Orange you glad I didn't say Banana - Facial Peel Review!

Hi All! It's been a while since I've done a product review, don't you think? I recently bought this at home facial peel by Derma-E at Sprouts. I've been really into the natural skin care options lately so I have been testing out different brands to see which work best for my skin as I have extremely sensitive skin.

 I am not sure if you remember, but a few years ago, I tested out the Yes-to brand and it left me with facial burning for over two hours. I have not used that brand since. Instead, I tend to gravitate towards brands with ingredients that are easier to decipher and have not been subject to several negative reviews; ie, products with over 4 stars on multiple sources. I read several written reviews too in depth. Believe me, I make the time for that. I have hyper pigmentation with sensitive skin and I want my face to be the best it can be, not worsen.

When I bought the Derma-E Vitamin C Instant Radiance Citrus Facial Peel (now my punny title should make sense), I got it for 25% off during the vitamins and beauty sale. I love sales, so if I can ever find something cheaper than original price, I will go for it.

The look of the box

Unfortunately, upon opening the box, the cap was cracked and then fell off on the ground. I debated returning it, but the contents inside were alright and undamaged so I just kept it. The product also comes with a little instruction pamphlet and an application spoon. The spoon is also utilized as a way of removing the product while massaging the skin to promote blood flow. You want to put an even layer of the product on your skin and leave it on for 3-5 minutes before using the spoon to remove it.

Unfortunately, the lid was cracked :/

After leaving it on for five minutes, I did feel a slight tingle in my face. It was no where near as unbearable as other products like this I have tried in the past such as First Aid Beauty. While I liked the end result of First Aid Beauty, Derma-E is really good for those looking for a more eco-ethical brand and want to know exactly what they are putting on their face without googling long, complex names.

It's made with orange peels :)

Upon removing it, and finishing with a rose petal toner, my face had a very nice glow with it. I have really bad hyperpigmentation, but pairing Derma-E with Sephora's Glow peel pads made with naturally occuring glycolic acid from sugar cane has helped me obtain a glow like no other. I have been using the Derma-E mask weekly for a month now paired with the peel pads 2x a day and the hyperpigmentation is staring to fade away. This paring is highly recommended if you have sensitive skin and hyperpigmentation like I do. I am also not sure if this is related or not, but I have combination skin, that typically produces really oily T zone, and even that is starting to calm down some since using this pairing! So try it out, if you please! :)

That's all for this post! Let me know if you have any eco-friendly, or cruelty-free make-up brands you would like me to try and and let you know about!

 I just recently got the Beauty Blender Bounce™ Liquid Whip Long Wear Foundation in 4.40N (Deep with Neutral Undertones). I wanted to give that one a try first since I feel my shade changes in the summer months. However, I am coming from using Fenty Beauty 420, but have to stop since it is not working for me in the way it used to. The comparable color according to Sephora's Shade Finder is actually 4.10 C/O (Deep with Cool Olive Undertones)  - so I might test that next time after this runs out. After I use it for a couple of weeks, I'll be doing a review blog on that brand as well! :)

Stay tuned for some Seattle blogs, I am going for an expo. In the meantime, check out my photography website- I just launched it! There are never before seen photos from my time doing photography at Los Angeles Fashion Week F/W '19.

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Merry Christmas Photography!🎄🎄🎄

Hi all! Merry Christmas! I know that this post is a little bit late in the day, but I hope that everyone has had a wonderful day with their loved ones. I would like to share with you all a few of the photos I received from my first ever Christmas cosplay, so I hope you can enjoy that as a present from me. Eat, drink, and be merry as we end our Christmas night in the United States.  Also, just one more week left until 2018, so try your best to make 2017 end on a positive note. End this chapter of your life full of greatness! Without further ado, here are my Christmas Morrigan photos from various photographers during the Inland Empire Cosplay Gathering. I'll also post a couple of the photos I took at the gathering as well since I am a cosplaying photographer as well. 😊

Photography courtesy of Shameless Self Photography

Photography courtesy of Matthew Keiser

Photography courtesy of John Matter

Photography courtesy of Shameless Self Photography

Cosplayer - "Casual Goku" MVious Cosplay

Cosplayer - "Gijinka Ninetales" Kira Masquerade

Cosplayer - "Kuzan" Snazzy Jazzie

That's all for now you guys! I hope the photos were to your liking. If you guys ever need a photographer, I'm free for cosplay gatherings, photo meets, and conventions due to personal preference, but all private shoots start at 25$/hour, cheaper than most because I am just starting out. Anyway, I hope your Christmas is amazing and if I don't post before the new year have a happy start to your 2018!!💖💖 Let me know in the comments below how you intend to ring in the new year.

