Sometimes an internationally known star and a brand just, mix.  Sometimes a face and a personality just fit into a brand.  Sometimes.

This wasn’t just “Sometimes” for Tokidoki, as on Feburary 1^st, the pop culture brand, meaning “sometimes” in Japanese, announced its partnership with International recording artist Jasmine Villegas.   

Though only 18, Villegas, a Filipino-Mexican American teen R&B, pop and soul singer is no stranger to the business of branding and entertainment.  Villegas has recently signed with Sony Music Entertainment, and was the opening act for the second leg of Justin Bieber’s My World Tour in 2010.  Since releasing her much anticipated mix tape in September of 2011, Jasmine has amassed a huge following and is currently ranked the 8th most powerful artist, 9th most powerful woman on Twitter with 961,709 followers, and has accumulated 58 million Youtube views.

“I am so excited to be the new face of Tokidoki” said Villegas.  “The style is so me!  Simone’s designs and products are so cute, everywhere I go – girls come up and tell me how much they love Tokidoki!”

Beginning in January ‘12, the partnership will include in-store appearances and special events.

“We couldn’t be happier to partner with Jasmine,” said Tokidoki CEO Ivan Arnold.  “She will represent Tokidoki apparel, accessories and beauty in a fresh and fun way that speaks directly to our consumer.”

Without a doubt, Hello Kitty is without a mouth. But did you know that this feline’s favorite food is her mother’s apple pie? I know I would like a slice of that $400 million dollar fortune (from Hello Kitty alone).

As much as Hello Kitty loves a homemade treat, Sanrio fans can now also treat themselves to a spectacular celebration. Sanrio is celebrating its 50th anniversary, Small Gift: Celebrating 50 Years of Sanrio, with a traveling pop-up truck at a city near you.

In addition to their mobile pop-up shop tour, from Seattle to NYC, Sanrio will be holding a special Small Gift L.A. event in Los Angeles from November 12 to 21.

Limited edition items will be on sale, including special product collaborations with Lomography, Mimoco and tokidoki, characters will be available for photo ops, artists will showcase their pieces, and interactive activities and opportunities like video games are in store.

Oh, and did I forget to mention a bona fide carnival? Whee!

Founded in 1960 by Mr. Shintaro Tsuji, Sanrio follows the gift-giving philosophy of “small gift, big smile.” Sanrio has been a type of gateway for Japan and the world; Hello Kitty has been a UNICEF child ambassador for the U.S since 1983 and Japan since 1994. In addition, the stories behind her missing mouth is a symbol for her universal language, in which she speaks from her heart.

Hello Kitty may steal most of the thunder, but she should take a bow. This star has made way for others like Keroppi, Pochacco, Spottie Dottie and Cinamoroll, who just so happen to be my alternative favorites.

DETAILS

Small Gift Mobile Pop Up Shop Tour

October – December 2010

From Seattle to NYC, find out when the tour is coming to a city near you here.

Small Gift L.A.

November 12 – 21, 2010

Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405

For more info, click here.

Childhood is calling. There’s something about the newest makeup products these days that reminds me of elementary school art class. From markers to paint brushes to finger painting, the easiest makeup this summer just requires a little dexterity.

Liu Wen gets playfully colorful backstage at Derek Lam's fall 2010 show.

Tokidoki Fantastico Lip Stain.

Tokidoki Fantastico Lip Ink

I’m not a lipstick person and I’m certainly not a lip liner person, and that goes double for the hotter months of the year. And yet nothing is worse than hair stuck in lip gloss. Ew.

But the genius that is Tokidoki Fantastico Lip Ink stains your lips with a soft marker tip and feels like you have nothing on (except for that luscious mango scent and the fact that it has moisturizing panthenol so your lips stay hydrated). It goes on sheer and light, allowing you to layer more for a deeper stain. And it lasts. Wow, does it last.

Available at Sephora, $15.

Hard Candy Powder Keg in Dagger

Hard Candy Powder Keg Loose Eye Shadow in Dagger.

Throw away the brushes and the applicators. Nothing is easier than dab, dab, dabbing with your ring finger.

Case in point. Hard Candy’s Powder Keg Loose Eye Shadow in Dagger is so easy to use, you’re liable to go a little crazy. Spill proof container and applicator deposit just the right amount on your finger, allowing you to dab silky smooth olive green shadow with just a hint of golden sheen on your lid. Dab a little for a sheer sheen. Dab more for a unique, deep smoky eye perfect for summer.

