Turning Japanese

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I've been to Tokyo four times, and every time I am amazed at how the Tokyo girls manage to be perfectly coiffed, manicured and made-up every single day. This tute is based on some tips and trends I picked up on my latest trip last October.

You will need:

Products

• Foundation
• One light eyeshadow, one dark eyeshadow
• Mascara
• Fake eyelashes (full bar)
• Liquid liner
• Blush
• Highlighter (eg, light eyeshadow or shimmer powder)
• Bronzer (optional)

Brushes

• Eyeshadow brush
• Blending brush (you can use a clean eyeshadow brush)
  
• Blush brush
• Powder brush
• Eyelash glue & tweezers
• Small angle brush
  

Step 1:
Apply foundation.

Step 2:
Using eyeshadow brush, apply light shade of eyeshadow over the eyelid and up to the eyebrow. Apply colour more intensely over the eyeball area. I used a pale metallic blue.

Step 3:
Using eyeshadow brush, apply the darker shade of eyeshadow over the eyeball area of the eyelid. I used a navy blue.

Step 4:
Blend the dark shadow into the light shadow using the blending brush.

Step 5:
Curl eyelashes and apply mascara.

Step 6:
Apply fake eyelashes. Click here if you're not sure how.

Practice your *kawaii* with your eyelashes

Step 7:
Use liquid liner to line the top of your lashline, over the false eyelashes.

Step 8:
Using a small angle brush, line the bottom of your lash line with the eyeshadow you have already used. Use the light eyeshadow on the inside half and the dark shadow on the outer half.

Step 9:
Apply a pink blush on the apples of your cheeks. I used a cream blush (Stila convertible colour) and some translucent powder to set (Makeup Forever HD), but you can use whatever you like.

To apply cream blush, smile to find the apples of your cheeks, dab on with a finger and slowly blend in.

Step 10:
Using a blush brush, use a light shimmer or eyeshadow as a highlighter on the top of your cheekbones.

Step 11:
Use a pale pink or natural gloss on your lips.

Kawaii ne!!

Sayonara~!

New Beginnings

I haven't been posting as much as usual, because I've been trying to figure out which direction Sugarchic (and I) should head for in 2009. The clothing and accessories pretty much sold out earlier this year - thank you to everyone who supported me online and that rainy day in Camberwell! With all my recent travel I haven't had time to keep the store running but I'm thankful to all of you who continue to visit for a read.

I have one last trip this year to Shanghai, and am in the process of organising my big move to Beijing for 2009. Now, I've been told that the Great Firewall of China doesn't allow access to blogspot.com, but am hoping I can figure out a way to update anyway...

So, for 2009, Sugarchic will continue on with more of my musings on beauty, shopping, travel, and life in China.

***

Coming up: something I picked up on my travels - Tokyo girl makeup!

Image from the KERA show (August 2008)

Sayonara!

Hair Do How To

I've been trying to work out how to do my hair for the Spring Racing Carnival (without spending an exorbitant amount at the hairdresser - the Aussie dollar and all the recent travelling have kinda put a bit of a dent in my wallet).

Those of you who know me would also know that I have a love/hate relationship with my hair. I think of it as the "grass is always greener syndrome"...

2006: Warm brown with layers




Late 2006: super long



Early 2007: brown bob

Mid 2007: trying to grow out my hair

Early 2008:
And a bit too blonde...




Mid 2008: back to black

I cut my hair from super long to super short just to see what it would be like to have short hair... and have been trying to grow it back ever since. I've only had 2 haircuts in the last year and its finally getting back to its former length.

Had I come across this video a couple of years ago I might have saved myself the (growing) pains.

Enjoy!

Oh Honey, Honey!

The weather's been heating up and I'm looking forward to spending a lot more time out and about in the sunshine. I'm a little para however, about the lack of ozone above Australia, so I wear Lancome's SPF 50 sunscreen every day on my face - yes, all through winter too.

I recently discovered this SPF 85 sunscreen by Neutrogena and have been using it as a body sunscreen for all my days out in the sun. It's comforting to imagine all those UVA/UVB rays bouncing off my skin, leaving it wrinkle-free and eternally youthful :p (here's hoping!)

For post-suntanning pampering I'm in love with this honey body butter...

There is nothing I like more than spending an entire lazy day at the beach, returning home in the evening to shower off the sun and the sand, and then luxuriating in this honey & shea butter heaven.

~* Sweet dreams guaranteed *~

2nd Hand Luxury: Not an Oxymoron

I was never a fan of vintage or second hand shopping. I mean, I like the look - but the thought of wearing some poor old dead woman's clothes scares me. I saw some really beautiful watches from the 1920's once, and was this close to buying when I had visions of the previous owner dying some horribly tragic death, leaving her belongings behind to curse any future wearer.

But what if second hand isn't really...well, second hand? Come the change of seasons, shoppers in Paris and Tokyo head to specialised stores which sell and buy last season's designer clothing and accessories - at a fraction of the original price.

Tokyo

You will find this kind of store in every main shopping district - for example, Shinjuku, Shibuya or Ginza. The stores in Ginza generally stock higher quality goods, as Ginza is the premier shopping district in Tokyo.

