meanjean beauty

i changed my hair!! going from black to blonde...

2010-06-28T02:31:00.000-07:00

hey all. i changed my hair in kind of a drastic way so i thought i'd share with everyone. this ended up being a two-phased coloring project by my hair guy. back when i was in college, i tried coloring my own hair and giving myself highlights from a box. the results ended with me having bleached blonde hair and i was forced to dye it back to black when my mom saw it and freaked out. (asian parents, go figure.) despite all of my friends telling me that it wasn't a good idea to do it, it ended up looking better than expected. sadly, i only have one picture of said blonde hair and it was from one of those polaroid sticker pictures that was once popular. i took a picture of this picture so you can see how it looked. (i'm guessing my friends in the pic probably don't care to be on my blog so their identities are hidden.)

see how my hair turned super brassy? this was like one month after the initial dye job. i have really bad roots too.

so anyway, fast forward like 8 years to the present and i wanna be blonde again. i'm coloring my hair in phases to minimize the damage that bleach does to hair. i really suggest that when bleaching hair, you go to a salon and have a professional do it for you. that way you don't end up with orangey hair that's uneven in color (like my picture above. haha).

here's a before picture of me with my natural hair color.

before

as you can see my hair is pretty black. in order to get the color that i wanted (a honey golden blonde), my hair guy suggested that we color it in phases. the first phase, to bleach and take out the black color in my hair. he foiled my entire head and the results ended up looking like the picture below.

phase 1

about three weeks after phase 1 of the hair color transformation, i noticed that my hair was really brassy and kind of orangey. i did a little bit of research online and found out that when you go from black to blonde, the chances of your hair turning brassy is incredibly high. and, if your water has a high content of iron, your hair is likely to turn brassy more easily. i think my water has a high iron content (although i never officially checked with any authorities) because i noticed that when i went to korea, my hair didn't turn brassy as quickly. to reduce the brassiness, i had to go out and purchase "purple shampoo." at first when i heard this, i was like what is purple shampoo? is that some sort of brand or what? purple shampoo is made specifically for people with blonde or silver hair. the shampoo itself is literally a deep purple, and it lifts the brassy tones out of your hair. when i learned about purple shampoo, i immediately went to ulta and purchased matrix essentials solutionist so silver shampoo. i was told to leave the shampoo in my hair for approximately 5 minutes since my hair was so brassy before rinsing it out. i did this 3 days in a row and my color went back to normal. since then i started using the so silver shampoo every 3 days (and regular shampoo on all the other days) to maintain the color. the purple shampoo is very drying on my hair, so every time i use it, i make sure to use a deep contioner. the deep conditioner is something i use 1-2 times a week anyway since my hair is bleached, but now i make sure to use it on days i wash with purple shampoo.

when it was time to get my roots touched up, my hairdresser recommended i not only do highlights, but also lowlights to give my hair color some dimension. he ended up using three different colors and this is the result.

phase 2

the lighting in my bathroom (where this picture was taken) makes my hair look slightly more golden and darker than it does in person but you get the idea. i'll post an update if there's any change in phase 3. :) i also wanted a different hair style too...what do you all think?? now i only use purple shampoo once a week, and i still follow-up with a deep conditioner and a spray-on leave-in conditioner.

if anyone has any other recommended products to maintain blonde hair, please leave me a comment! i'd love to try out hair products as well.

thanks for reading.

meanjean

REVIEW: md skincare alpha beta daily facial peel

2010-06-27T17:30:00.000-07:00

(image from nordstrom.com)

this is the BEST product i've purchased to date (well...for now). :) i was at nordstrom recently browsing the makeup counters with a good friend of mine, and she told me all about this when we walked by the md skincare counter. i was also told that is the best selling product at sephora in its brand. the alpha beta daily facial peel isn't as scary as it sounds. i know...."facial peel" might make you a little reluctant to try it because it sounds like your face is going to peel off and turn bright red like samantha's did in that episode of sex and the city when she couldn't go to carrie's book launch party. i, for one, am the biggest skeptic when it comes to trying products because i'm always afraid that i'm going to breakout. but this product only does wonders for your skin.

how it works:
the alpha and beta hydroxy acids rejuvenate your skin and reduces redness in your skin, blemishes, pore size, fine lines, etc. the two-step process is recommended for acne-prone skin or mature skin, but i really think anyone who wants a skin pick-me-up can use it. so first you wash your face with whatever facial cleanser you normally use. then you take the alpha beta peel pad from step 1 and gently make circula motions on your face until the pad feels dry. leave that on for 2 minutes and repeat the same process with the neutralizer pad from step 2. follow-up with a moisturizer that does NOT contain alcohol and you're done! it's recommended that you use the peel pads in the morning, but it can also be used at nighttime. i used my peel pads in the morning.

the peel pads come in 10-, 30-, and 60-day packets. i used the 10-day supply since i was just testing it out. but i'm definitely going to purchase it again. you can use the pads year-round or every other month, whatever you want. the 10-, and 30-day packets come in individually wrapped packs (the 30-day also come in a jar form) so it's great for travel too. if you plan on using it, i recommend getting the 60-day supply...it ends up being the cheapest if you do the math. (10-day $28, 30-day $78/$80, 60-day $128).

so...i took some before and after pictures so you can see the results of my 10-day trial. please excuse the hair!! i originally just wanted to see the results for myself and hadn't planned on publishing these to the web. and yes, i look very different without makeup.

before

after

i'm not sure if you can really see in these pictures, but there is a lot less redness in my skin especially on my cheeks. i did notice that my pores were visibly smaller and the general health of my skin appeared to be better after only 10 days. i felt a dull stinging feeling when applying the step 1 pad similar to that of when you use a toner that has alcohol in it. but upon application of the step 2 pad, the stinging feeling was gone. the pads smell pretty good too...i feel like it has somewhat of a citrusy, fruity smell. (i was expecting a harsh chemical smell since it is a peel.) anyway, i absolutely recommend this product to everyone!!

thanks for reading.

meanjean

REVIEW: shu uemura high performance balancing cleansing oil fresh

2010-06-22T17:37:00.000-07:00

(image from nordstrom.com)

i think the best thing you can do to maintain healthy skin is to properly wash, exfoliate, moisturize it on a regular basis. as i mentioned before in a previous blog, i bought the travel size of this product to test out. i took the travel size with me when i went on my trip to korea and used it daily. at first, i felt like i was breaking out from it, but i continued to use it because i know sometimes your skin has to get used to products. since then i haven't had any problems and i LOVE it. this product is really big in seoul right now. i actually saw a tv commercial where 5 a-list korean actresses were endorsing this product.

it not only takes off your face makeup, but eyes and lips too. waterproof mascara comes off very easily too. the directions tell you use about 4-6 pumps on your dry face with your dry hands. i use like 2.5 pumps, and it gets the job done. after you apply it to your face, you gently rub it all over. then you splash water on your face, and it oxidizes with the water forming a milky, white consistency. keep rubbing your face and then rinse it all off. the employees at shu uemura counters will tell you that you don't need another cleanser after using the cleansing oil, but i still use one just because it is an oil and i'm paranoid.

i really feel like since i've been using it, my pores appear to be smaller and my skin is generally in better shape. the cleansing oils do come in different formulas. the one i use is the pink one (which is geared towards normal to oily, acne-prone skin). i think the most popular one is the green one, which is for anti-aging. the 15.2oz bottle is $62 at nordstrom.

now for the bad news...

shu uemura is leaving the u.s.! starting in august i think stores will start pulling out of the states. already at nordstrom counters there are no reorders and you can only purchase the stock the stores have. you can still purchase shu uemura in asia and canada though.

my (current) fave makeup products

2010-06-22T16:55:00.000-07:00

hey all. here's a list of my current favorite makeup products and why i like them. :)

foundation: make up for ever hd foundation. you barely have to use any. i can use one pump for my entire face. or you can add more coverage by layering two pumps. this foundation is made specifically for photography/videos...i feel like in recent pictures the coverage does look better with this foundation. but that could be all in my head. ($40 at sephora)

mineral foundation: laura mercier mineral foundation. this product is SUPERIOR than bare minerals. i've tried bare minerals, and i felt like i had to reapply that multiple times a day. with the laura mercier foundation, the coverage is definitely fuller and it lasts all day. i never feel like i need to add more foundation with laura mercier. the laura mercier one is a little bit more expensive than bare minerals, BUT the container is larger so you get more product. another great thing about laura mercier is the packaging. the sifter under the lid can be turned and closed that way when you're traveling you don't get foundation all over the place. ($35 at sephora, nordstrom, etc.)

