all about Japanese cosmetics

Kate Spring 2009 Collection

by PJ on Thursday, November 6, 2008

in -Kanebo, -Kate, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics

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

Kanebo’s Kate will release its spring 2009 collection in Japan on February 1st, 2009. The new eye palettes for the season are Diamond Cut Eyes, which feature silver and gold “diamond-cut pearl” particles to impart maximal shimmer. They are available in 5 variations.

The rest of the collection includes:

– Conc Liquid Eyeliner (3 shades)
– Magical Long Gel Mascara N (1 shade)
– Liquid Rouge N (7 shades)
– Deep Trap Eyes palette (1 new variation)
– Gradical Eyes S palette (1 new variation)
– Rouge Extra (1 new shade)

Kate Holiday 2008 Collection

Kate Fall 2008 Collection

Kate: Lavshuca’s Edgier, Darker Sister

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SUQQU Spring 2009 Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, November 5, 2008

in -SUQQU, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(image from i-voce.boxerblog.com)

Some initial images of SUQQU‘s spring 2009 collection can now be seen on the Voce blog.

In one of the two images in the blog entry, showing the sakura-themed collection, I think I see some new Blend Lipsticks, Blend Eyeshadows, and Nail Colors. The new product for the season is Contour Shadow, which is used generally in the under-browbone area to highlight and to contour the eyes.

For me, it is always good to see a brand that thinks outside the box and comes up with interesting products with very specific purposes. (SUQQU has done it before with Clear Veil Powder.)

I will keep you updated as I come across more information on the collection.

Updated on November 14th, 2008:

Please see more photos of the collection on Voce’s press event blog.

SUQQU Holiday 2008 Collection

SUQQU Fall 2008 Collection Review Part 1 & Part 2

SUQQU Creamy Lipstick

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Among My Favorites – Kiss Mat Chiffon Powder

by PJ on Tuesday, November 4, 2008

in -Kiss, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup, makeup - base makeup - powder, stash focus

Kiss is a cute Japanese drugstore brand that I have not tried before. The packaging is girlie but is more minimal-looking than that of Lavshuca and Majolica Majorca. Being a lover of loose powder, I decided to get the Mat Chiffon Powder.

It is a translucent powder with a very slight pink tone. The texture of this talc-based powder is very fine and silky. The finish is matte, as the product name suggests. There is minimal shimmer, which does not look apparent on the face. The puff that comes with the powder is soft and a pleasure to use.

(The shade I have is 01 Lucent Rose. At the moment, I think this is the only shade that Mat Chiffon Powder is available in.)

I have been enjoying using this loose powder very much. What I want from a loose powder is shine control and pore coverage, and this product delivers the two plentifully. The skin looks smoother and more polished, and the shine control is very satisfying.

Some of you might remember that Lavshuca’s Face Powder (in Lucent) is one of my favorite loose powder products and may wonder how I compare the two. First of all, Mat Chiffon Powder is now also among my favorite loose powder items as both are great in shine control and pore coverage. But I think I still very slightly prefer the Lavshuca Face Powder because the beige-toned powder evens out redness a little better (whereas Mat Chiffon Powder is pink-toned).

I would recommend this powder to whoever is interested in a good-quality matte loose powder. Also, if you have combination or oily skin and want to stay shine-free for longer during the day, I think this product is very likely to suit you.

(Many thanks to my friend Betsy at Autumn Masquerade for having me try this powder before I bought it. You can read her review of it here.)

Coffret D’Or Makeup Powder

L’Oréal True Match Super-Blendable Powder

Calvin Klein Subliminal Purity Mineral Based Loose Powder

Crème de la Mer The Powder

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Lunasol Spring 2009 Collection – Update

by PJ on Tuesday, November 4, 2008

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

Terrible news for my bank balance…

Earlier I linked to photos of items from Lunasol’s spring 2009 collection. Now, here is the collection item detail:

– Layer Bloom Eyes (5 variations)
– Full Glamour Lips S (15 shades, including 5 limited editions)
– Full Glamour Gloss N (5 shades, limited editions)
– Nail Finish (5 new shades)

The collection will be released in Japan on January 16th, 2009.

