CDJapan Haul featuring Chikuhodo, Koyudo, and Mizuho Brushes with First Impressions and Comparisons

Hello Loves!

Recently, I have been wanting to improve and build up my makeup brush collection. This all started whenever I got my first Chikuhodo brushes (Z-4 & Z-10) for my birthday, and they have turned my world around. They are extremely soft and apply makeup beautifully. As a graduation present, my boyfriend was so kind to help me with this makeup brush collection improving quest and placed an order of several brushes I wanted to try from CDJapan. CDJapan is a site that sells a huge variety of makeup brushes as well as other Japanese goods. Also, prepare for a long and picture heavy post. 

  

CUSTOMER SERVICE, SHIPPING, ETC

The only customer service experience I have with CDJapan is emailing them with a question concerning a promotion. I have not received a reply to said email and wished they did email me back. However, it was not a pressing issue so I did not send the email again. So take this tid bit of my experience how you want.

I ordered from CDJapan on June 9th and opted to get the EMS shipping option. This option is one of the faster and more expensive options and includes tracking and insurance. Since two of my items had a longer process time (8-13 days), I expected a bit of a wait before they sent it out. They shipped out my order June 19th, and I received it in my mailbox June 23rd. This was very fast shipping considering it came from half way across the world. Once opening the packaging, everything was bubble wrapped very well to ensure no damage to the products in their long journey. Very, very impressed with the shipping and packaging, and I will most definitely be purchasing again. 

Just a note but there rewards system is really good. You receive 3% points on every item that you purchase and if you reach certain dollar amounts, you get bonus points. You can also earn extra points by filling out customer surveys sent to you or if asked to review the products you received. These points seem to build up pretty quickly because I am already at ~2500 points and 1 point equals 1 yen off your next purchase.

Continue reading for all the goodies!

Swatch and Haul: NYX Cosmetics 4th of July Sale with First Impressions

Hello Loves!

I bring you guys the makeup that I bought from NYX for their 4th of July sale (as the title suggests). Before I get onto to the goodies I have to tell you guys a story... a story about how insanely difficult it was for me to make a purchase not only during their sale but off their website in general. I guess this is my first impression for their customer service as well.

ORDERING/CUSTOMER SERVICE
Alright, so NYX was holding a 40% off sale during the 4th of July (which is USA independence day) and I have been wanting to pick a few different things for a while. However, they did not prepare their web servers the for the mass influx that is savvy shoppers. I would try to buy what I want whenever I got home and went for this for maybe an hour at a time. No luck during the sale and it ended. Thankfully, NYX was awesome and provided me with a 40% code whenever I emailed them about having difficulty purchasing off the site. All things seem good, right?
NO. Ugh, I tried for at least a week to buy online and every single time I had an "invalid request," which I assume means my card does not want to process. I call NYX and they tell me to give it a day to try again because they are fixing their website. I try again the next day with no luck. What happened is that everything worked perfectly over the phone and my computer basically does not like the NYX website. This steers me away from ordering off the website because of how difficult it was to place an order.

Not related to customer service or ordering of NYX but... (prepare for a mild rant) FedEx takes FOREVER to get your packages to you. Grrrrrrr, dammit I want my stuff.
Alright, end rant. Let's continue.

THE STUFF:

Left to Right: Taupe Blush, Macaron Lippies in Orange Blossom, Earl Grey, Pistachio, Violet, and Lavender, Velvet Eye Pencil, and African Queen Mega Shine Gloss

Closeups and all sorts of swatches after the jump!

Swatch and Haul: Shiro Cosmetics Anniversary Sale with bonus FOTD

Hello Loves <3

It has been way too long since I last posted some goodies for you guys! Today, I finally got my Shiro anniversary sale purchase. It has been a long time coming (took about a month to ship out). Not only did I get the sale order but I got my false lash order from Lady Moss in at the same time! I came back from work and arrived to two packages. I was too excited for the packages that I forgot about the food I brought home, and I was pretty hungry. Makeup is pretty important y'all. Anyways...

ONTO THE GOODIES.

