Did Someone Say "Hello Kitty"?

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My fellow beauty lover on Instagram, @blanckittyyy, and I were sharing our favorite mascara on one of her recent posts.  I mentioned to her that, don't laugh, my fave was a Hello Kitty version I bought from City Super, a popular store in Hong Kong.  And she asked me to do a blog story about it, so here you go my dear...along with a few other items I picked up + a surprise!

Confession of a former hello kitty addict

Yes, when I was little, I was all about Hello Kitty, down to my nickname "Kitty".  I know, why would I confess to that, but in case someone from my elementary school in Hong Kong has a picture of me all decked out in HK gear, I may as well spill the beans here!  I remember first day of First Grade, I had pencil case, stationery, backpack and hair pins all in the classic red and white style.  I felt fearless even though it was a new school and I didn't know a soul there.  Funny how little things made us so happy when we were kids.  Fast-forward to today, I'm still a huge fan, just in a more toned-down version, but I'd still get excited when I see special Hello Kitty merchandise!

About city super

Quick intro to this awesome shopping heaven in Hong Kong.  It's dubbed the "mega lifestyle specialty store" - Think Whole Foods + MUJI + Container Store + Sephora all in one place.  Pricing is definitely higher than the local supermarket, but you're paying for the convenience of a one-stop-shop.  There are several locations throughout Hong Kong...I know it's not a typical tourist attraction, but if you're ever visiting the city, it's worth popping into a City Super for the experience and for some of their unique beauty finds.  For more info, check out their site.

~ bcl hello kitty edition ~

~ browlash ex long separate mascara ~

To Buy Online // YES STYLE or eBay (try to check for authenticity if buy on eBay!)

~ matomage x hello kitty ~

~ hair styling stick super hold ~

To Buy Online // eBay (try to check for authenticity if buy on eBay!).  This also comes in a red version for "regular hold".

~ hello kitty hand cream ~

To Buy Online // YES STYLE carries other Hello Kitty hand cream. Just search on their site.  Here's one offering - HK Shea Butter.

~ hello kitty cherry blossom ~

~ essence face mask ~

To Buy Online // eBay and various lesser-known sites (try to check for authenticity).

share the love with a

hello kitty x character giveaway

Hope you've enjoyed this Hello Kitty tour!  I want to share the love with all of you...enter this giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below for a prize pack that includes:

• 2 x Hello Kitty Cherry Blossom Essence Face Masks (as shown in this post).
• 1 x Hello Kitty Cherry Blossom Sakura Hand Cream (as shown in this post).
• 4 x SexyLook Disney Princess Character Sheet Masks (One each: Snow White, Ariel, Belle, Sleeping Beauty). To see what they are, go to my Instagram feed @hulawithme.
• Plus some surprise bonuses.

TO ENTER & QUALIFY

1. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. 
2. Very Important! Be sure to follow instructions in the Rafflecopter widget to complete the 4 qualifying requirements.
3. Also very Important! Entering your handle in the Rafflecopter widget does not count. You must follow and repost within Instagram app.
4. Participants must be 18+ years of age.
5. Giveaway, fake, or business accounts will not be considered.

DEADLINE + WINNER NOTIFICATION

1. All entries must be submitted by 11:59PM EST (Eastern Standard Time) on June 12, 2016.
2. One winner will be chosen at random and to be announced on June 14, 2016.
3. The winner's name will be listed in this blog post & on Instagram post.  Winner will also be contacted via IG.  Be sure to keep your IG account in “public” mode to receive notification.
4. The winner will receive prize pack as stated above.

DISCLAIMERS

1. Please use caution when trying a beauty product for the first time.  Spot-test your skin first to test for any reaction.
2. Winner is responsible for any applicable taxes and custom/import fees.
3. This is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Instagram.
4. By entering this giveaway, participants confirm that they are 18+ years of age, release Instagram and giveaway host of responsibility and agree to Instagram’s term of use.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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L'Occitane Inflight Duty Free Exclusive

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One of the things I discovered from flying to/from Asia is the amazing selection from each airline's duty free catalog!  And some of the offerings are exclusive to in-flight shopping only and that makes it even more of a special treat. 

This beautiful L'Occitane gift set is a perfect example.  It is exclusive to Dragon Air in-flight duty free catalog.