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Ready, Set, Shoot! 📸

Self-Portrait with my Samsung Galaxy S7 - I have since upgraded bags and my phone to S8+

Hi all! I hope everyone's weekend has treated them well! Today's blog is actually about my photography hobby. Last month, I purchased the Sony Alpha A6000 in black with some accessories to go along with it. I've also gotten very involved with the portrait photography world down in Southern California. By involved, I mean that I've been going to various "street meets. Street meets are typically informal photography gatherings where photographers and models meet and do collaborative shoots. Depending on the location of the meets, some models might do fire performances or smoke performing. It makes for really nice shots. I have a preference to attend street meets on the weekends because I am noticing that those tend to be at actual locations as opposed to the weekday meets that end up being on random streets. I avoid those mostly because they attract unwanted attention at times. My favorite street meet was actually mermaid themed at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro. I'm really excited to show you guys my photography. I will photograph anyone that asks nicely at conventions, gatherings,  or street meets. I am the furthest from being a photography elitist that only shoots well known people. Open minded photography is the best kind of photography and allows a photographer to grow their skills. I don't think I would ever consider myself as a pro even when I start doing photography as a side-business next year because that means I'll stop growing. Here are my main takeaways from being a photographer: mutual respect between fellow photographers is an amazing thing, network and get to know your models, never stop allowing room for growth, and most importantly of all, just have fun. Not everything has to be a competition. Now without further ado, here's some of my favorite shots from my A6000. All of these were edited in the Lightroom App with portraits occasionally also edited in Airbrush.

Taken at the L.A. Cosplay shootout - Model: @annjelife

Taken at the mermaid themed street meet  - Model: @jayylivefastdiepretty

Taken at the mermaid themed street meet -Model: @jesssickaaa

Taken at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, CA

Taken at Irvine Spectrum Center and edited with color pop

That's all for now everyone ! I hope you like my work! Let me know in the comments below if you want to see my editing process & I'll try and make it happen. Also, portraits vs landscape, which do you prefer? (In general, I mean).

Till next time!

-Hachi 

Great Things can Come in Small Sizes: Ontario California Comic Expo Review

Hi all! Happy first week of Fall!🍂 Fall/Autumn has got to be my favorite season of all. The weather cools, but isn't unbearably cold, the leaves come off the trees and I get to hear the crunch of them as I walk down the sidewalk, and I have even more cosplay/convention opportunities than I do during the summer.

Today's blog is actually about the most recent con that I went to, Ontario California Comic Expo. At this con, I was given the honor of being a cosplay guest, a panelist, and an artist alley vendor. While I have been on various panels in the past, the other titles were new to me. The convention was Saturday, September 23rd, and Sunday, September 24th from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. This was the very first year for OCCE, and they had a great turn out. The con was affordable, easily accessible, and also had free parking. The location was the Ontario Airport Hotel and Convention Center, and it was the perfect size for the con's inaugural year.

The Con flyer - picture courtesy of OCCE.

Both my friend Crystal, and I had booths as cosplay guests where we were allowed to sell items. Crystal chose to sell artwork that she does, which she takes commissions for, along with cosplay prints. She also had some of her cosplay on display, such as her renaissance Harley Quinn & various masks.  I loved her display, very professional looking with great attention to detail.

My friend's booth - Photo credit by Crystal Rose Creations

My friend's booth - Photo credit by Crystal Rose Creations

On the other hand, my booth was much simpler.  I sold cosplay prints, gave out Dum Dum Pops (they're free of major allergens), and did a raffle. My raffle is actually still ongoing because I am trying to raise enough money to donate partial proceeds to the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and the Children's Hospital, Los Angeles (CHLA). Once I figure out how to do PayPal entry fees, I will extend this raffle through Halloween. For the $5 raffle, the winner will receive an approx/ 54" x 60" Legend of Zelda blanket, and for the $1 raffle, the winner will receive a Legend of Zelda Bi-Fold Wallet. When I get that PayPal entry set up, the raffle will also be extended to my readers to enter. I am also taking commissions on both the blanket and the wallet.

I wasn't kidding when I said my booth was rather simple.

I cosplayed both days. Day one as Lucoa, but I forgot my horns, so that isn't pictured. On day two, I was both Bumblebee from the Teen Titans and Storm from X-Men. Also, I played a "cosplaying photographer" both days and went around the convention taking pictures of other cosplayers. I would like to share a couple pictures and the pages of the cosplayers pictured with you.

Me on Day Two as Bumblebee with my Sony Alpha a6000.

Here is cosplayer Adam Arroyo, known as Aadarthbane on Instagram, cosplaying as End Game Joker. He was a fun person to work with because he played the part of Mistah J very well and he was so kind. I would love to work with him again at a different convention.

Talk about some Bokehlicious bokeh. Photo by me on my photography ig page: Himawarisayscheese

Another cosplayer that I was able to work with is Stevie Belleperche, known as TheBoneBitch on Instagram. From one Harley Quinn cosplayer to another, she was such a great Harley Quinn. Her posing is top notch and she has such a photogenic aura about her. I would love to work with her again.  

