lily x ren

Presidents Day Weekend

2012-02-20T21:06:00.000-08:00

As you can see, it was a fairly relaxing weekend filled with immense amounts of eating. So happy I got to eat at La Boulange twice (I always order the smoked salmon sandwich but opted for the vegetable quiche the second time around which didn't disappoint) and got to eat crab at an all you can eat Chinese buffet. I love crab so much, but I always feel guilty when I get them live from the market and then bring them home to boil...

I am obsessed with Asian drinks, especially anything caffeinated. It's very hard for me to fill my eight-cups-of-water-a-day quota because I'm sure I meet that eight cup quota drinking espressos, coffee or tea instead.

I have some more products to review! I'm hoping I can review my new waterproof liquid eyeliner as well as an SPF lotion that my sister and I have been using for years. To this day, I still love the formula. I'm very excited to share my thoughts on these products.

And I haven't forgotten about the store, but I've recently obtained a new job which requires me to work everyday on top of school and my other endeavors, so it may be delayed a bit. I'll try to get it together as soon as I can.

Molecules in Cosmetics: Glycerin

2012-02-19T01:39:00.002-08:00

When I tell people that I love to view things in magnitude of picometers, I mean it. So as irrelevant as this may be for some people in the industry, I really do enjoy seeing molecular structures of things that can be found around the laboratory. This new segment I'll be starting is just for fun!

One of the most common ingredients I work with is glycerin, so I decided to start off with this material.

source: Wikipedia

IUPAC: 1,2,3-propanetriol
appearance: clear liquid
water soluble
functions in cosmetics

humectant: holds and retains moisture
solvent

I've read on this website that glycerin "[d]raws moisture from inside the skin, and holds it on the surface for a better 'feel.' Dries skin from the inside out. Listed on MSDS as hazardous." I find it silly to leave your only source of reference for this claim to be the MSDS when the MSDS makes no mention of this supposed water-drawing action. In fact, one study shows that glycerin can be used as a component in creams to treat atopic dermatitis, one of the more common symptoms being dry skin (1).

Most of the lotions and creams that I've used contain glycerin, and as a consumer I can personally say that I've never felt my skin to be drier after using products with glycerin. Quite the opposite, really.

References:
1. Loden, M., A. C. Andersson, et al. (2002). "A double-blind study comparing the effect of glycerin and urea on dry, eczematous skin in atopic patients." Acta Derm Venereol 82(1): 45-47.

mally//volumizing mascara vs make up for ever//smoky lash

2012-02-18T21:24:00.004-08:00

source: allure.com

FINALLY! A mascara that I feel really does give my lashes volume. The best part is that it doesn't smudge! I've worn this product from morning to night, and I love it. There is something unique about the feel. One of the first things I noticed is that it has a very "wet" feeling, which made it easier to spread on my lashes. In addition, I had no problems with clumping, and I felt that my lashes weren't sticking together as much like other brands of mascara. The "no-clumping" characteristic made it good for putting on my lower lashes. My favorite thing about this formula is that I can wear it on my bottom lashes and not look like a panda by the end of the night. (As a side note, my primer was my Clinique BB Cream.)

source: coolspot.com

This is Make Up For Ever's Smoky Lash mascara in extra black. I wanted to compare the formulas because, to be honest, I wasn't a big fan of this product. It always smudged at the end of the day despite the different primers I tried with it. It also clumps a lot more than the mally one (I've heard some people like clumping) and I feel that it doesn't give me as much volume as I like. The feel didn't feel that special to me, and felt like any other mascara I've tried. The pigment was good, but I never put this product on my bottom lashes. I always ended up looking like a panda! On the tube it says it curls, but I never felt that it did that for my lashes.

Because I am doing a comparison of these products, I decided to make a table to compare the ingredients. It's interesting for me to see where some of these ingredients land in terms of their amount in the product since a few of the waxes are the same:

mally//volumizing mascara	Make Up For Ever//smoky lash
Water (Aqua Purificata) Purified	Water
Synthetic Beeswax	Glyceryl Stearate
Paraffin	C18-36 Acid Triglyceride
Stearic Acid	Cera Alba (Beeswax)
Acacia Senegal Gum	Cera Carnauba (Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax)
Triethanolamine	Palmitic Acid
Butylene Glycol	Shellac
Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax	Stearic Acid
Glyceryl Stearate	Triethanolamine
Polybutene	Glyceryl Hydrogenated Rosinate
Tricotanyl PVP	Lecithin
Phenoxyethanol	Phenoxyethnaol
Hydroxyethylcellulose	PVP/VA Copolymer
Methylparaben	Xanthan Gum
Propylparaben	Panthenol
Polyquaternium-65	Tetrasodium EDTA
Hydrolyzed Rhodophycea Extract	Tocopheryl Acetate
MAY CONTAIN	Hydrolyzed Rhodophycea Extract
Mica (CI 77019)	CI 77499 (Iron Oxides)
Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)	CI 77007 (Ultramarines)
Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)	CI 77492 (Iron Oxides)
Carmine (CI75470)	CI 77491 (Iron Oxides)
Ultramarine (CI 77007)	CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)
Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510)	Mica
Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide	CI 7742 (Manganese Violet)
Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288)	CI 75470 (Carmine)
Chromium Hydroxide Greens (CI 77289)	CI 77288 (Chromium Oxide Greens
	CI 77289 (Chromium Hydroxide Green)
	CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake)
	CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake)
	*Bio-extender Rich*
	*D-Panthenol*

