got ink?

I am at it yet again ladies and gentlemen. That's right, i'm thinking of getting inked. It could be probably be a procrastination on my part from the onslaught of work i have yet to finish and stress from the coming exams of which i havent studied for, but watching Miami Ink has once again managed to conjure up my desire for another tattoo.

I remember laying on the table and telling elson (my tattoo artist) that the tattoo i was getting then was probably going to be my only tattoo, ever. Of course, being the cynic and skeptical individual that he is, he said i'll be back for more. And I can't say he was wrong.

I really don't know what it is about tattoos that is so alluring. and in this day and age, the stigma of having tattoos are still omnipresent. But I really do believe it truly is an artform. And these tattoo artists, they really are dedicated to their line of work. It isn't all fun and games and I know that they put alot of hardwork into what they do, because to them it isn't just tattooing, it's an art. And I love that, I love their devotion and time to creating art, since I am art lover myself. And in Chris Nunez's words from Miami Ink, what is better than to have your artwork put permanently on someone else?

The pain of getting a tattoo isn't exactly a walk in the park, but the results of all that excruciating pain, and hours of not feeling your ass, is definitely worth all that.

Of course, I do believe everything should be done in moderation. There are some people covered with tattoos all over but without putting much thought into what they put on their body. I do believe every tattoo has to have a meaning, a representation of who you are, a dedication to someone, something. And this is exactly why I love tattoos, because they tell a story. And I want to be able to look at that tattoo and know that it holds a special meaning to me, to someone, to something. That, to me, is the beauty of tattoos.

So what's next on my list of conquest? Stars on my foot, that's a definite. And hopefully, a full sleeve when I am older, with a job secure enough to ensure that the sleeve wouldnt hinder my line of work, like owning my own business, hopefully with my best friend in good ol' texas! (: or being somewhere in the creative industry. a full sleeve, woah, tough waters to be treading in, especially for a girl. but hey, dare to dream baby. dare to dream(:

This gorgeous Louis Vuitton Monogram Denim Agenda PM for $345.00 (see it at eluxury.com) It comes in blue denim too and has room for a pen, cards, photos, and anything else you might need! *Drools*

Fighting Against Fugly Asian Makeup

In keeping with the beauty roll we are on...

..Is it just me, or does no one have any clue how to makeup Oriental faces? Look at the below picture from Sephora.com, as an example of what I imagine they think looks very dramatic and sexy...


Well, they're wrong.

Am I the only person who thinks that looks HORRIBLE?An otherwise pretty Oriental girl looks like a bloody panda bear. How the hell did this get published anywhere? On a website as reputable as Sephora, that sells beauty products, no less?

On the flipside, the actress Nan Zhang from the TV show Gossip Girls looks awesome here:

(even though it is tellingly obvious that her nose has been contoured to death... still, better than Ms. Punched-Out above)

What's the deal? It's the 21st century. You'd think that people would have figured out how to work with Oriental faces by now right? It's really not that hard. We need to quit waiting around for a way to copy Occidental styles verbatim, and switch them around to suit our own needs.

Here's a couple of tips from yours truly, especially for girls girls who are either heavy lidded or monolidded..... after years (and I do mean years) of trial and error, and with no help at all from any books/magazines/websites...!

Color Rules

+ In general, purples and greens looks incredible on Oriental skin, which usually have yellow-undertones. Gold and bronze tones are great for a neutral look and are virtually idiot-proof.

A Window Frame

+ Eyeliner should be your best friend, starting now. I suggest gel liners for beginners, because pencils usually smudge everywhere on Oriental eyes, whereas gel liners are smooth to apply but not as tricky as liquid liners, and have much better staying power. If you find that a lot of your lid 'disappears' under your eyes when you open them, then I strongly suggest lining as far up as you dare. This can slightly alter the shape of your eyes, giving it a rounder, almond appearance, rather than a sleepy, squinty look (i.e. my face in the morning)

The Art of Blending

+ Mad-ass smoky eyes with a defined 'crease' line do NOT suit all Oriental eyes, especially girls who don't have a crease (ie monolidders). The higher you apply your shadow, the more blending you need to do. It's a skill you should probably start cultivating now, if you haven't already. I suggest starting out with neutrals, fading from dark to light from the lashline to the browbone (bottom to top), or from the tear ducts to the outer corners (left to right and vice versa).