See, the camera loves her! Photo by me.

At OCCE, the attendees, vendors, and guests were welcomed with cheerful staff volunteers. I mean, these staff volunteers looked like they loved what they do and that can greatly affect an outcome of how a convention will turn out. The wonderful staff that often passed out snacks and bottled water to the vendors and guests, while maintaining constant interaction with the attendees were a delight. I have honestly never seen such amazing hospitality by the staff at any convention I've been to like how I experienced here. This is coming from someone who goes to an average of ten conventions yearly. The pre-purchased badge attendees,vendors, and guest were given a high quality badge, that looked like a lot of work went into it. There were decent sized panels, and I was graciously offered to also be a panelist on a panel about the ins and out of cosplay for beginners. While this con might have been small, it generated nice sized crowds and was a decent price at $15/ day & $25/weekend. My favorite thing about this con was the staff, to be honest. They just made the whole con experience amazing. They were always checking on us guests to make sure that we were alright, and if we had to leave our booths, someone would come and stand-in for us. Safety was also their number one priority. So, if anyone had a problem with someone at the con hassling them, they would have their security escort them from the premises. I am so very glad that I was able to be a guest at this convention, and hope to return to other cons ran by this staff again.





Have any of you ever attended a brand new convention? What was your experience like? Let me know in the comments below. Also, on October 7th, I'll be at Grave Harvest, the Halloween con in Fullerton. It's going to be at the Hotel Fullerton, which has free parking as well. Grave Harvest is $10, online only as no tickets will be at the door. So if you love Halloween, I recommend checking this con out as well.

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Make-up or Make Believe: What's in My Make-up Bag?

Hi all! I have taken a new liking to make-up as of recent, and have been on a buying frenzy. I figured that a "what's in my make-up bag" style blog would be a fun one to do, so here goes nothing! I will show the contents of my make-up bag and discuss my most used and least used items and why.
I purchase a majority of my make-up from Sephora at JCP because I can earn rewards at JC Penney for buying items.

My original make-up bag was actually a gift with purchase from the Glendale Galleria, there is an ELF store. I am told it is one of three stores in California. I like ELF for some of their items in order to do a cheaper dupe of a more expensive item. Primarily, I use ELF for their make-up prepping items, rather than actual make-up. However, now I have a new bag that I purchased from Charlotte Russe, so that will begin the basis of this blog.

I purchased this bag for 1.99$ at Charlotte Russe from the clearance rack. I was so excited for it because I am a Sagittarius and I loved that it had the constellations on it. Without further ado, here's what's in my makeup bag! (Some things have changed since the photos were originally taken, so I will clarify that in the captions.

Is it true? ;)

These were my original highlight and concealers. I have ran out of the two toned Sephora contouring kit, so I just use the Nars and Sephora concealer in Toffee.

I have added a new foundation brush to my arsenal now. 

My powder form of contouring.

I never saw a real reason to buy expensive mascara, personally.

My favorite brand for the brows. <3

I have become partial to under the eye liner again, so that All Nighter Eyeliner is a godsend.

I would have to say my biggest obsession right now is lipsticks. I am not even sure why that is, but I have more than this now.

I hope everyone follows their arrows ---->

Well that's all for now, my friends! I will be updating this post with the newest editions to my makeup bag in the next few days, so stay tuned for that!.

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

TIBOS: Orange Toast

Hi all! Today's the first day I am doing a "Taking It Back Old School" recipe post. I was supposed to have two posts, this week, but my computer seems to hate me and keeps blue screening. While that is annoying, I wanted to get at least one of the posts up. The first recipe I decided to recreate is considered to be an appetizer rather than a breakfast item. It's called Orange Toast, and as the pictures below will show, it's really orange-y.

These are the basic ingredients needed for Orange toast:
Sugar
Orange Juice
Orange Extract (I just took it from a real orange)
Orange Zest
Bread
Butter

 

 First, I toasted my bread. I used French Toast bread by Kroger (which, if there are any vegans viewers reading, is also vegan friendly). I am somewhat low tech and cheap, so I do not have all of the fancy kitchen appliances as of yet. As a result, I toasted my bread in the oven at 350 degrees for 8 mins.

  

I let my butter soften, and added 1/2 teaspoon of orange juice. *There are no exact measurements in this recipe, so feel free to mess around with amounts - I also added more butter later.*

 

I squeezed a few drops of fresh orange juice (not the concentrated one on the top) into my butter.

 

Afterwards, I mixed it all together or as they called it in the book - "I creamed my butter and orange juices together"

 

I originally forgot that I had sugar packets, so I used about half a packet of sugar on my toast after removing the edges as stated in the recipe. This is also where the orange zest gets applied as well, after buttering your toast.