Make Up For Ever listed an active ingredients list (bolded), but mally did not. The last two ingredients on Make Up For Ever's list italicized were not written in the ingredient deck, but commented under the actives list to be in "trace amounts." This is what Make Up For Ever commented about each active:

Ultra-fine Mineral Pigment of Micronized Iron Oxyde: Optimizes the color and gives an immediate black look
Shellac Gum: Ensures optimal hold and a lengthening and volume-enhancing effect
Fibers: Gives an optimal volume effect.
Bio-extender Rich in Trace Elements and D-Panthenol: Protects the lashes and improves their extensibility

(I am unsure of the "fibers" they are referring to. I am assuming that they mean the brush itself. Please correct me if I am wrong.)
The D-panthenol is a common hair conditioner. Both of these products contain iron oxides which is a pretty common mineral for pigments. Shellac gum is a hair fixative, meaning that it helps with the physical control of your lashes (I wonder if this is supposed to be that active that helps with the supposed "curling" effect).

What really struck me is what this "bio-extender rich" ingredient is. According to this website, it's made up of seaweed, B vitamins and plant extracts. It further comments that it is "[r]ich in rare trace minerals and sulfured amino acids to prevent damage to lashes." The "rare trace minerals" is so vague, but the comment about having sulfured amino acids is interesting. From a scientific stand-point, the two most common sulfured amino acids are cysteine and methionine (doesn't necessarily mean that these are the amino acids in the product.) Since these are hydrophobic molecules, I wonder if these help give that "water-proof" property that's always in high demand for eye products. Interesting to me from a formulating stand-point. (Sorry if I seem naive to other chemists out there if sulfured amino acids are common for eye products. I'm better versed in skin care products.)

Honestly from the active ingredients list and what the packaging claims, I'd be more excited to try the Make Up For Ever's product over mally's. But mally's product feels great, doesn't smudge and adds more length and volume than Make Up For Ever's.

mally wins! Great product. Highly Recommended.

today i bought scv

2012-02-11T14:36:00.001-08:00

H&M trench, Saliban Nine West heels, Hot Topic shirt

These heels were my first big purchase when I became seriously interested in fashion during the AW08 season. I was thinking of putting them up on my online store (coming soon), but when I recently tried them on again I realized that I couldn't let them go.

By the way, I love Hot Topic. Zelda merchandise, Demonias, creepers...why the hate?

random inspi

2012-02-06T19:55:00.000-08:00

I love having a whole lot of 時雨and Daul in my life.

four more months...

2012-02-06T19:42:00.000-08:00

Chai tea...NOT from La Boulange. It will have to do for now.

Theyskens' Theory Pre-Fall 2012

2012-01-30T22:12:00.000-08:00

source: style.com

coming next february...

2012-01-30T21:32:00.000-08:00

Next month I will be opening a small online store for this blog! I will be selling vintage pieces as well as some of my clothes that I'm sure will be appreciated more by someone else. While I work on preparations, chill out to some Metric and Tsuchie...and then get excited by the release of Soul Calibur V. It's finally here, baby!

baby love child

2012-01-23T20:41:00.001-08:00

purple.

2012-01-23T20:03:00.000-08:00

margiela and daul

2012-01-22T18:49:00.000-08:00

Maybe someday I'll be one of those lucky souls who will find a piece of treasure at a random vintage store...aka these Margiela tabi leather boots. There are some shoes that I never forget and will always covet. These are one of them.

Bye Bye Pores: Poreless Finish HD Micro-Powder//IT Cosmetics

2012-01-21T16:35:00.001-08:00

source: jtote.com

My mother surprised me today with a gift...This awesome finishing powder. Today was my first time using it, but the product feels so great that I wanted to talk about my initial reaction. I've used other finishing powders before, but the application of this powder has definitely been the best. It goes on smooth and doesn't leave my face looking chalky.

One problem that I have with my skin is that the corners of my nose get flaky very easily. Previous powders that I have tried only highlighted this problem, making the flakes more obvious than before. This powder does not do that.

Here is the ingredient deck:

silica, soluble collagen, retinyl palmitate(and)tocopherol, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, tocopheryl acetate, phytonadione, hydrolyzed collagen, hydrolyzed silk. May contain: titanium dioxide (CI 77891), iron oxides (CI 77499), iron oxides (CI 77492), iron oxides (CI 77491).

Here is a quick rundown of the purpose of each ingredient:

silica: helps to absorb oil on the face, helps to prevent caking, helps to reduce transparency of the overall product
soluble collagen: helps to hold and retain moisture
retinyl palmitate: Vitamin A
tocopherol: Vitamin E, antioxidant
magnesium ascorbyl phosphate: Vitamin C, antioxidant
tocopheryl acetate: Vitamin E acetate, antioxidant
phytonadione: Vitamin K
hydrolyzed collagen: helps to soften and smooth skin, helps to hold and retain moisture
hydrolyzed silk: helps to hold and retain moisture

As you can see, this product has vitamins A, C, E and K as well as ingredients to not only absorb excess oil, but also to help retain moisture. The other powders I have used did not contain collagen or silk, which most probably accounts for the better feel I get from this product. As discussed in Perry's article about the efficacy of vitamins in cosmetics, vitamin A has been the most supported through research. Vitamin A is known to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. I have yet to read up on my scientific literature for research on any of these vitamins, so that's something to look forward to discussing with you all.

Gift from my mother. The brushes that came with the powder are also amazing! What a great find!

My mother ordered this product from QVC. When she got it, they had a one time offer of $60 (retail about $42 for JUST the powder) for both the powder and the two brushes. In addition, each of the brushes came in a case to help keep them sanitary.

Pillow Talk

2012-01-21T09:50:00.001-08:00

source: birdpillows.net

Aside from your night routine, there are some things you can do to help improve your skin's health by being mindful of your pillow!

Make your bed! If you never make your bed, the least you can do is cover your pillows with your blanket. This protects your pillow from any dust that may collect on it throughout the day, keeping it clean for your face.
I learned this next tip from my parents: before getting in your bed, always "dust" your pillow by smacking it on your bed. Make sure when you do this, you make a sweeping motion away from the bed as if you're "pushing" off any dust or dirt that has collected on it throughout the day.
Change your pillowcase at least once every other week. If you never cover your pillow or you have a tendency to drool (don't be ashamed! Everyone has done it!), I would suggest changing it at least once a week.
Especially if you like to shower in the morning instead of at night, wear your hair up. The build-up of oil and dirt on your hair can cause blemishes on your face. If you take a shower at night, it's still important to keep your hair away from your skin. Sometimes the hair products you use it on (shampoo, conditioner) can still cause blemishes. Just assume that your hair will never be "clean" enough for your face. You can wear hair turbans like in the image below or you can put your hair up in a bun on the top of your head. If you put your hair up in a bun, be sure it's secure so then it won't come undone in your sleep. Click on the image below to check out this nifty hair turban which not only keeps the hair off of your forehead, but your bun as well!

source: QVC

A trick I learned from Michelle Phan: try to sleep on satin pillowcases instead of cotton ones. Satin pillowcases are smooth, so they won't leave imprints on your face like the creases from a cotton one can.

i want wings

2012-01-20T23:40:00.000-08:00

source: DQSK, lostinasupermarket.com, nativeshoesales.com

I will never forget the first day I was in NYC, I saw a man walking down the street with the flame sneakers paired with a green Pendleton cardigan. Eye candy.

Doing Your Research: Tips to Help Differentiate between Media and Science

2012-01-19T18:19:00.000-08:00

Over the years, consumers have grown more conscious about what their cosmetics are really made up of. Consumer interest groups, most notably the EWG, have appeared with the goal of helping consumers to differentiate which products are safe or unsafe for use. In my opinion, many consumers who closely follow the guidelines of these groups will easily fall into pessimism, believing that the cosmetic industry is some big baddie trying to poison its consumers and give everyone cancer. (I wish I could say that this is an exaggeration, but I have met people with this mentality and I'm sure there are plenty.) In fact, I've also come across many consumers who have grown so pessimistic about cosmetic products that anything they apply to their face can only be home-made recipes made from avocados, cucumbers and a squirt of lemon juice. But of course the industry fights back, especially cosmetic chemists. We are the brain power behind these formulations.

As both a consumer and cosmetic scientist, I understand the arguments from both sides. And I know for those who don't have a scientific background may be wondering: who should I trust? The answer is...well there is no real answer to that. I know that may not seem much help, but both sides can be at fault. It frustrates me to see consumer groups with thousands of followers who preach solely on pseudo-science or draw conclusions from scientific papers that are not adequate in truly defining what is safe and what is not. I believe that data from one paper that reported overdosing a couple of rats for a week through direct injection, calling the ingredient toxic due to the subsequent termination of the rats, and then having no other papers cite the validity of this claim is hardly evidence. On the other hand, I do admit that there are lines formulated with ingredients that have yet to be approved by FDA (hence the term "patent pending") and ingredients integrated just for a good market story.

So in the myriad of cosmetics sitting in Sephora or department store counters, how can you assure yourself that what you're paying for will benefit you and not harm you? Do your research. As tedious as that may sound, I highly encourage it so that you may be an educated consumer and not a consumer who helps spread the misinformation from both sides.

I believe that this list can be added to, so over time I will be updating it with more tips and perhaps a more efficient revision to the ones listed below. Suggestions are great and always encouraged.

Don't want to read through piles of information and are just curious as to the actual purpose of an ingredient? Look through this cosmetic database and type in the ingredient in question.
Look at both sides of the argument. Try to use searches such as "benefits of glycerin" or "is glycerin harmful?" When you look at these sites, be sure to double-check that they have actual scientific sources. (But I suppose it's really up to your discretion whether or not you'll put more faith in what you read in Cosmopolitan or The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.)Scientific citations generally look like this:

Boelsma E, Hendriks HF. Roza L. Nutritional skin care: health effects of micronutrients and fatty acids. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001;73(5):853-864.

Unfortunately unless you perform research, these articles are for the most part not free to the general public. Even if you can't view the actual data, it's good to note that the more scientific citations there are the better. You can also try to look at some key aspects of the citation.

What does the title say? Does it say it tested on rats or humans?
Where does the source come from? Is it from some random magazine or a scientific journal? If you can't understand the abbreviated name listed, copy and paste into your search bar and the full name of the source should immediately show up.
What year was it published? Is this knowledge fairly recent?

If you have somewhat of a scientific background, you can look up MSDS's (Material Safety Data Sheets) of the ingredient you're curious about. (ex:glycerin MSDS) These datasheets are open to the public and contain toxicological information. Unless you have a pharmaceutical or chemistry background, take this data with a grain of salt and realize that the molecule will most likely not be in a toxic dose in your product and that some ingredients "neutralize" each other, lessening the chances of harm by making it less reactive.
If you have access to scientific papers--then great! When you look up papers for information, it's important to follow through with papers the group has cited as well as papers who have cited the paper you're reading. Generally when I skim these articles I read the abstract and the conclusion.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

alexander mcqueen//serpent skull snakeskin knuckle box clutch

2012-01-17T14:53:00.000-08:00

paradise

2012-01-09T00:06:00.000-08:00

Crappy way to end the vacation slash start the quarter, but looking at these relax me. I love the ocean. The last picture I took is my favorite--just water for miles. Good night, everyone.

MIDORI

2011-12-20T22:33:00.000-08:00

breakfast

2011-12-18T22:16:00.000-08:00

Johan Ku AW 2012//111711 outfit

2011-11-17T16:31:00.001-08:00

all images: changefashion.net

outfit for today

h&m shirt, target shorts

new york mining disaster

2011-11-12T19:50:00.000-08:00

     "You look exactly like someone I know," she said. "Your facial features, your back, the way you talk, your overall mood--it's an amazing likeness. I've been watching you ever since you came in."
     "If he's that much like me, I'd like to meet the guy," I said. I had no idea what else to say.
     "You would?"
   "I'd like to see what it feels like to meet someone who's exactly like me."
   Her smile deepened for an instant, then softened. "But that's impossible," she said. "He died five years ago. When he was about the same age you are now."
   "Is that right?" I said.
   "I killed him."
     The trio was just finishing its second set, and there was a smattering of halfhearted applause.
     "Do you like music?" she asked me.
     "I do if it's nice music in a nice world," I said.
     "In a nice world there is no nice music," she said, as if revealing some deep secret. "In a nice world the air doesn't vibrate."
     "I see," I said, not knowing how to respond.
     "Have you seen the movie where Warren Beatty plays the piano in a nightclub?"
     "No, I haven't."
   "Elizabeth Taylor is one of the customers at the club, and she's really poor and miserable."
     "Hmm."
     "So Warren Beatty asks Elizabeth Taylor if she has any requests."
     "And does she?"
     "I forget. It's a really old movie." Her rings sparkled as she drank her whiskey. "I hate requests. They make me feel unhappy. It's like when I take a book out of the library. As soon as I start to read it, all I can think about is when I'll finish it."
     She put a cigarette between her lips. I struck a match and lit it for her.
     "Let's see," she said. "We were talking about the person who looked like you."
     "How did you kill him?"
     "I threw him into a beehive."
     "You're kidding, right?"
     "Yes," she said.
     Instead of sighing, I took a sip of whiskey. The ice had melted and it barely tasted like whiskey anymore.
     "Of course, legally I'm not a murderer," she said. "Or morally, either."
     "Neither legally nor morally a murderer." I didn't want to, but I reviewed the points she'd made. "But you did kill someone."
     "Right." She nodded happily. "Someone who looked just like you."
     Across the room a man let out a loud laugh. And the people around him laughed, too. Glasses clinked. It sounded very far away but extremely clear. I don't know why, but my heart was pounding, as if it were expanding or moving up and down. I felt as if I were walking on ground that was floating on water.
     "It took less than five seconds," she said. "To kill him."
     We were silent for a while. She was taking her time, savoring the silence.
     "Do you ever think about freedom?" she asked.
     "Sometimes," I said. "Why do you ask?"
     "Can you draw a daisy?"
     "I think so. Is this a personality test?"
     "Almost." She laughed.
     "Well, did I pass?"
     "Yes," she answered. "You'll be fine. Nothing to worry about. Intuition tells me you'll live a good long life."
     "Thank you," I said.
     The band began playing "Auld Lang Syne."
     "Eleven fifty-five," she said, glancing at the gold watch on her pendant. "I really like 'Auld Lang Syne.' How about you?"
     "I prefer 'Home on the Range.' All those deer and antelope."
     She smiled. "You must like animals."
     "I do," I said. And I thought of my friend who likes zoos, and of his funeral suit.
     "I enjoyed talking to you. Goodbye."
     "Goodbye," I said.

