(my latest Raycious cases)
(part of my Raycious case collection)
Sofina is one of my favorite brands and I love collecting some of their cute stuff.
Within the brand, Raycious, the foundation line, launched Glamorous Skin Powder, its 8th-generation powder foundation. (Read the full review of their new base products here.) I have got the cases. (I didn’t get the foundation cakes because I still have several ones of previous generations…but I am an avid Raycious foundation case collector and I put the cakes in the new cases.)
The new case is, as always, a blue one. Gone is the three-way mirror in the 7th-generation and now there is jewel-like detail on the edge of the case. The pink one is a limited-edition and it looks so gorgeous.
The color makeup line, Aube, will launch the summer 2007 collection. The Gloss Fruitina feature 8 sparkling, fresh, and fruity colors. It includes the third minty/aquamarine lipgloss that is going to be lunched this summer (along with those from Dior and Guerlain), and I am very eager to check it out.
Next week, I’ll review more summer 2007 collections.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Just dropping in cause I bought Sofina vital rich milk and UV cut milk, want to find if someone has been using Sofina so far and the comments on this brand. It’s so nice to read about your reviews on some cosmetics. I used to be a Guerlain fans but now, want to try other brands.
Thank you very much for stopping by!! Enjoy your Sofina products and let me know what you think. And please feel free to subscribe to my blog if you’d like to.
I love those Raycious cases. Are Sofina products sold in the United States too? Where do you buy your cases? I checked out your link to the site, but it’s in Japanese. I’ve never heard of this company, but now I want to collect their cases like you.
Hello Lyn,
Thank you for dropping by!!
Sofina is a brand belonging to the Japanese Kao Corporation, the same company that owns Biore.
In Asia, Sofina is in the same league with Shiseido, Kanebo, and Kose (who owns Awake), even though it is virtually unknown in America/Europe.
(Japanese cosmetics is a complete world of its own and many of the best-kept brands and products remain little known to the west.)
Sofina is sold in Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, which are where I usually buy them. I also buy their products from http://www.adambeauty.com, which is based in Hong Kong. (I was recommended this website by some avid Japanese makeup lovers on Makeup Alley.)
There are sometimes a couple of sellers on eBay that carry Raycious products as well.
I think it might be a bit difficult to get the cases from previous years. Usually when a new case is launched, the previous case is discontinued. But at the moment, http://www.adambeauty.com is still stocking cases from 2006.
Happy collecting! Let me know how you have been getting on with it.
Thanks for the link to adambeauty. I’ve bookmarked it, and can’t wait to browse it.
Hello, Lyn!
Enjoy browsing. It can be a tad tricky if you can’t read Chinese, but there is English translation where needed so there should be no problem.
Hi you saved my life. I am a big fan of all made in japan and now even cosmetics…if I can get Aube and co from the adambeauty website I will be the happiest woman on earth…
Arale Chan
Hello Arale,
Thank you for dropping by!
As you might have found out, they do carry Aube, even though they don’t have the full collection. Hope you manage to get what you like. (The Jewelry Shower Eyes palettes have been very popular in Japan.)
I just bought the Raycious Glamorous Face Powder yesterday! Actually, instead of the Raycious compact case, I ended up going for the [Sofina] Fine-fit one (very pretty and sophistacated)
I have a question regarding the Sofina UV cut milk. Should you apply a moisturizer before the milk, or is it enough on its own? I found that the milk left a white film on my skin once it dried (or it could be my skin drying out). Also, what’s the difference between “milky” products (sunscreen, foundations, moisturizer) and normal ones?
Hello Tammy!
Good to hear from you again.
Let me know how you get on with the Raycious foundation. (By the way, it is not a two-way foundation and is used dry.) The Fine-Fit case is very pretty indeed. Understated and elegant.
Usually Sofina UV Cut Milk (Very Very, Rise, or Vital Rich) is applied as a moisturizer so there is no need to use a moisturizer before it (as indicated on the Sofina website). But because the UV Cut Milk is very light (especially the Very Very one), some people use a light moisturizer before it, depending on their skin conditions or the weather.
It does leave a little bit of white film. (This effect, I imagine, should come from titanium dioxide, which is a physical sunscreen ingredient for effective UVA protection.) Apart from that, the white veil can slightly even out and brighten the skin-tone. I find that it also makes the foundation go on more smoothly.
Very occasionally, if I have dry patches, the white veil can make them look more obvious. I would just pat on a tiny amount of any moisturizer on top.
Generally, in naming cosmetics products in Japan, “milk” indicates a more liquidy consistency (as opposed to “cream”). In terms of moisturizers in particular, sometimes if a line of skincare products features both a moisturizing milk and a moisturizing cream, you only need to choose the one that suits you. But, sometimes, if a line features a more elaborate skincare regime, you might be advised by the sales assistants to use both (cleanser-toner-milk-cream). (They might say that the milk gives the skin moisture and the cream seals in the moisture.) But personally I don’t think it is always necessary to use both. I would still just go for the one that better fits my current skincare routine.
Hope I have answered your questions. (Still envy that you are in Japan now!)
wow, these are beautiful! I was not even aware of this brand but I want to start collecting the cases now :) can any of the powders fit in any case?
Hi,
Basically, all the Raycious refills fit into all the cases, except the first-generation one, which was released in 2000 and took round refills. (All the following ones took the same rectangular refills.)
If you haven’t come across it, you can see a more detailed post on my Raycious cases here.
Hope it helps, and thank you very much for your question! :)