I think the items we see in the photo above are gorgeous. (It is almost as if Lunasol knew the kind of makeup colors I absolutely adore.) The lilac-toned eye palette and lip gloss are now firmly on my shopping list for spring 2009…

Updated on November 26th, 2008:

Please head over here to see (a whole lot of) images of the collection.

Updated on December 2nd, 2008:

Here are images of the five Layer Bloom Eyes palettes from the Kanebo website (www.kanebo-cosmetics.co.jp):

(01 Pink Gradation)

(02 White Gradation)

(03 Purple Gradation)

(04 Red Gradation)

(05 Orange Gradation)

Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral

T’Estimo Frame Impact Eyes in 03

A Splash of Color – More Lilting Lilac

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SUQQU Holiday 2008 Collection

by PJ on Thursday, October 30, 2008

in -SUQQU, 2008 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(images and info from www.suqqu.com/japan.html)

SUQQU had updated its Japanese website to feature the holiday 2008 collection, which will be released in Japan on November 7th.

The collection features two Makeup Kits. Kit A includes a Blend Eyeshadow palette and a travel-size Volume Long N Mascara in Silver Black (all limited-edition colors). Kit B includes a special-edition Gloss & Lip Color Palette and a travel-size Loose Powder in Natural. The two sets come with different makeup pouches as well as different designs for the palette cases.

Other Holiday 2008 Collections:

Paul & Joe

Lavshuca

Jill Stuart

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RMK Holiday 2008 Collection

by PJ on Thursday, October 30, 2008

in -RMK, 2008 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(image from RMK;
info from RMK and www.joseishi.net/voce/)

RMK will release Christmas Palette 2008, an all-in-one makeup set for the holiday season, presented in a metallic gold pouch.

The items in the palette includes:

– Eye Color (4 shades)
– Separate Curl Mascara in 01 Black (mini size)
– Gloss Lips in EX-11 (mini size)
– Cheek Color (2 shades)
– Pressed Powder
– three appliators and a powder puff

The Eye Color, Gloss Lips, and Cheek Color shades are limited editions.

The palette will be released in Japan and in the UK (at £39) on November 7th.

Updated on November 26th, 2008:

Please see the review of the palette here.

RMK Fall 2008 Collection

Can’t Live Without – RMK Cleansing Oil N

Beauty City Guide – London

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Makeup Review: SUQQU Fall 2008 Collection (2)

by PJ on Wednesday, October 29, 2008

in -SUQQU, 2008 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - blusher, makeup - lip color

(continued from Part 1)

Today I am continuing the review of SUQQU’s fall collection and will be looking at the blusher and a lipstick from the collection.

– Blend Cheeks in 05 Kasanebeni

This face color duo includes a pale warm pink blusher and an off-white highlighter. Both shades are predominantly matte and have very minimal shimmer.

The blusher shade is sheer and the finish is very subtle. If you like pigmented blushers or if you have a medium or dark complexion, I definitely wouldn’t recommend this item. Even among Japanese blushers, which are generally sheerer than most western blushers, this one is still on the sheer side and is sheerer than SUQQU’s blusher singles.

However, if you are heavy-handed and tend to over-apply blushers, then this can be a good choice (especially if you like to go dramatic on eyes and lips and want a very subtle blusher). Also, I remember that a reader asked me for suggestions on very pale and subtle blushers for her very fair complexion. If you are looking for the same type of blushers, I would suggest this one as well.

One thing also worth mentioning is that the brush in this compact is very soft and a pleasure to use. The hair is obviously not as dense as SUQQU’s Cheek Brush (which costs £80), but the luxurious softness is very similar.

– Blend Lipstick in 14 Kaki

It seems to me that the products in the Blend series (Blend Cheeks and Blend Lipsticks) are sheerer than those in the original SUQQU lineup. I suppose the idea is that the colors would blend into and enhance the facial features. Kaki is quite a sheer warm pink with very minimal shimmer, and it is less pigmented than the SUQQU Creamy Lipstick that I have.

It is creamy and moisturizing (as moisturizing as the Creamy Lipstick), which, to me, is probably the most important thing about a lipstick. The finish is subtly glossy, which looks understated and elegant. The color and the gloss last relatively well.

