January 21, 2011

the Muse in The New York Times!

Kinda an exciting day today! I’m in the New York Times!

w00t!

It’s a piece about Western women who buy and use Asian cosmetics. I’m featured in the article as well as my best mate Row from Cosmetic Candy.

If you’d like to check it out you can visit the article by clicking here! A version of this article appeared in print on January 20, 2011, on page E3 if you have the paper handy.

123 Comments

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • clementine

    Such an interesting article!! Maybe there will be more imports now…? XD

    I LOL’d a little bit at the last bit, because it’s such a typical grass-is-always-greener situation, hahahaha. In Japan, where cute DS stuff is common, it’s often about bigger international brand names. In the US, brand names are easily accessible, but we’re fascinated by the cute packaging and fairly consistent quality.

    • the Muse

      one can hope clem!!!!!!!! ;-D I agree ;-D def had a laugh that Japanese women are all about bigger counter brands when they are surrounded by an array of gorgeous, affordable drugstore cosmetics ;D!

    • the Muse

      ha makedonka ;-D I don’t anyone actually knows my real name, until now, as I’m always refereed to as Musey or Muse ;D!

  • Missy

    Yay!! Terrific article, congrats to you! Well deserved recognition for all your awesome work 🙂

      • outsourced beauty commenter

        hee, glad you’re getting some attention from the news. very cool. loved the article. interesting about the tourists wanting Dior & other stuff, maybe you could work out trades with overseas bloggers visiting?

        • outsourced beauty commenter

          Muse’s Beauty Tourism Blog

          a non-locally owned subsidiary of muse

        • the Muse

          hey rose ;-D thanks hun! ha..that would be interesting eh ;D I normally swap with friends overseas so same difference eh 😀

          • she of many names

            lol but it would let the rest of us do so. seriously– love ya blog– esp the green love <3 Korres, caudalie, etc. save the planet supermuse! 🙂

  • rachel

    Congratulations! this is amazing muse, I’ve been dying to get my hands on some Japanese beauty products. Do you know of anywhere in NYC that sells Japanese products?

    • the Muse

      Hi Rachel thanks hun. Queens and Jersey offer up some nice stores however they do not really have a wide range of newer products from Japan and it’s mostly mascara, skincare, masks, etc…if you’re looking color cosmetics it’s best suited to online shopping. Hope this helps!

  • Ru

    Wow this is so amazing! Also, I had no clue about the quality of Japanese makeup! I’m going to have to hunt a little now. BTW, your name is so pretty. Congrats on the article! I hope you get some new followers!

  • KristyQ

    WOWZERS! Congrats, dude! 🙂 You def deserve it – your blog rocks. You should celebrate this weekend!

    • the Muse

      thanks kristy cheers mate ;D! you’re lovely to say so! ha def! I never need a reason to celebrate though ha :D!

  • Jonnie

    How incredibly cool! That’s awesome. I’m way happy for you. And Isabella is a very fitting name for you… beautiful!

    • the Muse

      thanks Jonnie! aw shucks you’re too sweet I actually hate and most people call me Izzy ;D

      • Jonnie

        For reals? I can so conjure up the image of someone named Isabella being all glamourous and stuff… 🙂 like old Hollywood glam. Slinky dresses and long cigarette holders and all that… 🙂

        • the Muse

          HAHAHAA! conjure all you want that’s SO not me Jonnie LOL! hehe ;D but you can tell people I’m glamorous if you want *strikes an awkward pose*

        • Donna

          Shhhh she’s trying to stay anonymous! Even though we do know that she’s lounging around in her slinky dress with the long cigarette holder dangling from her fingers…

  • Eve

    Wow Grats! That’s amazing! Seems like a random article but who cares? Your’e mentioned! And so is your blog!
    I read the article and I could only wish that Asian makeup was more available here. I mentioned this to my fiance and he suggested we go check out the Asian center of Dallas, tee hee! Maybe I’ll get lucky!

  • mon

    Congratulations! Whoa insurance broker?! Never woulda thought lol! But yes so happy that you’re in The NY Times! Very well deserved! Maybe now it’ll be easier to get our hands on some of these brands 🙂

    • the Muse

      lol mon yeah, completely diff from beauty eh 😀 thanks hun! xoxoxo! hope so!

      • Jonnie

        No more a random combination of job and obsession than being a soldier with a makeup habit… you’re not strange! 😉

        • the Muse

          ha Jonnie ;-D! true! all walks of life and all types of chicks love some good makeup eh? ;D

        • mon

          No, I don’t think it’s strange at all that an insurance broker can love blogging about makeup. What really surprised me was that Muse is an insurance broker. That was my moment of the day. I always thought insurance brokers would be serious all the time, but then again I don’t really know what an insurance broker does so… 😛

          • the Muse

            LOL your moment of the day mon? lol ;-D we aren’t all serious although some of us are for SURE ;-D hehe!

  • Nunu

    Congrats Musey!
    What they say in that final paragraph is quite true, my relatives march straight over to the Dior, Lancome, and MAC counters while I head straight over to the Kanebo, Kose, and Majo Majo xD

  • Megan

    That’s so amazing! I tried to pick up today’s NY times on my school’s campus but it’s nowhere to be seen… I dunno if we just didn’t get it or if everyone just decided to pick of the paper today. O_o

    Anyways, good for you! I love your blog. That’s really exciting! 😀

    • the Muse

      ha megan they all knew i was going to be in it and grabbed it up lol kidding ;D thank YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Jasmine

    congratulations!!! with the great work you’re doing it was only a matter of time before you got noticed 😉

  • laura r

    just saw the article itself on a random browse of the online Times and i was so excited! now you’re famouser! (famous again?)
    i had to laugh because about halfway through it I was thinking, Musey would totally agree, and then BAM, there you were!

