https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine daily 0.75 2026-03-16 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/nano-microbladed-brows-fading-healing-guide monthly 0.5 2026-03-16 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/does-permanent-makeup-look-natural monthly 0.5 2026-03-01 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/does-microblading-hurt monthly 0.5 2026-03-01 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/microblading-downtime monthly 0.5 2026-03-07 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/find-the-best-microblading-studio-in-nyc-9-things-to-look-for monthly 0.5 2026-03-01 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/how-long-does-microblading-really-last monthly 0.5 2026-02-26 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/microblading-regrets-why-they-happen-and-how-to-avoid-them monthly 0.5 2026-02-26 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/how-to-choose-a-microblading-artist-nyc monthly 0.5 2026-02-24 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/microblading-vs-nanoblading-vs-powder-brows-guide monthly 0.5 2026-02-23 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/is-your-skincare-routine-affecting-your-microblading-what-to-know-before-after-pmu monthly 0.5 2026-02-20 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/lip-blushing-healing-day-by-day-guide monthly 0.5 2026-02-19 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/my-microblading-looks-terrible monthly 0.5 2026-02-20 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/brow-loss-solutions monthly 0.5 2026-02-12 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/the-complete-lip-blushing-guide monthly 0.5 2026-02-27 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/why-get-touchups-every-6-months monthly 0.5 2026-02-04 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/why-pay-more-for-microblading monthly 0.5 2026-02-20 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/how-top-microblading-artists-find-your-best-brow-shape monthly 0.5 2026-02-23 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/retinol-before-microblading-stop-restart-timeline monthly 0.5 2026-01-27 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/the-complete-guide-to-permanent-makeup-removals-and-corrections monthly 0.5 2026-02-20 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/best-practices-permanent-makeup-pre-and-post-care monthly 0.5 2026-01-27 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/what-is-nanoblading-exploring-its-rise-in-beauty-trends monthly 0.5 2026-02-23 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/different-approaches-to-microblading-the-le-kitsune-approach monthly 0.5 2026-01-27 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/the-microblading-healing-process-for-the-hybrid-nano-amp-powder-brow-techniques-what-to-expect-key-stages-amp-timeline monthly 0.5 2026-02-22 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/rfmicroneedlingvivace monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1675904969561-FUMY60LY2HD332SJ7OFV/unsplash-image-bE4QK-Df1Fo.jpg little mag - VIVA VIVACE RF Microneedling! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/f773ab7d-b07d-4241-a1f7-ce2de26a1978/20230208_174431-COLLAGE.jpg little mag - VIVA VIVACE RF Microneedling! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1437de3e-99ae-4e44-b72c-0dc48a5fb28d/unsplash-image-SvWhF_P8lho.jpg little mag - VIVA VIVACE RF Microneedling! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-30 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/12002348-e2b5-4ad2-89f7-e4bbc8409e8b/IMG_9173.jpg little mag - The Rising Popularity of Pixel Brows - It has many names. It’s a style of brows that’s growing in popularity, and we’ll discuss why that’s the case today. Here are some notable traits about this style of brow: 1. It employs the machine (not manual, aka Microblading) 2. It’s a powder look (not stroke-focused, like the Microblading trend of the last few years) 3. It’s transparent. The point of this style is that you “see-through” the brow. It’s not opaque. Here is a list of why it’s so appealing: 1. It’s good for any type of skin. Oily, combo, weak, thick, fickle skin. 2. It looks soft, but lasts long. It doesn’t need to be a harsh-looking brow. this used to have to be a trade-off for longevity, but that’s not the case anymore. 3. It’s easy to correct down the road. Because of its transparent nature, it leaves room for error and is more forgiving, as opposed to super opaque, old-school styles of PMU (permanent makeup). The technique is what allows the needle to “skip” along the skin, depositing pigment in a “pixel”-like form, allowing space between the dots. This produces a soft effect and outcome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1606295433441-3L6LTWIUYNSXYUI0B9SM/IMG_9175+2.JPG little mag - The Rising Popularity of Pixel Brows - Hybrid Controls the areas of concentration, this technique allows for an even brow while still appearing soft. You can cover holes and patchy brows, intensify the tail and soften the front of the brows. This technique is also great for color correction, as you can effectively mask old tints (pink and ashy hues) without making the brows feel heavy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/5e2bd266-1c75-4850-988f-de471785a36c/image-asset+%281%29.jpg little mag - The Rising Popularity of Pixel Brows - Good news. The healing process also tends to be less dramatic with this technique because of the minimal trauma compared to the other techniques. As usual, cleaning the skin of the lymphatic fluids the first day, then keeping the area moist for wet healing is ideal, unless advised otherwise. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-29 monthly 0.5 2025-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/b549e9f0-5062-4b72-9cf4-bc63218940ca/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Lockdown Lessons & Life Hacks Pretty little kitsune creepin’ out during lockdown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/dde22d71-4a3c-4164-b318-d910a0e0b395/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Lockdown Lessons & Life Hacks - As threats of another lockdown loom ahead of us, here are some ideas (since, you know, we’re pros at this now and we can be anticipatory instead of reactionary ;). Let’s take note of how we’ve responded to the pandemic so far, take stock of what’s worked, what hasn’t, where we can make adjustments, and where we can keep pressing. You got this! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/14e98ed3-f245-49d7-9d70-2c8edba4f224/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Lockdown Lessons & Life Hacks - Get out there. Nature is healing. Do a day trip. Pack a coffee, sandwich, and journal, soak in the smells and the sense memory and tuck it away for a rainy day. Go solo or go with a friend. This is something that I’ve done during quarantine that’s “worked” for me and not only sustained me, but I grew from it. I gained peace. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/0d220b29-32d1-47fe-9eab-038c3df9302c/image-asset+%281%29.jpeg little mag - Lockdown Lessons & Life Hacks - What hasn’t worked for me is not moving. I realized that I need to implement a regimen that will allow me to keep consistency. A friend mentioned creating an accountability workout crew. They zoom and take classes together for 30 minutes, 3-4 times a week. She’s in the best shape of her life. vs me: I’m more lethargic, more prone to eating unhealthy food and being unproductive. It becomes a vicious cycle, very quickly. I prioritize the things that matter to me, so this should be no different. Our bodies take care of us when we take care of it, right? :) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/17c74073-922d-4ca5-8e83-06b88fbcab96/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Lockdown Lessons & Life Hacks - The bathroom has become a sacred space during quarantine. It’s the space where I eradicate the evil germies, where I’ve rediscovered the pleasures of “self-care,” (aka washing my face), and learned that I become a new person after showering. A friend said “every time I shower now, I get compliments!” Lol. This is the new reality. Jeans? Formal wear. Shower? Big achievement. Top bun? Uniform. I kinda don’t hate it, TBH. Let’s make the most of it! Tip: I made a pretty little visual space for my newly discovered skincare (wherever I could squeeze them onto the tight real estate in my bathroom). I found a pretty mirror tray that was under-utilized elsewhere and put my new products on display in a mildly OCD, #satisfying manner. I realized that this nominal effort made me enjoy using the products more—like I’m shopping in my own bathroom. Lol. I gotta get enjoyment where I can, ya know what I mean jelly bean? Throw a little flower bud vase on there. Go cray cray. #spoilyourself https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1605678054788-P39KS0CRSAFM7W9LCA0X/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Lockdown Lessons & Life Hacks - Pray. I found that I’ve come to know my clients more during Covid than any other time, though I’ve known many for years. There’s nothing to hide anymore for any of us. No more faking the “I’m doing well!” charade that we all do to a certain extent. Life’s been hard. It’s been a tough year. It’s about loving and supporting one another and acknowledging that we need it now more than ever. So first, take care of yourself. REST. Then, call a friend, write a note, shoot up a prayer. People aren’t necessarily doing alright as you presume, and sometimes just knowing that someone cares is enough to boost their day in just the way that they need. Most likely, it’ll come back around to you just when you need it. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-28 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1605065894466-XFFLK8CLN1RC4JWNJYKK/image-asset.jpeg little mag - My YesStyle Skincare Haul - Last week, I unveiled 12 products from my recent skincare haul from YesStyle.com. This week, I’m going to go over my quick thoughts on each one, which ones I found clutch, and the ones I think you can do without. I compiled a little video with a sampling of my using the products. I hope you find it helpful! It should provide an idea on how to apply the products, in what order, massage style, duration, etc. I find that most people usually don’t do enough, thus the demo. They usually just slap the product on and walk away. It actually makes a difference in how you use the product! I hope you find your skin happier from my tips, friends! Here’s the comprehensive list from last week: 1. Rohto Mentholatum - Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion 170ml - Light 2. THE FACE SHOP - Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil 3. SOME BY MI - AHA, BHA, PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner 150ml 4. Dear, Klairs - Supple Preparation Facial Toner - 2 Types- Type with Essential Oils 5. Heimish - All Clean Balm 120ml 6. COSRX - Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence 7. Beauty of Joseon - Glow Serum 8. Beauty of Joseon - Dynasty Cream 9. COSRX - Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask 10. Rohto Mentholatum - Melano CC Vitamin C Essence 11. MACQUEEN - Waterproof Pen Eyeliner (2 Colors) 12. Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1605066223327-B49O72Z4NNLMMQROD3UF/image-asset.jpeg little mag - My YesStyle Skincare Haul - Here are the ones that I found myself going back to and speculate will incorporate into my routine, moving forward: 1. THE FACE SHOP - Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil ($14.50): I LOVE the smell of this stuff! It’s super light so it gets to work quickly but it does an awesome job breaking everything down, including my super waterproof eyeliner. Definitely using this every day. 2. Heimish ($17) - All Clean Balm 120ml: Much more decadent of a first cleanse than the aforementioned oil, but I anticipate grabbing this on super dry, winter days when my skin needs extra love. It breaks down (you have to massage and melt it into the skin) into a beautiful consistency and feels nourishing on the skin while also removing completely, without residue. 3. SOME BY MI - AHA, BHA, PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner 150ml ($15): I didn’t expect much from this (the packaging is underwhelming lol), but I found myself reaching for this every day! It leaves your skin gently exfoliated, baby-soft and nourished at the same time. Definitely a new favorite. 4. COSRX - Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence ($19): I love me some snail products, and this was no exception. It just has the quintessential tackiness that just feels so darn good on the skin (you’ll get over the whole snail idea when you see how good it feels). It absorbs quickly but leaves the skin super moisturized and a bit “chok-chok-heh” (aka “dewy” in Korean), but not uncomfortably so. It’s a great essence. It’s light but it feels substantial. 5. COSRX - Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask ($16): I was surprised at how effective this was in hydrating the skin—and how much the moisture-effect lingered, considering how light it felt. A must for those dry, heat-ramping winter nights! 6. Beauty of Joseon - Glow Serum ($14): I’m a fan of this line now. Unbelievable price point for the quality look of the packaging, but more importantly, the quality of the product! My skin ate this stuff up. It’s viscous, absorbs well and lingers in the skin. A great winter serum. 7. Beauty of Joseon - Dynasty Cream ($23): I can’t believe there’s not an extra 1 in front of the price. It looks expensive, the packaging is gorgeous, but the CREAM is so exquisite! It’s thicker than the COSRX Overnight Mask and equally moisturizing (if not more!), and is so deliciously hydrating. This will be my go-to for the winter months for sure. 8. MACQUEEN - Waterproof Pen Eyeliner $5: I could not get this off of my hand after testing it, even with soap. It took a hearty scrub, let me tell ya. On the eyes, though, I was more skeptical. Skin oils and Asian lids and all, considered, it lasted the test! I applied it sans (waterproof) mascara (which adds additional protection), and it passed the test! Not rub-proof on the eye, so it’s not for a weepy existential-crisis-2020-Tuesday, but definitely THE BEST brush waterproof pen I’ve tested so far. Good opacity, but requires caution when layering (like all waterproof pens), as it crusts and starts removing itself, but at $5, I mean…. shut the front door. 8/12 were keepers! That’s not too shabby at all. The other four products were great, too, but for whatever reason, they just didn’t make it to the daily circulation. They fell in the “I can live without this” category. Meh. Although, in fairness, the Rohto Mentholatum - Melano CC Vitamin C Essence needs time for proof. I did find the packaging quite ingenious, in that it had the most intricately designed spout I’d ever seen (Japanese packaging), which I presume was meant to maximize shelf-life whilst being mindful of ease of application, which I appreciated. If it turns out to be effective, it would be added to the list for sure. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-27 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1604463184726-MJRV1I7VXBKHXRB05CL6/image-asset.jpeg little mag - 12 Products I’m Trying This Week - Where to start? I did a light deep-dive online recently, particularly at Yesstyle.com to take a looksy into current popular skincare products. Winter is here and I wanted to put some new products on my shelf. The products are a little mix of K-Beauty products with a few Japanese and American products in there. They were chosen for their friendly price-points, efficacy and universality (most people can use them). This is a list of twelve products that I’ve settled on and will be trying them out this week and giving you my two cents in next week’s article for review! It won’t be a comprehensive review, obviously, because it’s a long list of products to try in such a short time, but I’ll be able to give you an introductory guidance on the tactile experiences of each product. 1. Rohto Mentholatum - Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion 170ml - Light 2. THE FACE SHOP - Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil 3. SOME BY MI - AHA, BHA, PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner 150ml 4. Dear, Klairs - Supple Preparation Facial Toner - 2 Types- Type with Essential Oils 5. Heimish - All Clean Balm 120ml 6. COSRX - Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence 7. Beauty of Joseon - Glow Serum 8. Beauty of Joseon - Dynasty Cream 9. COSRX - Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask 10. Rohto Mentholatum - Melano CC Vitamin C Essence 11. MACQUEEN - Waterproof Pen Eyeliner (2 Colors) 12. Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/a9f5e7db-ce39-440e-95ed-d3399dc55766/image-asset+%281%29.jpeg little mag - 12 Products I’m Trying This Week - Toner isn’t exactly what it used to be. It used to be used to: remove stubborn soap residue and restore skin’s Ph levels from the harsh discrepancy between basic soap’s Ph and our skin’s natural (more acidic) barrier. This isn’t really needed anymore since skincare’s kind of caught up. Speaking generally, here—special skincare conditions not considered. So when you hear “lotion” in the K-beauty world, it’s more an adaption on the new skincare regimen. Proper cleanse considered (which shouldn’t disturb the pH all too much), it’s less a “toner” and more of a “pre-moisturizer” and more of a post-wash step. It’s an in-betweener. A skin conditioner, if you will. A restorative step post-cleanse and a primer step pre-hydration. 1. Rohto Mentholatum - Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion 170ml - Light 2. THE FACE SHOP - Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil I like K-beauty Oils because they’re light, almost watery, yet they break down waterproof makeup effectively and rinse off easily. Follow-up with a second cleanser! (A “soapy” product to remove excess oil.) 3. SOME BY MI - AHA, BHA, PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner 150ml I like the idea of a “toner” that does more. Hopeful for this. Stay tuned next week! I like to use mine with a cotton pad—well-saturated, it double-duties as a gentle exfoliant (it removes yet more dirt than it would otherwise if you just splashed it on with your hands), even with a gentle wipe. 4. Dear, Klairs - Supple Preparation Facial Toner - 2 Types- Type with Essential Oils Again. A new gen of multi-tasking toners. I wanted to compare two side-by-side. I’m curious but not overly excited. An effective toner will “awaken” the skin to absorbing subsequent products effectively, but inevitably they all seem to plateau. Thus—my skincare ADD, but! …we shall see. I’m cautiously optimistic. 5. Heimish - All Clean Balm 120ml Sometimes a good ol’ thick cleansing balm is nice on the skin during winter. 