Category Archives: SeoulSistah Beauty

FOTD: in honor of the Watch The Throne concert tonight — NARS Duo Eyeshadow in PARIS

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last night, just as i was about to fall asleep, i got an email from my homegirl Miss Info, asking me if i wanted to join her tonight for the Jay-Z & Kanye Watch The Throne concert. my answer was simple: HELL ASS YES.

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1068" title=" on the streets of Manhattan on July 30, 2010 in New York City.” src=”http://seouldivadotcom.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/jay-kanye-dinner.jpg?w=300″ alt=”" width=”300″ height=”207″ /> ←oh hi, boys.

so this morning, while browsing through my NARS products for my makeup look, i decided it would be appropriate to try on the Duo Eyeshadow in Paris:

personally, i never really think of the city of Paris as such an asphalt city (in my memory, it seems more golden to me), but this duo is pretty elegant and refined. the left is a sheer, lightly shimmered silver, to the right is a matte grey.

what was unexpected about this Duo, however, was the dark grey shade: it wasn’t a black/grey, but it was a gorgeous dark, taupey grey.  the silver counterpart was also not too “white” or cold — they were perfect compliments.

i kept the rest of the look simple, with my new stable of “classics” from NARS:  the Larger Than Life Eyeliner in Via Veneto, Orgasm Blush and Easy Lover Lip Gloss. :)

NARS FOTD: Jungle Red pout, inspired by the new Style.com print mag

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i know it’s not very hetero-male friendly, but to me – nothing says confidence like a bold, matte lip. as you probably know, Style.com just recently released its first Print magazine this week.  on the cover, is model Lindsey Wixsom with a gorgeous, almost surreal, vivid red pout:

makeup artist Mickael Noisette shared that he used none other than NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in Jungle Red to get that gorgeous, full color.  well, after hearing that, naturally, i had to snag one from the beauty closet and try it for myself.

now there are 2 reds that i fancy from the NARS Semi-Matte finish variety: Jungle Red and Red Lizard. here are some differences between the two:

 ← RED LIZARD

NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in Red Lizard:  this is a very tried & true, classic red.  definitely an equivalent to a MAC Russian Red.  to me, this is a very sophisticated, Little Black Dress type of shade.

 ← JUNGLE RED

NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in Jungle Red  this shade was such an unexpected discovery!  this shade is exquisite — i would describe it as a young red. it has a little more orange/yellow to it than Red Lizard, so it reads more vibrant.  if Red Lizard is a Little Black Dress, then Jungle Red is a weathered, black leather motorcycle jacket.

it’s hard to find a MAC equivalent to this shade: it’s not quite Lady Danger (which i think the NARS equivalent is Heat Wave), but it’s not quite the deep red of the NARS Red Lizard.  whatever it is…it’s amazing.  color me obsessed.

most importantly: the formula is far more emollient than i would expect for such a bold, matte-ish look.  in life, there’s always good with the bad: usually the price for getting a striking, matte look is uber-drying formulas. NOT SO with these NARS lipsticks…the formulas are unexpectedly comfortable without compromising the color saturation or matte payoff.

today’s look: kept it simple again:

final look for today:

NARS FOTD: looking fresh-faced with an Easy Lover ;)

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a new day, a new NARS look! this week kinda  reminds me of when i used to do the NYFWMUC (New York Fashion Week Makeup Challenge), where i’ve been trying to experiment and attempting to wear new NARS shades every day so i can get to familiarize myself with the line, the textures, the shades and their portfolio.

today, i felt i needed to tone it down after yesterday’s Arabian Nights Trio, so today is a very simple look featuring only THREE products:

 

  1. NARS Lip Gloss in Easy Lover: an ultra-sheer hot pink gloss
  2. NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliner in Rue Saint-Honoré: deep royal blue
  3. NARS Blush in Gaeity (Spring 2012 shade)
NARS Lip Gloss in Easy Lover is an absolutely stunning gloss that looks far more pigmented in the tube than it does on the lips.  it’s actually a beautiful jelly pink — not “hot”, not “light”, but definitely confident.
 ← pretty light on the lips!
i just did a light line of the NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliner in Rue Saint-Honoré (love the name). i must do another post solely dedicated to these amazing eyeliners — they are my new obsession, which is saying a lot because i’m a huge Eyeliner gal.  but these things are absolutely phenomenal: they do not come off! and like everything else that NARS makes, the pigments are so beautifully rich and decadent:
the last product used was this beautiful new Blush shade that i received in my “welcome” bag, called Gaiety.  similar to the Easy Lover Lip Gloss, it looks like a very bright pink in the palette, but when you apply, it’s a whispery vibrance — not obnoxious!  definitely keep an eye out for it in Spring 2012!!
final look:

FOTD: NARS Holiday 2011 Trio Eyeshadow in Arabian Nights, aka would you like some SMOKE with that eggplant?

