Tag Archives: tips
May 27, 2011 Make-up for Asian eyelashes
So, as you may have noticed… I’m Asian. Which means that I have typical short, straight Asian eyelashes. Which makes it very difficult to make them look curly, long, and luscious with anything. This has frustrated me for many years and has led to much not-so-successful experimentation with make-up. But I think that after so many trials, I’ve finally figured it out! Behold, before and after results with only 2 products:
Magical, right? So what are the 2 things I used? None other than the The Shu Uemura eyelash curler and the Imju Fiberwig mascara. The Japanese really know their stuff!
So here is my eye with nothing on. Lashes point straight out.
Step 1! The Shu Uemura eyelash curler. Sephora USA doesn’t carry it anymore, but it looks like you can still get it online. I got mine at Sephora in Canada. This curler is actually pretty awesome. It doesn’t hurt, doesn’t crimp your lashes, and the curl actually lasts even without mascara (I curled my lashes then slept for 8 hours and by the morning they are still curly!).
You can already start to see a difference! Work the curler some more and this is what you get:
If I’m short on time in the morning, I would actually just rock this look. Really natural, but it makes your eyes look so much more awake! But with just a few more minutes… apply one coat of the Imju Fiberwig mascara. (What the hell, does Sephora not carry anymore this either?!)
I love this mascara… it really lengthens your lashes, doesn’t clump, gives a soft and feathery feeling to your lashes, and comes off with just warm water! I got mine on eBay, which is a lot cheaper, but make sure that it’s from a reputable seller. (The Shu curler, on the other hand, should not be bought on eBay – there is a lot of counterfeit ones and it just won’t be worth it). One coat is usually enough for me, and I find that additional coats tend to clump more, but if you want, feel free to add more coats. This is with 2 coats:
And there you go! So easy, right? It literally takes 5 minutes, but the results really are fantastic.
Bonus tips:
1. Some people complain that the Fiberwig doesn’t give enough volume, which I’m ok with, but if you want more volume, after one coat of the Fiberwig, add another coat with your favorite volumizing mascara (I like the CoverGirl LashBlast). Always Fiberwig first though! That way you get length first before volume, and it still washes off with just water since your lashes are coated directly with the Fiberwig.
2. A little squeeze with the curler midway through your day will refresh the curl in an instant! Just don’t overdo it or do it too hard, you don’t want to break your lashes when they’re already coated in mascara.
3. For a more dramatic look, false lashes are the way to go. I actually only use 1 piece of the false lashes each time: I cut it in half, and then use each half on each eye, with the side with the longer lashes on the outside of your eye (does that make sense?). This way they are not as likely to fall off and they will look more natural.
That is all! Woohoo for my first ever beauty post! I’m not a make-up expert by any means, but I hope you’ve found this helpful. Let me know if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions!
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- Posted under Beauty
May 1, 2011 Wisdom of the day
Do more of those things that you will have fond memories of, that you would regret for not doing, in five or ten years time. Nobody is ever going to look back and say “remember that exam I studied so hard for?” instead of “remember that awesome concert/show/exhibit we went to?” Nobody is ever going to look back and say “I wish I had spent more time in the library during college” instead of “I wish I had attended more events and explored the city more often.”
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- Posted under College, Future, General, Musings
September 14, 2010 Online shopping tips
It’s no secret that I love shopping online. The ability to browse through hundreds of items on the computer screen right at home, the lower prices, the thrill of getting your package in the mail.. what’s not to love? But what can you do to make sure that you get a good deal? As a seasoned online shopper, I pass along some tricks and tips I’ve learned along the way.
As an example, I will use my recent purchase of this coat. The price of the coat from where I saw it was around $137 with shipping, and what I ended up paying for it was $88. How did I save nearly $50 on this beauty? (The coat, by the way, is gorgeous. Can’t wait until winter!). Read on and find out.
1. Never buy right away.
I loved the coat so much when I first saw it online that I wanted to get it right then. Impulse buys are especially easy online, so don’t fall victim to your whims. Search up the item you want to see if they are available elsewhere. Most items are available through multiple online shopping sites, with varying prices, so research can definitely pay off.
1.a. A sub-point for this tip is to try searching different names the items may be called. I first saw the coat on Modcloth, and they rename nearly all of their stuff. I had to look under a different name to find what I was looking for.
2. eBay.
An oldie but a goodie. Ebay has tons of great deals. I don’t think I even need to talk much about it. The coat was new so it wasn’t available on eBay yet, but it was still worth a try.
3. Look for discount codes.
It’s as simple as typing in a search engine “(website name) coupon codes” and that can instantly save you 5%, 10%, or even 20%. I did this for the coat and saved a whopping 21%.
4. Sign up for newsletters.
Speaking of coupon codes, some websites offer exclusive deals to those who get their newsletters. Do it.
5. Read reviews if possible.
Try to find reviews of the item you want to make sure that it’s really what you expect. It doesn’t matter where the review is from as long as it’s about the same thing. The reviews on Modcloth of the coat was great, and even though I didn’t buy the coat there, it was still a valuable resource. Seller reviews on eBay is also essential when you buy from there. I’m a little wary of buying clothes online from places like Forever 21 since there are no reviews, and a few of my past purchases didn’t quite fit right, so sometimes it may be better to go into the store after all.
Happy online shopping! May the good deals never end for you.
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- Posted under Fashion, General, Lists
August 20, 2010 Style secrets: double duty
“You can also wear it as a shirt!” Said the Chinese saleslady desperately trying to get me to buy the white and green floral skirt I was looking at. I laughed it off then, thinking that it was just a last ditch effort to get my business. At any rate, I bought the skirt, and the saleslady’s comment was long forgotten. That is, until now.
As it turns out, the lady was right. With a little creativity, you actually CAN wear a skirt as a dress. This is how it’s done.
So here is the original skirt:
Here it is worn as a top:
This will work with almost any skirt that is at least knee length and has an elastic waistband. Just pull it up to your chest and throw on a belt, pair with leggings or skinny jeans, and you’ve got an entirely new look out of the same garment. Here’s another one of my skirts worn this way:
Oh, and also, a wide elastic belt is probably the best accessory ever.
