Addiction by Ayako, My Picks, Review, Swatch & FOTD

Thanks to everyone for good luck wishes yesterday. Today I learned that I have the job! It is very exciting and the change is coming as early as September, that is if I can come to terms with the current employee. More detail about that soon. Today I went to the grocery store, grabbed a champagne, came home to see that hubby is not feeling well. Oh well, celebration has to wait. On a side note I am super behind answering comments, reading blogs, leaving comments, answering some e-mails. Please bare with me, exciting times come with lots of things to do. I will try my best to catch up soon.

I am going on showing the pieces I picked up during my Japan trip in April. Most of my haul was brushes but I couldn't resist some pretty make-up neither. I have reviewed my picks from THREE here. Today I would like to show you what I picked from Addiction Beauty. I own a few of their eye shadow quads (reviewed here and here) and one of the limited edition palettes (reviewed here). I personally love the color stories, bright matte shades, crazy colors like red, yellow in a wearable combinations. But as well as the quality goes, the things I have picked up online up to now have been hit or miss. I have one more quad in Es Paradis which never made to the blog because of fall out and very sheer, not buildable shades. See, this is the dilemma of the make-up addict, everyone was raving about their singles and blushes so I had to try them. Here is a palette I put together... and here are my thoughts about the shades I picked up.

Addiction by Ayako, My Picks

Now first I would like to tell the setting. Me and hubby met with Toshiya (@fudejapan at Instagram) and had some coffee. After chatting, he kindly offered to take us to the Hakuhodo Flagship Store in Tokyo. It was raining cats and dogs so we walked like a km on the streets with our funny umbrellas which we purchased in Akihabara the day before. Needless to say I went overboard at Hakuhodo Store and it took us almost an hour. Then we walked back, it was almost 6 pm and we haven't eaten anything since breakfast. It was when I had the opportunity to check Addiction Counter. 

I started swatching all the shades, they were providing me with lots of cleanser. I was so hungry but I didn't want to pass on Addiction. I swatched and swatched, picked up two shades, then changed my mind. My stomach was talking too loud, my brain was useless. I picked up a nail polish, wanted a lipstick too, but I was not sure which one so the ladies told me there is another counter at the airport. I agreed, paid and we headed together for dinner. I was so hungry I couldn't even go for tax-free.

Oh the end of the story? There was no counter at the airport, at least not at the one we were, so I ended up with no lipstick for this look but here is how my palette looks like...

Addiction by Ayako, Eyeshadows Horizon, Flash Back, Blush Romantic, Coral Garden

I picked up 052P Horizon because I wanted a lilac eye shadow for so long and the finish of this one was so beautiful, especially under store light. It basically winked at me. 030 ME Flash Back is a lovely metallic pewter. I thought I would get much use out of this one especially since it is a little warmer than the other pewters I have. Blush 15 Romantic was the coolest blush color, the others were a little warm for me so despite the frosty finish, I went for it. I wanted to get one of the Blush Mixes, since I had a cool tone in the palette, I thought I should go for the coral so I can use this palette during my travels.

Swatch: Addiction by Ayako, Eyeshadows Horizon, Flash Back, Blush Romantic, Coral Garden

Now on to what worked and what not... 

Eye Shadow in Horizon is beautiful on the eyes, the photos don't do it a justice since they are taken by day light. But... The fall out from this one is horrible. Even if you do your base later, during the day the glitter goes everywhere on your face. It is really no fun. I doubt I will ever use it again. A definite miss for me.

In-action: Addiction by Ayako, Eyeshadow 052P Horizon

Here is the full make-up, you can see the product list at Instagram. I am wearing Romantic Blush from the same palette on the cheeks, which I really like. It is no where frosty on the cheeks as it swatches. It applies beautifully and stays much longer than any of my other blushes. A big thumbs up from me for the blush, a hit!

On this FOTD I tried something which I don't usually do, a bitten lip effect by dabbing Sisley Berry (reviewed here) on Tom Ford Pussycat (reviewed here). Can you see it or am I imagining things? 

FOTD: Addiction by Ayako, Eyeshadow 052P Horizon, Blush Romantic

Now onto eye shadow in Flash Back. That one is an instant hit. I love how it applies and how long it stays as fresh as newly applied. It is a one shade wonder, all by itself, it has enough complexity to wear. Definitely a hit.

In-action: Addiction by Ayako, Eyeshadow 030ME Flash Back

Here is the full look with Tom Ford Electric Pink on the lips and Addiction Romantic on the cheeks again. I love Romantic but Blush Mix in Coral Garden left me cold. It is very stony, almost no color pay off, the highlighter doesn't show up, another miss for me.

All in all 2 hits; Flash Back, Romantic, two misses; Coral Garden, Horizon. 50%... What about the nail polish?

FOTD: Addiction by Ayako, Eyeshadow 030ME Flash Back, Blush Romantic

Addiction Nail Polish 041 Super Moon: Gorgeous color, foil finish which I love love love. The shimmer is so complex, it flashes in so many colors, it is a joy to watch...

... But, it dries very very slow and even after 1 day, the tips wear off. So frustrated because almost all the japanese nail polishes (RMK, Suqqu etc.) last a week on me and this one is no where near that. Big sigh, another miss...

Swatch: Addiction Nail Polish 041 Super Moon

Final thoughts: All in all it was not such a successful shopping at Addiction Counter. Three misses and two hits. I blame my empty stomach! Next time I will plan more time and go there after lunch.

Have you tried anything from Addiction by Ayako? Any recommendations?

Disclaimer: The products in this post were purchased by me.