6. COSRX - Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence Give me all the snail. Sounds gross, but the skin loves it. It’s the little extra bit o’ love that the skin needs in the winter. Like honey for the skin. 7. Beauty of Joseon - Glow Serum Not gonna lie. The packaging and the effective marketing allusion to the poetic history of “Joseun” (blame it on the K-drama visuals) got me. Visions of milky skin on my elite royal ancestors drew visions that I, too, might be able to achieve radiant, transcendent skin… by using these two products. Lol. 8. Beauty of Joseon - Dynasty Cream …we. Shall. See! 9. COSRX - Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask I’m skeptical of overnight masks. I tend to expect too much from them. They’re gussied up moisturizing masks, which is still good and needed. We’ll see if good ol’ Cosrx delivers! 10. Rohto Mentholatum - Melano CC Vitamin C Essence Surprisingly high ratings for a Vitamin C product. I’ll give you my thoughts after one week’s worth of using it. A must in post-20’s medicine cabinets. 11. MACQUEEN - Waterproof Pen Eyeliner (2 Colors) Wow. Blown away already. You can see in the video that I couldn’t wait to try this guy. The ONLY brush-tip waterproof eyeliner that I’ve seen (and I’ve seen a LOT in my life) that has the staying power of a bottled eyeliner. Thoroughly, thoroughly impressed. We shall see how it lasts on the oily eye area. 12. Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant This guy snuck into the mix because I was hovering around Sephora when I picked the brains of the workers there (as I do), and the sweet lady eventually admitted that this is her personal favorite of the season. It simultaneously exfoliates and hydrates. Science. Good stuff. Theses are the two things that we need more of in the winter—to brighten and replenish. Yes, please. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-26 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/4626d583-0257-4dac-8aa6-6c7326e50848/image-asset+%281%29.jpeg little mag - Elevate Your Beauty Routine - Whether you’re a veteran when it comes to the ‘tox or a total newb, let’s chat about some of the basics and whether or not it’s for you. I often get asked by clients what the difference is between Botox and Filler, indicating to me that there are a lot of well-educated people that don’t know much about the world of Aesthetics. I get it! It’s a lot. So let’s cover the BASICS here today. As y’all know, I am not a doctor and everything on here is just my personal opinion, so please consult a Doctor before committing to a procedure to see if it’s right for you! Botox Definition: Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and related species. It prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from axon endings at the neuromuscular junction, thus causing flaccid paralysis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1603845699458-437PQDJ8MJG7I5IGR5O0/image-asset little mag - Elevate Your Beauty Routine - Aging is not the enemy, IMHO. There is an inherent dignity to age that comes with the distinct, universal understanding that one has suffered and endured, and hopefully, learned with age. This is part of why we honor the elderly. Personally, I believe in trying to reflect outwardly the age that you feel inwardly. That is where Botox might come in handy. I feel like I need to qualify that my mom has not had any work done—except for her brows, of course, just within the last few years. So it is out of sheer curiosity, exposure to it, and the novelty of it that I dove into Botox, myself. There were also two case examples that I witnessed that convinced me that it was worth trying. I’ve been doing botox for about 3 years now. I started at 35. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/b1991fab-7193-4970-8f86-439c48dfe382/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Elevate Your Beauty Routine - We may never have baby skin again, but I struggled with the Shar Pei-like forehead wrinkles that betrayed my otherwise youthful face, even in my twenties. I inherited my maternal grandfather’s heavy forehead. I was shocked to know that I had options, and that in fact—I was “late” to the game, when a friend told me in secrecy that she’d been getting botox since her early twenties! She looked twenty, to be fair. That was case one. Case two was a teacher who I’d gone to for training in my early years of PMU work. She looked fantastic for her age—she had a twenty-something year old daughter, and she was as busy as any New York Business woman might be, though she was in a remote suburban town in Florida. She just always looked refreshed—as if she’d just gotten back from vacation. I asked her how she managed to look so great (I, in comparison, looked quite haggard next to her). She blithely exclaimed “it’s the Botox!” without a shred of hesitation. I was sold. I wouldn’t have known had she not told me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/a09efd5b-9a6f-4f9f-822e-205b7933f8a7/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Elevate Your Beauty Routine - Most folks seem to get Botox in the same areas: the “11’s,” the forehead, the crows feet around the eyes, and increasingly—in the jaw area. I do my forehead and jaws (FYI I’ve been told that some Dental insurance can cover it because of "TMJ”—or lockjaw). I tend to grind my teeth at night as well, so I found that botox substantially helped alleviate my sore jaw and my subsequent headaches. I’m not gonna lie—I got it primarily for aesthetic reasons—it substantially slimmed my face and gave it a “V-line” shape, but I was also impressed by how much it improved my physical comfort and nightly sleep as well. From my experience, I’ve found that a trusted Doctor can administer the jawline. It’s pretty straight-forward from what I can see. The forehead, however, is a different story. I too often see poor botox done on the forehead, causing it to “drop,” and “furrow” the brows, elevating the arch. This not only makes my job difficult, but I find that it hinders the desired outcome of looking softer and lifted, IMHO. I only trust one person with my forehead—Dr. Libby Rhee approaches the forehead as a Master Puppeteer would create a believable, nuanced movement. Dr. James does my jaws. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/e5fa3a35-a39f-4f3c-9455-e4891fa43823/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Elevate Your Beauty Routine - RISKS. What are the possible risks of using botox, though? Its effects are temporary, which was cause for me to try it out to begin with. What starts as convenient ends up being a nuisance, though, doesn’t it? Effects tend to last roughly 3-6 months or longer, depending on the amount, area, and individual. While it requires regular maintenance, there are some considerations to long-term use: · Starting too soon may cause skin to appear thinner (this can be avoided by using sunscreen) · A “wavy” uneven texture could appear (but can be reversed by changing up injection pattern) · Studies have actually shown that regular treatments with the neurotoxin can enhance mood and fight depression · Your muscles will adapt and cooperate with botox use: you become more aware of muscle engagement as the Botox effect wears off, and, muscles atrophy over time without use. · After over 10 years of continued use, your chances of developing wrinkles will diminish even without continued use https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-25 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/0ef8ceaa-2520-4178-ba11-34adacb10194/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Advanced Aesthetic Treatments - Winter is (almost) here. Despite the singularly merciful act of 2020—the unusually warm weather this year—winter will, inevitably, fall upon us. And as much as we will shake our collective fist at winter whilst shivering inside of our parkas at any given point walking through the wind-tunnels that are the streets of Manhattan, there is one good thing that comes with cool temperatures—COOL SCULPT! Sorry (not sorry) for the corny transition, but winter is a notoriously good season to do “all the things” that may require downtime. With so many folks WFH, it’s an opportune time to finally address those stubborn love handles—or the newly found muffin top, courtesy of the popular Quarantine 2020 all-carb diet. Oh, is that just me on this diet? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/9c2b0165-b63b-4c6b-ab32-544f9b825411/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Advanced Aesthetic Treatments - It’s not about weight or inches, for me. It’s about being healthy, fit, and looking like you feel. Save 2020 (the year that doesn’t count in life), I’ve been pretty active and make an effort to stay strong, because I feel my best when I feel strong, lean and efficient. For me, personally, (yes, even though everybody says “where do you have fat to lose?”), the area that I struggle with is my mid section—alas, I, too, have fat. We all do. And depending on your body type (and despite it), after your teen years, it’s just difficult to stay lean overall unless you’re hyper-intentional about diet and exercise, or unless you’re blessed (you’re an alien). Women in particular are more prone to gain and retain fat as we age (awesome!). Since I was misdiagnosed a form of birth control that wasn’t compatible for my body back in college, I developed a tire around my waist and haven’t been able to recover my waist sans love handles since. Unless I get extremely lean (my body fluctuates about 10 lbs), they don’t seem to dissipate and they’ve been the piéce de résistance that I don’t want to draw attention to. It just feels disproportionate to the rest of my body and makes me feel self-conscious. (Thank goodness for high-waisted jeans.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/114955ce-cdd7-4077-8ad9-76793c1fc67b/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Advanced Aesthetic Treatments - As many of you know, I only recommend something or someone after I myself have “guinea-pig’d” first hand. It only seems right. So after being presented with the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. James of Central Park Beauty on 57th & 7th (I’m going to be administering non-invasive procedures at Central Park Beauty, including Cool Sculpt!), I had to try it! And boy was I excited! I had a friend that had a positive experience with Cool Sculpt when it started getting popular around 9 years ago, so I was curious to see if I’d have a similar experience. Here are my observations: 1. It’s not nearly as “bad” as I thought it would be. I always brace myself for the worse—and I can say it was mildly uncomfortable. I can’t even say it was painful. I have sensitive skin, generally speaking, so I anticipated some flare-up or something, but I had no issues whatsoever! I’m also quite frail, despite how I look, but, again—everything went great. And it all happened while watching Netflix, no joke. 2. It was a lot faster than I thought it would be. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I didn’t expect it to be nearly as relaxing as it was. I thought “this is a medical procedure, this is going to suck.” But it’s more like a spa procedure that causes some discomfort. Time definitely varies on the areas and number of areas you’ll be treating, but nonetheless, it wasn’t several hours, as I thought it would be. 3. I didn’t know that you could do it repeatedly. There are many folks who apparently get Cool Sculpt regularly. GENIUS! I didn’t even know that you could do that! You can take preventative measures and do annual “touch-ups” for preventative measure in problematic spots. A-ma-zing! 4. You can target petite areas. Did you know that you can Cool Sculpt the extra fat on your knees? Yeah, neither did I. How amazing is that, though? This procedure opens a world of possibilities for me. Not gonna lie, I may do my friggin knees. They bug me. Y’all can judge me. But I’m gonna have cute knees. 5. It. worked. Mind you, results depend on the individual, of course, but minus that stubborn spot I was feeling alright (thank you Barry’s/ Keoni). It also hasn’t even been the full 2-3 months that the average individual will take to render results. Mine has been a little over a month. I have not let up from my carb diet (gotta stay consistent ya know) and yet I can already see and feel the difference in my love handles—I can no longer grab them!!! Woohoo! And I’m still eating bread. Hehe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1603246133332-JLDI1YTNN61KSR84PS7M/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Advanced Aesthetic Treatments - If you’re considering Cool Sculpt, I’d seriously recommend it. I can’t believe it works. It’s so genius. HOW IT WORKS (in Layman’s Terms): These scientists found the specific temperature that freezes fat (Cryolipolysis) but doesn’t do any damage to surrounding tissue. The post-treatment massage (as simple as it seems—2 minutes) adds an additional 68% additional efficacy in mean (subcutaneous) fat layer reduction. These machines are designed to taper along the body’s natural lines resulting the targeting of bulges. It doesn’t address visceral fat, the deeper layer of fat, which is only addressed by diet and exercise. Basically, they found the most efficient and non-invasive way to address stubborn, subcutaneous (excess) fat. It’s awesome. Having gone under the knife and not being particularly shy about it, I have to say some things are worth it—and some things are not. I think it should be avoided at all costs, if possible. With that said, there are some pretty awesome non-invasive options for us in the beauty industry these days. Thank you technology and science. If y’all have any questions about it, please feel free to shoot an email! info@lekitsune.com https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-24 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/d2312716-5943-42d2-b867-7c2969d47b28/image-asset.jpeg little mag - The Perfect Aubergine Eyeliner - I’m all about efficiency, especially with my makeup. I want maximum impact, performance, and delivery for minimal effort. I’ve been thinking about what will be a nice transitional look into fall, and considering, well, that we’re still in full-swing mask mode, the only real thing we can play up is our EYES! Funny thing is, I immediately thought back to this old, beaten up eyeliner pencil that I had in high school. I probably taxed it from my mom’s already minimal makeup stash (she was all about the skincare) and I treasured this thing so much that I managed to keep it until it was whittled down to a stump. Label wiped off and all. I used it until it existed no longer. When does that actually happen with makeup?? Never!! (For me at least.) Alas, I recalled this key piece of makeup because I realized it was so clutch. It was (drumroll*)… an aubergine pencil eyeliner. I thought about it, and it’s clutch because— like an orange/red lipstick, it’s universal. The right hue of purple will bring out brown eyes, compliment blue eyes, and is staggering on green/hazel eyes. It needs to be the RIGHT shade of purple, though—not a cool, metal purple, but a warm purple. Yup, it’s a toughy. So I scoured the internets and here’s what I came up with for y’all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/372010a5-0b61-4fd8-88b7-ba9723898c7f/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-13%2Bat%2B8.48.06%2BPM.png little mag - The Perfect Aubergine Eyeliner - First of all, after going through instagram and pinterest and all the things for the past few hours, I want to hurl . Of the hundreds of images I was inundated with, I couldn’t find ONE decent image of the look I had in mind. Sadness. I came up with this look, which, of course, was created by Pat McGrath, Makeup savant. This, friends, is the saturation, shape, and intensity that we want with our eyeliner. The natural texture of skin with a clean, stark, soft, eyeliner. No graphic overly-done instagram stuff. No hyper-shine, dry-ass matte, layer-cake makeup please. That’s not real life. This is a polished, elegant, and yet, punk look. It’s editorial brought to life. The eggplant shade, though, is what will give it LIFE. So, what exactly is this perfect shade of aubergine/ eggplant/ burgundy-ish tone? I’ll go over my final picks. Caveat: I have to confess that this was all done from my laptop screen, so I have not actually tried these products. With that said, I’m confident that my predictions are at least 90% accurate (lol). I’ve seen enough makeup in my life to be a decent judge. I’m going to give a rating out of 5 stars for different reasons, but after checking out pretty much every eggplant/purple eyeliner out there, these were my final choices. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/2efeaa2b-491c-4f87-8404-49800bb5d99c/image-asset.png little mag - The Perfect Aubergine Eyeliner - This. This is an image from an old-school website that I have bookmarked from back in the day, but it popped up during my search. Funny how valuable info. somehow manages to stick around. It’s a Lorac eyeshadow in “eggplant,” but I wanted to give y’all a visual of the right shade (hint: check computer/ phone color settings!). It was dang hard to find. It’s not quite ruddy, or purple. It’s both. I’m not going to lie, I couldn’t find the right eyeliner. Fail much? Yes. But!—we need to start somewhere, so here are the next best options: 1. Colour Pop ($7)- Gel Pot Eyeliner in “Deep Plum” I said this falls short because it’s not in pencil form, which makes application slightly annoying. This may be the color winner, however. I haven’t tried it but, indeed, I can judge, through a computer screen, roughly how accurate the color will be. I’m guessing this comes closest. And it’s 7 bucks. I think a fancy morning coffee in Manhattan costs more than that. (I’m guessing this is 4/5 stars ) 2. Glossier has this gel eyeliner ($15) called “Disaster Class,” which they call a “deep wine red.” It’s supposed to have all the things: it applies smoothly and sets, is buildable from sheer to opaque, and lasts all day, supposedly. It’s a little ruddier than I’d like so it’s probably maladapted for professional settings but will def get you some props if gently smoked out into a sheer application. (3.5/5 stars bc color is the point here) 3. Dose of Colors ($19) pot eyeliner has a color called “Weekender,” described as a “muted plum brown.” Again, judging from my computer screen (jokes aside I’m pretty confident in rendering from texture/ sheen etc.), I predict that this is almost souffle-like, which means that while it is easily blendable, it will set rather quickly and be unforgiving after that, which will mean it will get blotchy if you don’t time the blending well. (3.5/5 stars) 4. Stila ($22) Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in “Spice (Matte Mahogany Brown),” gets points for being in Pencil form, and I’m personally a fan of this formulation. It’s super pigmented, has a creamy, consistent application, but I’m unsure about the color being on target with this one. It’s a more conservative bet than the Glossier, though, IMHO, in a professional setting. (4/5 stars) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1602642485739-UCK9GRM6HYHFPE3F6QIG/THE-VINTAGE-VAMP-768x960.jpg little mag - The Perfect Aubergine Eyeliner - Charlotte Tilbury’s eyeliner didn’t make the cut, but her demo did, which will help you create some of the beautiful eye-makeup looks that she does with her expert blending and application. Remember, all products are different—in texture, saturation, intensity, etc. So test it on the back of your hand, blend it out, master it, then draw on the eyes. Don’t test on the eyes straight away, the skin is so delicate there! Also—with smudgy eyeliner, heavy-handers can celebrate because this is your chance! More is better in this case, because you want to actually have product to blend, rather than scrape away at your skin (I’m wincing, too). Since it’s not a full-blown black eyeliner, you can probably do a little more than you’re used to, too. It’ll still be a softer effect. You can also layer, like you’re doing with the rest of your wardrobe for fall . Add on more as you go until you feel comfortable. On the bottom, you can do both waterline and outside of the eye for drama! Goth is in—go for it. If you’re gonna panda it out, though, make it look intentional! Keep the rest of your face minimal. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-23 monthly 0.5 2025-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1602035718281-NK68BHG9HGSWYQR35LVZ/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Emotional Wellness & Beauty - For better or for worse, Covid has coerced me to be inwardly reflective. Of all of the intensive leadership/personality assessments that I’ve taken, reflection was repeatedly my achilles’ heel. I’m constantly propelled forward. It’s my nature. It’s conveniently “NY” of me, but as it turns out, it’s terrible for my soul—and ultimately, my skin. This is a beauty blog, afterall! I’ll tie this together, I promise. I was taken aback by my wiser counter parts back when I interviewed Tiffany and Peony, among the first to be featured in Little Magazine, when they mentioned that self-care (of some form—be it meditation, etc.), was routine form in their beauty regimen. I thought it was one of those “holistic” practices for the sake of being holistic. Not gonna lie, I was almost disappointed. Ha. Ha. Oh, silly me. How 2020 has humbled me. Hard topic shift… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/9fedae74-c980-43dc-8407-3bb902504e81/59851F12-C0AD-4E36-91D4-CDDF53F44E4D.jpg little mag - Emotional Wellness & Beauty - There’s a gangster jellyfish called Turritopsis dohrnii. To date, they’re the only species that has been called 'biologically immortal’ because they can turn back time by reverting to an earlier stage of their life cycle. That’s pretty amazing. God stuff. I’m not trying to live forever, though. I’m not even trying to look 21. I’m just trying to look “fresh” for my age, knowhatimeanjellybean? So you can imagine how frustrated I was when I was getting all the sleep, perhaps even squeezing in a live Keoni morning Bootcamp sesh and doing proper full-face cleansing, including masks… and I still looked like doo-doo. Then I started getting all of these messages about feelings. From my therapist, from church, from journaling… then I started heeding all of the messages and allowed myself to, wait for it… cry. I cried. I hate crying. It’s not cute. It bloats you and it’s dehydrating and just all-around messy and—ugh. I just abhore it for all of its thievery. Save all the juicy bits—after a long-needed cry, I noticed that the next day… my skin was aglow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/a70f6e2b-a8a1-46d3-9ce0-f06495760aba/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Emotional Wellness & Beauty - We live in an emotionally costive society. It’s not exactly an appealing notion, but it’s true. I’ll save you some time on therapy costs and share my therapy homework assignment: watch Inside Out (yes I’m serious). I had to see it twice before I realized I reflexively checked out the first time. I numb myself when I get uncomfortable. I don’t allow myself to get sad. My hair may be carefully coiffed, makeup on point—I may even be coordinating my accessories to my outfit, on a good day, but, guess what… I can be completely out of touch with the deepest part of myself, and I had no. Clue. It took some seriously intentional, extensive deep-diving into super uncomfortable places to realize just how long I’ve been in this state (and I consider myself a proactively self-aware person). What are you inhibiting yourself from doing? From feeling? What do you dislike about yourself? What about yourself makes you uncomfortable? I suggest taking a moment to carve out some time with yourself and really reflecting on these things. Perhaps in a comforting setting—taking a bath, a candle-lit evening journaling, whatever. Then sit with yourself. And be kind to yourself. Forgive yourself, and allow yourself to be guided into a freer place of peace. It’s going to be a process, and that’s all gravy. It’s a life-long process, I’m coming to realize. Here were my daunting clouds propelling me forward, always: that I’m not good enough, and that I’m unworthy of being loved. WHO KNEW! Also, apparently crying isn’t a once-every-few-years thing. Apparently it’s supposed to happen, like, fairly frequently. Also, healing is an ongoing process? NEWS TO ME! All jokes aside, I realize the importance of being proactive in carving out time to allow ourselves to purge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/10e9c057-6ae3-4801-a54c-310f00d9eb7a/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Emotional Wellness & Beauty - That’s it. That’s your beauty assignment. I’ve been sleep-deprived, been neglecting my thorough nightly skincare routine, and yet… I’m glowing. I think, perhaps, Covid has had its upsides afterall. The slowing down, the reconnecting—with our families, our loved ones… with ourselves. It’s a realignment of the basics. Yes, I miss wearing my drag-queen makeup sometimes, but also… I’m kind of loving my natural skin. I’m also enjoying the authentic conversations I’m getting to have with my clients that I’ve known for years. There’s a rawness that’s uncomfortable, vulnerable, but— needed. And it’s so beautiful and perfect, just like you. I hope you find part of the beauty that I see in you, and in every client that sits in my chair—that there is no one like you. There is only one you, and it’s such a treat to be given the opportunity to see you. Please allow yourself to see yourself. And be loved. Here’s an article for proof if ya want (correlating emotional wellness with beauty). https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-22 monthly 0.5 2025-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1601428157601-JN7QFTU0YX05BCFCAX8C/home-billing-list-img1-1440x900.jpg little mag - The Doctors I Recommend Without Hesitation - If I refer someone to you, it’s because I trust them with my face. And I trust no one ‍♀️(almost). My good fortune has allowed me to cross paths with these three doctors, however. I refer them whole-heartedly to my clients with 100% confidence. They are the BEST at what they do, they continue to strive to master their craft, but most importantly, to me—they’re good people. This means they actually care about their clients. Isn’t that a concept! This photo is of the mighty but petite Doctor Libby Rhee, of Liora Dermatology. She launched Liora Clinic earlier this year, and well… if she can pull it off in 2020, that’s pretty self-explanatory, isn’t it? Aside from being an absolute magician with botox and fillers (I’d know), her je ne sais quoi factor comes from her ability to intuitively know exactly what the client needs to look their absolute best—in a natural way. She’s also extremely kind and an inspiration. I, too, would like to look 20, forever. Did I mention that she has two of the cutest little pups I've ever seen? Picture: real-life mini ewoks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1601429219018-15M5T6Y2KG18R3Q1NF1V/image-asset.png little mag - The Doctors I Recommend Without Hesitation - Dr. James, as I like to call him, or Dr. James Silberzweig, has a practice in midtown called Central Park Beauty. Dr. James is known for his medical specialty in Interventional Radiology, including uterine fibroid embolization, hysterosalpingography, and fallopian tube recanalization treatments. I know him, however, from his Aesthetic practices, which include non-invasive treatments such as Cool Sculpt, and is soon releasing Physiq—an “amped up” version of Emsculpt, which is a non-invasive muscle toner and fat burner. Michelle Calabrese is the uber-talented in-house Esthetician, who mastered her craft under the supervision of Plastic Surgeons as a medical Esthetician before going on her own to create her own approach: she treats the skin intuitively as well as scientifically for an all-around life-changing experience. Central Park Beauty also offers body contouring, radio frequency, injectables, skin rejuvenation, and lasers as well as medical treatments. Dr. James is probably the only doctor in Manhattan that checks up on his patients himself. If that's not humility and care, I don't know what is! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/8202221d-fdc0-46ea-b0e5-e1139edd41bd/New-York-Dermatologist-Yoon-Soo-Cindy-Bae-MD.png little mag - The Doctors I Recommend Without Hesitation - Not only is Dr. Cindy Bae gorgeous—she has a cult following, and with legit reason. She’s been mentioned in every beauty-list-who’s-who possible, including: Allure, ELLE, In Style, Good Housekeeping, Redbook, Self, Shape, Us Weekly, Yahoo, Popsugar, Byrdie, Total Beauty, Bustle, Today, New Beauty, Huffington Post, WebMD and the list goes on and on ad nauseum. Dr. Bae is such #baegoals, but sweep aside our jaw-drop and focus on the fact that she also happens to specialize in laser surgery and scar revisions (anyone else scar when they get breathed on?). Did I mention she wrote 40 academic articles on the aforementioned topic? Oh, silly me. I got distracted by her incandescent headshot. My apologies. Aside from that, she was one of the pioneering authorities on K-beauty, IMHO. She’s one of those crème de la crème superhumans that make NY one of the best cities in the world. Indeed, we’re fortunate to be in the proximity of Dr. Bae’s talents. Did I mention that she’s also lovely? Yup. Some people have it all. The important thing, here, is that she’s willing to share it with us. Lucky ducks we are! https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-21 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/a2176a55-4a07-491e-9161-d4b7b16f9f8e/image-asset.jpeg little mag - The Art, The Technique, and Why It’s a Game-Changer - Hybrid has so many connotations these days, and the most well-known was is, well, what the picture refers to. In today’s article, however, we’re going to be talking about Hybrid Brows. Because we love children❣️❣️, but this isn’t that kinduva website. Last time we talked a little bit about Microblading, so this week let’s chat about the nitty-gritty when it comes to what we, at Le Kitsuné, call “le Hybrid.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/c95c6fe1-5986-4393-9f9e-261a17d5fa3f/image-asset.jpg little mag - The Art, The Technique, and Why It’s a Game-Changer - Fluffy brows are suuuuuch a thing right now. But unless you’re a unicorn, this ain’t you. Microblading seemed like the promised land when it first came about, but to be honest, it’s not for everyone. It’s just not. ‍♀️ If you have oily skin, if you work out a lot, if you do a lot of facial peels, or if you’re just not apt to committing to maintaining your brows every 6 months to a year or so, it’s just not going to look very cute. My standards may not be reflective of the status quo, but I think I have pretty high beauty standards—and in this instance, that’s a good thing.‍♀️ The reason for this is the way that the pigment is deposited into the skin. MB (microblading), makes a teensie weensy little cut and deposits pigment in there. Depending on your skin and how well you heal, the pigment can heal “crisply” or it can be somewhat blotchy, and the healing process can be inconsistent. I always say, we’re “crossing our fingers” hoping that it retains as much as possible—because we just don’t know what y’all will do when you go home! (No judgment, just facts). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/fe6ba6c1-8063-417a-a67a-1889934ca54b/IMG_5976.jpg little mag - The Art, The Technique, and Why It’s a Game-Changer - Hybrid initially meant a Hybrid between Powder (Machine) and Hairstrokes (Microblading). Techniques have already evolved now so that they no longer obligate one another. I can combine the two (MB + Machine) in any amalgamation I’d like, as an artist. I have more “tools" as an artist to play. Here are the things that I can do with Machine: • I can do hairstrokes • I can cross hairstrokes! • I can create different “gauges” of hairstrokes • I can do powder-effect • I can do an ombre-effect • I can do pointillism • I can create dimensional effects-depth between hairstrokes These are just a sample of things that I can do with machine. The beautiful thing about it, is, it only uses a single needle to puncture the skin, so the skin heals more agreeably than when it’s lacerated in Microblading. So, for example, to draw a hairstroke, I drag the microblade across the skin to create one line (Think: getting a cut with a knife. Ouch. I know I’m sorry). With the Machine, I’m dropping tiny little pixels which connect to emulate a line (Think: getting a shot. Apply pressure, done bleeding). The skin traps in more pigment, heals faster and fades more consistently. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-20 monthly 0.5 2025-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1600203119095-MYRQZFG4XO2WJQ34CF22/IMG_9257.jpg little mag - Microblading Myths & Truths - I’ve done about 10,000 Microblading Procedures thus far in my career. I still feel like I’m a student, and I will always be learning, but in the spirit of sharing what I’ve learned and observed so far, I’d like to debunk some myths with you guys. I came into this industry during an interesting time, and it’s crazy to see how quickly it’s burgeoned into a staple beauty service in the last six years. With that said, there’s still a lot of ambiguity surrounding what actually happens during the service, after, and what to expect. So, let me over a few things and hopefully it will help clarify the silliness from the truth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/cb48702d-777f-4430-9a4a-784b0cb10c03/IMG_2801.jpg little mag - Microblading Myths & Truths - Here are some myths: Myth 1: If you get too much Microblading done, it will scar your skin. FACT: If you’re getting it done properly, you’re only staying in the portion of the skin that shouldn’t cause scar tissue, so while overdoing it may cause over-saturation (like over-dying hair), it shouldn’t cause your skin harm. Your artist should advise you on the frequency that’s appropriate for your lifestyle. We recommend every 6 months. Myth 2: It hurts. FACT: It should not hurt. We reiterate this all the time to first-timers, but most of our clients fall asleep. There are great topical numbing creams and gels out there for pre and during procedure. It’s expensive stuff, but it exists to make you comfortable! It used to be thought that the numbing agent affects the healing process. I heartily disagree. We use a plethora of this stuff. So should every other artist out there IMHO. Myth 3: If you get Microblading done, it will affect your existing hairs/ damage hair growth. FACT: It doesn’t affect your hair follicles at all. If anything, I’ve had clients report more hair growth over time! While there’s no proof that there’s a direct correlation, I do think that the cell turnover during the healing process may stimulate new growth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/6f284a83-a2a4-4deb-b507-29ebd0b8d16a/IMG_0568.jpg little mag - Microblading Myths & Truths - When I was first starting out, there was very little information available to the artists, let alone the consumers. I’ve come to learn a lot from error, unfortunately, as I’m sure many experts in any field come to know their respective fields—as this is the only true way to become thoroughly familiar with a subject. As much as I tried to, it was inevitable. Subsequently, here are a few CAVEATS I’d like everyone to know about Permanent Makeup before they dive in, including Microblading. (Photo to the left is of a correction of someone else’s work). 1. I’ve always and still continue to say that nothing is guaranteed. It is true, that, there are so many variables that come into play, that we’re taught to not guarantee anything. We simply cannot predict what any person is doing at home—with their skincare, diet, medication, lifestyle, etc., before/ between/ after coming in for their appointment. All of these things affect the outcome of permanent makeup. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/8d806f36-aff3-43d3-acb9-4c1a844894ba/IMG_4384.png little mag - Microblading Myths & Truths - One important thing I learned, was: 2. Color will never stay consistent. I have always tried to be as transparent with my clients as possible, out of decency, and as a general personal rule. In the beginning of my career, I was taught and told that a particular brand’s pigment color stayed true—and so I passed along this information to my clients. This was the most harrowing experience of my life. I didn’t sleep well for at least an entire year. I still get sad at the thought of all the clients that were upset and perhaps didn’t feel comfortable coming back to communicate their disappointment. After doing my best with due diligence with what I had at the time in the industry, my world came crashing down when client after client came back to me reporting pink eyebrows my second to third year in business. I then received a call from the reputable, world-renown pigment company’s President offering me a personal apology. FACT: color does change. At this particular juncture in the industry, it either turns warm (pinkish) or ash (grayish). The GOOD news is that now I know that this is standard, I can correct the color, and manage my client’s expectations. As I always say, we work with skin, not paper. It’s alive and constantly in flux. Luckily I know how to address it now. I didn’t do corrections as a general policy, a couple years ago, but I changed my mind because I realized that it was inevitable that there would be corrections—with color, shape, you name it. We’ve had people reach out to us just to ask for help because they didn’t know where to go. If this is you, please email us. We’ll do our best to get you feeling whole and happy again. Even if we can’t help you, we’ll refer you to someone who can. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/0663a781-b28f-47cb-b078-b01c82f01fae/2A16637F-EBED-4B26-98EA-8350B78A87CE.jpg little mag - Microblading Myths & Truths - I still believe… that PMU is here to stay. It’s just too awesome. It saves so much time every day. It adds so much confidence. Not because you’re unworthy without it, but I think we can all agree that we feel self-conscious if we have zero eyebrows vs. when we have ‘em snatched. The value it adds to the quality of life is irrefutable. I’ve heard countless times that “this has changed” a client’s life. This is why I do this. Brows are cool, I always say, but people are why I do this. I care about people. I want you to feel great and beautiful—every day—and see all the beauty that I see when I look at you. Things have a way of coming full circle. I was chatting with Cori recently when I mentioned that I understand, now, why the “O.G.’s” do it as they do—soft and powdery (Hybrid method). This is the easiest to correct while giving a flexible yet definitive shape and addresses all skin types and hair types. 