all about Japanese cosmetics

News in Brief: SUQQU, RMK & Chanel

by PJ on Wednesday, June 3, 2009

in -Chanel, -RMK, -SUQQU, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics

(image from www.suqqu.com/global)

– SUQQU will release Perfect Eye Makeup Kit tomorrow (June 4th) in London’s Selfridges. The limited-edition kit, retailing for £68, includes a green-toned Blend Eyeshadow EX-02, Mascara Volume Long N EX-01 Green, Eye Make Up Remover (50ml), Eye Cream (4g), Screw Brush, and an original bag. (The eye palette, mascara and screw brush are available only in this kit.)

(image from www.rmkrmk.com)

– RMK‘s makeup collection renewal items will also be available in Selfridges tomorrow. The Ingenious Power/Jelly Eyes retail for £16 and the Ingenious Powder/Jelly Cheeks retail for £19.50. I swatched a few colors and was quite pleased with the texture of the powder. I particularly liked SH-07 Shiny Purple, which has beautifully dimensional shimmer.

(image from www.selfridges.com)

– I stopped by the Chanel counter in Harvey Nichols and one SA confirmed that the Chanel Studio (which used to carry items only available in Asia and North America) had left Harvey Nichols and would be moving to Selfridges. There was no sight of the Tokyo Happening collection in either counter. Instead, the London Madness collection is available.

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Kanebo Milano Collection 2010

by PJ on Tuesday, June 2, 2009

in -Kanebo, -Kanebo Milano Collection, 2009 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, fragrance, makeup, makeup - base makeup

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

The 2010 edition of Kanebo’s Face Up Powder Milano Collection 2010 will be out in Japan on December 16th. This is a pre-order-only item, and the pre-order period will be between mid-June and September 17th.

The powder (24g, SPF 14 PA++) retails for 12600 JPY. Like the 2009 edition, it includes a powder puff with silk produced in Kyoto.

(motif on the powder case)

Since 1991, Kanebo has been releasing the Milano Collection each year (except 1994 and 1995). You can see all the different case designs below. You can also check out the page on the Kanebo website to see larger photos of the cases.

Updated on June 15th 2009:

The collection will also include a 30ml eau de parfum. It will be available from November 16 and the pre-order period ends on August 20th.

(image/info from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/milano-collection)

Raycious Foundation Case Galore

My Anna Sui Foundation Cases

Foundation Face-Off: Lunasol vs. Coffret D’Or

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New Japanese Beauty Brand: Addiction

by PJ on Thursday, May 28, 2009

in _Japanese Brand Profile, -Addiction, -Kosé, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

Since I started my blog in November 2006, we have seen quite a few new beauty brands/ranges from Japan, such as Esprique Precious, Magie Deco, Coffret D’Or, Chicca, Primavista, Integrate Gracy, and Twany Glamacy. Soon we will witness the birth of another brand.

In a few weeks’ time, Kosé will reveal more information on Addiction, its latest department store brand since Jill Stuart (launched in 2005 and licensed under Kosé)*. The creator behind it is Japanese US-based makeup artist Ayako, who has worked with various fashion designers and photographers including Karl Lagerfeld and Annie Leibovitz as well as celebrities such as Naomi Campbell and Penelope Cruz.

The brand will be launched at Tokyo’s Isetan Shinjuku this fall and then expanded to a few more department stores in Tokyo and Osaka.

The launch lineup will feature 27 products in 108 items/shades. The eyeshadow singles and lipsticks will retail for 2100 and 2940 JPY respectively.

Fans of Japanese cosmetics might immediately be reminded of Japanese makeup artist Rumiko, who is also US-based and started RMK in the 90s. (It is owned by Kanebo.) It has been a very popular brand over the years, and I look forward to seeing how Ayako can emulate Rumiko’s success, especially in today’s economy.

There are no product images at the moment, but I expect there to be some in the coming weeks. I will try my best to keep you posted.

(information from www.nikkei.co.jp and www.business-i.jp)

* Esprique Precious (launched in 2006) and Magie Deco (launched in 2007) are launched after Jill Stuart, but Esprique Precious is sold at Kosé counters and Magie Deco is available at Cosme Decorte counters in Japan. They are considered to be among the various makeup ranges of Kosé and the Kosé-owned Cosme Decorte respectively. On the other hand, I am assuming that, like Jill Stuart, Addiction will have its own department store counters with its own fully-fledged brand identity.

