NEWネイル☆

I got my nails done today〜(＾ω＾)✧

I went for something tropical with hibiscus, which honestly feels like my default at this point lol.

But like… can you blame me? It’s always so cute〜！(´艸｀)

While I was there, I had a mimosa〜♡ The flavor was pineapple cranberry, which explains the color… but all I could think about was how it looked like the drink Christian was served in Midsommar (゜∀゜)

If you know, you know。笑笑

Gloss Hunt Begins〜Ulta Edition♪

I saw this BURST cover from 1999 and became obsessed with the model’s look〜〜(☆ω☆) Especially her lip color.

I had the genius idea (笑) to go to Ulta and ask one of the staff what lip combo they thought would help me recreate the look〜♪

And here’s what she came up with:

When she said she thought the color under the frosting was purple, I was like… EH!? Σ(･ω･ﾉ)ﾉ！

Gyaru lip colors have always been nude (aka concealer lips), white, or candy pink系💄

Some '90s gals leaned into the frosty trend at the time, but I really didn't expect purple. That was a new one for me〜

でも！I was down to try it〜！(｀ω´)ﾉ

I didn’t do a full face of makeup yet（ゴメンネ〜）, so maybe the whole vibe would be different if I went all out... but I was actually really happy with how it looked!!

I never thought purple would suit me. (〃▽〃)

The MAC Frosting gloss is super pretty and has this lovely iridescent vibe✨

...But it doesn’t quite have that sharp white frost like the model in the mag (；▽；)

To be fair, the Ulta girl did warn me about that lol〜

So I might still have to go on a lil hunt for a more 白っぽい overlay gloss…でも！

For now, I actually love how it turned out〜(人´∀｀)♡

And just now〜I had the idea of bringing the same photo to Sephora to see what they suggest…
Might be fun, right? A little lip color adventure〜笑♡
Who knows〜maybe I’ll find the perfect combo next time (｀・ω・´)ゞ

アメリカのTanning Bed ☀︎

 I went to the tanning salon today〜

(I don't know how other gals take such cute pics with a full face of make in the bed... I always sweat like a hog, 笑)

I've only gotten into tanning beds recently, and I tried my first one in Japan, so doing one in America was a new experience. 

The beds in Japan must not be as strong because I usually stay in them for about thirty minutes, but the one I used today was 15 minutes max!

I was so reticent to try a tanning bed for so long. I swore by self-tanners, but it's hard to beat the real thing... (*ﾉωﾉ)

Tokyoが恋しいの…♡

Good morning〜！

It’s currently 6:26 AM, and I’ve been up since 3… (；´Д｀)

I don’t know why, but I just can’t shake this jet lag〜ネムイよ〜

I already miss Tokyo… (；＿；)♡

Of course, it’s nice to see my family〜でもね、when I’m not hanging out with my sisters, I catch myself wishing I was back home. "Home" as in Tokyo. 

It’s kinda crazy for me to even call anywhere “home.” I half expected I would just be nomadic, moving from country to country for the majority of my life. 

When someone would ask, "Where's home for you?" I always defaulted to Florida since that’s where I was born, but honestly it never felt like a true home... (;_;)

Living in Tokyo is the first time in my life that I’ve really felt like I've found my place〜

やっと居場所見つけたってカンジ… if that makes sense. 

HELLO★WORLD！

In the style of my gal foremothers, I wanted to have a more... proper diary blog.

My main blog (lexiepaprika) kinda became a place to post my "serious" works, and it feels too late to go back now, 笑。

I can't promise you what the quality of this blog will beけど、after a pretty big gyaru ego death and then feeling re-inspired by some great friends, I think I'll give this thing another go〜！

This "thing" being my gyaru life, I guess. Not that it ever truly stopped.

なんていうか、on my other blog, I mainly post longer-form and theory-based analyses of gyaru.

でもここでは、もっとリアルな生活とかギャルの体験を書きたいな〜って思ってるのだ☆彡

Anyway, I'm currently in Florida visiting some family before starting a new job in July.

I got some press-ons from Ulta and a liquid eyeshadow〜♪ Both in blue.

I did my usual make with the new eyeshadow〜

I've been having a hard time finding the right shade of blue（あるよね、そういうの…）

Either I find one that's too dark or so light that you can barely see it. 

でもでも！このパウダーブルーはちょうどいい感じで最高だった〜 ヽ(⌒∇⌒)ﾉ

Well, that's all I have for now〜！

This format is super weird and unfamiliar for me (・・;)

I think I feel more confident when I'm writing academically, だけど〜 this is a fun practice.

It's like having a virtual diary... that everybody can read, wwww (*￣▽￣)ノ~~ ♪