In terms of color and level of pigmentation, this is among my favorite lipsticks, and, in terms of texture, it shows again that SUQQU makes some of the best lipsticks around.

Both items here create an understated look. They might not offer drama or intensity, but they will suit most people who want high quality for their wearable everyday makeup.

More wonderfully wearable items:

Lavshuca Cheek Color in PK-1

Lunasol Full Glamour Gloss in 04 Bright Pink

Chanel Irréelle Duo in Désert-Rose

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Coffret D’Or Spring 2009 Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, October 29, 2008

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

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

Kanebo‘s Coffret D’Or will be one year old in December. Its spring 2009 collection will be released in Japan on December 16th.

The lineup includes:

– Shine Accent Eyes palette (5 variations)
– Beauty Effect Mascara (2 shades)
– Full Keep Gel Liner (3 shades)
– Shine Drape Rouge Color (8 shades)
– Shine Drape Rouge Glow (8 shades)
– Lip Make Liner (6 shades, holder sold separately)
– Shiny Carat Gloss (3 new shades)
– Essence Lip Base
– Color Blush (1 new shade)

The colors in the eye palettes are looking a little washed out in the photo. I am suspecting the actual shades will be slightly richer.

I am overall very pleased with Coffret D’Or’s eye palettes. As with the two seasonal releases of eye palettes last year, I think I will pick up at lease one from the new collection, and I will certainly keep you posted on my thoughts.

Updated on November 14th, 2008:

More information on the collection.

More on Coffret D’Or’s eye palettes:

3D Lighting Eyes in Purple Variation and Gold Variation

Trance Deep Eyes in Rose Variation and Grey Variation

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Lunasol Spring 2009 Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, October 29, 2008

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, -Shiseido, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

One of the editors at Voce magazine has posted photos of Lunasol’s spring 2009 collection taken at the press event. Do have a look!

The purification theme continues with “Floral Purification” for spring 2009, as the inspiration of the collection is drawn from the light and feminine shades of cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, wisteria, magnolia and azalea.

In the photos, you will see two eye palettes, three lipsticks, one lip gloss, and one nail color. (There are obviously more in the collection.) The light lavender-plum palette looks particularly alluring to me. So does the lilac dress that the model is wearing in the ad image! (Is spring 2009 another lilac season?)

It seems that this collection will be soft, airy, feminine, and definitely very spring-like. The color combinations in the palettes might not be as colorful as Lunasol’s spring 2008 collection, but this simple color concept will give Lunasol to show off the wonderful texture and finish of their eyeshadows.

In short, I am excited.

By the way, in the same blog entry, you will see all the 20 shades of Shiseido’s Perfect Rouge, which I mentioned yesterday.

Loving Japanese Brand – Lunasol

Lunasol Holiday 2008 Collection

Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral

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SHISEIDO Perfect Rouge

by PJ on Tuesday, October 28, 2008

in -Shiseido, -SHISEIDO (Global Brand), 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

As part of Shiseido‘s series of efforts in the next few years to strengthen its global market (in 69 countries, including Japan), a new series of makeup, in collaboration with Dick Page, will be released in all the countries where the brand is available.

The new line will start off with two new items, Perfect Rouge (in 20 shades) and Smoothing Lip Pencil (in 7 shades). The case of Perfect Rouge cleverly incorporates Shiseido’s logo, which is part of the brand’s plan to enhance its image on the global stage.

(Shiseido’s brand logo)

Australian model Christina Carey is chosen to front the international ad campaign.

(photography by Nick Night)

These two products will be released in Japan on January 1st, 2009.

The dark reflective packaging is very similar to that of Shiseido The Makeup, but, according to Nikkei Net and as I understand it, the new line is simply called SHISEIDO (as you see in the ad campaign). Again, it is about building up global brand awareness. It is also great to see Dick Page’s involvement in Shiseido’s product creation. I will certainly look forward to more future releases.

Bring It Back! Shiseido’s Inoui ID

Maquillage Holiday 2008 Collection

Agyness Deyn for Maquillage

Japanese Cosmetics in the UK

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