Makeup, Skincare, Fragrance and a Bit of Fashion
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)
Both palettes have three eyeshadows, three lip colors and one lip gloss.
Related posts on Coffret D’Or:
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In May, RMK revamped its eyeshadow and blusher singles. Today, I am reviewing two shades from the new Ingenious Powder Cheeks. (Next week, I will be reviewing three of the new Ingenious Powder Eyes.)
One feature of the new eyeshadows and blushers is that the shade name indicates the finish. With Ingenious Powder Cheeks, MT stands for “matte” while P stands for “pearlescent”. Also, according to RMK’s website, within the blusher’s P shades, there are Shiny types and Holographic types.
MT-02 Light Pink and P-07 Holographic Pink look quite similar in the cases, but they have considerably different finishes when worn.
(RMK Ingenious Powder Cheeks
(RMK Ingenious Powder CheeksI personally prefer Light Pink to Holographic Pink. I tend to prefer matte and semi-matte blushers that are slightly on the cool side, and Light Pink has the finish and color that appeal to me. The look it creates is soft and sweet without being too girlie.
Color-wise, compared with two of my favorite blushers, it is cooler than Chanel’s Irréelle Blush in Tea Rose and lighter than Lavshuca’s Cheek Color in PK-01.
I think this should be a relatively natural, easy-to-wear and mistake-proof shade for most people with fair, light and light-to-medium complexions.In comparison, Holographic goes on quite glowy on me and suits my oily skin less. But when I swatched it on my arm (which is obviously a lot less oily), I do think the finish is quite flattering and will suit those with dry skin who want a luminous finish on the cheeks.
Overall, the Ingenious Powder Cheeks range is worth looking into if you like the delicate and natural finish that Japanese blushers tend to create. If you think the two shades I have reviewed here are too light or too cool for you, there are quite a few darker and warmer shades available.
The new blusher lineup also includes Ingenious Jelly Cheeks, which features six shades with a soft cream-to-powder texture.
Related posts:
A Touch of Blusher Talks…blushers!
Jill Stuart Mix Blush Compact in 01 Baby Blush
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The Color Mixing Eyes series is part of Kanebo Coffret D’Or‘s summer 2009 collection. Today I am sharing my thoughts on 04 Lavender Purple Mix.
The four colors in this palette are:
Bottom left: sheer off-white with soft shimmer
Top left: moderately pigmented light cool lavender with a mildly sparkly finish
Top right: moderately pigmented light-to-medium purple with soft shimmer
Bottom right: pigmented dark plum-purple
All shades have multi-colored shimmer. They go on easily and have a decent staying power.
The interesting thing about Color Mixing Eyes is that the top two shades are designed to be mixed together for the eyelids, and the two shades in this palette do work well together. With two slightly different finishes (the cool lavender on the left is more sparkly), the two shades together are able to create a dimensional look and the overall color is a soft cool purple.
(According to the eye chart on the back of the outer packaging, the cool lavender is also used along the inner 1/3 of the lower lashline.)
Compared with the previous series of Coffret D’Or’s eyeshadow palettes, Color Mixing Eyes is sheerer than Trance Deep Eyes (fall 2008) and 3D Lighting Eyes (spring 2008, marginally the most pigmented among the four series) and is more or less as sheer as Shine Accent Eyes (spring 2009). Among the four, Trance Deep Eyes is still the most shimmery/sparkly.
The look that this palette creates is fresh, cool, and summery, mainly due to the cool-toned lavender. For me, the color from mixing the two purples is a little too cool for my liking. I have tried using the purple on the right on its own on my lids, and I think this look suits my slightly warm-toned complexion better.
Overall, this is a satisfying palette and I should be going back to it quite often. If you would like a light and cool look for the eyes for summer (instead of the warm bronze look), this palette will be a very good choice. Also, if the purples you usually go for are medium-to-cool ones, then this palette would also be quite ideal.
Related posts:
Coffret D’Or Fall 2009 Point Makeup Collection
Coffret D’Or Fall 2009 Base Makeup Collection
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(images from www.annasui-cosmetics.com)
The update also includes limited-edition wall paper, screen saver and blog parts.
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(image/info from www.nikkei.co.jp)– On October 3rd, Japanese beauty brand Pola will be releasing a limited-edition item, B.A The Cream Edo Kiriko, to commemorate the brand’s 80th anniversary. (Edo Kiriko is a form of traditional Japanese glass craft.) The 30ml cream will retail for 207,900 JPY (about 2,196 USD). (B.A is Pola’s most top-end line, with a face wash (Wash B.A Extra) retailing for 12,600 JPY (about 133 USD).)
– If you are interested in swatches of the Star Shower Eyes palettes and Star Dust on Eyes from Lunasol’s fall 2009 collection, please take a look at this post on Taiwanese blogger Tingjp’s blog.
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(image from www.sofina.co.jp/hada-ka)
Hada.ka was launched a few years ago and is available at Sofina counters in Japan and Hong Kong. The line is targeted at consumers in their twenties with unstable skin conditions due to various factors such as lack of sleep and stress. The key product of the line is Deep Boost, which is used after the cleanser and before the toner. It is supposed to facilitate the absorption of the toner and whichever is applied afterwards and to help the skin stay optionally hydrated.
(Some other Japanese skincare brands/lines also feature products that are used before a toner. (I call them pre-toners.) Most are for deep hydration and some (infused with ingredients such as AHA or BHA and used with cotton pads) are wipe-off exfoliators.)