The set includes three of L'Occitane's popular scents: Roses et Reines, Cherry Blossom, and Verbena (left to right).  Each collection has a pairing of hand cream and eau de toilette and comes with a matching pouch that is exclusive to this set.

The hand creams are 1.0 oz, perfect to throw in your purse, gym bag, travel bag, etc.

The eau de toilette are these cute little mini's that look great on your vanity and for traveling as well!

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rose et reines

If you have read my post on Diptyque, you know I'm addicted to the rose scent.  Naturally, the Rose et Reines is my favorite of the 3 in this gift set. 

L'Occitane uses a proprietary process where rose petals from Grasse, Bulgaria, Morocco, Turkey and Provence are steeped in oil and become saturated with the natural fragrance of the roses.  I probably wouldn't use the hand cream and eau de toilette at the same time as it is quite a powerful fruity scent, but individually, they are just lovely additions to any outfit.

The hand cream also doubles as a nail cream.  It contains shea butter and Vitamin E which helps soften the skin while it strengthens the nails.  I think this will become a regular in my in-flight pampering kit!

Individual items are available -

Hand Cream 1.0 0z USD $12.00 (Also comes in 2.5 oz for $22.00)

Eau de Toilette 2.5 oz USD $55.00

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cherry blossom

The Cherry Blossom is a lighter scent.  Cherry Blossoms bloom in the spring and this scent carries that refreshing and rejuvenating feeling as we welcome spring after a long cold winter.

The star ingredient is a cherry extract from the Luberon region of Provence, France.  "It is because cherry blossoms fly away in the first breeze of spring that they are so rare and precious," says Olivier Baussan, L'Occitane founder.  I can't agree more - Cherry Blossom is one of my favorite flowers as they are so pretty and delicate.  I think that's why I love the pouch so much and have been using it to carry my phone whenever I'm running errands in the neighborhood.

Individual items are available -

Hand Cream 1.0 oz USD $12.00 (Also comes in 2.6 oz for $22.00)

Eau de Toilette 2.5 oz USD $55.00

Voyage Set USD $28.00 (This is a great value set!)

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Verbena

The green verbena leaf is the star of this collection - It grows in abundance in Provence, France and gives out this lemony fragrance that wakes up all your senses.  In this collection, the eau de toilette has a much more powerful verbena lemony scent than the hand cream, so it's also ok to use both at the same time as you pamper yourself. 

What's unique about the Verbena hand cream is that it gives you this cooling sensation upon application.  A blend of organic verbena extract and tapioca powder helps soothe and absorb, leaving hands dry and cooled.  I think this is perfect for those hot summer days. 

Individual items are available -

Hand Cream 1.0 oz USD $12.00 (Also comes in 2.6 oz for $22.00)

Eau de Toilette 3.3 oz USD $58.00

Holiday Bauble Set USD $14.00 (Another great value set, but minus the eau de toilette)

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I can't wait to fly to Asia again and get my hands on some exclusive beauty goodies!  Besides the shopping, I also love the great hospitality by flight crew on these Asian airlines.  They treat everyone with a great smile and, more importantly, with respect.  Something the U.S.-based airlines should learn to do.

What's your favorite L'Occitane goodie? Do share with me!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Dreaming of Strawberries - Etude House Spring 2016 Berry Delicious Collection

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I know this sounds absolutely crazy, but the new Spring 2016 Etude House collection smells sooooo good that one may have the urge to taste it!  Of course anything from this brand comes with ultra cute packaging, and the Berry Delicious collection is no exception. 

The cuteness overload starts with these outer cartons, which I refuse to throw out!  Maybe one day, I'd have the time to make some wall art out of all the Etude House cartons.

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strawberry body scrub & body milk

What really drew me to Berry Delicious is the body care...especially this thick slice of bread, aka the Strawberry Bread Sponge.  It's cute and hilarious at the same time.  The "bread" is a perfect pairing to the jam-like Strawberry Body Scrub, which contains real strawberry seeds.

The scrub feels great on the skin.  And I come out of the shower smelling like fresh strawberry.  Who doesn't like that?!!!

The complimentary Strawberry Body Milk is true to its name - Super milky form and leaves my skin feeling soft and again smelling like strawberry all over.

Available at Etude House U.S. site:

Body Scrub $11.00

Body Milk $11.00

Bread Shower Sponge $3.90 (Currently out of stock)

Body Scrub + Sponge Set $11.00 (Great value!)