When you get used to it, start experimenting with colors. As shown in the picture below, I've created the illusion of a 'crease' even though I don't actually have one at all, and it still works a lot better than Sephora's nightmare face... why?
1) Complimentary colors: Dirty slate-grey/muddy blues don't look good on anyone's skin...generally. Especially in such great quantity. Using a bright color that plays up my natural skintone is much better.
2) Adhering to the Natural Eye Socket: Poke around your lids and feel where your natural brow bones an eyesockets are, and follow that. Nature can't go wrong. Creating an artificial crease that's too high or low or wide will look weird.
3) Blend, Blend, Blend! : Needless to say, blocks of color look unfinished and clownish. Girls with deep creases might be able to get away with it a little better, but not me! By carefully blending out colors, the eye is given the illusion of shape, dimensions and depths. I hope you guys found this useful! Remember to keep experimenting until you find what works for you!

why work can be "depressing" at times.

sometimes i wished i had big bambi eyes and double eyelids. and this thought usually comes when you're scanning cds from fashion week at style. sigh, oh sigh. pretty pretty eyes of which i dont have. :(

but then again, sometimes being asian has its perks.

who needs eyeliner when u can look this hot with sharp features, oriental eyes and flawless skin?

all images courtesy of mac autumn/winter '07

The Cold Front

I'm dying to splurge on this MARC BY MARC JACOBS Gold Threaded Trench Coat for $658.00 at Nordstrom. Why? The color is so fresh...not boring New York black, or LA Winter White, but a gorgeous gold tone that dresses up anything, even a boring ol' pair of jeans. The belted waist gives you a trim silhouette, while the structured shoulders and flared hips make sure you look hourglass, sharp and smart.

Oh, and have I mentioned that I want to stay warm?

MAC is God

I can't get enough of MAC's Tinted Lip Conditioner with SPF 15! ($14.50 at MAC stores)

I got it in Petting Pink, a light pink color which goes on sheer, adds a hint of color and moisturizers like nothing else. Lips stay dewy and moist all day -- no chapping, flapping and best of all, no hassle that goes along with using lipsticks.

Totally worth the money...this huge pot lasts forever! I'm thinking of getting one in all six colors... :D

Perfect Lashes

I recently purchased Maybelline Volum' Express - Waterproof mascara off Drugstore.com (they're having a sale on it!)...and it's the best drugstore mascara I've yet to find!

So here's one foolproof, Asian girl's guide to getting awesome, daytime lashes, without resorting to falsies:

1) Wash your face. Make sure lashes are completely clean and dry. Even slightly damp lashes won't hold curl properly, and mascara might end up looking clumpy. Do the rest of your makeup first and let your lashes dry out completely.

2) Using an eyelash curler (Shiseido, Shu Uemura and even E.L.F make great curlers), curl at the base of lashes by holding and 'pumping' lash curler for a few seconds. Move up slightly along lashes and repeat. For even better hold, heat curler with a hair dryer, but be careful not to burn your skin!

3) Apply a thin layer of a primer (I use Shiseido's Mascara Base) to help fatten and condition lashes, as well as hold curl. Don't overload your lashes with primer, that will just undo the curl and look gunky.

4) Apply Maybelline Volum' Express on lashes. The thin brush lets you get into little corners and small hairs. Run it from the base of lashes right up to the tip, in an outward-upward motion, being careful to maintain curl. Apply as many coats as you think you need, although I personally don't do more than two.
*Also, I hate wiggling the brush at the base of my lashes. It makes them clump together. But that's just a personal preference. If it's worked for you, stick with it!

5) Run lashes through a lash comb, like one from Tarte. If needed, brush through with a clean mascara brush on the other end. (It's always nice to buy a multi-taking tool!)

7) Extra Step for Extra Oomph: Brush the tips of lashes with Shu Uemura's Lash Xtension Mascara for even longer lashes! Run the brush just along the tips, not along the entire length of lashes.

6) Let lashes dry fully. Don't attempt to curl them again until they are totally dry, or the mascara will just smudge off on your curlers and you'll end up doing more damage than good.

P/S If you're like me, and use waterproof mascaras often, and curl your lashes to death, do your flutteries a favor and invest in some lash conditioners. Ardell and Talika both make good ones, and they're supposed to help lashes grow longer and fuller as well as protect them for the constant wear 'n' tear of mascara usage!

Did this advice work for you? Let me know!

What a Steal!

Gorgeous BB Dakota 'Royale' Minidress from Nordstrom for a mere $29.00!

Too bad they seem to have all been snapped up! :(

But no fear, try out this Necessary Objects™ Bow Dress for only $28.90!

Nordstorm has some great sales on all sorts of items, check them out now!

Vege-Tales for Grown Ups

Courtesy of my spy on the street, Rasminder ;)

How many ways can you say, "Get the fuck out of that outfit?!"

What could possibly induce a sane human being to pull on a pair of purple tights and puffy green (boxer?) shorts, and then pile yet more purple and white tops over it in a most unflattering manner? Why wouldn't she have looked in the mirror and said to herself, Oh my god, I look like a complete moron?

And....are those...possibly...silver shoes??

Dorothy, please get out of lala-land. There are ways to wear tights and belts, and this is not one of them.

Peas in a Pod

Earrings from Sze Accessories for a mere $9!