A Passion For Food: Interview with Barney's

A Passion For Food: Interview with Barney's: "I recently did an interview with Kate Sung of Barney's, and it was just posted it on B-Sides, the Barney's blog. The theme for their 2010 ho..."

SP11) The Best of Backstage Beauty

1. Jil Sander 2. Fendi 3. Valentino 4. Nina Ricci 5. Chloe 6. Prada
7. Giambattista Valli 8. Oscar de la Renta 9. Christian Dior 10. Rick Owens

The Lady Wears A Mask

I'm the kind of girl who prefers to gives herself a manicure and pedicure than paying someone else to do it. The same thing goes with facials and spas. Well actually, I'd love to go to a spa but the good ones are always alot of money, so I haven't received a facial in awhile. Meanwhile, I give myself mini facials at home with all sorts of masks. I think I have more masks than moisturizers. I've tried all kinds of them too. I want to highlight my favorite that I would highly recommend to others.

When my skin feels oily - I use B e a u t y  C r e d i t's Green Tea Yellow Soil Mousse Pack (basically a green tea clay mask that comes out like a mousse). You only have to squeeze a little bit out and it foams up. When you apply to your face, it sinks into your skin and has more of a clay texture. My skin always feels nice and soft, and the clay sucks up all the excess oil. You can only get it in Korea, and I think its around 10 bucks.

When I had a long night or fell asleep without washing up - I use M a l i n + G o e t z's Detox Face Mask. This squeezes out like a thick gel, but in a minute it starts foaming on your face. Its like a super cleanser - picks up all the dirt and icky stuff on your face while oxygenating. Its also moisturizing so you can wipe it off with tissue to leave on while you sleep, or rinse off with a wet cloth. I like leaving it on because I think it works throughout the night.

When I spent too much time in the office/library and my face feels dry - I use S K  I I's Facial Treatment Mask. You peel off the packaging and inside is a face mask you apply: the mask is quenched in SKII's signature concentrate, which hydrates your face. I put it in the fridge during the summer and it cools down my face as well. I think this is the ultimate quick skin fix. It makes a huge difference the next day when I apply make-up on as well.

My Life Would Suck without Shu

Dear L'Oreal,

I read today that Shu Uemura will be pulling out of the U.S. market. Shu is my favorite cosmetic brand, so this is just not acceptable. Where will I be getting my oil cleansers??? Shu was the pioneer in oil cleansers, but thats not just all. They are the first for so many things. Like the under base mousse. The texture is amazing!! Shu is so different from other brands. How amazing is the Tokyo lash bar?? I was completely sold when the Viktor & Rolf collaboration happened. I also love the current Tsumori Chisato collaboration with packaging designs as well, so niche and completely cute! I've been so open to try so many products, like the basic mascara and the concealer. I can't live without my mini eyelash curler (the whole world knows Shu makes the best eyelash curler!!) and what am I going to do when I want to replace mine? I still have on my wish list the matte lipstick (how beautiful is the packaging), the hard eyebrow liner, and the glow-on blush!! I'm pretty sure I'm only one of the many many of the Shu fans. And I'm also sure there are other brands in your portfolio you could live without. I don't want to name them, but just please not Shu. Why can't Shu just be rolled out in more stores to make some more sales, say certain Macys doors where they have the Cle de Peaus and SKIIs? I never see advertisements of Shu in magazines either. Has every action been tried and failed?

Kiehl's

Kiehl’s products I use and love

Ultra Facial Cream: I use this at night after using toner and serum. I love how it has no scent, lightweight, yet very moisturizing (it doesn’t seem like a cream!) When I went to the Kiehl’s counter, I tried the Ultra Facial Moisturizer and the cream, but surprisingly the cream felt more lightweight. It’s really for everyone- funny that my mom also uses it, and boys can use it as well!

Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub: Like most Kiehl’s products, there isn’t any overwhelming scent in this one either. I use it when I feel like my skin is dry and is in need of a good scrub. It is nothing like St. Ives’ Apricot Scrub because the Kiehl’s one is really concentrated and leaves the skin feeling like it has been exfoliated and thoroughly moisturized.

Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser: I got this because I met a friend I haven’t seen in a long time in Soho and saw that she purchased this. I noticed her skin had cleared up a lot and she was telling me that this actually works. Just to add on to the persuasion, she is a thrifty shopper, not characteristic to buy all sorts of beauty products for herself. So I had to get it, of course!

Kiehl’s products on my next shopping list

Acai Damage-Repairing Serum: Since last summer, I’ve started using serums, those that target on renewing skin cells (to fade acne scars!) This serum interests me because it is concentrated with Acai berry and is certified organic.

Brightening Botanical Cleansing Cream: I love cleansing creams because you get to rub on a lotion-type substance on your face, wash it off with water, and voila, your makeup is all gone! I always double-cleanse at night anyway, so I use a foaming cleanser afterwards. Anyway, this is supposed to brighten the skin and minimize pores.

Ultra Moisturizing Cleansing Cream: I would also like to try this cleansing cream because it is in a jar (like traditional “cold creams” and would be ideal to use in the winter, since it is made for very dry skin types.

* Although I love a lot of Kiehl’s products, I don’t like the whole Blue Herbal Collection. I’ve used the toner and the moisturizer; it’s very harsh and smells a bit funky as well.

Hair Envy

Recently I got my haircut...very short and not loving it. I originally wanted to dye my hair in this color. I love reds...natural or artificial reds! First picture is of Korean actress Eunhye Yoon and second picture is of fashion editor Taylor Tomasi.

One of the few things I would take if I were stranded on an island...

I love products, I've made an evolution from discovering pharmacy products to Sephora stores and now I'm into department store cosmetic counters. I still like to try all kinds of brands at different price points, but there is something I picked up along the way I will never say goodbye to, and its Jergens Ultra Healing Lotion.

I've used the Body Shop's body butter, Nivea, Vaseline, Aloe Vera, and nothing works better. It really moisturizes the skin and has absolutely no residue (that gooey feeling other products leave behind). One of my friends (who has good skin) even uses this on her face! I think we bonded over our devotion for it. I used to have beyond-normal dry skin as a teen but I've been using this product after I shower every day all over my body (for maybe 4 years?), and now my skin is really soft! So yes...I firmly believe every household should own a bottle of this good stuff.

Finding Your Lashmate

Many go on a journey to find The One. When I say The One, I mean the mascara that will do wonders - make that guy notice you when you bat your eyes, prevent panda bear eyes after partying all night long...well I am going to make a bold statement: I think I found it, the mascara for me. It never smudges and I have had a few people ask if I have fake eyelashes on (but of course you need to curl your lashes first to get the best effect)

I tried this out because my friend recommended it to me - she said its the best mascara she ever used. This is a Japanese product from a cosmetic company called Kiss Me. The mascara line is called "Heroine" and it comes in Volume & Curl and Long & Curl. They also have a mascara removing wand because the product is very waterproof (although it comes off fine with regular makeup remover as well). I bought the Long & Curl because I like the look of long separated eyelashes that are more sparse than thick. Anyway I purchased this in Korea at a sephora/drugstore-like place for about 12 dollars. So you can either check out an Asian cosmetics store nearby or on E-bay.

I guess I haven't tried too many to settle down with this magic wand, but I'ved tried Shu Uemura, Maybelline (the green and pink wand that everyone says is good - I personally dislike), Clinique, Mac...they are either just too thin and runny or too thick and lumpy. I have the Dior Show that everyone raves about somewhere in my apt I haven't tried yet, but I have a feeling it may fall into the thick and lumpy category...I shouldn't be judgmental since I haven't tried it yet. Still think this Japanese mascara may be The One for me!

