for my sensitive skin. I rinse my face with water and proceed to Step 2.

(L-R): Shiseido The Skincare Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam, Clarisonic Mia 2

Cleansing.

I am currently using the Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam from the Skincare Line by Shiseido. The scent is lovely - kind of like a creamy rose? I lather up dense foam and massage the formula onto my face daily, but use the Clarisonic Mia 2 once a week for deep cleansing/exfoliating

     (L-R): Shiseido The Skincare Hydro-Balancing Softener, Sana Hadanomy Collagen Mist,
Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream,
Shiseido Bio-Performance Super Eye Contour Cream

Softening.

After cleansing my face, I use a softener (Hydro-Balancing Softener by Shiseido, also from the Skincare line) for better penetration of any following treatment. It's important to apply it with a soft cotton pad to ensure even application/absorption into the skin 

Eye Care.

I've been using this eye cream for the past 3 or 4 months and I can easily say that it's one of my favorites, along with Elixir Lifting eye cream (also from Shiseido). Although the two eye creams differ immensely in texture - the former being a bit richer and the latter, more runny - both have been the most suitable for my skin type. 

(READ BABBLINGS TO YOUR CONTENT:

I have difficult skin in general so you can only imagine how much more difficult the area around my eyes is. If my skin overall suffers from dehydration, dryness, eczema, and the tendency to develop milia, add 'overwhelmingly delicate' to the list for my eye area. I never knew that milia existed and was never exposed to it until I bought the wrong eye cream for myself. Wrong on SO MANY LEVELS. I can't remember the brand or name of it to be honest (probably due to repressed memory kicking in), but it was a Korean product. Its packaging looked fairly generic for eye creams. You know, a squeeze tube with a narrow opening. Except this eye cream was GIGANTIC - a good 6-8 inches in length and 1-2 inches in width. Even with religious application of the proper amount (of eye creams), the tube could have lasted me longer than an entire year! Anyway, after a few weeks of applying the nightmare, my skin started to develop milia in various places and I shunned all eye creams from my skincare routine for years. It was not until I worked for Shiseido that I began to explore various eye creams and their proper use.)

Reads: "Moisture retention formula, Micro collagen 1000mg, Hyaluronic acid Na, Honey, Acerola extract."
Irrelevant note: I LOVE acerola juice

Misting.

This step has been recently inserted into my routine, but I am rather enjoying it plenty. It's named a "collagen mist" by the Japanese brand Sana, and while there are apparently studies that indicate topical application of collagen is futile, my skin does feel much more recharged, plump (almost like a pudding) and moisturized. Not to mention, it smells light and fresh and the packaging is just so pretty. I'm currently using this in place of a serum.

Moisturization. 

I complete the last step of my routine by moisturizing my face with the Bio-Performance Super Advanced Revitalizing Cream is my main moisturizer at the moment. Everything about this cream is fantastic: (a) It's both a day and nighttime moisturizer so it kills two birds with one stone. Just make sure to apply a sun protectant in your morning routine. (b) It has a wonderful texture. It's rich, but also light in consistency. (c) It lasts FOREVER. The only con I would note is the fragrance. This cream is marketed toward consumers in their 20's-30's, but it smells like Granny. Nothing against my granny, whom I love. I just don't want my face to smell like a generic grandma.

Daisan CS being Colorful Cotton Puff

I absolutely loathe drugstore cotton pads. They're cheap, harsh on the skin, rip apart too easily, and worst of all, leave cotton residue on your face. They pale terribly in comparison to those of Japanese brands, which are usually of superior quality and sometimes even more inexpensive than the standard American drugstore puffs.

Perhaps I'll do a separate post in the future comparing & contrasting the different kinds of cotton puffs/pads that I have used. Otherwise, this post is going to be MUCH longer than necessary.

Hope you've enjoyed!

Chinoiserie Wall Decor

I've always adored the look and feel of chinoiserie on wallpaper.
It was however, beyond reach for my reality. In fact, it's almost too perfect - goddesslike is the word for it.
You know... a little too pretty, somewhat elusive, and absolutely ethereal.

So I'll leave my dreams of chinoiserie to be...in beautiful imagery.

Humble Beginnings

Good day everyone. 

How shall I begin? (Why are all introductions always so awkward? Must they be?)

This blog marks new beginnings for myself, thus appropriately titled, this post will introduce you to my & my fiance's new home-to-be. Neither of us have moved in yet, but about 90% of the furnishings are complete and so I'm posting these photos with great anticipation!!