Jipi Japa Featherweight Flats

Whenever I'm traveling, I like to bring one fashionable (mid to high heeled) and one comfortable (flats) pair of shoes. Because honestly, I want to look good in photos. Who doesn't? I'm definitely one to endure mild pain for fashion. (hello i'm G, and i'm a fashion victim.)

Long story short, I went to Hong Kong and wore my most comfortable lace up wedged heels on the first day and my feet were killing me by late-afternoon. Bought a pair of Ipanema ♡ accented slippers just to make it through the night and by the next day my Pink Nike hi-cuts were not THAT comforting anymore. So I decided to search for a pair of ballet flats and found myself inside Jipi Japa at Langham Place.

"Jipi Japa is a comfortable and casual ladies footwear brand launched in Hong Kong in Fall/Winter 2006. It is originally a Spanish word pronounced as ‘Hepe Hapa’. Jipi Japa aims to become a key player in the footwear industry with the distinctive positioning as a comfortable and yet stylish footwear brand."

I couldn't agree more. Please say hello to my aching feet's savior:

sorry for the dusty sole, i've been wearing it a lot. The rubber sole makes me feel like i'm walking on sunshine ohhh! *apologies for bursting into song* 

They're lightweight and stretchy = comfortable, it puts my Tory Burch Reva flats to shame (and at half the price!) Plus it looks simple and cute, I can easily pair it with most of my clothes and bags. I will happily visit and purchase another pair when I go back to Hong Kong.

got any favorite brands for trusty ballet flats? Do share! :)

♡,

G

Melliesh All in One Mineral Powder

The Melliesh "All-in-one Mineral Powder" set is one of the two base makeup offerings released for Yui Kanno's brand. It comes with a 5g jar of mineral loose powder and a synthetic stippling brush with a pink handle.

The japanese gyarus are getting more clever in luring beauty junkies into buying everything they peddle don't you think? This set retails for HKD170 (approx. USD22) which I think is quite reasonable for the quality of the powder + brush set.

the small jar comes with a sifter cap to avoid spillage and it gives more control on how much product you want to take out of the jar.

 a natural beige shade with slightly yellow undertone and some coverage, it compliments my skin very well and leaves a semi-matte finish once blended into the skin.

It gives off a soft and smooth, natural look and prolongs the wear of foundation / BB cream. I tried it to set the Nanoce BB cream and it was a match made in heaven for me. Sadly, I have realized (and accepted) that I am allergic to mineral makeup as small bumps would instantly appear on my face when I wear anything defined as "mineral makeup". Although I have yet to distinguish which particular ingredient is causing this, for now its safer to stay away from it. A shame, because I like it very much. *locks it in the blog sale stash*

The stippling brush included is surprisingly decent and usable. The synthetic hair is soft and it does a good job in applying the loose powder. I also think it adds appeal and value to the set. Just be sure to wash the brush before letting it touch your face!

♡,

G

BB Craze: Nanoce BB Moist Cream No. 2 Healthy Ochre

One of the most popular BB creams in Japan, Ishizawa Lab's Nanoce BB Moist Cream is described as a "natural moisturizing cream for all skin types". 

I picked up the darker of only 2 shades, 02 Healthy Ochre which is a good match for my yellow toned, NC30 skin tone.

A little goes a long way,  a tiny drop (.5 cm) is enough for the whole face. 

Consistency is very smooth and creamy which makes it blend easily on the skin. Although its looks very yellow in the photo, its actually a good match for me because like most asians, I have yellow undertones. Being an all-in-one product, I figured it would be nice to take when traveling. Saves up space in the cosmetic case since I wont be needing separate sunscreen, primer, foundation and concealer. It feels moisturizing too. But I wouldn't dare to depend on a BB cream for skin care functions.

It gives off a semi-matte with a bit of a glowy finish (if that makes sense at all), leaves no grayish cast and can last all day (12 hours) if set with powder. It doesn't settle into fine lines, has good oil control and does not cake easily when layered. It offers medium coverage and can be layered to conceal blemishes for a flawless yet natural look.

Now for its weakness, Nanoce BB Moist Cream is not available locally, I got mine in CitySuper, Hong Kong for HKD248 (approx. USD32) which is quite expensive for a BB cream. I also dislike the screw-cap as I tend to drop and lose things. 

But overall, its a high-quality BB cream. I would likely repurchase if ever I run out of it. I would recommend this if you have normal-combination skin like me. 

Hurray for Friday! Have a fun weekend ahead!

♡,

G