-Haruki Murakami

ton cousin teki

2011-11-11T02:11:00.001-08:00

1. It's getting cold. I also don't sleep anymore (tonight included considering it's 2 am...). School is manageable, but research is taking over my life. After months of reading papers, I'm very excited to get back in the lab next week and finally start some wet chemistry!
2. I love wrapping yards of material around my body that I find lying inexplicably in my closet.

The title is random, but that was the last song I was listening to. I think it would be great music for an interview. Who wouldn't want the verse, "Je veux te voir dans un film pronographique," playing in the background whilst talking about him or herself?

Ileana Makri//skull rose gold and diamond ring

2011-11-02T18:05:00.000-07:00

Agent Provocateur//raphaella lace and tulle underwired bra

2011-11-02T17:58:00.000-07:00

I love Agent Provocateur lingerie. So. Pretty.

oth X ボバ X おしゃかしゃま

2011-11-02T17:52:00.000-07:00

I still don't have a camera. But I decided that I need to update....something.

Old picture. I've been looking less disheveled nowadays. For some reason working in the cosmetic industry over the summer inspired me to clean up my look and....brush my hair. Geez, I'm gross. When I wore this outfit that day, I was thinking of RAD's おしゃかしゃま。 Good song.

UNIONMADE

2011-10-11T00:43:00.000-07:00

Pictures are linked to UNIONMADE online shop

i belong in the city.

2011-10-05T17:09:00.000-07:00

顔。口。目。

2011-10-02T23:11:00.000-07:00

水原希子 X Hysteric Glamour AW 2011

2011-10-01T13:14:00.000-07:00

images courtesy of fyeahkikomizuhara

LAURYN

2011-09-18T15:13:00.001-07:00

An R&R kind of day. I don't know what the hype is about being completely inebriated. Not fun. I need Lauryn and a shit load of dihydrogen monoxide.

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

2011-08-30T19:47:00.000-07:00

海に行った

2011-08-19T22:17:00.001-07:00

vintage plaid; target shorts, shoes, sunglasses; H&M keychain, bracelets; AA bra
I am a very simple person. For my 21st birthday, my boyfriend took me to a beach. It's not really a beach...more of a park but it was still fun. I don't really drink alcohol, so unlike most other just-turned-21-year-olds I suppose I'm rather boring. But how can you argue with binging on amazing Puerto Rican food and then falling asleep on the beach blanket induced by food coma? That day was the most "summer" I've felt in a long time, and I definitely needed a relaxing day like this. I have such a Type A personality and am an avid workaholic that I really don't know how to relax...how sad.

I also spilled ice cream on my SUEDE shoes. So like me. S.O.B.

YSL. Too. Good.

2011-08-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

photo from afterstylecomesfashion.creatersofdesire.com

JAM HOME MADE//endure jam studs shoulder pouch s

2011-08-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

she likes lauryn hill. win.

2011-08-06T09:03:00.000-07:00

MM6 X OC

2011-08-04T18:30:00.000-07:00

After coming home from a stressful day at work, I opened my e-mail to get my daily update from Barneys New York. I think I stopped breathing for a fleeting moment when I saw the title: "MM6 X OPENING CEREMONY Has Arrived". THE. F***.

images from Opening Ceremony blog

To be honest, I'm a little bit disappointed in the collection. I think I'm a bit spoiled, because out of the Opening Ceremony collaborations, the one with Pendleton still remains my absolute favorite and nothing has seemed to beat that as of yet. And I'm not that crazy on the boots, although the boots paired with the awesome half denim, half leather jeans look bad ass.