Ginzo has three stores in Shinjuku alone, very near Shinjuku metro station. They are multi-level and stock mainly jewellery, accessories and bags from LV, Chanel, Prada, Coach and Tiffany & Co.

Brandoff has a large store located diagonally across from the Mitsukoshi Department store (easily accessible from Ginza metro station), inside the Café Doutor building. This store has one level dedicated entirely to Hermès, and very well kept accessories, fine jewellery and bags.

There are heaps and heaps of similar stores scattered around Tokyo - all you have to do is choose a shopping area, get off the metro and have a walk around. The clothing and accessories are mostly barely worn and sometimes new, complete with original certificates and packaging.

Gucci Fall RTW

Paris

Shoppers in Paris can head to the many dépôt-ventes to buy or sell their luxury goods. Like Tokyo, each arrondissement has a couple of dépôt-ventes with slightly different characteristics. In the 16th arrondissement, there are pieces from brands like Chanel and Hermès. Shops in the 1st arrondissement also stock Chanel and Hermès but also have a variety of other labels such as Prada, Lanvin or Balenciaga. Dépôt-ventes in the 2nd caters to a more Bohemian clientele with Sonia Rykiel and Japanese designers (think Comme des Garçons, Yamamoto and Miyake).

WK Accessories (5 Rue Marché Saint-Honoré, 1st Arrondissement) specialises in accessories by leading brands. Le Dépôt-vente de Buci (4 rue de Bourbon-le-Château, 6th Arrondissement) stocks a mix of vintage and recent seasons by Karl Largefeld, Missoni, Fendi and Miu Miu - just to name a few.

Alexander McQueen Fall RTW

So maybe it's time for me to let go of my fears and embrace luxe for less.

The Real OC

After about 3 days of travelling (note for next time: book flights early to avoid 50billion stopovers) I finally arrived in sunny California! Staying in Orange County which isn't really a major tourist destination... but there are beaches, shopping and sun galore so I'm loving it so far. The only thing is, no one here walks so it's incredibly difficult to get around without a car. Half the time there aren't even proper sidewalks so you have to make your way through grass and trees...

Shopping wise, there are various malls and plazas scattered around. South Coast is where you find designer labels, the LAB for small local designers, Spectrum for a lot of random shops thrown together (something like the Surfers' Paradise shopping concept back home in Australia). Last week was Style Week, so there were a few fashion shows and events going on in the main shopping areas.

Planning to go to LA and San Diego soon! And of course, Disneyland ;p

Ciao for now ~ time to work on my tan!

Re-creating L.A.M.B

This look is inspired by smokey 60's siren makeup... think Valley of the Dolls, Ursula Andress in Dr No, Raquel Welch...

You will need:

• Eyeshadow brush
• Blending brush
• Blush brush
  
• Eyelash curler
• Foundation
  
• Black liquid liner
• Black eye pencil
  
• Eyeshadow in dark gunmetal grey/midnight blue and silver/white (your choice - choose one dark, one light)
  
• Nude peach blush or bronzer
• Nude lipstick/gloss
• Optional: half-bar eyelashes

MAC eyeshadow in Nehru and Forgery


Half-bar lashes (apply to outer corners of the eye)

How-to:

Step 1

Apply your base (foundation/concealer/powder). Dust excess loose powder under eyes to catch any eyeshadow fallout later on.

Step 2

Apply the silver/white eyeshadow from lash line to eyebrow.

Step 3
Apply the dark gunmetal grey/midnight blue eyeshadow on the outer corner of the eye, eventually creating a 'cat eye' shape. The easiest way to do this is to start by applying the shadow in the crease above your eye to the outside of your iris (arrow below showing where to start).

Then blend the dark eyeshadow in toward the centre of the eye and out to create the 'cat eye' or winged shape a la Brigitte Bardot. You may want to use the blending brush to soften any harsh lines.

Step 4

Use liquid liner to draw a line as close to the upper eyelash line as possible. Make sure you line right from the inner corner of the eye. I find the easiest way to do liquid liner is to start in the middle of the eye using short strokes, eventually joining them all together to create the perfect continuous line.

Take a look here if you need some help with liquid liner!

Tip: If your hand isn't very steady, try resting your elbow on a table in front of a mirror while you do it.

Step 5

Line the lower lash line with a sharp black eye pencil. If you do not have an eye pencil, you can apply black eyeshadow with an angle brush instead (see pic below). (Pencil is probably easier.)

Curl lashes and apply mascara to upper and lower lashes.

Step 6

Using a small eyeshadow or angle brush, blend the dark eyeshadow colour into pencil line you just drew. Only blend from the outer edge of your iris to the outside of your eye.

You may also use the small brush to place some of the silver/white eyeshadow into the inner lower corner of your eye.

Step 7

Optional: Apply half-bar false lashes.
(The L.A.M.B show used full-bar lashes. I think that's a bit too dramatic, but it's up to you!)

Step 8

Apply blush or bronzer lightly on apples of cheeks and sweep upward. As the eye makeup is very heavy, don't go crazy on the blush - try to keep it nude.

Step 9

Apply nude lip colour. A good way to do this is to use a nude lip pencil and vaseline over the top.

Finished product: