My first article for Cosmopolitan Japan

My first article as contributor for Cosmopolitan Japan is now up on their website! Introducing 5 bold lip colors from 5 different brands for an easy fall makeup look. The article is in Japanese, but there are photos and links for all the lip colors I recommend. You can read the article here on Cosmopolitan Japan.

この度、コスモポリタンジャパンオンラインの記事を書かせていただきました！「サマンサ麻里子が教える、ポイントで取り入れる簡単モードメイク」で、お気に入りのリップを５色紹介しています。コスモポリタンはずっと読んでいて、こういう形でお仕事ができて、本当に夢がまた一つ叶いました！こちらで是非チェックして見て下さい！

Matte liquid lipsticks

My recent obsession: liquid lipsticks with a matte finish. I always thought lipsticks were the only option for anything close to a matte lip color, but these are just revolutionary. Japanese girls tend to gravitate towards really glossy lip colors, but I'm a "matte" girl through and through. 

Some brands I picked up: Maybelline New York, Revlon, Limecrime and M.A.C. My favorite shade is the Limecrime Velvetine in Buffy, but I think the Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid has the best staying power. And the most important thing - it is SO easy to apply! No need for a lip brush, allowing for vivid lips on the go. 

Do you use liquid lipsticks? Let me know in the comments!

最近ハマっているアイテム：マットの仕上がりのリキッドリップカラー。マット仕上げのリップカラーをつくるには、口紅しかないと思っていたので、リキッドリップは本当にコスメの中で大革命です。日本人の女性はグロス系のリップを仕勝ちなのですが、私はマットに仕上がるコスメが好きです。

ピックアップしたブランドは、メイベリン、レブロン、ライムクライムとマック。一番お気に入りの色はライムクライムのベルベティーンでBuffyです。でも、発色がよく、長持ちするのはメイベリンのビビッドマットリキッド達なんです。そして一番大事なのは、とても塗りやすいこと！リップブラシも必要なしなので、急ぎの時でもすぐにビビッドなリップカラーをつけることができますよ！

リキッドリップカラーは使ったことありますか？コメント欄で教えて下さい♪

happy valentine's day

It's Sunday, it's Valentine's Day, and I'm getting ready for my day with these makeup essentials. NARS is always an absolute favorite, but I love Maybelline for eyes and the NAKED 2 eyeshadow palette makes a perfectly subtle smokey eye. When I want something different with my eyeliner, I go with my red RMK liquid liner. And a new favorite of mine is this YSL Lumiere Divine highlighting face powder. It sets my foundation just right.

I'll be getting lunch with some of my girlfriends for Japan Restaurant Week (sort of like Dine LA, where participating restaurants have special courses prepared for lunch and dinner). I'll be posting photos later :) I hope ya'll enjoy your Valentine's Day as well! 

今日は日曜日、バレンタインデー。待ちに待った日なので、メイクに気合いが入ります♡ NARSは前から好きなブランドなのですが、アイメイクはMaybelline が好きです。やりすぎないスモーキーアイはUrban Decay のNAKED 2 のアイシャドーパレットがオススメですよ！アイラインを違う色にしたい時は、RMKの赤いリキッドラインを引いたりします。そして、最近気に入っているのはYSL ルミールディヴァインシリーズのフェースパウダーです！ベースをちゃんとセットしてくれてる気がします。

今日は、Japan Restaurant Week に参加しているレストランで、友達とランチしてきます！またあとで写真載せます！皆さんも良いバレンタインデーを♡

daily beauty essentials

Eos Travel Size Everyday Hand Lotion, Maybelline The Nudes Eye Shadow Palette,

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, La Roche-Posay Effaclar BB Blur, 

zero UV Round Circle Cat Eye Sunglasses

Over the past few years, I've gotten into a guilty habit of trying new beauty products and not finishing them because a) it didn't work for me or b) I found something better. I think I'm getting better about it especially when it comes to skincare products, since I want to make the most of the money I spent on it (good skincare ain't cheap!). But I did pick up a few drugstore products that I've been wanting to try, and they're proving to be good enough to stay in my makeup bag, at least for a while. A heavenly-scented hand lotion in a cute, round bottle that's perfect for traveling; a $10 eye shadow palette with all nude and brown shades imaginable with easy application; and the most amazing BB cream/ foundation that will glide across your skin and cover most blemishes and imperfections. The Shu Uemura is undoubtedly a staple in my makeup bag, since I stopped using mascara but need a little oomph in my lashes. And because we always need a cute pair of cat-eye sunglasses :) 

私は、常に新しい美容グッズを集めて使ってみるのが大好きです。でも、結構最後まで使わないことが多いので、少し控えるようには心がけているのですが。。最近、ドラッグストアのブランドで、興味があった商品をいくつか購入して、今のところとても使いやすく、気に入っています。ピンクの丸いボトルのハンドクリームはお出かけ用にぴったりで、とても使いやすいです。メイベリンのアイシャドーパレットはヌード系の色が全部そろっていて、アプリケーションもスムーズ。ラロッシュポゼのBBクリームファンデーションはびっくりするくらい塗り心地が良く、カバー力もいい感じ！忙しい朝には持ってこいのベースメークです。Shu Uemuraのビューラーは欠かさず使っていて、キャットアイのサングラスは可愛いから♪

summer is almost here

The season for tank tops, festive sunglasses, sandals and bright colors is just around the corner. This palm tree clutch from Dezso is one of my favorites, and I'll probably be using it to carry around all my summertime essentials. And I can't wait to rock these cute sunglasses from zero UV, an affordable and stylish sunglasses brand from Orange County, California (my hometown!). Get yours here :)

Anyways, hope everyone had a great weekend! I worked Friday through Sunday, so tomorrow (Monday) is my Saturday. What a weird feeling! Cheers to the weekend!


５月に入って、東京はすぐ夏日和になりました。タンクトップやサンダル、サングラスやネオンカラーの季節がやってきましたね！夏になると、お気に入りのDezsoのクラッチを愛用しています。必要な小物を持ち歩くのにいい！あと、この可愛いサングラスを夏コーデに取り入れるのが楽しみです♪zero UVのサングラスだよ！他のスタイリッシュなサングラスはこちらをチェック←

my favorite Maybelline eye-makeup products

Happy Thursday, and TGI-almost-Friday. I'm sorry I have been a bit MIA about posting new content and responding to comments the past few days.. I read all of your thoughtful feedback and will be responding to them very soon! 

These days, I'm addicted to my Maybelline Japan eye makeup products that I mentioned in this post from the Maybelline Japan blogger event. I received 2 Ever Sharp Liners in black and brown, which are waterproof pencil liners. The great thing about these is you can sharpen the ends just by twisting the cap! I stopped using pencil or kohl liners because that was a huge hassle for me, but now I'm back in the game. These really don't smudge at all. And the last product is the Lashionista Care+, which is just like the regular Lashionista, but comes right off with warm water (no rubbing required!), and is also a 2-in-1 in that it takes care of your lashes while you put it on during the day. My lashes look long and healthy when I apply this. Love it!

最近、メーベリンのウオータープルーフのアイメイクにハマってます。メーベリンの新商品説明イベントで頂いたEver Sharp Linerのブラックとブラウン、そしてLashionista Care+ マスカラは毎日愛用しています！アイライナーは全然にじまないし、キャップをまわしたら、先が再びけずられる仕組みになっています！本当に使いやすいです。あと、Lashionista Care+もにじまないし、お湯で簡単にオフできます。しかも、つけながらまつげゲアができるように、美容液も入っていますよ。まさにperfect itemです。Maybelline,大好き！

Maybelline Japan Blogger Event

Tonight was the Maybelline New York Japan's new product presentation for bloggers, which took place at Idol in Tokyo. It was a fantastic event, and I was able to see and meet so many of Tokyo's finest bloggers. Maybelline Japan presented the new Lashionista Care+ mascara, which was made specifically for Japanese women who have trouble keeping their lashes curled and lengthened. This mascara is also unique in that it is also a treatment for your lashes. Basically, a brilliant 2-in-1 mascara. Also, their Ever Sharp Liner seems amazing from what I saw and tried out - it's a pencil liner that glides on smoothly, and has a built in sharpener in the cap so all you have to do is twist to sharpen. All the gusts received these new products, so I can't wait to try mine!

These lovely ladies and I had a great time checking out the products, posing for photos and meeting one another. It was great catching up with Youtuber and blogger Rinrin Doll, and meeting Youtuber Laura Ribeiro, and model and blogger Julia Sumire, to name a few. Everyone was so cute :)

今夜は、メーベリンニューヨークの新商品プレゼンテーションイベントに参加しました。東京でのたくさんのブロガーが集まっていて、とても楽しいイベントでした。Lashionista Care+ やEver Sharp Liner などのプレゼンがあり、ゲストの皆さんもギフトとして頂くことができました！使ってみるのが楽しみです。リンリンドールやラウラちゃん、ジュリアちゃんなどのブロガーやユーチューバーに会えてよかったです！みんな可愛かったな〜。

makeup routine

As mentioned in my last post, here is an overview of my makeup routine. I know my cosmetics brands are all over the place, but they all work together to create my look. 

Clockwise from the top left:

 Canmake eyebrow shadow 

Canmake highlighter

Sephora blush in orange punchy sunbaked 

K-Palette 0 teka powder (for oil control) 

Nivea Face Moist Essence Cream SPF 50+ 

Se medicated concealer 

Laura Mercier mineral foundation primer 

Canmake Perfect Stylist Eyes eyeshadow palette 

Powder FX powder foundation 

KATE Super Sharp Liner (liquid) 

Maybelline Mega Plush Volum' Express mascara (waterproof) 

Canmake Colouring Eyebrow (eyebrow mascara) 

I think my advice when doing makeup is 1) always wear SPF moisturizer and 2) simple is better. I only use a thin layer of concealer and foundation, just enough to cover any redness or blemishes. And I never go overboard with the liquid eyeliner because that can be too harsh. The finished product is what you see in the photos from my previous post. I love being able to use both Japanese and American makeup products - it's fun to combine and experiment with the products. :) Hope this helps! 

Love,

Samantha Mariko