    • the Muse

      ha laura hardly but thanks girl! ;-D hehe ;D! it was def a ME kinda article. I started this blog on Japanese and Asian reviews so it was nice to be quoted ;D!

  • Jodie

    Hey Muse! Thanks awesome. You totally deserve the coverage. I read your blog almost everyday (lurker lol) and it’s top notch. Keep up the great work!!

  • Andrea

    Congratulations! That’s so exciting! I’m so glad I found your blog. I love seeing and hearing about such a wide range of products. Thanks for all the hard work; you so deserve this!

  • HautePJ

    That is so cool! Congrats you deserve it. I honestly never knew much about Asian cosmetics until I started reading your blog :).

  • Dana

    Like others have said, you really deserve this. Your blog is extremely well written and lovely. Congrats.

  • Paris B

    Congrats Izzy! You totally deserve it, and that $150 powder too! 😉 I read it on my phone from Row’s tweet and didn’t notice you for some reason till I read your tweet. Very happy for you 😀

  • Eve

    I totally placed an order at SaSa after this, a BBCream and mascara, I hope it works! It’s the Kiss Me Heroine Hero, or something like that. I’m still going to search around Dallas though!

    • the Muse

      awesome eve ;-D Enjoy! BB Creams are FABBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB ;D good pick on the mascara as well it’s a cult fav!

  • dina

    congratulations girl!!!! muse is taking over 😀 sending you a virtual celebratory cupcake xo

    • the Muse

      aw thanks d!!!!!!!!!! miss ya around here been ages since we talked sorry 🙁

      • dina

        yes agreed, i haven’t been commenting much but for sure been keeping up with my musings :/ hope you got my new year’s message! my little miss lucy wants to meet this auntie muse who has her ma clamoring for a nordstrom/sephora outing after all of your reviews the last few weeks!! hope you have a well deserved celebration this weekend 😀

  • jenna

    i have to add my two cents here as well and say congratulations muse this is very exciting and you sure deserve it!!!

  • Donna

    Congrats Muse!

    Now you must tell us your favorite site to shop. I’m already nervous about shopping online, but international??? Which one has the best customer service and prices? Customer service is most important though, I’m scared my package will get lost, and hope they will track it down or replace if that happens. No good getting cheap prices, but the package gets lost and it’s “too bad” and you get nothing!

    I was just thinking, my niece is an insurance broker, and the girliest girl I know. So it’s no surprise that you are an insurance broker too. lol

    Congrats again! So exciting!

    • the Muse

      hey donna thanks. sadly I don’t endorse many sites online to shop at b/c they jack prices up very high from retail 🙁 I can’t really give you a list of prices and cs as none have good pricing LOL ;-D aside from Adam Beauty that is, I’m not affiliated with that shop btw. Most of my items are gotten from friends who live in various parts of Asia and I try when I can to get them to get me items rather than be ripped off online with high pricing 🙁 Sasa is a good place as well but the shipping is a bit iffy at times. 🙁 Really can’t suggest anything with shipping, it’s a chance you have to take sadly when it comes to airmail 🙁

      Aw awesome!!!!!! ;-D say hey to your neice for me!

  • Mary the Muse Militant

    That is fantastic to see you mentioned in the New York Times !!!!
    Well, they can only ask the expert ! 🙂
    Isabella is a really beautiful name. A queen’s name.
    If anyone knows where in London or England sells Japonese cosmetics do spill !!
    Have wanted to try the brands other than Shu and Shiseido.

  • Shayne A

    Musey, I couldn’t be prouder of you than if you were my own daughter!! What an incredible honor to be mentioned in a Times article ~ a little spritz of a blog like mine could only dream of something as astounding as that!! Aww honey, you must be over the moon ~ I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more!! 🙂

  • Grace

    Congratulations! That’s amazing! I’m glad you’re getting the recognition you deserve!

    xoxo grace

  • Tigress

    Congrats, that’s awesome! You definitely deserve to get recognized – I’ve only just discovered your blog and I now check it everyday. It’s no small task to provide us with such informative product reviews and it’s most appreciated. You rock, girl – thank you! 🙂

  • PinkyKathy

    CONGRATS and BIG HUG!!!!! I love asian m/u too. My stash is full of Japanese m/u and very few of american items. They are always in good quality, cute packaging and worth the money. ^_^

    I really don’t understande one point. In Asia, every departmentstore carry almost all of the famous brand from Europe and USA like MAC, Chanel, Lancome, Dior, Makeup Forever, Benefit, and they also provide Asian cosmetics like Shiseido, Kanebo, Kose, Shu uemura. BUT WHY WHY WHY, USA departmentstore only have Western brand. That’s not fair. hahahaha ok They have Shiseido, but the choice is so limited, unlike Asian store, they sell shiseido, maquilllage, integrate, majolica.

    I wish, I really wish one day, USA can bring some asian m/u to the store :))))

    Love your article so much, as well as your blog ^_^
    I’ll def cont reading your blog.

    Love
    Kathy

  • Anna

    I just want to add my kudos, just a little late. I do want to let you know that you are the only blog I read daily and I have referred my best girlfriends to you before they go out to shop for cosmetics. You really are the best muse!
    Thanks for creating this great resource.
    Hugs,

    • the Muse

      aw jeez thanks anna hugs!!!!!!!! I really appreciate the awesome comment/compliment!