Magazine Monday Returns!

My dad gets to go to Japan quite often on business and, after I overcome my jealous rage, I like to ask him to bring me back things. While I’m not going to push my luck and give him an extensive Hakuhodo order, I did ask him to get me a magazine on his recent trip. He got me two because he’s amazing: Maquia and Biteki. I haven’t got around to reading the articles because I’ve been mega busy, so I thought I’d just share some of the pictures today. (Click for bigger versions)Let’s start with one of my favourites! I’m pretty sure I love this one mostly because of the hair, I wish I could pull it off but when I try a ‘messy updo’ or whatever it’s called I just end up looking like a vagrant.This next one is one of the few photos that featured a darker lipstick; it seems like summer is home to pale, barely there lips and the more striking lip colours are saved for winter and autumn. I love how minimal the rest of the face is, it seems that executing a red lip without doing a full face is becoming more popular. And that makes me happy. Because I’m lazy.When I first saw this one I was pretty surprised: the defined dark under-eye liner seems to be pretty rare in my experience of Japanese magazines. On second look, I saw the writing underneath describing this as a look typical of foreign celebrities, which kind of explains it. I must say it’s not a look I love – mostly because it doesn’t suit me and I’m biased like that – but I thought it was an interesting addition to the magazine.The rest are from an interesting section about ‘lineless make-up’: point make-up that seamlessly blends into the rest of your face. It doesn’t sound that special – I mean, I’m pretty sure most people try to blend – but I think to really get it perfect (especially without using cream products) it requires quite a bit of skill.Eyes: Use opposing colours to draw attention to eyes when not wearing eyeliner:Eyeliner: Use eyeshadow to smudge out a fine line of eyeliner:Cheeks: Blend a whole lot. Put foundation on top if you have to.Lips: Use your finger to apply, blending from the centre out, then put some highlighting powder just above your cupid’s bow. (Also have an awesome Michelle-Pfeiffer-as-Selina-Kyle-pre-catwoman-hairstyle. This is very important.)Right and that’s my intro back into blogging! How have you all been? What make-up are you excited about? Which blog posts have you read/written recently that I should read? I’ve been so busy that I’m completely out of the loop, catch me up on anything you find exciting right now (this includes you, lurking person).Has anyone been watching the Olympics? I find most bits kind of boring because – shock horror – I’ve never been that sporty, but I’ve been obsessed with the diving and gymnastics, those sports are so much fun to watch. Also I think that the cauldron is insanely cool.Filed under: Features, Magazine Monday