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so since i’ve started my new gig, i’ve been trying to explore as much of the portfolio as possible to really get to know the products.  one of the lovely things waiting for me at my desk on my first day was a box of the NARS Holiday 2011 Color Collection:

i’ve been slowly playing around with the shades, which are all uber sophisticated: rich-textured, whisper-weight colors, but all highly pigmented.  today’s new toy: the Holiday 2011 Trio Eyeshadow in Arabian Nights:

as you can see, it’s a stunning trio, ranging from lavender, purple to a full-on black.  definitely visible glitter, so i was a bit nervous about wearing this during the day, but that’s the fun thing about beauty – it’s not forever! :)

SO….i must not be used to playing with the Big Boys in the Luxury League, because WOW I was not expecting the RICHNESS of the pigments.  the underlying black/smoke to each shade was really powerful – very elegant. and fortunately the glitter was not obnoxious, but very subtle. i didn’t even use the black shimmer – just the two lighter ones…and look!

no crazy techniques here, just did the Asian Eyes 101 thing:  keep the darkest concentration of pigment closest to the lash line, then smoke it upwards on the lid.

topped off the look with a light touch of the cult classic NARS Orgasm on the cheeks. (truly a universal blush if i ever saw one).

 ←yikes, didn’t realize i looked so tired! 

the great thing about this palette is that it’s truly very versatile. you can very easily use the lightest lavender shade for day, and then pump it up to go to night…and the best part is – you can still have the elegant finish and texture, without losing the fun and creativity of it.

 

 

NARS Arabian Nights Trio Eyeshadow, $45

 

new gig, new obsession: NARS Lip Gloss in Wonder!

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you can take the girl out of the beauty industry, but you can’t take the beauty industry out of the girl!  as you may or may not know, i recently left my role as a digital ninja at Momentum Worldwide to make a much-needed return back to beauty!  so i’m very happy to share that i’ve just joined the phenomenal team at NARS Cosmetics!

along with the fabulous new gig…comes an absolutely incredible portfolio of stunning makeup to play with!  i must admit: after my many years at MAC…it feels like my inner beauty-obsessed girl has now grown up into a lady.  in addition to having the dynamic shade range and pigments, there’s a sophistication and a luxurious feel to the NARS products that i feel like it’s a coveted privilege to even be able to play with these products!

naturally, i’ll be gushing about my fave discoveries, so i’ll start with a simple gateway obsession: Lip Gloss.

as you may or may not know, i’m obsessed with orange/peach gloss. on my more-pigmented Asian lips, it doesn’t read tranny — it reads a beautiful, soft, warm, inviting glow. you would think (what with Asians taking over the world and all…HA) that a lovely orange gloss would be easy to find…but alas! it’s not!

so you could imagine my ELATION when i stumbled across the NARS Lip Gloss in Wonder in the beauty closet!

  • formula:  medium-light consistency, which is PERFECT. too heavy = feels like tar on the lips. too light = sometimes too slippery and feels like i have nothing on.
  • shade:  absolutely stunning. it looks more opaque in the tube than on the lips. there also seems to be a few specks of glitter in the tube, but it doesn’t read too shimmery on the lips – just more like a fortified sheen.
reason i’m obsessed: there’s slightly more color pay-off than other more “jelly” orange glosses i’ve sampled without looking too opaque and chalky. i also love how slick and flawlessly lacquered  it looks  without looking like you’re wearing a disco ball on your lips.
  ←obsessed!!
today’s final look:  
available at www.narscosmetics.com or at Sephora

Cheap NYC Facials? Yes, m’am, @ Teana Beauty Center

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I’ve definitely been known to be more of a beauty adventurer. between questionable eyelash perming in Chinatown, to super-cheap-but-great haircuts, to trying Calgel back in 2009…i don’t mind experimenting for the sake of beauty.

