What Bacteria Lives In Your Makeup Brushes?

 How Much Bacteria Lives on Your Makeup Brushes (and How to Prevent It)

Did you know your makeup brushes could be a breeding ground for bacteria? Without regular cleaning, they can harbor thousands—if not millions—of harmful microbes. Here’s everything you need to know about how bacteria accumulate and what you can do to protect your skin for kawaii gyaru makeup.

Terrible Drug Store Make Up, or Nah?

2016?

A while back when I went to the beach to try to relax, I had stopped at the Water Tower to just mosey around. It was a lil while ago... but I was checking out some of the make up booths a little until I saw Katy a make up artist who had me try some purple lip shades.

Don't get me wrong, the eyeliner pencils I drew on my hand with lasted a nice long time for quite a few hours! It actually made me rethink checking into and buying eyeliner pencils for my make up.

Bye for now!

Eyelash Custom

Eyelashes

DIY Project!       

Difficulty level 1 star

In the last bit of the summer break I had, I wanted to try out something new with my eye makeup. Not only did I use a different liner shape than I usually do and have done, I decided to do something different with my bottom lashes. If you remember me from a few years ago, I used to cut up and double up lashes to create my own look.

For this dolly gyaru eye make look with bottom lashes, I will guide you through the steps. Don’t worry, its super easy!

What you will need:

§  Diamond Lash  Sweet Eye

§  Eyebrow scissors

§  Patience

1.       Grab two bits of the Sweet Eye lash that you will use, 1 for each eye

2.       Gently snip the lash hairs a few at a time horizontally to your preference to avoid a really boxy appearance

3.       Carefully cut the holding strip twice to create 3 slender parts. This can be pretty tricky if your hands aren’t too steady!

4.       Store for later use or wear immediately!

And you are done! Look at you being all awesome!

Thank you for reading! Comments are appreciated and I’d love to see how your lashes turned out! 

Brow Blindness

As a formerly fuzzy browed gal finding myself in love with gyaru fashion, I found the importance of shaping and designing a brow look for myself that worked.  

I happened upon a trend on TikTok recently called “Brow Blindness”; a phenomenon where you are so used to your former brow that you don’t recognize how thick or oddly shaped they are! A few people have shared some of their looks, being able to laugh at themselves and showcase how great their brows have gotten over time.

TheLanarenee 

Her brows are impeccable now 💖

Janelle on TikTok looks quite flabbergasted at her old brows

Strongest of brows

Strong, but doesn’t overpower her features 

Dinero wishes someone would have informed her that her brows weren’t working for her. 

Before

After
Aren’t her red locks GORGEOUS?!

I can definitely relate as my natural brows had several transitions since I’ve became gyaru. Here are a few pictures of my old brows.

The arch is plucked… can’t you tell? 

What kind of shape is this?! 

Have you had brow blindness? What did your brows look like before you found the best shape for yourself?

Skin Care

With us doing make up from a few days a week to nearly every day, it is very important to treat your skin nice in between you wearing your make up. Here are some tips for you!

1.       Don’t: Skipping the water. Going just for juices loaded with sugar, sodas and adult beverages.

Do: Hydrate, hydrate, HYDRATE with water and natural juices!

Why: Hydration is super important for the cells in your body, not just your face! Being dehydrated causes the skin to dry out, causing wrinkles and looking dull.

*Alcohol dehydrates you and you need to make up the water that is lost.

2.       Don’t: Sleeping in your make up!

Do: Clean!

Why: Depending on your make up usage and how long you wear it during the day, PLUS keeping it on as you sleep prevents your skin from breathing.  This causes and or helps break outs, and aging of the skin.

After every night, before you close your eyes and dream of your next cute code for an event, meet up or general outing, remove your lashes, lens and make up with a gentle cleanser suited for your skin type.

3.       Don’t: Not exfoliating.

Do: Exfoliating gently.

Why: Exfoliating with a gentle exfoliating cleanser  sloughs off the dead skin on top of the new skin that makes you look dull and dry.

*However, doing this too much or too rough will damage the skin instead!

4.       Don’t: Not wearing an appropriate sunscreen or moisturizing.

DO: Wearing an appropriate sunscreen and moisturizer daily.

Why: Applying an appropriate sunscreen before your foundation will help block some of the UV rays from your skin while you are out and about. Moisturizing before you put on your make up and after helps keeps your skin supple, soft and smooth especially if you are weathering harsh winter temperatures.

5.       Don’t: Eating bad foods regularly. Not eating your veggies.

Do: Eat a healthy and balanced diet and take your vitamins.

Why: Eating bad foods do not give you the nourishment you need to have healthy looking skin. Eating lean meats and fish, and lots of veggies and fruits is best!