3. I believe the future lies in Hybrid—or the machine. The fact is, microblading is a trend, but it’s to Hybrid as threading is to waxing. Both do the same thing, but some prefer threading, but in my opinion, waxing is more effective. Also, as an increasing number of clients need to get color corrections, this needs to be done by machine. The soft, powdery effect rendered by Hybrid is blowing up on ig for a reason right now. People are no longer intimidated by the idea of Permanent Makeup, and people are familiar enough with Microblading now, but want something that lasts a little longer, and will do a little more. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-19 monthly 0.5 2025-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1599588336801-A8FW0RBIISBMRMYOFO1O/image-asset.jpeg little mag - My Top 3 Cleansing & Exfoliating Helpers - I admit that I didn’t really use too many facial tools prior to Quarantine. I dove into a few little helpers and am still in the process of evaluating them, so for today, I’m going to cover the “removers.” The cleansing assistants, the cell-turnover helpers. I’m keeping the list to 3 items, to keep it short and simple. I also try to isolate new products as much as possible to eliminate as many variables as I can regarding the differential outcome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1599591453612-GGBQF1AYX74VXDYUBBBB/image-asset.png little mag - My Top 3 Cleansing & Exfoliating Helpers - This little doodad has been surprisingly awesome. At a super reasonable $20 price tag, I chose it for its ergonomic factors, and for its super gentle bristles. I find that this not only expedites my second cleanse (after oil), the mechanical movement suds my cleanser up substantially than it would otherwise with just my hand movements, cutting my facial cleanse time in at least half. I use the softest bristles and go in soft tiny circles going upwards and outwards on my face on the highest setting. I find that most people are erroneously over-cleansing their face or under doing it. I’ll post more videos to demo, eventually, but until then, getting the proper steps in place should assist you towards the right path. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1599591781033-NL0AIMY7ZM1CR2OSMNDX/Screen+Shot+2020-09-08+at+3.02.39+PM.png little mag - My Top 3 Cleansing & Exfoliating Helpers - The other option that I have for a facial cleansing brush is this little guy ($24). This is more gentle because it’s silicone, so less friction means happier skin, without sacrificing the efficiency because of the design and the vibrations. It breaks down product faster than I can get done with just my hands alone, again, unless I’m doing a thorough cleanse every day (2-3 minutes with hands)—not gonna lie, this is not happening on the daily. If I’m using the previous facial brush around 2-3 times a week, I’m using this all other days. It’s very gentle. As always, use gentle pressure, though, no need to tug on the skin. Let the tools do the work for ya! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1599592160008-35MQT6UOB94QGNEKSD89/image-asset.png little mag - My Top 3 Cleansing & Exfoliating Helpers - All of us are probably in dire need of a facial right now, and this little dude ($49) is sufficient in tying us over until we melt into the hands of our magical estheticians. It’s a mini microdermabrasion machine that literally fits into the palm of your hands. It takes a little finagling and getting used to, but I’d recommend short, quick strokes and you absolutely have to hold the skin taut. Start on the jawline, jump to forehead and then the cheek and chin area. Avoid eye area; it’s too delicate. The diamond-tip head exfoliates the outermost layers of dead, dull skin. This is helpful in assisting skin cell turnover and also in helping product penetration. This is an aggressive move, so don’t overdo it, especially the first few times, until you get the hang of it and until you see how your skin responds. I’d probably use this once every week to ten days. For an ultra decadent self-care scenario, follow-up with a sheet-mask, like the ones recommended in the this article. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-18 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1598969973739-B1LI86RUQO60HWMO9WGM/image-asset.jpeg little mag - A Fun Peek into My Ever-Changing Routine - Our skin is so important. It’s a barometer for our other-bodily health. But also—it’s the biggest organ of our bodies and the first thing people notice about us! Particularly on our face. So. I’ve come across enough humans to know that it’s still very commonplace for many responsible, bad-ass adults (in many other arenas of their life) to still use just soap and water on your face. This is ok when you’re 10. Let’s consider doing more, guys, because taking care of yourself and your skin is good for you. And you will be happy for being good to yourself. And having nice skin feels nice. So for funsies I’m going to share with you my current (it’s ever-changing) skincare regimen. TBH it’s very random, feeling/intuition-driven ‍♀️and may not necessarily be “right” for you, but it’s always fun to peek in someone else’s cart at the grocery store to expand your horizons, right? Lol. Ok maybe I’m the only creeper here. In any case, let’s do this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1598972819430-H8G0AV8UBL66ULRJ6JTR/image-asset.jpeg little mag - A Fun Peek into My Ever-Changing Routine - Currently at the forefront of my medicine cabinet in my ever-changing rotation, is: NIGHT TIME STUFF: 1. DBH Green Apple Cleansing Oil- ($83) It’s pricey, indeed. It may be worth purchasing once to see what a finely formulated efficient oil cleanser should be like, so you know what the bar is. It sufficiently gets everything off. The smell is meh, but it works. I apply it to dry skin, massage thoroughly, then add a splash of water to emulsify (turn milky), massage summore, then I rinse off. 2. Leland Francis Black Rose Cleansing Gel- ($29) The smell and packaging is so pretty and sleek, and it’s super mild. I use this as a second cleanse to wash off the oil, and on a couple days out of the week, I use it in conjunction with my facial brush ($20) to get that extra clean (bc—ya know, masking). 3. Afterwards, I splash my face with this Japanese Naturie Skin Conditioner ($7~$20) that I got at a Shibuyala at some point. I think of it as an interim-moisture-barrier protectant until the next step to prevent excess water loss. Not quite a toner, but also not quite an essence. 4. I’ve been using this Peach & Lily Glass Skin Serum- ($39) with a few drops of this Odacite Black Cumin Oil since I’ve had bumps/breakouts from masking in hot humid weather. I like the combo together. I rub them together in my palms and massage them thoroughly into my skin until it’s completely absorbed. 5. Lastly I’ve been finishing off with A-Derma Hydrating Cream-($14) This is a very light moisturizer that’s great for all skin types. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/36021a23-8d2e-45ce-b0a8-2ffb9b426c16/image-asset+%281%29.jpeg little mag - A Fun Peek into My Ever-Changing Routine - Add-ons: 1. A couple times a week I’ll also use these Medik8 Glycolic Pads to exfoliate my skin. They’re not in production anymore so here’s a comparable product: Malin + Goetz ($46) 2. I also interchange with this Caudalie Glycolic Peel/ Mask ($25) to brighten my complexion and wake it up a bit. 3. I also follow up with the Caudalie Moisturizing Mask ($32) if I feel like I’ve zapped too much of my skin’s natural oils, to replenish what I’ve taken away. 4. Leland Francis has an amazing Melting Balm ($38) that I prefer to use as a hydrating mask, and is my go-to come winter time. 5. I feel like a teenager again because of the humidity, maskne and general grossness. For those unwelcome guests that pop up: Avarelle pimple patches ($9). These usually eliminate them in 24 hours. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/45198dff-25b3-44f6-8511-c69f1b94437a/image-asset.jpeg little mag - A Fun Peek into My Ever-Changing Routine - Daytime ☀️ Skincare is much less complex for me. I believe that the skin is much more rested and only needs a light splash of water or a quick toner and moisturizer and sunscreen to start the day. If your pillow covers are washed fairly consistently, your skin shouldn’t be all too dirty birdy. 1. I’ll take a cotton pad with Son & Park’s Beauty Water ($30) to freshen up my skin in the morning, with or without a splash of water beforehand, depending on my mood. Sometimes water suffices. 2. Then I’ll do a dollop of Skinesque’s Moisture-Lock Cream ($40) to protect my skin’s moisture levels. It feels super light, which I love. The packaging also makes it easy to open and apply—I’m lazy (aka efficient)! Those seconds add up to minutes add up to hours of my life! Lol. 3. DBH EGV UV SHIELD SPF 50+++- ($60) I don’t recommend this product if ultra-protection is not your priority. This does leave a white-cast on your skin, but I found that this is the only SPF that didn’t break out my skin from the humidity, heat + masking this summer, so I suck it up! https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-17 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/b554ea91-0a63-4322-90d4-5acb41e9eef5/image-asset.jpeg little mag - The Next Best Thing to an Esthetician’s Magic Touch - The next best thing to receiving much needed R+R from the magic hands of your favorite Esthetician (if you’re so lucky to have one), is at-home masking. And not the Covid-y kind, but the fun kind. They’re great for special occasion prep, but also just great for daily-use. They’re easy, too! That’s always a plus in life. It’s always been a must-have for my bridal makeup prep process for my clients. It leaves skin super hydrated, plump, bright and dewy. Let’s go over a few rec’s if you have no idea where to start. They’re so popular now that they’re in every local drug store, but if you’ve never gotten into the habit of using them before (and even if you have!), here are some tips in helping you navigate the process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1598357809135-TLN8T685BMY599501AIH/Applying-the-sheet-mask-on-the-face.jpg little mag - The Next Best Thing to an Esthetician’s Magic Touch - Do’s & Don’ts Before we jump in, let’s go over some of the basics. The beauty of sheet-masking is that it’s ready-to-go. No fussing with scooping out and rinsing off like traditional masks. They’re single-use fabrics (usually), soaked in a serum specifically designed to address certain skin issues (ie- moisturizing, anti-aging, brightening). They’ve been a staple in the Korean skincare regimen for decades. I saw my mom use them on the reg while growing up (and people think she’s my sister so I think she knows what she’s doing). DO’s: · Wash your face beforehand. You don’t want to apply penetrating serums onto yucky skin. · Use them regularly. It’s like a concentrated product-application, and most of them are usually nourishing in nature, so generally speaking, you can’t really over do it. You can use them daily. · Read instructions. Not all sheet masks are created equally. Some are gels, which may come with a plastic film (don’t forget to take it off)! Also, some may not be intended for prolonged application. Read ingredients and their effects on the skin. · Use the excess serum in the package! Use it on your décolleté, arms, hands, feet. · Pat in the excess product after removing the mask and apply a moisturizer on afterward. This will lock in the good stuff. DON’Ts: · Wash your face after the mask! It’s like a mini-facial. Imagine washing your face after a facial. That kinda defeats the purpose, doesn’t it? · Use a moisturizer before a mask. This may create a barrier and prevent effective product absorption. · Neglect your usual skincare regimen. You can’t just take vitamins and skip food, right? · Reuse them! That’s yucky. Do save the extra serum in the packet (sometimes there’s a ton of extra), seal and refrigerate until reuse. They sell dry compressed facial sheet masks that you can pop in there to soak up the extra for a little treat. It’s like a twofer (2-for-1)! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/17b191b6-9136-4b66-90d5-fb4e13d7fc1b/image-asset.jpeg little mag - The Next Best Thing to an Esthetician’s Magic Touch - Hydration. It’s a common misbelief that drinking water will suffice for the skin. Not true, friends. While indisputably important to our health, ultimately, topical hydration is vital to our skin-health. If you need some quick hydration to the skin but don’t have a ton of time, here are some options: · Patchology ($8)- 5 minutes · Skinesque ($38- 30 pcs)- 3 minutes · Dewytree ($18- 30 pcs)- up to you. Let’s say 5 minutes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/6f2b77f8-0e21-43cd-a3d6-b131b926b692/image-asset.jpeg little mag - The Next Best Thing to an Esthetician’s Magic Touch - Be Extra. Sometimes you just need to give yourself a little extra love and self-care. Luxury-style. Here are some recommendations for that special occasion, or just because you wanna. · SK II ($95/ 6 pcs)- This has been my go-to for years. My mom swears by their essence, and, well—she looks great. · La Mer ($155/ 6 pcs)- La Mer is synonymous with luxury. If you don’t want to dive into the skincare line, treat yourself to the mask. · Sulwhasoo ($60/ 5 pcs)- Sulwhasoo is long-known as one of the staple Korean luxury skincare brands. Think: the Korean version of Cle de Peau vibes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/5a11193c-4fd0-4dc4-9834-225382cacaac/image-asset.jpeg little mag - The Next Best Thing to an Esthetician’s Magic Touch - Sheet-mask Library Here are some resources, now that you have a footing on the sheet-mask situation, to get you started. May the dew be with you, friends! Enjoy pampering yourself. :) · Yesstyle · Sokoglam · Peach and Lily https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-16 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/6e4ad297-1ad6-400f-8250-716933651be1/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Embrace Your Natural Hair Texture and Still Look Effortlessly Chic - It’s all about embracing your natural hair texture right now, from the runway to your living room. But we’re still trying to look cute, not cray, right? So here’s the trick to making the most of your situation and towing the right side of cute vs. sloppy ponytail. Step 1: Work with what the good Lord gave ya. Let’s look at what you should consider: - Your natural born hair texture. Is it straight? Wavy? Curly? - Your hair length. What are you comfortable managing, realistically? - What makes you happy? Don’t betray what feels right in your bones! You look best when you feel good about yourself. Let’s jump into it, starting with short hair styles and quick fixes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1597700388125-VZ5PUAJJFFGSXE6W6GRC/morrissey.jpg little mag - Embrace Your Natural Hair Texture and Still Look Effortlessly Chic - Morrissey is a hair icon …and for good reason! Both men and women can take a cue from his legendary coiffure for some inspo. Men who want to minimize efforts and find balance between WFM-casual and weekly-zoom profesh can tighten their sides while letting the front of their hair grow out. This is flattering for all hair types, from straight to curly, as the gently tousled, unkempt look is in. Try this (Ouai, $24) Matte Pomade for a controlled, relaxed look. Women embracing their natural hair texture can take up their sides as well. Like Halle Berry has famously proven—you can rock a boyish frock and still look ultra femme. You can manage how professional you need to be with how short or long you decide to go with the sides. You can also buzz your sides with long locks and conceal your stealthy rebellious sides, if need be, by letting your hair down. Try this (Cantu, $6) leave-in conditioner to soften your locks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/8946a26b-e868-41fb-be62-9a93ba0cc011/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Embrace Your Natural Hair Texture and Still Look Effortlessly Chic - If you’re like me, and you’ve got a messy wave in your hair that’s neither this nor that, then braids are your best friend. Braids are conveniently trending right now and they’re very forgiving. Roots showing? They’ll mostly hide ‘em. Forgot to shower? It’ll conceal the greasies. Haven’t had a chance to get your keratin treatment? No sweat— the braids will stay put even better. Try this (Shu Uemura, $48) leave-in conditioner to give some sense to those crazed waves when your hair’s damp after your shower (just apply on the ends and work up). You can even throw your braid into a bun to look professional or keep it in a ponytail for weekend vibes. And they look good at all ages. Keep em simple or get complex, it’s all fun! Just be patient. The first few times you practice you’ll tone those arm muscles for sure. Our instagram “How 2” Highlight shows an example of how I do my inverted braid (aka “Dutch” braid) on myself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/9f537f67-4209-4836-98e6-e095e0b68f26/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Embrace Your Natural Hair Texture and Still Look Effortlessly Chic - If you’re growing out your gorgeous, natural curly hair, then try a product like this (R+Co, $29). It’ll nourish your locks and encourage its natural shape without the crunch. If you’re not feeling like letting your hair down or don’t have time, do a loose braid and throw some earrings in to doll up your hair. Just ‘cause you’re having a bad hair day doesn’t mean you can't change up the tide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/ba638579-b22e-48dc-89d7-edb3b7173d48/wavy%2Bhair+%281%29.png little mag - Embrace Your Natural Hair Texture and Still Look Effortlessly Chic - You can maximize your braids and opt for this “day-after” look. The key is to keep your hair semi-moist before braiding (use this- [Shu Uemura, $33] before braiding), or, if they’ve been in braids all day, they’ll likely stay if you have a natural wave in your hair. If you don’t, just help it along by scrunching your hair with whatever product you have lying around—sea salt texture spray, a gentle hairspray, or even your man’s pomade. Don’t have any of these things? Just use a dot of hand lotion. Just rub it into your palms then scrunch your hair; don’t disturb the perfectly imperfect, “I-woke-up-like-this” (but not really) waves. Don’t worry, it gets easier, like everything. Practice. The key is to keep your locks in tact but give them a little undone texture. TIP: Leave the ends straight. We’re not going for a 90’s prom look here. ;) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/c4066631-4c10-428e-ba8d-4e2414a969bc/IMG_0516.jpeg little mag - Embrace Your Natural Hair Texture and Still Look Effortlessly Chic - Have straight hair? If you want a fresh look, you can do a blunt bob like Le Kitsune’s Cori, who has been rocking this look and loving it! If you kinda need length (like me), then do a fun part and keep it soft and make it look intentional with an added bow or some clips, like these pearls, which still keep it fun and profesh if needed. Remember: a lower ponytail, at the nape of the neck, means business, while a higher ponytail can be more playful (and youthful if you want it to literally give you a facelift). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1597754908969-6T9NFTE8EFUEVXVWZLGZ/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Embrace Your Natural Hair Texture and Still Look Effortlessly Chic - This week we’re featuring Michelle Calabrese, Master Aesthetic Artist at Medical Aesthetics Clinic Central Park Beauty NYC. Michelle synergizes organic with medical and is now a wellness coach, to boot! She has over 14 years in Medical Aesthetics working with top surgeons, specializing in restorative procedures and has pioneered the “Vagacial.” She gave me one of the most compelling facials I’ve ever received! 1. What's your personal beauty philosophy? We are all works of art. Treat yourself like art! Remember art is subjective, so some will appreciate it some won’t, you are still art nonetheless. Curate your art piece, but don’t not feel perfect. Personal care is curating your beauty. Don’t be afraid to pamper your art piece. Create a beautiful inner and outer ecological system and you will always bloom and be a garden of beauty for you and others to enjoy. Although I work on and maintain the health of the exterior which is art with in itself, I always tease my clients that I am just freshening up the window so no one misses a bit of their inner shine! Inner wellness is so important. When we are unhappy no matter how many beauty treatments we receive that energy will come through. My beauty philosophy is get in touch with and follow your bliss there is nothing that makes anyone more beautiful than happiness. 2. What product or service would you die without? Obviously, this is a trick question ha! Honestly, if I had to choose one treatment and product that I would be trapped on a desert island with and would never feel like I’d be missing a thing in my regime it would be Vivace radio frequency microneedling because it’s renovates the integrity of the tissue in such a way it makes you look like you slept 10 years and as far as product its very tough to narrow to just one :) but I am utterly obsessed with the Stone Crop Cleansing Oil by Eminence ($41), I can bathe in it and I just feel so clean and hydrated afterwards although on a desert island I’d need an Arsenal of products including lots of sunscreen, which my favorite is Elta MD Clear ($23), it’s a great formula and doesn’t wreck havoc on your skin. 3. What's a common misconception that you run into or something that you would you like people to know? That everyone administering beauty treatments is qualified, that there is no finesse and art to delivering aesthetic services. This is simply not true. There is a total intuitive nature to the work that shows in the consistency of the results. It’s a healing and the manipulation of science, to understand this is to master it. Which is very important when choosing who you allow to work on you. 4. Thoughts on current/ future trends? The world is in a transformative place right now, there are so many directions for it to go and it’s hard to tell with the social distancing what that will look like for the beauty industry. There is a lot of at home DYI beauty going on device wise, some of this scares me and some of it could compliment the work I do in office. I’m not a huge fan of at home microneedling, so many factors play into why I’m not a fan including the quality of the needles, the true depth, not properly caring/cleaning for the needling device and especially the possibility of being left vulnerable for infection. To me medical grade needling should be done professionally. The only at home dermal roller I will sign my name to is the Environ, They have the highest quality in dermal roller devices. The dermal roller is not a medical grade treatment, it will just create micro channels for better product penetration which will preserve and repair the tissue to a greater potential. Now if we are talking led therapy masks (Amazon, $119) they are fantastic, red led light therapy will enhance the quality of the tissue and is one of the greatest anti aging preventative maintenance restorative treatments you can do at home. The more exposed the better. This also will prolong the life of any office treatments. I feel so grateful and honored for this work to have chosen me. I love what I do so much! To be a messenger of wellness and be wellness in my whole existence is my whole purpose. Delivering it by doing the work to be it before myself and my clients. Inspiring, healing and enlightening beyond me just delivering words to take my clients to their greatest potential as well as me to my own. What I transmit energetically means just as much to me as what I deliver scientifically. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-15 monthly 0.5 2025-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/f55f21e0-db56-4b67-8eb0-fefd1ae73d3c/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Effortless Glow for Every Skin Type - We get it… …the “Glass Skin” movement means more than just a little dewy, but… not quite sweaty… but HOW? You may be oily, dry, combo-skinned, or not even sure, but let’s figure out how to get a cute, intentional shine, not an accidental one, in this brutality called summer (plus masking). And if you’re not glassy enough, like pouty girl over here, let’s get you shining (and smiling) like a diamond. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/42b6be68-686d-4039-8241-e3c7c9868d0a/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Effortless Glow for Every Skin Type - I’m normally super dry-skinned, but this summer has me shining like cray cray. Add a double-mask situation to that scenario and I end up donning a glass-skin look without even trying. But here’s what you can do to “Cinderella” your face. Here are three scenarios that may help you sort things out. If you have: Dry Skin: Your skin typically feels tight in the mornings, and the skin on your cheeks tends to be dry, particularly in the winter. If this is you, like me, you need to ensure that come morning, your skin is amply hydrated and ready to take on the stressors of the next day. Drinking water is great for your internal organ health but your skin-organ needs topical moisturization to sufficiently cut it. You need to thoroughly cleanse your skin and then reinforce your moisture barrier (outer layer), which isn’t as robust as our oily-skin friends. + The best way to approach Glass skin with dry skin is by reinforcing what your skin needs anyway. Minimize cleansing in the morning, which won’t over-strip your skin of much needed moisture. Just use a cotton pad with Micellar Water or a gentle toner and use a light moisturizer, which locks in moisture. For subtle glow, moisturize with an oil by pressing into the skin, and then add a second layer. A good oil will absorb into the skin and also provide sheen. Or, use a shimmery SPF. Dr. Jart used to have a great shimmery sunscreen that they discontinued (RIP Illuminating Sunscreen) and replaced with this subdued one. If you want more glow, mix in a liquid illuminator with your everyday SPF. TIPPY-TIP: Make sure your skin is sufficiently hydrated, or shimmer will only highlight the dry patches and bumps! Oily Skin: You tend to need blotting papers and powder, like, all the time. Your struggle is your forehead and T-zone and you’re kinda sorta super glad that shiny skin is finally frickin’ a thing. + Strategy is key with oily skin. After cleansing, prep your skin in the morning by using an oil-controlling toner (on a cotton pad) that won’t strip the skin, like this one, focusing particularly on the T-zone. Use a mattifying product in the porous areas with this instead of using just powder to prolong oil-control. Use a powdery-shimmer, like this Dior one, using a fan brush just on the high points of your face: on top of your cheek bones, middle of the nose bridge, and maybe a kiss on the chin. Don’t go too cray. Your skin will add its own shine ingredient soon enough! Combo Skin: You’re dry… and oily… depending on the seasons, your time of the month, and maybe even how much wine you had the night before. + You need to both moisturize and oil control! Chances are, you’re most oily in the t-zone, so after moisturizing, mattify with a kleenex (press), then powder your t-zone with a good oil-controlling powder. Really press into the skin for longer-lasting mattifying power vs. lightly dusting. Depending on your mood (and the humidity), you can adjust from a subtle shimmer with the SPF/ liquid method mentioned above, or with a more intense glow with the powder shimmer. Combine all methods to become a disco ball. With all methods, just figure out what feels most comfortable for your skin and your lifestyle. If you’re indoors a lot in AC, you’re most likely going to be dehydrated, so an oil may be the way to go. If you’re out and about and find yourself wiping your face frequently, then perhaps adding a touch of shimmer to SPF is most manageable. Either way, play with the level of shimmer til you go from a light dew to Cinderella-level GLASS. Enjoy the process and don’t forget to double-cleanse at the end of the day! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1597120323642-23KP5T17SS5KR0RFHTQJ/lina2.jpg little mag - Effortless Glow for Every Skin Type - Q + A with Broadway Actress Lina Lee Lina is a full-time Broadway Actress and has starred in Miss Saigon and Legally Blonde on Broadway. This week she shares some of her thoughts on beauty with us. She is also a Le Kitsune client! What's a product or service that you swear by/ would die without and why? I’m terribly obsessed with my eyebrows so I SWEAR by microblading. It cuts so much time off your daily routine and your brows always look symmetrical! Two products I’m newly obsessed with are Supergoop!’s ($34) Unseen Sunscreen and Drunk Elephant’s ($36) D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops. They protect your skin from sun damage and toxins while leaving a residue-free, smooth palette for make-up. The D-Bronzi drops also have a bronze tint so it gives your face a nice glow! I usually mix them together as part of my daily routine. How do you think your career as a Broadway actress has shaped your beauty philosophy and regimen? Having a career in live theatre is extremely hard on your skin. You are wearing a thick coat of stage make-up while sweating and cooling down over and over again 8 shows a week. It ruined my skin for a long time before I found my current skincare regimen. One of the most important rules I had to reteach myself (and that I break way too much) is never sleeping with your make-up on. After shows, I would be so tired and just go to bed, leaving all of my stage makeup to soak into my skin over night. Now, I use a 12-step skincare routine every morning and night. It truly saved my skin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1597121496479-AL7QJL9KFDUTXWB183JW/lina1.jpg little mag - Effortless Glow for Every Skin Type - Is there something that you'd like other people to know that you think might be a misconception about Broadway Actors? I feel like to most people, Broadway is made to seem glamorous. What people don’t know is how HARD these artists work everyday. Broadway is hard. The hours are long and rehearsals grueling. As a dancer, it is extremely hard on your body. You miss weddings, family events and time with loved ones. There is no stability in this business so it is also financially, emotionally and mentally challenging. Of course there are glamorous parts about Broadway but 95% of the time, it’s a group of the most hardworking, boss artists giving their whole lives to tell their story. And every single hardship is worth it because we get to do what we love everyday and share that joy with the world. And THAT is the dream. What's a beauty tip that you wish you had known about sooner/ would like to share? SUNSCREEN SUNSCREEN SUNSCREEN. (Link to Le Kitsune’s recommendations) I used to be that person who would lather on tanning oil with zero SPF to get a tan. My mom always warned me about wearing sunscreen but it was a habit that never quite stuck. I wish I had known how much damage extended sun exposure without protection could do to your skin. Now I wear sunscreen like an accessory to my mask. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-14 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1596568485653-VSRQ7RGJEBWM8ZOXPEXU/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Clean Beauty: Fact, Fiction, and Marketing Myths - Green. Organic.Clean. These words evoke a sense of pureness and farm-fresh foods. “Organic Skincare” sounds so wholesome, doesn’t it? It’s like rubbing your face in fresh fruits, mother nature and goodness, except—that’s literally the worst thing you can do. (Stop putting lemon on your face, y’all! The pH just ain’t right!) So let’s get down to the nitty gritty and do some sleuthing. You’ll emanate some ooh’s and ahhh’s in this article series for sure. Note: This article was informed by my homie and skincare Guru (who humbly requested to remain anonymous) (MBA, JD, LLM), 2nd generation of the family-owned business Dermaesthetics, Beverly Hills. You have most likely used DBH products on your face without realizing it. “Guru” is an educator, entrepreneur, and advocate for truth. Psst… this article is a little read-heavy and photo-light, guys. If you wanna save this for later, scroll to the end for a cute animal video. I gotchoo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/f75458d4-a45a-444c-831d-4ae0417d229a/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Clean Beauty: Fact, Fiction, and Marketing Myths - What does “clean” mean? We don’t really stop to think about that, do we? We’re used to everyone telling us what’s what. Wellllll let’s knock that off, bc that’s just silliness. Let’s get woke. Here’s a SUUUUPER condensed explanation, aka little mag style Cliff’s Notes version, of “Clean:” -The terms “Clean,” “Green,” and “Natural” are not regulated terms. There are no rules. Awesome. Comforting, right? That should be a slap of a wake up call for ya right off the bat. A gross simplification across the board is “eliminating what’s considered harmful”… but according to who? Drinking too much water can make you sick! And getting chemo can make you well. You get my drift. -Essentially, the big dogs: Sephora, Harpers Bazaar, Allure, Beauty Giants, Large companies (Goop) and influencers as well as ads, inform what we’re supposed to believe is “clean, green, natural and organic” bc they put the ad dollarsin (aka brainwash us). -Just like hot gossip, PR pros take one article or incident and it takes off until it’s crystallized in our heads—the general public—so that we believe it to be true. (Wait for it.) -These articles are usually grotesquely misinformed (even with “scientific data” backing it up), and information is manipulated to the point where it’s just hearsay! But it’s pushed in marketing and subsequently down our throats nonetheless til it’s seemingly irrefutable. It’s preposterous to erroneous, at best, much less fact. It’s all for the Benjamins , in the end, as they say. Are we surprised? No. Should u stop being a sucka? YES! Let’s sip the tea, y’all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/415f5b1b-7d1b-486d-9581-0993588c75da/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Clean Beauty: Fact, Fiction, and Marketing Myths - Para-bens. You know you don’t like ‘em. ‍♀️ You don’t even know what they are, but you just know they’re bad. That’s what you’ve been told to think, at least. Let’s break it down. Netflix reference: If you like Unsolved Mysteries, Fear City and Jeffrey Epstein, you’ll like this. Grab your popcorn. Definition: Parabens- any of various “esters” used to preserve ingredients in products so that they don’t oxidize. It encapsulates materials so that they don’t expire. It’s a heavier oil that protects and preserves the product. Bad rap: They are easily absorbed into the body and thought to mimic estrogen in the body, leading to reproductive organ harm, thyroid disruption, and hormone-related cancers. Case Study: (You waited for it… here it is!) Harpers Bazaar wrote this article on Parabens earlier this year making claim after claim about Parabens, citing study after study. Here’s one of them. They used this article to claim that they “found a link between paraben exposure and gestational diabetes mellitus.” That’s literally the title. ‍♀️ They must have not read the article. C’mon, guys. Here are some FACTS: -This study was done in Wuhan, China (super localized test group for a demo, don’t you think?). -Study consisted of 1,087 women. Again, that’s kinda small, dude. Seriously. My high school graduating class almost had that many people. Just saying. -ONLY METHYL & PROPYL Parabens are currently used in cosmetics in the U.S. This study highlights 3 other Parabens in a collective. That automatically should negate this article as pertinent. -Study’s Conclusion: “To the best of our knowledge… our findings suggest that exposure to EtP may increase the risk of GDM.” Now, I’m no lawyer… or scientist, for that matter, but I can read and I have a brain. I think something comparable to this might be: “To the best of my knowledge, eating Mc Donald’s may make you obese.” -Soooooo…to quote Bazaar: “The European Commission banned several types of parabens for use in personal care products: isopropyl-, isobutyl-, phenyl-, benzyl-, and pentylparabens. All five are still approved for use in the United States. FDA scientists have reopened investigations into parabens and cosmetics several times and continue to monitor new data, but their conclusion remains, “At this time,we do not have information showing that parabens as they are used in cosmetics have an effect on human health.” YEAH, bc you’re MISUSING information and none of this makes sense! Translation: In the context of a nail polish conversation— “Marsha and Karen said that paint is banned in their neighborhood, but in our neighborhood it’s still USED (on houses)!!! Our town mayor is looking into it but says that nobody has died from (nail) polish yet!” -I’m not necessarily pushing for Parabens and am not a Paraben advocate. I just don’t think ignorance is a particularly wonderful way to live, and I don’t appreciate it when people use manipulation to push their agendas (and distribute false information)— and instill fear and cause confusion, especially when they’re in a position of authority to inform people in the right way. ✊ https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-13 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/9ddc12a0-fb48-4c37-a7ca-40c5038f485d/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Bulletproof Makeup in Heat & Humidity - We can ponder all the mishaps that happen on the daily, or we can do something about it! IDK about you but I’ve just been having one of those months. ‍♀️ Internet goes out here, then that breaks there. FML! But hey—your makeup? No