The one common theme throughout all my expeditions: price.  do i believe in investing in beauty? for sure!  but i also believe that DEALS exist!! especially in NYC.

my latest beauty adventure: FINDING THE ULTIMATE CHEAP FACIAL.

now let me preface this post by saying that I began my career in beauty working in skincare.  my first job out of college was at Mario Badescu Skincare, where I learned the ins and outs of Facials 101.  Granted, MB is also a fantastic, cheap place to get a really incredible facial for cheap – $65! But truth is, I work/live/play downtown, so trekking it to midtown is not ideal.

i had read several reviews on Yelp about Teana Beauty Center: a tiny, hole-in-the-wall facial spot in Chinatown. All the reviews online are RAVE, so I had to see for myself.  Now I feel very fortunate to be blessed with pretty normal skin – no major problems thanks to good genes (thanks Mom), drinking plenty of water, a mostly raw vegan diet, and regular exercise.  For me, facials are just like going to the dentist: every now and then, you need a good, deep cleaning.

Nestled in Chinatown, the place was small, but quiet. I was put in a room with one other person, but it was fine.  Some things to note:

  • They followed all the basics of Facials 101: cleanse, moisturize, cleanse, steam, massage while you steam, extractions, mask, moisturizer
  • The facialist did not leave me unattended the entire time – she was always doing something. Bueno.
  • They did use a tool for extractions. If you’re used to the Mario Badescu method, where it’s 100% finger extractions, this was an adjustment…and a bit more painful.

OUTCOME:  after the facial, my skin felt the cleanest it’s felt in MONTHS, and was also super smooth to the touch – yay for clean pores!  Unfortunately, I was a blotchy red mess.  I think it may have been because they used a tool for extractions, which was a little more aggressive on the skin.  Again, I’m very used to the Mario Badescu facials where you leave the spa glowing and fresh-faced.

Fortunately, the redness went away completely by the next morning, and my skin was still singing.

The PRICE was NOT to be believed: first-timer price was $25. Let me say that again: first-timer price was $25!!!  They also said that if I bought a package of 10 facials, it would cost $380 / $38 per facial.  (full price is $45 per facial)

SEOULDIVA SAYS:  hell-ass-yes! I would absolutely go back.  But I probably feel comfortable returning there because I don’t have any major or serious skin concerns.  It’s a great place for a quick, cheap cleaning for normal skin. But if you have a specific skin concern, I would recommend going to a spa that can offer more of a comprehensive, medical approach to your facial.

Teana Beauty Center
151-B Mott St
(between Grand St & Broome St) 
New York, NY 10013.
(646) 613-1888
Accepts Credit Cards

Spirit Beauty Lounge – my go-to, one-stop natural beauty shop

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i guess you can say i’m someone who’s pretty invested in wellness, what…with a high-raw addiction and slight obsession with yoga.  but once you start down this path, you realize that wellness is not just a health choice — it’s a lifestyle.

being a beauty junkie, it’s often hard to find cosmetics that fall under an organic or “wellness” category without doing some serious heavy researching.  (even the “green” products identified at Sephora aren’t as natural as they could be. they still have preservatives, etc).

enter SpiritBeautyLounge.com — an exclusively online boutique that specializes in natural beauty products.  EVERYTHING they carry is pre-selected to meet their natural product requirements.  per their website:

Reading labels and memorizing an ever growing list of ingredients to avoid can be overwhelming. On top of that, you may never know whether or not even “organic” products are ethically sourced or whether or not their packaging is eco-friendly. Spirit Beauty Lounge is a place where you can shop safe, knowing we’ve done the research for you! All of our organic and sustainable products come from companies who have clearly defined humane, ethical, and environmental policies ensuring the care of our planet and its inhabitants!

also, for all you NYC residents, i believe they’re located in Brooklyn, so when i order on their site, it literally arrives the next day, very lovingly packaged.

they also nearly always include samples of new things, so naturally a gal keeps coming back for more!

have had nothing but lovely experiences with them now for over a year! definitely a wonderful destination for all of us who care about what goes ON our bodies as much as what we put IN them!

www.spiritbeautylounge.com

FOTD: oh, MAC PRO Pure White Pigment, how I’ve missed thee!