Lipstick Queen

You know when the beauty experts tell you, its either the lips or the eyes. I always thought, 'if your eyes are your best feature, you should always accentuate your eyes', duh! But then once you start wearing lipstick, you get hooked. You feel like a lady. Like the kind that gently dabs her lips with a napkin before dining, and then while you're not looking magically has colored lips again when the meal is finished. But sometimes you feel kind of dangerous and badass, like (MK Olsen driving sloowww, credits to Olsens Anonymous):

I started wearing lipstick last year, when I was given a few lipsticks from Lipstick Queen. For someone just starting to understand lipstick, Lipstick Queen made it easy. They have two basic kinds, the Saint and the Sinner. The Saint has 10% pigment while the Sinner has 90%, so they come in the same shades, just different opacity. I decided to be daring and got them both in same shade: red. Now that I have tried on lipsticks from other brands, I could now say that my first lipstick spoiled me. I've tried department store lipsticks that were too glossy, deceptively sheer, or too dry that my lips would start peeling. Now I only wish they had more shades, like a lavender whip color (the discontinued color I wish I had from MAC).

I also got to choose a Shine lipgloss. I got the Gold Saint and yes, its extremely glossy, but the texture is something new, nothing like I tried before. I have a feeling their main ingredient to mix up this lip gloss is one that other companies don't use. I love the gooey-ness (I know that doesn't sound attractive, but it describes the texture best) of it, but I wish it were easy to apply. The pot is cute, but not practical. I also got the Medieval - this is cool because it uses the same technique women in the way olden days used to color their lips - by squeezing on lemon. I like to wear this as a lip balm that has a hint of redness and vitamin E.

I was really interested in this brand after using their products, so I purchased Poppy King's book (which is basically about the rise and falls of her business, and tips on those starting their own business) and was able to get it signed by her as well! They don't sell Lipstick Queen at Sephora but they have them at Space NK and Barneys. I want to try out the Black Tie Optional lipgloss and lipstick this fall, but maybe just to test it out...

Sniff Sniff

Fragrances I have owned and used enough to write a short review about.

Calvin Klein Be: Its unisex, hence the first perfume I purchased for myself in the 8th grade, when I was into hip-hop and thought dressing like a boy was cool. More people used to prefer CK One, but nobody uses them anymore because its so mass. I mean they even sell it at Wal-Mart. But I still love it and miss the smell, and might buy one to wear to bed. I don't know if its because I had it when I was so young, but it gives you the kind of feeling you would correlate to memories of your first crush.

Clinique Happy: Very fruity, what I wore in high school when most of the girls who were wearing perfume opted for Ralph Lauren. I don't like it anymore because it smells too sweet.

Lanvin's Eclat D'arpege: Got it as a gift, but barely used it because its so overwhelming for me. I'm usually into light perfumes, the kind that give a burst of freshness when you first put it on, but gradually wears off. If you're into heavy woody/oriental scents, you may like it.

Dolce & Gabbana's Light Blue: I used to be in love with it and then slowly my friends started to wear it, which was okay because I was done with my bottle and decided not to repurchase. Who wants to smell like their friends anyway? Nevertheless, you feel feminine and grown-up when you wear this. If nobody around you wears this scent, you should def. try it out.

Stella McCartney's Stella: I usually used it at night because it smells romantic and sexy at the same time. I might buy it again, but maybe in the Sheer because then I could wear it during the day as well.

Acqua di Parma's Arancia di Capri: This is one of the five from the Blu Mediterraneo collection, and also my current love. It is always refreshening and I never get sick of it. I got it like 2 years ago and I'm almost finished with the bottle. Now they are sold everywhere, but I have yet to smell this on someone else, so I may get another bottle. Its really energizing and puts color into your day, especially when you're feeling groggy in the morning.

Chloe: I got this because I loved the bottle design and thought it smelled nice, but this again is too heavy for me, so I only use it when I go out at night. The best way to explain how it smells is that you feel like you're living in an old-hollywood film, sort of vintage but romantic.

...and on my wishlist, Fresh's Strawberry Flowers: I wanted to get the Mangosteen fragrance from Fresh, but it didn't smell as nice as I imagined it to be (because Mangosteens are so tasty). I saw that they have this new limited edition fragrance and I love the scent, so I'm planning to buy this one before the summer ends!