 

I then cut the pieces into ribbon-esque strips and they are best served hot.

 

I gave everything a taste to see how it is. I will do this at the end of every food post because it's not authentic otherwise. ;) 

 That's it for today's post! Overall, I would rate this a 6/10. I think the orange taste was a bit overpowering, and the sugar seemed a bit unnecessary to me. However, you guys might like it, so give it a try and let me know what you think of it!

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Poisonous Kisses to my little Ivy leaves

Hi all! So sorry for the delayed post. I've been waiting for my cosplay photos to show up before I posted a new blog post. I hope everyone has been well and had a happy February, especially that one extra day. Any Leap Year proposals out there? ;) My February went decently, but these last two months have gone by so fast that it's basically all a blur. I kind of wonder if the rest of the year will be that way. School has been slightly busy with group assignments, and we all know how annoying those can be. All you really need is a good partner. :) Well, let me stop rambling on and post some cosplay photos! These photos were done at Fairmount Park in Riverside, CA on Superbowl Sunday during a cosplay photoshoot day where cosplayers, models, and photographers collaborated with each other. At this photoshoot, I only cosplayed as Poison Ivy from Batman and these photos come from a photographer called James Ortiz and I'll post his info now. He can be found on IG under the name: fkimagery , and on Facebook as Photographer James Ortiz . He's a great photographer and really nice guy, and I recommend him if you're in the Inland Empire area. :) Here's some of the photos from this shoot:

My next major cosplay will be Tira's feathery costume from Soul Caliber V, along with minor projects. So look out for that in the upcoming months. :) Does anyone have any cosplay they are working on?  Let me know in the comments below.

Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Hiatus is Over! Life Update

Hi all!

   I've had a very long hiatus from blogging! Pretty all summer I abstained from my blogging page. So sorry for that! I have been very busy and life gets in the way. Mostly all summer I just worked and did appointments. I didn't travel much at all during the summer, but I did move to a different county in Southern CA. It was a goodbye to the desert and hello to suburbia. I had a pretty successful move, but I also have been feeling a bit unmotivated since moving which accounts for part of the reason I haven't been posting much. Also, we had a family emergency back home ,which resulted in new living situations my family, as well and saying goodbye to my childhood home. :/ We still live in the same hometown though.
   Aside from the bad parts of the summer, I also had some good moments. This summer I went to San Diego Comic-Con as a volunteer for the third year in a row and even made a new friend. :) I also went to Long Beach Comic Con, and Touhou Con before the summer officially ended. I was able to have outing with a handful of my friends both from my hometown and from undergrad/graduate school.
   I have a couple of conventions coming up in the next few months and am looking forward to them. I have various cosplay ideas planned out and can't wait to show them. Until then, I will post photos of my two most recent cosplay projects below. :)
   Another great thing is that I have finally ended a one year writing hiatus on my novel and have so far added six new pages to it. I hope to continue this roll in both my novel and on my blog.  As a treat, I will be posting up at least one blog a week to get back into the swing of things and this can range from craft projects, restaurant reviews, cosplay creations, novel excerpts, recipes, product reviews, or almost anything that you request. It's my way of making up for my lack of attentiveness :)

   Without further ado, here are my cosplay photos from San Diego Comic-Con, and Touhou Con.

Harley Quinn -1950s style

Genderbent Shizuo from Durarara

If anyone has suggestions for future blogs, please let me know in the comments below! :)


Till Next Time!

-Hachi

Spring Cons and Gatherings, galore!

Hi all! This is a bunch of photos from all of the cons/gatherings I attended in the spring. I went to the Riverside Cosplay Gathering, Long Beach Comic Expo, WonderCon, and FanimeCon in the spring. As you can see, I've been pretty busy, and summer will be just as busy. Especially if I do end up going to Anime Expo. I will for sure be at San Diego Comic Con though as I am a volunteer there. One thing I love about anime/comic cons and gatherings is that I always either make new friends/acquaintances or run into my old friends from elementary school, high school, and college. Especially at FanimeCon, that's darn well a school reunion if I have ever seen one! Anyhoo! Without further ado, here are my cosplay photos! *warning, there will be a lot lol* :D

The best photo ever, and knuckles went turbo

Dawn and Misty!

Have a ball!

Cosplay Photoshoot - Dawn

Cosplay Photoshoot - Dawn

Obligatory low quality mirror shot of the full Yoruichi cosplay

Kaname Chidori - Full Metal Panic

Looking silly with my elementary school friend cosplaying as Kakuzu from Naruto

Peaceee

Future Cosplay!!! Nel from Bleach

Well I hope you enjoyed my cosplay spam! Enjoy your day! If you're a cosplayer, tell me what your favorite cosplay you have ever done was. Or! If you're not a cosplayer, but are interested in it, who would you dress up as?


Till Next Time!

-Hachi