Updated on June 10th 2009:

Please have a look at this post for images and further information.

Updated on June 16th 2009:

Please check out this post on Voce’s blog for photos taken at Addiction’s press launch.

Updated on July 8th, 2017:

Read my review of Blush in 04 Amazing.

More on some of the new Japanese beauty brands/ranges in the last couple of years:

Coffret D’Or (Kanebo)

Twany Glamacy (Kanebo)

Chicca (Kanebo)

Magie Deco (Kosé)

Integrate Gracy (Shiseido)

Primavista (Kao Sofina)

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RMK Ingenious Powder/Jelly Eyes Swatches

by PJ on Wednesday, May 27, 2009

in -RMK, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(image from www.rmkrmk.com)

If you are interested in RMK‘s new Ingenious Powder Eyes and Ingenious Jelly Eyes, Taiwanese blogger, Sharon, has posted product photos and swatches of all the new eyeshadows.

For more information on RMK’s makeup range renewal, please have a look at my previous post.

RMK Powder Foundation EX

RMK Super Basic Liquid Concealer

RMK Spring 2009 Makeup Collection

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Kanebo Coffret D’Or Fall 2009 Makeup Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, May 27, 2009

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

Coffret D’Or‘s summer 2009 collection has not been officially released yet, but now we have news of the line’s fall collection, out in Japan on August 1st.

The lineup includes:

– Mix Essence Rouge (8 shades)
– Eye Color (16 shades)
– Brow Make Compact (2 variations)
– Eyebrow Mascara (2 shades)

Coffret D’Or seems to be following a similar product release pattern to T’Estimo’s (Coffret D’Or’s predecessor), with eyeshadow palettes for spring and summer and eyeshadow singles for fall. The new Eye Color is Coffret D’Or’s first single powder eyeshadow range, with the first batch of shades mainly basic light and dark ones. (Fluffy Shine Eyes, a mousse-type eyeshadow, was released on July 16th 2008.)

Coffret D’Or Shine Accent Eyes 02 Pink Variation (spring 2009)

Coffret D’Or Spring/Summer 2009 Base Makeup Collection

Cosme.Net 2008 The Best Cosmetics Awards

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Product Review: SUQQU Cheek Brush & Eyebrow Brush L

by PJ on Monday, May 25, 2009

in -SUQQU, all about Japanese cosmetics, beauty tools/accessories

(SUQQU Cheek Brush and Eyebrow Brush L)

When I first stopped by SUQQU‘s counter in London’s Selfridges in 2006 (which happens to be around the time I started my blog), I was very impressed with the brand’s makeup brush range. The hair of some of the brushes is luxuriously soft, and the range has a good attention to detail. (There are four types of eyebrow brushes and eyeliner brushes.) Today I am reviewing Cheek Brush and Eyebrow Brush L.

– Cheek Brush

This is probably the softest blusher brush that I have ever come across. It is impossible to show the softness of the bristle-heads in the photo, so I will try to describe it in words. The sensation felt from running through the brush hair through the fingers is somewhat similar to that from a gentle breath on the back of the hand. The fingers almost feel a sense of soft, airy and velvety warmth.

In terms of application, there are two things I like about this brush. Firstly, it is smaller than most blusher brushes. The widest part of the brush measures about 2.6 cm, while the longest part (of the brush hair) measures about 3.4 cm. (It is not a blusher brush that can double as a powder brush or a contouring brush.) The fact that it is not too big makes it very easy to focus on the cheek bones and gradually blend the blusher outwards to create a delicate and natural finish.

Secondly, the bristle-heads pick up the blusher powder gently, so it is suitable for applying a very pigmented blusher (especially for someone like me, who can often be (accidentally) heavy-handed with blushers).

– Eyebrow Brush L

SUQQU has four eyebrow brushes. Eyebrow Brush S is the usual small angled brush, and the other three are soft-edged ones, which I think are quite unique. Eyebrow Brush L is the largest one of the four.

I don’t often use the usual eyebrow brushes. I think the hair tends to be rather hard and the lines it creates is usually quite harsh. (I also don’t use an eyebrow pencil.) I usually use a small eyeshadow brush to run through the core/bones of the eyebrows. The look is softer, more natural but still defined.

Eyebrow Brush L is very similar to the eyeshadow brush I use to apply eyebrow powder. It looks like an eyeshadow brush, but the hair is harder so the brush can still give ample core structure to eyebrows.

The photo above is taken from another angle to show the bulk of the brush and the shape of the bristle-heads. There are no hard edges so the brush doesn’t create any harsh lines. It blends the eyebrow powder seamlessly, and it also makes it very easy to fill in gaps in the brows.

Without a doubt, SUQQU’s most popular makeup tool is the Eyelash Curler. However, with their superb quality, I personally think these two brushes, which are beautifully shaped and sized, are definitely among SUQQU’s best products. If you have a chance to stop by a SUQQU counter, do have a look at the brush collection.

(The SUQQU counter in Selfridges regularly holds events for the seasonal makeup collections. You will have a chance to experience the brushes when you book a makeover session during the event.)

EcoTools Makeup Brushes

Purple Dot Makeup Brushes

The Only Lash Curler I Ever Need

Can’t Live Without – Starbucks Napkins

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Shiseido Maquillage Fall 2009 Makeup Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, May 20, 2009

in -Maquillage, -Shiseido, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

Shiseido’s Maquillage will release its fall 2009 collection in Japan on July 21st. The lineup includes:

– Eyes Creator 3D: 5 new variations (2 limited editions, see information below)
– Eye Color N (Powder): 6 new shades
– Eye Color N (Cream): 3 new shades
– Perfect Gloss: 8 shades
– Moisture Rouge (Color-on type): 6 new shades
– Moisture Rouge (Sheer type): 6 new shades (limited editions)
– Face Creator 3D: 2 new variations
– Powder Touch Eyebrow: 3 shades

Maquillage’s fall 2008 collection featured collaborations with fashion designer Christopher Kane, This year, the fall collection will feature collaborations with Chinese-American fashion designer Alexander Wang. The collaboration items include:

– Eyes Creator 3D: BR364, BR365 (limited editions, with cases designed by Wang)
– Perfect Gloss in OR264, PK445, RD536, and RS587
– Moisture Rouge (Sheer type): all 6 shades (limited edition)

Aube Couture Early Fall 2009 Makeup Collection

by PJ on Monday, May 18, 2009

in -Aube (Couture), -Kao, -Sofina, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(images/info from www.cosme.net)

Sofina’s Aube Couture will release its early fall 2009 collection in Japan on June 16th. (The brand’s summer 2009 collection is available now.) The upcoming early fall items include:

– Designing Eyes (above, two new variations)

– Designing Stay Rouge (16 shades)

– Designing Eyebrow Compact (2 variations)

– Designing Liquid Eyeliner (2 shades, according to Voce)

User-Friendly Makeup: Aube Couture

Aube Early Fall 2008 Collection

Holiday Flashback – Aube Astral Rouge

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Chicca Fall 2009 Makeup Collection

by PJ on Monday, May 18, 2009

in -Chicca, -Kanebo, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

Chicca (owned by Kanebo) will release its fall 2009 collection in Japan on August 19th. The seasonal theme is “Secret Story”, and new items aim to create a balanced look for eyebrows, eyes, and cheeks to achieve a face-shaping effect.

The lineup includes:

– Enthralling Eyebrow Pencil W (1 shade)
– Enthralling Eyebrow Gel (1 shade)
– Enthralling Eyebrow Cake (eyebrow powder with two shades)
– Enthralling Powder Eyeshadow duos (5 new variation)
– Enthralling Soft Pencil Eyeliner (2 new shades)
– Flush Blush cream blusher (1 new shade)
– Enticing Lipstick (4 new shades)
– Enticing Lip Gloss (3 new shades)
– Perfect Readiness Tweezer

The Enthralling Eyebrow Pencil W features a round shaped tip and a naginata (Japanese halberd) shaped tip. The latter helps create softer edges for the eyebrow outline.