→ 25 Before 26

I took this during Sasebo's Cherry Blossom festival in March!

This year I really want to focus on getting out there, exploring Japan, and experiencing more, as well as self-care and practicing more self-love. It's been a very difficult several months and I'd like to push myself and try to enjoy things whether or not I'm anxious or depressed.

1. Make at least one video for my YouTube channel.
I totally failed on this one last year. I think I'm just afraid (and a bit unmotivated) and I've been putting this off, but it's something that I really want to do!
2. Get rid of unwanted clothing and accessories.
I partially accomplished this, but not enough to make me happy. I'm still hoarding clothing from before gaining 60lbs (thanks to birth control when I moved out here) and I shouldn't be, but it's so difficult to do so because I feel like I'm throwing away hundreds of dollars! Ugh.
3. Wear orange lipstick.
4. Go shopping in Fukuoka.
There's a ton of shopping in Fukuoka: MAC, Ikea, Forever 21, etc... This one is only hard because Fukuoka is over an hour away and traveling makes me nervous.
5. Visit the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum.
6. Try Japanese cosmetics.
7. Visit a shrine.
There are a handful of shrines near base housing and I'd be really bummed when I leave Japan if I never got to visit a shrine.
8. Start the How to Be a Fat Bitch E-Course.
9. Try a cream blusher.
10. Perfect the art of glitter brows.
11. Perfect the art of colored brows.
12. Play a drinking game.
13. Finish a puzzle.
14. Watch at least 40 movies I've never seen before.
I'm really good at watching television. I love being able to multitask, but 99% of the time, I'm watching a TV show vs a movie. I normally only watch movies at a friend's house or I have a friend over to my house. I don't know why, but it is what it is. I have hundreds of movies in my netflix queue as well as in our movie collection.
Current progress: 6 - Groundhog Day, Spaceballs, The Emperor's New Groove, Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor: The Dark World, & Captain America: The Winter Soldier
15. Start up my in-house bakery.
I finally decided on a name, all I need to do now is bake!
16. Enroll in college.
I'm twenty-five and I am so bad at making decisions! Plus I just feel so flustered when I'm looking at college websites. On top of all of that, I have to go through another party to enroll. It's just all so overwhelming.
17. Visit Hirado.
18. Read at least 20 books.
I'm halfway through Find Me by Carol O'Connell, the ninth book in the Mallory's Oracle series.
19. Read at least 10 comics/graphic novels.
I just purchased a few trade paperbacks: Catwoman Volume 1, Saga Volume 1, Chew Volume 1, and Ghost World. Hooray!
20. Try out cosmetics from 5 new indie brands.
21. Buy a Givenchy lipstick.
22. Go to Milky Way Farms.
23. Go bowling.
24. Do some crafting.
25. Do a spending ban.

What are some of your goals right now? Also, what are your favorite books/comics/movies (so I can add them to my list if I haven't read or seen them before)?


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→ Giveaway: Urban Decay, e.l.f., Cailyn, & pop beauty (CLOSED)

Hooray! I've been collecting things over several months for a bunch of giveaways. The last time I hosted my own giveaway was over a year ago so I'm really excited to finally host another one!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

I hope you guys like this bunch of products! I really want to thank you all for sticking with me. I appreciate each and every one of you!

Stay tuned for more giveaways in the distant future!


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→ New Product: BareMinerals Acne-Clearing Foundation

This post contains affiliate links.

What it is:
A breakthrough foundation and skin-clearing treatment in one.

What it does:
This lightweight foundation treats blemishes, reduces the appearance of redness and pores, and helps to prevent new blemishes from forming. Formulated with Salicylic Acid, this lightweight and non-drying makeup blends seamlessly for buildable, natural-looking coverage that you can feel comfortable wearing all day long.

What else you need to know:
This product is dermatologist-tested and noncomedogenic.

Research results:
After six weeks of product use:
- Clinically proven to reduce acne breakouts
- 100% of women experienced significant reduction in sebum (skin oil)
- 92% of women experienced significant reduction in pore size appearance
- 83% of women experienced significant reduction in acne lesions
[source]

You can pick up the bareMinerals Blemish Remedy Acne-Clearing Foundation right now from Sephora for $27.00! Will you be trying this out?


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→ Life Update & 24 Before 25 Outcome

My birthday presents from the hubby! I'm a 25 year old child.

I'm twenty-five now and I didn't do a great job with my 24 before 25 list. This past year my mental health has been the worst it has ever been. Well, to be fair, it wasn't the whole year, but it was the majority. I'm mostly blaming my (now crippling) anxiety on my quitting smoking. I relied on cigarettes much more than I ever thought I did. This past month I left my apartment twice. I'd really like to work on doing more things and trying to get out of my comfort zone. Anyway, with that said, here's the outcome of my 24 before 25.