And as an aside, I freak out at any mention of "MM6" or "MMM" or "Maison Martin Margiela". When I first started to learn about fashion, MMM's AW08 collection was the first collection that I ever fell in love with...so this designer will always hold a special place in my heart.....heh.

Alexander McQueen//Snakeskin and wrap bracelet

2011-08-02T21:07:00.000-07:00

mercibeaucoup//メンズクラゲテｲー

2011-07-31T12:41:00.000-07:00

Isabel Marant//pop color beaded brass bracelet

2011-07-31T12:36:00.001-07:00

Isabel Marant//zonica leather belt

2011-07-31T12:35:00.000-07:00

my (dream) skincare routine

2011-07-31T10:40:00.001-07:00

A lot of people tend to ask me about skincare tips, so here I'll show you my (dream) skincare routine. I call it a "dream" because I can't always afford the same products (but trust me when I say that sometimes the cheaper stuff can be way better or even as good as the expensive products from department stores).

I've done a lot of my own research over the years trying to find the best skin routine, and I can honestly say that Chizu Saeki has the best skincare routine I've ever tried. (I highly recommend this book if you are seriously interested in skin care.) Saeki-san's book has changed my outlook on skincare forever, because I've actually seen results. I am not lying when I say that my skin instantly feels ten times better two days after using her suggested routine. Of course, this only happened with the right products. Finding the right products for your skin takes time and patience.

MORNING CARE
1. Washing: I just rinse my face with warm water to open up my pores to help the next steps seep in better into my skin.

2. Lotion: Before I begin, the difference between lotions and creams really baffled me before I started to learn how to formulate. The key difference between the two is that lotions are more water based and creams are more oil based. Since lotions are water based, they will absorb faster than creams. And by far, my favorite cream has to be Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. I've read a couple of reviews on Sephora and other websites about people complaining that this product dries too quickly, but that's just from the lack of understanding the difference between a cream and a lotion. One of the reasons why I love how quickly this product absorbs is that I only have to wait about a minute or so in order to move on to my next step in my skincare routine.

3. Serum (optional): As I've learned, "serum" is a really ambiguous term. The best way to describe it would be in Saeki-san's own words, "Serum is like a nutritional supplement, penetrating deep into your skin and energizing it from within. There are all kinds of serums available--brightening serums, hydrating serums, vitamin C serums, and so on--so choose one that best suits your skin's needs." With the myriad of serums out on the market right now, finding the right one has definitely proven to be a challenge. However, I finally stumbled across one and to be honest, this product is what really made my skin the best I've ever seen it: Fresh's Black-Tea Age-Delay Face Serum. Unfortunately, this product sells for $80 per ounce, so being college student this product is way out of my price range. I was lucky enough to stumble upon this product when Sephora was giving out samples of it. I've tried many serums, and this has been the only one that has worked that amazingly for my skin. These days, I just use whatever serum is laying around or I just skip this step completely. Serum's are not completely necessary, but really can make a big difference in your skin when you find the right one.

4. Cream: As I've said before, cream's are oil based. Now, don't let that scare you. I always hear consumers and a lot of my friends and family complain about greasy skin and how they don't want to add more oil to their face. In reality, people don't realize that greasy skin is most likely due to lack of moisture on your face--since you don't help your skin moisturize itself, your skin produces a lot of oil in order to keep it moisturized. To combat this, you must train your skin to secrete less oil by applying lotions and creams! When your skin realizes that you can offer an outside resource of moisturization, it will secrete less oil. The point of this step is to seal in the moisture you've applied from your lotion and serum. Okay, so I actually have a couple favorites for creams, for both morning and night. For morning, my favorites are Caudalie's Premiere Cru La Crème and Korres' Wild Rose 24 Hour Moisturizer SPF 6. Again, I got to try Caudalie's f****** amazing product through samples from Sephora, but geez do I wish I had the money to splurge on the $150 per 1.7 ounce retail price. So. Worth it. And when I start dropping f-bombs, you KNOW that this product absolutely rocks. My alternative to this, but can still be a little on the expensive side for college students like me, is Korres' Wild Rose cream coming in at $32.50 per 1.50 ounces. I love the feel of this product, and it smells really awesome, too. My only problem with this product is that it spoils very easily, so keep it out of your bathroom in order to help it's shelf life. I highly suggest you invest in a moisturizer with SPF 25 skin protection. I'm still trying to find the perfect one for my skin.

5. Primer: Primers help to give your skin the look of a more even skin tone, and some even have spf in it for extra skin protection. My favorite is Hourglass' Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15. It goes on smoothly and doesn't flake like other primers I've tried.

6. Foundation (optional): I personally do not use foundation, mostly because I still can't find the perfect one for me. However, foundations really help give your skin a flawless look, and the primer will help the foundation go on smoothly.

EVENING CARE
1. Makeup Removal: My favorite is Neutrogena's Cleansing Towlettes--nice, easy and convenient.

