The Shiseido international line has been going through a revamp this year. The new makeup line, created in collaboration with Dick Page, is simply called Shiseido (instead of the original Shiseido The Makeup). In January, the line debuted with Perfect Rouge and Smoothing Lip Pencil. In August, the fall 2009 collection was released. The collection includes 15 shades of Luminizing Satin Eye Color. Today I am reviewing two of them.

(Luminizing Satin Eye Color in BE202 Caramel)

(Luminizing Satin Eye Color in WT907 Paperwhite)
BE202 Caramel is a medium bronze-toned beige and WT907 Paperwhite is a cream white. They are moderately pigmented and they have very fine shimmery particles. They impart a satiny finish that looks soft and understated. The lasting power is good.
The powder is exceptionally fine and has an almost-creamy texture. Apart from talc (2nd on the ingredient lists of both shades), Luminizing Satin Eye Color uses petrolatum (4th on the ingredient list of WT907 and 6th of BE202) to create the silky and almost-creamy texture. I find this to be slightly unusual, as most eyeshadows rely on a combination of talc and silicones to create the smooth and silky texture. (Silicones are further down the lists of these two shades.)
WT907 is good for brightening the eye area and as a base for other eyeshadows. I also prefer it as a brow highlighter to more shimmery off-whites, as the effect is a lot more natural. BE202 is a gentle shadowing shade as it is able to give a very natural depth to the eyes. (This relatively light shade is able to be depth-enhancing because it is not too shimmery.) Since it is more of a warm neutral, I think it should suit those with a warm complexion better. (It may look quite bronze on those with a cooler complexion.)
The 15 Luminizing Satin Eye Color shades are elegant and understated (except YE306 Solaris, which is a vibrant yellow). I would be curious to see whether more vibrant shades will be added to the range and whether a new range of eyeshadow singles, perhaps with a different finish, will join the line.
(The products featured in this review are provided by Shiseido.)
Posts on Shiseido’s other lines:
Clé de Peau Fall 2009 Collection
Maquillage Fall 2009 Collection
Maquillage Forming Shiny Eyes in 52
Maquillage Clean Contrast Eyes 2 in SV844

(images/info from woman.excite.co.jp)
Anna Sui will release its holiday 2009 collection in Japan on November 5th and December 3rd. The November releases include:
– Nail Color Kits (above)
– Glitter Color (3 shades)

– Mini Rouge (5 new shades)

– Greeting Cards

The December releases include:
– Hand Mirror Eye Color Palette (1 variation)

– Hand Mirror Lip Color Palette (1 variation)

All the items are limited editions except the five new shades of Mini Rouge.
Related posts on Anna Sui:
Fall 2009 Collection
Spring 2009 Collection
Luxury Eye & Lip Palettes

Jill Stuart‘s Jelly Eye Color was a very popular item in the brand’s makeup lineup. Earlier this year, the new Jelly Eye Color N was released. I was instantly drawn to the lovely container. The previous version was cute, while the new one is more ornate.


08 Crystal Sky is a medium-to-dark mauve that has a slight grey undertone, and it is a color that I didn’t have before. (The purples I tend to go for are lighter than this.) It has a lot of sparkly particles, which are silver-toned under sunlight and beautifully multi-colored under certain kinds of artificial lighting. The particles are sparkly but not glittery.
It has a spongy jelly texture and is relatively easy to apply with fingertips. It dries up quite quickly, so blending has to be swift. Once it sets, the color is very long-lasting and it doesn’t crease on my eyes. The sparkly finish holds well too.
It has the same light floral scent as that in many of Jill Stuart’s makeup products. It is subtle and not overpowering.
For me, the shade is a little too dark and too sparkly to be worn as a shadowing shade on the lids (especially for daytime makeup). It is the kind of shade that I would usually only wear near the lashlines, and obviously it is difficult to keep the color very close to the eyes when I apply it with my fingertips. I find it much easier to use a cotton bud or a sponge eyeshadow applicator to apply the shade exactly where I want. Then I use the fingertips to blend and blur the edges.
I do really like it very close to my lashlines. As a soft eyelining shade, it is dark enough to gently frame and accentuate the eyes while still looking natural. The sparkles also look subtler this way.
I have mentioned before that I do prefer powder eyeshadows to non-powder ones. It is still the case with Jill Stuart’s Jelly Eye Color N and my powder eyeshadows, but I think Jelly Eye Color N’s formula does help hold the sparkly particles on the eyes. (There is almost no sparkle fallout.) If you like sparkly or very shimmery eyeshadows, Jelly Eye Color N is certainly worth your consideration.
Related posts:
Jill Stuart Mix Blush Compact in 01 Baby Blush
Jill Stuart Holiday 2009 Collection
Jill Stuart Fall 2009 Collection & 5th Anniversary Jewel Collection

(images/info from fanet.jp)
Aube Couture will release 4 Designing Jewel Compacts for the holiday 2009 season in Japan on November 1st. Each compact includes 4 eyeshadows (arranged in the same way as those in the Designing Eyes palettes) and 3 lip colors.
The four variations are:
– Pink (lip)/ Brown (eye) Variation (above)
– Rose/Purple Variation

– Red/Gold Variation

– Beige/Silver Variation

Other seasonal collections from Aube Couture:
Spring 2020 Collection
Fall 2009 Collection
Summer 2009 Collection

(images/info from www.cosme.net)
On November 18th, Elégance will release a vast array of new items. It seems to me that this could be a revamp of at least part of Elégance’s makeup line, and the new packaging looks quite gorgeous. (I am filing this post under “Holiday 2009 Collections” only because of the timing of the release.)
The new items include:
– Phantom Eyes (10 variations)
– Aurora Storm (8 variations)

– Spice Shot Rouge (20 shades)

– Lip Liner (9 shades)

– Black Star Lash Mascara (4 shades)

– Volume Lash Fixer

– Curl Lash Fixer

– Stellar Night Eyeliner (7 shades)

– Eyeliner Perfect (1 shade)

– Eyebrow Slim (6 shades)

– Eyebrow Mascara (4 shades)

Updated on October 13th, 2009:
The lineup will also include a collection of false eyelashes:
– Lavish Lash Sparkle (4 shades: silver, gold, pink, blue)

– Lavish Lash Color Mix (4 shades: hazel, indigo, jade, papillon)

– Lavish Lash Feather (three shades: green, red, blue)

Related posts:
Elégance Fall 2009 Collection
Elégance Summer 2009 Collection
Japanese Cosmetics Focus: Elégance

(images/info from www.paul-joe-beaute.com)
A few days ago, I happened to see Paul & Joe‘s holiday collection in Harrods. (I didn’t expect such an early launch in the UK.) I spent some time testing out the items, and I think most of them are quite wearable. The eye palette in 001 and the two loose powder eyeshadows should be great for creating smoky eyes .


According to the Paul & Joe (English) website, the eye palettes and the eyeliners as well as the loose powder eyeshadows and the face powders are sold as sets in Japan while all of them are sold separately in the UK and the US.
All the makeup items (and the two makeup pouches and the jewelry box) are currently available in Harrods, except the new Lip Lacquer. It will be launched later, along with the repackaged fragrances (Paul & Joe Bleu & Blanc) and the two bodycare items (Body Milk and Body Treatment Oil). (I have had Paul & Joe Blanc for a few years and I am planning to review it later.)
I quite like the colors of the packaging, as purple and gold do make a lovely combination. (But I think I would like the packaging even more if the patterns were a little more delicate.) By the way, the jewelry box retails for 15 pounds, which I think is relatively reasonable.
Other seasonal collections from Paul & Joe:
Fall 2009 Collection
Summer 2009 Collection
Spring 2009 Collection
Holiday 2008 Collection

(image/info from www.nikkei.co.jp)

(images from www.iswii.net,
info from www.joseishi.net/voce)
Jill Stuart will release a limited-edition Sweetness Collection set for holiday 2009 in Japan on November 6th. The set includes:
– original pouch

– Mix Face Powder Compact

– Jelly Eye Color N

– Jelly Lip Gloss

– Nail Lacquer N

– Emery Board

– Nail Art Sticker

Also, Jill Stuart will release a limited-edition Bath & Body Collection set in Japan on November 20th. The set features:

– Bath & Body Oil 85ml
– Body Cream 50g
– Shower Gel 85ml
– Sugar Body Scrub 100g
– bath puff
– original pouch
Related posts on Jill Stuart:
Mix Blush Compact in 01 Baby Blush
Fall 2009 Collection & 5th Anniversary Jewel Collection
Summer 2009 Collection

(image from www.jillstuart-beauty.com)
I have got Jill Stuart’s Jelly Eye Color N in 08 Crystal Sky a while back. It is a color that I haven’t really tried before, and I will be posting my thoughts in the next few days.