concealer: kat von d tattoo concealer. i haven't used many concealers. what i like about it is that a little goes a loooooooooooooooooooong way. i use the tiniest amount. the consistency is creamy but not cakey. ($25 at sephora)

loose powder: bobbi brown sheer finish loose powder. the best powder for those with oily skin. i like to use a powder puff and dab it on. since i started using this powder, i don't feel like i have to touch-up as often throughout the day. ($34 at nordstrom)

pressed powder: mac blot powder/pressed. the woman who sold me this powder described it to me by saying that using this powder is equivalent to blotting your face with oil blotting papers, except it doesn't lift any makeup off your face like some blotting papers do. i use this for touch-ups during the day. ($22 at mac or nordstrom)

eyebrows: anastasia duo brow powder in brunette and the face shop brow pencil in grey/brown. i like to fill in my brows with the brow powder first with very light strokes. generally i mix the two colors together when applying but these days i only use the lighter shade since i lightened my hair. i like to use the face shop's brow pencil for the outer ends of my brows to achieve a cleaner, precise look. i really like that this pencil is grey/brown and not just grey or brown. i think especially for asians having those two colors blended together create a more natural color on the brows. (anastasia $22 at nordstrom, the face shop $3 in korea)

blush: estee lauder signature silky powder blush in peach nuance. this is my current favorite blush. the blush is just one color but a gradiation of yellows, peaches, and pinks. so you can choose to use a sweep of all colors or you can have more of a yellow tone or a orangey peach tone. ($26 at nordstrom)

eyeshadow primer: urban decay eyeshadow primer potion. this keeps everything on all day long. i use it daily, even if i'm not wearing eyeshadow. once you apply it, you should blend it in immediately, otherwise it will dry in place into a big glob. if by chance, you have primer potion on and you make a mistake on your eye makeup, you may have to rewash your face or your eye area and start all over. that's how potent primer potion is. ($18 at sephora, nordstrom, etc.)

eyeliner: mac penultimate eyeliner i rapidblack. best liquid liner i've used so far. it has a pen-like tip and makes drawing a thin line easy. when i use gel liner, i like to use the penultimate for the ends to make a cat-eye look. ($16.50 at mac or nordstrom)

mascara: make up for ever aqua smoky lash. my lashes are very thin but they curl naturally so i really just need a mascara that really lifts the lashes. this mascara is very black and it lifts better than most other mascaras i've used. the aqua smoky lash is the waterproof version of the smoky lash mascara. ($22 at sephora)

lip balm: fresh sugar lip treatment SPF 15. this is the creamiest lip balm i've ever used. it smells really clean and after one application you definitely see smoother lips. the down sides are that in hot weather it has a tendency to melt and it's not cheap for a lip balm. ($22.50 at sephora)

this is what i typically wear on a daily basis. right now i'm using the make up for ever hd foundation with the bobbi brown sheer finish loose powder. some days i'll switch to the laura mercier mineral foundation if i'm in a rush. when i'm feeling lazy, i'll skip the eyeliner and just wear mascara.

thanks for reading!

meanjean

HOW TO: keep your face matte all day long

2010-05-27T19:29:00.000-07:00

hey all, i know i haven't been updating since i'm on vac and all BUT...i learned a new tip the other day and i HAD to share this newfound info. this is a MUST-DO for all of you out there who suffer from oily areas on your face. i used to use mineral foundation and recently did the switch to liquid foundation + powder, but i no matter how much powder i used, i had the hardest time keeping everything matte. so the other day, i met this makeup artist who gave me the best tip ever. after you apply your liquid foundation, it is imperative to put on loose powder with one of those big powder puffs. (if you use the sponge kind, it'll give you more of a dewy finish. if you use a powder puff that's made of cotton, it'll give you a matte finish). so you put some loose powder on the puff and pat it on your face...DON'T WIPE. the key is to pat it on. after this step, take a pressed powder and dust it on with a powder brush. i did this yesterday and i was amazed. i was using the same products all along but the results were dramatically different. :) test them out for yourself, and you'll see a difference. :)

*meanjean

greetings from seoul~~~

2010-05-15T04:03:00.000-07:00

hey all...sorry i've been m.i.a. i just got to seoul a couple of days ago and i'm trying to get used to the time difference and all. i'll be blogging from tha mothaland so no worries. i have a couple of new korean products that i plan on adding to my list of items to be reviewed. stay tuned, readers! :)

*meanjean

add to my 'to test' list...