Oh, and the hue looks so good on Asian skin tones.

Available at Walmart, $6.

Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen.

Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen

I may be great at dabbing (cream eye shadow, lip gloss), but anything requiring precision application (nail polish, eye brow pencil) gets a bit tricky. I have a cousin who always has the prettiest, coolest nails — sometimes with just a swipe of blood red on the tips, sometimes with a unique design on each nail — and she always does it herself.

Nail art designs in white.

Sure, it helps if you’re an art major, like she is. But if you’re not, you can always cheat with Sally Hansen’s Nail Art Pen. A fine tip pen lets you draw precise lines and the water-based formula can be corrected with a moist cotton swab without damaging dry nail polish.

Available in eight different shades, and as always, it’s toluene, DBP and formaldehyde free.

Available at most drugstores.

Benefit Confessions of a Concealaholic

Benefit Confessions of a Concealaholic kit.

I’m not usually fan of makeup palettes and kits, especially the eye-cheek-and-lip kind. Before you know it, little bits of aubergine shadow are embedded in your nude pot gloss, and everything becomes one gritty mess.

Benefit’s concealer kit, on the other hand, is genius because now you have everything you need to touch up those blemishes on the go — even a handy mirror built right in.

With mini sizes of their best selling concealing products including That Gal primer, their hard-core Erase Paste concealer, two shades of concealer (for dark circles versus blemishes), a pink concealer for under eyes, a yellow for everything else, and two double sided brushes that get you covered!

Open up the kit and you get step-by-step instructions on how and where to cover. It doesn't get easier!

Available at Benefit, $36.

tokidoki's milk-stealing "Moofia."

The kooky world of tokidoki.

I know, I know. No matter how “Asian” tokidoki looks, the designer behind the adorably wicked characters is Italian and there is no other Asian connection other than its obvious inspiration from Japanese pop art. We discovered that in the early days of Audrey when we went to a press preview and saw the characters and got excited, thinking it was a new Asian brand or line or designer that we could feature. Nope. Simon Legno, the creator, other than his passion for Japanese culture, has no discernible Asian connection that would allow us to finagle the brand into the magazine.

A colorful look from Tokidoki's exclusive new makeup line at Sephora.

But that doesn’t stop me from loving the line. And besides, what is “Asian” anyway? I think something like tokidoki that perpetuates and mainstreams a visibly “Asian” aesthetic is all good.

Now that I have that out of the way, I can just show you the adorableness that is tokidoki’s exclusive new line at Sephora. So, so, so cute, with its ever-present wicked bent. Kawaii for adults. Get it just so you can look at it on your vanity.

The line includes everything from brightly hued eye and lip makeup to character-splashed makeup tools like the all-important kabuki brush. One of my favorites is the tokidoki Perfetto Eyeliner ($16). It’s a chisel-tipped pen liner, which is incredibly easy to use, and it comes in so many cool colors. Don’t limit yourself to your eyes — get creative with the eight bold shades to draw anywhere, anytime.

tokidoki Perfetto Eyeliners.

I like the tokidoki Fantastico Lip Stain ($15) as well — it’s also got that marker pen applicator that makes you feel like you’re literally painting on a canvas.

tokidoki Cromatico Eyeshadow Palette in Diamante. How adorable is the little phone charm that comes with it?!?

Other goodies include:

* tokidoki Cromatico Eyeshadow, either in their signature tokidoki heart and crossbones packaging ($15), or an illustration-filled quad set ($25).

tokidoki Luminosa Powder.

*tokidoki Luminosa Powder ($22) for a luminescent, radiant glow.

* tokidoki Inferno Bronzer ($22) for a hint of warmth, and it’s good for your skin, too, with its rice lipids and vitamin B.

* tokidoki Cactus Pup Buffers ($8) are three little friends you can take anywhere with you for a quick nail buffing. But with mascots this cute, they’ll just add pizazz hanging from your keychain or bag.

tokidoki Cactus Pup Buffers.

* tokidoki cystal embellished key chains ($16) … just because.

tokidoki "Melodia" key chain.

DETAILS The new tokidoki collection is available exclusively at Sephora stores. 877-Sephora, Sephora.com.

Photos courtesy of Sephora.

tokidoki "'Till Death Do Us Part" characters.

tokidoki's sweet and prickly "SANDy" and her "Cactus Friends."