2. Washing: I use a combination of any cheap facial cleanser and Neutrogena's Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub. I've tried a wide range of cheap to expensive facial cleanser, and all of them feel the same on my skin. These days I just default to what's already at my sink, usually some cheap Cetaphil or Olay product. My skin seems to respond really well to this Neutrogena scrub. It's a gentle exfoliator, so I feel comfortable using it everyday. To wash my face, I put about a dime size of both the cleaner and exfoliator in my hand and mix them together before applying to my face. Mixing them together in your hand warms the product and helps it to spread more easily on your face.

3. Lotion: Here I just use the same lotions I mentioned before.

4. Serum: Ditto here. Same serums as mentioned in the morning care routine.

5. Cream: Aside from the creams I already suggested, I absolutely love Olay's Night of Olay Firming Cream. My face always feels so soft the next morning. This is a great, cheap product that I highly recommend to end your evening care routine.

Phew! And we're done! Just remember, that everyone's skin is different and so not all of the products I've suggested will always work for everyone else. However, I hope that my comprehensive review and Saeki-san's routine will help bring your skin a step closer to what you'd like for it to be. A good skincare routine is only half the battle, so later on I will make other posts with tips on bringing you happy, healthy skin.

My last and final tip is this: Whenever you are at home and just have a lazy day with no plans on going out, try not use any cosmetic product. Let your skin breathe, and let it self heal!

Acne//brushed leather ankle boots

2011-07-31T09:12:00.000-07:00

the best song on the face of this planet

2011-07-20T19:32:00.001-07:00

NIKE SPORTSWEAR AW10/11

2011-04-28T19:30:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit: freshnessmag.com

After seeing amazing photos of the Nike Sportswear AW10/11 collection (trust me, you WANT to click that link), I've been oggling at just...how clean and crisp everything looks. I've come to really like sportswear due to my love for Yohji Yamamoto's Y3 line with Adidas and my constant exposure to the hip hop culture since my boyfriend and a lot of my friends are bboys.(I know the idea of me knowing anything about hip hop culture is pretty amusing, but I think anyone who has dated a bboy for years is bound to learn a thing or two.)

Photo Credit: hypebeast.com. Photos by Ephraim Chiu.

hello again//DREAM BIG

2011-04-27T21:28:00.001-07:00

I clearly need a better camera...and a tripod...and a place to take pictures with better lighting. Keeping up with this blog is difficult because of school and research, but I'm determined to someday take this website somewhere.

Today I received a very great opportunity. It's one step closer to my dream. I have a shit load of work to do, but after that one phone call (and Luxirare's obvious influence on this outfit) I found inspiration to post.

So the lesson goes: keep your chin up. Work hard. And dream big.

２０１１年３月１１日・日本の地震

2011-03-16T20:29:00.000-07:00

日本のために祈って下さい。

net-a-porter porn//oregon trail fail

2011-03-09T23:15:00.001-08:00

rag and bone

charlotte olympia

rag and bone

boyfriend: did you accept my request for oregon trail yet?

me: no....not yet...

boyfriend: pleeeeeeeeease.

me: ...fine...only because i love you...i guess..

boyfriend: in oregon trail you got bit.

me: thanks for taking care of me, f*****

古い写真

2011-03-09T16:06:00.001-08:00

I don't remember how old these pictures are, but please excuse the poor quality of the pictures. Saving up for a new camera, and I really don't have a place to take outfit pictures at the moment. Anyways, if you're familiar with the Bay Area, these pictures were taken at the San Francisco Japantown.

plaid sweater and shoes-vintage; socks and lace tank top-Tilly's; over-sized tank top-Marshall's

I've been best friends with this girl since I was in kindergarten. I am madly in love with her. Ever have one of those friends where you don't talk to for ages, but when you finally get the chance to catch up it's as if nothing's changed? Yeah, she's one of those amazing people in my life.

I have finals next week so I can't post as much as I'd like and my brain's kind of dead. After finals, I shall hopefully get more outfit pictures (or make you guys suffer with older photos) and think of wittier things to say to entertain you all.

banal chic bizarre AW 2010-2011

2011-03-06T15:31:00.000-08:00

photos from changefashion.net
The yellow pants (and just the bright red and yellow colors from the collection) really reminds me of Garnet from FF9.

My friend from Tokyo introduced me to this amazing designer. I don't really have any other friends that really like the same kind of fashion or style that I do. When my boyfriend and I can finally get to Tokyo, she and I have a date set to go shopping in Harajuku (aka gonna ditch the boyfriend). Can't friggin' wait.

And there you go. The end of my first blog post. I’m at a point in my life where I’m about to take my first big step into the world. I’ve contemplated what the hell I’m going to do with my life for a long time, so much so that it’s driving me mad. After endless meetings with my professor, crying to my boyfriend, bashing my head against the wall (figuratively speaking of course...except for a few incidents...), I’ve finally figured out what I want. It’s honestly rather complex and many steps need to be taken, but I’m determined to have it. And I’m determined to go big or go home. If my plan will inevitably be a failure, I’d rather fail when I’m young and I can learn from the experience than when I’m older and bitter.