1. Start my YouTube channel.
2. Be happy with my hair.
I loved my half/half hair the second and third time around!
3. Get rid of unwanted clothing and accessories.
4. Wear orange lipstick.
5. Curl my hair.
6. Visit the aquarium.
It was awesome. I really want to go again though since I was feeling awful when I went in June.
7. Go shopping in Fukuoka.
8. Visit the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum.
9. Try Japanese cosmetics.
10. Bake something from scratch.
I did this a whole lot!
11. Get my couponing all sorted.
I'll probably need to go through them again soon, but that's the nature of couponing.
12. Get another tattoo/start Sailor Moon half-sleeve.
13. Visit a shrine.
14. Make something.
I put together my makeup storage... I think that's why I crossed this off. I'm sure I made something else, but I can't remember! Wompwomp.
15. Set up a space for my shoes.
It's not perfect, but I don't have all of my shoes out here. We bought a little cupboard and I stashed my shoes inside (and on top) of it in our living room closet.
16. Do my nails more. At least once, come on, you're a beauty blogger - get it together!
I did my nails several times! Unfortunately now that I have a baking business, I can't really have nail polish on if I don't want to wear gloves, but that's okay. I can still buff and file them.
17. Buy a YSL lipstick.
I got this done pretty close to when I made the list. I think I'll be treating myself to more luxury makeup.
18. Marathon all of the Die Hard movies (again).
I think the hubby and I did this around Christmas time? Die Hard is definitely a Christmas movie! (Don't ask my husband though cos he doesn't agree...)
19. Start the How to Be a Fat Bitch E-Course.
20. Do the Japanese Rosetta Stone.
21. Try a cream blusher.
22. Perfect the art of glitter brows.
23. Play a drinking game.
24. Make funfetti brownies.
I finally made a batch that cooked through! Hooray!

All in all, I'm happy with what I achieved under the circumstances.

On a different note, I've also been sick for the past month or so and my insomnia is going strong, so I apologize for my lack of posts. I'm currently being treated for my lack of sleep and my doctor and I are going to work on a few other things for my handful of health issues. Hooray!

In light of that, I'm looking forward to doing a ton of new things this year and I'll be doing my best to getting back into the makeup and blogging swing of things.

What have you accomplished lately?


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→ New Product: bareMinerals bareSkin

Kitsch's Caboodles Vol. 7: Best Of 2013

This is a gift bag and card from Ryan that he gave me in 2013. I just thought it was the cutest.

Movies: World War Z, Red 2, Despicable Me 2, Seven Psychopaths
Vloggers: Vintage or Tacky, Leighann Says, Goldie Starling, MyHarto, Lil BUB, Klaire de Lys, Makeup Geek, xSparkage, Beauty Broadcast, Sprinkle of Glitter, Sorted Food, dailygrace, Sokolum79, Makeup By Alli, Sharon Farrell
YouTube videos: Bee and PuppyCat, Cats Stealing Dog Beds, My Drunk Kitchen: Toad in a Hole ft. SprinkleofGlitter, Thank You Hater!, Lip Sync Battle with Joseph Gordon Levitt, Stephen Merchant and Jimmy Fallon, Lil BUB & Friendz, My Drunk Kitchen: Spatzle! ft. Flula
Albums: Natalia Kills Perfection, Deap Vally Sistronix, Oh Land Wish Bone, Paloma Faith Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?
TV Shows: Once Upon A Time, The Blacklist, Game of Thrones, Revolution, Bob's Burgers, Dancing With The Stars

Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion (I know that it's referring to a face primer, but I'm a horrible beauty blogger and I haven't tried any of the ones that I have!)
Foundation: Urban Decay Naked Skin Liquid Foundation (and for drugstore I would say Revlon ColorStay)
Concealer: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye
Setting Powder: Urban Decay All-Nighter Spray (shush, I know it's not a powder, but it was my go-to setting method in 2013!)
Blush: Milani Baked Blushes
Bronzer: Milani Bronzer XL
Highlighter: theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer
Brows: IT Cosmetics Your Brows But Better Brow Power Skinny Pencil
Eyeliner: Physician's Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner
Eyeshadow Palette: Too Faced Pretty Rebel palette (Definitely a difficult choice... there were just so many amazing palettes that came out this year!)
Mascara: CoverGirl Lash Blast Clump Crusher in Very Black
Lip Pencil: NYX Slim Lip Pencils
Lipstick: Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids
Lipgloss: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains (it's kind of a gloss, right?)
Lip Color: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars (I added this category cos I like the lip tars so much! js.)
Favorite Beauty Subscription: ipsy Glam Bag ($10/month, yes please!)
Misc: Blistex Medicated Lip Balm (I use this to prime my lips before lip color and put it on every night before bed)

Moisturizer: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel (in the winter I used CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion)
Cleanser: Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Oil Reducing Cleanser
Toner: Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore Reducing Toner
Exfoliator: Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel (when my breakouts were really bad I used Paula's Choice CLEAR Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution)
Mask: boscia Luminizing Black Mask
Treatment: Paula's Choice CLEAR Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment
Misc: Paula's Choice Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen aaaaand Paula's Choice Shine Stopper

Let me know in the comments what your favorite things were from 2013!