Body Milk + Sponge Set $11.00 (Currently out of stock)

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strawberry lip jam scrub

If you have kids in the house, you may want to put this lip scrub in a safe place because it could easily pass as something edible!  The label design resembles that of a jar of jam and it even says "strawberry jam" at the top of the label.

The texture of the scrub is a bit sticky and contains real strawberry seeds, walnut shell powder and sweet sugar grains.  It doesn't feel harsh on the lips though.

Application is very simple - Apply on wet lips, gently massage all over and then wash off with lukewarm water.  This is great to do once a week to remove dead skin and promote circulation on the lips.  However, if you have chapped lips or dry lips, I do not recommend using any lip scrub as this process will further irritate the skin on your lips.  My go-to for chapped lips has always been Vasaline Lip Therapy...it's my lip life-saver.

Available at Etude House U.S. site:

Lip Jam Scrub $9.10

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color in liquid lips juicy

These lippies are extensions of Etude House Color In Liquid Lips collection, but of course, these come with the deliciously-smelling strawberry scent.    

The applicator has been modified for Berry Delicious - It is now slightly angled, which makes for easier handling and more precise application.  I know the 2 colors I've picked appear to be similar in this shot, but if you look at swatches below, you'll see the difference.

Top Photo: Under direct sunlight // Bottom Photo: Under indoor light

I've included 2 colors from the original Color In Liquid Lips collection for comparisons (they are marked in black letters).  In fact, Berry Delicious PK 013 is pretty similar to Original BE 101.  I've also mentioned this in my other Etude House post - It's best to prep with some lip balms as these Liquid Lips tend to dry up the lips after a while.

And this is how OR 207 (top) & PK 013 (bottom) look on my lips.  One thing to note is that OR 207 does look more red in real life and PK 013 is more pink/mauve.  It's a bit hard to tell in the photo.

Available at Etude House U.S. site:

Color In Liquid Lips - Juicy $12.40 each

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fantastic color eyes

Last but not least, Berry Delicious' eye shadow palette.  I'm not a huge eye-makeup person, but I can see myself using some of these colors as there is a good mix of natural and shimmery choices.

I have picked #8 Strawberry Fondue.  The names of the colors are just lovely - Hazelnut Chocolate, Berry Milk Chocolate, Sugary Butter, Cheese Berry, Fresh Strawberry, Dip!Dip!  I feel like I'm in a candy store.

Here are swatches in the exact same order. The pink & beige shimmery colors (last 2 on the far right) are not too heavy in the shimmer, so they are good for daytime use as well.

Available at Etude House U.S. site:

Fantastic Eye Color $16.80 each

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Hope you've enjoyed this review of the Berry Delicious collection!  Writing this post makes me crave some chocolate-covered strawberries right about now...

Thanks for stopping by!

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The Big C - Sephora Sample Roundup with Clinique

CLINIQUE SUPERPRIMER UNIVERSAL FACE PRIMER (top)

I'm so happy I got this sample when it was first introduced!  I've had quite a few primers in my beauty junkyard, so I wouldn't have bought a full-size of this straight up. My usual problem with primer is that even the oil-free formula makes my skin oily almost as soon as I apply it on my face.  This Clinique primer kept my skin matte for much longer - I did not need to blot until after lunch. 

I've already re-purchased the full size, and have converted to the other version of this primer -  The "Colour Corrects" that comes in a light orange color.  Both work wonders. Give them a try!

Available At Sephora

CLINIQUE TAKE THE DAY OFF - MAKEUP REMOVER FOR LIDS, LASHES & LIPS (Bottom)

I use cleansing oil to remove makeup and wouldn't go back to the old ways if you pay me a million bucks!  Also, if you follow my journey on Instagram, you know I often go the no-makeup or basic makeup route with little to none eye makeup and light lip colors, so I rarely have the need to use a dedicated makeup remover for these areas.  At the same time, I must say that this product has a very gentle formula - No burning around the eyes and it melts away the makeup quite effortlessly, meaning less pulling and tugging around our delicate eye area. 

I wouldn't purchase the full size since I don't have a use for it, but I would recommend to those who use eye makeup remover on a regular basis because of its gentleness on the skin.

Available At Sephora

Thanks for reading!

What are some of your fave Clinique products?

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