Here is the current lineup of Hada.ka (with notes on whether a product is for morning/night/both):
– Face wash
Skin Reset Washing Foam (morning/night)
– Massage serum
Refining Massage (night)
– Skin softener/texturizer (used before toner)
Deep Boost (morning/night)
– Toner
Aqua Charge Lotion (morning/night)
– Moisture serum
Night Moist Solution (night)
– Emulsion
Deep Moisturizer (night)
– Emulsion/sunscreen
UV Protect Moisturizer (morning)
(Aqua Charge Lotion and Deep Moisturizer are available in two versions for different skin types. Also, UV Protect Moisturizer is available in two versions, one with SPF 24 PA+++ and one with SPF 50 PA+++.)
Prices of Hada.ka’s items are similar to those of Sofina’s other skincare lines. For instance, Deep Boost (180ml) retails for 2835 JPY (about 30 USD).
I have not tried items from Hada.ka yet. If you have, do please let me know your thoughts on them. Thank you very much!
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From My Treasure Chest – Sofina Aube Rouge Dressious
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(images from www.suqqu.com/japan.html)
Overall this is a very sophisticated neutral-toned collection with a lot of wearable items. I personally like the fact that many of the neutral shades are softly warm neutrals which would suit my complexion a little more. (Cool neutrals can look a little ashy and greyish on me.)
Among the three new Blend Eyeshadow palettes, I like the look of EX-03 and EX-05. (EX-04 might be very slightly too cool-toned for me.) Both seem to have a couple of shades with a subtle gold undertone. I am also interested in the Polish Face Color (top left in the second photo). I am looking forward to seeing these three items in person.
(A reminder: SUQQU’s fall 2009 collection will be launched in Japan on August 7th and all the items in the collection are limited editions.)
Many thanks to Betsy at Autumn Masquerade for telling me about SUQQU’s website update. You can read about her thoughts on the collection here.
Related posts on SUQQU:
Fall/Winter 2009 Base Makeup Releases
Loose Powder in Natural
Cheek Brush & Eyebrow Brush L
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(images/info from www.joseishi.net/voce)
– Eye Color Accent B (above, 3 shades)
– Lipstick B (3 shades)
– Nail Color N (5 shades)
All the items above are limited editions.
On the same day, new base makeup items will be launched. They include:
– Moisture Rich Fluid Foundation (6 shades)
– Moisture Rich Powder Foundation (5 shades)
– Moisture Rich Foundation Primer
A limited-edition Moisture Rich Foundation Kit will be available as well. It consists of the new primer (full-sized), (presumably) either the fluid or the powder foundation (full-sized) and an original pouch. Th kit retails for 7350 JPY, which means customers receive the pouch for free when purchasing the primer (3150 JPY) and either of the foundations (both 4200 JPY).
Related posts:
Anna Sui Summer 2009 Hair & Body Collection
Anna Sui Spring 2009 Collection
Anna Sui’s Sui Lip Gloss in 100
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(images/info from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol)
The collection will be available in Japan from August 21st.
Also, on August 28th, the limited-edition 2009 Base Makeup Kit will be released.
The kit (8925 JPY) includes:
– Water Cream Foundation (full-sized)
– Creamy Makeup Base (full-sized)
– Morning Wakening Massage (10g)
– Night Refining Cream (10g)
– Lotion II (21ml)
– Emulsion II (21ml)
– Lunasol Original Pouch
(Customers can choose to purchase a full-sized refill of the Skin Fusing Powder Foundation instead of Water Cream Foundation. In this case, the kit retails for 7875 JPY.)
Related posts:
Lunasol Skin Fusing Powder Foundation
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SUQQU‘s Loose Powder was released as part of the brand’s fall 2007 base makeup collection. It is available in two shades, Natural and Deep. The two shades work together to create highlight and contour for the face. Today I am reviewing the shade in Natural.
Color-wise, Natural is a sheer off-white cream. It has a subtly pearly finish. When I tested it on the back of my hand, I thought the finish might be too pearly for me. I was also worried that the luminous finish might make my pores look more obvious. But when worn on the face, it imparts a softly luminous finish that is neither pearly or frosty. It doesn’t accentuate the look of pores. Also, the powder is very light and fine.
The enclosed powder puff is relatively soft and easy to use.
Compared with Lavshuca Face Powder and Kiss Mat Chiffon Powder, this product doesn’t have any efficacy in shine control or pore coverage. (It also has the least amount of coverage among the three.) It will not work as a setting powder for those with combination or oily skin.
Among the loose powder products that I have reviewed, it is the closest to Crème de la Mer’s The Powder in Translucent. The main difference is that SUQQU’s finish is more natural and less shimmery and it doesn’t have the pink iridescence that the Crème de la Mer powder has. Overall, as a highlighting powder (particularly for daytime makeup), I prefer SUQQU’s.
Essentially, this is a finishing powder that works as a subtle highlighter, as it adds a soft and very natural glow for the face. It is also subtle enough to be used all over the face if the softly glowy finish is what you would like to go for. (It is able to help create the “brilliant skin” that is very popular in Japan right now.)
(SUQQU is currently available in Japan, Thailand, and the UK. Check here to see the information on all the SUQQU retail points.)
Updated on July 26th 2009:
Examples of “Brilliant Skin”, requested by reader Tamtam. (I am also considering writing up a separate post on this trend.)
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor)
(image from www.biteki.com)
More on SUQQU’s fall 2007 base makeup collection:
Foundation Face-Off: Chanel vs. SUQQU
Other related posts:
SUQQU Fall 2009 Point Makeup Collection
SUQQU Fall 2009 Base Makeup Releases
Japanese Beauty Brand Profile: SUQQU
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Jill Stuart Story of Fragrances Collection for 2025 & 2026 (image from www.cosme.net)
