Product Review: Kiss Premium Eyelashes Strip Eyelash Adhesive

I picked this product up about a month ago and have been waiting till I tried it a couple times before I wrote a review.  I saw it at Walgreens for a good price and since the much-recommended Duo Lash Glue doesn't seem to work that well for me, I thought I'd give it a shot.
The glue itself is white but dries totally clear, so I haven't noticed a need to go back over my eyelash strip with more eyeliner to hide the glue like some people do.  It has a fairly strong odor straight from the bottle but it seems to fade quickly once you apply it.  I also think it dries/gets tacky much quicker than Duo.
One of the coolest features of this product is the little wand that you apply the adhesive with.  It makes it so easy to get on just the right amount and it's much less messy than the tube variety.

The product claims to have "24 hour flexible hold."  Although I've never worn my lashes for 24 hours and don't know anyone who would, it definitely lasts for as long as I wear them.  I've had no problems whatsoever with my lashes coming unstuck at the corners or anything so I really like that.
Overall, I have to say I'm a big fan of Kiss Strip Eyelash Adhesive and can recommend it wholeheartedly!  If you're like me and have had a hard time finding a lash glue that works for you, or you just want to try a new one, definitely give it a shot!  Get your own here.

Disclaimer:  I purchased this product myself for the purposes of review.

Today's makeup look: Casual Gyaru

The inspiration for this look is all thanks to Bubbi over at BubzBeauty Channel.  She recently did this totally cute Gyaru makeup look that I can't believe I've never tried considering how much I love Japanese fashion and makeup.  Go easy on me since this is my first attempt ;P

From what I've read and tutorials I've seen, the keys to a Gyaru look are natural looking eyeshadow, thick black eyeliner, big lashes with the gaps in between, pale lips, and pink cheeks.  Oh, and white eyeliner in the lower rim to make your eyes look bigger.  Although I think the pale lips look a bit odd on me, I otherwise really like this look and can see myself wearing it often.

Products used:  Lancome nude eyeshadow base
Pale pink shimmery loose eyeshadow from N.Y.C.
Medium brown shadow from Claire's Designer palette
Jordana Kohl Kajal eyeliner in White
Avon Perfect Wear Eyewriter in Evening Black
Ardell Black 106 lashes
Kiss Premium 24-hour Strip Eyelash adhesive
CoverGirl Cheekers blush in Classis Pink
Maybelline Super Stay 24 hr concealer (for lips)
Icing lip gloss in unnamed sparkly pink color
Sally Girl brow powder in Brunette

Today's makeup look

It's been awhile since I posted one of these and I know it's overdue.  Until it finally warms up and I start playing with bright colors again, I've been mostly doing casual, neutral looks like this.

Brings out the green in my eyes, no?

Products used:  3 cool neutral colors/browns from Claire's Designer Palette
Clair's Perfectionist eye primer (I ALWAYS forget to list what I use as a primer/base)
Almay Amazing Lasting Eye Pencil in Definite Brown
Maybelline The Falsies mascara in Black Drama
Sally Girl Brow Powder in Brunette
Wet n Wild lipstick in 502A (a shimmering pink with gold undertones)

Today's random kawaii

...starring sleepy pets

Jake & Houdini share the couch

Bella: "Jake, your booty is a soft comfy pillow."
Jake: "Shh, I'm sleepins"

Life update/rant - Twitter, School, bad doctors

      I was the last person on the planet to join Facebook and now I'm on of the last people to the Twitter party.  I've known about Twitter forever, just never really thought much of it before.  But since I'm trying to grow this blog and make connections, I joined the other day at the behest of my boyfriend. It seems some people are on there constantly, posting every hour of the day.  I don't think I'll ever do quite that much, but happily I have met a couple great bloggers/new friends, so I'm liking it.
     The first was Violet LeBeaux, Australian Gyaru Hime and DIY craft goddess.  I've been a huge fan of her blog for a long time, so for her to follow me back and actually take the time to talk to me and even offer advice is so amazing.  I'm a lil star-struck honestly! The next was La Carmina, popular author, blogger, and sometime travel TV host.  She is so nice and her Scottish Fold cat is adorable!  So in the brief time I've been a tweeter (or twerp?), I'm made some good contacts and all around nice people.
     In other news, I'm in my last full month of the spring semester and things are starting to get stressful.  I have a 4-page paper to write today for Earth History and lots of exams and projects all due soon.  I'm a procrastinator extrordinaire so I make things harder on myself, I know.  If I could get some decent sleep, or even just get back on a normal sleep schedule, I think life would be so much easier.
     Instead of spending the whole day working on this paper, I had an appointment today at a clinic where I hoped to find a new family doctor as mine moved her practice out of state.  Man, what a frickin' waste of time and money!  This "doctor" spent all of 5 whole minutes with me, said I was healthy, and walked out.  When I told him that I didn't have a family doctor any longer and was hoping to go over some health issues with him, he said "what health issues? You're fine. See you in 6 months" and left.  I was so pissed, I went right to the front desk to complain.  The women working there didn't seem a bit surprised at my complaint and made me a new appointment.  They said a supervisor would be contacting me to hopefully switch me to a different/real doctor.  Ugh! I'm so mad right now!
Sorry for the rant guys, but I just got home and had to get that out.  Now I'm off to the library to write this paper. Wish me luck!

Tsunami survivors send thanks to American military pilots of Operation Tomodachi

Via Japan Probe. This amazing aerial photo was taken by an American helicopter pilot flying over Onagawa, Japan, delivering much-needed aid to victims of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.  Members of the American military are participating in Operation Tomodachi (tomodachi means "friend" in Japanese) and, according to Japan Probe, have "made some significant contributions to relief efforts. They’ve provided logistical support for Japanese aid workers, participated in search and rescue missions, and delivered tons of food and supplies to survivors."
There is still so much work to be done and people to help.  I know many countries are helping Japan during this horrible disaster, but seeing this pic makes me feel proud :)

Shiro - Amazing makeup for video game nerds like me (and you. Don't lie)!

I love shopping for indie makeup on Etsy.  There's some really talented people on there making really nice products.
But today while browsing Lipsticks and Lightsabers, I hear about this makeup brand Shiro whose tagline is "Makeup and geekery."  Hey, I'm a geek who loves makeup... sounds like a match made in heaven!

This pic is from Shiro's two video game-related eyeshadow collections: The Super Effective Collection (inspired by Pokemon) and the Legends Collection (inspired by The Legend of Zelda games! Looove).  Makeup for gamer girls!! Joy!

And just look at the incredible little jars they come in!!  One looks like a Pokeball and the other has the Triforce on it, lookin all sassy and awesome.  I would even keep the lil containers after the eye shadow's gone cuz they're so cool.  The shades are so colorful and imaginative, and from what I hear, they're also very pigmented and great quality as well.  You can bet I'm gonna be saving up my rupees to get some of these beautiful, vegan shadows!  Get your own here.

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Hello Kitty is kawaii AND delicious!

via We Heart It

This is really making me wanna go to Ichiban (or Japan) for sushi!

Hello Kitty bling by Kimora Lee Simmons

 Check out this beautiful Hello Kitty jewelry over at Sanrio.com!!

So many gorgeous, drool-worthy pieces I just can't pick!  Her stuff is the real deal too - diamonds, gold, and all that glitters.

Milani Crystal Eyez Sparkling Eye Shadow

I was on Spring Break from school all week so I went to spend the night with my folks Tuesday.  While we were out and about, I spotted a CVS (of which we have none where I live) and stopped in to see their Milani makeup (again, of which there is none to be found where I live).
There were lots of sparkly things I wanted but I thought the prices seemed a bit high.  So mom ended up getting me this gorgeous Milani Crystal Eyez Sparkling Eye Shadow !

Pictures cannot show how multi-dimensional and sparkly this eye shadow is!  The shade is "01 Lovely & Luminous" and I would describe it as a deep grayish-navy background with mult-colored, irridescent glitter. Also the packaging is so pretty too!
So far, it seems to have decent staying power with little creasing once it dries but I have yet to put it to the full test. Can't wait to do a new makeup look with this product. Thanks mom :)

Layered w/a bit of Chamelion by ID Bare Minerals

Applied to bare lid with fingertip

            

Beautiful kimono

Just wanted to share these pics of beautiful girls in colorful kimono.  They look like elegant geisha.  I really want a kimono but they're so expensive.  Back in the hey-day of the geisha, a hand-crafted kimono could cost a year's salary!  Can you imagine buying one outfit that cost that much?

Please help!

I mentioned it before, but I'm shocked and saddened by the horrible disaster in Japan.  My thoughts and prayers are with everyone effected. I have a couple good Japanese friends and I was happy to hear that they and their family and friends are all safe. But thousands of victims cannot say the same :(
If you can, please donate (even a buck; every little bit adds up) to the Japanese Redcross but if you can't help monetarily, you can still help by watching one of my fave makeup gurus, Michelle Phan's, new makeup tutorial dedicated to helping Japan. If her video gets 1 million views (and it's already over half-way there!), she'll donate $1000 to the relief effort.