need to worry about that. I’m gonna show you a couple tricks that’ll have it on LOCK! You're fretting about makeup-meltdown in this 90-something degree humidity? Let’s make it, as I like to call—bulletproof! ️ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/37eabeff-9d63-48dc-bc16-b89872185b4f/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Bulletproof Makeup in Heat & Humidity - Mascara. We can’t live without it, until it makes us look like a hot mess. Panda-status. Post-rom-com status. That’s not a cute look, is it? And the constant rubbing that ensues to try to tidy the area up just makes me wanna cry, honestly. The skin there is so delicate! The rubbing and tugging and friction will wear down the skin’s elasticity, dry the area, and make me cry. So. Here’s what I’ve discovered: Japanese mascaras. (thx c chien!) That’s the answer. I’ve tried a million different kinds of waterproof formulations, and American ones, while staying hydro-repellant, also don’t budge, so I end up losing half of my 10 precious eyelashes while trying to remove my mascara. The Japanese ones have a formula that applies like a regular mascara (not watery like those tube-mascaras or chunky like the fiber-ones), but comes off easily come wash time. Here’s ($18) my personal fave. The packaging is reminiscent of stationary you’d buy for your 8-year old niece who loves Hello Kitty (—also adult me), but never mind that. It’s not exactly cheap, either, but it’s good stuff and it lasts forever. Remember! Mascara should be the most cycled-out item in your makeup bag. A stye (or worse—an eye infection! *cringe) is never worth it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/75a3c4c5-853c-4d98-b40f-cf1c2c49b576/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Bulletproof Makeup in Heat & Humidity - Eyeliner. Girlfriend ova here is using it as a statement, but for me, it’s the air I breathe. I literally can’t go throw out the trash without my eyeliner. I wear it when I’m at home by myself. It’s a part of me, and I have no shame in that game. So. If you don’t want to fuss with it but need a fierce cat-liner in your life, then you need a product that you can rely on like your life depends on that Spanx keeping you sucked in at your cousin's wedding that your ex is attending. Yes. We need that kind of strength. Cue the humble and under-appreciated Milani infinite liquid eyeliner ($5-$8). You can find it at almost any CVS or drugstore. At a humble $8 a pop, it’s the “dupe” for the MAC waterproof liquid liner, which, at around half the size, comes in at almost three times the cost. While the formulations differ slightly, it performs just as well. TIP: Please use a separate applicator brush with it, of your personal preference, be it a pointy, slanted, whatever. The stuff is goopy. And a little goes a looong way. Use less than you think, then use half of that. It’s highly pigmented so keep mini q-tips handy to wipe quickly before it dries and sets (dip in micellar water for extra ease of removal). Also—keep a paper towel handy, as it crusts when it dries. Use the paper towel to wipe the brush between strokes so as not to lacerate your delicate skin with the crusty brush (yes I'm dramatic but it also does get that rigid). Also, since it’s waterproof, use an oil to remove. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/0f13f5c6-9adf-4548-91c8-ffe3279b2726/image-asset+%281%29.jpeg little mag - Bulletproof Makeup in Heat & Humidity - If only we could wear a helmet over our heads like this lady, to protect our makeup. If you find yourself in a spot where you know you’re going to be bludgeoned by the merciless UV rays of the summer sun and all its sticky glory, but you need your face to look snatched, then this is a pro MUA (makeup artist) trick that’ll save your cute tooshie. There are ten million setting sprays out there now, but this is the O.G. and this setting spray does not play. A friend from makeup school shaved off her brows (I know, the horror ) and drew them in with a pencil, sprayed her face with this and danced her face off all night—except for her brows. She said her brows were still there at the end of the night. This is nothing short of a miracle. So. Drumroll* this setting spray by Urban Decay ($33) will suffice, thank you, all you newbie setting sprays. TIP: So here’s the catch. After cleansing your face and moisturizing, priming, all that good skin stuff, you spray this before applying makeup. It functions to control excess sweat and oil production, like a deodorant for your face. Then you do your makeup, powder, and spray again. It’s a setting spray sandwich. It's officially bulletproof. Tested and approved by emotional, riotous brides everywhere. Try not to leave your mouth open when you realize your face is perfectly still in tact at the end of the night, after all your shenanigans. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-12 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/b105284d-5e03-4273-8e49-772ea8241279/image-asset.jpeg little mag - The Eyebrow Conundrum - The Conun-drum Photo by CoffeeAndMilk/iStock / Getty Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/da2e1f11-65e2-4764-a78b-b36913bfde25/image-asset.jpeg little mag - The Eyebrow Conundrum - If you’re blessed with a nice fluffy pair of brows, then you learn very early on how to use them to your advantage. They add flair and character to your expression and influence the flavor of your default face. There’s even a term for it. The “eyebrow flash,”⚡️ which considers brows as sort of an exclamation point for the face. Fear and surprise , for example, is a subconscious give-away that we express with our brows. Even forensic psychologists use the brows as a gauge to help decode nonverbal human behavior. Are you aware of what “messages” your face might be giving away that you’re unaware of? Let’s chat about it. Many people are aware of the nonverbal cues that they’re conveying. It’s part of being an adult—being self-aware. Not sporting a green mohawk ‍into the corporate office, or smiling in a serious meeting for no apparent reason… are all a part of the social cues we pick up during the socialization process. The more subtle parts are in the personal choices that we make every day are the ones that people are less apt to comment on, however. Yes, even those closest to us. People may not necessarily comment on why you chose to wear an aubergine-colored blouse with those green pants, for example, or why you choose to draw in your eyebrows that way! And if you don’t give a hoot about your eyebrows and you’re confident witcho bad-self, then more power to you, sista-brother-friend. But in case you’re curious, read on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1595345620430-I2NJQFR99F6HREI25VK5/image-asset.jpeg little mag - The Eyebrow Conundrum - Brows are the frame for your entire face. Not just the eyes. A well-chosen frame will not only highlight the art, but it will dignify the art without ever assuming itself as the center piece. Let’s go over how the brows should frame your face and also what they shouldn’t do. + Brows should look natural. For me, this means the eyes should always be the focal point, and where people are drawn to look immediately and foremost, above everything else on the face, including the brows. In other words, they should be secondary, even when they’re striking. - Don’t make them an unnatural shape, too dark for the context (ie no makeup), or too big. They should follow your natural bone structure, which never changes. + Brows should match the tone of who you are. If you’re an au naturel gal, you probably shouldn’t have hyper-defined, perfectly stenciled-in brows. It needs to match your vibe, in other words. - Don’t go by trends. Trends are fleeting. You’re not wearing your clothes from ten years ago, are you? Your face shouldn’t either. + Brows should be age appropriate. 12-year olds shouldn’t have full makeup-eyebrows, and 70-year olds should have a 70-something looking brow, that matches their vibe. Bone structure changes as you age. Your face loses volume and elasticity. Your brows should still be flattering and be considerate of these changes.- Don’t have a closed mind. Consider a new shape that may be more youthful, which may also mean slightly bigger sometimes (if considering PMU- permanent makeup). Gradual is good. Drastic is bad. + Brows should follow the contours of your face, meaning they should be softer in the front (generally speaking), and taper into a darker tone towards the tail. If someone’s looking at you straight-on, the contours of the face lead the eye to see shadows around the perimeter of the face. If you have an intensely blocked, unnatural front, chances are it’s distracting more than enhancing. - If you’re looking surprised, sad, angry, tired, or anything else that’s untrue— it may be due to your brow shape! Consider consulting a shaping professional to see what’s best suited for you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/b91c85ae-76a5-418a-9053-01794efa7937/image-asset.jpeg little mag - The Eyebrow Conundrum - It may seem trivial, but I’ve had countless clients tear up in my chair. No one knows the struggle of another person unless they’ve walked in their shoes or heard their story. We may be like—chill, they’re brows, what's the big deal? But for them, having the perfect brows might mean reclaiming their identity and acquiring a sense of normalcy again after a battle with cancer. It might mean finding a renewed sense of confidence after feeling old and obsolete. It might mean being treated with dignity and kindness when people were always short with them because people always thought that the person was grimacing. You never know, until you know. I say that brows are the quickest, most non-invasive and economical way to transform your entire face. I’ve had a client say “Renee, I’ve had so much plastic surgery (she's not shy and I love her for that), and the brows are the only thing that people noticed and said I look better, younger and more refreshed afterwards!” It is what it is! So—now that you know, treat your brows with a little more intention and appreciation! Who knew they were putting in so much work for ya! And hopefully this goes without saying, but JIC—choose your brow artist wisely! I always say—it only takes one time (to screw them up). https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-11 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/833c545d-374b-4279-be12-2f3044f2dfe1/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Breaking Down Skincare Acids: What They Do and How to Use Them - So many ingredients, so little time. To say that it’s overwhelming to consider all of the skincare products on the market is a gross understatement. I picked out a few key ingredients that get thrown around a lot. And understandably, most of the people I talk to don’t really know the function or role of the ingredients and haphazardly use whatever their friend/ instagram/ Alexa told them to get. It’s A LOT. So, let’s simplify it without it making it a thing. ‍♀️ This week let’s cover the ubiquitous “Acid” ingredients: Ferulic, Hyaluronic, Lactic, Glycolic, Salicylic, Malic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/d7b9fc99-9eaf-490f-8c39-8371d86c7bf2/image-asset+%281%29.jpeg little mag - Breaking Down Skincare Acids: What They Do and How to Use Them - Let’s start with Hyaluronic Acid. First of all, what a misnomer. People make the assumption that it’s an exfoliant of some sort. Let’s over-simplify: it’s a moisturizing agent. Yurp. Hyaluronic Acid is a sugar found naturally in our skin that holds water and helps keep it hydrated and plump. Like everything else good in life (jk), it decreases as we age. It also holds a thousand times its weight in waterin our bodies, and helps to retain and prevent evaporation. This means it’s what we in skincare land call a “Humectant.” It draws in and holds onto water. Cliffs Notes- Try to get it in serum form so that it’s penetrating the skin and not just sitting on top of it (molecule size needs to be micronized, aka small enough). Ferulic Acid (aka hydroxycinnamic acid). Another misnomer. This little guy is an antioxidant. Bottom-line: protects and prevents free-radical damage (this includes things like premature aging, inflammation, and hyperpigmentation). Is best friends with Vitamin C, E, resveratrol and other antioxidants. Frenemies (don’t use) with: Exfoliating acids like glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids because they can alter the pH, which compromises its efficacy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/432d10ac-09ea-4a1d-8f0d-e78bf1b2cc96/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Breaking Down Skincare Acids: What They Do and How to Use Them - And sometimes, Acid means acid in the way that we think it means. Lactic Acid ($6.80), as one would think (unlike Hyaluronic and Ferulic ova there), is designed to break down dead skin. Specifically, it treats hyperpigmentation, age spots, and other situations that contribute to a dull and uneven complexion. It basically dissolves dead skin cells in a super friendly, non-irritating way. Even my super sensitive skin can handle a daily dose and not get irritated..Other benefits include improved skin tone and reduced pore size. However, unlike AHAs like glycolic acid and salicylic acid, which can weaken the skin barrier, lactic acid is milder. …Unlike Glycolic Acid ($52). Glycolic and Lactic acid belong in the AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) family, that’s why they’re cousins. But Glycolic acid is the more intense cousin. It also has anti-aging properties but it also helps to reduce acne and tighten pores because it has a nice small molecule size, so it penetrates readily. This stuff stings, FYI. I wouldn’t use this every day on my sensitive skin, for example. Maybe 2-3 times a week. I find myself reaching for my glycolic pads in the summers when I’m a grease ball. In the winter, not so much. We’ve heard of Salicylic Acid in the pimple ads. It’s neighbors with the AHA—it’s a BHA, a beta hydroxy acid. AHA’s are water soluble, BHA’s are oil soluble. BHA’s penetrate through the lipid layers between the skin cells more readily. They penetrate the skin to a deeper level than its acquaintance, AHA. So buh-bye, pimple. It breaks up and dissolves the gunk. Tippy-tip: It works best on whiteheads and blackheads. Malic Acid: it’s an AHA (you know what that means now! woohoo!) and does a plethora of cool stuff, including: hydrating, exfoliating, improving skin smoothness and tone, smoothing wrinkles… and is a humectant, to boot! In conjunction with its exfoliating friends it packs a punch in this Green Apple Peel Full Strength Exfoliating Mask ($48). https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-10 monthly 0.5 2025-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/bdc59adb-27dd-4ad2-8709-90b7d1f89278/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Simple Self-Care Hacks for a Healthier You - Help, please. I love New York, but it’s a stressful city. As soon as I got back into the city on Friday, I hopped out onto the street from Penn Station, and immediately, there was an epic downpour ☔️⛈. It stopped five minutes after I walked home. Awesome! That’s life, though, isn’t it? It’s just one thing after another, sometimes! This is why self-care ‍♀️is so essential. Admittedly, oftentimes my self-care is induced from necessity rather than proactive measures, but I’m getting better. Let’s minimize the stress, shall we? Here are a few simple hacks that will nip a few common problems we all share in the bud. Lymphatic drainage massage for those puffy-face days, pimple-patches for the fun maskne that we’re all facing, and a solution for how to put on sunscreen for those melty-face summer days☀️. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1594135948295-W0JBZR3OLA9PMKUR6CBV/system-head-neck.jpg little mag - Simple Self-Care Hacks for a Healthier You - I don’t know about you, but when I’m stressed, it culminates into a plethora of super fun habits, like eating junk food, losing my workout regimen, and not sleeping. This translates to what I call “puffy-face.” The Lymphatic system is an awesome little component of our immune system within the circulatory system that has many jobs, one of which is to maintain our body fluid levels. Inflammation is a sign that we have poor lymphatic drainage. Namely, puffy-face. Here’s a great video by The Moments on Youtube that specializes in depuffing the eyes, which is great in the mornings. The action starts at 3:06 if you’re impatient like me. I did this massage this morning and I already feel better. Tip: Wash your hands beforehand and use a non-comedogenic oil (non-pore-clogging) on your face pre-massage. You don’t need to use a lot of pressure because lymph runs superficially in the skin, so no need to drag and cause wrinkles. Gentle pressure! If you suffer from allergies (like me), have congestion around the sinuses, or have headaches, this lymphatic drainage massage will draw out toxins. Regular exercise also helps (but doesn’t it— with everything in life? If only it were as fun as eating cupcakes). Diagram inserted for your visual stimulation as well as for your knowledge. (Notice how much of the lymph runs along the jawline!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1594136518706-W0CQA395YTER53VLCZ27/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Simple Self-Care Hacks for a Healthier You - It’s a Catch-22 You can hide your face. You can wear the mask that caused the pimples to hide the pimples. Or, you can fight back! I had the amazing opportunity to test these infamous COSRX pimple patches ($3.56) when I got graced with a fun little (aka big) pimple smack dab in the middle of my face. I haphazardly slapped one of the patches on before bed, cynical in my expectations—and shut the front door, Aunt Jemima, it WORKED!!! It was less than half-mast from the night before. (️Pimple-0, COSRX-1) And although the mask sufficiently covered the area, I was also surprised at how well the patch blended into my skin tone sans mask. (Now time for them to up their game and create all skin tones! Cough* don’t take a million years like Bandaid‍♀️.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1594137216749-QZN8XM9KKY7JIFO4XV08/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Simple Self-Care Hacks for a Healthier You - This kid looks adorable, but it’s not so cute when you have to reapply sunscreen over your melty summer makeup-face. Enter Soleil Toujours Sunscreen Makeup Sealer SPF Spray. And it’s organic! Woop! I recommend sandwiching an SPF under your makeup and over with this product, because… skin cancer is no bueno for anybody. Here’s a throwback to Article 4 that has some solid reco’s for regular sunscreens. This spray is also a great mid-day solution for minimizing germy situations. Less contact on the face, the better. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-9 monthly 0.5 2025-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/d4c2f5d1-ca64-4dd8-98ba-ae4d5e944642/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Daisy Dukes, Check - Daisy dukes, check. Tube-top (sans tan-lines), check. Platforms, check. (‍♀️I'm a Cali-girl at heart!) July 4th is one of my favorite holidays. Happy Birthday America! It’s one of the few holidays when the entire country feels unified, relaxed, and happy. It’s summer, there’s B.B.Q. (one of my favorite foods), and it’s all about spending quality time with family and friends, relaxing. And there’s a burst of glitter in the sky at the end of it all. C’mon. It doesn’t get better than that. So whether you’re going to the park, beach, or your own backyard, let’s prep our faces (and gams) for the event, shall we? Here’s a Le Kitsune curated July 4th playlist to help you get your party started. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/bfc2c200-3033-45d0-a17e-95f484b5b0ff/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Daisy Dukes, Check - Be as cheeky as you want, but wear a hat!!! As I’ve recommended before, while it’s helpful to check your city’s UV index for the day, it’s still always a good idea to just… wear a hat! Especially if you know you’re going to be outside all day. Big sunnies extra credit. Mama Lee once shared some wise words. She said “you see the sun damage on your face that you incurred ten years ago.” In other words, it’s too late by the time you see it. You can do the creams, peels and lasers to try to reverse the damage—or you can just wear SPF and a hat and save yourself a whole lotta trouble. Here’s a list of SPF reco’s in Article 4. I can never reiterate sun damage prevention enough! ☝️Don’t forget to set an alarm every 4 hours ⏰ to reapply. I like to cleanse the skin mid-day before reapplying sunscreen with something like these Astringent Exfoliating Pads ($6.49). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/dcd9a22b-e24d-4e38-847d-841cdb81ffce/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Daisy Dukes, Check - I tend to be more vigilant in my skin-cleansing routine during the summer. This is because: 1) I’m slathering on sunscreen, and 2) my sensitive, combination skin tends to get oilier in the heat and humidity. When I know that I’m going to be in the sun all day & reapplying sunscreen, I prepare my skin for the onslaught of fun. The night before I do a thorough cleanse of my skin. This entails: 1. Oil Cleanser ($13.41)- Oil breaks down oil. This dissolves all the grimies we accumulate throughout the day. 2. Foam Cleanser ($16.99)- This rinses off all the oilies. Think: Soap on a greasy dish. 3. Tone (w/cotton pad)($10.99)- This rebalances your skin’s pH levels, refreshes your skin, and gently removes any leftover dirt in your skin (aka fights against pollutants). 4. Essence- This step is supposed to smooth the skin, amplify the steps after (think skincare primer), and accelerate skin cell turnover. If you don’t feel like dishing out ($91 @Walmart-yes, Walmart!) for SKII’s famous essence (it’s a little stinky, FYI), you can always go for a Missha’s wallet-friendly version ($16). 5. Serum- The skin’s vitamins, I like to call it. It’s also intended to target your skin’s concerns. Problem-solving, designed to penetrate the skin. High-impact. Vitamin-C for lightening dark spots ($49), or growth factors for rejuvenated skin ($281). 5. Moisturize/ Seal- Here are two light, non-offensive options that are good for everyday use in the summer. Peach and Lily’s Rescue Balm ($28), and Skinesque’s Moisture Lock Cream ($40). Moisturizer locks-in all these good steps. 6. Mask ($1.80-$2.90)- If you want to be extra (nourishing) to your skin, then these masks are a no-brainer and won’t break the bank. I stock up on these and pull from the inventory when needed. If you really want to treat yourself, SKII (3 for $39) is my Shangri-La of masking and my pre-treatment for Bridal Makeup applications. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/7bcd1242-2eed-4e55-90b3-302a20ac57bd/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Daisy Dukes, Check - If you want happy skin the next day, make sure you repeat all previously mentioned cleansing/ prep-steps and maybe even do a pure aloe-mask. Swing by your local farmer’s market, grab a leaf or two, scoop it out like my grandma used to do, and with a spoon—eat half (apparently it’s good for your insides, too!) and slather the other half on your face. If you don’t have time—grab a blue jar of the good stuff, Noxzema. Read more about my affinity for it in Article 4. The goal is to soothe and calm your skin and restore it back to health. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-8 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/93f7a9b7-be56-47e4-8443-b094c8f358c7/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Celebrating Pride, Beauty, and the Art of Expression - Looking back, many of my closest friends throughout my life, since early childhood, turned out to be gay. How fortunate I’ve been, in being able to witness (and subsequently appreciate) the oftentimes arduous journeys of self-discovery compounded with the normal duress of, well, life. Anyone with a smidgen of wisdom and life experience knows the grace, patience and strength it takes to be oppressed and to remain kind, positive, and optimistic! That being said, what a moment of revelry in history to be able to celebrate Pride month! Indeed, we are far from the ultimate goal, but I think it’s always a good idea to celebrate the moments that we can. To all of my dear friends and family in the LGBTQ community that I’ve met and friends that I haven’t yet, I dedicate this article to you! Love you! Quick History: Let’s take a second to appreciate the Rainbow flag. ️‍ According to Baker’s website, each color has a meaning: ❤️Red= life, Orange= healing, Yellow= sunlight, Green= nature, Blue= harmony, and Violet= spirit. How beautiful! ❤️️‍ Gilbert Baker designed this flag, and demand for the rainbow flag shot up after the assassination of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the history of California. My brother, Chris, bought me Kevyn Aucoin’s Making Faces ($22) for my 16th birthday, and here I am 20 years later, still swimming around in the Beauty Industry (and loving it!). Thank you, bro! Industry Pioneer, legendary celebrity MUA (makeup artist) and LGBTQ VIP Kevyn Aucoin, was my first official makeup teacher. RIP. He was also the doorway into my discovery of extraordinary, mystical, sparkling Drag Queens, who faithfully taught 16-year old me the intricacies of contouring (long before The Kardashians made it a thing). Bless. Here’s an article (with lots of pictures!) if you want a quick read-up on the illustrious history and fascinating evolution of the Art of Drag. So, as an ode to my O.G. drag-queen education, I thought I’d pass along the baton of stepping out of our comfort zones by teaching you all… (drumroll)… how to apply color eyeshadow! GASP* Yes, it’s an appropriate look for all ages, lifestyles, and peoples. Take notes, y’all! It’s gonna be fun. YOU CAN DO IT! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/2160f852-5d5a-41ea-b206-7569a3263768/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Celebrating Pride, Beauty, and the Art of Expression - Eyeshadow It’s a scary word. And color-eyeshadow? I mean… forget it, right? It can seem daunting. So many questions. What brush do you use? Do you use your fingers? Why are there so many variations of the same shade? Where do you put what? What’s glitter, shimmer and matte? And whyyyyyyy. Like everything, start with one step. Today I used Too Faced’s Sparkling Pineapple Eyeshadow Palette ($34) to show you a step-by-step how-to for a very wearable look (seriously) to help you dip your toes into the world of color. And just in case you start to take yourself too seriously, the piña colada scent of the palette will bring you right back down to rainbow-earth!❤️ (You’ll even be equipped with some Pro MUA tricks by the end!) Everything is intimidating until you learn the ropes. Baby Steps. Scroll down to take a look! https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-7 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/8784cb75-928b-401c-9c19-68b73c9f0f91/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Embracing Ambiguous Loss and Holistic Beauty - I came across the notion of “Ambiguous Loss” recently during a webinar with Harvard University Chaplains Dr. Pat & Tammy McLeod, led by Voca Center. Ambiguous Loss can be defined as: Physical Absence with Psychological Presence (e.g. absent parents due to divorce), or Psychological Absence with Physical Presence (e.g. Alzheimer’s, addiction). I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I quickly realized the value of this seminar, as Ambiguous Loss is defined as the most stressful type of loss because of several variables, including: the inherent barriers it creates for grieving and coping, the lack of a linear process towards letting go, the fact that it’s rarely validated, and… there’s no closure! We are all enduring a form of Ambiguous Loss right now. With Covid-19, Quarantine and the general state of the world, there’s a ton to process. There’s always the laden voice that says “I should be so lucky, my neighbor/ cousin/ friend is much worse off, so I’m not going to complain.” We’re constantly minimizing, justifying, grappling with or altogether ignoring our current situations. It’s very un-American to whine. Suck it up and trek on, as we say …except that doesn’t work for the long run. Even if you “feel fine,” it doesn’t hurt to take preventative measures towards optimal mental health. Here are eight ways of growing resilience: 1. Your loss is valid; grieve it 2. Be gentle with each other and yourself 3. Revise attachments 4. Reconstruct identity 5. Temper mastery 6. Normalize ambivalence 7. Find meaning 8. Discover new hopes In short, let’s be okay with not being okay. And let’s give ourselves a little cushion to figure things out. Our bodies need sleep and rest, so it’s natural to allow our minds to process and rest, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/16106ff8-0e94-4d40-82f3-b98f3d370459/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Embracing Ambiguous Loss and Holistic Beauty - Steps towards healing. The past couple Q+A with a few beauty gurus and friends got me thinking. When prompted to answer “what’s your beauty secret?” Surprisingly, much of their answer entailed body and mind awareness. This got me thinking. What is in our head and our hearts will inevitably manifest physically. It’s short-sighted to remedy our skin, for example, without considering all of our other lifestyle choices and its impact on our health. So let’s be proactive. Think about who it is in your life, your community, that is helping you with your losses? -Create a Safe place. Deal with your job/ circumstance as a whole person. Don’t smooth over things. -Process + Action. It’s impossible to move forward fully without processing where you’ve been. -Growth. Processing loss in healthy ways grows your empathy and makes you more resilient, not to mention healthier and happier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1592323696266-3INBOT3UCT0A0OW8PB2M/19-06-07+Peony+Di+Sy-0152.jpeg little mag - Embracing Ambiguous Loss and Holistic Beauty - Tippy-Tips with Peony Ivy-league-grad and ex-Financier in NYC, Peony went on a vacation to Spain and never came back. She has now been in Spain for 20 years. She is not only the Beauty Industry Pioneer in Barcelona, with three beautiful salons, one in Passeig de Gracia, known as the “Rodeo Drive” of Barcelona, but she is well-respected amongst her Entrepreneurial peers and is beloved by her Spanish community. Her focus is on high performing, bio-compatible skincare products and facial treatments, rendering world-class luxury beauty services, and staying healthy and beautiful, naturally. 1. Favorite products or services right now? Microcurrent facials: After menopause, my skin’s health took a punch. It’s a lot thinner, the muscles on my face are flaccid, sagging, and I look tired all the time. A microcurrent session immediately makes my skin look brighter, my facial muscles more toned, and my face awake and energized. Much like the way my body feels after a good workout in the gym. I’ve cut back on alcohol significantly because my body no longer flushes it out of my system as efficiently, so when I treat myself to an evening that includes champagne, I get a microcurrent facial to flush out all the toxin with a lymphatic drainage. Microcurrent facials enable me to avoid fillers and botox because it not only tones my facial muscles but also moves it back to its near original position on my face. It also stimulates collagen and elastin production (by 20% per session) and adenosine triphosphate (by 500% per session) and consequently reduces fine lines. For those interested in trying microcurrent facial, I suggest doing a kick start program of 12 sessions within a month and then doing monthly maintenance subsequently. One of the cleansing product I’ve been faithful to for over a decade is Bamboo Salve by Dulkamara. It’s by a small company in Navarro; the product uses the highest quality botanicals and bamboo sap, which is rich in anti-oxidants. I use it like water micellar - I deposit a small amount on a cotton pad and wipe the dirt and pollution off my face. I don't rinse it off. They also have a Bamboo Milk that takes away redness and inflammation almost immediately. We use it after threading the upper lips or eyebrows in the salon. 2. What is something you’d like people to know? I want younger women to know that there are fantastic options to Botox and that getting Baby Botox as a preventative treatment is not a good idea. Dr. Andrew Jacono commented that you are stretching your skin to make room for the injection when you inject Botox before you need it. So when that injection wears off, your skin is loser than it would have been otherwise. You can read up on it: Park Avenue Face book Dr. Andrew Jacono. Microcurrent is the best preventative treatment, and it also helps rehabilitate atrophied facial muscles from years of Botox use. I have noticed that people who do regular sessions of microcurrent look about ten years younger than their peers. 3. What’s your Beauty Secret? Yoga and meditation. The state of my body affects my facial expression. When my body is not comfortable, or my back is aching, or I feel stiff, that tension shows on my face. Yoga became especially important to me in my 50’s. I do a session every morning, and when I skip, I regret it. I practice Iyengar yoga. I call it military yoga because it’s about precision and holding the asana position for some time. Because it’s static, it can be a bit boring, but the results are worth it. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-6 monthly 0.5 2025-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/ccfdba7d-7b30-432a-a5bf-8dfc02b294b4/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Korean Spa-ahhh - Korean Spa-ahhh We’re all doing it. We’re masking now. So what are the facial repercussions, exactly? The friction, the germies, the layers, the trapped air. Just so much awesomeness all over your face, all day long. Today we’re going to cover how to get Covid-clean. Face and body (can’t forget our corporal skinz). I have Dr. Rad (hi babe!) to thank for today’s article. He’s eyeballs-deep in PPE all day these days. To all you front-liners and medical-fielders, hats off. You are the heroes of this generation and we will forever be indebted to you. Thank you. Let’s get to it. Let’s talk body, first, for funskies. We’ve all heard about it. Those esoteric Korean spas, with those mysterious Korean scrubs. What exactly is it, though? What makes it special? Admittedly, I’m a pretty “bad Korean.” Born and raised in So-cal, Laguna, I was sheltered from the glorious Korean-spa culture until my early twenties. But please, allow me to share my one-step-ahead-of-ya knowledge. A fellow Kor-Am girlfriend finally took me to a small neighborhood K-spa. Awkwardness of initial birthday-suit-glory-amidst-strangers aside, it was life-changing. You get over the nekkedness quickly, because, well, you realize that no one else really cares about you. They’re just trying to get their best skincare-life on. After witnessing and partaking in the customs and rituals of K-spas for a few years now, I’ve come to realize that the nonpareil of this entire situation is the body scrub. Here’s how it goes IRL: a sturdy yet scantily-clad Korean grandma (it’s strangely fitting, though, in a kitschy kind of way) instructs you to lay face-down on a slippery bed, usually in an open, collective room. As soon as your face hits the bed, you hear the sound of what almost seems like two sandpaper pads rubbing against each other. Then she goes… to town. The first time is shocking, uncomfortable, even painful, for super-newbs. After a while, though, you seek the scrubby pain. You miss it. Like a good little Pavlovian doggy, you learn to distinguish that exquisite sandpaper sound to mean unequivocally, unbelievably soft, nubile, baby skin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/51c87f3f-3599-436d-b941-f1c28983d0f6/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Korean Spa-ahhh - DIY K-scrubby thingy I consulted a professional Korean “Fob” friend of mine regarding this ritual (sup Ash!). Apparently there are three key elements that go into it. So, to save you the potential awkwardness of the birthday-suit-grandma-in-black-lingerie situation, just do the best part—the scrub—in the comfort of your own home. Here is the secret to that baby-skin life: 1. The quintessential “italy towel.” (8pcs/ $5.73) And nope, IDK why they call it that. It’s like as acceptable as sandpaper can get for your skin. These little suckers last forever, too. 2. Epsom Salt. ($4.87/ 3lb. bag) Self-explanatory. You can find this at any drug store. Any flavor works. 3. Irish Springs bar soap. ($3.97/ 8-bar pack) Why? Again, IDK TBH. It has to be Irish Springs, though. This much I know. This is the secret to this secret recipe. Scratch your heads all you want, but it works! Directions: before you go in to your scrub appointment, the front desk ladies request you to soak in the sauna for 10-15 minutes. This is to “bloat” and soften your skin. It facilitates the dead-skin removal process (so fun!). So at home, do all your other deeds in the shower and save this step for last so your skin has a chance to “bloat.” Next, you take your wet italy towel (one hand in each like little mittens), dip it into epsom salt (about a tablespoon) and rub together, then swipe over the Irish Spring Soap generously, and scrub in small movements, starting from your feet/lower legs and moving up. You start here because it’s less sensitive. Starting on your upper body is intense. Also, big, wide, sweeping movements will prove deadly. Seriously, it hurts. Pretend you have a sticker on your body that you’re trying to scrub off. You’ll notice almost immediately that little rolls of dead skin will start to collect all over your body. It’s equally horrifying, satisfying, gross and awesome all at the same time. Rinse as needed, re-moisten and re-dip into salt and soap, respectively, as needed. The first time, one pass is sufficient. At the K-spa they do this 3 times over the entire body. (Note* Keep it neck-down! Our facial skin cannot handle this level of scrubbery.) Afterwards, while your body is still wet, take an oil and rub all over entire body. If you wanna treat yourself, try Leland Francis’s Luxe Body Serum. ($80) Pat yourself dry and use a thick body cream afterwards. You’ll be feelin’ yourself all day, literally. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/c7be2653-0c3a-40b7-8466-7bf73bd3d2f0/image-asset+%281%29.jpeg little mag - Korean Spa-ahhh - Mask all day, mask all night. It was fun for a minute, not having to wear makeup and being able to mask. Now, breakouts galore and novel skin irritations later… we’re over it. So what do we do about it? It’s life as we know it, now. So here’s your new routine: 1. Clean your skin. Like really clean your skin. This doesn’t mean scrub harder or be harsher. It means be thorough. Oil-Second Cleanse-Toner-Serum-Cream is the comprehensive formula. 5-steps. No time for that s***? Try this: Micellar water-Toner-Cream. It’s better than using wipes or nothing at all! 2. Sensitive skin? Try a mild but thorough physical exfoliation ($27) with gentle products, like Skinesque’s Enzyme Cleansing Powder, for a more thorough cleanse. This Silicone Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush’s mechanical movement will literally shift and move dirt and debris out of your pores. I like this one because it’s ergonomically-friendly, price-point-friendly, and water-proof. 3. Nourish your skin. Mask when you can. Your poor skin’s going through some extra stuff, so you need to give it some extra TLC. Not sure where to start in the mask world? Skinesque has a great 3-for-1 situation (on sale at $17.50/ 5-mask box), a no brainer. Or this box o’ masks is $38 for 30 sheets. I like to keep mine in the fridge and apply cold. PRO-TIP: Remember, whether you’re cleansing or applying products, always use gentle, circular or patting/tapping upward motions on your face. This helps facilitate product absorption (hair follicles/pores face tend to face down on the face), and it has collective lifting/anti-aging effects. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1591719045289-HO5GQUNWDMMXDTZS9KC1/BeautyStyleList little mag - Korean Spa-ahhh - Tippy-Tips: BeautyStylelist’s 3 cents This week we pick Beauty Guru Tiffany aka BeautyStylelist’s (26k followers on instagram) brain about some of her favorite things: 1. Favorite Products or service right now? I’ve been a big fan of Korean enzyme peels for the past years. It’s a quick skin booster to resurface and oddly satisfying to see the dead skin roll off. (Here’s a suggestion: Dr. G’s brightening Peeling Gel- $14, if you want to try one out.) 2. What is something you’d like people to know? Skincare and skin is constantly changing. Being aware of your body and mind is crucial to be able to treat any outbreaks or skin issues. Everything starts from within. 3. What’s your ultimate beauty secret? Being aware of your body is the best secret to advice I can give. Changing and shifting your treatments products, lifestyle, diet, and sleep will change your skin to be its best. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-5 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/77f6e675-23fb-4af0-9866-ece953694505/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Neglecting the Body - Neglecting the body. In light of recent events, I’m not in the mood to talk shop, TBH. Everything can take a back seat. When part of our community feels so unheard, so hurt, that violence breaks out and pervades our daily lives— it’s woke, necessary, intelligent, progressive, and healing, to consider—why? I’ve been discussing this with my parents over the past few days. Yes, it’s not right to damage property and loot from the innocent, but—aren’t we all a part of this? How did we get here? What caused the uproar to begin with, can we talk about that, sis? Whether we want to admit it or not, we’ve all been in the room. If we’re Americans, we have in one way or another witnessed and taken part in this violence against the Black community. We’ve either been contributors, defenders, or by-standers. Now we’re all feeling the collective consequence of our “decisions.” If you’ve been unlucky enough to suffer an injury (or if you’re just not 12 years old anymore), your body probably aches or ails from time to time. It’s how our body alerts us of an issue. If I’m upset, stressed, tired, or under duress, my throat hurts. It’s my personal weak point. I wake up and there it is, unbeknownst to me. It’s my body’s alarm to wake up and take care of myself. I’ll take zinc, hydrate more, be more mindful of my energy management and mental space throughout the day and make sure I get lots of rest before I get sick. If I ignore it, I suffer the consequences. I suffer the damage to my body, the loss of time, etc. It’s the same thing with our collective body. We are one body in this society, in this body we call America. Our body has been aching, and it’s been telling us for a long time how much it’s been hurting. We’ve ignored it. Has it turned into a cancer? Is it still treatable? We’ll see. Let’s do something about it. It can seem inane shooting out a simple text, but it counts and it's important. Text “Floyd” to this number: 55156 to sign the petition and demand justice for George Floyd. It’s a small, significant way to show our support to a community that’s our friend, neighbor, coworker, our fellow human—to show that we care whether they live or die. And seriously, we text all day. Just saying. And let's not forget to pray. #prayerworks https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1591105315239-1WPIZ02NBJOGQKNLH01P/black+lives+matter.JPG little mag - Neglecting the Body - Please, care. This counts. What you do matters. Your action or indifference will affect you, the future of your loved ones and will shape the fabric of our society. Please, care. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/article-4 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/acd7d01f-a0f7-4fdd-b630-593709f74023/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Oh Sweet Summer - hola cola. There are about ten million product recommendations out there. I’m going to share with you a short curated list of products that are A+ for your basic summer needs. Aka keepin’ your skin 100. Currently listening to Le Kitsune’s Summer Quarantunes (Thanks Cath for the idea!) and writing in a bathing suit to get into the mood, bc I’m a silly goose. Alright let’s get to it! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/ae016b2b-b3a6-477e-82f8-c2de1f3888a4/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Oh Sweet Summer - sunscreen Nobody loooves wearing it, but it’s serious business and we really need to. (Check your city’s UV index!) It’s really just silly to suffer the consequences and so much more difficult to undo the damage. By the way, sunscreen should go LAST in your skincare routine. So here are 3 recommendations, and here are my personal prerequisites: -Broad Spectrum (or else why bother). -No White Cast (bc that’s not cute). -Doesn’t feel gross. Supergoop ($22). You’ve probably heard of them. I tested their products during the brand’s sophomoric status and I wasn’t too impressed, but they’ve clearly learned. This product is a winner. Earth’s Recipe ($15 on Yesstyle or $24 on Amazon). It’s been a while since I used this one but I still remember being incredibly impressed at how not gross this felt. If you’re put off by the yucky feeling of sunscreen, this gives you zero excuses! Innisfree ($15). This is an incredibly popular sunscreen because it’s straight-forward, hits all the marks and is at a friendly price-point. PS- Want to know a true model-secret? No model that relies on their face for a living subjects it to cruel punishment (aka uv rays). Most models’ faces are at least 3 shades lighter than their bodies bc they always protect their face (Makeup Artists then match). Use St. Tropez self-tanner to compensate for the difference. ONE PUMP is enough for the entire face. I like the mousse formula because it’s easy to distribute. Exfoliate in the evening, moisturize, then apply one pump all over your face starting with the forehead (at the scalp) only in the areas you would apply bronzer. I like to use my (clean) small blush brush to apply for quick application and control. The key is not to put it everywhere #nooompaloompasplease. Leave some space where you would wear swim goggles and stay mostly on the outer part of your face and a little over your nose bridge and on your chin. This creates a more believable, natural effect. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1590505656611-C0XM5ULUNL76CLXBEF83/Leland+Francis+Body+Serum little mag - Oh Sweet Summer - prep that skin. Since we’re all still hopeful about easing Quarantine restrictions, but also can’t exactly plan a trip to Hawaii, treat yourself with this Malie Organics Body polish ($29) in Plumeria after your body wash in the shower. It really smells like everything you hope Hawaii would smell like. It also leaves your skin baby-soft, smooth and visibly polished (literally) and is a great prep step to reveal those shy winter gams. Leland Francis is one of those product lines that I’m obsessed with. And while I think its rockstar product is the 29-Botanical Oil ($85), they also came out with a beautiful Body Serum ($80) that’s clutch in the summer. I like to apply it when my skin is still wet from the shower, which facilitates absorption. This will take your skin to the next level. It’s also a small-batch company from Los Angeles that’s clean, non-toxic, cruelty-free & vegan. Also, Dillon, the owner, is a friend of one of my clients— he’s a real person and he’s sweet as pie. Support local! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1590507135138-VOCR4GP2W2B3HIS2LJHJ/Noxzema little mag - Oh Sweet Summer - oops …you did it again. You accidentally got too much sun. Or, if you’re like me and you turn transparent during winter, you’re bound to upset your skin when the sun suddenly decides to make a debut. You can thank Papa Lee for this beauty tip, but good ol’ Noxzema does the trick for me. Yup! He’s been slathering us in this stuff post-beach since we were kids, and it’s a hero at “removing the heat” and calms my angry, sensitive skin immediately. And it’s less than $5! Is your morning latte even that cheap? It’s an O.G. for a reason. It works. It has camphor, menthol, eucalyptus, linseed oil and soybean oil. Camphor reduces inflammation and reduces pain topically. The menthol lends the tingly, cooling effect. Apply generously as a mask (face & body), wait until dried, and wash off with cold water. Moisturize. Notice your happy tight little pores? Yer welcome. If you’re in pain from a severe sunburn (RIP skin), this will save your life. Derma MD should rename Pink Silk “Life-Saver,” because I was literally taking pain medications during a painful bout of sunburn when a friend (Hi Madison) gave me the last bit of her Pink Silk sample from her Esthetician. It had saved her life once before and she kindly saved mine. It healed it in one day. HOW?! Angels are inside that bottle, I’m telling ya. They come out and mend your little lobster-sunburned-skin before heading back to heaven. It’s composed of caviar (of course), red algae peptides from Hawaii, and Angels. Jk on the last one, but I wonder, though. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1b66de2d-f3a9-438c-9e22-ffeb7a1ac237/reverse%2Bbraid.jpg little mag - Oh Sweet Summer Now that is an up-close of my noggin. Please don’t judge the 4-inch roots.#Quarantinehair know what I mean, jellybean? https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine-1 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/ab19159b-4b58-4540-b8ed-9df57ca0f1fe/Image%2BCopyright%2BLe%2BKitsune%2C%2Bshot%2Bby%2BNando%2BEsparza.jpg little mag - Are You Pickling Your Skin? The Truth About Makeup Wipes This seemingly innocuous product can wreak havoc on skin. If you use these on more than the occasional "late night" say, once or twice a year... you're using them too much! What is this egregious culprit? Makeup Wipes. Surprised? Yeah, well you’re not alone. Once this is thought through, though, it makes sense. Here is my personal speculation on why this isn't such a great idea, particularly over an extended period of time. (I'll revisit this topic later after I cross-reference with input from other skincare experts.) PS- Don’t feel bad if you do this. It’s more common than you think. You don’t know better until you know better. Plus, we all get stuck in our habits. Sometimes, we just need to learn some new, better ones! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1588649097560-MPND26UPK91PEVROXCXM/neutrogena.jpg little mag - Are You Pickling Your Skin? The Truth About Makeup Wipes Why Makeup Wipes Aren’t Great 1. Preservatives and chemicals. They're wet cloths in an enclosed container, at room temperature. What do they put in there, exactly, to keep them from getting gross? Can’t be good. 2. Moisture-to-cloth ratio. There's not enough moisture, IMHO. This causes too much friction and is way too harsh on the skin, bottom line. The scrubbing and tugging you have to do on the skin to sufficiently remove makeup (especially waterproof!) makes me want to cry. 3. Two-in-one is a no-go. It's like a shampoo-conditioner situation. You can't effectively cleanse and coat, simultaneously. (At least, not every day, without it taking a toll on the skin.) You wouldn’t be pleased if you went to a car-wash and they tossed on suds and sealant all at once and called it a day, would ya? Or nail salon and they did remover and top coat altogether? …you get the point. In a nutshell: Yes, makeup wipes have gotten a lot better, BUT— continuous use of makeup wipes daily causes stress on the skin, doesn’t allow it to be thoroughly (or properly) cleansed, and skin is routinely “pickled” by the chemicals, friction, stress and neglect which can cause drying, premature aging and wrinkling. Toss em! They’re like feminine douches. Like, why do they exist, though? Seriously. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/5f904b0b-f67b-4608-bdc3-89cf2daa06ed/muji.png little mag - Are You Pickling Your Skin? The Truth About Makeup Wipes The Better Alternative. Simply use Micellar Water and Cotton Pads, instead. Same-same but different. You’re doing the same thing as makeup wipes, but this is soooo much better for your skin. Here are my recommendations: GOOD Muji Cotton Pads ($3 for 165 pads) Bioderma Micellar Water ($15 for 16.7 fluid oz.) vs. BAD Neutrogena Makeup Wipes ($9 for 2-pack, or 50 wipes) Why the Micellar Water/Cotton Pad Combo is the Bee’s Knees: not only will one of these puppies do as much work if not more than one of those makeup wipes, but: > The cotton’s fabric is gentler on your skin (it won’t cause micro-lacerations) plus—friction irritates the skin. > The Micellar water’s unique formula removes dirt effectively without compromising the skin’s moisture balance. Hello plump, happy, youthful skin! Don’t forget to saturate adequately (be generous with yourself!). > You get the same removal effects sans chemicals. > It’s more economical when you do the math! It costs around half as much. Remember: It will most likely take time to re-institute a healthy skin barrier but I anticipate that your skin will show improvement immediately. But really, though, what is there to lose here? Nothing. https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/article-2 monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/9d09567f-8126-475e-bf83-a33dce23ca8a/gigi%2Bglitter.png little mag - Top 3 Beauty Trends: Summer 2020 Victor Virgile Getty Images Gigi Hadid in the Off-White Show https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1588732353190-Q4D19PMPPW4L15AMY7K6/water+color+eye+shadow.jpg little mag - Top 3 Beauty Trends: Summer 2020 Hunter Schafer via @rubcha on instagram https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1588732466093-6LBQYS73HD284JSYQP2P/red+lips.png little mag - Top 3 Beauty Trends: Summer 2020 Mike Coppola/ Getty Images Prabal Gurung show https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1588745397478-R7I0U0S3V8MJ6DVY2VJW/elizabeth+arden.jpg little mag - Top 3 Beauty Trends: Summer 2020 Elizabeth Arden 1947, Beautician and Cosmetics Entrepreneur Credit: Hulton Archive/ Getty Images https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/little-magazine monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d3799c0ea1ab800017d6de9/1588662266081-ZLJ8Q8C8V9AD954EOIRS/image-asset.jpeg little mag - Bite-Sized Beauty & Fun Tips Photo courtesy of Nando Esparza https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/category/Summer+Beauty monthly 0.5 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/tag/makeup+artist monthly 0.5 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/tag/sunburn+treatment monthly 0.5 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/tag/skincare monthly 0.5 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/tag/K+beauty monthly 0.5 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/tag/pro+tips monthly 0.5 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/tag/natural+makeup monthly 0.5 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/tag/summer+skin monthly 0.5 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/tag/sunburn monthly 0.5 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/tag/suncare monthly 0.5 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/tag/summer monthly 0.5 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/tag/summer+makeup monthly 0.5 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/tag/sunburn+prevention monthly 0.5 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/tag/pretty+skin monthly 0.5 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/tag/glowy+skin monthly 0.5 https://lekitsune.com/little-magazine/tag/healthy+skin monthly 0.5 https://lekitsune.com/aboutus daily 0.75 2026-03-15 https://lekitsune.com/whattoexpect daily 0.75 2026-03-15 https://lekitsune.com/contactus daily 0.75 2026-02-12 https://lekitsune.com/cancellation-policy daily 0.75 2026-01-23 https://lekitsune.com/pmu-color-evolution daily 0.75 2026-01-23 https://lekitsune.com/pre-care-after-care-1 daily 0.75 2026-02-23 https://lekitsune.com/schedule-a-consult daily 0.75 2026-02-12 https://lekitsune.com/home daily 1.0 2026-03-15 https://lekitsune.com/pmucandidacyguidelines daily 0.75 2026-03-01 https://lekitsune.com/update-phone-number daily 0.75 2025-03-25 https://lekitsune.com/privacy-policy daily 0.75 2026-01-23 https://lekitsune.com/faq daily 0.75 2026-03-16 https://lekitsune.com/rf-microneedling daily 0.75 2026-02-02 https://lekitsune.com/facial daily 0.75 2026-02-02 https://lekitsune.com/our-services-makeup daily 0.75 2026-02-17 https://lekitsune.com/microblading-correction-removal-nyc daily 0.75 2026-03-06 https://lekitsune.com/our-eyebrow-services daily 0.75 2026-03-16 https://lekitsune.com/testimonials daily 0.75 2026-02-20 https://lekitsune.com/press daily 0.75 2026-01-27 https://lekitsune.com/pricing daily 0.75 2026-02-24 https://lekitsune.com/eyeliner daily 0.75 2026-02-17 https://lekitsune.com/lip-blushing daily 0.75 2026-02-17 https://lekitsune.com/new-page-copy daily 0.75 2026-02-09 https://lekitsune.com/services daily 0.75 2026-02-23 https://lekitsune.com/training daily 0.75 2026-02-22 https://lekitsune.com/update-appointment daily 0.75 2026-03-14 https://lekitsune.com/store daily 0.75 2025-03-25