Taking a boost of vitamins and supplements not just for the health benefits can help your skin and hair grow! Who wouldn’t want that!? You can also add in collagen pills to your vitamin regiment to help give you a little boost with your skin care.

6.       Don’t:  Frowning, being angry and stressed.

Do: Meditate and calm down.

Why: Being able to calm yourself down is very important. When you are stressed out, it manifests in your body. You don’t want to be so stressed out that you are constantly frowning or furrowing your brows, causing wrinkles over time. Center yourself, breathe, and get that inner peace! Doing yoga or working out for about 30min a day can help expend some of that restless energy. You can also make yourself a nice warm bath with bath salts or bath bombs to relax in too!

                Thank you for reading and stay tuned! Comments are always appreciated!

Check out my webshop! 20%off on all items! Half the amount on hats will be donated to the Woman's Treatment Center!

West vs East: Makeup Techniques pt3

Eyebrows

There is no doubt that eyebrows can make or break your look. They tend to draw in a lot of attention and people can be sticklers about their shape. Some brows work for some looks, and some shouldn't see the light of day. They frame the face and can enhance or detract from your makeup and features or be a way to show off your creativity.

West vs East: Makeup Techniques pt 2

Blusher

blush styles from marieclaire.com

Firstly, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Styl-Lish readers! Hope everyone is in good spirits and enjoying time with loved ones and friends that bring them joy! 

For the second installation of the West Vs. East make up analysis is the subject of blush, or blusher!

Makeup Brush Care

Brushes 

Cleaning can be a chore, and even if it is, it is one thing that has to be done. Cleaning a few makeup brushes isn’t nearly as a daunting task than cleaning the whole apartment or a sink full of dishes after a delicious feast, but can be quickly overlooked with all that we do in life.

West vs East: Makeup Techniques

Contour

With new steps added into a full face of makeup, the Western makeup trend is a lot more sculpted than ever before. This ''instagram baddie'' look derived from the way drag queens applied their makeup has made way in the makeup world on and off Instagram for the past few years. People contour their foreheads, noses, cheeks, and chins; defining their faces and features with layers of makeup.

Nailing It! Nailcare Part 3

Lisha's Guide To Nailcare
Pt 3

Nail Extensions

Nail extensions can help if you want your nails to be longer... just without the wait. They last for two to four weeks depending on your upkeep along with the nail tech's quality.

When choosing a salon, you will not only be looking at their prices for their services, but for also any additional services you will want for your appointment and the nail tech's handiwork.
Nail salons offer the basics such as manicures, pedicures and various polish applications, and some offer nail extensions and designs as a part of their skills.

Acrylics, a plastic, is used to sculpt a nail, using either nail tips as the base or a sticker form. This material dries on its own.

photo from Beautylish.com

True gels, usually less common in some areas, is thick and uses a uv lamp to cure it into its hardened state.

Make sure you are vocal, and polite, while the nail tech does your nails. You will need to have some idea of what the final outcome will be. This includes nail shape, if you want colour or designs, or even if the nail tech is being too rough.

Bonus tip!: Make sure you check your nails as they grow out or if you crack one. Water can seep under the acrylic if it has started to lift, resulting in a possible fungal infection! Yikes!!

Read the first Nailcare here and the second one here.

New Gyaru Make Up Tutorial Coming Monday!

Yippu! Its a new season and not only that, I've been inspired to make a new makeup video again! This time around its not manba or kuro gyaru related! (Le gasp!)

I had fun making it and putting it together as well. 

I will also have a post and maybe a video about how to make bottom lashes too so stay tuned! 

Selling off a few gyaru clothes and items that are taking up space. Buy an item and get a couple free stickers! Limited time only! Shop Now!  

Nailing It! Nailcare Part 2

Lisha's Guide To Nailcare
Pt 2

Polishing Up

Welcome back to the second part of the Nailcare Guide! If you missed the first part, click here.

Polishes, nail varnishes, nail lacquers, are a great and definitely easy way to add a pop of colour and personality to your hands. Polishes come in so many different colours, finishes (if the polish is glittery, shiny, or matte), and not to mention brands.

Highbrow Lowbrow Straightbrow!

I am a big fan of arched eyebrows and have been perfecting them for years in my gyaru journey.

Recently, straight brows have become a thing for people in and out of kawaii fashion. The straight brow gives a person a supposedly youthful appearance. 

Those were the samples I drew inspiratiom from...

And this is what I came up with. One brow is a little wonky and both are just... ok. Maybe I'll add this brow look in my repertoire.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned! 