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Swatchfest: Urban Decay Ocho Loco 2 Set

Urban Decay came out with the Ocho Loco 2 set as a part of their 2013 Holiday Collection. Along with the Vice 2 palette, I definitely wanted to grab myself one of these sets before they sold out!





The Ocho Loco 2 set contains eight full size (1.2g of product each) 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils (five of which are new and exclusive!) as well as a Double Barrel Grindhouse Sharpener and retails for $59.00. The pencils and sharpener come in a pretty sweet looking cardboard tray with a color gradient to match the eye pencils. Urban Decay really knows how to do packaging well.

Left to Right: Roach (deep copper brown shimmer), Twice Baked* (rich brown satin w/gold micro-sparkle), Crave* (deepest, darkest brown-black matte), Perversion (blackest black matte), Deep End (bright metallic peacock shimmer), Mars* (bright metallic green shimmer), Ultraviolet* (bright blue-violet shimmer), Tornado* (dark eggplant pearl)
-Color descriptions taken from the Urban Decay website-
*new and exclusive shade

Double Barrel Grindhouse Sharpener

Double Barrel Grindhouse Sharpener - Open

Left to Right: Twice Baked, Roach

Left to Right: Crave, Perversion

Left to Right: Mars, Deep End

Left to Right: Ultraviolet, Tornado

As always, all of the pictures were taken in natural lighting and the shadows were swatched on bare skin (no base or primer).

If you've ever tried Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils, you know how pigmented and smooth they are and the pencils in this set are no different. They glide on so easily and took some work getting off, which is awesome for an eyeliner. There are no duds in this set!

The Ocho Loco 2 set is an amazing value. One of the full size 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils retails for $19.00 and you get eight plus a Grindhouse sharpener (normally $10) for $103.00 off of what you would pay if everything was bought individually. The Ocho Loco 2 set can be found at Urban Decay and Sephora.

Do you have this set? What do you think of it?



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Sephora VIB Sale

The highly anticipated VIB sale from Sephora is finally here! I don't know about you, but I saved up a bunch of money so I'd be able to grab several splurge-worthy sets and products. VIBs can use the code VIBTOPIA for 20% from 07NOV13-11NOV13, so it's not on for a very long time. My plan for this sale was to mostly buy things that were Sephora exclusives, so if a specific brand has a Black Friday/holiday sale on their personal website that's 20% off or better than 20% off, I can get things from that brand then. I like to think that I'm a savvy shopper! Haha.

These are my recommendations (in no particular order):



NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Marie-Galante | Urban Decay Naked Palette | Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup | Too Faced Pretty Rebel Palette | Lorac PRO Palette | Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick in Opera Rose | Urban Decay Vice 2 Palette | Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Pro's Pick Lip Tar Set 1.0 | Urban Decay Ocho Loco 2

---

All of these products are on my wishlist, but I couldn't afford to get them on top of what I had already planned to buy. Damn having a finite amount of money to spend! Boooo!


Laura Mercier Artist's Palette for Eyes | Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye-Con No. 7 in The Tease | Too Faced A Few of My Favorite Things | Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Poetica | Smashbox The Master Class Palette II | Sephora Favorites Give Me Some Lip | Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light | Formula X for Sephora The Twenty-Two | Tarte The Tarte of Giving Collector's Set & Travel Bag

---

Now, don't quote me, but I think I heard something about Sephora planning an event for people who haven't reached VIB level, so have no fear if you're not a VIB! I'll let you guys know as soon as I hear anything solid.

Are you buying anything during this VIB sale? What's on your wishlist?



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This Week's Deals & Steals

Too Faced is having their Friends & Family sale! Save 20% on everything on the Too Faced website with the code FAMILY20.

Definitely check out their Shadow Primer, Pretty Rebel Palette (eye looks done with the palette: one & two), and their Value Sets.



BH Cosmetics has a sale on their 36 Piece Ultimate Brush Set. This set would be perfect for someone wanting to get started in the world of makeup or build up their brush collection!

While you're shopping BH Cosmetics, I would highly recommend getting their Galaxy Chic Palette (swatches can be found here).



If you've "liked" Kitsch Vixen on Facebook, then you've probably seen me posting about the upcoming Sephora sale! From 07NOV13 to 11NOV13, Sephora Insiders will get 20% the entire site. I've already been planning out what I want to get during the sale. Anyone else?

Please let me know if you pick anything up an either current sale! I'll be posting more about the Sephora sale in a few days so stay tuned!



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