(pictured: part of my collection)
Even though Anna Sui is a Taiwanese-American designer whose career took off in America, her cosmetics range is developed and made in Japan (by Albion) and is essentially a Japanese brand. I adore Anna Sui because it is fun, playful, gorgeous, and mysterious.
I remember reading some comments about Anna Sui cosmetics on the Internet when it was launched in America many years ago. Someone said that the Gothic-style packaging was bizarre (well, not in this season!) and she wondered where the market was going to be.
She was so wrong. One thing she probably didn’t know was how hugely popular Anna Sui had already been in Asia. The style of packaging was actually just right for the Japanese market: it was cute, girlie, fancy, and dreamy. (It is not the only style that sells in Japan, but it does attract everyone that wants everything to look ultra-cute.) In the image-conscious Japanese society, packaging matters and packaging sells, especially when Japan has a hugely competitive beauty market where good (and right) packaging stands out on magazine pages and grabs attention. When the first Anna Sui counter opened in Taiwan, it sold about 30,000 USD worth of products on the first day of business alone. Now, it is still going very strong in Asia.
It does target heavily on the younger consumers, who are the most relentless spenders. This might be part of Anna Sui’s success.
Of course, good packaging is not enough if the content doesn’t deliver. Anna sui has many strong products, such as loose powder, eyeliners, and lipsticks. My personal favorites are the powder blusher and cream-stick blusher (which was discontinued). My powder blusher color is 400. Its tester looked shockingly red when I was trying to decide which color to buy, but it actually goes on matte, sheer, and surprisingly natural. It can be built into a more intense finish as well. The brush in the compact is nice and soft, compared with so many others.
This autumn, the packaging of the foundation range has gone back to classic black, as it first was. I do miss the gold packaging because all the lovely filigree patterns get to stand out much more.
Anna Sui falls a bit short on skincare. It is not particularly known for its skincare range, and it just happens that I haven’t come across anything that works for me.
The last time I saw Anna Sui cosmetics in the UK was several years ago. The self-help shelf in Selfridges London looked forsaken and it didn’t have the full range. Then the shelf was gone and some of the products strangely appeared at the Hard Candy counter in the nearby Debenhams for a few months before they completely disappeared (I think) in the UK. (The fragrances are still widely available though.) It was a shame…if only I could also see all those gorgeous and sensual loose powder cases in every department store here……
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi – I see that Anna Sui has come out with a new waterproof eyeliner pencil. Do you know whether these are like the Urban Decay pencils (go on soft and smooth, and then set for the day)? I would love to buy these, but am hesitant. The old Anna Sui pencils tended to be extremely hard.
Thanks
Hi there,
Thank you for reading my blog.
I have actually not had much experience with eyeliner pencils, and I have not tried either the ones from Anna Sui or those from Urban Decay.
I am sorry that I am not able to answer your question at the moment. I will post another reply under this one if I come across more information.
Thank you for leaving your comment! :)
I really really love AS’s liquid eyeliner – the brush is really thin, and it smells heavenly, and best of all, I have been using it on-and-off for 2 years, and it’s not dried up yet!
Their lip gloss also taste/smell good. And it’s nice and glossy too. I like the shimmer/shine, but not sure if everyone does…
Hi Jingchun,
Thank you for letting me know about Anna Sui’s liquid eyeliner. I am quite interested in trying it…:)
I purchased a lip gloss from Anna Sui’s spring 2008 collection, and I like it very much. (You might have come across my review of it.) I enjoy the lovely watery shine, which is particularly pleasing for spring and summer…
Thank you very much for your comment! :)
which is better jill stuart or anna sui cosmetic?
Hi Kaerin_cha288,
It is very hard to say. I'd say they are more or less equally good. (Both are licensed under the Japanese beauty company Kosé.) Personally, I like them equally, but, for the time being, I have been slightly more interested in Jill Stuart.
Thank you very much for your question! :)
Hi there!
My name is Marie-Eve and I run an Anna Sui appreciation blog, Rock on! Anna Sui. I was curious as to why you refer to Sui as a Taiwanese-American? I never read this anywhere else before. She always says Chinese-American.
I’m just curious. Thanks!
Hi Marie-Eve,
The first time I read about Anna Sui was in the mid-90s, and, from the various sources at the time, I read that her families were of Taiwanese descent.
For your reference, here is a relatively recent article that mentions that Anna Sui’s families emigrated from Taiwan:
http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=93456&CtNode=1729
In various cases, one’s own perspectives, beliefs and ideologies may have a bearing on how he/she chooses to identify himself/herself. I am (purely) speculating that, in this case, the issue may be potentially complex. As this is not a blog on history or ideology, I am not prepared to go into it.
Thank you very much for your question, and keep up the good work with your blog.
Ah, I see! I understand a bit since I’m from Québec, a province of Canada that tried and still tries to get sovereignty just like Taiwan. I am grateful for your response as I learned something new about Anna Sui.
Thank you again and keep up the good work too! :)
Hi Marie-Eve,
You are welcome!
I see. Just to clarify things a little, Taiwan has its own president, government, and laws, so its situation might be different from that of Québec.
Thank you for stopping by again!