I hope you will enjoy reading this blog as it comes along. 宜しくお願いします。

About Me

2011-03-05T22:30:00.002-08:00

Hello, everyone! My name is Mary Magsombol (more notably known as Mica Oba), a cosmetic chemist in the Bay Area and a Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Japanese double major at UC Davis. My experience so far in the cosmetic industry has been R&D work learning the ropes about formulations. I have experience making various products such as sunscreens, lotions, creams, tinted moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners, hand soaps, lip balms, lip glosses, cleansers, body washes, exfoliants and more. I have a wide range of background in laboratory work, but my passion ever since my senior year of high school has always been cosmetic chemistry.

Why cosmetic chemistry? I've always had an interest in skin care and I am absolutely enamored with how the world works in the scale of picometers. My undergraduate research was not actually emphasized in polymers, but inorganic chemistry. I do miss my old research, but I'm not sure of the safety and efficacy of fullerenes in cosmetics (some are out there!) Anywho, my research experience has made bucky balls not only my favorite carbon allotrope (YES, diamond is second!!!) but my favorite molecule in general. Aside from my fullerene work and R&D experience, I've also worked in a genetics/evolution/ecology lab. I'm not quite sure how my experience handling Drosophila will help me in the cosmetic industry, but you never know. Currently I am researching the difference of ceramide concentration and composition between premature and healthy infants in order to assess possible causes of extremely dry skin, a common symptom for premies.

Aside from cosmetics and science, I absolutely love fashion. It is my hope someday to finally put out some designs that I've been wanting to bring to fruition for quite some time, but I'm in no particular rush with them.

A unique interest of mine I suppose is not that common amongst people in the cosmetic industry is my passion for competitive gaming. I've actually been involved with competitive gaming since 2008, but took a break due to school. I never made a big name for myself as a player, but I took pride in the tournaments I ran at my university. Although running these events were very stressful, I do miss being a tournament organizer. I watch competitive games on streams like how other people watch sports. I really enjoy watching Super Street Figher IV Arcade Edition, Starcraft 2, League of Legends and, of course, Soul Calibur V. I hope to someday make a bigger name for myself with Soul Calibur V since I spent most of my middle school years in front of the TV with my PS2 playing Soul Calibur II. I love the franchise and I hope to see its competitive atmosphere grow in the West Coast, particularly Northern California. It's hard fitting in training time since I am still a full-time student, but hopefully I can devote more time toward the game after I graduate.

One of my life goals is to become "pera-pera" in Japanese (that means "fluent!") I love everything about the culture and language. Although it may not have any direct benefit for me, I someday want to pass the hardest level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Perhaps when my skill level in writing improves, I will translate my posts to Japanese.

For any comments, questions or interests in collaborations, you may contact me at mamagsombol@gmail.com. In the subject line, please write "lily x ren: (purpose of email)."

よろしくお願いします！

lily x ren

Presidents Day Weekend

Molecules in Cosmetics: Glycerin

mally//volumizing mascara vs make up for ever//smoky lash

today i bought scv

random inspi

four more months...

Theyskens' Theory Pre-Fall 2012

coming next february...

baby love child

purple.

margiela and daul

Bye Bye Pores: Poreless Finish HD Micro-Powder//IT Cosmetics

Pillow Talk

i want wings

Doing Your Research: Tips to Help Differentiate between Media and Science

alexander mcqueen//serpent skull snakeskin knuckle box clutch

paradise

MIDORI

breakfast

Johan Ku AW 2012//111711 outfit

new york mining disaster

ton cousin teki

Ileana Makri//skull rose gold and diamond ring

Agent Provocateur//raphaella lace and tulle underwired bra

oth X ボバ X おしゃかしゃま

UNIONMADE

i belong in the city.

顔。口。目。

水原 希子 X Hysteric Glamour AW 2011

LAURYN

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

海に行った

YSL. Too. Good.

JAM HOME MADE//endure jam studs shoulder pouch s

she likes lauryn hill. win.

MM6 X OC

Alexander McQueen//Snakeskin and wrap bracelet

mercibeaucoup//メンズクラゲテｲー

Isabel Marant//pop color beaded brass bracelet

Isabel Marant//zonica leather belt

my (dream) skincare routine

Acne//brushed leather ankle boots

the best song on the face of this planet

NIKE SPORTSWEAR AW10/11

hello again//DREAM BIG

２０１１年３月１１日・日本の地震

net-a-porter porn//oregon trail fail

古い写真

banal chic bizarre AW 2010-2011

About Me

水原希子 X Hysteric Glamour AW 2011