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for some reason, i woke up today feeling like i wanted to get creative.  with all the recent transitions in my life, i’ve fallen into a makeup rut: foundation, eyeliner, blush…and that’s it.  (ICK – boring!!)

so i dug up my old MAC stash…and got busy:

  • MAC PRO Pure White Pigment on lids
  • MAC Technakohl Liner in Smoothblue – on the lower outer waterline
  • MAC Pigment in Mutiny (from Hello Kitty, i think?) – patted on the lower outer corners of the eyeline
  • MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in By Candlelight on the cheeks  – i swear, this is the most incredible cheek blush/highlighter EVER.
  • MAC Lipstick in Big Bow (also from HK – it’s a great, sheer-but-vivid shade, with a hint of opalescence)

nice to brighten up this otherwise gray April day!

new beauty obsession: Stila Long Wear Lip Color

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it’s been quite some time since my last genuine beauty post. truth is: i was feeling uninspired…

but last december, i met up with my friend Michele (aka the fabulous Sis On Strings of the Misnomer(s)) and she had on the most striking electric neon pink lipcolor. she told me it was STILA.

i nearly choked on my spit.

granted, i’ve been out of the beauty loop for a while, but my impression of Stila had always been of demure “white girl colors” of pinks, roses, nudes and plums…and those messy pump-lipgloss brush pens.  but BOY, was i wrong!

after reading some initial reviews on Makeup Alley, and considering a “B-” review from my homie Karen at Makeup and Beauty Blog, I was skeptical. but i popped over to Sephora to check out these so-called Long Wearing Lip Colors...and OMG – it was love at first swatch.

Stila Long Wear Lip Color Swatch from top to bottom: Exhilarating, Outrageous and Intriguing.

naturally, the 3 shades that interested me were all in a Matte finish. but we all know the Cardinal Rule of Lippees: Long Wear + Matte Finish = Sahara Desert on the lips.

but i was stupified: this product ACTUALLY lived up to it’s claim that it doesn’t feel drying on the lips!  BUT, I think there are a few things that need to be clarified.  for example, the Stila site says this is: A lipstick and lip gloss all in one that boasts extended wear while keeping lips feeling soft and smooth – never dry. The secret is a blend of patent-pending polymers that provide long-lasting wear with rich pigment that glides on like your favorite gloss.

let’s keep it real here:

  • the product should be renamed Stila Long-ER Wear Lip Color:  as beauty consumers, we’ve been trained to think the words “long wear” means “it will stay on through food, drink and 8+ hours of rough & tumble”.  this product: not so much.  if anything, its staying power is LONGER than a regular lipstick…but it’s definitely no typical Long Wear product
  • “Patent-Pending Polymers”:  i chuckle to myself every time i see the “P” word — Polymers. after years and years of working in the beauty industry, i know that “Polymers” is a Product Development buzz word for “magic”.  if you asked me specifically what it was, i couldn’t tell you.
  • “Gloss”….maybe it’s because i opted for the more matte finishes, but even the “creme” finishes I swatched…not so much gloss. if anything, it’s a “satin” finish at best.
  • you could use it as a lipliner…but a helluva unprecise one.

(holy crap, please excuse the horrible lip-drawing!)

despite these slightly misleading things….it’s official: I’M OBSESSED WITH THESE LIPEES.  why?

  • i love that it’s a Long-ER wearing vs. a true Long-Wear lipee.  i mean, do you REALLY want something to be on your lips for 8+ hours? don’t you wonder if that’s toxic in the LEAST?
  • the wear is SO incredibly comfortable – i was SHOCKED.  it felt smooth, glided on effortlessly, and felt silky once on. did my lips feel HYDRATED? no — nor did i expect them to. it’s a MATTE lipstick, for crissake. (let’s be real) but they were by far, one of the most comfortable wears i’ve experienced for a matte shade in a while.
  • the colors were SO vivid and bright.  honestly, i was really surprised to see these types of shades from Stila.  (granted, i chose the 3 brightest shades in the line — the others were the typical “white girl” shades of nudes & pinks…)

 

VERDICT:  Seouldiva Says MOS DEF.

STILA LONG WEAR LIP COLOR $20

#NYFWMUC Day 7: go GREEN!

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Through all the backstages that I’ve seen in the past few seasons, there has been a lot of color: reds, fuchsias, pinks, blues, greys, browns, golds, metallics…but there is one color glaringly missing: GREEN!
I dunno why, but I can’t tell you the last time I saw a true GREEN being used to create a beauty look.  I wonder what we have against green. It’s the color of life! Hell, it’s the color of money.
So I thought I’d do something today to celebrate GREEN:

  • MAC Studio Sculpt + Strobe Cream
  • MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre on eyelid as a base/anchor
  • MAC PRO Reflects Gold patted on top of eyelid (paint pot will keep it from falling out)
  • MAC Eye Pencil in Minted on lower lash line
  • MAC Eye Shadow in Swimming (yay!) brushed over the lower lash line with #219 brush
  • MAC MSF in By Candlelight on cheeks (they should honestly rename it “heather”)