Swatch and Haul: Little Sparrow Cosmetics

Hello Loves!

I am so excited to show you my latest indie makeup purchase! This time, I ordered from Little Sparrow Cosmetics, which is a cosmetic shop on Etsy that is owned and operated by Jessica Randolph. She makes a variety of products such as blushes, a "lip jelly," eyeshadows, and much more.

A little on the shipping, customer service, and all that jazz before the goodies.

SHIPPING:
I got my items during a sale, so everything was 15% off, but what surprised me was the shipping fee. The first item I got had a $2 shipping fee and an additional dollar with every item after that. So, if any of you, like me, do not enjoy paying larger shipping fees, just a heads up. Since I did order during a sale, it is to be expected to wait a little more time before getting the products. Her TAT mentioned on her Facebook page was 1-2 weeks. I got my items shipped out within a week and a half after the order date and received it shortly from USPS. Everything was packaged in a bubble mailer and was then enclosed in cute little bags. The products have shrink wrap with perforations as a safety seal. Only one product had damage, which was small crack on the lid.

The bags products were wrapped in

CUSTOMER SERVICE:
I also want to commend Jessica on her customer service. She was very prompt whenever I did email her. I would definitely say I was excited to receive her items and emailed her towards the end of week on the status of the package. She let me know when it was expected to ship and a day or two afterwards, she sent it out and emailed me when it did. Another thing, which you will soon see, is she is VERY generous with samples. I was astonished with the size. She sent me a mini blush and FULL-SIZED lip jelly. I don't know if this is standard but I am very happy with the generous samples. I don't know what samples you will receive when ordering but this is what I got.

Time for the goodies :)

Before removing safety seals

The samples are Carnation and Oh My Papaya.

Closeups, swatches, and first impressions after the jump!

Swatch and Haul: Birthday Shiro Cosmetics Order

Hello loves!

I got in my Shiro Cosmetics order. I was so excited to come back from class this morning to find the package at my door and it shipped earlier than expected!

Shiro Cosmetics is an indie makeup company that is owned by the lovely Caitlin and has been around for a few years now. I have previously ordered from them and have been pleased with how prompt it had shipped and arrived (compared to the TAT on the website). This time around it still shipped before TAT but wasn't as quick as my first order. But, USPS tracking is not good and well, I didn't where my package was at until discovering it at my door.

Before ordering, I emailed Caitlin if they were still selling Twilight Realm and Dark Sacrifice, which are soon to be discontinued colors. Thankfully, she said they are still selling it, and I found a link to where I could find the colors. I ordered mainly because I needed these two colors.

And look at everything I got. I definitely didn't get just the two colors. 

More pictures and all the swatches after the jump!

IMATS LA 2014 Haul and Swatches

Hello my loves,
This marks my first real blog post! Yeah, so exciting!

Today, I provide you with my haul from IMATS in Los Angeles that I attended earlier this year (in 2014). It was an amazing experience to go to California because I have always wanted to see what all of the haba-balu was all about. It lived up to all the hype, and I loved that it was warm there. I know this is a small thing to appreciate but I live somewhere where its cold and has lots of snow. I think before we left for the trip, we actually experienced sub-zero temperatures, and it was -8 Fahrenheit if I recall correctly. It was ironic how a day after our arrival back home, we experienced similar temperatures. Love you too, Mother Nature.

I just want to talk a little bit about the experience before we get onto the goodies. The year before, I went to IMATS NYC and I loved, loved, loved every minute. Coming to this IMATS, I knew what to expect. While I still had an amazing time, I didn't enjoy as much as the first time I went. I definitely think it is not only because it was second time doing this but also the crowds. Fact: I am not a huge fan of crowds. I am glad that I got there one hour early to get to everything early and hit up every stand I wished to visit. However, the line to the venue was absolutely INSANE one hour before the show opened, and I believe it wrapped around the block. I am so glad I had some coffee while waiting. Gotta love me some coffee.

Alright, what you have been waiting for, THE HAUL.

The goodies!

Read on for swatches, prices, and how I budget for this spectacular event!