2010-05-07T22:59:00.000-07:00

image from sephora.com

has anyone heard of/tried AMAZING CONCEALER?? i saw this on a semi-recent video by michelle phan on youtube, and it really looked, well, amazing! she used it to cover up dark circles and redness around nose/mouth area, and she looked flawless. (ok, i realize that she already has really frickin' good skin, but those dark circles totally vanished after one small application of amazing concealer.) i found out that this is sold at sephora, and that it's a $42 for 0.5 oz. bottle. eeeeek~!

you're probably wondering...why don't you just go to sephora and test it out?? well, i'm one of those people who doesn't like to leave the house without my face makeup on. now you're probably thinking, geez, are you that high-maintenance? yes. :) if my skin was perfect, i'd be willing to go out without makeup. but quite honestly, i have much to cover up. so that's why i need YOUR input. what have you heard about amazing concealer? (positive things, i hope.) i'm definitely adding this to my 'to test' list. i read some of the online reviews on sephora.com. all of the reviews i read were positive, but i'm still a little hestitant. mainly because this concealer is more expensive that my foundation. (make up for ever hd invisible foundation, $40).

speaking of my 'to test' list...i carry this little notebook in my purse of all the beauty items i hear about on tv, magazines, online, word of mouth, etc. that i may want to purchase. currently there are 28 items on the list. -_- one of my girl friends said to me, "why don't you just keep a list in your blackberry?" there's something really satisfying about physically writing it down and checking it off once acquired...don't you agree? :)

here's what on my list right now:

skin food highlighter
lorac aqua prime primer
fresh absolute concealer
laneige pore trouble hydro gel
laneige pore clear cleansing foam
sally herschberger supreme lift
fresh bronzer and blush palette
frederic fekkai beach waves
morrocanoil conditioning treatment
bumble and bumble south surf spray
sigma makeup brush roll
bright up nano eye mask
skin food rice mask
e.l.f. bronzing powder
e.l.f. complexion brush
sebastian crude clay
yves st. laurent semi-loose powder
benefit moonbeam highlighter
mac "dressmaker dressmaker" lipstick
mac "creme de nude" lipstick
mac "ravishing" lipstick
japanese velcro hair holding sheets
revlon colorstay eyeliner
lush ocean salt scrub
yves st. laurent #30 faubourg peach lipstick
e.l.f. fan brush
amazing concealer

please comment below if you have any input on any of these products. :)

*meanjean

april haul

2010-05-06T16:50:00.000-07:00

here's what i'll be reviewing in the upcoming weeks. i purchased all of these items at various retailers, which i will list below. some items i can review sooner, and some items will need to be used for longer periods in order for me to give a thorough and fair review.

from left to right:

eos lip balm - i saw this lip balm on one of michelle phan's youtube videos. i thought it was just the cutest looking thing! (i know i said i don't typically buy something for the packaging but this was an exception. don't judge me, i'm allowed to change my mind. :) kekeke). i was told that this lip balm is sold at walgreens. i got mind at fred meyer for $2.99.

make up for ever hd invisible cover foundation - i've been using mineral foundation for the past year. first, bare minerals. then i switched to laura mercier. i thought i'd change up my foundation routine and go back to liquid...my timing seems a lil off though, logically speaking. you would think that i'd make a switch during the colder months and stick to mineral makeup for warmer weather. but whatever. i'm gonna try this one out. i got this at sephora for $40.

kat von d tattoo concealer - i got this concealer to use with my new liquid foundation. i tested it at the store and used the tiniest amount. i also saw this hilarious girl on youtube use this kat von d concealer with the make up for ever hd foundation. she claimed both items were her "holy grail" foundation and concealer. i want to see if she's right. i got this at sephora for $25.

