Three Mesmerizing Performance Eyeliner Pencil Swatches

After swatching the 2016 winter LE Addiction The Eyeshadows, I also popped over to the Three counter to check out the full lineup of Mesmerizing Performance Eyeliner Pencils. I'd already swatched the first three LE colors, so I didn't touch them again. 

Here are the colors and their cryptic names.

***Screencap from Three Cosmetics JP. All other photos taken in indoor lighting without flash.

Coffret D'Or 2016 Fall and Winter LE Premium Stay Rouge Swatches

I totally forgot about these Coffret D'Or Premium Stay Rouge 2016 Fall limited edition releases, which is why I have blog friends like Citrine who pokes at me :D

Anyway, these new ones are back to being unscented, but the names stuck (I think they used to not have names until this summer's releases, which I still haven't gotten around to reviewing yet, ha!). The six fall LE colors are: PK-308 Apricot Pink, RD-220 Orchid Red, OR-117 Mandarin Orange, WN-74 Cassis Wine (inspired by creme de cassis, a regional specialty of Burgundy), BR-76 Marron Brown, and BE-229 Maple Beige.

***Screenshot from Coffret D'Or JP.

Addiction 2016 Winter Limited Edition Swatches

When my visiting brother wanted to wander Ginza earlier in the week, I happily obliged. Because being in Ginza means I'll get to stop by the Mitsukoshi cosmetics counters ^.^ 

Having skipped the 2016 Fall limited edition colors of Addiction The Eyeshadows, I went straight for the counter looking for the five new LE colors as part of the winter collection North Star. I wonder why there isn't a number attached to these shade names but nonetheless, they are (from left to right) Midnight Sun, Ice Hotel, Swan Song, Red Lily, and Old Town.

All pictures taken in indoor lighting without flash.

Zojo-Ji, Minato, Tokyo

Another fine attraction in the neighborhood I'd neglected to post about is Zojo-ji, yes, that famous Buddhist temple next door to Tokyo Tower.

Let's just say I've been behind on things, because hubby and I have actually been there a few times, a couple of times on our own, then with my family last December, then the last time with mum and aunt-in-law just this past April. The below photos are from both visits, so if you notice there are no leaves on the branches in one photo and then greenery in the next, that's why :D

It was a gorgeous spring day when we walked mum and aunt around the neighborhood then to Zojo-ji.

Meiji Jingu, Shibuya, Tokyo, Part II

It's been a while since hubby and I last saw Meiji Jingu, since 2010 when my sister and brother visited us in Yokohama! So we took mum and aunt-in-law there when they were here, and joining us was mum-in-law's old college roommate, Mrs. H.

Harajuku Station on a cloudy, cool day.

Suqqu Extra Glow Lipstick EX-01 and EX-02 Swatches

While I was out in Ginza swatching Lunasol Feathery Smoky Eyes, I also stopped by the Suqqu counter to swatch the Extra Glow Lipsticks in EX-01 蜜苺 (Mitsuichigo) and EX-02 蜜柿 (Mitsugaki). Why only these two? Because from past experience, the LE's are the more interesting ones.

***Screencaps from Suqqu JP.

Lunasol Feathery Smoky Eyes Swatches

I suppose it's been 2 months since I swatched the Isetan Exclusives Lunasol Feathery Smoky Eyes (EX01, and Full Glamour Lips EX08, will review both later). So two weeks ago when a reader asked if I'd gone back to see the regular lineup again, I was ready to give the collection a second chance.

Did I change my mind about this collection? Sadly, NO :(

***Screencaps from Lunasol JP.

The Temple Next Door, Seisho-ji, Minato, Tokyo

Last August when hubby and I first arrived into Tokyo and spent the weekend exploring our neighborhood, I posted on our neighborhood shrine, Atago Jinja. It took me a whole year later to realized I'd completely neglected to post on the neighborhood temple also. Actually, I should say temples, because there are a few, but the biggest one is Seisho-ji (not to be confused with Senso-ji in Asakusa).

My humble opinion is that Seisho-ji stands out for the reasons below:
- It's sandwiched in between 2 giant buildings, the Atago Mori building and the Atago Forest Tower where our friends live.
- There's also a board outside the temple gate where they write a weekly poem kinda-sorta in the form of waka.
- The temple tolls its bell at 6pm everyday and you can hear the bell blocks away!

Atago-jinja, Minato, Tokyo, Part II

Here are more photos of Atago-jinja in our neighborhood, courtesy of several people, including my family who visited last December and mum and aunt-in-law who visited this past April. 

Senso-ji, Asakusa, Tokyo, Part III

In April my in-laws came for a quick visit, and we took them on a comprehensive Tokyo tour, which of course includes Senso-ji. 

Those huge round things are senbei! And yes, we briefly entertained the thought of getting pulled around the area on the rickshaw but in the end decided against it.

Given it was April, the place was super crowded. Actually, what am I talking about? Senso Ji is always super crowded regardless of time of the year.

Here's mum and dad visiting this past December.