So, please show your support and help either way you can - by donating money or by just watching an awesome makeup tutorial.  Domo arigato goziamas!

Nintendo 3DS coming in 1 week!!!!

I'm so excited. And I just can't hide it. Finally, the coolest thing to happen to handheld gaming in over a decade is coming March 27th: the Nintendo 3DS!!  It is literally 3D gaming in the palm of your hands without any dorky glasses.

At $249.99, it may seem a lil steep but if early reviews and demos are accurate, that'll be a steal!  Unlike the original Nintendo DS, I doubt I'll be there on launch day to buy one (kinda broke at the moment. Lol), but I plan on getting one ASAP, and when I do, you guys will be the first to know!  Read all about this sweet lil machine here and preorder your very own bundle of joy here!

Today's random kawaii

Is this, or is this not, in the top 5 cutest things your eyes have ever beheld?  I'm nearly fainting from the cuteness.  Must...hurry...and finish posting...before I pass out....

Today's makeup look

This is a simple, pretty look using my fave Hard Candy baked eyeshadow duo.  Since it uses green, I shoulda posted it yesterday, but you know.

 

Products used:  Hard Candy baked eyeshadow duo in Pick Up Line

Lancome Color Design eyeshadow in Daylight and Vue

Revlon ColorStay liquid eye pen in Blackened Brown

Maybelline The Falsies mascara in Black Drama

Estee Lauder Futurist Full Treatment lipstick in Sultry Blush

Sally Girl brow powder in Brunette

Today's random kawaii (and Happy late St. Patrick's Day)

How did you spend your St. Paddy's Day?  Well if you're a bunch of lazy animals, this is probably how you spent it.

From the left, Jake, Bella, and Houdini (oh! and Hello Kitty hiding back there in the corner)

Gorgeous pics of my two fave travel destinations

I found these beautiful shots and just had to share them with you!  I'm totally going to visit and hopefully live in these two countries someday soon.  Don't worry, you can come visit.  If you're nice.  And you join my blog ;)

Mount Fuji in the spring

                                     

Himeji Castle surrounded by sakura (cherry blossoms)

Beautiful, bustling Tokyo!

Positano, Italy on the Amalfi Coast

Florence, Italy

A cliff town in the Cinque Terre, Italy

After seeing these beautiful pics, you know you wanna go too!

Today's makeup look (late post, sorry!)

My bf took all these great pics for me :)

 I've done this look before and it looks great on green or hazel eyes.  I call it Cranberry Dream.  I have a really light rosy pink on the lids fading up into darker pink then into a shimmery burgundy in the crease.  I put a bright white under my eyebrows to highlight the browbone and a white pencil inside my lower rim to make the eyes pop and look bigger!  Finally, I'm wearing a soft pink lipgloss I made (see previous D.I.Y. Hello Kitty lipgloss pallet).

 

Products used:  rose pink, dark pink, and shimmery burgundy from the Icing Eyeshadow Pallet
N.Y.C. liquid eyeliner in Deep Plum
Jordana Kohl Kajal eyeliner in White
Maybelline The Falsies mascara in Black Drama
Homemade pink lipgloss
And I keep forgetting to list what I use on my brows: Sally Girl Brow Powder in Brunette

D.I.Y. Hello Kitty lipgloss pallet

My bf's mom got me this cute Hello Kitty compact that had 4 pieces of candy in it made to look like eyeshadow.

I ate the candy a long time ago and have been holding on to the little container hoping to think of a use for it.

I read online that you can easily make your own lipgloss by mixing vaseline with lipstick, eyeshadow, or other lipglosses, so I decided to give it a shot.  Here's the finished product.  I think it turned out awesome!

I made a purple, light pink, hot pink, and gold gloss and put them into the little container making my own, personalized Hello Kitty lipgloss pallet!

Today's makeup look

For this look, I was inspired by the old pin ups of the 40s and 50s.  Ruby red lips, lots of black eyeliner, and big lashes.

Many women seem nervous about wearing a bright red lip, but the trick is to know which shade suits your skin tone.  If you're pale like me, you need a red with blue undertones.  If you have darker or olive-colored skin, go with a red with an orange undertone.  The other key is to make sure your eyes are pretty natural looking.  Just throw on some black eyeliner and mascara when you're wearing red lipstick so that all the makeup doesn't overwhelm your face.

Products used: Lancome color design eyeshadow in Mochaccino
N.Y.C. liquid eyeliner in Pearlized Black
e.l.f. dramatic black lashes
Kiss 24-hour strip eyelash adhesive
Wet n' Wild lipstick in 514A