make up for ever aqua smoky lash - i went with a friend to sephora once and out of boredom we all got our makeup done. the guy who did our makeup used this mascara on us and said it really "lifts your lashes." this mascara is also the waterproof formula. i typically don't wear waterproof mascara, but i will give this a try. i got this at sephora for $22.

eqyptian magic cream - so many people have been raving about this cream. it's all natural and contains only six ingredients. apparently it was featured on the the view and a bunch of celebs use it too. users claim it moisturizes, treats eczema, helps heal burns and scars (but not stretch marks), clears acne, controls oil, etc. we'll see what happens. i want to use it for these dry patches of skin i have on my arms and see if it does anything for acne scars. it can be purchased on the company website (http://www.egyptianmagic.com/). i bought mine on amazon.com for $28.95. apparently you can buy it at whole foods and trader joe's too.

oil of olay regenerist thermal mini-peel - i've heard so many good things about the oil of olay regenerist line. i heard (but i don't know if this is 100% true) that the formulas for the regenerist line is the same as sk-ii products. sk-ii...you know, that super expensive brand that cate blanchett is the spokesperson for?? anyway, i heard glycolic acid is good for exfoliation so i got this for that reason. this was purchased at fred meyer for $18.99.

l'oreal skin perfecting primer - i was with a friend shopping at ulta when we saw a display for this primer. it was in a corrogated cardboard display and there were like 10 of them. we walked by and decided to try some on the backs of our hands. it instantly left this velvety feeling. i actually bought a sephora brand primer (sephora collection "trick of the trade" anti-shine primer, $18) earlier that day so i didn't get it. the next day, i ended up returning the sephora one and going back to get this one because the sephora one was so crappy. my makeup would not go on smoothly and everything got really chunky. i had to wash my face and reapply. what a waste of foundation! i got the last l'oreal primer in that same cardboard display. i'll test it out for a longer time period and let you all know if it's worth getting. i got this at ulta for $12.99.

mac prep + prime transparent finishing powder - i've never used a setting powder before, and i wanted to try to set my makeup to see if setting it really helps keep everything on. i was at the mac counter one day and decided to try this one out. i got this at nordstrom for $22.

shu uemura cleansing oils: anti-oxidant (green), high performance (pink) - again, i saw a beauty vlogger on youtube who raved about this product. apparently, it's a makeup remover and cleanser in one. i was at the shu uemura counter one day and the girl did a little test on the back of her hand. watching her demo, i was sold. i got this in the travel size to test out before i commit to a whole bottle. i'm planning on going on a long trip next week so i'm going to pack this and use it on the trip. i was also told that starting in august shu uemura is going to be pulled from the u.s. and only available in canada and asia. :( if u buy shu uemura products...stock up now!! i got this at nordstrom for about $28.

physician's formula organic wear natural loose powder - before i got the mac finish powder, i purchased this. i never used a loose powder before and wanted something to set my makeup. this powder does have some color unlike the translucent finishing powder from mac. i got this on sale at bartell drugs for like $7. it normally costs $12 - $13.

so that's it for my haul. i'll be posting some reviews soon on some other products that i've been using for a while. thanks for reading!~

*meanjean

beauty blogging~~~~

2010-05-06T15:32:00.000-07:00

hey everyone!~ this is my first post on my beauty blog. i'm not really sure how i plan on structuring it so i'm just going with the flow for now. i'm by no means an expert on makeup, skincare, or beauty. i simply just LOVE putting makeup on other people, trying out new products, and letting others know what products work and what products don't work (for me). don't forget that everyone's skin and taste is different so what works for me may not give you the same exact results. ^^ this past month, i watched a TON of beauty vloggers and makeup gurus on youtube and was inspired by them to create this site. maybe one day i'll post some videos on youtube too, but for now i'll stick with this blog.

just to give you a lil background on the kinds of products that i'll be talking about in future blogs, let me tell you a bit about me and what i look for in products. i have oily, acne-prone skin. i love wearing colorful eyeshadows and experimenting with different color combinations. i like expensive department store brands AND more affordable drugstore brands too. :) i'm not one of those people who buys something solely for the cute/funky/hello kitty/pink packaging. i'm a girly girl, but i'm really not too.

so that's a lil about me and why i decided to start this blog. i hope what i post will be helpful to you. :)

*meanjean