Lishaslooks.storenvy.com

Gyaru items and handmade goodies 

Nailing It! LM22 Guide to Nail

Lisha's Guide To Nailcare
Pt 1

Basics

Hair is done and styled to perfection. Accessories are carefully selected to match with your outfit. Your outfit? On point. The slayage is real.

Regardless if your lolita dress is on trend, or you are donning the most intricate sujimori ( a hairstyle that's teased and uses a layering technique with strips of hair), or happy just wearing jeans and a Tee, if your nails aren't done, or are broken, it knocks off a few points.

Entering the world on nails and nailcare doesn't have to be daunting at all.

Welcome

The least one can do, especially if acrylic nail sets deem themselves too expensive or time consuming, is to make sure your nails are filed, trimmed and clean. Easy peasy.

• Keeping a file that is not to abrasive (a file having a higher grit number) is best to shape the nails as desired.
• Nail brushes and thinner metal nail files help remove dirt that is trapped under the nail. 
• File in one direction as you go and keep the file flat against the nail.

Stay tuned for part 2 of this series; polish colours.

Brow game

It has been soooo long since I've done my eyebrows! I finally got around to doing the whole 9 yards with them: bleaching, trimming and tweezing.

I usually just tweeze a bit and trim when the lil hairs get long and my brows start looking a bit thick. Just doin the bare minimum too keep my forehead from looking caveman like. Lol.

I feel that my new phone cam is not up to par with my IG and mobile blogging needs! 😖

Oh well..
Til next time chocopies!

Pinky Paradise Coupon Code!

Hello hello! It is drawing close to Halloween Season again, and I hope you all are excited about getting your costumes and outfits together! To help your costume and cosplay needs, here is a 50% off, one use only coupon code from PinkyParadise to use on a new set of yearly lens to beautify your eyes! Yippu!

Circle Lens Review!

Geo Nudy Grey Review

 Click for the Video version!

So, over the years, Geo Nudy lens have been my fave! I am not sure why I gravitated to that particular style. It has a very soft look to them and a halo effect when you shift your gaze over. I was new to coloured contact lens when I purchased my first pair in like '09. I didn't want to get brown or black because that was too normal, and I was a little too shy to purchase a really in your face colour! So I chose grey!

I also am very picky when it comes to circle lens selection if I don't have something in mind right away. Though I have tried some various other colours, I really like grey lens and Nudy Grey style the most for non "normal" days. 

CUTE BOX

I stopped purchasing from my original lens carrier and decided to go with Maples Lens thanks to Pepa's suggestion. 

The lens are named Geo Super Nudy grey, priced at 18.90$USD, not including shipping. 

Let the Super Magic begin!!

Specs:

Diameter : 14.8mm

Water Content : 42%
Base Curve : 8.6mm
Life Span : 1 Year Disposal

They arrived pretty damned fast! About, 2 days after purchasing! WOWZERS. Most people, including yours truly, get lens about a week or two after purchasing and I've heard horror stories of people not getting their lens after like a month or so! Not having a long waiting time to get your coveted lens is a big plus for me!

I thought that these would be bigger than my older Nudy Lens, but appeared a tad smaller for whatever reason while in the animal soaking case.

Video Comparison

The limbal ring is a lot darker than the other Nudy Lens type. I think this helps enhance the halo effect. 

Bright light

Comparison

The top one is the Super Nudy, the bottom just Nudy. The Super Nudy has a smaller inner circle unfilled by colour than its counter part.

Comparison

Regular Nudy on the left has a lighter and fainter edge and colour than the Super Nudy on the right.

I think I will keep Maples Lens bookmarked from now on. Their shipping was awesome and very unexpected.

Colour: 4/5  

Comfort: 4.5/5 

Design: 3.5/5 ( I like the pixelated design compared to some other circle lens lovers) It doesn't show up that much when you aren't super close to someone and it isn't that bright.

I think Super Nudy will be one of my on hand lenses. Love them so much!

New Nail!

A new nail for a new month! This time, I wanted to go clear + a design instead of the usual glitter nails.

Nail station set up. I keep all my supplies that I will use over the next few hours close by. I have been doing gel nails for about a year or so instead of acrylics. Though they are said to be less strong than acrylics, I feel that they look a bit better. And for this project, they seem to come out a little clearer than acrylic solutions.

Natural Hair Progress

I have never been the one to over perm my hair, or do it frequently. Maybe a few times a year and especially for summer to help combat the humidity on my hair when I style it.

A few years back, I had to take a hiatus on styling my own hair due to a mishap with some over bleached hair and a relaxer. Let's just say that the damage was not sexy at all!

No more blonde bangs, no more relaxing my hair, and eventually, hiding my hair away from using heat a lot so my hair could grow out.

Back then, my hair was barely past my collar bone.

Review: Mary Kay Timewise Set